Where do you go when you want to learn something? A textbook?

So... there's always so much discussion on textbooks in this century. Are they really so last century? :) How can we stay current and fluid when referring to text that's written at a certain point in time is what I'd like to ask everyone? I find when teachers use textbooks, it often does not encourage best practices with instructional strategies, I've often seen it as a crutch... However, there are some powerful resources such as Being a Writer... which is more of a program with best instructional practices infused and research backing them. Back to those traditional paper textbooks... like science and history books. Who are the authors? Can we really trust their reliability and expertise? What's changed in our worlds that support the content? Can we sift through the biased perspectives in the this written word? And how is online resources different when asking these same questions. As a former classroom teacher, I actually never had that many textbooks... and usually if I used them it was as a reference AFTER I taught the content and Once schema was established...

I found this blog from Twitter PLN... so wanted to archive it to ponder on the whole resources used a bit later as well. What do you think about traditional textbooks? Would you want instructional funds spent on them for your classroom? Why not? Why? What's your reasoning? Where do you go today when you want to learn something? What tools and resources are important in your life today? What skills do we really need to teach students to be researchers online? Do we know how to research effectively and thoroughly? The skills needed today are very different. Many questions...

This sums up Educon!

This is a well written blog that sums up what Educon is... except it may not have elaborated enough on the PASSION that is oozing from most attendees. As a first-timer to Educon, it was astounding and also mystifying to try to figure out my place and where I actually belonged on the passion scale and who to gravitate toward for deep conversations that support my day to day work. Everyone made me feel welcomed, but so many folks are so connected with past experiences, Twitter conversations and relationships, #edchat, etc. that I felt like I was crashing a party or some special intellectual celebration. I have been so busy these post Educon days with face to face work, but I've also been reflecting on the Educon experience and reading blogs and back stories. But I keep asking myself... What can I do differently? How can I bring forth change and new growth with colleagues that impact student learning in a positive and "out of the norm" way. I struggle with bringing the two experiences together in a meaningful way. I have new colleagues in my PLN and have a face to go with many twitter names, thanks to my attending Educon. I share the same passions as many of these Educonites, but I also feel so mis-aligned and not connected. My daily work as an Instructional Coach and my virtual PLN are often working toward common goals and interests in educational reform, yet they are so juxtaposed. How can my real life in 3 different schools feel so separate from all the conversations in Philly. How can I make meaning of this mis-alignment. I am just thinking through my fingers and rambling... but did I say what a great week I had? I made a positive impact on over 100 fifth graders with a co-planned geology experience, I shared engaging resources for early numeracy with a Sped teacher, I supported a team of 4th grade teachers and their 63 4th graders begin a completely hands on unit on Electricity, I did a couple of demo/model lessons on using Rekenreks in K classroom.... Maybe the reflection is helping with alignment, but it's not enough.

Connected Learning

I love the connected learning graphic in this blog because the student is in the middle. I love learning with my students. I love modeling how to problem-solve, and share, and thinking out loud! Here's a blog by an educator I respect greatly! (Becky) has always questioned me and guided me to deeper thinking and learning. I'm very fortunate to have her in my PLN. Read on... teach on... always learning!