Comments on: Tech Preparation for Tech Community Reading Discussion

By: suesi08

suesi08 — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 16:34:32 +0000

Wow, this is a little like the wonder of staring up at an airplane in the sky. How can this be? What amazing technology, a different kind of flying through the world….
In “Kevin’s Meandering Mind”, two ever changing eyeballs and a mouth moved in syncopation, like a wacky nursery school round, in images rather than song, with a poem below it. A fun model for kids to imitate …
The “two teachers writing” the SOL (slice of life) topics ranged from adoption to the circle of parenting between one’s mom and one’s kids, and crying with one’s fourth graders over a book…
“Spinning a Learning Web” took me to drama girl’s flickr, complete with a beautiful knocker from Notre Dame, and her blog’s “following” took me to a store which sells ONE ITEM each day, jeez louise! and Yasemin who was born 7 months ago, and her POV journal told me her “Mum” clapped when she farted at 2:35….
Browsing through the sites is fun, but it also gives me a serious ADD moment.
Classroom 2.0 looked really useful, but lots of techno how-tos that will take more time…
WoW…what a world, and a new language.
The possibilites for new “genres” and communication across the world is amazing.
I say, “geez, how will I find the time?”, but then I think about julia cameron’s The Right to Write, and I know if there is a will, there is a way.
Susan

By: mmaloy

mmaloy — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 16:22:44 +0000

I read the article The Trouble with Mr. Bighead, and unfortunately for the author, the views of technology in the classroom do not seem to be favorable. While technology will and can never replace the teacher as far as I am concerned, I do feel that technology in the classroom can enhance education. It provides a medium for the students to be engaged in a “familiar” way for the purpose of obtaining information or producing something through the use of technology. I am a technology-reluctant educator but simply for lack of knowledge. I am wondering if that’s the problem with the author?

By: slsi08

slsi08 — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 16:20:49 +0000

I’m in that overload zone that occurs from too much internet browsing. I’ve looked at several articles, visited several sites, and now have a mind stuffed full of bits of information that I found interesting but may never find again! What I jotted down in my notebook to definitely revisit: del.icio.us — as a way of keeping better track of those interesting sites; and classroom20.com, which seems to contain lots of practical information for taking on new technology projects. I checked out comparisons between blogs and wikis, because that’s something I’ve been wondering about. The advice: try both. OK!
Sarah

By: Paulette

Paulette — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 16:19:17 +0000

This YouTube video is so powerful. It ties in perfectly with the 21st Century Learning article. Here are a few points that spoke to me –

* I am undermining job security in that computers could replace teachers. To that I respond, if you can be replaced by a computer then you probably should be! The truth is that technology will never replace teachers, however teachers who know how to use technology effectively to help their students connect and collaborate together online will replace those who do not.

* Teachers will need to accept the fact that even with all we have invested, the pace of change is going to demand us to unlearn and relearn.

* teachers need to be driving these discussions and this change- not policy makers. However, it will require you to redefine yourself. It will require you to unlearn and relearn which means an implementation dip in terms of personal power and knowledge– but oh well, you are in this for kids remember? This will be messy, but you can’t give away what you do not own. You have to own these tools and concepts before you can give them (empower) your students with them. However, once you do- get out of the way and let them show you all the ways to use them to learn that you never dreamed possible.

* Professor Calvert reminds parents that electronic devices should be used to “supplement rather than replace real experiences,” and encourages them to “make sure there’s an overall sense of balance” in activities

Think of ourselves and encourage others to refine themselves. Solidarity, Brother (brotherhood of educators)!

By: bcsi08

bcsi08 — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 16:19:06 +0000

I devote one class for the preservice teachers on using technology for ELA instruction. I can’t even begin to tell you how much I’ve learned in the last 9 months thanks to Bonnie, Steve, Katelin, and the HVWP (digital stories, blogging, wikis). Today I spent some time viewing the links and articles on this blog and then transferring them to my wikispace so I can share them with my students this semester. For example, I loved the 5th grader’s blog. What a great discussion piece for my students. I only hope they can be as inspired as I am.
THANKS!!!

By: kbsi08

kbsi08 — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 16:17:10 +0000

I really liked the way the author of So Young and So Gadgeted paired technology tools/choices with Piaget’s four stages of child development. It can help me as a teacher contemplate appropriate technology choices, and as a parent, look more closely at the on-line activities of my teenagers. In my primary teacher role, however, I would really like my students to experience nature and “real life” much more often than visiting “virtual worlds”.

By: cwsi08

cwsi08 — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 16:16:45 +0000

Teachers at Risk is an excellent site for all teachers, especially special educators who want info on behavior modification, learning strategies, differentiation, etc. Thoughts and fears about using technology hit home for me. There are some really fantastic links here also! Wish I had discovered this earlier….

By: Mary Sawyer

Mary Sawyer — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 16:10:57 +0000

where is lilah’s comment??? In Pluto?

By: jgsi08

jgsi08 — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 16:10:49 +0000

Was just reading a report about the book “Writing to Learn Mathematics ,” Joan Countryman, Head of Lincoln School in Providence, Rhode Island.
http://mathforum.org/~sarah/Discussion.Sessions/Countryman.html

What would a book with the title “Doing Mathematics (or Science) to Learn Writing” read like?

The other day I heard one of us say that a math director had stated that he would have his teaching make their math students write as soon as the English teacher had their student solve equations. Or something similar to that. We all agree that that is just profound stupidity, but perhaps “creative writing” could help SS, Math and the Science by engaging students in writing creatively about topics similar to the book “The Number Devil”
http://www.maa.org/mathhorizons/supplement/mai_Devil.htm
or about the ecology, like in “Changes in the Land”
http://www.ecobooks.com/books/changes.htm

By: Lilah

Lilah — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 16:00:56 +0000

Write on, Mary!