Comments on: Side Pocket http://strengthofweakties.org/?p=292 David Jakes Sat, 19 Jun 2010 22:41:47 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Brunsell http://strengthofweakties.org/?p=292#comment-26770 Brunsell Tue, 01 Dec 2009 03:09:13 +0000 http://strengthofweakties.org/?p=292#comment-26770 Unfortunately, the lack of use of Web 2.0 is the small problem. It is relatively easy to "train" people to use blogs, wikis, RSS feeds, social bookmarking, blah, blah, blah. The real challenge is that our pedagogy is not advancing. What we know about teaching and learning is disturbingly out of synch with current classroom norms. Teachers need the space to explore new ways of teaching & an open mind to actually do this. Unfortunately, too often, they have been burned by fads and changing priorities - and now see everything as a "fad," so why bother. In fact, I was just cautioned by a teacher in a district that if I said the words "formative assessment" during a district PD session, I would likely be hung from the flag pole. This is the root cause of the "individual pioneering classrooms." Unfortunately, the lack of use of Web 2.0 is the small problem. It is relatively easy to “train” people to use blogs, wikis, RSS feeds, social bookmarking, blah, blah, blah. The real challenge is that our pedagogy is not advancing. What we know about teaching and learning is disturbingly out of synch with current classroom norms. Teachers need the space to explore new ways of teaching & an open mind to actually do this. Unfortunately, too often, they have been burned by fads and changing priorities – and now see everything as a “fad,” so why bother. In fact, I was just cautioned by a teacher in a district that if I said the words “formative assessment” during a district PD session, I would likely be hung from the flag pole.

This is the root cause of the “individual pioneering classrooms.”

]]> By: Luke Rhonemus http://strengthofweakties.org/?p=292#comment-26757 Luke Rhonemus Thu, 05 Nov 2009 02:15:08 +0000 http://strengthofweakties.org/?p=292#comment-26757 Teachers do have to be good innovators. At times I wonder if there is any way that I could become more innovative. If you "steal" ideas from others, does that make you an innovative person or a resourceful person? To me, being innovative includes trying new methods that work in the best interest of the student. Administration can put a damper on teachers who are innovative, just as this blog mentioned. This can be cross-referenced to teachers who do the same thing with their students. Often times we can restrict the learning environement for a student rather than expanding it instead. Teachers do have to be good innovators. At times I wonder if there is any way that I could become more innovative. If you “steal” ideas from others, does that make you an innovative person or a resourceful person? To me, being innovative includes trying new methods that work in the best interest of the student. Administration can put a damper on teachers who are innovative, just as this blog mentioned. This can be cross-referenced to teachers who do the same thing with their students. Often times we can restrict the learning environement for a student rather than expanding it instead.

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