Learning About Blogs FOR Your Students Part 2 Final Current Event

Photo courtesy of Flickr (cc)

Hello Everyone,

This is our last current event for this course. I was going to post about the Dare to Care presentation put on by Lisa Dixon-Wells about bullying and Cyberbullying. It's fabulous!! If your school is dealing with bullying or cyberbulling I would highly recommend having them come to your schools.

Langwitches posted her second blog post in her series on blogging, Learning About Blogs FOR Your Students Part 2. If felt it was relevant this week considering our discussion about the progression we've gone through as bloggers. You must watch the video by Derek Sivers. He puts everything into perspective about why we should share what we know. I feel the Langwitch blog is an great example of complex or at least real blogging. I hope you enjoy reading her blog as much as I do.

Guide for Teachers who want to start blogging #9 Current Event

I feel this is an important blogging site to share with others. As this course comes to a close soon, many of us have began a journey into the blogging world that we wouldn't have expected to take. This blog will help with such a journey.

I have been following Langwitches Blog for over a year and I just love what she shares and how she explains her learning and that of her students. Silvia Rosenthal Tolisano has an amazing ability to make you want to become a better teacher of technology. She makes it look so easy. If you need an example of a good blog to follow, I would recommend this one. This blog clearly explains and provides examples of how technology can be successfully integrated into your classroom. 
Several weeks ago, she posted this How to guide for teachers called Stepping It Up - Learning about blogs FOR your students. This guide will help you and your students become better bloggers. It is in the beginning stages of construction and I know more great posts will be coming. She has already written a post on her first guideline, Reading. I would highly recommend subscribing to this blog and reading more about the other six parts to being a successful blogger not just for yourself but your students as well.
Thank you Silvia for all of your hard work and dedication to blogging and helping others become better as well.

Technology plays a big role in today's libraries #8 Current Event

Flickr photo courtesy of

Digital ID: 1153320. Juley, Peter A. -- Photographer. Date depicted: 1911

 This week's current event comes from my local newspaper. I still enjoy having a cup of coffee and reading the paper. I found this article in Friday, November 4th Daily Herald Tribune paper.

Technology plays a big role in today's libraries

The article talks about how libraries are changing by using technology to allow people more access to the types of programs being offered and speed at accessing materials all over the province of Alberta. Yet again, the library is wanting to connect with the community and the families in it. To do so, means they are creating Facebook pages, Twittering (@GPPublicLibrary) , and they've created a webpage to advertise many of their programs.

Also along this same topic of technology in libraries, I went to go see J. Edgar this weekend and there was a great scene where he talks about categorizing and cataloguing the Library of Congress's books and files and how easy and fast it was for him to search a topic. I had to chuckle because he was able to locate a topic within 1.5 minutes. Speedy at that time. I didn't realize J. Edgar Hoover was responsible for organizing and cataloging the Library of Congress. Interesting piece of history for all of you library history buffs out there.

I chose this article because it hightlights how the Grande Prairie Library is trying to move along with technology. They are wanting to serve their community members in new and inventive ways. Not only are they advertising on-line but they are willing to help train you to search for items, use their services and help you understand how to use the OverDrive ebook service. Way to go GP Library! Way to be on the cutting edge! I appauld you for your work.

Kids and Tech Gadgets Current Event #7

flickr photo shared by aprilbrown

While travelling down to Kananaskis on Wednesday to attend the ECEC Conference: Permission to Play I was listening to CBC radio's Spark program (Love it! Thank you to Joanne or Jennifer for recommending it). The interview which caught my attention was Kids and Tech Gadgets. It was a fantastic interview about how too much technology and gadgets can be replacing creative outlets in kids. If students are being passed gadgets, which are called Passback tools they are always being stimulated by technology and not given the opportunity to use their imagination and creativity to explore and imagine.
It was interesting because the conferences' theme was Play. I felt his interview and our conference had a lot to do with each other. Dr. Stuart Brown and Brian Keating both talked about the importance of play and how it contributes to a well rounded individual. They had far more scientific language than I do, I'm just summing it up for this post.  Dr. Brown also spoke about how sleep and play can stimulate the same areas of the brain. He mentioned how a good play session can give you the same feeling as a good sleep. I found this to be very interesting.  Jeana Lee Tahnk commented on balance and how important it is to maintain when it comes to technology and children's usage. I would agree completely. I don't believe the Internet and technology are going away but it's about finding balance. Sometimes, unplugging and playing can be the best thing for you or your family. We must have kids play, it helps to improve their imagination and creates a better sense of self.


I found this interview especially interesting because Dr. Brown and Brian Keating suggested kids should be out playing to stimulate their imagination and build up their creativeness, sometimes games on computers or apps can not do such a thing. I think technology is important but not at the expense of a child's creativeness. If parents and teachers are always pushing technology and gadgets at our children when will they ever discover how to use a box as a spaceship to travel to the moon or a blanket as a secret hiding place for them and their friends?


On a side note, the other interview Technology and The Wandering Mind was just as good.
Spark. CBC (Producer). (2011). Kids and tech gadgets. Retrieved from http://www.cbc.ca/spark/2011/10/spark-160-october-30-november-2-2011/

Project-Based Learning: An Overview - Current Event #6

picture courtesy of Flickr: Horse and cart / Christian Guthier / CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

I'd like to first start out by saying, I am slowly working towards teaching in a project-based environment but more work is needed. If you've done any reading of Project-Based Learning you'll appreciate this short video on what it is and how it can impact student learning.

Just looking on the face of the young girl who is outside doing work in 'her' classroom and not the four walls of a school sent shivers up my spin. You can see the joy on her face at being able to learn outside of a school. I wish we could all teach this way. What would happen if we forgot about curriculum and let students pick their own learning? Seymor Papert suggests this is the first step towards project-based learning or at least forgetting about learning a particular outcome at a particular time (video). Using technology in classrooms and with students helps to lend itself to beginning to explore project-based learning. Technology must be in the hands of the students.

I am in awe of this type of teaching and learning. This video helps to remind us all that inquiry and project-based learning is one of the best ways of learning. I have a feeling this is why we have been given the opportunity to create our own learning project. I would love to know your thoughts on Project-Based Learning.



Edutopia (Producer). (2001), Project-based learning: an overview [video]. Retrieved from http://www.edutopia.org/project-based-learning-overview-video

Finding Balance and Happiness Current Event #5

As I am sitting in the Calgary Airport trying to connect to the internet, finally chose a different web browser, I am reading through my 'starred' blogs, which I saved so I could use them as my current event topic for this week I came across yet another inspiring and thought provoking post by George Couros called, Happiness and Balance. How fitting of a topic for me right at this time. This week, I was juggling, 2 presentations, sub plans for 2 1/2 days of school, travelling, and finding the time to work on my inquiry project, I did some tasks better than others and spent more time where it was needed as we all do.
While I was in Saskatoon, many of the teachers asked, "Where do you get your energy from and how do you find time to do all of this?" I guess I make the time because it's what I love to do. George talks discusses 'being out of balance' at times in his life. I can fully relate to being out of balance because it's how I've felt all week. When I reflect upon how this week has gone, I know I have not devoted enough time to the work that I've needed to do for my project (I know I will be able to over the weekend) but I've missed connenting with teachers face to face. Travelling to conferences and sharing with teachers gives me a renewed sense that what I do in the classroom is worthwhile and important. I love sharing with teachers in this way. It makes me happy to know that teachers enjoyed what I shared and could take back something they valued to their classrooms.
Yes, being out of balance is a huge part of my life right now but it makes me happy to spend time with teachers, with my students and with learning about new Web 2.0 tools. I wouldn't change it for the world.

Couros, George. (2011). Happiness and balance [blog post]. Retrieved from The Principal of Change. http://georgecouros.ca/blog/archives/2486

Current Event #4 - Sharing and a PSN

Another Reason to Share 

Developing a Personal Sharing Network

I chose these two particular blog posts because they both appeared in my Feed on the same night and this idea of sharing has really stuck with me since the first discussion posts we did. In fact, I would take a good guess in saying that George Couros and Richard Bryne probably shared and collaborated on this very topic via Twitter)
I liked what George had to say about sharing, "but there is some teacher out there that can take what you have done, adapt it, modify it, and tailor it to exactly what their kids need." I remember someone else bringing this to my attention when I wrote about sharing my plans with another teacher. I saw this teacher as wanting my hard work, but instead it was an opportunity for her to learn from my experience and to modify it to her way of teaching so she could come to some understanding about writing.

I couldn't agree more with this statement, "When your organization shares your best ideas with your own community, the neighbouring community, and the world, you help push education locally and globally" I'm beinging to share more and it's a major goal in my inquiry project.

Richard Bryne also wrote about modify what we call the Personal Learning Network (PLN) to now having it called the Personal Sharing Network (PSN). What an interesting idea considering Web 2.0 tools allow use to share and then collaborate on ideas and issue in education. He also talked about the more you share the more others are likely to share with you. I believe in this whole heartedly now.
Isn't the first line Robert Fulghum's poem "All I Really Neet to Know I Learned in Kindergarten," "Share everything!" It's a simple idea but still the hardest for adults and some teachers, like myself to remember. I'm working on it though.

Current Event #3 - Andy Ihnatko's Obituary of Steve Jobs

http://www.suntimes.com/technology/ihnatko/8057908-452/rip-steve-jobs-a-man-who-truly-changed-the-world.html

I personally think this is the biggest story in the tech world this week and for quite a while. Regardless of what you think of Steve Jobs he truly was a visionary in the technology world. As I'm writing about my current event on the computer he created or at least encouraged someone to build, I'm searching on my iPhone for a misspelling of a word and texting a friend who'd had a bad day. What would I do without them?

I am reflecting on the impact he's had on my life and those of others. Where would we be if we didn't have personal computers or Smart phones to work with? Would we have Web 2.0 tools? Would we have been able to just "Google It?" Would we have been able to do our learning over the computer? Do many of us even realize that Steve Jobs and Apple Computers really changed the way we communicate, interact, collaborate and educate children.

HIs death is sad and as I write this, I'm fighting back tears. I think we've lost a person who inspired us to do better and be better. He was a leader and a visionary. Steve wanted us to imagine the imaginable. I think as a teacher that's what I want my students to do as well.

Andy Inhakto's obituary is a wonderful tribute to Steve Jobs. I loved his personal story about the NeXT cube. Isn't it wonderful to think that perhaps it was Steve on the phone that day. I know I sure would like to believe that it was. Andy said it well, "Still: yesterday, I lived on a world with a Steve Jobs in it. Tonight, I don’t. That’s truly how I feel right now."

April

Current Event #2 - 10 Reasons Your Students Should Blog

Here is my Current Event #2
10 Reasons Your Students Should Blog
It comes from Matt Ray (aka Mr. Foteah) blog - From the desk of Mr. Foteah. I found this article last week while I was on Twitter and knew I had to share it with all of you. I believe whole heartedly in everything he is saying. Students are engaged and it provides them with a voice to share their thoughts and feelings about certain topics. Take a look at my trash bin on my computer. There are 121 comments and posts from my grade 2's in the past 3 weeks. I can't stop them nor do I want to. They are engaging and motivated to write. What more could a teacher ask for?


I especially enjoyed point #10 when he discusses instant engagement because I am seeing just that with my students. They can't wait until it's computer class or to go home and write. I've got one student who has written every night and not just 2 or 3 sentences, but more. As teachers we are always wanting to motivate our students to write and Matt Ray has given us 10 reasons why you should get your students to blog as soon as possible. Take caution because it can become addicting for them.
Hopefully you will start your students on the blogging journey. Kidblog.org is a fantastic site to get your students started.
April

Current Event #1 - Technology in school not always best

Thank you to all for your comments. I am going to just add a couple of notes because I miss read the instructions and I didn't include a brief description of why I chose this article.

Technology in school not always best, study says

The headline initially attracted me to the article because I was starting my master's on-line and I'm interested in using technology in the classroom.  Was it referring to K-12 classrooms or University type courses? The article is making reference to digital natives and how savy they are but yet young people are not attracted to on-line learning. So why is this? The article goes on to explain that perhaps it's not about them being tech savy but about what fits each individual person and how they choose to learn. Kind of the one size doesn't fit all approach doesn't always work. We've known this for some time in education, but do we all choose to follow this train of thought?

For some of us, the traditional classroom setting works and for others they learn by doing while others learn through other mediums. What I find most interesting now after having just listened to the podcasts Joanne posted, is perhaps the "digital natives" are not as tech savy as we thought they were. If they are not, then this explains why more students prefer lecture type classes, are more statisfied and prefer face to face classes than high-tech classrooms.
Now I'm interested in this myth of why the "younger generation" may not be as digitally connected as we originally thought they were.

I've got some searching to do for my next current events post.

April