Ideas and Thoughts from an EdTech

Imagine this: Take a dozen or so people who spend much of the personal and professional life immersed in technology put them together for three days and guess what they’d spend most of the time talking about. If you said technology or computers you’d be wrong.

BLC featured 600 educators from around the globe focusing on learning. That’s what the discussions in large part focused on. I was privileged to be able to spend time with the likes of Barbara Bareda, Bob Spankle, Sharon Peters, Ewan Mcintosh, Darren Kuropatwa, David Jakes, Joyce Valenza, Will Richardson, Trevor Smith, Chris Lehmann and Christian Long. These folks all represent passionate thinkers and educators who at almost every turn will speak about making learning better for kids. While they worry and lament about bad teaching and schools, they truly are excited about the possibilities.

Here are a few highlights:

• Bob Sprankle…Podcasting with a Purpose…you don’t miss a chance to hear arguably one of the founding fathers of educational podcasting. Bob and Tony Vincent likely represent the finest example of how to use this powerful tool with kids.
• Darren Kuropatwa…Darren and I have done a fair bit together so hearing him present live wasn’t really a new experience. Spending time outside the sessions is where he really shines. Smart, articulate, Darren is determined to make school and learning authentic and engaging for his students.
• Joyce Valenza….if you’re a teacher librarian, you ought to pay attention to what she says. She spent some time with me explaining her concerns with the lack of use of the “invisible web”. Lots for me to ponder.
• Chris Lehmann and Christian Long…Chris Sessums called them the “wonder twins”. Talking with Christian for a couple of hours on Thursday forced me to take a nap. High energy and deep thoughts. He’s headed back to the classroom this fall. All I can say to his students is BUCKLE UP! Chris Lehmann is a principal who’s got it right. My favorite line of Chris’ after he told us about a teacher who was complaining about something, Chris said, “Yeah, but you get to teach!”
• Trevor Smith…I convinced Trevor he needed to come to BLC back in spring and I’m hoping he’s glad he did. Trevor and I work together and he’s got some great plans. Trevor’s been moving forward with things for a while now and I sense things are beginning to get clearer. Not any easier but clearer. Trevor and I were able to touch base a few times and we’re both excited about some of our upcoming initiatives. Watch for good things from his school.
• Will Richardson….I had met Will before and Will has been gracious to support my work in the past but I challenged Will to continue to push the envelope. I did attend his session where he broke form a traditional presentation and challenged the audience to look beyond the tools and coolness of Web 2.0 to what was really important: connecting learners, ideas to fully develop the concept of lifelong learning. I hope Will continues to make people a bit more uncomfortable. We also had our talk about the optimum number of feeds you need to read. I was right
• David Jakes…is grounded. He knows what he believes about learning and isn’t afraid to tell you. He’s calls it like he sees it when it comes to artificial, fluffy student work and offers ideas about how to make learning authentic and meaningful. You also get the sense that he’d do whatever it takes to help kids learn. You have to love Jakes.
• Ewan Mcintosh…Will Richardson called him rock star. He pretty much is. I just love the way in which he crystallizes complex ideas and makes them simple or least I’m able to ponder them a bit more. See Will’s example about his photography lesson. Ewan and I had a great conversation about the lack of myths in North American education. I hope he blogs about it if he hasn’t already. I certainly think that our curriculum and education systems are much more closely tied than that of US.
• Being able to present ideas about Google Earth was important especially after all the hype about Second Life. Google Earth is to me the more critical tool for kids and teachers to focus on. Being able to discuss the implications of learning and developing location-based learning will be a valuable skill for our kids: See Pool Guy Story.

I never went to camp as a kid and my wife suggested this was the closest I’ve ever come to that feeling when camp ends. I don’t know if that’s true, but lest you think this is a post about my sappy experience, think again. It’s about the power of face to face learning combined with great online tools; People and ideas connecting to form the basis of social learning. Each is an important ingredient. All of these people are committed to help kids and not just the ones they get paid to help. Almost all of them have worked with teachers I associate with and work for and have given hours of their time to make learning better for others. They do it because I ask them. That’s how they roll.

There was nothing at this conference that rocked my world in terms of new technologies or even new ideas. Most of these have been roaming around my brain for a while. Some were pretty solid, others needed tightening and still others need some loosening. Both of this was accomplished. The conversation that Darren and I had with Christian really focused on some key questions. Christian asked, “What if all the technology was suddenly taken away?” What have we learned from all this and how do we sustain and develop the connections and beliefs about learning? Hmmmm…..

At one point someone said, “We’ve got to stop talking about all this, and start doing something about it”. I can’t believe I’m saying this but I can’t wait for summer to end.

Flickr Photoset.

Technorati Tags: blc07, alannovember, boston, conference

The hype around safety and privacy on the internet is certainly a battle I, along with many others have been fighting for long while.  Shows like Dateline’s “To Catch a Predator” seem to give lead folks to the conclusion that:

Internet/Social Networking = BAD

No one, and I mean no one has been able to link the posting of an image on the internet leading to the type of danger associated with these predators. This discussion that took place for the Congressional Internet Caucus in Washington last month helps shed some light on the real dangers of online activity:

Our research, actually looking at what puts kids at risk for receiving the most serious kinds of sexual solicitation online, suggests that it’s not giving out personal information that puts kid at risk. It’s not having a blog or a personal website that does that either. What puts kids in danger is being willing to talk about sex online with strangers or having a pattern of multiple risky activities on the web like going to sex sites and chat rooms, meeting lots of people there, kind of behaving in what we call like an internet daredevil.

Those are the facts.  Let me repeat, IT IS NOT GIVING OUT PERSONAL INFORMATION  OR BLOGGING THAT PUTS KIDS AT RISK. How about a sign like that in your schools?  No, I’m not advocating being careless or divulging private information unnecessarily or carelessly but want to be clear that the research bears this out. If you’ve got research to diffuse this, let me know.

Technorati Tags: internetsafety, privacy

Yes I twitter and yes it’s stupid and yes I still do it.

I’ll try anything once, as evidenced by the countless vacant activity in dozens of social networking sites.  But after reading Darren’s revelation and pointing me to Alan’s portion of the Open, Connected movie, it made more sense.  I could certainly point to several resources, connections and good fun discovered but spending a short time twittering.

Alan points to the experience I had today using twitter. The idea of having instant access and discovering incidental ideas is quite captivating. It reminds me a but of StumbleUpon which I although I haven’t used for quite a while, provided some great treasures. Twitter isn’t just about links and resources but personalizes things. The idea of nano blogging is nice outlet for me and others who struggle with creating fully developed blog posts.

I still don’t fully get it but I get it more now.

Technorati Tags: twitter, kuropatwa, d’arcynorman, alanlevine

Having a week off to go on a golf trip is nothing to complain about this awaited me:

Why do I feel compelled to read through these carefully? I had 3 newspapers waiting for me that I simply tossed in the garbage. Being that it was Easter break for all teachers, my inbox only had a few dozen messages, few of which I felt obligated to respond to until tomorrow. But the newsreader, is more important to me then any other source of information I use. I’m afraid I’ll miss something. This tells me how critical this is to my learning and interests. I kind of knew this already but I can’t remember taking a week break from my newsreader before. The fact that Google Reader uses the “100+”  measurement is a bit deceiving. I’m sure this will take me the evening to go through….so I better get at it.

Technorati Tags: rss, googlereader, professionaldevelopment

It’s interesting how you pull certain ideas, phrases from content that aren’t perhaps the main idea. I guess that’s part of constructivstism and connectivism (still haven’t totally got those concepts firm in my mind).

Will’s recent reflection on Social Computing and subsequent comments, challenged his thinking. While the gist of his latest discussion focuses on considering “big picture” thinking, the phrase

“pushed me to think”

caught my attention.

I spend a great deal of energy and time pushing others to think and considering new ideas and ways to make learning more relevant and authentic. Often I think I’m like most with strong beliefs in that I’m less likely to consider alternative thinking. I do appreciate people who open up my world and thinking and these folks are found online and off. Three big areas in which I’m being challenged are:

1. Social Networking for kids
2. CyberBulling
3. Assessment Practices

1. Social Networking…My basic belief regarding social networking and its implication for students and teachers is that everything has potential. Recent discussions about Twitter and Ning elevate the discussion to question their value.

2. CyberBulling…I still waffle on this one. My post summarizes my view but I still struggle with the amount of emphasis this issue deserves. I’ll continue to read and ponder the ideas and accept the challenges. I know that we’ll have to develop some plan for our division but I hope its focus is not in creating fear and trepidation but rather thoughtful, rationale understanding.

3. Assessment Practices…developing best practice around assessment has been a focus for me and our school division for the past several years. This discussion on final exams, serves to stimulate ideas on just one small aspect of this issue. Again, my ideas are there but I certainly am interested and value those who disagree.

I just these things help me to see I don’t really operate in an echo chamber but am truly beginning to open the walls of my learning and hopefully classrooms.

*took this photo on a drive this winter and have been looking a post to use it with..

While the survey will continue to be open, I’m going to analyze the results received.

37 Respondents ranging from administrators, consultants, coordinators and teachers. Overall I nice cross section of folks within K-12. Here are the results including my own observations for whatever they’re worth:

How did you first come to start using Web 2.0 tools?

a. colleague introduced me 13%
b. personal exploration 54%
c. workshop/presentation 22%
d. other 11%

This tells me that no matter how time we spend promoting the value of these tools, that ultimately people need to spend time on their own sorting things out. Perhaps the question might have also been phrased, “How did you first come to hear about Web 2.0 tools?” The conference/presentation item may have represented a greater number. In any case the learning that is crystalized for me is help provide time for exploration. Many of these I’m sure where a result of grad classes that was also mentioned 3 times from the other category.

Which Web 2.0 tool is most important to you?

a. blogs 27%
b. rss 41%
c. wikis 8%
d. podcasts 3%

e. social bookmarking 5%
f. other 16%

Not surprising to me, every category got at least one vote. Tells me how important that all these tools receive attention and are considered valuable depending on their use and situation. I too choose RSS as the key tool as it provides the glue to all these.

In your opinion, why aren’t more educators using Web 2.0 tools?

a. lack of understanding 54%
b. lack of time 8%
c. lack of conviction 16%
d. unsure of how to implement 3%

e other 19%

What is surprising here is that although, folks citing personal exploration as their in to using the tools, it wasn’t considered the barrier here. While I tend to agree with many of the other responses that choose all of the above, I think lack of conviction is an issue we need to address. One of the guiding principles our school division is incorporating social learning into classrooms. I think most teachers recognize change is happening. It’s hard to miss it. They may not understand the implications to the classrooms but once they recognize the possibilities for their kids, it’s hard to ignore. I’m not convinced teachers think flat classrooms will make much difference. To that end, I’ve begun a series called Conversations on Change. This Tuesday interested teachers will be gathering to chat with Darren Kuropatwa to discuss his approach to teaching and learning.

What would you say is the best way to help educators fully utilize the tools of Web 2.0?

a. encouragement/support from administration 5%
b. workshops/training 16%
c. mentorship in small groups 60%
d other 19%

Here are what the “others” were:

• Hold them accountable as professionals. Would you visit a Dr. who wasn’t up to speed with modern medicine?
• Facilitation from a technology person who is within the building.
• Mentoring_+ practical use in action research- reflecting on their learning
• all listed plus time for development and effective use
• It has to be supported but that isn’t enough, change has to be required and checked on regurlarly.
• have to bring a professional reading to staff meeting monthly and then show them bloglines/netvibes etc
• Requiring them to learn and use one new technology tool a year, with demonstrable evidence that they are doing so
  

I really like the idea of small groups. Many of us started out on our own and are quite fine with our online connections. It sure is nice to have these discussions with folks you work with everyday. I think there are also some great ideas from the others category.

Thank you to all who participated. Most of this confirms my belief but there were some things I hadn’t considered to be as important as others.

Technorati Tags: survey, web2.0, education

Okay Steve, you asked for it! There’s probably some others out there but here’s what I came up with. Sort of listed in order of activity but not really.
Online Presence:

• Flickr…2,000+ photos
• Youtube…30+ videos
• CoComment…130+ comments
• Delicious…670+ items
• SlideShare..5 slideshows
• Wikispaces
• Odeo
• Archive.org
• Geocaching.com
• OurMedia
• Revver…9 videos
• MySpace…never really used it.
• Twitter…very new

IM Presence:

• Skype…dean_shareski
• MSN Messenger…rarely used
• Google Talk

Blogs:

• This one
• It’s also syndicated here and here
• Digital Learning
• Family Blog

Group Blogs

• Conversations on Learning
• Edtech Posse
• Hillcrest Church
• Eyes Right

Megan Cole

Blogged Live

Talks about the use of Social Media in her personal life

• Began blogging last year when she worked at the Olympics
• Focused on sharing with family and friends
• Flickr and tagging
• Youtube
• RSS
• Delicious
• Digg
• Social networks…myspace, facebook
• Citizen Journalism…public contributions

Discussion about transparency and the need for business to be aware if not highly involved in the use of social media
Thoughts: Mostly discussing personal life….sounds a bit like mine…Still trying to figure out the audience. Someone asks, “why would anyone want to blog?” Not sure what they’re after or where they are at. As an educator I’ve presented similar content and tried to link it to educational contexts. It appears the trend is for audience to determine their own links and applications.

Technorati Tags: megancole socialmedia