Dr, Michael Wesch, professor of Anthropology at Kansas State University gave a lecture at University of Manitoba in 2008 that centered on using Web 2.0 tools to better serve students educationally. He made some really great points, devoting over half of his presentation to reasons why it was important to do things differently as students today are feeling more and more disappointed with their educational experience. He gave many ways to use media/technology to bring the students into a more collaborative and creative role in the process of acquiring their education.
Although I appreciated his words... they were words I have heard before. This wasn't new to me but they were ideas I whole-heartedly embrace. The funny thing was that his delivery of these words was as dry as the teaching he was sort of putting down. I know he was giving a lecture and I know he had so many important things to say but I had to literally force myself to sit still to watch this whole thing.
Having said that, I loved the idea of having the students work with me to identify their big questions and also the part about having them create the syllabus for you (on a wikki, for example!). The ideas were all there and the philosophy was clear... You have to get into the portals the students are using in order to create meaningful connections that the student feels are timely and important to him/her.
Particularly interesting were the differences between the traditional frames of thinking about eduction vs. the new model. I guess it boils down to acquisition vs. creation? I like this. It sort of honors all learners as opposed to only the compliant ones. This is really important because more and more, I find that not all of my students think the same or are capable of the same things in the same time and place.This reflects the heart of so many things I have been thinking about lately in terms of educational philosophy. Why do we group students by age? Why not interest or skills? Why is it all about science and math... If Davinci was a great inventor and mathematician but used his art to express all of these things, why do students only have art or music once a week and the "hard" subjects more and more...
So many things to think about. I wonder if technology is the answer to integrating all of these ideas. Wesch is raising good questions and he is thinking forward about how to create a system of learning that centers on personal connection and media literacy.
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Week 3 Blog: Article "Shifting Ground"
The article, "Shifting Ground" by Chris Lehmann, was an echo of what has been on any educator's mind these days. Whether you are a near-retirement teacher who hasn't caught on with the electronic age ("I can't keep up with these kids anymore and don't understand their world") or a teacher wondering how to keep up with the technology, with the kids and their attention and interests. It is a time of great reflection for our country and, I suspect, for other countries as well. In the article Lehmann cites N. Postman, author of Technopoly: The Surrender of Culture to Technology," who "wrote that certain technologies are transformative,
not additive, and used the Guttenberg printing press as his example: when the printing press was
invented, the outcome wasn’t Europe plus some books, but a whole new Europe. Despite
investing billions of dollars in hardware, wiring, and professional development, too many
schools are the same as ever, only with some computers, when they should be whole new schools
where kids are accomplishing things that no one ever dreamed possible."
I have to agree with Postman. I think that the world is exploding with change right now and, with the advancements in technology, we are going beyond a world where technology is invented to serve us and moving into a social culture where we are defined by technology. As it is stated so often lately, I don't even know what jobs I am preparing my kids for anymore!
I think Lehmann's article gets to the heart of the matter when he begins to discuss the current way that schools integrate technology into the standard curriculum (as functional tools to aid in the same old learning that has been happening for years and years) as opposed to the way that we could be using technology; to go beyond the boundaries of what our limited imaginations have proposed and really redefine what it means to be educated.
The Web 2.0 tools available give teachers and students different ways of doing things and looking at the world that transform the definition of learning. It isn't the same old reading, writing and arithmetic anymore. It is all of those things, interchangeably mixed together. We no longer have to memorize things or refer to text books. We have so much information at our fingertips that it is less necessary now to teach them what to know as it is how to filter through the information available to them. It is also true that our students need to know how to work collaboratively (their ability to do so is a thousand times easier now that they are able to reach out to the entire universe through the internet! And.. they must learn to sift through all the information and integrate it into their thoughts... "think critically" (wow, I have been hearing that a lot lately!)
We have to embrace technology like our students have embraced it. I think the only difficult part is that we will never be as fluent in it as our native speakers (our kids) but we can sure make a good try!
not additive, and used the Guttenberg printing press as his example: when the printing press was
invented, the outcome wasn’t Europe plus some books, but a whole new Europe. Despite
investing billions of dollars in hardware, wiring, and professional development, too many
schools are the same as ever, only with some computers, when they should be whole new schools
where kids are accomplishing things that no one ever dreamed possible."
I have to agree with Postman. I think that the world is exploding with change right now and, with the advancements in technology, we are going beyond a world where technology is invented to serve us and moving into a social culture where we are defined by technology. As it is stated so often lately, I don't even know what jobs I am preparing my kids for anymore!
I think Lehmann's article gets to the heart of the matter when he begins to discuss the current way that schools integrate technology into the standard curriculum (as functional tools to aid in the same old learning that has been happening for years and years) as opposed to the way that we could be using technology; to go beyond the boundaries of what our limited imaginations have proposed and really redefine what it means to be educated.
The Web 2.0 tools available give teachers and students different ways of doing things and looking at the world that transform the definition of learning. It isn't the same old reading, writing and arithmetic anymore. It is all of those things, interchangeably mixed together. We no longer have to memorize things or refer to text books. We have so much information at our fingertips that it is less necessary now to teach them what to know as it is how to filter through the information available to them. It is also true that our students need to know how to work collaboratively (their ability to do so is a thousand times easier now that they are able to reach out to the entire universe through the internet! And.. they must learn to sift through all the information and integrate it into their thoughts... "think critically" (wow, I have been hearing that a lot lately!)
We have to embrace technology like our students have embraced it. I think the only difficult part is that we will never be as fluent in it as our native speakers (our kids) but we can sure make a good try!
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Week 3 Blog Video "Did You Know"
Skills for success defined by potential employers:
Creative problem solving
Critical and analytical thinking
Information gathering, evaluation and synthesis
Collaborative communication skills
People skills
“New report urges US schools to create 21st century environments in classrooms”. This is reported in the youtube video "Did You Know" . I think that this is true, but then funding (federal and local) is cut from education in order to “balance” the budget. I heard someone say recently that we were making our children bear the burden of our financial inadequacies on their backs. Statistics everywhere cite that there are all these amazing test scores earned by students in other countries. Often they blame the teachers or the school systems, etc. I think that it is neither. I think that our students are not paying attention because we are not capturing their attention by getting through to them through the portals THEY use. As this video states, most schools have policies that prohibit social networking yet it has been said that students spend more time on facebook than they spend in front of the TV.
I wonder why that is… I mean there were initial concerns that students would engage in dangerous behaviors through facebook and other social networking sites but the truth is, if these same students are spending as much time on facebook as is reported, then how could it be that using a social network in a controlled educational environment be any worse. It would, in fact, be better because then, at least, we can teach the students how to behave responsibly with their technology.
“One of the things we need to change in our schools in the attitude that success comes easily”. This is the biggest thing that I have noticed in my teaching is that, often times, students feel that spending the minimal amount of time on school work should still earn them a high grade. When they get projects that require them to really think outside the box, they are often angry or choose not to do the project. Many of my students would opt to fail, given a challenge. Any time something is not easy to get on the first try, they become frustrated and give up. I sometimes (when I am frustrated but comfortable with my students) I use this drinking analogy. I am sure it is probably one that would get me in trouble of some sort but it seems to be the most useful. I say to them, how many of you “tried” drinking at a young age… either sipping your mom’s glass of wine at Thanksgiving or something like that? Most of them raise their hands. I say.. And the first time you try it, you probably wrinkled up your nose and thought the taste was totally gross. Why is it, then, that among college students there is such a problem with binge drinking? They usually answer “because it is cool to party” or something like that. Then I ask them, if that terrible taste of alcohol is something you are willing to try and try again until you like it or you are addicted, no matter what the bad consequences are, why is it that you are unwilling to try hard at learning something or understanding something if it doesn’t come easy right away? Why is it easier to develop a habit of excessive drinking as opposed to the pursuit of passion in something? What does this say about our culture?
So, I believe the problem is inherent in our culture. We really are a "Fast Food Nation". It isn't good or bad, really... it just is what it is. But.. if we ignore that and insist on doing things the old way, we will fail. We are not Asian or European. We have a unique culture of our own and, despite its inadequacies, it is a rich culture of people who are independent minded and technologically advanced. We have a desire to have lots of fun and socialize and use our technological resources to make things easier but then we take those technological tools away in the classroom. We can’t compete.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Week 2 Blog: Chapter 1 AND musings about class... All in one!
The first chapter of the book, Web2.0 New Tools, New Schools, by Solomon and Schrum is overwhelming in its prophecies of the future. I remember being a little kid when computers first started making their appearance in the middle class home.. Mind you, they were NOTHING like they are now.. no internet, graphics, etc. I remember reading all sorts of science fiction about how technology would dehumanize our society. Even Asimov wrote ages ago about how robots would have humanity and humanity would become more robotic. It was stuff that made great stories but, really, most of us dismissed the idea. Now, look at us! Technology has integrated itself in every aspect of our personal and professional lives... Everything has changed since I was a kid. I remember things like records replaced by 8 tracks replaced by cassette tapes replaced by CDs replaced by electronic music storage. I remember regular television replaced by cable TV enhanced by VCRs replaced by DVDs enhanced, once again, by electronic music storage... I remember rotary phones replaced by push button phones replaced by cell phones replaced by iphones and the like which are connected to everything from radio to the WWW. I am reading and annotating my book for this class electronically. Even the face of simple things like cooking for a family have been altered by the advent of the microwave. (I still remember when we purchased our first microwave and sat around it as though watching TV observing that first, terrible tasting, roast beef cook!) The world is changing at an incredible pace and what was once science fiction or the musings of a few techno geeks has become who and what we are. Technology has entered every aspect of our lives and the advent of the internet, itself has changed and is changing the world as we know it.
I am thinking specifically about recent world events in Egypt and Libya (among others). People who once waited in silence for verbal or written cues (both of which are dangerous to deliver and receive) now have multiple and virtually anonymous ways of uniting and revolutionizing themselves in the face of an oppressive government. Remember that, in Egypt... one of the first things the government did was to shut down access to the web. But the people found a way to do it anyway because it is just too big for the government to control. These people have a chance of creating change and this is possible in many ways because of technology.
While all this change is a good thing in many ways, it also has its drawbacks. The dehumanization of the workplace concerns me very much... not only are we are in competition with other countries but now, through human workforce being eliminated, we are creating a very efficient yet financially challenged society. It seems we are sort of returning financial viability and power to the elite. There just isn't room for the general population to find meaningful work. But I wonder, aren't companies sort of shooting themselves in the foot through all that streamlining? I mean, after all, we are taking jobs away from people who will no longer have an income to spend on goods that the company is in business to provide, thereby putting that company out of business.
So is this technology and all this communication/streamlining good or bad? I keep wondering about what is going to happen as technology keeps taking over everything. Will I have a job in the future? I am a teacher... I always took my job for granted but I was listening to NPR the other day and heard about South Korean children who were learning English from a robot. Here is the link to the program: Robots Teach English to Young South Koreans
As I listened to this program, I realized that, while teachers probably wouldn't become obsolete, the profession is definitely changing dramatically. All the stuff going on with public employee salaries being too costly for the average tax payer.. Why pay a teacher 35-45,000 a year when you can get a robot to do the trick OR... why have school at all? I have a friend who works full time for VLACS : A NH charter school that is totally online. Having school from home using all the technology tools.. without the giant overhead of caring for a facility; heating it in the winter, cooling it during the warmer months.. electricity, maintenance and upkeep. You wouldn't need custodians, cafeteria ladies.. teachers... study hall... Even building administrators. It would certainly be much less expensive. Why bother with the buildings and personnel? I mean, kids will need social interaction and physical activity but they can get that on their own... those organizations can exist without the day to day process of going to school.
This is a possibility. Honestly, I don't think anyone knows what is going to happen next, any more than they knew 50 years ago.. 30 years ago... that you would be able to speak online via skype to a person in another country who you might never even meet but who might be your boss. AND.. that your job might be something that even you hadn't ever heard of. It is both exciting and scary...
So, as educators, what do we do with all this information? How DO we prepare our students for a work force and world which, honestly, they might have a better grip on than us? I don't know the answers. I guess that is why I am here.
I am thinking specifically about recent world events in Egypt and Libya (among others). People who once waited in silence for verbal or written cues (both of which are dangerous to deliver and receive) now have multiple and virtually anonymous ways of uniting and revolutionizing themselves in the face of an oppressive government. Remember that, in Egypt... one of the first things the government did was to shut down access to the web. But the people found a way to do it anyway because it is just too big for the government to control. These people have a chance of creating change and this is possible in many ways because of technology.
While all this change is a good thing in many ways, it also has its drawbacks. The dehumanization of the workplace concerns me very much... not only are we are in competition with other countries but now, through human workforce being eliminated, we are creating a very efficient yet financially challenged society. It seems we are sort of returning financial viability and power to the elite. There just isn't room for the general population to find meaningful work. But I wonder, aren't companies sort of shooting themselves in the foot through all that streamlining? I mean, after all, we are taking jobs away from people who will no longer have an income to spend on goods that the company is in business to provide, thereby putting that company out of business.
So is this technology and all this communication/streamlining good or bad? I keep wondering about what is going to happen as technology keeps taking over everything. Will I have a job in the future? I am a teacher... I always took my job for granted but I was listening to NPR the other day and heard about South Korean children who were learning English from a robot. Here is the link to the program: Robots Teach English to Young South Koreans
As I listened to this program, I realized that, while teachers probably wouldn't become obsolete, the profession is definitely changing dramatically. All the stuff going on with public employee salaries being too costly for the average tax payer.. Why pay a teacher 35-45,000 a year when you can get a robot to do the trick OR... why have school at all? I have a friend who works full time for VLACS : A NH charter school that is totally online. Having school from home using all the technology tools.. without the giant overhead of caring for a facility; heating it in the winter, cooling it during the warmer months.. electricity, maintenance and upkeep. You wouldn't need custodians, cafeteria ladies.. teachers... study hall... Even building administrators. It would certainly be much less expensive. Why bother with the buildings and personnel? I mean, kids will need social interaction and physical activity but they can get that on their own... those organizations can exist without the day to day process of going to school.
This is a possibility. Honestly, I don't think anyone knows what is going to happen next, any more than they knew 50 years ago.. 30 years ago... that you would be able to speak online via skype to a person in another country who you might never even meet but who might be your boss. AND.. that your job might be something that even you hadn't ever heard of. It is both exciting and scary...
So, as educators, what do we do with all this information? How DO we prepare our students for a work force and world which, honestly, they might have a better grip on than us? I don't know the answers. I guess that is why I am here.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Introductory posting for class... and other things.
I have been required by my class to create a blog and, while I was doing so, was barraged with a series of text messages from my boyfriend's daughter that I needed to bring her basketball clothing down to her because she can't possibly walk the 10 minutes home (on this relatively warm, sunny day) to pick them up herself. The last text went something like "If you want me to interrupt my work to haul my cookies down to the school to drop your stuff off you owe me an evening of babysitting". I have not yet received a reply so, either I will see her after school when she comes to pick her stuff up or she will run away to the woods to eat a poison apple or something.
Actually, all joking aside, I have been thinking about writing a play (which, of course, I foresee as a musical!) about life from the perspective of all those fairytale stepmothers we love to hate. I mean... As a second time stepmom (my former marriage consisted of three step children and my current family consists of two) I feel as though I am privy to a lot of inside information on what it is like to be THAT woman.
What if Cinderella's and Snow White's step moms were just misunderstood? And... although she isn't really a step mom, Sleeping Beauty's "issue" was a close relative left off the baptism list, right? Well... What if these ladies weren't as bad as everyone made them out to be?
Folks, I am here to tell you-- it ain't easy parenting someone else's child. AND there is often not a choice about it. You kind of get thrown in together, sink or swim and... let ME tell YOU... no one is throwing you a life raft. In fact, in my experience, the "real" mom is often the one who would gladly help the process of drowning along.
Well, there you go. I am interested in other people's points of view on the whole step parenting thing as it will give me fodder for my play so comment away! :)
Actually, all joking aside, I have been thinking about writing a play (which, of course, I foresee as a musical!) about life from the perspective of all those fairytale stepmothers we love to hate. I mean... As a second time stepmom (my former marriage consisted of three step children and my current family consists of two) I feel as though I am privy to a lot of inside information on what it is like to be THAT woman.
What if Cinderella's and Snow White's step moms were just misunderstood? And... although she isn't really a step mom, Sleeping Beauty's "issue" was a close relative left off the baptism list, right? Well... What if these ladies weren't as bad as everyone made them out to be?
Folks, I am here to tell you-- it ain't easy parenting someone else's child. AND there is often not a choice about it. You kind of get thrown in together, sink or swim and... let ME tell YOU... no one is throwing you a life raft. In fact, in my experience, the "real" mom is often the one who would gladly help the process of drowning along.
Well, there you go. I am interested in other people's points of view on the whole step parenting thing as it will give me fodder for my play so comment away! :)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)