http://ideasandthoughts.org/2007/03/22/a-great-conversation-on-next-generation/ I'm here to learn, join me Wed, 17 Mar 2010 00:08:23 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 http://ideasandthoughts.org/2007/03/22/a-great-conversation-on-next-generation/comment-page-1/#comment-24781 Kelly Christopherson Mon, 02 Apr 2007 00:06:14 +0000 http://ideasandthoughts.org/2007/03/22/a-great-conversation-on-next-generation/#comment-24781 Dean, as many of the excerpts state, it is an exasperating situation for many who are trying to do new things. Here in SK, we are still lucky that the almight test hasn't reduced the teacher to the robotic state with which many of our collegues south of the border seem to be struggling. As I watch your work, I wish there were more people like you to aid the teachers to integrate these tools into their teaching. As I try to do this, it is a struggle as I deal with problems with IE7 and wikispaces, wikipedia and other sites. Putting together lessons and units which focus on using the tools to get to the objectives takes time, especially when there is so little being done around. As I read the various quotes, it is obvious that it will take a shift across the education realm in order these tools to become standards. We are seeing more and more divisions "wall the garden" in an attempt to "protect" the students. Unfortunately, the students are going onto the web without any help and being introduced to all kinds of things that they don't have the background knowledge to handle. As your last quote pointed out, the young teachers are wanting to keep their jobs and most administrators are not aware of the potential benefits of the tools. My own experience supports such a statement. As I watch what you are doing in your school division, I sigh "sigh", knowing we are not there and won't be for awhile. Keep on going, many of us are hoping you'll burn the trail! Dean, as many of the excerpts state, it is an exasperating situation for many who are trying to do new things. Here in SK, we are still lucky that the almight test hasn’t reduced the teacher to the robotic state with which many of our collegues south of the border seem to be struggling. As I watch your work, I wish there were more people like you to aid the teachers to integrate these tools into their teaching. As I try to do this, it is a struggle as I deal with problems with IE7 and wikispaces, wikipedia and other sites. Putting together lessons and units which focus on using the tools to get to the objectives takes time, especially when there is so little being done around. As I read the various quotes, it is obvious that it will take a shift across the education realm in order these tools to become standards. We are seeing more and more divisions “wall the garden” in an attempt to “protect” the students. Unfortunately, the students are going onto the web without any help and being introduced to all kinds of things that they don’t have the background knowledge to handle. As your last quote pointed out, the young teachers are wanting to keep their jobs and most administrators are not aware of the potential benefits of the tools. My own experience supports such a statement. As I watch what you are doing in your school division, I sigh “sigh”, knowing we are not there and won’t be for awhile. Keep on going, many of us are hoping you’ll burn the trail!

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