Steve Wheeler has a nice post (http://steve-wheeler.blogspot.co.il/#!/2013/03/skills-or-literacies.html) about navigating one's way in the digital world. His main point here is that in any new context/culture people find themselves, the only way to really get the hang of it is through immersion. He gives the example of when he, used to driving on the left side of the road, first had to drive in the U.S. At first he was hesitant and made errors, but, through driving, came to reach a comfort level. The same is true of technologies. The only way a person can be at home in a technology is through the trial and error of usage. He gives the example of learning that TYPING IN ALL CAPS is the online equivalent of shouting. A benefit of the course we are taking is that it will allow us to get to use new technologies in a safe zone so that we can achieve a comfort level with them before trying them out on the outside world of our students (who are apt to laugh at our attempts if we are not practiced enough).
Not much going on at Lisa Nielson's blog. There is a guest post (http://theinnovativeeducator.blogspot.co.il/2013/03/children-of-core-american-students-at.html) by Kris Nielson (her husband?) advertising his new book on education in America. His basic take is (or seems to be, from the post) that the emphasis on standardized testing on a state and federal level hampers the ability of teachers to bring out the best in their students in an individuated way. This seems to me to be kind of axiomatic. If we are going to push for a common standard, that will automatically mean a lessening of focus on the individual. The purpose of standardized testing is to ensure that the students are progressing in their learning. It may be that for the excellent teachers, these tests are a hindrance, but my feeling is that for the rank and file, having clearly defined goals in their teaching can help to get them to accomplish more than if goals were more open ended.
Bob Sprankle has not updated in a while, perhaps I will have to look for a different choice for my third blog to follow.
Yehoshua, i really agree with your comments about this course giving us a chance to try, try try and practice. i remember when we started doing worksheets on the computer - (I have been teaching for a long time) - the only to become proficient was to jump in and do it. using technology in our classroom is different however, because one also has to learn to be selective, very selective. one has to decide what one's objective is when preparing material, and find which technological program, idea best suits it. maybe even technology is not appropriate. so i think we have to develop our critical assessment skills as well.
ReplyDeleteToo true. And, in the observations I have done, there is not much worse than when a teacher bases a lesson on the use of technology, and struggles for several minutes to get it going properly.
DeleteI am not tech savvy and am happy to hear the advice on just going through these assignments as a safe zone. I think they have a lot to offer but its good we are doing them like this where we can practice and get the hang of them. Great article!
ReplyDeleteYehoshua, I do agree, this course is a nice trial ground, but anyway, I am afraid there are a lot of things out there that we will have to learn in the field, through experience.
ReplyDeleteIf there is not much going on on a blog, you can read older posts.
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