Information shared in blogs may be too subjective or trivial to be meaningful in any kind of educationalBlogs may provide easy access to offensive … www.media-awareness.ca/…/wa_resources/wa_teachers/are_you_web_aware/web_aware_blogs.cfm – 30k – Cached – Similar pages way.
Curiousity peeked, I had to go to the listing and check it out. The first piece of information started with this:
Over half (52%) of all blogs are developed and maintained by teens ages 13-19.
(Source: Georgetown University , Gender, Identity and Language Use in Teenage Blogs, 2005)
For those of us who have been following the current information and discussions in technology this shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise.
I just finished my most recent chat with a student who was asked to leave the room by their teacher. The conversation started out much the same as they usually do.
Student: I don’t know why I got sent out of the room.
Student: I didn’t do anything but talk to _______(fill in the blank) across the room.
You know how these conversations go. Well, this time I couldn’t help myself. I continued his dialogue for him because I think I’ve only heard it 5 or 6 hundred times. In a lightbulb moment I decided , along with our secretary’s help, that a checklist would be in order. That way the student could check off the injustices and be one step ahead before they got to the office.
Please Take to The Office:
Check all that apply:
1. I don’t know why I was sent out of the room.
2. I didn’t do anything.
3. I didn’t say anything.
4. It’s not fair.
5. The teacher’s picking on me.
6. He/she’s just trying to get me in trouble.
7. They threw it first.
8. Why am I the only one who ever gets in trouble?
9. Why did I get sent out and they didn’t?
10. I was only________________(fill in the blank).
11. I was just answering the question!
12. Other:
Oh the things that one gets up to with just a little bit of extra time. Might have to use it one day for a giggle with the grade eight students. Hope you get a bit of a laught out of this.
Okay, I can admit when I have a problem but I find it a little easier to live in denial. I keep telling myself it’s been good for me because my learning curve has been massive. I’m networked around the globe with teachers who are incorporating technology throughout their teaching practice. My network is also available for assistance, resources and support. I use Twitter frequently to stay in touch with my network. I use weblogs as a host for my professional blog and use bloglines to subscribe to blogs about the use of technology in the classroom. I’m even starting to introduce more Web 2.0 tools such as VoiceThread and JumpCut to my students. Am I now pushing technology for Couros? It’s spiraling out of control and affecting my work.
What’s the Future Hold?
I’m currently moving all of the unit plans, lessons, resources and assignments for all subject areas to wikispaces. I’m also planning a collaborative Holocaust project for the fall. I’m also designing a global collaborative project based on the environment and global issues. I hope that the global issue project will run throughout the school year engaging many students. I’ve started a class blog with our grade 2&3 teacher. I’ve also connected her with other blogging partners to collaborative with students in Tokyo and Quebec.
Thank goodness Rob Wall has started a twelve step program for EC&I 831 alumnus. Rob’s calling it Sk. Educators for Learning with Technology Enhanced Resources (Skelter) but I think it’s really a support group for all of us who will be going through withdrawal now that EC&I supply line has dried up. If you’re like me you’ll need to visit regularly as we wean ourselves off Couros’ little web treats. Now, don’t tell anyone but I’ll keep scanning for the next class Couros teaches. I’ll try to be a bit more careful next time I’ll look for a hidden agenda but anything can happen.
Bob Greenberg in Connecticut sent this video out to a few educators last week. It’s a new twist on an old theme: Are we preparing our students for the future or are we teaching the same way we did fifty years ago? Every time I watch a video like this it makes me take pause and reflect on my teaching practice. It also makes me listen to the voice of Clarence Fisher in my head repeating over and over “Learning Studio.” Over the last two years I’ve made changes within my classroom to accommodate the diverse needs of my learners but also to accommodate the way I want to teach. I’ve added bean bag chairs, swivel style office chairs, stability balls and a beloved couch. I still have desks but they are separate from the chairs which allows for the variance in seating options. Next fall I’m doing away with desks and using tables. I’ll still have a few desks for those students who like to have their own space. You know…the students who like to be an island. But what I’m trying to do is to create an atmosphere for the students and myself to feel comfortable so that we can get onto the business of learning.
I’m certainly the odd duck in my school. My principal laughs when she comes into my classroom because I only use half of my lights because I think I’m lucky to have great windows. I’m the teacher the caretakers hate because my desks are never in rows and they have to work a bit harder to get my floor clean. My class also happens to be the class that spreads out around the school. You’ll see my students laying on the floor with computers in the hallway, sitting in a corner of the library, relaxing on a couch in the family room or sitting in a comfy chair by the school office. The students are generally engaged and on-task. Not to say that nothing ever goes awry but I think that could happen within the four walls of my classroom. I’ve created an atmosphere that my students and I are comfortable with but unfortunately it’s very difficult for others to get their head around. The one difficulty is when a substitute teacher is in my classroom and tries to micro-manage my class. The students are used to being very mobile, choosing where they work (I always have the final say if it doesn’t work out) and who they work with. The idea of choice is very difficult for a substitute teacher who finds it easier for all students to sit in rows, not move around, be working on the same task(substitute worksheet) and not interact as they work. So, what I’m saying is that that I’m constantly reflecting, plotting and planning changes in my classroom but I also appreciate that this isn’t everyone’s way.
It would be great to see classrooms change into “Learning Studios” and teachers to embrace change but that isn’t happening soon. So now what.? Do we just go on our merry way and become the islands in the middle of the school? Or do we encourage others to jump on the path with us? I’m not sure but I know that I’m happy in my own piece of the school and I wouldn’t change what I’m doing for anything.
I came across this video in my wanderings through YouTube. I liked how the video summarized feelings I have about using technology in my classroom for my writing program. I believe an authentic audience is incredibly important for student engagement and motivation. What do you think?
