I’m glad I’m not the only one but, at the same time, I know how difficult it is when your enthusiasm for meaningful use of technology in the classroom is tempered by negative comments.

I think your statement about finding the right balance makes a lot of sense. As educators, me need to make informed decisions. Forcing students to use certain tools just because we believe that they are effective is not going to produce an environment that is conducive to learning. In fact, I think it’s irresponsible to embrace tools just because we like them without any regard for the views and opinions of our students.

That’s why I suggest in my entry that students who are not a hundred percent sure about having a blog or contributing to a wiki need time to experience how this kind of social engagement in a community of learners can benefit them. Once they do experience the sense of connectedness and begin to co-construct knowledge, once they begin to feel empowered by the connections they can make, they are more likely to adopt social tools and use them in a meaningful fashion.

So, what I’ve learned from my experience is that I need to be patient and let the students dictate the pace at which they want to immerse themselves in this kind of environment. After all, if we are to be a community, I cannot begin by imposing rules. I cannot begin by disregarding the voices of my students – the very people who will build the community.