EduBlog Insights

Comparing viewpoints is so interesting, especially when you are trying to teach. Also humor in the classroom helps learning and I love when I get the opportunities to combine the two. This comment from Michael on one of his posts made me remember a previous post from Will. We have an interesting comparison here. Will is charged and excited about making Google Maps. He begins talking about google map directions and tells us to check out step 19. (which by the way appears to be step 15 now). Will says this is “too funny.”

Along comes Michael a bit later. Michael is a student in Blogical Minds. He’s creative, imaginative and like Will he loves Google Maps too. Now in his comment on his blog Michael listed all 38 steps of his Google directions. He wanted to make his point where someone would really understand his concern. Michael pointed with great alarm to step 22 on his list. He said, “Look at the swim across part. When people rush they make mistakes. If an ultra gullible person reads that he will do it.”

The comment Michael was making to a couple of his teachers about Google Maps is going to give me some wonderful teachable moments. Plus I can share Will’s post with them and they can compare perspectives. Anyway the aspect that Will loved about Google mapping was alarming to Michael. Different perspectives, hmmmmm. Let’s talk about that. What do we need to clarify? How should teachers approach this? Let’s talk about literal interpretations versus figurative. Let’s talk about humor and different understandings. If people interpret language literally and do not understand multiple meanings are they likely to miss the humor in some writing? Then we could toss this out for discussion. Do we really need all 38 steps to understand his concern? The teachable moments are right there and ripe for the taking. I love that about blogs. You get so many teachable moments and they are so much fun.

As a teacher I am going to get a lot of mileage out of these blog postings. What’s so neat about these moments is that through blogging we get to share. And humor is a great way to start off the day!

The bouncing baby bloggers entered the blogosphere with this delightful announcement this past February. To say that have come a long way is an understatement. Remember all you seasoned edubloggers out there, as Sheryl Nussbaum-Beach said in reply to comments on the announcement “it takes a whole blogosphere to raise a digital child.” Sheryl is their instructor for their class. Here’s the course wiki. So if you haven’t commented to any of them consider doing just that before they close the class in May. Give them the benefit of your experiences and wish them well. I’d like to whet your appetite for some of their interesting thoughts on their learning. Of course you’ll need to travel to their blogs to read some of the conclusions - a great way to spend a few minutes of your day! Enjoy!

Chris of c.michaels says Own It!

All semester our professors have been continuously talking about the idea of ownership and how students need to own their learning in order for them to better understand the material. My first impression of this idea, was that is completely ridiculous. It simply didn’t make any sense. As I heard more and more though, it made more sense and it seemed like it might actually be effective in the classroom. Now after being in the classroom for a few months and looking specifically for examples, I’ve seen it and that it does indeed work.

Kimberly of EDUC 330 (incorrectly ) labeled herself as Computer Unable in a beginning post had this to say in Learning through practice.

Working in pairs on Monday the class split up to complete a public service announcement about forest fires by using video clips, audio clips, and photos. The iMovie program proved to be simple to use with the guide, and we cut, edited, added transitions, and completed a video in one class period. I was amazed at how simple it was to create the video. I would definitely consider using this technology in an elementary classroom.

Rachel of EDUC 330 proclaims “I Have Seen the Light!!!”

Praise the Lord - I understand! To be completely honest, all throughout my learning of how to incorporate technology into the everyday classroom, I’ve had doubts. I had a hard time wrapping my mind around the concept of fluidly using technology in elementary lessons without it being a huge distraction (or in my case, complication). Yes, I heard mentors talk about blogging, wikis, projects, etc. but growing up without technology in the classroom and not seeing it used, it was a stretch of the imagination for me.

Priyanka of Teachers’ Words of Wisdom expresses horror and follows up with good counter points on What, No Recess?!?!

I was horrified to read that 40 percent of American schools have or would be eliminating recess! I couldn’t believe it! In Changing The Recess Paradigm?, it talks about how quite a few schools want to cut down on recess in order to increase more academic instruction.

Megan of Megan McInnes on her post Observing Technology in the Classroom shares some real benefits in technology as a tool for learning.

What was the neatest thing for me to see was there was a student in the class that had a few disabilities. I thought it was so neat how well his project was done. Using this technology of making a video really seemed to suit his learning style and the limitations he had. Now I can see how important technology can be for students like him, he could present what he learned in a technological fashion allowing him to learn and do the same projects as his classmates.

Andrew of Learning Enhanced Technology shares a new tool, WOT, that sounds quite interesting.

WOT is a social networking device designed to enhance internet safety and reliability. I downloaded Wot yesterday as a browser extension for Firefox and am intrigued. WOT allows you to check the reliability of a website based on user feedback, so that when you go to a website the WOT icon shows whether or not other users view the website as safe and reliable based on a general trustworthiness meter, reliability as a business partner, as a keeper of personal information, and as a safe destination for children.

Sarah of Sarah’s Technology Enhanced Learning posted about students’ reactions to technology in “Teaching about Plane Shapes” .

I can’t put into words how shocked I was by the student’s reaction to the laptop, it was the equivalent of buying a new driver a brand new car when they get their license. They were absolutely thrilled and their excitement for technology really made me think about how much I take computers and my laptop for granted. It also made me think about how little the students must be using the computers in their school if it seems so novel to them when I presented them with a computer. I also found it unique how I was able to take a technology free lesson and turn it into a technology friendly lesson. I know that it strengthened this lesson.

Sharlene of If you give a girl technology shares a post entitled “Education In a Non-Traditional Classroom Setting” about an after school program that she finds promising.

Going above and beyond the required basics of model after-school programs, this program provides economically disadvantaged students opportunities that may not have been readily available to them prior to this experience.

Monica of Me & Technology has a profound post that will touch your heart. The title of the post is The Missing Piece Meets the Big O.. by Shel Silverstein.

Wednesday evening, a 20 year old sat in the children’s books’ section and read this short simple story, but found a strong and courageous message

Angel of Ariana’s mom posts thoughtfully about Protecting Our Students!

The tragedy at Virginia Tech has really caused me to think of my life, my future career and my family and put everything into perspective. The story of the Professor who was a Holocaust survivor and risked his life and died trying to save his students touched me deeply. It caused me to reevaluate what my role as a teacher will be.

Jennifer of techlife is feeling Technologically Torn.

Technology has its pros and cons and there are definitely situations when it is difficult to determine which side outweighs the other.

Lizzie of The new and improved technological Lizzie shares her continuing journey to use technology in the classroom with this post, So I used Technology…a little bit.

I had this wonderful lesson plan all ready and created to use to integrate technology within my classroom, but as soon as I had it done my class was done learning about that subject. So I switched really quickly into integrated technology into the science circus that I taught with Angel.

Katie of Designs for Tech gives a thorough Lesson Plan Critique.

Even though the lesson was quite stressful, it was 100% worth the stress and effort. The students begged for math to continue when I told them the lesson was done and I am scheduled to go back in a week to allow the students more time to play math games during their “Friday fun.”

Lydia of Technology Enhanced Learning has many good reflections on her blog. Her closing statement on High Stakes resonates with me.

Hopefully soon, our nation will return to valuing more than test scores.

Amy of EDUC 330 is seeing the value of having her materials on a wiki in Wikis and Webquests.

I always wondered why W&M was pushing for us to create an online portfolio. It is so inconvenient to make and it’s almost like learning another language. However, today it hit me when i was talking to my CT. I was planning the math lesson for next week and she asked me if she could look at my lesson plan to review it and make sure it fit into her curriculum. I told her that the lesson plan is saved on my computer and that I didn’t have access to it now. I was in the process of making another appointment with her when it hit me that I had uploaded it onto my wiki. I pulled up the wiki and my lesson was there! We were able to look at it right then and there. It felt really cool to have my stuff on the web and I didn’t even have to e-mail it to myself or print it out. Now I understand a little better how an online portfolio could come in great handy!

Amaya of Amaya’s Edutastic Blog has a really intriguing post on Teaching is Candy…No…Cookies…and I’m A Cookie Monster!

I challenge all three of the people who read this blog to pose a simple question to someone today, and see if you can’t change their life for the better. Maybe you’ll get a “fine” or maybe a “well, thank you, how are you?” But, you could get a “well, I have this problem with my mother, well, not really with my mother, but, wait, sit down and I’ll tell you… I think I want to be an elementary school teacher, but I’m not sure and I really need to talk to someone about it, but my mom lost her cell phone.” Don’t you wish you’d listened before?

It is very important that we provide many opportunities for students to talk about what they are learning and the strategies they are using to question and learn. Open dialogue that welcomes the voices of the students in a give and take spirit is what is needed, not just one way conversations spoken mostly by the teacher. I can’t think of many teachers who wouldn’t want this but our current “testing” focus on skill, skill, skills really gets in the way. Most schools have completed the week long testing agendas and you can almost hear the collective sign of relief through the schools. I’ve even heard some comment on how nice it is now that they can get to some fun projects and take some time to “enjoy” the learning. That’s more than sad.

If we took the time we spend in schools on testing and spent it on writing as a means to improve learning in our schools we’d be much further along. Writing can be a tool for learning in all disciplines.

Blogging is a space that gives them that needed practice with writing. I first got into blogging as a means to improve student writing as well as my own writing. Blogging truly gives students reasons, authentic reasons to write and the commenting feature adds to the conversations. We need conversations that encourage and make students comfortable to give their opinions. We can help clarify understandings and lead the way to help students to become better thinkers. It’s an additional avenue to do further reading and thinking. It’s a place where we can teach them about responsible public writing and how to make a difference. Just musing……

I have had Clarence Fisher’s post on Censorship, Audience, and International Collaboration on my mind ever since he posted it last Thursday. He had some tough decisions to make in his classroom. The dilemma was about a video his kids had created that Clarence said was “Powerful, overtly critical, and possibly in poor taste.” You need to read his post to get the full story and see the video but  Clarence had to make a decision that he still questions as to whether he  did the correct thing in requiring them to make changes……
He phrased it that he “pulled rank on them and told them that they had to edit the piece with the picture out.” He explained that it was being too critical and possibly insensitive or inflammatory towards their audience. In the end, the students decided to edit the video and revise it in ways they felt were more effective.

I think Clarence made the right call. I do know I would have made the same call. But I don’t view Clarence as pulling rank in this situation. I see it as a responsible call made by a caring and responsible teacher. In his post this sentence grabbed my attention:

“The kids producing the piece were never sure, leaning one way and then the other, they could not decide what to do.”

This shows the power of classroom discourse. It is clear that there was much classroom discussion and I have found time and again that this is what blogging and these type of local and global collaborations foster. This is where we have opportunities  to get kids engaged in critical thinking and participating in difficult discussions that really make them think because they are front and center in the involvement. This really wasn’t pulling rank because these kids had ownership of the dilemma. The teacher is the one to make the final call on such dilemmas but I am sure the kids understood his call. Plus the fact that he blogged about it and they can read his thoughts there shows the transparency of the learning with students and teacher. That’s powerful stuff. Just think about what he is teaching and modeling. Yes indeed, powerful stuff.
I find myself facing dilemmas constantly at the elementary level. There is much to think about and consider. I also find that the classroom discourses are of paramount importance. Blogging and videos afford us the opportunity to teach responsible public writing and media production. Students and teachers can have meaningful and powerful discussions and learnings about the power of the published word and the responsibilities involved with its public nature. That I would submit is good teaching and transforming teaching and learning, all of which Clarence exemplifies so very well.

The horrific shooting at Virginia Tech is so tragic and senseless that all else just suspends in time. My heart goes out to the familes and friends who must receive such horrible news. I’ve been following it on Wikipedia and other news agencies. Events like this are just beyond comprehension.

I received an email from Curt Hopkins today about PBwiki and YackPack getting together to offer a widget you can download into your wiki that allows anyone visiting your site to just press a button and talk. I downloaded it and Lani and I tried it out. It was amazing! It is so cool and so easy!

Clips from the press release:

• “There is something magical about hearing someone else’s voice,” said Ramit Sethi, PBwiki co-founder. “It takes collaboration to an entirely different level.”
• Dr. BJ Fogg said, “Voice builds unity.”
• To use the widget, sign up for a PBwiki at http://www.pbwiki.com, click the edit button on any page on your wiki, and insert the Walkie Talke plugin.

An online press conference, via the WalkieTalkie widget will be held on their press wiki, on Thursday at 6pm (PST). You just have to click this link http://press.pbwiki.com and then click the YackPack button to talk. Both Ramit from PB wiki and Dr. BJ Fogg from YackPack witll be there. I am going to try to be there!

I have been constantly amazed at PBwiki. They have been front and center with doing things to help educators and really seek educators’ input. I serve on their board but regretfully I have not participated as much as I would like to. I’ve been following all they are doing but not been involved myself too much. This year has been one filled with learning for me but somehow the research aspects of my blogging project have consumed me. Many things that I would like to be doing have had to put on hold. The end is in sight but the end means no more blogging with a special group of kids and that I don’t like!

I installed the widget on a wiki I had created in the past. I called the page Voices. I’ll have it open off and on for a while today. Yack if you like!

Accolades to PBwiki and YackPack for providing this benefit to educators and students! We appreciate you!