A comment was left on one of my postings today by Eric Vance, high school Principal, husband, father, beginning blogger. Eric attended the F.I.E.L. conference where he was inspired by Will Richardson's presentation on technology and the changing world.Many of us have been discussing the nature of education, why and how it needs to change, is changing.
Christian Long recaps a BLC 07 session where what was happening in the audience was as important as what was happening on the stage.
In "Four Convergences, Two Views of Education, and One Future to Choose" Clay Burell again questions the "infantilization of our youths" and continues his advocation of meaningful project-based learning.
Is there educational value in virtual communities? Judy O'Connell believes that social collaboration will emerge as an effective tool for teachers and students, blurring the lines between "real world" and "school world" communication.
Carolyn Foote reminds Library Media Specialists that libraries cannot operate in isolation. They must be "purposeful and made for authentic learning experiences and connected..." to other libraries and to the teachers and students the Library Media Centers serve.
All of these bloggers are writing from their own educational perspectives, yet all have shared ideas and information that have value for Eric and other administrators.
Imagine a faculty meeting or professional development day where Skypers and live bloggers interact with each other and presenters. Consider how much easier it would be to implement project-based learning or virtual learning communities in a school district if the principal already understood and supported the concepts. Think of the effectiveness of an information literacy curriculum that has the strong backing of a committed administrator.
We need to welcome Eric, to read and respond to his postings, add another strand to our web.
2 comments:
Diane, when you write:
"Imagine a faculty meeting or professional development day where Skypers and live bloggers interact with each other and presenters. Consider how much easier it would be to implement project-based learning or virtual learning communities in a school district if the principal already understood and supported the concepts. Think of the effectiveness of an information literacy curriculum that has the strong backing of a committed administrator."
--it is one powerful idea. Instead of weekly "building meetings," in which we're limited to the willingness of our faculty to collaborate, what would weekly "world collaborative" meetings (or monthly, or whatever) produce?
Powerful, again.
I was thinking the other day it would be fun to just start posting "Imagine..." ideas like this, even if the people or other means to do them soon weren't in place.
Because there are so many things worth imagining now.
Thanks for listening - and I hope Eric becomes a force for change on the admin level not just in his school, but his own network.
Goodness knows we could use it :)
Agree 100% with Clay's "Imagine..." ideas.
As well as the thought being explored here (and elsewhere) about 'faculty meetings' being held on a more virtual level -- both for colleagues in the same building and for those spread around the globe.
I also believe that there are some striking conversations going on in classrooms literally down the hall from me, but I can't be there when I'm teaching...or in more than one place. How could my colleagues and I take part in (formally or casually) each other's classrooms while we're teaching? This is a puzzle I'm looking to solve on some level this year.
Thanks for the re-cap of a range of conversations going on, Diane. Good links for me to re-connect with. And thanks -- of course -- for linking back to me as well. Means a lot, esp. because it allows me to re-track back to you and the ideas you're putting into the air!
Cheers, Christian
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