I have got a little behind with the edchat posts so here is a digest of all the most recent.
These are hosted now on @TestSoup’s blog. I’ll add in some of the shared links here and you can get the flavour of the discussion from John’s blog summaries.
eduk8andlead: Blended learning approaches that mix f2f & online can help tackle time & calendar issues. #edchat Carpe Diem schools http://t.co/2FhNH0zB
Mr_Brett_Clark: I can’t participate fully in today’s #edchat. Here are some things we do in our district: EVSC ICATS Website http://t.co/uHYnrAmB
DrThomasHo: @MertonTech teachers have got to TAKE RESPONSIBILITY for THEIR own learning http://t.co/KvcUjJ69 #edchat
Mr_Brett_Clark: Do any other schools/districts put together coach’s menus to differentiate PD? http://t.co/qMbDxlqX I would like to see others. #edchat
daveandcori: Professional Development for Teachers needs to change – http://t.co/ET2VIMZd #edchat
daveandcori: I hate when teachers will only go to learning event if it is for CEUs. Need to be always learning! #edchat http://t.co/H7HXoyfb
RobertBorgersen: I know I love and take advantage of our University Teaching Services every chance I get! http://t.co/ASN0BYw0 #edchat
NETC_Travel: Never stop learning! 12 Ways to Learn in 2012 http://t.co/aQgNTFLD #edchat
kevin_corbett: Digital Learning Futures [SLIDESHARE] http://t.co/4gq9jQP3 NEW & Awesome! Thanks @timbuckteeth #elearning #mlearning #gamification #edchat
studysync: Teachers talk tech use in the classroom at recent Portland conference: http://t.co/qKPZIPGE #edtech #edchat
web20classroom: From @edutopia and @teachingwthsoul-20 Tidbits For New Teachers: http://t.co/NTK2I1rz #ntchat #edchat
lookforsun: I believe the #Educon principles lay positive foundation for tech use: http://t.co/6VcbkruZ #edchat
bhsprincipal: Students and teachers who are not comfortable using appropriate technology can no longer be considered literate http://t.co/rav0jyQd #edchat
TeachersHelp01: SM granted me the ability & honor of helping teachers avoid the predatory 403b about 80% of teachers are in http://t.co/IOUZaLIB #edchat
DrThomasHo: @ShellTerrell for students, digital footprint should be about their LEARNING is what I’ll say at http://t.co/3xn9LT61 #edchat
ShellTerrell: @cybraryman1: Great Why do we connect video from many of my wonderful PLN members: http://t.co/4fKwWVfF #edchat
For the complete transcripts and more links go to the#Edchat wiki.
We have two great blog posts to link on this topic this week. The first is from Peri Nelson @apospirit on her blog. This is a really amazing new way of getting technology into the classroom and the edchat group explored all options during this chat. Peris’ post captures the essence of this. Thank you Peri for your insights. You can find out more about the work Peri and her colleagues do on the blog.
This topic created quite a buzz in #edchat with lots of ideas and examples flowing from participants (see the links at the bottom of the page). It proved to be a popular session and extracting the main points to provide this summary cannot have been an easy task. So, hats off to Jessica Allen for her great summary this week. Everything you need to find out more about the ideas and opinions of this #edchat are here including the great links and she has provided us with the video above which gives us even more food for thought! Thank you Jessica! Find out more about Jessica from her bio at the end of the summary.
Overview:
In my opinion it is one of the most topics that need to be discussed by teachers who are trying to implement educational technology in a relevant and meaningful way with students. As the research, experts and edchat conversation suggests, we need to include students in not only using technology but using it to help them communicate their thinking and sharing their voice through the creation of digital content. This is a key move that many teachers are unable to move to when first using technology. It’s a push to go beyond using to incorporating necessary 21st century skills such as creativity, creation, expression and communication.
There were two main types of ideas that spread throughout the discussion. Theories on why it is necessary to implement more creation with students and Ideas on how to implement creation with students. Below are the top bullet points in each category:
Theoretical Ideas/ Reasons:
1. Teachers need to use more group work and collaboration with their students which are based on student interest
2. Teachers need to scaffold the experiences of creation and move from structured assembly to free unscripted creation
3. Students need to be given purposeful, relevant projects which require problem solving and collaboration to create a product to inform or help others
4. Teachers need to model creation and show that texts and other sources are only resources for curation to share learning and ideas with others
5. Curriculum and teachers must explicitly give time and attention to understanding and doing creation of content to prepare for future needed skills
Ideas for Implementation:
1. Ask students what they are interested in during their free time and use those ideas as a place to start
2. Give students facts and information on an issue and let them determine the problems that need to be solved while resisting the urge to help; instead give them the space to problem solve creatively in a group
3. Have students use technology as the “collector” for all of their shared and created content; digital portfolios, blogs, wikis, interviews, edmodo, etc.
4. Give students the final goal/ outcome/ concept that they need to understand and ask them how they would like to get there through their own questions and then design their learning around the questions
5. Consistently provide choices for students to share and demonstrate their learning in a variety of ways
These were a few tweets that caught my eye:
There were so many great tweets that it was too hard to pick a few! Here is a selection of the best, each one starts with the person who sent the tweet (I highly recommend following that person if you liked their point of view!)
@USCTeacher: Teachers can promote creation of content by engaging students in projects & encouraging group work & collaboration #edchat
@davidwees: I’d like to make sure we talk about the difference between the Lego “follow the script” creation and unscripted creation. #edchat
@newtechnetwork: Much content and content creation tools are blocked…unblock for better access to relevant information. #edchat
@drmcgettigan: project based learning is key, so is collaboration at times–also having a purpose -as way to inform or help others #edchat
@Mimiotechnology: Could be digital or physical, but teachers need to create a space for content creation. Great example: http://t.co/DZLUiUGa #edchat
@delta_dc: Because the current educational system expects consumers of information, not creators, we must address this explicitly w/ students.#edchat
@newtechnetwork: Model content creation by using the textbook as a resource, not a manual and curating content yourself. #edchat
@aletheia_vox: Devices are secondary. Creativity comes first – the devices are merely the tool students use #edchat
@coreydahlevent: I think that if teachers MODEL creation of content, kids will follow. #edchat
@thenerdyteacher: #edchat – Once I let I let students create their projects, class engagement skyrocketed. Ownership is key.
@coreydahlevent: I think a major barrier students have in creation of digital content is the teacher. #edchat
@Kerry_EasyBib: If you want them to create, just ask students what they already make in their free time & start there #edchat
@CTuckerEnglish: When I ask students to create, then look at me w/a blank look. Many need guidance to develop these skills #edchat
@davidwees: Do some assembly, do some creation, push kids towards creation over time. Scaffold the experience. #edchat
@drmcgettigan: Give students a problem to solve and resist urge to help them–let them problem solve, use creative means to solve. #edchat
@drmcgettigan: Students so focused on “right” answers–need to get them out of that habit for creativity to flow. #edchat
@newtechnetwork: All of these ideas sound like #PBL #edchat
@KTVee: A great teacher is not one who is perfect, but one who is willing to reflect, search for growth, and open to improve always. #edchat
@birklearns: I think we need to teach kids to find problems, not give them problems to solve. Give them facts, let them determine issues. #edchat
@ctuckerenglish: Allowing students 2 approach projects through the lens of their passion might be a good compromise- allow choice #edchat
@CTuckerEnglish: Biggest hurdle 4 teachers in supporting creation of content is it takes more time to scaffold. Must sacrifice quantity 4 quality #edchat
@tomwhitby: Bloom Advocates: Creation is the highest form of learning. Tech tools for learning are engaging to students. Do we see a connection? #edchat
@MulgraveSchool: Online social learning is about developing, not evaluating, student thinking online. So, our practice is never mark student blogs. #edchat
@davidwees: Is technology a necessary component in 21st century content creation? Can kids learn effective creation skills w/o tech? #edchat
@kylepace: Meet students where they are consuming the content and guide them to create, publish, and contribute to it positively. #edchat
@kathycook1: Allow students to question, challenge, make connections, and explore ideas and options. #edchat
@laroncarter: Have student (short) video document small group projects to stengthen blogs and family nights presentations. #edchat
@DataDiva: We can A. create with the tools we have or B. seek out the tools we need to create. Depends on creator #edchat
@davidwees: I think the question is, can skills kids learn related to creation transfer from non-tech to/from tech? #edchat
@coreydahlevent: YouTube is the perfect example of creating digital content. It’s what we do! Let’s do this in school! #edchat
@fereydoon1975: The perfection & the beauty of what our Ss creating is not as important as the questions and problems they faced during the creation #edchat
@newtechnetwork: Students can publish and present rather than “turn in”. #edchat
@mauilibrarian2: Just coined a new word: “bookremarkable”. Definition: web term for a remarkable source that must be bookmarked. #edchat #TLChat #HASL11
@birklearns: Can we teach concepts more than content, and have students use their interests/creativity to demonstrate concepts in a portfolio? #edchat
@jaymelinton: #edchat Show students/parents/admins that we need to value creativity and problem solving over test scores.
@bbray: Be co-learners and co-designers with your students. Students can meet standards by creating projects and pursuing their interests. #edchat
@jessievaz: After getting students involved in the topic, we ask “what do you want to know?” and creation follows from there. #edchat
@DRescigno: Beauty of #edtech is it allows students to not only create content but to share/interact/remix/collaborate, etc. Real life skills. #edchat
@MulgraveSchool: funtion of admin is to create that environment where teachers are encouraged and expected to create, innovate #edchat
@coreydahlevent: Should “creating digital content” become part of the eval process? I think so. #edchat
@USCTeacher: Think about the possibilities if students are creating content and sharing with other students thousands of miles away on a blog #edchat
@kathycook1: Student created content focuses on learning NOT teaching. #Edchat
@jheil65: Teachers shouldn’t be afraid to say to students, “this is the end goal” “how do YOU want to get there?”Expand possibilities #edchat
@tomwhitby: Content delivered from the front of the room should no longer be the model educators to focus on. OK ocassionally as needed. #edchat
@CTuckerEnglish: Think about ways to use mobile devices as “curiosity amplifiers”- use to find info, empower kids & encourage creativity #edchat
@steveperchar: Teachers need to realize that it is through freedom that creativity, and thus learning, happen. #edchat
@aletheia_vox: The teaching part is giving the students space to create
@kathycook1: Student created content focuses on learning NOT teaching. #Edchat
@CTuckerEnglish: Promoting creativity also required educators to think about how students define “creativity,” not how we define it. #edchat
@delta_dc: Never tell people how to do things. Tell them what you want to achieve, and they will surprise you with their ingenuity.
@tomwhitby: If a kid gets excited abt creating content we’re going beyond a curiosity for learning & moving to passion for learning. Great Goal #Edchat
@CTuckerEnglish: Instead of markers, paper, glue & scissors, think Glogster, iMovie, Wix, Blabberize, etc. Let’s get them using tech to create #edchat
@mister_jim: I agree but surely there needs to be a creativity revolution, not evolution. Current edu model does not fit this need. #edchat
@Schmidjon: Very true, education is more than the workplace, it’s preparation for life. #edchat
I would ask that the following question is added to the poll next week:
How can we encourage teachers to see the value in becoming professional life-long learners?
@jessievaz12
I have been working in education and international schools for over 14 years. I’m passionate about technology and inquiry learning and have been working for many years with the International Baccalaureate program (PYP) exploring where these two ideas meet. I currently live and work in Santiago Chile and am enjoying learning more about Latin American cultures. Follow my blog to see ideas and thinking on inquiry, technology and the culture of change in education: http://edu-mashup.blogspot.com
New to Edchat?
If you have never participated in an #Edchat discussion, these take place twice a day every Tuesday on Twitter. Over 1,000 educators participate in this discussion by just adding #edchat to their tweets. For tips on participating in the discussion, please check out these posts!
Our summary for this edchat is brought to us by Brian Thomas who is a regular edchatter and always adds very thought-provoking comments. This week was no different as he and other edchat participants laid out their wish-lists for spending on education and came up with many innovative and great ideas for where to get maximum value out of the money allocated to education. Needless to say these were a world away from where we find the money actually spent. Brian has done a great job pulling all these ideas together for this summary as I’m sure you will agree. Thank you Brian – see more about Brian in his short bio at the end of the post.
Hands down, the best on-demand source for PD I have found is Twitter and the countless thousands of teachers sharing and building a PLN. It is my pleasure and honor to post my thoughts on the #edchat from the early Tuesday session on April 19th, 2011. This was, as always is, a lively chat. Many thoughts centered on the cost of education. Can education be streamlined? Do we need a shift in what we call school? How can educators persuade the money-holders?
Here are some of the main themes from the discussion:
What “things” could be cut (i.e. paper, books)
Online content can be a replacement for the traditional textbook allocation.
Educator salaries as a piece of the funding issue.
The high cost in money and time of standardized tests.
How do we (educators) communicate our vision for changes in Ed funding and reform.
Here is a selection of some of the comments:
@jonbergmann: Now that we have gone to blended model, students get info online & don’t use textbooks = savings #edchat
@ericjuli: Perhaps we need to consider increasing to ultimately decrease costs-setting up network infrastructure to decrease paper and texts #edchat
@inquirebook: Students are increasingly more used to getting information from the Internet rather than books, anyway. #edchat
@QZLPatriotHawk: My biggest wish is that fed & state leg. would open up funding streams. We can do more w/ less if we had choice how 2 spend it. #edchat
@schoolsEDU: I think it would be good to give teachers budget & challenge them to meet it or beat it – it could be a good case study / learning experience #edchat
@QZLPatriotHawk: Are we talking nickles/dimes when discuss things other than salaries? Not to stir up a hornets’ nest but salaries are the big expense. #edchat
@lisalearner: at a recent board meeting, one parent made the case for cutting history class to save money. History class! #edchat
@tomwhitby: Professional Development costs can be reduced by thoughtful planning for individualized web-based training & PLN development.#Edchat
@weisburghm: I don’t see a way to avoid education supermarkets, I’m hoping we find ways to make them work well #edchat
@pepepacha: I have never, ever seen the cost breakdown for standardized testing (it’s a secret?) #edchat
@WeAreTeachers: Interesting idea! RT @lisalearner: What about 3 days in the classroom, two days online? What kind of effects would that have? #edchat
@Brian_ThomasTCI: We tell kids to be themselves, be individuals…then we line them up in rows and test the heck out of them. #edchat
@sram_socrates: How often do approved texts and resources change in the U.S.? How often does the curriculum change? #edchat
@inquirebook: I wish local businesses would apprentice high-school students, break down the school-work barrier more. #edchat
@southernbelle85: beginning school year after heat of summer, like Sept., would help and equal less energy for the air conditioner.
@Knackisms: Useless enterprise software is a major form of waste in education. Overpriced. Drain on productivity also costs money. #edchat
@bknrd5974: I’ve had students say their job is to get pregnant to collect welfare. Kids see nothing better in their future. #edchat
@darcymullin Watch http://bit.ly/9zKy78 video of flipclass to see how it is working now #edchat
@jonbergmann: For those interested in #flipclass we have summer conference http://bit.ly/hwvLuC also will be offered via webinar #edchat
@MistyNorman12: Check this video out-TEDxNYED-Will Richardson- 03/05/2011 http://t.co/JNqE7dZ via @youtube. Students Don’t Need Test Prep. #ntchat #edchat
@bwasson: @tomwhitby “The New York Lottery’s sole mission is to earn revenue for education.” http://is.gd/gNUZxn
cybraryman1: @lisalearner My Flipped Classroom page: http://tinyurl.com/4qb6kx9 @jonbergmann is the expert! #edchat
@symphily: The Finland Phenomenon: A film about schools – http://bit.ly/gBTXYx [ #edchat #educhat #BCed #edreform #education #elemchat ]
My name is Brian Thomas. For twelve years I taught middle school social studies in the Lakota Local School District (Cincinnati, Ohio). For the past seven years, I have worked for the K-12 social studies provider TCI ( http://blog.teachtci.com ).
New to Edchat?
If you have never participated in an #Edchat discussion, these take place twice a day every Tuesday on Twitter. Over 1,000 educators participate in this discussion by just adding #edchat to their tweets. For tips on participating in the discussion, please check out these posts!
Grateful thanks to Carl Anderson (@anderscj) for this week’s #edchat summary. It was a great discussion with several participants from both ends of the spectrum and in-between to so a wide range of ideas and experiences. Carl has captured this beautifully in his summary. I hope you all enjoy the post. Thank you Carl. See Carl’s bio at the end of this post.
Here are some of the main themes from the discussion:
k-12 and higher ed need to collaborate more
lack of communication and connection between all levels of education
Do all students need to be prepared for college?
Contrast between k12 and higher ed pedagogies
disconnect between how we teach and how we learn at all levels
What is the purpose of school/education?
Here is a selection of some of the comments:
With such a vibrant discussion, it’s almost impossible to do it justice in a summary, but I’ve picked out some of the comments that caught my eye.
@cybraryman1: K12 schools should establish more partnerships with those in Higher Ed and work together to better education #edchat
@franze98: . @ShellTerrell we have partnered w/ local community college to offer dual credit courses. shouldn’t all do that? #edchat
@rliberni: In fact how closely to Primary and secondary schools work together? Are we all in our own boxes? #edchat
@tomwhitby: We need a better connection for what K-12 expects of new teachers from college Edu programs. #Edchat
@leahmacvie: I don’t understand why some colleges are hesitant to partner with K-12 that could offer them future enrollments. #edchat
@pschoolsystems: Do you think the #CommonCore State Standards will aide in communication between K12 and HigherEd? #edchat
@leahmacvie: Bringing in K-12 teachers to discuss w/ highered teachers helps to illustrate the types of tech experience and skills students have. #edchat
@QZLPatriotHawk: How many teachers said they didn’t learn anything of substance until they student taught? More practicum time needed. #edchat
@TeacherFreeman: Why is it important for teachers to be familiar with curriculum in grades they do not teach? #edchat
@ShellTerrell: I think in low-income areas a collaboration btwn K12 & Univ helps Ss begin to be college minded Good point! #Edchat
@leahmacvie: @unhmba Our charter’s are getting students thinking about college much earlier than 11th. Is that a good or bad….. #edchat
@QZLPatriotHawk: Teaching cannot be taught without seeing it in action and getting dirty. Should look more like an apprenticeship #edchat
@Saveby: #edchat If I remmbr Sir Ken Robinson mentioned a kindergarten sign saying “college begins in kindergarten”. I think here lies the problem
@isteconnects: In my experience, K-12 is light years ahead of higher ed when it comes to teaching w/ tech #edchat
@tomwhitby: If the goal of K-12 education is to get everyone to go to college it is unattainable. #Edchat
@tomwhitby: I have yet to see any real agreement as to what the goal of education should be. #Edchat
@lemino: If my son’s teacher (6th grade!) says she’s tough on him bcz she’s preparing him for his future education… #edchat
@wmchamberlain: Do we teachers emphasize traditional colleges/universities too much to the deficit of trade schools? Are we creating social classes? #edchat
@isteconnects: Maybe local K12 tech leaders could offer teaching workshops for profs? Anyone see that happening? #edchat
@wmchamberlain: What about students that don’t want/need college? #edchat
@jorech: If K-12 ONLY prepares kids for college, we are doing them a huge disservice. #edchat
@EduTechSmith: to me education is not to get kids into college. it is to prepare children to be self-sufficient adults who know how to learn & grow #edchat
@teachnetcom: There’s a disconnect between academia and the real world. We’re not exposing students to enough in HS bc we’re too busy w standards. #edchat
@Smichael920: if schools r preparing learners 4 future society whats the purpose of testing & memorisation? #edchat
I would ask that the following question is added to the poll next week:
For you, what is the purpose of #edchat?
How are school systems addressing the production gap?
What invisible technologies effecting schools & society do we need to be aware of and how do we work to minimize their harm?
@evmaiden Colleges can ignore messiness of the data because consumers of higher ed are willing, mostly paying. http://bit.ly/gwweLj
Carl Anderson is currently a technology integration specialist for East Metro Integration School District 6067 in St. Paul, MN, an online art and technology teacher for Connections Academy, and an adjunct instructor for Hamline University’s Graduate School of Education. He was a classroom art teacher for nine years before his current positions. His research interests include technology mediated differentiated instruction, virtual worlds, alternative pedagogy, project-based learning, and equity issues related to technology and schools. Carl is a frequent conference presenter and school technology consultant. He blogs at Techno Constructivist and is @anderscj on Twitter.
New to Edchat?
If you have never participated in an #Edchat discussion, these take place twice a day every Tuesday on Twitter. Over 1,000 educators participate in this discussion by just adding #edchat to their tweets. For tips on participating in the discussion, please check out these posts!
We are thrilled to have our summary provided this week by Joe Jacquot @WackJacq who is no stranger to PD. He has caught the enthusiasm for edcamps and teachmeets very well and I’m sure you will find the summary both enjoyable and informative. For Joe’s bio see the end of the post.
Here are some of the main themes from the discussion:
#edchat educators compared the ways in which Edcamps and Teachmeets differ from than traditional professional development.
Many teachers agreed that the newer formats are more effective.
Although admittedly not an exclusive list, most of the participants supported the idea of using elements of Edcamps and Teachmeets in PD:
for educators who are interested in creative ways to meet the needs of their students. (@Marama)
for more environments for collaboration (@tomwhitby)
for collaboration and learning in mind, not pushing agenda (@ktenkely)
for time and resources to focus on teaching and learning during the school day (@ian23505)
for educators to connect , socialize & collaborate (@ShanaAtDS)
for control over their own learning (@L_Hilt:)(@stumpteacher)
for face to face interaction (@web20classroom)
for passion — driven to be what you need it to be (@justintarte)
Here is a selection of some of the comments:
With such a vibrant discussion, it’s almost impossible to do it justice in a summary, but I’ve picked out some of the comments that caught my eye.
@2footgiraffe: PD should not be a, “let’s all sit here for 6 hours and listen to someone.” Let people choose.
@aaronmueller: Edcamp can help create relationships and PLN that extends past the event, helping throughout entire career! #edchat #mentoring
@andycinek: The edu conference model needs to stop being a fraternity of common voices.
@becky7274: How will we ever get kids to see mistakes as a way to grow if teachers refuse to take risks and make mistakes themselves? #edchat
@bhsprincipal: I have said it before that #edcamp is a signal from teachers that they can do PD better on their own.
@bjnichols: PD is useful when it is job-embedded, differentiated, connected, and followed-up on. #edchat
@blairteach: TeachMeet is an event planned & produced by participants to share & collaborate on topics they decide upon.
@cmcgee200: As an aspiring administrator, my number one goal will be allowing teachers to fail, and celebrating their risk.
@cybraryman1: Experience an edcamp/TeachMeet & you will see how great they are for sharing, collaborating and re-energizing yourselves
@davidwees: Traditional PD = I share. Edcamp = We share.
@ellclassroom: I think advertising is a key component of getting more educators on board. Most I talk to have no idea what I’m talking about
@fliegs: I agree. Admin has to build collab time into the schedule if tchrs are going to get anywhere. #edchat
@geraldaungst: andycinek The “purposeful” part is important. Autonomy is not automatically relevant.
@hadleyjf: We need times for new ideas and then times when we get together and plan! Create a new curriculum – a week at a time!
JoAnnJ68: We are indeed all learners & the more we share the stronger ties we develop which results in better collaboration & teaching #edchat
jrichardson30: Radicals is what we are here! RT @shyj: Roots are so deep, need some “tornado like” educators to uproot and get things rolling
@justintarte: I love @cmcgee200 ’s point…edcamps/teachmeets are like using Twitter – everyday you use Twitter U R attending an edcamp/teachmeet #edchat
@justwonderinY: @blairteach I think it’s more about Leade rshipMeets, doesn’t really matter if admin or teacher. Goals should be same? #edchat
@ktenkely: @wmchamberlain Yes! We need opportunities for in-depth collaborating and learning. #immersivePD #edchat #unpd
@KTVee: live in a world where I can learn more at home on a snow day from twitter than at some expensive conferences. $ does not = quality #edchat
@L_Hilt: We really need to include admin. Otherwise how can they plan these types of experiences for their teachers? #edchat
@lisalearner: great intro to #edcamp and unconferences article for those who want a little background http://bit.ly/bb0Eu2 #edchat
@malcolmbellamy: There’s no pay, it’s after school and everyone is enthusiastic…it sums it up #edchat
@shyj: @Mrskmpeters Exactly! And in 21st c, there are so many ways that knowledge is available and learning never has to stop. #edchat
@michellek107: We have so many ppl in our own buildings that could share & are not experts, but have smthng worth sharing #edchat
I would ask that the following question is added to the poll next week:
If “Schools Kill Creativity,” what can we teachers do to help reverse or mitigate this apparent side effect?
WackJacq: WOW- via @theschlechtycenter: http://bit.ly/3CreF Watch the video. Working on the WORK is about creating work kids want to do. #edchat
stumpteacher: @shyj @blairteach Kids learn more when you give up control…http://bit.ly/fJRxcu
WackJacq: @surreallyno @ShellTerrell: Working on the Work http://amzn.to/fbcfo4 -His seminal book. He has many other now. Worth a read. #edchat
andycinek: NEW RULES: #ntcamp 2011: Find three new voices in your building and bring them to #ntcamp or an #edcamp #edchat http://bit.ly/c2Pr95
cybraryman1: Hope to see y’all at #edcampbham See my Calendar: http://bit.ly/atUkDb #edchat
2footgiraffe: #edchat speaking of Teachmeets and educons - here is the participant form for TeachMeet TN/Memphis/Nashville http://bit.ly/eJ4Fk4
andycinek: Good #edchat must be on my way, but please introduce a new voice to #ntcamp Burlington or Philly this year http://bit.ly/c2Pr95
davidwees: Thanks all. Participate in your local #edcamp! See this page for details & some dates. http://is.gd/LpKV6G#edchat #unconference
I am a currently teaching Humanities and Latin to American high school students. Lately I have been blogging about my ideas on education, and my experiences acting on those ideas in the classroom. Current topics I am interested in are: classroom2.0, using free technology in the classroom to make learning more personalized and authentic. At the moment I am focusing on Schlechty, PBL, and the vodcasting and mastery learning approach begun by Jonathan Bergmann and Aaron Sams in Colorado.
New to Edchat?
If you have never participated in an #Edchat discussion, these take place twice a day every Tuesday on Twitter. Over 400 educators participate in this discussion by just adding #edchat to their tweets. For tips on participating in the discussion, please check out these posts!
A bit of a ‘last minute Larry’ (again!) but at the eleventh-hour I am happy to share my personal nominations.
There is so much out there and the list of educators producing valuable and thought-provoking content is growing so fast that it’s sometimes overwhelming!! As each year goes by the wealth of great ideas and techniques continues to grow - so does collaboration and this can only be a good thing. So…..
Thank you to Rob Griffith (@rgriffithjr) for this week’s summary. The edchat session on blogging was amazing – as you can see from the post and it was not easy to keep up! Rob has captured the energy in this summary. So many links were posted that there is no excuse for not including blogging in your work! Thank you Rob for providing us with a great summary. See Rob’s bio at the end of the post.
Main Points:
Blogging Engagement – Challenging others and ourselves to express views/ideas.
Blogs are a tremendous tool for getting students, teachers, and parents involved in educational discussion and inquiry. They provide a simple straightforward platform that promotes involvement and higher level thinking. Students that may be shy in the classroom often open up in the blogging environment
Blogging Enabling – Creating an opportunity to speak their voice
Blogs allow the author to speak their mind without fear of reprisal. For those who disagree with the opinion and position they can simply stop reading. The author is granted ownership through the writing of a blog and generally is compelled to produce a post that demonstrates quality work and preparation.
Blogging Effectiveness – Comprehending the outcomes why/how to Blog
Blogs have the ability to be utilized for multiple purposes. From introductory thinking, to complicated research, a blog has both usefulness and purpose. Blogs can immerse the reader with ideas, interact with an audience, and inspire people to change. Take a look at the comments from #edchat about Blogging in Education
Here is a selection of some of the comments:
@malcolmbellamy -I have seen excellent examples of increased confidence and reasons for writing using blogs #edchat
@bhsprincipal -At the h.s. level, we need more student voice to move the agenda, student blogs are a great vehicle for this. #edchat
@karacornejo - Children need to write for real purposes in genres that are relevant to today’s world. #edchat
@andycinek -Saying no to student blogs is basically saying no to reflection, writing, and critical analysis #edchat
@k_shelton -Blogging provides students with an authentic audience (classmates) that can interact with their writings, unlike a paper journal #edchat
@Tina_Barr - It is the job of and educators to inform, not censor. #edchat
@schoolsEDU - Example: students can blog their learning process(es) and track progress. #edchat
@ericjuli - In blogless classrooms, there sometimes isn’t any purposeful structure for student-student relationships #edchat
@debwhite – Blogs are a way of communicating, reflecting, making thinking visible, showing change over time, documenting learning. This is ed.
@vlnenglish – blogs are a great reflective tool for students and teachers
@WorldWideLearn - Students are heard outside the classroom RT @davidwees What arguments can we produce to justify blogging? #edchat
@baldy7 - #edchat the single greatest transformative experience in my professional career was beginning to blog and reply to blogs
@drtimony - Blogging is important b/c it is what people are doing now. It is a viable option for expression. Ts should see that. #edchat
@karacornejo - Not only do I hv students comment on others blogs but I have their parents comment also, nvr would have happened w/ journal writing #edchat
@mathartist - Blogging is reporting and on the highest level of digital Bloom’s. Reporting is accountability & ownership #edchat
@carneysandoe - #edchat Communication between parents and school is enhanced by this tool.
@davidwees - Often schools build time into their schedules for collaboration, professional development, how about blogging? #edchat
@malcolmbellamy - the blog is not a one-way thing there is a real conversation with comments! #edchat
@rliberni - A blog is a real way of engaging stds in something real and tangible #edchat
@yolinksearch - Blogging encourages students to stay up-to-date and critically analyze current events that are important to them #edchat
bhsprincipal: Social networking (blogging) Improves Literacy (via @gcouros) http://bit.ly/cxQiLB #edchat
2043777699024896 edudemic 11/9/2010 12:04 PM TV vs. Social Media: Who Swears More? http://t.co/WiOPl8m #edchat
mrami2: Check out how my student Shawn has embraced blogging in the classroom: http://bit.ly/93ArjM
nancyrubin: eJournal Ideas for Teachers http://t.co/sCfcKw1 via @nancyrubin #edchat
maggiev: Top 20 Websites No Teacher Should Start the 2010-2011 Year Without http://bit.ly/9augy8 #edchat #edtech
DeputyMitchell: Is commenting on blogs a dying art? Read @HGJohn’s view: http://bit.ly/9tN601 #edchat
aaronmueller: Here are many examples of my own video blogs for online students http://bit.ly/8X8zb1
joe_bower: Silent Reading, Star Wars and Technology http://bit.ly/arCNH1 #abed #edchat
vmc_teachers: @ShellTerrell @karacornejo What is the advantages of http://Kidblog.org over other platforms ? #edchat #EdRes
ktenkely: Any of you #edchat peeps want to put in your 2cents for #twitacad, starting a new school would love input! http://bit.ly/cYXS7O
ShellTerrell: Connecting Through Blogs! Many resources http://bit.ly/9beD59 #edchat #blogging #edtech
vmc_teachers: @schoolsEDU Which blogs? I recently discovd http://www.posterous.com - allows many contribs. WordPress also great. #edchat
leahmacvie: With a campus-wide effort for blogging, now comes the need for guidelines/directions. See ours: : http://bit.ly/dm081b #edchat
TheHeadsOffice: DeputyMitchell: Is commenting on blogs a dying art? Read @HGJohn’s view: http://bit.ly/9tN601 #edchat >Presenting on it #tmbristol Weds
tomwhitby: BTW you are all invited to my Blog “My Island View” . Your comments are most welcomed. http://bit.ly/86CKmb #Edchat
ianaddison: I wonder if our US friends would like to look too? Pick a class on the right and leave a comment http://www.stjohnsblogs.co.uk #edchat
YancyUnger: #edchat Blogging can be about autonomy, mastery, and purpose. That is the motivation. http://bit.ly/aFiTdn
Bio
@rgriffithjr – I am an educator from Western New York. I love using technology to improve efficiency and effectiveness of my classroom instruction.
New to Edchat?
If you have never participated in an #Edchat discussion, these take place twice a day every Tuesday on Twitter. Over 1,000 educators participate in this discussion by just adding #edchat to their tweets. For tips on participating in the discussion, please check out these posts!
This week’s #edchat touched on a topic very close to people’s hearts and the discussion was lively to say the least. There were tons of links shared and lots of new collaborations arranged! Taking on the task of ploughing through the archive to produce this week’s summary is Tracy Mercier (@tracymercier) who has done an amazing job! Thank you Tracy for sterling work! Find out more about Tracy from her bio at the end of the post.
With everything going virtual and making its way to the cloud, it’s inevitable for us to ask what will happen to textbooks. But, more than that, what will happen to anything in print? As we enter a more digital world, we consider the implications for educating children how to navigate their way. During the chat today, a few points and/or concerns were resonating: cost, content, and process.
As a few pointed out, the cost of electronic textbooks is not much different than those in print. Most having only a $10 difference. There is also the additional cost of purchasing an e-reader &/or laptop to access the digital textbook. The issue of cost raised a few concerns about equity. How can we ensure that those without access at home would be able to participate outside of school?
The conversation revolving around content and process brought up some excellent points. Do we have to use textbooks (print or digital)? If we are going to go digital, how about pulling in other resources: video, Wikipedia, etc. This brought in concerns about disseminating the same information to students vs. providing students with choice. Choice in what to read or how to get the information: video, going to the source (asking the author). Some also suggested blending the two. Providing the students with an array of resources in print and online. Yet, as many of us know, just because it’s out there on the web, does not mean that it’s credible. What skills do we need to consider teaching our students in order for them to know when they are being fed false information? And, how do we scaffold the skills, tech and literacy, so that our students are successful? Training was also a concern. Not only do we want our students to be successful with the tools, but it was clearly important that our colleagues be just as successful implementing them.
Here is a selection of some of the comments:
With such a vibrant discussion, it’s almost impossible to do it justice in a summary, but I’ve picked out some of the comments that caught my eye.
Parentella: @ShellTerrell Training is key. We have to equip our educator with the knowledge of ho to best use the tech b4 leaving them w/it
UltimateTeacher: @ShellTerrell We have to empower teachers to take on digital books. Small goals are more realistic and manageable
tomwhitby: By switching to digital content that huge amount textbk $$$ could be diverted to tech tools and there would still be money left over.
malcolmbellamy: education is about preparation for the future not rushing backwards to the past
tucksoon: Textbooks will still exist unless education technology becomes air
tomwhitby: Digital is more relevant and timely than Print.
findingdulcinea: Educators must create the successors to textbooks; we’ve created a platform to help them, as have others http://bit.ly/91xCl7
ShellTerrell: Most Ss have access to cell phones where they can carry the material around w/ them if we made the switch to dig tech
aguteirreziT: Agree that ebook and book should coexist. Fond memories from childhood with books. Shame to eliminate completely.
cybraryman1: We have to consider training for learning new technology & expecting learners to adapt to blended learning
CrudBasher: Idea world -> Each students has their own customized digital txtbook, based on their learning style
tkraz: Is there a resource for teachers who want to “construct” a free online version of their text? Let us get started that way.
findingdulcinea: e-textbooks are not the answer; still have one voice, and no differentiated or individualized, student-directed instruction
odysseyware: Don’t forget it’s not about us, but what students will do. It can never be digital or paper bcs every kid is different. So how?
vickicobb: Where is it written that all kids have to read the same bk on a topic? Why cant they read diff bks and discuss??
michellek107: 1 problem w/ print textbooks is that many are used as “THE curriculum,” rather than to support curriculum.
SamGliksman: ebooks will succeed when they provide genuine interactive learning experience and aren’t just pdf of text-which most are now
SECottrell: Open-source resources that are motivating, up-to-date, and relevant are what turns the textbookless classroom into magic
lhmiles2: Give me a vast supply of primary & secondary documents, and I will never touch another textbook again. Students love real content.
min_d_j: digital text = flexible text. How about interactive PLEs that include text, images, video, simulations, interactive components?
Mamacita: Good teachers turn textbooks into magic carpets, & poor teachers refuse to use magic at all. It would be the same for ebooks.
cybraryman1: Our job as educators is to find the right method (book & internet) so every child can learn & reach his/her potential.
ImagineLearning: Fascinating article on how web is dying. R apps a solution 2 letting Ss use power of internet but stay safe? http://bit.ly/bVq4v3 #edchat
vickicobb: It’s the writing that makes written material memorable. here’s scientific proof: http://bit.ly/dtBJ6N
vickicobb: Think of us nonfiction authors as playwrights. You can teach from great scripts! http://bit.ly/d9ZPAT
elanaleoni: CK12 offers free #opensource textbooks w the ability to collaborate: http://www.ck12.org/flexr/
NextGenLC: Widespread use of #augmentedreality in the classroom may be far off, but it’s exciting tech. to think about http://ow.ly/2Lai1 #edchat
PCSTech: Here’s an example of a free, online textbook on NC History, created by @LEARNNC – http://bit.ly/cfewKb It’s incredible. #edchat
DUMACORNELLUCIA: New blog post Personal Learning Environments, Network and Knowledge 2010 #PLENK2010 and #edtech20 http://bitly.net/b5BSJZ #edchat #P21cs
ECBOE: A Fun World Where Kids Create and Publish Their Own Books: http://bit.ly/92gLYZ #AETA #edchat
findingdulcinea: Here’s our list of 101 great social studies Web sites; why use a textbook when you have these? http://bit.ly/bChZsi #edchat #sschat
agutierrezIT: @ tomwhitby I don’t support or defend McLeroy’s influence, but is it any different than NYT influence? http://bit.ly/9vLivW #edchat
Mamacita: @tkraz Net is full of ebook deals. Wed. night, for example, you can get @SteveSpangler ’s new ebook for $0.99! http://bit.ly/dhRn9c #edchat
vickicobb: I had to leave teaching to become a science writer for children. No time for both teaching and writing. http://vickicobb.com #edchat
ESLlibrary: @englishraven Shared this interesting video about a potential digital textbook http://tinyurl.com/26u52um Check out after #edchat
ToddAHoffman: Texas schools use Web-based program to support 1-to-1 learning #edchat #edtech http://sbne.ws/r/5KCe
web20education: RT @cybraryman1: We have to teach students not to believe everything on internet. See: All About Explorers http://bit.ly/akDbr8 (author:@geraldaungst)#edchat
EDUTOPIA: An article that relates 2 #edchat today: “A Textbook Example of What’s Wrong w #Education” http://bit.ly/cJJegZ
ESLlibrary: @theteachinggame Yes, here is a great new resource on just that from @NikPeachey http://tinyurl.com/29wdtok #edchat
GEN_Technology: RT @Parentella: Keep the Education Conversation Going on Twitter with #EdChat Even After the Hype http://bit.ly/de6OB8 #education
vmc_teachers: @davidwees Animal in the wild. OMG! I was having the same thought yesterday watching this video on ants http://bit.ly/dbcOHf AMAZING #edchat
findingdulcinea: What if thousands of great teachers created and shared assignments & resources like this one? http://bit.ly/bPelRl #edchat
lemino: @cybraryman1 I wish I could participate in the next #edchat It relates to a pervious one and this post… http://bit.ly/aySkTr
Taylor_Learning: @Carter_Learning Has a great blog post on the e-reader debate. Good supplementary reading for today’s #edchat http://bit.ly/9aRLEv
Tracy Mercier is a third grade teacher at Broad Brook Elementary School in Broad Brook, CT. She teaches with a passion for integrated curriculum and technology. Tracy is also a Responsive Classroom Consulting Teacher and CT ASCD Board Member.
New to Edchat?
If you have never participated in an #Edchat discussion, these take place twice a day every Tuesday on Twitter. Over 1,000 educators participate in this discussion by just adding #edchat to their tweets. For tips on participating in the discussion, please check out these posts!
Thank you to Katherine Maloney (@1katty) for this summary of #edchat. Last week’s discussion was fast and furious and I think this is reflected in Katherine’s post here – so many tweets and so many great ideas! Thank you Katherine for a very comprehensive and thoughtful summary. Read Katherine’s bio at the end of the post.
For those of us involved in the daily grind of school, today’s #edchat helped us all to take a step back and look at the big picture: what should be the single focus of education if we could agree on only one goal? @rliberni and @ShellTerrell were our moderators, and they, as usual, did a brilliant job. Thank you!
While final consensus on a single focus of education may be difficult to reach, my personal takeaway from this #edchat was the realization that it is extremely important for us to try to arrive at one. My experience in life has taught me that success cannot be achieved without clear goals. While the process of identifying these goals may be a difficult and messy one, I do believe that it can be done and that doing so will be worth it in the long run.
Please see below for a summary of the main themes of the discussion and a selection of a few of my favorite tweets from it.
Main themes from the discussion:
Suggestions for a suitable focus for education included: life-long learning; critical thinking and problem-solving; helping students to find and pursue their passion(s); learning from failure; global citizenship; creativity; fun.
Several suggested that there was a need for a clarification of terms: is the right word “focus,” or “vision,” “mission,” “philosophy” or some other?
Participants in the discussion also reminded us that “education” need not be confined to “school.”
The more conventional ideas that education should focus on preparing students for success on exams, college, future employment, etc. were also debated; it was generally agreed that these should be referred to as “targets” or “outcomes” rather than as “focuses,” and that these targets need not be the same for everybody.
Predictably, questions were raised about whether or not it is possible, or even desirable, to identify one, single focus for education. While being focused and having clear goals can help to bring about powerful change, a “one size fits all” approach to education could end up excluding many.
The questions of how we arrive at this agreement – the obstacles that are preventing agreement from being reached – and how to turn the agreement (if it can indeed be arrived at) into a reality were also discussed. For example, who gets to decide on this focus – the students, the teachers, the parents, or…? Once established, how can we ensure that there is no conflict between individual or local interests and national or international ones, or even between student/parent/teacher/school goals? How can we ensure that everyone interprets the goal in the same way? How can we know whether or not the goal has been achieved (i.e. how do we measure a goal such as “life-long learning”? Portfolios, or…?)? Finally, how can educators implement a goal such as “instill a life-long love of learning” within our current system – an often limiting and restrictive one?
While there was not final agreement on whether there should be one focus or many, or what exactly this focus (or focuses) should be, most participants in this discussion did agree that change is needed, and that it can only be accomplished by working together and involving all of the key stakeholders in the decision-making process. Parents and policy-makers are an important part of this discussion, though very few if any were present in our #edchat.
A selection of some of my favorite tweets (organized according to theme):
Ideas for a single focus:
@Mollybmom: Inviting our students to engage as life long learners. @CrudBasher: Single purpose of education: To help each child reach their full potential. @Mollybmom: Personal reflection, self discovery, curiosity, asking questions and seeking answers…owning the learning. @andycinek: Single focus options: adapt, change, learn, fail, discover. @1katty: How about – “tailoring individual learning experiences so as to meet the unique needs of each student”? @tracymercier: My largest goal is for them to be socially responsible. Everything else is gravy. @lisalearner: The principle goal of education is to create men [and women] who are capable of doing new things. – Jean Piaget @SECottrell: That they invest their lives in pursuing the greatest good for every life they touch. @Lauren_Learning: Lifelong learning is the only sustainable focus. If we simply teach skill mastery, the learning ends when students leave school. @malcolmbellamy: Education should be about preparation for life, not exams. @sjhannam: Education should be about preparation for life, but life = competition in job market nowadays. Exams are gatekeepers. How do we change this? @smitha834: I agree with the push back on exams but educators need to show the public what’s going on and that they’re not afraid to be assessed. @tomwhitby: Are students ever allowed to establish a goal beyond stating what they want to be when they grow up?
“Focus,” “Goal,” Or…? @TechCzech: We need to differentiate between aspirations, goals and objectives. Let aspirations be lofty. Goals realistic. Objectives measurable.
One goal, or many? @web20classroom: Should there be just one goal? Can there be just one goal? @domi75P: One goal seems impossible. There is so much diversity among people it would be easier to define what we do not want. @discomfortzone: Is it wrong for schools to differ? Do they need to be universal? Have the same goals? @drtimony: Single focus? Options. @TechCzech: I went to school in a country (Czechoslovakia) where all “educators” agreed. Not sure it was for the best. @CrudBasher: I am for charters, public, private, unschooling, handschooling, online, offline and not invented yet. More choices! @tonychilders: Anything beyond two or three goals waters down efforts and distracts. @lisalearner: Without the same goals, we’ll never reach any goals. A divided house can’t stand, right? @W3iGHTLESS: Yes, but does agreement on one goal honor the diversity of our students? As long as the overarching goal is broad enough. @lemino: I think all movements have a defined vision, passionate leaders who define vision for others who run with it! We need that in education! @tomwhitby: If educators cannot agree on where we are going, how can we ever get from where we are, to where we need to be? @1katty: Without a clear overarching goal, perhaps educators make themselves more vulnerable to the latest fad or trend.
Challenges: @ShellTerrell: What is preventing us from agreeing on one educational goal? @michellek107: Success defined differently by different people from different cultures and places. @SECottrell: Agreeing on realistic goals for students requires a vision of the world they will live in. @sjhannam: Educators in a school may agree with goal, but interpret differently what that means. Uniformity unrealistic? @CrudBasher: Here’s a related question: Who currently determines the goal of education? @tomwhitby: What if a parent’s goal for the child’s education is not in sync with the school’s? @tracymercier: Unfortunately, we are all mandated to teach specific content (NOT concepts) that limits the amount of autonomy we provide students. @tomwhitby: Lifelong learning only happens when people control their learning. If that’s the goal,when do kids control their learning in our system? @sjhannam: We need to ask why teachers are not involved in policy making. What’s the point of educational policy? Why is it discriminatory? @ShellTerrell: Is education transformation halted by educators not agreeing on one goal or a few goals?
Solutions:
@EduTechSmith: Let’s not make excuses for why it is hard to achieve this goal and start focusing on accomplishing the task. @michellek107: Schools, communities, and parents must partner together for children’s education. Not in sync – need to meet and discuss. @web20classroom: Big goals must be supported with action steps that move everyone in the right direction. @smitha834: To truly disrupt education change needs to include the constituent stakeholders; if less are alienated more can make a movement. @cybraryman1: Love to see us take all these wonderful ideas and meld them into our mission statement for education. @smitha834: My #edchat takeaway: my goal is to disrupt education by focusing on learners, community, and process. School is anywhere learning occurs.
My name is Katherine Maloney, and I have been teaching IB English and Theory of Knowledge overseas for the past 12 years. I have a passion for reading, writing, the environment, traveling, art, yoga, and for using technology to enhance my students’ learning. You can read more at my blog “KatScan”, or by following me on Twitter at 1katty.
New to Edchat?
If you have never participated in an #Edchat discussion, these take place twice a day every Tuesday on Twitter. Over 1,000 educators participate in this discussion by just adding #edchat to their tweets. For tips on participating in the discussion, please check out these posts!
RT @tomwhitby: I often wonder if we might better be served by instead of standardizing education for all students, we do it for all teacher… 20 hours ago
#edchat #TLChat #HASL11
