Comments on: Seed Planting

By: Organic Gardening: Tips, Tools & Supplies for Raising Organic Vegetables : How To Plant Organic Seeds | Gardening News

Mon, 02 Feb 2009 10:04:56 +0000

[...] Ideas and Thoughts from an EdTech Â» Blog Archive Â» Seed Planting [...]

By: Lindsay Price

Lindsay Price — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 14:04:53 +0000

It just takes time. As fast as technology moves, it takes time to get it into the brain, to figure it out. Seed planting is such a worthy activity, in all aspects of education. We need to step away from instant success and know that change is coming, flowers are blooming.

By: Nancy Caramanico

Nancy Caramanico — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 16:41:34 +0000

It would be interesting to see how many presenters in the edtech related arena move from ‘tool how to type presentations’ to idea and theory based presentations. Having presented in both areas frequently myself, starting with tool based presentations, I agree with you that the ‘why’ and ‘how this makes a difference’ are essential.
It seems as though if the why and the how can become personal to the teachers and administrators, they can feel that these changes are worthwhile and ideas can begin to germinate.
I would agree though that there appears to be an abiding and real need for both tool and idea based presentations. Ideally these are presented in conjunction with one another either online or face to face or as a district offering.
At a recent theory based presentation, I had a frustrated teacher approach and say to me… “I know that they world is flat, I know that my classroom needs to be an environment for 21st century learning, I know I need to add new instructional strategies, but I don’t know what to do. How do I make that happen?” As a beginner, she was directed to a web literacy and quality internet resources tool workshop that gave her both skills and resources. She later said ‘that was exactly what I needed’.
That is where the tools can come in. We need the tools to dig down and to plant those seeds perhaps. They are the trowel allowing teachers to dig and plant the idea seeds. Ideas, tools, ideas, tools. Those seeds will take root, even in the wilderness.

By: Koichi

Koichi — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 06:42:18 +0000

I agree! It’s only a matter of time that people “get it.” It’s just one of those generational things. The kids get it, and it makes sense to them, but only when the teachers start understanding it as well will things change. I’m glad you’re giving these kinds of talks, I’m sure it’s making a difference!

By: Dean Shareski

Dean Shareski — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 01:27:56 +0000

Bob, I think the examples of exemplars are really critical combined with the simple questions of "Why do you think this is?" Some concepts and ideas are more easily articulated but I find that asking people to reflect on what they see as great work, deconstructs the big idea into something personal and in the end, more meaningful. At some point, they will have to own these ideas for themselves. The teacher I describe has done that and while it's not fully developed (and who can really say they've figured it all out) she's moving forward with some key concepts and building upon them all the time. You don't have to abandon the how to stuff but you've also figured out that asking why will help make it stick. Dean Shareskis last blog post..Seed Planting

By: Bob Cotter

Bob Cotter — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 01:15:11 +0000

I'm often described by those I work with as having the knack to have vision and then deliver on my thoughts. However, my visions or 'big ideas' seldom are articulated in the way you and other visionary educational bloggers I read are capable of doing so. I can describe my vision in only so many words, and often as a stream of consciousness ... so, I leave my workshop presentations to be more of a 'how to' and incorporate examples of student or educator work as exemplars. In February, I will be leading a workshop on developing a PLN, and, I will be doing so in the context of research and discovery. Now that our teachers all have laptops for their own personal/work use, I know there is a need for many 'how to' sessions, but also a need for 'big picture' understanding of the tool our board of education has provided for them. Bob Cotters last blog post..A big job - first stage complete

By: Dean Shareski

Dean Shareski — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 00:52:12 +0000

Mike, I agree, my point is not to discount how to's but rather thoughtfully deploy them. I wrote simply to encourage those that focus on big ideas but see little immediate results. The shift here is not an idea that I think will go away. It's not really a method or program but is societal and as I referred to in the post, it's happening all around us and this is helping many teachers get it. Once they get it, it makes more sense to move into the how tos. You make great point about software specifics. I'm very clear to point out that it doesn't matter what software or platform you choose, in most cases the main ideas are indeed transferable. Dean Shareskis last blog post..Seed Planting

By: Kelly Hines

Kelly Hines — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 00:48:26 +0000

Enjoyed the post and I agree fully. I also think teachers have to learn how to use these tools for themselves before they use them with students. Teachers who attempt to use wikis and blogs with their students without using them personally, I believe, are missing out on the big picture. Kelly Hiness last blog post..Are Textbooks So Last Century?

By: Mike

Mike — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 00:33:45 +0000

I think there is room for both: big ideas and how-tos. I know that many people who are real interested in applying big ideas need practical concrete help making it happen. Big ideas only go so far. One of the big problems in education is everyone wants to come up with new big ideas and they are adopted and forgotten from year to year. No big idea seems to stick for long in education. In tech, we are doing a disservice if we are constantly moving to the next new big idea. I also don't think we should spend time with how-tos on specific versions of software since new updates are released all the time. We should spend more time teaching kids the main ideas and how to transfer these ideas into new versions of software. Instead of tutorials on how to blog with Blogger, we should have tutorials on what is a blog? the main features? what they offer students in terms of control and value? Blogs will be with us into the future, so if we show the basic features, they should be able to adopt no matter WordPress, Blogger, or something down the line. Mikes last blog post..The Second Place is the First Place

By: John Pederson

John Pederson — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 22:46:04 +0000

I like your ideas and would like to subscribe to your newsletter. John Pedersons last blog post..Thanks Doc!