Thursday, November 12, 2009

Welcome to 17 Things to Chew On!

Welcome to 17 Things to Chew On! This is a 9 week overview of what Web 2.0 is really all about. Some of you have a good idea, but haven't seen a few new tricks. Some of you haven't got a clue and are sick of hearing about all this tech gobbledygook! Whatever your reason for joining, I hope you gain a better understanding of how this concept is changing the way we work, play, and even educate.
If you feel any of the tasks are easy, please offer your help to others. If you are lost, please ask for help. Partnering up with someone is another great way to work through this. If you have questions, please ask anyone in the group!

THING 1

Part 1:
Set up your own blog & add your first post. Your first post can be a simple "Hello" or a paragraph on the video (see below). Once you've completed this step, email me your blog link.

Part 2:
Assuming we all agree that technology is changing education and teaching (for right or wrong)... support that idea with a video. Place that video on your new blog (either as a link or as embedded video).

Example video:



Some keywords for searching: collaboration, "24/7 education", "open learning", "web 2.0", "school 2.0", edtech, connectivity, social networks+schools, "personal learning networks, "education+think tanks", "21st century skills", "flat schools", "creative education", "new schools", "student centered learning", remix

Just for Fun (optional!):
Watch part of or all of this TED video ("Ken Robinson says schools kill creativity") and comment here on my blog.


4 comments:

  1. I am prepared to be wrong...at first I was wary of this video, but I am grateful to have been given the message to challenge my students to create meaning rather than regurgitate what they think I mean.

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  2. Teaching in SEE Team has made me radically re-think what classroom experience ought to be.

    When I see kids grappling with issues of the environment and the real, world-changing struggles we're going to face, it doesn't boil down to 52-minute periods or single subjects.

    Everything needs to be interdisciplinary, student-driven, problem based. Technology becomes one way for kids to "leave" the school building (field experiences being another).

    I feel like I'm doing something right when my kids don't feel like they are in "the classroom" but when they feel like they are learning in "real life."

    Anyway...
    Dan

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  3. I really enjoyed the video featuring Ken Robinson speaking to creativity in schools today. Being a ceramics teacher for seven years, this subject is near and dear to me. Mr. Robinson's perspective on the necessity of incorporating more arts in America's school systems is refreshing and encouraging. Through my own professional experience, I have found gifted students often take my class as a release from rigorous academic schedules. Through this hands on experience, students have an opportunity to balance their high school experience by expressing themselves and problem solving using the right side of the brain. Likewise, I have students who pursue visual arts due to their interest in the field, and students who struggle with other classes looking for an opportunity to channel their knowledge and capacities in a more accessible format, all of which have been a rewarding and beneficial experience.

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  4. This video reminds me of something I read recently about creativity in education. In his book, Catching Up or Leading the Way, Yong Zhao writes about how an overlooked example of how American schools work well is the talent show, where students aren't afraid to be creative in front of others.
    Very interesting!

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