EduBlog Insights

Every session will be open for comments, extensions and even revisions

by all the participants. They are evolving the program from an agenda

Another feature of their conference is “Expo in a Bag - Learning BackPack.”

They’re putting CDs, DVDs, Brochures and White Papers from 75 of the

leading learning suppliers in the field and putting them in a nifty

backpack. Then, they added an on-line social networking system so that

participants could interact with suppliers and set up meeting times to

have more 1 to 1 discussions.

I have learned a bunch just looking around the site. Lots of

information about learning is provided prior to the conference.

They are conducting an intriguing experiment

in social networking. They are using a ‘Scattergram’ to create profiles

with participants background and interests in learning issues and

things they are looking for at the conference. The participants set up

their profile and choose words from 4 different tabs

all the different types in the system, which

typically will include not only people but also sessions and articles.

Partcipants can see all of the

things that might interest them, from people with whom they have a lot

in common to sessions matching their interests, and articles

containing knowledge that they might find fascinating.

I find this all very interesting. We need to try something along this

line with our students.How about a school conference on how you learn.

We just don’t spend much time on that in our schools. Isn’t that

professional development in our schools? I have learned so much reading her

Those learnings led me to even more learning on the blogs of those who had

presented. Talk about professional development. I’m getting to pick and

Here’s a few clips Jenny blogged from Will’s keynote.

they need, rather than make them memorize things they might need just

teachers; not just handed one thing and told to believe it; the

knowledge resides in the network

can nagivate that network

because they’re going to try shut all of this down but that this won’t

The fact that we can get information like this so quickly, so easily is

really incredible. Go read her blog, there’s much more there.

really like to see

blogs used for professional development but I don’t believe it will

happen anytime soon. I want to make it clear that I have absolutely no

doubts about the power of blogging for learning. I just want it to

happen sooner and realistically that probably is not going to happen.

At least not soon enough for me.

But meanwhile I’m going to keep dreaming, keep learning, keep blogging,

work at being a lot more

disruptive and keep reading blogs till we can collectively figure out

answers to bring about needed changes in education. And oh yes, thanks

to Jenny, Will, Lila, Steven, Jessamyn, Michael,

and others who provided my professional development today. It was great

and here I am at almost 10:00 PM tonight still learning. I did the

picking and it was great!

his professional development days and how he usually finds good ones. I

have felt the same way, for the most part. Here’s an excerpt from his

helps me to clarify events, think through responses, and plan for the future of

my classroom.

space?

blogs used for professional development but I don’t believe it will

happen anytime soon. It really could put us in charge of our own

caused me to  keep thinking about my professional development over

the years though. Choices were made more for me than by me.  There

was not much built in for sharing and building among groups of

stakeholders in and outside the classroom walls. There would be plans

for collaboration and sharing but that would always be the first thing

to go when time got scarce, as it always did.  We have to be in

control of our own learning and mirror that to our students. We have to

become the independent learners we are trying to develop in our

classrooms.

It is a feature on Hillary Meeler in the local newsletter. She has been

doing a great job blogging with the kids and it’s cool to see the local

If you haven’t seen the class blog, BlogWrite, check it out. The

article also takes note of House Highlights. On that blog she

spotlights all the many things going on at the school.

Kudos to Hillary! She deserves it! Also, Hillary and some other local

teachers are going to be presenting at GAetc and I bet we will get more

Georgia educators blogging. Hooray!  Great work, Hillary!

The reality is, having “anyone” be able to edit doesn’t mean that

“everyone” will. Most people don’t care deeply about any particular

subject - the ones with an interest (and, of course, the vandals) will

be the ones who show up. With the printed encyclopedia, anyone who’s

views fall outside the current academic consensus will just get cut out

immediately. With Wikipedia, they have a chance to get their take peer

more views, the more to think about, and the more to help you draw your

at J.H. House Elementary in Conyers, GA. Their blogs have attracted

readers from across the globe.

caption for one of these great photos above. These students are none

other than Hillary Meeler’s blogging crew from J.H. House Elementary

School. See the class blog, BlogWrite, which links to all the student

blogs. They were spotlighted on CNet, along with Clarence Fisher’s

combined seventh- and eighth-grade class in Snow Lake, Manitoba.

in the post-gazette.com It highlights the outpouring of kid-generated

fund-raising efforts for the storm victims.  It gives lots of

other examples and points to the following statistics::

Note this:

Wendy Wheeler, president of the Innovation Center for Community and

Youth Development in Takoma Park, Md., added that “thanks to

technology, young people can be active in connecting with others. They

are much more aware of the connections with other parts of the world

“They also have ways to engage with others that weren’t available

before. They can use Internet petitions, online fund-raisers and blogs

asks “why blog?”, say “get engaged for the common good.” It’s true. The article points out

lots more interesting things to think about on the issue of

volunteering and youth. Read the entire article. I think this will be a

I finally got back to the high school. The governor closed schools on

one of our meeting days (to conserve fuel). Doesn’t he know that that’s

prohibited during blogging days? Then the students and teachers had a

week off for fall break which I hope they all thoroughly enjoyed!

The Getting Heard group got to

reply to those of you who were kind enough to comment to them. They

replied to all of you so check it out. They were mesmerized by the

comments and were glued to the screen as they formed their replies.

They didn’t get to another post as they didn’t have enough time. How do

you high school teachers manage in these short class times?

I found out that one

of the students dropped out of school. I hate that. He was

a neat student. Smart, too. Another one lost. We need more options.

The Teacher Cadet group got

their blogs today (after scuffling with laptops for a while). This high

school does have a lab but it’s not available. These students are wondering about

a lot of things and have asked bunches of questions. You can read a lot

between the lines of their posts. They posted about the class and why

they’re thinking about teaching as a career. I know they’d love to hear

from those of you in the field. It’s an interesting group, too.

Well, my two blogging groups are very different and very

challenging.One group is all male. One is all female except for one

male.  I

have lots of thoughts and questions myself. I’m the real learner in

this quest. It’s great to be back in the classroom again. I really

marvel at the teachers and all they’re doing. One of the best things

about this school is observing the connections that go on between

faculty, staff and students, both in the halls and the classrooms. It’s

real at this school. It’s a school that’s truly making connections with

the kids I’m glad most of the J.H. House kids go here.

On that note, I’ve even gotten to see some of my former students. My

have they grown! They’re not in my blogging classes

(unfortunately)  but maybe later, if I can make some inroads here.

One thing keeps hitting me in the face though. 

Having technology that works and is readily available is a must! That’s

becoming more and more apparent. This is a good school, more than 500

computers, but it’s not ready and available (easily) for all students

at all times.   I don’t think many teachers who are

overwhelmed with so many expectations from so many quarters will have

board members I’ve respected and appreciated, others shall I say,

we’ve had a prickly past. This is yet one more thing I’ve grown to love

about blogging. BoardBuzz has given me a whole new prospective on

school boards and what they are doing. I really like the wide range of

topics that are covered and the personal touch from the excellent

writers adds so much. They are professional and yes, even prickly at

times. Prickly  in a very good way, I might add. They allow

comments. I

love that! I did find out that they have to be approved by an

administrator but I don’t find that all bad. Those of us in education

know the kind of comments that sometimes can be hurled our way. There

aren’t a whole lot of comments on the blog. I hope that changes. Check

it out. You might want to leave a comment or two. I had posted before