Quick story: the wife and I planned a trip to Italy a few summers ago. We were struggling to book a hotel room in Florence, and finally, after hotel #6 told us they too were booked, we asked what was happening in Florence that weekend.
"A model convention," we were told. "Many famous models will be here that weekend."
My wife maintains I've never been more excited to visit a city.
Needless to say, I found a hotel room. Not needless to say, when we got there, we discovered there were indeed many famous models roaming about: male models.
Sigh.
My point with all of this? Well ... I'm not sure. But the National Educational Technology Standards (NETS-T) and Performance Indicators for Teachers, which highlights what teachers should know and be able to do, includes the third indicator, which is (drumroll please): Modeling Digital-Age Work and Learning. You can see the full list of indicators here: http://www.iste.org/Content/NavigationMenu/NETS/ForTeachers/2008Standards/NETS_T_Standards_Final.pdf
So, these people want me to be a model. It's my big chance!
Okay, so it's not that kind of model. And it's probably just as well. High heels make my feet hurt.
Anyway, on to my focus for this blog: the first part of T3:
a. demonstrate fluency in technology systems and the transfer of current knowledge to new technologies and situations
My goal, as described in earlier blogs, is to use wikis for a variety of activities, including beginning-of-the-year tasks, where students will "introduce" themselves to their classmates and me. These opening activities are very important to me, as they provide the foundation to the class and set the tone for students: they allow students to see that I care about them as individuals, and that we all, while different in many areas, have commonalities. I firmly believe that my lack of classroom management issues, and a number of students have told me how they enjoyed knowing I cared about what they cared about.
So, the wikis are a chance for me to use new technology with my students. However, there's a snag: I'm not fluent in how to use wikis. This bothers me. Greatly. 'Cause I'm the type of guy who does not, at any point, like to appear ignorant. The good news with this, though, is that when I am clueless, I ask questions. I search for answers.
Luckily, there's info out there. Lots of it. Like this one video that somebody found and posted on his blog: http://jimstechtactics.blogspot.com/
I'm going to need help to demonstrate fluency with wikis, and this video, along with other sources (fellow Mason teachers, and some students themselves) will help me learn and then model this information to students. I will say this, though: while I do want to be fluent with wikis, I really don't mind showing my ignorance to students with this. But I'll blog more about that next week.
Now, if you don't mind, I need to rest my feet. Silly Jimmy Choos!
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
This blog is again dedicated to the second indicator for the National Education Technology Standards (for Teachers), which is the following:
2. Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments
Teachers design, develop, and evaluate authentic learning experiences and assessments incorporating contemporary tools and resources to maximize content learning in context and to develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes identified in the NETS•S.
Teachers:
a. design or adapt relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity
b. develop technology-enriched learning environments that enable all students to pursue their individual curiosities and become active participants in setting their own educational goals, managing their own learning, and assessing their own progress
c. customize and personalize learning activities to address students’ diverse learning styles, working strategies, and abilities usingdigital tools and resources
d. provide students with multiple and varied formative and summative assessments aligned with content and technology standards and use resulting data to inform learning and teaching
Again, click here to see all the indicators: http://www.iste.org/Content/NavigationMenu/NETS/ForTeachers/2008Standards/NETS_T_Standards_Final.pdf
For this post, I'm going to focus on the b) portion of indicator 2:
b. develop technology-enriched learning environments that enable all students to pursue their individual curiosities and become active participants in setting their own educational goals, managing their own learning, and assessing their own progress
I was hoping to begin having my students create wikis at the beginning of this trimester (which started yesterday). I wanted the wikis to be a way for students to introduce themselves to each other and to me - a place they could make their own so we could see their individuality, and also to see our commonalities. But, I'm not comfortable yet with wikis. I don't think I could explain them well enough to the students (especially since I found out, when I asked a class if it knew what wikis were, only a couple out of 20 actually knew). So ... that part of the development of using wikis in my class will have to wait until next year.
However, section b) discusses students being active participants in setting their own educational goals. I think that's what I'll do this trimester: have the students help me set up these wikis for my next group of honors English students. In looking at the syllabus, how can we incorporate wikis? Asking this question of my students, and letting them explore possibilities, will let them play an active role in their education. I can't wait to see what the creative little darlings dream up!
And, I hate to be such a Vygotskyphile, but golly, I love the man. His idea of constructivism (see it here at http://www.learning-theories.com/vygotskys-social-learning-theory.html) really fits in well with this idea. The collaboration between my students and me is not only beneficial for them ... it's fun for me!
2. Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments
Teachers design, develop, and evaluate authentic learning experiences and assessments incorporating contemporary tools and resources to maximize content learning in context and to develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes identified in the NETS•S.
Teachers:
a. design or adapt relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity
b. develop technology-enriched learning environments that enable all students to pursue their individual curiosities and become active participants in setting their own educational goals, managing their own learning, and assessing their own progress
c. customize and personalize learning activities to address students’ diverse learning styles, working strategies, and abilities usingdigital tools and resources
d. provide students with multiple and varied formative and summative assessments aligned with content and technology standards and use resulting data to inform learning and teaching
Again, click here to see all the indicators: http://www.iste.org/Content/NavigationMenu/NETS/ForTeachers/2008Standards/NETS_T_Standards_Final.pdf
For this post, I'm going to focus on the b) portion of indicator 2:
b. develop technology-enriched learning environments that enable all students to pursue their individual curiosities and become active participants in setting their own educational goals, managing their own learning, and assessing their own progress
I was hoping to begin having my students create wikis at the beginning of this trimester (which started yesterday). I wanted the wikis to be a way for students to introduce themselves to each other and to me - a place they could make their own so we could see their individuality, and also to see our commonalities. But, I'm not comfortable yet with wikis. I don't think I could explain them well enough to the students (especially since I found out, when I asked a class if it knew what wikis were, only a couple out of 20 actually knew). So ... that part of the development of using wikis in my class will have to wait until next year.
However, section b) discusses students being active participants in setting their own educational goals. I think that's what I'll do this trimester: have the students help me set up these wikis for my next group of honors English students. In looking at the syllabus, how can we incorporate wikis? Asking this question of my students, and letting them explore possibilities, will let them play an active role in their education. I can't wait to see what the creative little darlings dream up!
And, I hate to be such a Vygotskyphile, but golly, I love the man. His idea of constructivism (see it here at http://www.learning-theories.com/vygotskys-social-learning-theory.html) really fits in well with this idea. The collaboration between my students and me is not only beneficial for them ... it's fun for me!
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