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!

3 Days in Philly aka Educon

I'm still too tired to write about my experiences at Educon, but mind is mulling over many conversations, tweets and panel discussions! I loved the passion and energy at this event. I'm documenting this blog as my memory backup and I thank the author for a great synopsis... it appears we attended many of the same sessions! Now... on to a bit of work for tomorrow and some SLEEP! I don't have time or energy to stay on Twitter tonight, but I'm sure there are many great reflective blogs based on the weekend's conversations. THANK YOU Middle School Librarian for the blogpost!

The ipods are coming, the ipods are coming

So... what will we do with the ipods? I hear they are coming soon! Put in work tickets for apps that you like... hmmm? I found this blog tonight... she may help me think this tool through a bit more. I love the mobility of these tools... and the motivation factor for kids. But... what are you doing with them that's truly creative. I want to know... I want to learn. Show me. Can't wait... the ipods are coming...

Expectations impact abilities to Respond to Student Learning??

Responding to Paula...

Paula- As always I love how you share your experiences with the world to give us real stories to reflect and connect with. Thank you for continuing to give your students the opportunities and freedoms to guide their own learning, not to mention, your learning. And the best part is that you respond and RECOGNIZE this! I wish that more educators would slow down, observe and listen to their students and then reflect on what the students are doing, saying, asking, etc. So often, we as educators have our own plans, our own worksheets, our own state-driven curriculum, our own bubble sheets, and we don’t let students lead their learning. I wish we understood that we can do the standards as a minimum in most cases, the mundane bubble sheet if necessary, and so much more relevant and fun learning, if we truly read and respond to our students and their interests, curiosities and reasoning… we can guide at a much deeper level when we do this! So, how can teachers learn to trust that this kind of responding to students can lead to not just the minimal standards but deeper lifelong learner standards. I think we should always think about our own behaviours when watching our students… don’t we not finish books because we don’t like them? Don’t we disregard rules of games to make it what we want/need? What are the habits of mind that we want to instill. And the even bigger picture of all of this…When is it okay to not follow rules? When is it okay to use something in a completely different way than it’s intended… Think about how science, technology and the arts have grown from this action!! How does the world really work and what is our role in this world. Okay, I’m rambling and not able to articulate what I want to end with… but I LOVE this posting and I hope when I go back to the classroom, that I can follow my hopes and dreams of recognizing and responding to student learning in powerful ways! I expect to learn a lot from my students! But what will I do with this learning??

RSA Animate - Changing Education Paradigms