For my professional development goals as an instructional specialist and future school administrator, I am reading a few articles by Will Richardson and posting my thoughts here. Feel free to join the conversation in the comments. Building a Web presence: Weblogs are becoming essential in school districts across the country. District Administration - May 1, 2007
Summary: Schools, like almost any organization or enterprise these days, have to play an active role in their online presence. The best and most useful way to do this is to provide opportunities for students and teachers to write blogs, post videos, or record podcasts to be shared over the Internet. Schools need to make these sorts of networks accessible as well as teach students how to best utilize Web 2.0 tools in order to improve their web presence.
(Link to Example Class Blog)
What I Think: I am a big fan of this idea. Schools feel so helpless with all the bad press they receive. Google your local elementary and you're just as likely to come up with a site for parents to rate your school as you are to find the school's official web page. I say beat them to the punch. Encourage students and teachers to publish all over the place. Teach students the best ways to communicate, collaborate, and advocate for themselves and their educations online.
How does this help me with my work? I work with a lot of teachers who are very concerned with perceived risks and dangers associated with Web 2.0. On top of that, their administrators and techs block most blog, podcast, and video-hosting sites. Richardson' argument of taking control of a school's online presence just gives me another avenue in trying to change minds about Web 2.0 in schools.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
The Will Richardson Project: Building Networks in Schools
For my professional development goals as an instructional specialist and future school administrator, I am reading a few articles by Will Richardson and posting my thoughts here. Feel free to join the conversation in the comments. Building networks in schools: creating your own social network is easier than you might think. District Administration - December 1, 2007
Summary: Today's student is all over social networking. Sites like MySpace and Facebook occupy our students' every moment outside of school. Now, with the highly adaptable Ning, educators can utilize social networking within the classroom (virtual or real) to teach them not only how to collaborate but also how to properly manage their social networks. Additionally, Ning could be utilized for professional development purposes.
What I Think: Ning has been around for a while, but I don't think it's properly caught on. Teachers seem to be turning to various versions of Moodle and related hosting sites. Regardless, a Ning is so highly adaptable that a teacher can disguise learning, collaboration, and interaction as social-networking. I belong to Nings for both my work in edtech and for my craft beer/homebrewing hobby. A friend has used a Ning for her college composition course. I don't know if the problem is interest or an over-saturation of social-networking. Either way, I'll be interested to see how things develop over at Ning.com.
How does this help me with my work? It's nice to realize that there is something out there that resembles a Moodle less and a Facebook more. I've had plans to start a Ning for teachers in my network, but they seem so bogged down with so many other networks. A good alternative is to simply utilize the Nings that already exist out there for eMINTS and to encourage their use whenever a teacher is looking for a new way to engage students.
Summary: Today's student is all over social networking. Sites like MySpace and Facebook occupy our students' every moment outside of school. Now, with the highly adaptable Ning, educators can utilize social networking within the classroom (virtual or real) to teach them not only how to collaborate but also how to properly manage their social networks. Additionally, Ning could be utilized for professional development purposes.
What I Think: Ning has been around for a while, but I don't think it's properly caught on. Teachers seem to be turning to various versions of Moodle and related hosting sites. Regardless, a Ning is so highly adaptable that a teacher can disguise learning, collaboration, and interaction as social-networking. I belong to Nings for both my work in edtech and for my craft beer/homebrewing hobby. A friend has used a Ning for her college composition course. I don't know if the problem is interest or an over-saturation of social-networking. Either way, I'll be interested to see how things develop over at Ning.com.
How does this help me with my work? It's nice to realize that there is something out there that resembles a Moodle less and a Facebook more. I've had plans to start a Ning for teachers in my network, but they seem so bogged down with so many other networks. A good alternative is to simply utilize the Nings that already exist out there for eMINTS and to encourage their use whenever a teacher is looking for a new way to engage students.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Professional Development 2.0
By now people have realized that if you want to label something as new and innovative (especially anything old that uses interactive Internet tools) you just add "2.0" to the end. This is thanks to the development and growth of Web 2.0, the current era in Internet technology that is all about interactivity, connectivity, and accessibility. Finally, someone is talking about how these tools can be used to enhance teacher professional development.
Actually, it's been talked about a lot. I've even harped on it in an earlier-now-defunct version of this blog. Anything that involves education and Web 2.0 is a hot topic on the ed-tech blogosphere.
What I'm talking about is David Warlick's recent post about utilizing blogs, social networks (yes, even Facebook), and wikis to help develop teacher knowledge. Using these resources is a way for strapped districts to help their teachers develop pedagogy, methodology, and their use of technology. If you haven't read his post, go here and read it now.
It also reminds me of a colleague's idea to create websites that simply compile RSS feeds of anything education related and selling the service to school districts. Of course, he saw the ethical dilemma and chose not to try his idea out, but the thought is a good one. Why don't schools do this for themselves?
My idea has always been to create a network of blogs within a school building (or even a Ning) and require the staff to register for RSS readers. This would get them talking about teaching practices, curriculum ideas, etc. on their own time without requiring boring after-school PD sessions. Maybe I'll get a chance to try that out someday.
Actually, it's been talked about a lot. I've even harped on it in an earlier-now-defunct version of this blog. Anything that involves education and Web 2.0 is a hot topic on the ed-tech blogosphere.
What I'm talking about is David Warlick's recent post about utilizing blogs, social networks (yes, even Facebook), and wikis to help develop teacher knowledge. Using these resources is a way for strapped districts to help their teachers develop pedagogy, methodology, and their use of technology. If you haven't read his post, go here and read it now.
It also reminds me of a colleague's idea to create websites that simply compile RSS feeds of anything education related and selling the service to school districts. Of course, he saw the ethical dilemma and chose not to try his idea out, but the thought is a good one. Why don't schools do this for themselves?
My idea has always been to create a network of blogs within a school building (or even a Ning) and require the staff to register for RSS readers. This would get them talking about teaching practices, curriculum ideas, etc. on their own time without requiring boring after-school PD sessions. Maybe I'll get a chance to try that out someday.
--------------
In other edtech blog news...
Will Richardson posted the following statistic at his blog Webblog-ed:
It's interesting because we spend so much time teaching students about other dangers and ethics. Why not teach them of the dangers online?
This will have to change.
Will Richardson posted the following statistic at his blog Webblog-ed:
Fewer than 25 percent of educators feel comfortable teaching students how to protect themselves from online predators, cyberbullies and identity thieves, says a new study from the National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA) and Educational Technology, Policy Research and Outreach (ET PRO).He pulled this stat from an article on District Administration.
It's interesting because we spend so much time teaching students about other dangers and ethics. Why not teach them of the dangers online?
This will have to change.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Smaller Is Better
If the old clods at MIT can figure it out, we should too. It seems that the venerable Massachusetts Institute of Technology did some research and found it more beneficial for their classes to be smaller and to utilize a more interactive approach.
Hm. If only the rest of us could figure that out.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
The Will Richardson Project: Online-Powered School Libraries
For my professional development goals as an instructional specialist and future school administrator, I am reading a few articles by Will Richardson and posting my thoughts here. Feel free to join the conversation in the comments.
Online-Powered School Libraries:Web 2.0 technologies are transforming the school library.
District Administration - January 1, 2007
Summary: School libraries are leading the way into Web 2.0 through such tools as blogs, wikis, RSS feeds, etc. in an effort to become a more interactive resource center for both students and staff. Richardson also lays out some simple examples of tools and libraries who are at the forefront of the this shift.
What I Think: I have been mulling this over for a year or two. Why can't libraries become more 2.0 friendly? I feel the obstacles are two-fold similar to issues in the classroom: ignorance and tradition.
One problem is that too many school librarians are neophytes to Web 2.0 or are not actually librarians. Two of the districts in which I have worked have featured aids running the libraries under a librarian in charge of several schools. So, students do not often have librarians skilled or even comfortable with Web 2.0 tools. They know their Dewey decimal system, but not Wikipedia or Blogger.
Another problem is the idea that all that you will ever need to know is in the library. This has always been a problem for me. Growing up in a rural area with little resources for libraries, I learned quickly that all there is to learn cannot be found in one library. Sadly, this has not changed much in recent decades. If online tools are accessed with greater frequency and students are seen as knowledge producers as opposed to just consumers, the school library can become a place of great learning and interconnectivity.
Once one gets past the obstacles, Richardson presents an exciting new way to view libraries. Students often see it as the place they go to once a week to have a story read to them and to check out books. While this function of the library does not have to change completely, it can serve a greater purpose in education. The library could become the epicenter of learning it is meant to be by expanding its function to incorporate Web 2.0.
How does this help me with my work? I worked with a librarian last year, and we struggled with applying the eMINTS instructional model to her library. We spent a lot of time dealing with her instructional approach as opposed to altering the way her library worked. I have a second chance with a librarian this year and will take many of these ideas to heart.
Online-Powered School Libraries:Web 2.0 technologies are transforming the school library.
District Administration - January 1, 2007
Summary: School libraries are leading the way into Web 2.0 through such tools as blogs, wikis, RSS feeds, etc. in an effort to become a more interactive resource center for both students and staff. Richardson also lays out some simple examples of tools and libraries who are at the forefront of the this shift.
What I Think: I have been mulling this over for a year or two. Why can't libraries become more 2.0 friendly? I feel the obstacles are two-fold similar to issues in the classroom: ignorance and tradition.
One problem is that too many school librarians are neophytes to Web 2.0 or are not actually librarians. Two of the districts in which I have worked have featured aids running the libraries under a librarian in charge of several schools. So, students do not often have librarians skilled or even comfortable with Web 2.0 tools. They know their Dewey decimal system, but not Wikipedia or Blogger.
Another problem is the idea that all that you will ever need to know is in the library. This has always been a problem for me. Growing up in a rural area with little resources for libraries, I learned quickly that all there is to learn cannot be found in one library. Sadly, this has not changed much in recent decades. If online tools are accessed with greater frequency and students are seen as knowledge producers as opposed to just consumers, the school library can become a place of great learning and interconnectivity.
Once one gets past the obstacles, Richardson presents an exciting new way to view libraries. Students often see it as the place they go to once a week to have a story read to them and to check out books. While this function of the library does not have to change completely, it can serve a greater purpose in education. The library could become the epicenter of learning it is meant to be by expanding its function to incorporate Web 2.0.
How does this help me with my work? I worked with a librarian last year, and we struggled with applying the eMINTS instructional model to her library. We spent a lot of time dealing with her instructional approach as opposed to altering the way her library worked. I have a second chance with a librarian this year and will take many of these ideas to heart.
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Thoughts
I really need to post here more often...
I have a few thoughts on where schools are heading in the coming years...
The end to unions as we know them are on the horizon. Just as in any industry, unions lose power as they become corrupt and their counterparts run out of money. leaving no room for negotiations. Don't be surprised that once unions are eradicated, money suddenly trickles back to the schools.
Charter schools may finally be getting it right. Once investors figured out that they needed to put out a good product instead of hoping to make a quick buck, charter schools are suddenly showing insane improvements. New Orleans was the test-case, and if what The New York Times says is true, that city will be the model for the rest of us.
Netbooks and Web 2.0 tools will take the place of paper, textbooks, and even Windows/Vista-friendly PC's. There are two reasons for this shift in educational technology: price and access. When administrators figure out that a $200 netbook running on free software could be placed in the hands of every student for less than they are currently spending on 10:1 computer ratios running pricey Microsoft software packages, they won't take long to buy in, so to speak. With blogs, wikis, email, and social networks all available for free online, the classroom tools of the past will be obsolete.
A new structure for teacher advancement will have to happen. Schools don't receive financial support because they still pay a 30-year teacher twice as much money as they do a first-year teacher to do the same work. There is room for advancement in almost every other profession except for teaching. Schools are already experimenting with incentives, but a complete overhaul of the profession's structure is needed. I propose that schools hire college grads as aids and subs. It would raise the education level of school support staff and properly acclimate young teachers to the many demands of teaching. Once newbies prove themselves capable, they can be promoted to classroom teacher. Then, teachers can advance to grade-level team leader, subject chair, assistant principal, and so on. The days of teachers doing the same thing for thirty years and getting paid double or triple by the end will probably die out.
I've got more, but it will have to wait...
I have a few thoughts on where schools are heading in the coming years...
The end to unions as we know them are on the horizon. Just as in any industry, unions lose power as they become corrupt and their counterparts run out of money. leaving no room for negotiations. Don't be surprised that once unions are eradicated, money suddenly trickles back to the schools.
Charter schools may finally be getting it right. Once investors figured out that they needed to put out a good product instead of hoping to make a quick buck, charter schools are suddenly showing insane improvements. New Orleans was the test-case, and if what The New York Times says is true, that city will be the model for the rest of us.
Netbooks and Web 2.0 tools will take the place of paper, textbooks, and even Windows/Vista-friendly PC's. There are two reasons for this shift in educational technology: price and access. When administrators figure out that a $200 netbook running on free software could be placed in the hands of every student for less than they are currently spending on 10:1 computer ratios running pricey Microsoft software packages, they won't take long to buy in, so to speak. With blogs, wikis, email, and social networks all available for free online, the classroom tools of the past will be obsolete.
A new structure for teacher advancement will have to happen. Schools don't receive financial support because they still pay a 30-year teacher twice as much money as they do a first-year teacher to do the same work. There is room for advancement in almost every other profession except for teaching. Schools are already experimenting with incentives, but a complete overhaul of the profession's structure is needed. I propose that schools hire college grads as aids and subs. It would raise the education level of school support staff and properly acclimate young teachers to the many demands of teaching. Once newbies prove themselves capable, they can be promoted to classroom teacher. Then, teachers can advance to grade-level team leader, subject chair, assistant principal, and so on. The days of teachers doing the same thing for thirty years and getting paid double or triple by the end will probably die out.
I've got more, but it will have to wait...
Monday, October 6, 2008
Um
I have not posted here in a while. Of course, I don't know that anyone even reads this blog. In an effort to keep up with all my blogs, I promise to post here at least once a week.
This post will start a string of posts having to do with the direction of public education. So, here goes nothing.
With the presidential election quickly approaching, I wonder what will happen to public schools. For the first time I can remember, both major party candidates are talking about funding for charter schools. I can't say that I blame them. Public schools are failing. The best innovation in schooling is happening in places like New Orleans where charter schools are filling a void.
I'm not thrilled about the deterioration of our public education system, but after being outside of schools for a year, I'm ready for things to change.
What do you think? Are charter schools now just an inevitability? Are public schools doomed?
This post will start a string of posts having to do with the direction of public education. So, here goes nothing.
With the presidential election quickly approaching, I wonder what will happen to public schools. For the first time I can remember, both major party candidates are talking about funding for charter schools. I can't say that I blame them. Public schools are failing. The best innovation in schooling is happening in places like New Orleans where charter schools are filling a void.
I'm not thrilled about the deterioration of our public education system, but after being outside of schools for a year, I'm ready for things to change.
What do you think? Are charter schools now just an inevitability? Are public schools doomed?
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