The Responsive Classroom approach focuses on practical ways of meshing social and academic learning. It is interesting to see how web 2.0 tools have the power to support all of the seven key principles of this 20-plus year old program.

• 1. The social curriculum is as important as the academic curriculum.
• 2. How children learn is as important as what they learn: process and content go hand in hand.
• 3. The greatest cognitive growth occurs through social interaction.
• 4. Children need certain social skills in order to be successful academically and socially. These include: cooperation, assertion, responsibility, empathy, and self-control.
• 5. Knowing the children we teach — individually, culturally, and developmentally — is as important as knowing the content we teach.
• 6. Knowing the families of the children we teach, and inviting their participation, is essential to children’s education.
• 7. How the adults at school work together is as important as individual competence: lasting change begins with the adult community.

In many instances web 2.0 tools could not only support these principles, but may enhance them in a significant way.

1. 1. Many students are already using multiple web 2.0 applications in a variety of social environments. The problem is that schools are either unaware of the educational value of these tools, or block them entirely. This should be an opportunity for teachers to model effective and safe use of these tools for social networking and participate in collaborative learning communities.
2. 2. Web 2.0 tools allow students to become active participants in global collaborative learning communities. They can also be used for students to be part of the assessment process, either through self or peer assessment. Students have the opportunity to be at the center of nearly all aspects of their learning.
3. 3. Much of the social interaction of today’s students occurs online using sites like MySpace or Facebook. ESU 13 is currently running an Elgg site that could be used to implement this type of social learning environment.
4. 4. Today students must not only master traditional social skills, but also need to acquire the skills required to participate effectively in a wide variety of web based social situations. Teaching the concepts of “Digital Citizenship” has become a necessity.
5. 5. In many cases, students are more willing to share information about themselves online than they would be in a traditional classroom setting. This is not only a great opportunity for teachers to learn about their students, but to also share information about possible consequences of making too much personal information public.
6. 6. Most schools are now offering parents online access to the student information system. This allows parents to view grades, attendance, discipline, lesson plans, and teacher contacts. Schools should encourage parents to take advantage of this technology to become more aware and involved in the education of their children.
7. 7. Teachers have traditionally been isolated professionals. Web 2.0 technology gives teachers the opportunity to participate in professional learning communities in a way that is much more flexible than traditional professional development. Teachers can now choose what, when, and how they want to advance their skills.