Rliberni's Blog – Radical language

February 7, 2011

Are Edcamps & TeachMeets viable alternatives to professional development

Filed under: Edchat — rliberni @ 5:16 pm
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

#Edchat 01-02–2011 – 18:00 CET 12 PM EST

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?

To follow the complete discussion see here 


For the stats on #edchat participation see here 


As ever, there were some great links shared:

davidwees: See this article for a description of an #edcamp. Why teacher run professional development? http://is.gd/hHUJtP #edcampvan #edchat

ChrisVacek:  New Post: Do You Want a SpEdCamp? http://bit.ly/hdgel3  Please Comment & RT! #edchat

cybraryman1:  RT @cybraryman1: Example of chart of sessions at recent #TMGA11 http://yfrog.com/h8bhakj

lisalearner:  @unhmba @KTVee many diff formats, but main point is it’s free and attendees do the presenting–see this article http://bit.ly/bb0Eu2

cybraryman1:  My EdCamp/TeachMeet page (with calendar of upcoming ones): http://bit.ly/dg1Jsk  #edchat eg: Feb 5 – TeachMeet East 2 (Norwich, UK)

lisalearner: This TeachMeet followed a speed-dating model to share ideas–great way to see variety of teaching models! http://bit.ly/548OEH

cybraryman1:  #tmeast #ntcamp2011 #TMNJ #edcampOmaha #edcampVancouver #edcampbham #edcampBoston #edcampPlano http://bit.ly/dg1Jsk

geraldaungst:  @KTVee Basically, yes. See here: http://bit.ly/gcztOw #edcamp #edchat

geraldaungst: A brand new wiki for sharing unconventional PD ideas like today’s #edchat topic: http://unpd.pbworks.com. Join and contribute! #unpd

cybraryman1: Try a Smackdown (http://bit.ly/dWTawr) at a faculty conference to get them in the mood for edcamp/TeachMeet #edchat

ToddAHoffman: How mentoring is helping one district retain science teachers http://sbne.ws/r/6EhZ  #edtech #edchat

andycinek: i’m in contact with edu departments & preservice programs to bring in new teachers for #ntcamp http://bit.ly/c2Pr95  #edchat

EdCampOmaha:  Great #EdCamp conversation during #edchat today. Speaking of which, sign up to join us March 26th! http://t.co/VjWMasB

web20education: New #edtech20 post #ntchat #edchat #lrnchat , Worldwide educators you are invited to join my… http://goo.gl/fb/okYw2

trbaker: Five Great TED Talks for Educators http://ow.ly/3OcEA  #edchat #education #geo #scichat #edchat

L_Hilt: Yeah. Here it is. Then @phsprincipal & I got busy w/ unexpected new jobs & such over summer. http://j.mp/gLsd1s  #edchat #leadcamp

stevejmoore:  Witchita, KS. I’d go. http://bit.ly/hdgel3  #edcamp #edchat

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!

More Edchat

Challenge:

If you’re new to hashtag discussions, then just show up on Twitter on any Tuesday and add just a few tweets on the topic with the hashtag #edchat. 

What do you think? Leave a comment!



February 1, 2011

What is impact on education considering fact that many new leaders of #edreform are from business & not education?

Filed under: Edchat — rliberni @ 6:11 pm
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

#Edchat 24-01–2011 – 18:00 CET 12 PM EST

Thank you to David Weston (@informed_edu) for the #edchat summary for last week’s chat. The discussion was certainly energetic and at times polarised. As a relative newcomer to #edchat, David has given us a fresh perspective! I’m sure you will agree that the summary captures the essence of another great #edchat session! Find out more about David at the end of the post.
 
 
This was a fast and furious #edchat and covered a huge range of topics. Initial conversation centred around the implications of business principles being applied in education, and whether the values of the two worlds were compatible, with a lot of focus on whether businesses could or should invest in education and/or expect a return. Many contributors were keenly aware that education reformers often cite business and management ideas as reasons to implement change – this had clearly touched a raw nerve with some – with some discussions reflecting the wider debate in the political sphere. Aside from this tension, which ran through whole chat, there were many suggestions about areas of education that could potentially benefit from a more business-like approach, and also some thoughts about strengths within education that could be learned by business.


Here are some of the main themes from the discussion: 

  • If schools promote learning and business promotes profit, can they work together?
  • Can businesspeople help foster innovation and efficiency?
  • Would a greater engagement with business end up pushing the ‘accountability’ agenda?
  • Examples of successful collaborations between business and education
  • What desired outcomes would we want from collaboration?
  • Would the risk-taking nature of business be acceptable in 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 – “What is the impact on education considering the fact that many new leaders of ed reform are from business & not education?”
@davidwees – “Businesses have shown themselves to be often uncaring, and lacking empathy b/c focus on bottom line. We want this for schools?”
@fliegs – “Children are not products” & “Schools are not businesses”
@rliberni – “I think the way we move children thru school sometimes makes them seem like products”
@mbaprogrms – “The methods businesses have may not work for the classroom– however, they are good leaders, so maybe we could focus on that?”
@informed_edu – “If you get business people focusing on long-term outcomes for students, it would drive better change.”
@CTuckerEnglish – “Performance and pay tend to go hand-in-hand in business world so incentive programs and merit pay are reminiscent of business model”
@slaleman – “even business doesn’t use the business model anymore…look at Google”
@jpsteltz – “Edu could learn from marketing techniques used in business. Our profession is NOT marketed well”
@SErwin – “Students pay private entities to take online classes. Why are school dist not offering them?”
@cybraryman1 – “Should businesses invest in schools financially?”
@JenVonid – “y shouldn’t schools partner w/ businesses. A large company partnered w/ a local charter skool, paid 4 all the technology, gym, etc”
@jonbergmann – “Example: Morgridge Family Foundation (Cisco) is partnering with us to share the flipped classroom model”
@ian23505 – “Local business in MA providing $10k per year for the next 5 years for tech implementation.”
@rliberni – “Does it have to be a them and us?”
@ericjuli – “Implication is bcse business leaders went to school, they are “education experts.” Must further professionalize teaching&leading”
@daveandcori – “Businesses have streamlined processes, become efficient, decreased meetings, integr tech, decrease paper – education is way behind”
@rdlln – “We had to spend $3,000 on software we didn’t need. It couldn’t be spent on anything else or saved. No business would do that.”
@Nunavut_Teacher – “Are schools letting government off the hook by getting business to fill a $ void? ”
@sram_socrates – “Education is more of a web-design while business is more linear with a defined end result”
@geraldaungst – “Business sees edu as a means of producing better employees. Our mission is larger than that.”
@wmchamberlain – “Teaching students how to learn makes them better employees than teaching them skills that get dated…”
@pete_rodrigues – “The misconception is the business want cogs – most don’t. They want thinkers”
@nsharoff – “I’m tired of everyone ‘fighting’ each other (parents-admin-teachers-students-business), let’s take the best of all & put it together”
@CTuckerEnglish “Defining “profit” is a crucial step in the process of deciding how to accurately assess that profit. What are we truly assessing?”

I would ask that the following question is added to the poll next week:

What long-term effects do we want to be having on our students?

To follow the complete discussion see here 

For the stats on #edchat participation see here 


As ever, there were some great links shared:

WSDTechInfo:  Participate in this week’s #edchat http://bit.ly/8LXuMB

cybraryman1:  Need more school business partnerships like Open Doors http://cybraryman.com/careerssubjects.html

sbenglin: Englin tells it like it is re: education funding and investing in human capital: http://ow.ly/3JX9X#edchat #educationnation

davidwees:  @informed_edu We don’t need a innovation in education. We need to start using what we know works. http://is.gd/GJKxy5

informed_edu: @davidwees Yes Long term impact is good. Education focuses on short-term. We need ’10-year survival rates’ http://ow.ly/3JXjN

edutopiahubert: I think ed and bus needs each other… “America’s high schools are obsolete,” Bill Gates. http://bit.ly/fMlM30

thechalkface:  What if we treated doctors the way we treated teachers? http://huff.to/hwRcSS

daveandcori: CBIA Externship program – http://j.mp/fLKAMe #edchat connecting business and education

informed_edu:  I learned a huge amount by reading about business and healthcare. Some lesson can transfer, and should #edchat http://ow.ly/3JXjN

edutopiahubert:  Businesses can also lend out their human resources. http://bit.ly/fJ2hIG #edchat

jbrogley:  I’m taking a tour this spring of this business. Their campus along is innovative and inspiring. http://bit.ly/c9dM15

cybraryman1:  My students gained a lot from our Health Careers program http://cybraryman.com/hcp.html

RobertSAllen1: #edchat everyone see #unbound right now if you are not already. Change is happening and business (non and for) are … http://bit.ly/heUINc

WorldofLearning: For more information on the Learning #Unbound summit, visit http://knowledgeworks.org/conversation

davidwees: RT @StepanVdovine: business and schools can’t be welded at the hip – http://bit.ly/a8BpP7

davidwees:  Want teachers to trust your business more? Fine: Help clean this up => http://is.gd/EYdjVo

ViSandford:  A great community effort to support literacy. “Canmore-based comic company telling Canadian stories.” http://ow.ly/3JZt7 

eSchoolNews:  Future murky for virtual classrooms http://ow.ly/3JPUF

cybraryman1: My iPad page http://cybraryman.com/ipad.html. Great device to use while on the road. Great chatting while my wife drives in Georgia #edchat

shankerblog: Yale ends teacher programs due 2 lack of interest yet 18%ofstudents apply to Teach for America http://bit.ly/hw3hgQ 

CoachInTheLab:  http://bit.ly/fOZS00 <– The new “plan” for education here. Read it and tell me what you think… most educators are up in arms. #edchat

web20classroom: All You Educational Chat Participants-We Have A Project For You: http://bit.ly/hqShZa   #edchat #ntchat #ELTChat #mathchat

 David Weston (@informed_edu) is a secondary school Maths and Physics teacher and data manager at Watford Grammar School for Boys in the UK, with a Masters in Engineering from Oxford University. He runs an education data consultancy where he is producing training and analysis tools for classroom practitioners and school leaders. David is an honorary associate researcher at Brunel University and is looking at effective use of data. He is an e-learning enthusiast, and has interests in learning and leadership, and has consulted for a number of education-related start-ups. David lives in north London with his civil partner, is a former professional latin-american dancer, and, in 2009, a grateful recipient of a liver transplant after some years fighting off a rare liver disease. Find out more and follow his blog at http://www.informededucation.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!

More Edchat

Challenge:

If you’re new to hashtag discussions, then just show up on Twitter on any Tuesday and add just a few tweets on the topic with the hashtag #edchat. 

What do you think? Leave a comment!

December 29, 2010

Digital Native: Truth or Fiction?

Filed under: Edchat — rliberni @ 3:20 pm
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

#Edchat 12-14–2010 – 18:00 CET 12 PM EST

We are very grateful to Tinashe Blanchet (@mrsblanchet) for this week’s summary. It was the last #edchat of the year and turned out to be a very lively and informative session! Many edchatters were born pre-digital but felt themselves no less part of the digital world! Tinashe has captured the atmosphere of the discussion and went one stop further and involved some of her Yr 12 ‘digital natives’ for a real all round view! thank you Tinashe. Find out more about Tinashe in her bio t the end of this post.

Finally,  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2011 and we’ll see you all again on January 4th!

This week’s #edchat was all about the new educational buzzword: “digital native”.  This description of today’s student is appearing in blogs, journals, presentations, tweets, and many other forums in which educational technology is the topic of discussion.  Nevertheless, many of us in the classroom wonder if the idea of kids as “digital natives” is reality when many of our students have no clue as to how to use technology in an educational (i.e. non-Facebook) context.  Is is safe to say that because a child was born into the technology age that he or she is digitally literate?  Many teachers have worked hard to stay up-to-date on the latest tech tools, and become offended when it is suggested that their students, by birth, have a better grasp of technology. If our students are “digital natives”, does that make us teachers “digital immigrants” or “digital aliens”?   This was a lively chat with many differing views expressed.  A few of my students (12th graders) participated to give those being labelled a chance to join in the conversation.  Thanks to Dylan, Caralynn, Nancy and Fredy for being a part of this #edchat!

Here are some of the main themes from the discussion: 

Defining the “digital native”

Do teachers and students agree with the widespread use of this label?

Is it safe to assume that our students are digital natives?

Characteristics, and appropriate v. inappropriate assumptions about “digital natives” and how they learn

How do “digital dinosaurs” connect with “digital natives” in relevant ways in an educational setting?


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.

@stumpteacher: Digital native is a term just to mean “born in tech” age, not a tech guru. #edchat
@drdouggreen:  @ShellTerrell The term is misused a lot. I am 63 and I would make my tech knowledge against any native. #edchat
@tomwhitby:  I prefer the idea of digital Residents and digital Visitors. #Edchat
@drdouggreen:  #edchat One attribute they typically have is lack of fear. What they don’t know doesn’t get in their way.
@aaronmueller:  Digital Native is a misnomer. Should be Digital Nomads! Fearless, but without direction. Need guidance to form Digital Wisdom #edchat
@21stprincipal: Perhaps the term “digital native” is a stereotype. #edchat
@Dave_Parkes: #edchat I find students are really skilled at social tech but struggle with tech as a learning tool #edchat
@raffelsol: I think a digital native may adapt quicker to technology, but they don’t necessarily know how to use it effectively w/o help #edchat
@aaronmueller: Digital Wisdom – what we need to teach our students How to choose the best tech, how to avoid pitfalls, how to reflect on usage #edchat
@twoodwar: We can’t possibly keep up with them. They are _natives_. Best to give up now. #edtech #edchat
@davidwees: Use different words for digitally native/immigrant. Let’s say ‘persistent’ and ‘easily frustrated’. #edchat
@padgets: #edchat so I think we need to look at a digital citizenship unit at the beginning of the school year, cover all these bases
@dylanbergeron:  I’m a senior in high school. and yes, i believe that all my peers are ready to learn with technology #edchat
@josiefraser: A digital native is an ill-advised & unhelpful metaphor http://j.mp/edK3Y3 #edchat
@21stprincipal: Better question for engaging students-What is it kids do with tech that is so engaging? #edchat
@raffelsol: We never talk about pencil fluency or white board fluency. It is part of our toolbag. When will knowledge at our fingertips be that? #edchat
@tomwhitby: If Tech skills are the new Media Literacy, Teachers have an obligation to teach them. In order to teach them, they must use them.#Edchat
@dylanbergeron: #edchat look at me right now. i’m doing xtra credit 4 math by tweeting about DN’s on the laptop issued by my schl
@dylanbergeron: #edchat paper is becoming a thing of the past. Critical thinking has to progress alongside our level of tech
@stumpteacher: A good teacher is a good teacher…regardless if they are DN or DI #edchat
@malcolmbellamy: it is about using appropriate tools for a job and mastering the skills of how to use these tools effectively #edchat
@aaronmueller: Digital Natives have the most important quality “Be Not Afraid” something I teach my peers every workshop #edchat
@malcolmbellamy: it is about using appropriate tools for a job and mastering the skills of how to use these tools effectively #edchat
@ShellTerrell: Love that we have students involved in this conversation! Thanks @mrsblanchetnet class for joining us! #edchat
@tomwhitby: While we wait for tchrs to get comfortable w/Tech, we have students who are uncomfortable w/o the Skills needed to compete & Learn #Edcha
@stumpteacher: At the end of the day, toss out the labels and teach each kid on their technological, intellectual, and emotional level. #edchat
@tomwhitby: We should always remember, unless we are tech teachers, we don’t teach Tech. As Tchrs, we use tech to teach and learn.#Edchat


To follow the complete discussion see here 

For the stats on #edchat participation see here 


As ever, there were some great links shared:

capohanka:  I prefer resident and visitor a la @shareski http://bit.ly/fb7IQO  #edchat

blairteach:  If we use “digital native” to indicate a generational segment, look at Schrock’s Digital Pioneer term: http://youtu.be/8UZI6zO77k8 #edchat

willedmond:  A cool idea you can do with your students. 10 Tips for Starting a Virtual Social Change Book Club #EdChat http://bit.ly/hk0sm2

HHG:  This is a digital native – it’s how she thinks… http://flic.kr/p/5XviEq  #edchat

josiefraser: A digital native is a ill advised & unhelpful metaphor http://j.mp/edK3Y3  #edchat – got that right!

reyjunco:  Research on variability in “digital natives'” Internet skills : http://goo.gl/z4p29  and variability in access: http://goo.gl/G8ynp  #edchat

ktenkely: For those who don’t know where digital native originated pdf of Marc Prensky’s article 2001 http://bit.ly/e8vbdS  #edchat

aaronmueller:  Digital Wisdom – article by Marc Prensky ERIC Record: EJ834284 http://t.co/XV5wTnH  #edchat GREAT READ!

cybraryman1: My Digital Citizenship page: http://bit.ly/5fDZ4f  #edchat

stumpteacher:  Little background on DN from wikipedia http://bit.ly/9JFVF #edchat

cybraryman1:  My Digital Footprints page: http://bit.ly/dd9IA9 Parents & Teachers should teach DF to children

reyjunco:  Our research on how using Twitter in educationally-relevant ways affects engagement and grades: http://goo.gl/XtbVz  #edchat

tjowens:  “Once you care about a world you will do all kinds of things that look like work, or homework.” http://bit.ly/ieZGHk

cybraryman1:   Teachers need to shown how to integrate technology in their subject areas: http://bit.ly/9AB2tS

HP Teacher Exchange :  great resource for educators – lesson plans and more – http://goo.gl/zZkvG

dughall: #edchat Young people may exceed the technical *knowledge* of some educators, adults though, have (cont) http://tl.gd/7g9mps

prlowe91:  Cell Phones in the Classroom: Learning Tools for the 21st Century: http://youtu.be/aXt_de2-HBE

cybraryman1:  Show students there are many ways to do something using tech. For example the modern book report: http://bit.ly/a30UtS

daveandcori: 100 Best YouTube Videos for Teachers http://goo.gl/fb/dnU89

stumpteacher:  @cybraryman1 Good post on the book reports… here is mine… http://bit.ly/fqvjXQ

weisburghm:  I love how http://www.youthrightsmedia.org/about/  teaches students to have a voice using media

blairteach:  Here’s a syllabus from a tchr-prep tech integration course at UGA. What do you think? http://bit.ly/gOheHI

weisburghm:  good rubric on student twitter use: http://www2.uwstout.edu/content/profdev/rubrics/Twitter_Rubric.html

neilstephenson:  I agree with @AngelaMaiers post on students as “digital natives” #edchat http://bit.ly/f7IXEo

MZimmer557:  10 Tips for Using Facebook in the Classroom http://goo.gl/7mt8N  #edchat #edtech

stumpteacher:  Share this link with anyone you think is a DI or a less than confident DN: http://bit.ly/ie8fiJ

cybraryman1:  Get ready for more Blended Learning: http://bit.ly/dybHNO and 1:1 Schools: http://bit.ly/aqoeks

2footgiraffe:  share your take home ideas from todays #edchat http://bit.ly/gBYB2

web20education:  #edtech20 #edchat New Pan-EU Youth is a platform targeted at young people between the age of 14 and 18 where they… http://fb.me/Qn04vyw8

cybraryman1:  @gellesastar For example of how I learned something: http://bit.ly/gu48ap  See the list on that page #edchat

prlowe91:  With all the discussion about teachers and learning, let’s listen to the learners: http://youtu.be/9M4tdMsg3ts

kenroyal:  New Reality Show: Tech Your Class http://tinyurl.com/bxxoot  #education #educators #edchat #technology

cybraryman1:  Have a student run a Smackdown (sharing of tools & sites): http://bit.ly/f29Lpx

GlogsterEDU:  Here’s one of our favorites from #YouTube of 2010: http://bit.ly/dyEhaa  Anyone else have favorites to share? #edchat #edtech #edu #smcedu

web20education:  In 2011 we will begin new semantic web 3.0 and .After twitter my favorite tool global sharing http://tinyurl.com/pearltreesedtech20

davidwees:  Where education reform is heading: From extreme to extremum http://is.gd/iKaZm

Tinashe Blanchet (@mrsblanchetnet) is the Professional Development Resource Teacher at John Ehret High School in Marrero, Louisiana.  She lives in the Greater New Orleans area with her husband, David, and 3 young children. Certified in Secondary Mathematics Education, she currently teaches a remediation course for the state math exam, Advanced Math/ Pre-Calculus and AP Calculus.  She also holds a master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of New Orleans.  She loves learning about how to enhance her practice with tech tools, as she maintains a “Model Technology Classroom” for her district.  Please visit her online at http://mrsblanchet.net or http://blanchetblog.net to find out more!

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!

More Edchat

Challenge:

If you’re new to hashtag discussions, then just show up on Twitter on any Tuesday and add just a few tweets on the topic with the hashtag #edchat. 

What do you think? Leave a comment!

December 14, 2010

School Policies: Helping or Hindering Student Learning?

Filed under: Edchat — rliberni @ 8:55 am
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

#Edchat 12-7–2010 – 18:00 CET 12 PM EST

This topic is one close to many teacher’s hearts and the participating edchatters were no different. Ideas of good practice , bad practice,  hopes and desires all came out in the discussion. To capture the essence of this we are very grateful to Josh Stumpenhorst (@stumpteacher). He has done an amazing job in getting to the heart of the discussion and drawing out all the different threads. Thank you Josh. See more about Josh in his bio at the end of the post.

This weeks #edchat topic was about how schools’ policies are often hindering student learning in large part due to their restrictive nature. Many people had strong views about bad policies that were being imposed in their schools. One of the big ones that kept coming back up was the amount of filtering that takes place over the Internet. Most understand the need for filtering due to liability and the need for some form of filtering due to government regulations. However, teachers would like a middle ground and to be trusted to make educationally sound decisions on behalf of their students. Another theme that came out of this conversation is that often times the decisions that are being made about policy are being made by those farthest from the classrooms. To help solve this problem teachers and students need to be more vocal and collaborate with administration at every opportunity. In addition, administration needs to be more aware of the needs of students which is often done by simply being amongst students in the classrooms. At the end of the day, it is easy to point a finger for bad policy, but that won’t change anything. We must all work together, students, parents, teachers, and administrators, to write policies that reflect the need of today’s learners.

Here are some of the main themes from the discussion: 
There were many themes that came out in the most recent #edchat conversation on 12/7/10. The central theme was how policies are hindering student learning and how to influence those policies to have a positive impact on student learning.

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.

@ShellTerrell: Schools need to rethink filtering. We should take these learning opportunities to teach Ss about digital citizenship
@cybraryman1: Policies should be set collaboratively (students, teachers, admin and parents)
@cybraryman1: Have to give parents hands-on workshops on how tech is being used in classrooms to get them on our side
@stumpteacher: Tough thing is that policies are written by those farthest from the students and classrooms
@jorech: Biggest hindrance to learning: a curriculum, atmosphere centered around achievement on high-stakes standardized tests
@shamsensei: Change can only be done if u know how to do it

@ileducprof:  Too many school administrators are only concerned with what occurs in their district. Missing out on collaboration opportunities.

@shamsensei:  DO not wait until you KNOW how to make change. Start now. Fail and try again. Do not wait.
@jgmac1106: 2 me it boils down two types of leadership models: Fear and Respect. Which one does your school use? Model? when it comes to filters
@smitha834: If teachers aren’t allowed 2 model social media use we are not letting students know how to properly use it to learn
@stumpteacher: Sometimes the squeaky wheel gets the oil. Don’t give up and keep pushing for change! Student’s learning MUST to be the corner stone! 
@ShellTerrell: One way to change the bad policies is by having these conversations in our communities w/ staff, students, admin, & parents
@bjnichols: The best way to change policy is to show how it could work better. Set up pilots, models, etc. Provide visuals  
@milenagarg: we have a kid check statement that we try to run all policies through so that we do what is best for kids
@MZimmer557: I don’t know if it is all bad policies, it is just there are so many policies that get in way of quality teaching.
@shamsensei: has any1 asked d kids wat they want to change?
@cybraryman1: Ask not what your school can do for you–ask what you can do for your school’s students.
@fliegs: A Policy should not be created to police the less than 5% that would use something inappropriately
@ShellTerrell: Can each of us make a goal to try & collaborate with others to effectively change at least 1 ineffective policy in our schools?

I would ask that the following question is added to the poll next week:

How do we move our classrooms and students to be driven by learning and mastery instead of by testing and grades?

To follow the complete discussion see here 

 For the stats on #edchat participation see here 

As ever, there were some great links shared:

cybraryman1:  My Cyber Citizenship page is an important beginning with students: http://bit.ly/5fDZ4f

datruss:  My daily-ink: Twitter EDU – Some simple advice to set yourself up for success… http://post.ly/1In03

jamesshelley:  Check out the animation from @SirKenRobinson speaking at @thersaorg – http://youtu.be/zDZFcDGpL4U

TheHelpGroup:  We had a big drive to join our Facebook pg, then realized everyone had to wait to join until they got home :\ http://on.fb.me/9v6Oe8

shamblesguru:  Playing with #Rockmelt : Social Media Browser built on Chrome http://www.shambles.net/pages/staff/browsers/ #edchat #edtech #browser

missydow:  I love that a student shared this resource with me during a conversation about citing sources /giving credit. http://bit.ly/gzWKRa

datruss:  See http://bit.ly/aeVfuv  RT @ShellTerrell: Yes it is! RT @stumpteacher: Sometimes it is better to ask forgiveness than permission!

marketeducate:  #edchat Natl Ed Tech Plan calls for education transformation through technology. Already happening, isn’t it? http://bit.ly/dhiUEU

imaknight:  anyone familiar with Project Share (Texas) http://bit.ly/gaSXIW  #edtech #edchat

bhsprincipal:  New Post: Why We Use Tech in Our Class http://bit.ly/guItex  #edchat #edtech #bhschat

cybraryman1:  You have to periodically review your AUP (Acceptable Use Policies): http://bit.ly/9ViT9i

briankotts:  Korea and Finland top OECD’s latest PISA survey of education performance http://bit.ly/fvbRE3 /via @OECD_Edu  #edchat #eduswe #ukedchat

dcinc66:  Constance Steinkuehler examines the role of games and play as an integral part of learning. http://bit.ly/hiKmIB  #bif2010  #edchat

jonbergmann @alvintch Check our #revlearn and the flipped classroom. Works well with 1:1 http://bit.ly/bE6TCC

cybraryman1:  @ShellTerrell We really need a Twitter Academy to collaboratively show them how to really educate http://bit.ly/as9R0g  #twitacad #edchat

michellek107: It’s Time to Trust Teachers with the Internet via @web20classroom http://bit.ly/icCx9D  #policies #edchat

stumpteacher: We can’t be like John Mayer and wait on the world to change… http://bit.ly/e0dBbP  #edchat

web20education:  #edtech20 Web 2.0 #Resources for Educators #edtech20 #edchat http://goo.gl/fb/cneEb #uncategorized #bit #classroom

smitha834:  One thing that could help spur policy change is educators blogging both publicly and accurately #edchat http://ow.ly/3lnaV

baldy7:  posted last night. http://bit.ly/cbkhEO  What Do You Do. #edchat #cpchat

mizztcasa:  Giving African girls a chance to learn http://bit.ly/i01XpV  #edchat

TEDxUBC video #8 – Jeffrey Piontek -Teaching Jetson Children In Flintstone Schools http://t.co/rW5Hi2z  via @youtube #tedxubc #edchat #cpchat

brockgrubb:  Chris Rush (School of One) – to improve student outcomes, “assume anything can change” #bif2010 #edchat http://bit.ly/1SmCzT

web20education:  Here you can read more about eSafety #edtech20 http://teachlearnplayesafetyeducation.wall.fm/blogs/11  #edchat

eshwaranv: Blogged: Could you tell me something about it? http://bit.ly/e96tWX  #edchat #ntchat #elemchat #kinderchat #lrnchat

gret: Great post! “Know the Power of “Hello”” by @4thGrdTeach http://me.lt/4x0aF  #edchat

World4Children:  Disapp. 2 see only 1 educator @ #TEDWomen http://ow.ly/3lnsI  People concerned about #education need 2 join events like this! #edchat #cpchat

cybraryman1:  @Online4School My Educational Chats page with times and days: http://bit.ly/c6mAWB

royanlee: New Post: Why We Use Tech in Our Class http://bit.ly/guItex  #edchat #edtech

gmbondi: Let’s rename 21st Century Learning – call it Digital Dewey or Progressive Education http://bit.ly/dMEYcs   #edchat #cpchat #edtech

fliegs: Share Your Successes for Better Ed Reform http://goo.gl/fb/wJekv  -New Blog Entry #edchat #cpchat

Aminhotep:  Education reform begins in your classroom http://wp.me/tcfd  #edchat #educationreform

internet4classr:  Let students own the learning – http://tinyurl.com/28un686  (via @drmmtatom ) #ntchat #elemchat #edchat

MikeGwaltney:  An Education Policy Novice takes over the largest education system in the nation. Strange. http://nyti.ms/eEaUXG

MSTA:  We absolutely agree! RT @michellek107 It’s Time to Trust Teachers with the Internet via @web20classroom http://bit.ly/icCx9D  #edchat

joe_bower:  Student learning environment first, teacher’s work environment second. http://bit.ly/eXoN4N  #abed #edchat

tomwhitby: My Latest Post: To Be Better Teachers, We Need To Be Better Learners. http://bit.ly/hx697O  Pls  read & comment. #Edchat

lisalearner: blogpost: how to help your English learners get around Internet obstacles http://bit.ly/i9tYr5 #edchat #ellchat

iEARNUSA: @AsiaSocietyPGL PISA analysis on http://CNN.com http://bit.ly/fXXIuy  <= learn with, not just about, the world #iearn #edchat

EdEquality: Check out Michelle Rhee on NBC discussing her new organization: Students First. http://on.msnbc.com/fFwkYz  #edreform #edchat #edgap

Josh Stumpenhorst is a 6th grade Language Arts and Social Science teacher at Lincoln Junior High School in Naperville, IL. I have been in this same position for eight years and have not plans on leaving the students! I have a passion for using technology and empowering my students through its use in my classes daily. Twitter has changed my life and I thank each and every member of my PLN and those that participate in #echat for the valuable things you have taught me. You can read my blog at stumpteacher and you can follow me on Twitter @stumpteacher.

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!

More Edchat

Challenge:

If you’re new to hashtag discussions, then just show up on Twitter on any Tuesday and add just a few tweets on the topic with the hashtag #edchat. 

What do you think? Leave a comment!

December 4, 2010

Professional Development for Parents

Filed under: Edchat — rliberni @ 9:38 am
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

#Edchat 11-23–2010 – 18:00 CET 12 PM EST

I was really sorry that I missed this #edchat session as parental involvement in schools is a real passion for me. Having 4 daughters, I have seen great changes in attitudes to parents in school (my eldest is 30 my youngest 11) and mostly for the worse, sadly. Here in the UK some attitudes towards parents in schools are quite frankly bonkers! Parents are, in my opinion a great and often untapped resource – their knowledge and talent should be exploited by schools not feared.

Who better to put together our summary this week than Ainslie Hunter (@ainsliehunter) on behalf of Parentella! This is a really challenging area for teachers and schools and I think this comes across in the summary – some great comments and amazing links. It gives us all food for thought – are we exploiting this relationship as much as we might? Thank you Ainslie!

Here are some of the main themes from the discussion: 
 
Parent Engagement is important and necessary:  All involved in the #edchat agreed were extremely passionate about getting more parents involved in schools.  

Difficulties with creating Parent Engagement:  Some difficulties were raised as well as strategies for improvement.  The chat involved a debate as to whether the school should supply suggested PD topics to parents or whether parents should be asked their opinion.  Suggested ways for ascertaining the ideas of parents included polls and surveys.  Other concerns raised were related to how to get parents to turn up to such events, and specifically the right parents.

Specific Professional Development Ideas:  There was a broad selection of PD topics discussed in the #echat.  Examples included

  • Technology – the pitfalls, uses, digital citizenship, online safety, changing ‘tech bans’ at school
  • Day to day teaching – homework, assessment, examples of class work and units
  • School – school vision
  • Student – ways to improve personal responsibility and develop independence, time management, child development, 21st century learning
  • How parents can help at home – homework, reading, assessment
  • Pathways after school – College, Alternatives to College

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.
 

@MissShuganah – The problem I see is that parents are often afraid of teachers. They could be allies if they knew what teachers/schools needed
 
@davidwees – The first thing I would do is ask parents what they would like for PD. If we want choice, I’m betting they want choice
 
@ericjuli – Shifting perceptions of what school is/is not. A parent and childs school experience doesnt need to be synonymous 
 
@tomwhitby – @davidwees: There is always the point to be made that they don’t know what they don’t know, so how can they direct what they need?
 
@davidwees –  @tomwhitby Sure, but same argument holds for our students. You can say “here are a bunch of things we think you might like
 
@ShellTerrell – The problem with PD for parents is the same as the parents’ evening issue – the ones that should be there don’t turn up.

@ericjuli – Parent and Educator goals for children are not always aligned. Need to work on finding common ground on goals of education #edchat

@stumpteacher: i think parents just need help getting connected with their kid, school, and the world they live in

@laura_horan – Let’s help parents understand how expectations are different today. Get rid of the rear-view mirror of their education

@VanessaSCassie – I think the first step to PD with parents is maintaining consistent communication (more than twice a yr at parent-teacher interviews #edchat

@hadleyjf: – We need to help parents feel included, not excluded, by the tools we teach their children.

@CTuckerEnglish – How can we keep lines of communication open w/out placing unrealistic expectations on teachers?

@HOPEinSchools: – Partnerships must be based upon common interest and an understanding there is a common goal: student success. #edchat

@Olafelch – The biggest enemy in this whole debate is the blame game

@gellesastar – As a start how about offering voluntary, low key sessions for those who are interested. I think it may mushroom.

@teachingwthsoul: – We need to also seek out our parents who have the skills to provide the PD. This gets overlooked a lot. Los of gr8 resources!

@ricjuli – Do we ask parents what they want from us or do we try to fit p’s into our pre-conceived ideas of what they ought to do for us?

@EduTechSmith – it is hard to remember at times that both teachers and parents have the same goal-to raise an honest, independent, motivated kid #edchat

@EduTechSmith: – How do we convince students to reach out to their parents for involvement?

@GaryBrannigan: Even if parents can’t contribute to the school in big ways, their presence in school communicates volumes to kids #edchat

 
I would ask that the following question is added to the poll next week:

How can we keep lines of communication open w/out placing unrealistic expectations on teachers?


To follow the complete discussion see here 

For the stats on #edchat participation see here 

As ever, there were some great links shared:

briankotts:  Exams culture ‘fuelling teenage mental health problems’ http://bit.ly/eG7zQY /via @Telegraph #edchat #ukedchat #eduswe

briankotts:   Why We Should Get Rid Of Homework Part 1-3 http://bit.ly/b3A0Mi #edchat

cybraryman1:  My College Information page: http://bit.ly/5cpEXz #edchat

#edtech20 -free eSafety project in the clouds for teachers worldwide finalist in eLearning Awards 2010 http://t.co/7b8vkmP  join free #edchat

Please Don’t Tell Me That http://is.gd/hsexG  One thing I mention is a need for shared language.

MeganLearner:  @cybraryman1 I agree! And also to coordinate how much time kids are spnding w tech-home and school http://nyti.ms/eEIRwh #edchat

cybraryman1:  For parents/teachers My Cyber Safety/Awareness/Citizenship page: http://bit.ly/5fDZ4f  #edchat

@ShellTerrell We created a blog for staff, students and parentsto have a voice for our School Plan! http://bit.ly/eT2DKo  #edchat

davidwees:  Big problem here: How to let your child live their life instead of YOUR life. http://youtu.be/RmLzAkmastE  #edchat #helicopterparents

cybraryman1:  @jgmac1106 My Early Morning Library program was extremely successful http://bit.ly/aWQvtM #edchat

cybraryman1: We have to work more on Parent-Teacher Communication: http://bit.ly/cdBRK1  #edchat

kbakerIEE: We do PD-4-Parents in these areas http://excellenceandethics.com/programs/P2A_8_FocusAreas.pdf  #Edchat more@ excellenceandethics.com/blog

jonathanfields: Is Twitter The Ultimate Creation Killer? – http://ow.ly/3dBoT  #smchat #socialmedia #edchat

ChildWillRead:  Separating Boys and Girls…A Good Thing? What do YOU think? #edchat http://bit.ly/cfEQKa

cybraryman1:  @birklearns My Math Help page: http://bit.ly/60ahfW  #edchat

ShellTerrell:  Parentella is a free online social network for parents to get them engaged with teachers & the school http://bit.ly/2ZEl3V  #edchat

cybraryman1: My library was a noisy hub . http://bit.ly/aWQvtM

cybraryman1:  Parents as partners in education. My Parent Involvement sites: http://bit.ly/FpgFV

briankotts:  Spreading Homework Out So Even Parents Have Some http://nyti.ms/9sYS4j  /via @NYTimes #edchat

Google Voice – great for teachers http://goo.gl/fb/zD4jC  #edtech, #edchat

davidwees:  Another article I wrote for our parents: How do you turn yourself into a 21st century learner? http://wees.it/6q  #edchat

davidwees:  Article I wrote for our parent newsletter: How can we use social media as a tool? http://wees.it/er  #edchat

GaryBrannigan:  Solving Homework Problems: 9 Suggestions http://bit.ly/94VIVH  via @AddToAny #education #edchat #ptchat #spedchat

GaryBrannigan:  More Ways To Solve Homework Problems: 6 More Suggestions http://bit.ly/bvRarO  via @AddToAny #Edchat #ptchat #spedchat

MZimmer557:  Twitter Chat Schedule http://goo.gl/wqdCu  #edchat #edtech

davidwees: article I wrote for our parents: How do you turn yourself into a 21st century learner? http://wees.it/6q  #edchat #pwsd

JonathanEMartin:  Blogged: Gratitude as a virtue & a practice: remarks to students & grandparents: http://wp.me/poMQP-EQ  #cpchat #edchat

MarjieKnudsen:  For the good of the child? or the teacher? http://bit.ly/e3gMjw  v  @HackettKimberly #pto #kids #youth #edchat

This post was written by Ainslie Hunter, writer for Parentella, the free social networking site for parents and educators.

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!

More Edchat

Challenge:

If you’re new to hashtag discussions, then just show up on Twitter on any Tuesday and add just a few tweets on the topic with the hashtag #edchat. 

What do you think? Leave a comment!

November 29, 2010

How Do We Motivate Students to Collaborate with Peers Worldwide?

Filed under: Edchat — rliberni @ 6:47 pm
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

#Edchat 11-16–2010 – 18:00 CET 12 PM EST

Our guest summary this week has been written by Shelly Terrell (@shellterrell). She needs no introduction and we are thrilled that she has taken time to do this for #edchat. Please add your comments at the bottom of the blog and check out Shelly’s bio below!! Thanks Shelly this is really great!!

Collaboration isn’t assessed on standardized tests, yet this is one of the most important skills our students should learn. The world our students have inherited is plagued with the same problems we faced when we were in school. We have yet to find solutions to world hunger, international conflict, poverty, and environmental problems. I believe that the reason we have tackled these problems for years is because we aren’t taught how to collaborate with peers worldwide. If we did, imagine the worldwide teams that could collaborate successfully in solving these issues and more.  Schools have the responsibility to prepare students for their world, therefore, it is important that schools find ways to help students problem solve with their peers worldwide. Through the technology we have today, schools be able to have students participate in international projects. During this week’s Edchat we discussed the best places to find schools to connect with and we shared various projects we knew about. We also shared examples of schools that have gotten their students to collaborate with their peers worldwide.

Here are some of the main themes from the discussion: 

  • International collaboration begins with teachers connecting with other teachers worldwide
  • International collaboration should be supported in school curriculums
  • International collaboration helps students learn about other cultures
  • International communication is a part of making international collaboration successful

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.

baldy7: it’s time to stop learning about other cultures and time to start learning with other cultures.
cybraryman1: #edchat is a great example of global connection that leads to collaborative projects
olafelch: I think the whole process of collaboration is much easier when it starts with direct contact between 2 teachers.
rgriffithjr: Global collaboration is a necessity in workforce, schools should certainly train & introduce students to it
ColinTGraham: Student blogs, and more importantly the comments on them, seem to be a rapidly growing way of global collaboration
dmantz7: Benefit I see of international collaboration is access to primary resources about various cultures & lifestyles.
ShellTerrell: When students collaborate with schools worldwide it helps shed stereotypes & promotes an international dialogue
hadleyjf: Making a global connection adds energy to the day-to-day studies
Tina_Barr: Collaboration can help re-engage dropouts by seeing what makes other programs successful.
rkiker: If we are not making global education the norm, then what world are we preparing students for? “I don’t live there.”
davidwees: You cannot understand your own culture completely without understanding it’s relationships to other cultures.  
chrisemdin: For a truly global classroom, we must embrace the use of tech tools- #googledocs, #youtube, #skype #ustream
@lemino: Curiosity is the key to all learning. If international collaborations lights it – then that’s a cool means!

I would ask that the following question is added to the poll next week:
How do we get current teacher training programs to include online professional development as part of the training?

To follow the complete discussion see here 

For the stats on #edchat participation see here 

As ever, there were some great links shared:

cybraryman1: Langwitches Blog http://bit.ly/3HgcD is a great example of educator connecting globally #edchat

TeacherSabrina:  Great comment from Gary_Eisenberg: Waiting for Superman???? Don’t make me laugh! There’s no need http://huff.to/bvOcYi #edchat #edreform

eshwaranv:  A small collaborative blog between teachers: http://bit.ly/b8hkbz #edchat

cybraryman1:  My first global collaboration was participating in an Email Around the World project in 1999-2000http://bit.ly/adSn3u #edchat

ShellTerrell:  @tkraz Try these resources (esp Epals community or tweet it) http://bit.ly/9h0WTo #edchat

MissCheska:  @cybraryman1 Very true! #scido is a great example of this, http://bit.ly/9IMjwr — sci teachers collaborating and sharing ideas

olafelch:  This new Skype service looks like it could be really useful: http://bit.ly/djrKyz #edchat

iearnusa:  Our Huffpost call to connect all US schools w/partners abroad: http://huff.to/8XAoy9 #Edchat 100 orgs have signed on. #iew 

iearnusa:  We’ve been waiting 22 years for this #edchat topic! 😉 #iearn http://bit.ly/bKCUy5

DrSarahEaton:  Slides: Global Trends in Language Learning uploaded to http://www.slideshare.net/event/the-global-education-conference #globaled10 #edchat

MissCheska:  @tkraz IMHO Depends on what course it is. If for an English class, I would check Nings like English Companion http://bit.ly/cR4BV3 #edchat

JessieNYC:   Cyber Racism & The Future of Free Speech http://bit.ly/bRizcV #edchat#BlackEdu #UrbanGirls

weisburghm:  I’m curious how many teachers encourage students to use LiveMocha http://www.livemocha.com/

AuthorsonCall:  Exciting presentation on Global Ed by INK authors. Don’t miss it 4:00pm EST; Link for room:http://bit.ly/9xwX9R #edchat #education

cybraryman1:  My Email Around the World bulletin board was the most read board in my school http://yfrog.com/j3e4asj

nancyrubin:  Virtual Field Trips as Engaged Learning http://ow.ly/3aI1h #edchat

findingdulcinea:  The Global Coalition Project is a group of interconnected classrooms from around the world:http://bit.ly/adzbL7 #edchat #glolab

cybraryman1:  My Collaboration page: http://cybraryman.com/collaboration.html #edchat

lemino:  Remember the global project about pearl harbor? #edchat http://is.gd/he2f5 What’s stopping you from creating those?

findingdulcinea:  The holy grail of cross-cultural student discussions: http://chattheplanet.com/index.php?page=chat&cat=115 #edchat 

@cschools:   What to make an impact on kids’ lives? Teach an apprenticeship with @cschoolshttp://bit.ly/aT77AI #volunteer #edreform #edchat

ColinTGraham:  @Schoology The Design for Change contest is a great example of globalization of student powerhttp://www.designforchangecontest.com/ #edchat

reuw:  @ShellTerrell On becoming a Globally connected Teacher – See Langwiches blog –http://bit.ly/bBfLBd #edchat

iearnusa:  For youngest kids, global art collaboration is great way to start: http://bit.ly/c9BPdr #edchat #iearn(one of 100 examples we’ve…

jeffkessler:  Digital Keys for Unlocking the Humanities? Riches – NYTimes http://nyti.ms/aZQPD9 – Digital tools in liberal arts education

cybraryman1:  My Glogs page: http://bit.ly/cBhDiG #edchat

ShellTerrell:  Several resources & examples of students collaborating internationally & how to connect w othershttp://bit.ly/aWfRoS #edchat

education_com:  Survey by @NatGeoSociety: 37% of Americans can find Iraq on map. Make kids global citizens:http://bit.ly/9kNG6e #edchat

cmoor4:   An example for your perusal: http://thefischbowl.blogspot.com/2009/11/heritage-school-of-kabala.html

buffyjhamilton:  Journeys: Of Innovation and Roadblocks: http://is.gd/he6bO #tlchat #edchat

findingdulcinea:  This 3rd grade class in Maine connected w/3rd grade classes in all 50 states last year.http://bit.ly/9oaG3Q #edchat #sschat

miken_bu:  this site calls for Canadians to be intolerant, can’t say I disagree! http://bit.ly/cQ9MUD #edchat

cybraryman1:  Gr8 example of international collaboration going on now: Global Ed Conference http://tinyurl.com/25be2rf 

g4husky:  My elementary classroom is globally connected, appreciating similarities, celebrating differences. http://bit.ly/cATeZM

cybraryman1:  My Skype page: http://bit.ly/aQNA10 #edchat

ShapingYouth:  @Parentella @cybraryman1 need 2read #edchat feeds; this Skype resource pg is fab!http://bit.ly/aQNA10 ? global @SkypeClassroom concept #edu

qui_oui:  Report claims solution to teacher ed is to turn training “upside down”–again. http://bit.ly/dtwUSo#HigherEd #EdChat #HistoryRepeats

TwitClass:  In 4hrs plz join @ShellTerrell in a Free Webinar: Global Projects http://bit.ly/aQOEup 

Shelly Sanchez Terrell is the author of the Teacher Reboot Camp blog  and The 30 Goals Challenge free e-book. She is one of the founders of #Edchat and moderates regularly. She is also the VP of Educator Outreach for Parentella and the Social Community Manager for The Consultants-E. She has worked with students of all ages for over a decade and now teaches English in Germany. Find her on Twitter, @shellterrell. 

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!

More Edchat

Challenge:

If you’re new to hashtag discussions, then just show up on Twitter on any Tuesday and add just a few tweets on the topic with the hashtag #edchat. 

What do you think? Leave a comment!

November 17, 2010

Beyond A Blog – The purpose of blogs in education

Filed under: Edchat — rliberni @ 4:17 pm
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

#Edchat 11-9–2010 – 18:00 CET 12 PM EST

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

To follow the complete discussion see here 

For the stats on #edchat participation see here 

 As ever some great links were shared – so many this week!

HigherEdMorning:  A student’s stranded on a desert island … http://bit.ly/cyhQMN

nancyrubin:  Blogging and Bloom’s Taxonomy http://t.co/hJfcxXf  via @nancyrubin #edchat

FrankCatalano:  Crowdsourcing the 5th-grade classroom: results so far of Slate’s effort http://bit.ly/dxFX5Z

nancyrubin:  Tech Lessons – Blog Ideas http://t.co/ZAdZjx7  via @nancyrubin #edchat

cybraryman1: My collection of Administrators blogs: http://bit.ly/2jA0jN

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

andycinek:  @elanaleoni it has happened in philly http://exm.nr/cz5RZh

bhsprincipal:  @socratech We have one. No policy for it http://on.fb.me/9gMpyE

mrami2:  My students share their views on Blogging in the Classroom: http://bit.ly/a9P1fQ

DreamBox_Learn: DreamBox Learning Blog: Tuesday Teacher Tip – Books That Teach Math. Share your favorite! http://bit.ly/d12vOI  #edchat #mathchat

bhsprincipal: “Social networking (blogging) Improves Literacy (via @gcouros) http://bit.ly/cxQiLB

ImagineLearning:  New Post: Helping your English learners take advantage of the Internet: How can you help your Engli… http://bit.ly/cEVNwd

manelrives: willrich45: Rereading: “The Object of Education is Learning, Not Teaching” http://bit.ly/WFOkv  Must read. #edreform #edchat

gcouros: PLS Follow and say hi! to new h.s. Principal blogger from MA is @etracywhs http://bit.ly/cRhRd9  #cpchat #edchat

Tina_Barr: Adobe Flash risk exposing students’ personal data: http://bit.ly/cxIktd  possible risk #edchat

aaronmueller: @ian23505 Here is our first beginnings of a professional facebook presence http://on.fb.me/c104d7

ShellTerrell:  Blogs help students explore their passions! Such as this kid blogger, http://bit.ly/cjJpUc  #edchat

andycinek: When schools say no to blogging they are controling the voice of a population #edchat #1984 http://bit.ly/biAGPB

ian23505:  @aaronmueller thanks for sharing. Here is mine: http://on.fb.me/9Ewjtn

 bhsprincipal:  @socratech I have a link from my blog http://bit.ly/9anyBP  which is linked from our website http://bit.ly/cNgktB

cybraryman1: My Educational Blogs page: http://bit.ly/8mcqcC  I can see a Class Blogs page coming (I have a few) #edchat

nancyrubin:  21st Century Literacies http://t.co/37Of4tV  via @nancyrubin #edchat

carneysandoe:  look at one teacher who’s using blogging as a creative way of showcasing pupils’ work: http://bit.ly/dtqJ65

Tina_Barr:  Good Q RT @JaneVanHof: Should kids learn typing skills or the art of cursive? http://bit.ly/baf0o5

nancyrubin:  Video – The 21st Century Learner http://t.co/CXcTYlT  via @nancyrubin

andycinek:  #ntcamp blogger series post by @kbakerIEE http://bit.ly/b75rVX  #edchat #ntchat

TLkirsten:  Creating a Bloggin Scope and Sequence by Kim Cofino http://bit.ly/aBnFRG

carneysandoe:  RT @rliberni: At what age should we start with blogs? -> Just shared this http://bit.ly/dtqJ65  they are 8. #edchat

TLkirsten: “Creating a Bloggin Scope and Sequence” by Kim Cofino http://bit.ly/aBnFRG

pearsonls:  3 helpful websites for finding interesting teaching techniques. http://ow.ly/36VUi  #edchat #onlinelearning ^SW

cmoor4:  we use R blog 4 all sorts of gr8 assignments, but mostly 2 create an audience & purpose 4 (cont…) http://trunc.it/cgpyk

nelbaquintana:  My 7 year old students have already started blogging! http://ini2-icab-lp.blogspot.com

fliegs:  @michellek107 Totally. Read this http://bit.ly/awh8fF

cybraryman1:  @vmc_teachers See left hand column on my Ed Blogs pg for (blog etiquette, blogs for students, blog rubric..): http://bit.ly/8mcqcC

blanchetblog:  Ithink they should be public, but make sure kids know not to post private info #edchat link to student blog: http://mvutru.blogspot.com/

michellek107:  Aviva’s (@Grade1) take on why tech makes a difference in kids’ writing. http://bit.ly/awh8fF

zecool:  For those of you who understand French, @gauviroo ‘s K-8 school has been actively blogging since 2005 http://cahm.elg.ca/ #edchat #Clair2011

ergosteve: 18 Technologies Changing #Onderwys Forever: Ignoreer dit by jou verantwoording http://bit.ly/dhDHZh  #passiondriven #edchat

rliberni:  My piece on blogging and English language skills http://bit.ly/9m02us  #edchat

budtheteacher:  Considering connective writing might be helpful. http://digitalis.nwp.org/collection/whats-new-or-whats-good-writing-connecti  #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

TheNerdyTeacher:   @MrsBMG @Mrskmpeters @ShannonMiller’s #edcampkc Session on K-12 Blogging http://bit.ly/daQQ7o  – #edchat #blogging

amichetti:  Love this piece frm DMLcentral re: impt connection btwn #Community & #Writing in digital age http://j.mp/aZ2kS8  cc  @intrepidteacher #edchat

CarneySandoe: 33 Ways to use blogs in your classroom and in the educational setting: http://bit.ly/aYwWdQ

RobertBorgersen:  Blogging with immediate feedback: Google Wave and Google Docs: http://bit.ly/9hgrkg  and http://bit.ly/cy6wVK #edchat #education

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!

More Edchat

Challenge:

If you’re new to hashtag discussions, then just show up on Twitter on any Tuesday and add just a few tweets on the topic with the hashtag #edchat. 

What do you think? Leave a comment!

November 9, 2010

Blending of face to face learning with online learning

Filed under: Edchat — rliberni @ 10:27 pm
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

#Edchat 11-2–2010 – 18:00 CET 12 PM EST

Thank you to Scott Akerson @mra47 for this week’s summary. Blended learning is a popular topic on #edchat. A great edchatter and dedicated educator, Scott had managed to get to the heart of the topic and produced a wonderful summary for us.  See Scott’s bio at the end of the post. Thank you Scott!

With all the technology advancements that have come about in the last 2, 5, 10 years, how can education use start to blend face to face and online learning?  The business world incorporates video conferencing why shouldn’t schools?  Not 100% of the school day online, (not yet), but why not a mix?  Mixing online and face to face classes can have both benefits and drawbacks.  Students can participate in classes at times and in ways they normally couldn’t.  (i.e sickness, lack of course offering)  Many barriers will come about in the debate.  It will scare teachers initially. Lesson plans will need to change, there will be some surrender of control of the classroom.  Are schools and parents ready for teachers not to be source of information, but merely the coach and mentor for the students as they find the information?  Is there enough professional development to make all invested parties comfortable with this model?  What about access to the internet?  the #edchat this week discusses these and other issues in an awesome session.
 
  Here are some of the main themes from the discussion: 
  • Blended learning can expand the course offerings of smaller schools.
  • Blended learning can help with some “away from school” issues like absenteeism, snow days, etc.
  • Blended learning will force change in teaching methodology
  • Does blended learning have to mean “at home”?  Why not offer more options at schools?
  • What about access to the internet?
 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.

@madzia13 The movement towards 21st-century learning in education is actually inevitable, it is just the way society and businesses are moving. #edchat

 @davidwees The biggest issue I’ve seen with it so far is that the gov’t is using it as a way of removing class size limits. #edchat

 @shellterrell Blended options ensure that learning takes place beyond the classroom walls #Edchat

 @RGriffithJR If we are trying to develop students who are always learning, blending becomes even more important #edchat

@ tomwhitby Online teaching may be lessexpnsive form of education

 @ srdouggreeen Students who “fail” can keep going online until they make the grade. #edchat

@cybraryman Learning should take place not only in the classroom but on a global level. We have the tools so we should employ them #edchat

 @ericjuli Successful blended learning requires a shift away from content as learning goal towards content as vehicle for learning skills. #edchat

 @21stprincipal How can a school leader advocate global learning while insisting on traditional classrooms and learning? #edchat

 @ericjuli Am all for blended model-but lots of clarity around purpose, outcomes, resources, feedback etc to be established #edchat

 @gellesastar Blended learning is not about online learning per se. It’s about using technology to facilitate the blended learning. #edchat

 @rgallwitz More clicks less bricks! #edchat

 @azjd RT @tomwhitby: Not requiring students 2 B in school everyday from 7ish 2 3ish will nevr B accepted by R schedule-dependent culture. #Edchat

@tomwhitby worksheets online are still worksheets

 @RGriffithJR The biggest attitude that needs to be changed is the attitude of disillusionment! No model will B a perfect fit for all,all the time #edchat

 @21stprincipal: School leaders also need to learn how to use online learning tools. #edchat – agree! get them into the environment!

 @weisburghm as we move more online, doesn’t the teacher become more of a coach, mentor, and facilitator than sage? #edchat

 @cbell619: Most adults are bad at collaborating online; we need to explicitly develop this skill & can/should do this online w/kids #edchat

 @ShellTerrell If every school had a team to solve access issue in their school then access wouldn’t be a problem #edchat

 RT @comPOSITIONblog: @rgallwitz @web20classroom #edchat Money. If students are poverty-stricken, chances are food is more important than internet literacy

 @bruno_cesar82: With blended teaching there are more roles in a class than just teacher – student #edchat

I would ask that the following question is added to the poll next week:

 How can educators get parents on board with the shift in methodology of teaching?   
 
To follow the complete discussion see here 
 
For the stats on #edchat participation see here 
 
As ever, there were some great links shared:

davencvps67 :  blended learning continues to emerge in the K-20 space and needs to be embraced http://bit.ly/cIzFA7

amichetti:  I doubt many educators read published research from US Dept of Ed, but this report on online learning is worth it http://j.mp/cMrmjD

rgallwitz:  YouTube – Learning Without Limits – A TRECA Academy ( http://bit.ly/cA96LT ) Blended School

BarbaraOBrien:  Students Still Reluctant to Try E-Textbooks #edchat #lrnchat @Chronicle of Higher Education http://t.co/YcYKUsz

amichetti:  Also worth reading: http://j.mp/aU7384  #edchat #research #blendedlearning

amichetti:  Meta-Analysis: Is Blended Learning Most Effective? — THE Journal http://bit.ly/beZMmE  #edchat #article #blendedlearning #research

leahmacvie:  @teacherdebra: We are trying this here at my school. http://bit.ly/bb6Nkl

cybraryman1:  My Blended Learning page: http://bit.ly/altQDl  #edchat

davencvps67:   blended learning continues to emerge in the K-20 space http://bit.ly/cIzFA7

aenclade:   @tomwhitby read this in the latimes: Getting an education in learning over the Internet http://tinyurl.com/35oduag

vmc_teachers:  They are great ways also to expend the curriculum, using free online courses, such as @MIT ‘s Open Courseware http://bit.ly/aK7SFQ

vmc_teachers:  And so many fantastic online resources are offered by and for the #homeschooling community http://bit.ly/dxfXuV

teacherdebra: There was an article yesterday about a schl in Ohio that is trying it out–no more snow days. #edchat http://bit.ly/biXE1x

msstewart:  Dropping in quickly- I’m teaching a blended learning US #history class http://bit.ly/bD6VEf

smitha834:  Flip-thinking is one shift I’m making to move toward blended learning. http://ow.ly/33fu8

edinaenglish:  My blog about becoming a blended teacher. Last year, I taught three sections. Now I’m full-time blended. http://bit.ly/dtmD8L

rgallwitz:  YouTube – Networked Student ( http://bit.ly/czlF4e ) Example of what I’m looking for!

vmc_teachers:  Do you know the @global_nomads ? Great way to meet students from around the world using video-conferencing http://bit.ly/bNjig7

datruss:  nlearning: See http://bit.ly/91ZUMi  #BLC10 keynotes by Mitch Resnick, Michael Wesch and Rahaf Harfoush

neilstephenson:  Exemplars of Google Docs in the classroom: for editing/research/collaboration http://bit.ly/cEtZZd

thecleversheep:  Today’s podcast: If you have a PLN, you’re ‘Wired for Scenius Behaviour’. http://thecleversheep.libsyn.com

davidwees:  @anotherschwab @cbell619 @comPOSITIONblog Way off topic, but here a pioneer at UBC in the unlecture : http://is.gd/gCHF5

jonbergmann:  @vmc_teachers the “flipped” clsrm is a gr8 entry point for new blended learning tchrs #edchat http://learning4mastery.com/news.html

rpetersmauri:  15 Best Blogging Practices http://bit.ly/bDTx4D

Scott Akerson has taught MS social studies and other various subjects for 11 years.  All this technology explosion has reenergized him to a new level of love for teaching.  He tweets at @mra47.  He loves to brag on his students’ work at
www.aslsmra.blogspot.com.  You can read some of his thoughts at
www.mra47.blotspot.com

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!

More Edchat

Challenge:

If you’re new to hashtag discussions, then just show up on Twitter on any Tuesday and add just a few tweets on the topic with the hashtag #edchat. 

What do you think? Leave a comment!

October 27, 2010

What are the myths of education that are clouding the focus?

Filed under: Edchat — rliberni @ 11:26 pm
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

#Edchat 10-19-2010 – 18:00 CET 12 PM EST

We are very grateful to have this wonderful guest summary from Larry Fliegelman (@fliegs) for what was one of the most exciting edchats we have experienced! Larry is a regular at #edchat and always provides great insight as well as lots of very useful links. I think you will all agree that he has done a fantastic job capturing the mood of the edchat discussion as well as its content. See Larry’s bio at the end of the post.

  With so much attention in the national media on education issues, it has become increasingly clear that many myths swirl about in the public conscience. If one believes these myths, then one believes that, except for those few great teachers somewhere, teachers know nothing, teachers can do nothing, teachers care nothing for children, and teachers will be motivated by nothing but merit pay. The EdChat community has, for the last several weeks, been talking about how we can counter the popular “conventional wisdom” about teachers in reaction to Waiting for Superman, Oprah Winfrey, and NBC’s Education Nation. At some point, we realized that to stop the swirl, we needed to know the myths first.

We devoted a noon edchat session to listing and debating the myths that we’ve heard about.

 Here are some of the main themes from the discussion: 

  • There are SO many myths out there about education.
  • For a complete list of the myths mentioned during the chat, see the transcript (link below) or this page that lists only the myth.
  • Some ideas came up repeatedly
    • Homework is good/bad
    • Myth: Anyone can teach
  •  
    • Myth: Students are tech literate already
    • Myth: Teachers don’t need to teach tech
    • Merit pay is bad
    • Myth: Teachers don’t work hard
    • Myth: More money will solve the problems
    • Myth: standardized testing = learning


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.

rkiker @rliberni To move myths aside, one option is to involve community – invite them to see our efforts and dedication #edchat

Lauren_Learning I think we have myths like these because they are more convenient than the truth. #edchat

Mamacita Myth: Barbie was right; math is too hard. Some students don’t need ANY math b/c it makes them work too unfairly hard. #edchat

tomwhitby MYTH: Our teachers are all Media literate and are preparing our kids with the latest tech they need for the 21st Century. #Edchat

CrudBasher Seems to me that many of these myths aren’t 100% true or false. Like kids, there are variations. #edchat

L_Hilt Myth: Peer collaboration is scary because my colleagues will be judging me and stealing my ideas! #edchat

domi75P Myths are a way to present one side only of what really happens

fliegs @rliberni I mean letters to newspaper editors (the print kind). Also we need to write to our congressfolks. Invite them to school. #edchat

domi75P We can change the myths by showing that school has changed

fliegs @rliberni Begin at school by engaging in conversation with the teacher next door. Change the conversation in the staff lounge. #edchat

Akevy613 MYTH: Teachers don’t need D.I. when it comes2 their readiness 4 a new skill or 4 P. D. – A one size fits all model is ok 4 teachers #edchat

MikeGwaltney Myth: Teaching Creativity / Alternative Assessments in core academic courses dumbs down education, and should be reserved for arts. #edchat

azjd Myth Busting: we need to keep pushing true educational leaders / ideas to the forefront of the reform discussion. #edchat

DrSmartEd @domi75P Remember, loudest voices against us are the “Experts” who went to sch &”know.” Showing that it has changed is not enough. #edchat

thenewtag Have to truly understand the root cause/ perspective of believers in order to change “mythical” thinking re” ed or anything else #edchat

elanaleoni @ToddAHoffman Good question. We need to infuse teacher’s voices as much as possible when media covers education 2 change the opinion #edchat

MikeGwaltney Myth held by Ed Reformers in D.C. (can they really believe this?!?!): Life is just like a multiple choice test. #edchat

DanielAyres BUT MANY Teachers BELIEVE THEY are solely responsible for the success of the students = truth? #edchat @MeganLearner 😉

thenewtag     Myth: Pro-teacher accountability is the same as anti-teacher. Studies show MANY tchers support more accountable eval./ hr policies #edchat

ShellTerrell What if we all tried to get our best practices in news like @NMHS_Principal @bhsprincipal @SNewco #vanmeter have managed to do? #Edchat

ToddAHoffman #Myth- Feds determine direction of ed- Fact- Probably less than 5% of your school budget comes from Feds #edchat

Lauren_Learning Love this idea! Highlight what’s working rather than what’s not working 2 create a momentum 2 replicate best practices (@elanaleoni) #edchat

TeachPaperless If preconceptions were people, they’d surely be the critics who didn’t read the book. #edchat

GaryBrannigan Teachers need to become more active in the community and the community needs to become more active in children’s education #edchat

fliegs What are YOU going to do about these myths? #edchat

ShellTerrell Do we need a Myth Busters for Education show? #Edchat

azjd Myth Busting: Education is messy. Reform won’t fit into a neat box – one size doesn’t fit all. #edchat

davidwees Join the “Tell Our Story” project if you want to see some of these myths about education dispelled. http://is.gd/fZ7Ka #edchat

rkiker @ShellTerrell I wish society believed that teachers work incredibly hard – and that it is on of the most difficult professions. #Edchat

davidwees The best public education systems are in countries which have done a much better job of addressing poverty than has the US. #edchat

I would ask that the following question is added to the poll next week:

How can we implement what we believe to be real education transformation?

 

To follow the complete discussion see here 

For the stats on #edchat participation see here 


As ever, there were some great links shared:

tomwhitby: Don’t Forget Diane Ravitch LIVE Today at 4 PM EDT. Presentation & Discussion. http://bit.ly/duX97e Join Us!

cybraryman1: All these myths are the reason why we need Twitter Academy to show how Ed should be http://cybraryman.com/twitacad.html  #twitacad #edchat

fliegs:  Here is a place to start cataloging myths, facts, and alternatives http://bit.ly/dgjrBC

shamblesguru:  If it is a myth then won’t it be listed at http://snopes.com  all the others are 😉 #edchat #edtech

ShellTerrell:  http://bit.ly/9eSxbo  3 column site for myth, fact, alternative #edchat

cybraryman1: @Mamacita Show the nonbelievers my Poetry page: http://cybraryman.com/poetry.html

mreduhowto: top ten youtube channels for education http://t.co/5dUtiac  via @drezac #edtech #edchat

iearnusa: Myth: “Give them a laptop & pupils will teach themselves” @OLPC [The Guardian] http://j.mp/9qDBXR  @ShellTerrell #edchat

ASCD: No. 1 read for today comes from @DianeRavitch http://bit.ly/cOVgHK  #educationnation #edchat

Qwizdom: Bowie High School demonstrates revolutionized instruction! http://bit.ly/aSVXpM  #edchat #edtech

davidwees:  Fun project. Design the computers of the future. http://is.gd/g8lYz  #edchat #edchat

jonbergmann:  @billgx Individualized lrning via the flipped/mastery clssrm http://bit.ly/3PAZ1K  http://bit.ly/bAX4dN  #edchat

Fliegs: Take a minute to add info to the myth, fact, alt list http://bit.ly/dgjrBC  #edchat

rliberni: Myths in edu a definition http://www.teachersmind.com/myths1.htm

carneysandoe:  Myths about teaching: http://www.teachersmind.com/teaching.htm

ShellTerrell:  Many great myths listed here! Please add them to this Google doc created by @twoodwar http://bit.ly/d1qlGO

jonbergmann:  The best summary of what we are doing to differentiate for all is found at http://bit.ly/aAP9UL

DUMACORNELLUCIA: Internet myths #edtech20 #edchat #etchat #elearning #lrnchat #liveclass20 http://slidesha.re/cQzb2f

MZimmer557:  Here are my 8 misconceptions (myths) about tech integration. Great conversation going. http://j.mp/cfT79S

goashland:  Would like this story framed on the positive! Celebrate innovation in education & creating schools that work… http://ow.ly/19woD8

ShellTerrell: Many great myths listed here! Please add them to this Google doc created by @twoodwar http://bit.ly/d1qlGO

davidwees: Join the “Tell Our Story” project if you want to see some of these myths about education dispelled. http://is.gd/fZ7Ka

publicagenda: How A Whisper Became A Roar: teachers talking about reform http://bit.ly/cvnydl Supporting Teacher Talent http://bit.ly/8M1S5U

web20education : Teachers guide in the classroom #microsoft #edtech20 #edchat #lrnchat #educhat #safedchat… http://fb.me/A7DMxUC3

MarjieKnudsen: Teaching solution-focused skills to #kids http://ow.ly/2VG6R  @CoertVisser #edchat #parenting

olafelch: Charles Murray on Education Myths http://youtu.be/n8GN8g0Si7Q

CrudBasher: @ShellTerrell My blog post today is about how everything is up for changing: http://bit.ly/9LieRI

ShellTerrell:  @TeachPaperless Seems like something your students could produce 😉 I think you have a studio #edchat RE http://bit.ly/9GnZp4

4thGrdTeach:  Are you the reform? I am the reform http://ow.ly/2VWrV

cybraryman1:  No myth I’m in between flights. Thanks for great chat My Myths http://cybraryman.com/myths.HTML

carneysandoe:  @fliegs School Pride on Hulu http://www.hulu.com/watch/186012/school-pride-soaring-eagles

edteck: Myth: Test prep works. My post at http://bit.ly/a2mvhH

lemino: Here’s someone who’s trying to break some myths: Greg Whitby http://youtu.be/OpIYsmRkZew #edchat talking about “a new DNA for education”

Larry Fliegelman has been an elementary principal, middle school assistant principal, and middle school social studies teacher for the last 14 years. Larry tweets at @fliegs and blogs for the Connected Principals and his Principal’s Point of View. Other ways to find Larry online are: 

Shelfari, Flieg’s Views, Diigo, email

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!

More Edchat

Challenge:

If you’re new to hashtag discussions, then just show up on Twitter on any Tuesday and add just a few tweets on the topic with the hashtag #edchat. 

What do you think? Leave a comment!

 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

October 20, 2010

How can Educators regain the initiative in the talks on Education Reform

Filed under: Edchat — rliberni @ 8:44 am
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

#Edchat 10-12-2010 – 18:00 CET 12 PM EST

 

This was a lively edchat and an equally lively summary has been written for us by  Tony Baldasaro (@baldy7). Tony is  regular edchatter and has an impressive bio (see this at the end of the post). He is a great advocate for tech and practises exactly what he preaches in his personal and professional life! Thank you Tony for a great summary.

There has been a lot of discussion lately about education reform.  Fueled by the debut of Waiting for Superman, the $100,000,000 donation by Mark Zuckerberg to Newark Public Schools on the Oprah Winfrey Show, NBC’s much ballyhooed Education Nation, and most recently the Superintendents’ Manifesto along with the rebuttals like the ones offered here and here.  With the exception of Brian Crosby, who wrote this piece in rebuttal to Education Nation in the Huffington Post, what has been missed is the authentic voice of the classroom teacher.  As Brian noted, “Teachers and other actual educators were almost completely absent from nearly every “In-depth” discussion — as were parents and students.”  Thus, on Tuesday October 12th at noon, a group of educators from all around the world met virtually in Twitter.  Using the hashtag #edchat, teachers, administrators, parents, and perhaps even a policy maker or two, all of whom share a passion for education reform and thirst for continual learning, shared their perspectives on how teacher can regain the initiative in the talks about education reform.  


Here are some of the main themes from the discussion: 

  • Practicing educators need to provide more voice to the bigger conversations about education reform.
  • Educator fight the perspective that all adults attended school, thus they “know” how school should be.  However, educators have done little to be proactive in re-educating their respective communities.
  • While teacher unions themselves were not directly criticized, there was consensus that any teacher-led movement should be independent of any professional organization – it should be more grassroots in nature.
  • There was a lot of discussion about the role of media in any grassroots effort, although is often discussed that web2.0 tools could allow teachers voices to be heard without an organized media group involved.
  • Concerns rose of the history to educators to not maintain a consistent voice, while other suggested that a diversity of voices was need to provided multiple dimensions to the issues.
  • Great educators and schools are there to be modeled from.
  • Communities need to be accountable, not only teachers.
  • As per usual, there was much discussion about the role to test scores in the reform process.
  • There is a political process to reform, but true reformers have the courage to step beyond the politics and lead based on principles.
  • Educators need to involve community members and make sure they understand they are stakeholders to the process.


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.

CoachB0066:  Focus on the students, their needs and the world they will enter. And be comfortable w being uncomfortable! Well worth the risk #edchat

 Fliegs:  @Pen63 Unified would be nice, but whatever they say, teachers need to be a driving voice nationally and locally. #edchat

 Ms_Shhh_mala:  I believe public profiles of teaching professionalism, thoughtful commentary on EdReform from T’s are key #edchat

 ShellTerrell:  It seems that more & more public relations is a part of the job description of being an educator #Edchat

 baldy7:  #edchat accountability must be embraced by admin, school boards, and communities too

Pen63:  RT @slaggyc: Its going to take alot of strength. This a battle weve not had to fight before. TRUE – thus the difficulty #edchat

baldy7:  #edchat the problem with inviting community in our classrooms is that they don’t look any different than they did when they were in school.

 ShellTerrell:   #Edchat @rgriffithjr I think solutions most likely coming fr grassroots movmts w teachers taking lead as transformers of the current system

 tomwhitby:  The more we educate people about education the less the sound bites and polls from non educators wil have an impact. #Edchat

baldy7:  #edchat What if we stopped educating the community and started educating WITH the community? Would that challenge our system too much?

 Tina_Barr:  RT @GaryBrannigan: RT @tkraz: Policy makers know what parents want to hear, teachers know what they need to hear. #edchat

 ShellTerrell:  RT @baldy7: #edchat if we can’t get educators to use connective technologies, how do we get them to be transparent

 Nunavut_Teacher:   RT @Pen63: @drdouggreen I only want to be lumped in with those that have the sam e ideas as me, not just the same union dues as me.

 @jgmac1106:   #edchat You don’t take a temperature with a stethascope (sp?) can’t measure learning with standardized test

 Fliegs:   @ShellTerrell Teachers should be using all kinds of media. There are so many of us from several generations and every part of US #Edchat

Teachingwthsoul:  Very cool idea! Imagine the power…RT @baldy7: #edchat we need a million teachers telling a million stories

Lemino:  RT @malcolmbellamy: I think that we need to consider that the media is changing… social media can play a key part in delivering a message #edchat

tomwhitby:  Everyone who has gone to school has an opinion on EDU Reform.We need to examine the foundation of those opinions and dispel the Myths.#Edchat

 JasonFlom:   RT @davidwees: So who’s willing to tell their story? What if each of us contributed a 1 minute positive story of education to our library? #edchat

 Carter_Learning:   embracing technology will enable organic reform; educators often resist it #edchat

 Tomwhitby:  I’m asking for blog posts of positive Edu Reform to be published on Oct 17 with Links on a wallwisher wall. http://bit.ly/a3fH2c #Edchat

To follow the complete discussion see here 

 For the stats on #edchat participation see here 


As ever, there were some great links shared:

ShellTerrell: #edchat @johart “Anyone who has been a student feels that they are more qualified to speak on (cont) http://tl.gd/6erv7l

malcolmbellamy:  we need to have more media attention on gr8 practitioners like Brian Crosby see http://malbell.wordpress.com/?s=brian+crosby  #edchat

smartinez:  Interview with @smartinez (me!) tonight on LearnCentral w/ @stevehargadon 8PM/5PM EDT/PDT http://bit.ly/draI5t  #edchat #edtech

for #edchat discussion – share your successes with policymakers at local, state and federal levels. http://bit.ly/M0bLT  ETAN  for ed tech

carolynstarkey:  Education Week: Number of Ed. Civil Rights Complaints on the Rise http://t.co/phmUf2K  via @educationweek #edchat #highered

SloanConsortium: Habitats for Academic Freedom – http://bit.ly/d2w0ec #highered #edchat

davidwees:  We could create our own documentary on the positive change education can make. http://is.gd/fYRcc

edReformer: The Incentivized Principal http://bit.ly/9Beiw 

jonbergmann:  More info on how we are changing ed http://bit.ly/akGOEW  http://bit.ly/bAX4dN http://bit.ly/bE6TCC  http://bit.ly/99NdZh

heoj:  btw here’s a lesson plan in which students make documentaries about their own schools http://nyti.ms/dnC7gR

Tina_Barr: @teachingwthsoul Oprah and Facebook CEO have been advocates. http://bit.ly/dt3lDT

davidwees:  @EMGonline High school dropouts are much more expensive. http://is.gd/fYRXW

veletsianos:  #edchat re: teacher videos: would LOVE to include your video stories in a project we are doing launching this weekend: http://bit.ly/cMJbbm

tomwhitby: I’m asking 4 blog posts of positive Edu Reform 2 be published on Oct 17 w/ Links on a wallwisher http://bit.ly/a3fH2c

AdobeEdu:  @Adobe booth presentation schedule for #EDUCAUSE10 can be found here http://bit.ly/dgV3Yl #edchat #edtech #adobe

ShellTerrell:  Stay tuned! We will be posting soon how to involve yourself in Youtube proj here http://bit.ly/cM28Mm  #edchat We need ur help!

lemino:  Here’s a video on #edreform created using google docs http://youtu.be/dGCJ46vyR9o

tomwhitby:  Pls take the time. This video is one step in Edu Reform. Dean Shareski>”Sharing: The Moral Imperative” http://bit.ly/ba6YRN

ToddAHoffman:  More schools are using video games to get students moving #edtech #edchat http://sbne.ws/r/5QS7

ShellTerrell: Wow! RT @NZWaikato: Students available to Tutor other students via Skype in Maori Language/Culture http://bit.ly/czrDCW

ShellTerrell: Fantastic ! #Edchat RT @veletsianos: we have a similar project looking @ teacher roles & memorable teachers: beta site http://bit.ly/9XQ36x

christal_t:  Bill Gates is funding novel Ed Tech ideas & online courses via @berniedodge http://tinyurl.com/36a6ckg #edtech #edchat #elearning #mlearning

veletsianos:  Teacher Ed reform recommendations from UT: http://bit.ly/alb9Cu  #edchat #edtech #edreform

ShellTerrell: Goes nicely with the today’s topic! A Culture of Blame? http://bit.ly/deBfQx  via @JoHart #edchat #edreform

Hello, my name is Tony Baldasaro. I am the Chief Human Resource Officer and Personalized Pathways Administrator at The Virtual Learning Academy Charter School. In addition to supervising the school’s rapidly growing faculty (The school opened with 40 teachers in January 2008. We now have approximately 125), I partner with local school to help students meet competencies (NH is moving away from the traditional Carnegie Unit) and develop Experiential Learning Opportunities which allow students to earn high school credit through a blend of experiential and online learning. VLACS has very quickly become a disrupting force in New Hampshire public education as our enrollment has exploded from 450 in January of ’08 to an estimated 9,000 at this time. This has not only triggered many debates at the state level relative to funding, but also pushed conversations in the education community toward a more flexible approach to educating New Hampshire students. It is an incredible feeling knowing that you are part of a team of educators changing the way students are educated. Intoxicating really.

In addition, I have worked hard to expand my professional learning network.  I tweet regularly, bookmark on delicious and diigo, contribute to my photostream in Flickr, write in my blog, and continue to develop a presence on Linked In. Finally, like many other people, I have developed a particular addiction to Facebook- although I don’t understand why people who would give me the time of day twenty years ago in high school suddenly think we are now friends!

In my personal life, I spend a lot of time with my wife (Kelli) and three kids (Ben, Beth and Emma). We live in Stratham, NH which is ten minutes from the New Hampshire seacoast, and an hour from the lakes and mountains to the north or Boston to to the south. If I am not at work, I am usually at a hockey rink, a horse barn, a soccer field, a football field, a basketball court, a baseball/softball diamond, or cross country meet cheering on my kids in some sort of sporting event. Like many kids, my kids like to be active and be with friends and Kelli and I feel really lucky to have three healthy children who enjoy doing the things that kids enjoy doing. When we have time, we enjoy going to Lake Winnipesaukee and the beach (I much prefer the lake over the beach), going geocaching, cheering on the Red Sox and Patriots both on TV and in person, and taking short, family-friendly hikes. We also really like going to Boston for an afternoon or weekend to try to absorb some of the energy that at big city exudes.

So, let me leave you with my contact information:
Twitter: baldy7
skype: tbaldasaro
email: tbaldasaro@gmail.com
delicious: tbaldasaro
diigo: baldy7
posterous: tbaldasaro
blog: www.transleadership.wordpress.com
Flickr: tonybaldasaro

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!

More Edchat

Challenge:

If you’re new to hashtag discussions, then just show up on Twitter on any Tuesday and add just a few tweets on the topic with the hashtag #edchat. 

What do you think? Leave a comment!

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