EduBlog Insights

Obstacles, challenges, questions, and many other issues are being blogged about in this professor’s class. Take a look at these post titles:

What 2 do a/b IM-Spk

Teaching Writing and Pulling Teeth

Choice withing mandated curriculum

Challenges of the technological age

In defense of PowerPoint

Technology and Language

Thoughts on the Art of Wrangling 6^th Graders

Teaching with Technology: Harmonious Chaos

The Practical Impractically of Technology

To be technical, or not to be technical? That is the question.

How much is too much? 

Now one or more of those just have to whet your appetite. Travel over to the student blogs and give them some input on many questions that we have already tossed around over the past few years. It gives you a good view on what’s going on inside the heads of our students who are face-to-face with some of the obstacles we have encountered. then just hearing another view can help with their learning. This class has just started blogging this semester. Hearing from others outside their class may just keep those voices in the arena! Help them overcome their obstacles!

Since I can’t have the elementary students browsing through Flickr I figured out how to overcome that obstacle. I took Flickr to them through a PBWiki called Just Imagine!

Christine helped me by graciously allowing me to use her Flickr photos in this way. Now bear in mind that I could not give her credit on the wiki because that link would provide entry to Flickr. Now I still believe that elementary students can be taught responsible use of services such as Flickr but I don’t choose to put my energies into that battle just yet. I have students who have places to go, blogging to do, and many exciting things to learn. So I want to give credit to Christine for letting me use her wonderful Flickr photographs on the wiki. We had a grand impromptu lesson today. I shared this in an email to Christine.  I’ll share that part with you:

I love your pictures and it was so much fun browsing through the wiki
today with the students. Ooooohs and ahhhhhhs for all I think except the
mushrooms - dead silence for a moment there.  I wish you could have seen
their faces. The assignment for today was as listed on the wiki. They
are to be creative and simply write a story. I had them choose a photo
number - first come, first serve. The teachers were enchanted with the
pictures. I told the children that I had a good friend from Scotland who
was letting me use these pictures in this manner. I then asked if they
knew where Scotland was located. One lad raised his hand and said in
Asia. I shuddered but not visibly. I had two up at the globe and our
world map and finally they located Scotland and I asked them to give me
more info - one said it’s in London. Another invisible shudder from me.
My, some days I know my work is cut out for me but we had fun and they
finally got to the fact that it was part of the UK. I do love this type
of learning because they will remember the moment today - your pictures
sparked an interest and I will follow up with more info for them.
Perhaps we can extend on this learning later after they do some writing.
I see lots of possiblities here but first will see how they do with the
first writing. They will bring either jot notes or something written to
blog about in class next week. They have that choice. They will insert
their picture to go with their creative writing. I also asked them if
they could make any connections to what they are currently learning
(from the photo). That’s a leap they are not ready for yet but I am
planting seeds. 

Next week the students will be writing their stories. I can’t wait to see them. Remember that I am Mrs. C on that blog. If you want to see what they’ve been up to head over to Blogical Minds and leave a comment or two.

Just imagine what we can accomplish when we put our minds to it. Remember, turn those obstacles into opportunities! Small victories can grow into big ones!

I’m headed over to the “Obstacles to Opportunities” wiki to add Terry Freedman’s wonderful resource from the K12 Online Conference 2006. His pdf and podcast of “Overcoming Obstacles: Selling Web 2.0 to Senior Management is a step-by-step process that will be extremely helpful. In his description of his presentation he lists the following knowledge points that delegates will be provided:

- The seven general principles of presenting new ideas
- Objection analysis
- The four main areas of concern usually expressed, and how to deal with them.
- Seven proactive things you can do to get the management (or other influential people) on your side.
- Four reasons why a supportive management is not always a good thing.
- Four tactics to get a supportive administration or leadership team working with you rather than against you.
- Three things to do if blogging etc has already been banned.

Then his 7 proactive things you can do to enlist the support of senior managment:

1. research
2. help your colleagues
3. objection analysis
4. make the school’s issues your issues
5. plan a pilot
6. keep ‘em informed
7. get ‘em involved

Be sure to read the brief descriptions on his paper behind each of these proactive points. Now I have just highlighted a few parts of his excellent resource. You need to read the whole thing.

I especially liked the discussion he had with his wife where possible objections and answers to objections from senior management were the focus of the conversation. They got to the quick but at the same time it felt warm and comfortable. It felt possible. I felt like I had entered a friend’s kitchen and listened to delightful conversation that helped me work out some possible solutions. You know in this wonderful world of learning online we get to be a part of so many different types of conversations. It continues to amaze me.

It was nice this weekend to take the time to listen to one presentation and just take the time to really reflect. Thanks Terry for sharing such a great resource.

I look forward to more pleasant learning trips through the treasures nestled in the K12 Online 2006 blog!

On another note, please be sure to add your thoughts, resources, post links to the Obstacles to Opportunities wiki. Remember the password is o2o (think “obstacles 2 opportunities.”) And if you have turned an obstacle into an opportunity be sure to share so we can all celebrate!