tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029419017923677229.post895443420873432778..comments2023-10-26T04:38:06.297-04:00Comments on TeachPaperless: Follow BobAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14091328599818819777noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029419017923677229.post-87762378526303776392009-09-06T20:24:30.899-04:002009-09-06T20:24:30.899-04:00I'm in a school that says it wants to go paper...I'm in a school that says it wants to go paperless. No doubt this is an idea whose time came yesterday! I'm in a school where we enter the building on a passcard and sign in on paper. Attendance is taken online, as is student registration, but The Count must be done...on paper. So, yeah, I'm in a district that blocks every tool you're push. Oh, we are going to go paperless! We have a fantastic online learning environment the district has purchased. I've got teachers who are willing and building administration is pushing it. It will be an interesting process, but it must be done! I read your blog religiously and am inspired!Ms. Edith Campbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12125736436813900541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029419017923677229.post-45295514173667343132009-09-03T10:23:49.246-04:002009-09-03T10:23:49.246-04:00I will be following this transformation. I am also...I will be following this transformation. I am also taking on a "special project" this year and blogging about it. Take a look if you are interested in following along. http://teachwithvideo.com/blogSteve Katzhttp://teachwithvideo.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029419017923677229.post-28040304829782386542009-09-02T20:46:50.876-04:002009-09-02T20:46:50.876-04:00The past few posts make me want to comment about t...The past few posts make me want to comment about the theme of all of them.<br /><br />It is ironic that we are "teaching the younger generation to use Twitter" and younger teachers to join social networks because they are closer to being Digital Youth than we are.<br /><br />But then again.... parents of these kids went to seminars where they were taught about "internet safety". Remember Net Nanny? People used it! I have 3 teens - to this day (they are between 16 and 19) none of them use their real names online. Guess who taught them this. ME! And now my oldest son is going to be a sophomore in college - in a digital media and animation program no less - and he still remains anonymous, aside from the walled garden (Jonathan Zittrain term) of Facebook. It is safe there. He is beginning to build a portfolio online, but it is still on the school server and hasn't made the jump from there yet.<br /><br />We assume the 16 - 24 year olds are early adopters but they are not. Research shows it is people in the next age bracket who adopt technology first. Why don't my kids use Twitter? "It's pointless". I am not sure this is such a bad thing, as it is not hindering anything. They still seek out niche communities, they still learn, they still share. In fact perhaps the anonymity enhances the experience (Dr Michael Wesch, cultural antropologist at Kansas State University has some fantastic videos about his "anonymity project" on You Tube for those who have time - any of his videos are fantastic). I know my kids are bolder and in a very good way that gives them confidence in real life.<br /><br />So when is the right time to transition to a "life in public"? What's the rush until they have a profession and are ready to show their work. With a blog or Twitter account, maybe it is a good idea to keep the Twitter account non-public (within their own community) as a transition, if we can convince them to do that. Twitter is not being adopted rapidly by teens - all studies show that. They post back and forth on Facebook. It is a great tool -but unless we build a community for them they will not come. Facebook does that automatically with their friends in school, etc.<br /><br />I have no definitive answers to anything, I am asking questions more than I am answering, since I have been thinking a lot about this. We are at a generational inflection point. There was a great article being passed around (via twitter) last night that hopefully many saw - "What would Socrates Say?"<br /><br />http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational_leadership/sept09/vol67/num01/What_Would_Socrates_Say¢.aspx<br /><br />I think it is the most well written piece I have seen about combining our wonderful technology and social networks with the principles of Socratic Inquiry. I am a tech zealot, live much of my life online and am all for open source education and of all the wonderful things social networking can bring us. But I see it simultaneously in different generations, and we have to be careful not to focus so hard on the shiny new toys that we forget the foundations of education and what being a well rounded, educated person is all about. I think this is our biggest challenge.<br />Just the opinion of one :)Donna Murdochhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10790972563680064828noreply@blogger.com