What is the End of Web?
The End of Web Project is an Alternate Reality Game – Where teachers develop the narrative and game play – though professional development. It is an open project; based on a simple ‘what if’ narrative.
It’s 2020 and the world has changed. Some say for the better, for others it is the worst. The internet, the technology that connects us, will be turned off in 60 days. The world leaders, controlled by BIG BUSINESS, have agreed that the internet is making the world worse, and is now too big and too powerful. It must be stopped. The resistance force, always on the move, known as the Wireless Underground will seek to rally others to form their own resistance groups and to eventually form a new www based on connecting rogue sites. Each group will have limited range of access but can extend through connecting with other groups. They say official orders have been given. The Internet is closing down, to be replaced by a single information service called the “Alternet”.
What will be your story?
And that is the first question? Will you participate and take action or not? – The above narrative has already changed several times … so what can you add to the project – or more the point how can you use this project to add-curricula ideas to your local environment.
Why have a project?
Two reasons; it is a practical collaborative resource for people who participate and a place in which anyone can create co-curricula (including students).
It is collective action being used as professional development. School leaders are more open to co-curriculum projects than shifting the golden cow; and this allows them to conceptualise ‘added value’, not disruption – and for teachers to help others develop new ideas and practices in a safe-fail environment.
What motivated me to do it?
One thing that often strikes me at conferences and workshops is the lack of anything to do. There is always a lot to see and learn about; but often this is rather artificial. IWB demos for example; a lot of using, but not much adapting. End of Web is a place in which anyone can develop professional development activities – and in turn those learning can use their new found knowledge to generate a lesson or idea that is embedded in social action. The participants can readily apply their discipline knowledge and classroom creativity to the ‘tools’ being learned in a positive way. Just using the wiki itself – is professional learning … it’s an easy, non confrontational way for everyone to playfully explore new pedagogy.
What? – PD of teachers? isn’t this a game for students?
In my experience, teachers are far more interested in participating, if the activity is purposeful, and what they do actually has a value. So in using this project space; you are invited to add to the professional development resources. How? – Well let’s say you want to run some PD on Voicethread. Rather than just illustrate the tools and features, this project allows you to do it in a context. Why? Because now they will be able to not only learn the tool; but have a cognitive experience – how can I (as a teacher) use this technology to solve this problem in my context.
So the End of Web Project is an Alternate Reality Game development – which I (and you) can use in training and workshops to give an authentic, purposeful context. It is all about adopting new ideas and pedagogy; and then beginning to adapt the readily available software into the classroom. It is much easier and less challenging if this is part of a project – based on co-curricula.
It is also a place in which get to share some ideas and information that I am using or finding of use in education – based around games in learning. I hope that you’ll not only take a look – but make it better. Along the way I am sure you will connect with some amazing people; and not just talk about the problems; but work on some solutions – no matter how small you think that your contribution might be – remember most people only ever contribute once to wikipedia – yet it grows.
What to do next?
Join the wiki and add your name to the list of protagonists and have a look around. If you like the idea, you can help the wireless underground by Tweeting creatively about it using the hashtag #endofweb – or if you don’t want this rogue project to go anyway I’m sure the Alternet too would welcome your support via a Tweet. If you want to talk about it, link to it etc., just use the endofweb tag … see its really easy to play.
Professional Development in your backyard
Want to see how social media and enquiry can transform a classroom – Please contact me to find out about professional development in enquiry learning with technology – it’s a great way for teachers and principles to see technology learning in action. If you want to run a virtual class – again, drop me a line … the wireless underground are always happy to talk to new recruits.
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