05.19.09

Changing our Assumptions about Classrooms and Teaching

Posted in Educational Changes at 2:42 pm by bauerd

  • icon-noodlebib-hugeIf teachers are no longer the arbiters of knowledge in the classroom, our roles need to change.
  • Now we have the opportunity to be connectors, to bring our classrooms to the world in a variety of ways. We can find other teachers who may know more than we do. (Secret Life of Bees)
  • Here’s another example of students learning from mentors. (Polar Science)
  • We can also connect our students to other students around the world so they can learn together. (Flat Classrooms Wiki)
  • And in a world where all of our students can be content producers as well as content consumers, we need to re-envision the work we ask them to do.

    • Is education changing?

    Posted in Educational Changes at 2:12 pm by bauerd

    mouseThe problem is not change…we’ve always had change. The problem is the speed of change, and that change is cultural now. Because of that it feels like our kids are leading the way with technology

    The question is, is education changing?

    Challenging Times for Educators:

    • Our students are leading us.
      • Participating more
      • Creating more
      • Connecting more (55% of kids use social networking sites, 57% have created content online.)
    • We are entering a time of deeply personalized, passion based learning.
    • The amount of information is overwhelming.
    • Pace of change is lightspeed
    • More and more, the expectation is to create, not consume, yet we’re not creators.
    • Differing levels of access
    • Standardized tests still emphasize content
    • Legal liabilities are unclear.
    • Our own time is limited.

    05.15.09

    Blog Advantages

    Posted in Educational Changes at 3:13 pm by bauerd

    • Convience and Simplicity: any computer with internet access
    • Social/Collaboration: A blog can have several authors or contributors with varying levels of access for publishing comments, posts, or other content.
    • Engaging/Motovating for students
    • Interactive
    • Multiple Learning Styles
    • Context for Learning: Students can create for a real audience and get real feedback
    • Encourages Reflection
    • Tech/work Place Skills: Students learn technical skills for the workplace.

    05.14.09

    Why Educators Blog?

    Posted in Educational Changes at 5:07 pm by bauerd

    How Blogs can be used in education.

    • Classroom blog: creative writing, current event discussions, book study
    • Department/Grade Level Blog: share ideas, virtual meetings, group project
    • Blogging Buddies: penpals only better
    • Student E-Portfolios: use a blog as digital filing cabinet, comments from family
    • Student team Blogs: Science team, clubs
    • Professional Development: sharing and collaborating
    • Activity Updates
    • Classroom Newsletter: Not like a ‘get lost e-mail’ but always ready for intended audience, include a RSS link and parents can subscribe to the classroom newsletter