Comments on: A Call To Act Now http://avenue4learning.com/2008/07/17/a-call-to-act-now/ Ideas for Teaching Students in THEIR World... Sat, 31 Jul 2010 15:47:30 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.2 hourly 1 By: Michelle Baldwin http://avenue4learning.com/2008/07/17/a-call-to-act-now/comment-page-1/#comment-58 Michelle Baldwin Fri, 25 Jul 2008 18:58:03 +0000 http://michelleblogs.edublogs.org/?p=47#comment-58 Jeremy: all good points... I know teachers who would love to use those tools, but they are blocked by their school districts. How do teachers who WANT to use these tools persuade their districts that LEARNING can definitely happen? Unfortunately, many educators who are the decision-makers for their districts think of Web 2.0 tools as "social" tools only. Personally, I think tools that are strictly social are learning opportunities also... but I wouldn't call every Web 2.0 tool strictly social anyway. That's another post, right? Thanks for the comment... I hope you are able to be a voice in your school! I used to teach down the road from you, and I know your constituency. Jeremy: all good points… I know teachers who would love to use those tools, but they are blocked by their school districts. How do teachers who WANT to use these tools persuade their districts that LEARNING can definitely happen? Unfortunately, many educators who are the decision-makers for their districts think of Web 2.0 tools as “social” tools only. Personally, I think tools that are strictly social are learning opportunities also… but I wouldn’t call every Web 2.0 tool strictly social anyway. That’s another post, right?
Thanks for the comment… I hope you are able to be a voice in your school! I used to teach down the road from you, and I know your constituency.

]]> By: Jeremy http://avenue4learning.com/2008/07/17/a-call-to-act-now/comment-page-1/#comment-57 Jeremy Fri, 25 Jul 2008 18:43:50 +0000 http://michelleblogs.edublogs.org/?p=47#comment-57 This is a great discussion. I saw Will Richardson @ a conference and he said something that really stuck with me: We shouldn't view ourselves as teachers of information, but rather connectors of information. He linked it to web 2.0 technologies and working with our students. Just as any of us teachers can teach a given student a concept, so might someone else in another state or country via web 2.0 tools. - be that another teacher, industry professional, or 13 year old student. I think the point is we can all learn from eachother, and utilizing web 2.0 tools is truly 21st century learning. There is a better chance to extend learning beyond the classroom using these technologies. I will be the first one to say that we can't, heck we don't even have a single Mac in my high school. So I have been trying to find ways around it. I just seems that if we were to try and open up our student capabilities and server access, admin would shut it down quick. Incorporating MySpace, Wikipedia, Voicethread, Twitter, igoogle and using Wikis, Skype, Blogs and creating webcasts and podcasts needs to happen more. i think unfortunately it is up to the teacher to do it. As stated in an earlier response, admin just pretends not acknowledge it because they don't know it. Not sure how to correct it. This is a great discussion. I saw Will Richardson @ a conference and he said something that really stuck with me: We shouldn’t view ourselves as teachers of information, but rather connectors of information. He linked it to web 2.0 technologies and working with our students. Just as any of us teachers can teach a given student a concept, so might someone else in another state or country via web 2.0 tools. – be that another teacher, industry professional, or 13 year old student.

I think the point is we can all learn from eachother, and utilizing web 2.0 tools is truly 21st century learning.

There is a better chance to extend learning beyond the classroom using these technologies. I will be the first one to say that we can’t, heck we don’t even have a single Mac in my high school. So I have been trying to find ways around it. I just seems that if we were to try and open up our student capabilities and server access, admin would shut it down quick.

Incorporating MySpace, Wikipedia, Voicethread, Twitter, igoogle and using Wikis, Skype, Blogs and creating webcasts and podcasts needs to happen more. i think unfortunately it is up to the teacher to do it. As stated in an earlier response, admin just pretends not acknowledge it because they don’t know it. Not sure how to correct it.

]]> By: Michelle Baldwin http://avenue4learning.com/2008/07/17/a-call-to-act-now/comment-page-1/#comment-56 Michelle Baldwin Fri, 25 Jul 2008 18:34:29 +0000 http://michelleblogs.edublogs.org/?p=47#comment-56 Jason: AMEN. I've thought the exact same thing. And since I am often on both sides of the audience, I try to practice what I preach. However, there are occasions where the venue doesn't make it possible. For example, I'd much rather share information with a small group--everyone logged into a wiki, for example-- at a conference than do a "stand and deliver," but that's difficult to accomplish with even a group of 75. For conferences, I would like to see a reformatting of all sessions that allow for maximum participation and involvement. In Prof Dev in the district, I'm really trying to move us in the independent learner direction. We'll see. Josh: thanks. We like you, too! :-) Jason: AMEN. I’ve thought the exact same thing. And since I am often on both sides of the audience, I try to practice what I preach. However, there are occasions where the venue doesn’t make it possible. For example, I’d much rather share information with a small group–everyone logged into a wiki, for example– at a conference than do a “stand and deliver,” but that’s difficult to accomplish with even a group of 75. For conferences, I would like to see a reformatting of all sessions that allow for maximum participation and involvement. In Prof Dev in the district, I’m really trying to move us in the independent learner direction. We’ll see.

Josh: thanks. We like you, too! :-)

]]> By: Josh http://avenue4learning.com/2008/07/17/a-call-to-act-now/comment-page-1/#comment-55 Josh Fri, 25 Jul 2008 17:28:35 +0000 http://michelleblogs.edublogs.org/?p=47#comment-55 Whether you are preaching to the choir or not, we all need to take a look in the mirror to make sure we are modeling. I definitely include myself in this. I've restructured some of the things I do for the upcoming year so I do model what I'm doing. I didn't do that last year, but I can't use the "new guy" excuse much longer. Yes, it will meet with resistance...but I'm also to the point where, if you don't like it, get off the boat. I'll find someone else who is willing to step up. You are all invited to stay on the boat, by the way. I like you all. Whether you are preaching to the choir or not, we all need to take a look in the mirror to make sure we are modeling. I definitely include myself in this. I’ve restructured some of the things I do for the upcoming year so I do model what I’m doing. I didn’t do that last year, but I can’t use the “new guy” excuse much longer. Yes, it will meet with resistance…but I’m also to the point where, if you don’t like it, get off the boat. I’ll find someone else who is willing to step up.
You are all invited to stay on the boat, by the way. I like you all.

]]> By: Jason http://avenue4learning.com/2008/07/17/a-call-to-act-now/comment-page-1/#comment-54 Jason Fri, 25 Jul 2008 17:22:40 +0000 http://michelleblogs.edublogs.org/?p=47#comment-54 As I read your post and comments, one word comes to mind: Model. We don't model or practice what we preach. Now there are exceptions and if you are reading this, you are probably one of them. Let's use and encourage the tools and type of teaching that needs to happen. I was very discouraged at NECC by the types of presentations that didn't model the point they were trying to get across. I can say there was only one session I went to that used everything they were talking about and that was the K12 Online Conference session that focused on self-directed learning. Preaching to the choir? Maybe... As I read your post and comments, one word comes to mind: Model.

We don’t model or practice what we preach. Now there are exceptions and if you are reading this, you are probably one of them. Let’s use and encourage the tools and type of teaching that needs to happen. I was very discouraged at NECC by the types of presentations that didn’t model the point they were trying to get across. I can say there was only one session I went to that used everything they were talking about and that was the K12 Online Conference session that focused on self-directed learning.

Preaching to the choir? Maybe…

]]> By: Michelle Baldwin http://avenue4learning.com/2008/07/17/a-call-to-act-now/comment-page-1/#comment-53 Michelle Baldwin Fri, 25 Jul 2008 16:47:53 +0000 http://michelleblogs.edublogs.org/?p=47#comment-53 Josh/Cory: agreed. I believe there are SOME universities that are doing a great job not only preparing new educators, but also practicing the same "digital learning" within their own walls. On the other side of that, though, I believe the majority of colleges/universities are still old-school. And no one is forcing them to change. Yet. My grad experiences have been similar to yours. Ian: Agreed. WE cannot force the change, because we technically don't have a stake in the outcome. However, our stakeholders (the students) are going to begin looking elsewhere for their education. Eventually-- I'm thinking just a few years out-- we'll begin losing our constituents to schools (both private and public) who have learned to do it better. When that happens, change will be inevitable. Josh/Cory: agreed. I believe there are SOME universities that are doing a great job not only preparing new educators, but also practicing the same “digital learning” within their own walls. On the other side of that, though, I believe the majority of colleges/universities are still old-school. And no one is forcing them to change. Yet. My grad experiences have been similar to yours.

Ian: Agreed. WE cannot force the change, because we technically don’t have a stake in the outcome. However, our stakeholders (the students) are going to begin looking elsewhere for their education. Eventually– I’m thinking just a few years out– we’ll begin losing our constituents to schools (both private and public) who have learned to do it better. When that happens, change will be inevitable.

]]> By: Josh http://avenue4learning.com/2008/07/17/a-call-to-act-now/comment-page-1/#comment-52 Josh Wed, 23 Jul 2008 22:59:52 +0000 http://michelleblogs.edublogs.org/?p=47#comment-52 @cory I am about the same amount of time out of pre-service and didn't have my first "tech" class until grad school. I took a grad class from my alma mater this summer and the professor had never used or heard of a wiki. He wanted us to do our assignment with Dreamweaver, which is great, but not for busy teachers when wikis are so available..and free! @cory I am about the same amount of time out of pre-service and didn’t have my first “tech” class until grad school. I took a grad class from my alma mater this summer and the professor had never used or heard of a wiki. He wanted us to do our assignment with Dreamweaver, which is great, but not for busy teachers when wikis are so available..and free!

]]> By: Ian H. http://avenue4learning.com/2008/07/17/a-call-to-act-now/comment-page-1/#comment-51 Ian H. Wed, 23 Jul 2008 22:32:47 +0000 http://michelleblogs.edublogs.org/?p=47#comment-51 You can't force a revolution... this has to happen in its own time, and the more those of us who want it to happen tell those behind us how slow they are, the less they'll want to join us. You can’t force a revolution… this has to happen in its own time, and the more those of us who want it to happen tell those behind us how slow they are, the less they’ll want to join us.

]]> By: Cory Plough http://avenue4learning.com/2008/07/17/a-call-to-act-now/comment-page-1/#comment-50 Cory Plough Wed, 23 Jul 2008 22:01:57 +0000 http://michelleblogs.edublogs.org/?p=47#comment-50 @ Josh - I think the answer is not much. I'm 6 years out of my pre-service and had only one tech class and that was learning browsers, word processing, and presentation tools like PPT. Im half way done with a Masters in Education Technology at college amongst the leaders in that field and my latest instructor asked me what Web 2.0 and Creative Commons were after my first discussion post. They are a huge part of this broken system and until we get professors teaching these tools the system will stay broken. @ Josh – I think the answer is not much. I’m 6 years out of my pre-service and had only one tech class and that was learning browsers, word processing, and presentation tools like PPT.

Im half way done with a Masters in Education Technology at college amongst the leaders in that field and my latest instructor asked me what Web 2.0 and Creative Commons were after my first discussion post.

They are a huge part of this broken system and until we get professors teaching these tools the system will stay broken.

]]> By: Josh http://avenue4learning.com/2008/07/17/a-call-to-act-now/comment-page-1/#comment-49 Josh Wed, 23 Jul 2008 21:56:20 +0000 http://michelleblogs.edublogs.org/?p=47#comment-49 Maybe Jarred is better to answer this question (or others), but how much work is being done at the university level as far as how to integrate technology into education? I realize the districts have some blame, don't get me wrong. But we talk about how pre-service teachers know so much about technology...great, I know a lot about baseball but can't play it worth a darn. Are there integration classes being taught? Or is technology a focus during content area classes? I just thought I'd bring this point up so I could contribute something different to the discussion. Maybe Jarred is better to answer this question (or others), but how much work is being done at the university level as far as how to integrate technology into education? I realize the districts have some blame, don’t get me wrong. But we talk about how pre-service teachers know so much about technology…great, I know a lot about baseball but can’t play it worth a darn. Are there integration classes being taught? Or is technology a focus during content area classes?
I just thought I’d bring this point up so I could contribute something different to the discussion.

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