Thinking About Learning

The more I learn about Web 2.0, the more frustrating it can be as an elementary classroom teacher.  The world is changing so rapidly!  The ability to communicate effectively is an increasingly necessary priority.  Memorizing facts is less necessary than the ability to locate needed information.  As the world becomes smaller and flatter, the needs of learners are changing.  The problem I’m encountering is that the education establishment (fueled by NCLB) seems blind to the type of transformation that needs to take place in education.  A rigid standards-based curriculum is not the answer!  Teachers are becoming increasingly overwhelmed by the demands of this curriculum coupled with the increasing number of children with special needs.  At my elementary school, we are blessed to have great access to technology resources, but the weight of the demands are causing many teachers to narrow their focus to what must be done each day to meet district expectations related to curriculum.  These demands seem to limit the ability of many to see the big picture of the drastic changes that are taking place in the world related to technology, communication, and the power of Web 2.0.  Most of the presenters of the K12 Online Conference have been connected to middle and high schools.  Is anyone out there having success with getting elementary teachers actively involved with Web 2.0 tools in the classroom?  Has anyone found the answer to meshing the real world needs of our students with the rigid expectations of high stakes testing?