Comments for ...technology with a twist http://lgwilliams.edublogs.org cause life's pretty straight otherwise Sun, 09 Aug 2009 23:56:02 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.2 hourly 1 Comment on Food for thought by Lisa-Gaye http://lgwilliams.edublogs.org/2009/07/21/food-for-thought/comment-page-1/#comment-148 Lisa-Gaye Sun, 09 Aug 2009 23:56:02 +0000 http://lgwilliams.edublogs.org/2009/07/21/food-for-thought/#comment-148 I guess we need more 'older generation' teachers, who are change agents, to have more responsibility for newer teachers ... so the new ideas get a run in the sun. I guess we need more ‘older generation’ teachers, who are change agents, to have more responsibility for newer teachers … so the new ideas get a run in the sun.

]]> Comment on Food for thought by Graham Hughes http://lgwilliams.edublogs.org/2009/07/21/food-for-thought/comment-page-1/#comment-147 Graham Hughes Tue, 21 Jul 2009 07:41:46 +0000 http://lgwilliams.edublogs.org/2009/07/21/food-for-thought/#comment-147 Couldn't agree more...mustn't upset the status quo must we? And the process of change is slowed even further and more insidiously by the new and enthusiastic teachers, who could be the agents of change, being "mentored" by the older generation who very quickly show them "how things are done around here". Enthusiasm for new ideas quickly wane as it is realised that if you want to fit in you must not do things adventurous and, heaven forbid, show up the tenured teachers. How do we break out of this cycle? When will teachers be treated like the rest of the professions - shape up or .... Couldn’t agree more…mustn’t upset the status quo must we? And the process of change is slowed even further and more insidiously by the new and enthusiastic teachers, who could be the agents of change, being “mentored” by the older generation who very quickly show them “how things are done around here”. Enthusiasm for new ideas quickly wane as it is realised that if you want to fit in you must not do things adventurous and, heaven forbid, show up the tenured teachers.
How do we break out of this cycle? When will teachers be treated like the rest of the professions – shape up or ….

]]> Comment on Here’s something to work on… by Lisa-Gaye http://lgwilliams.edublogs.org/2009/06/30/heres-something-to-work-on/comment-page-1/#comment-144 Lisa-Gaye Tue, 30 Jun 2009 04:55:12 +0000 http://lgwilliams.edublogs.org/2009/06/30/heres-something-to-work-on/#comment-144 Actually? No! I didn't. Actually? No! I didn’t.

]]> Comment on Here’s something to work on… by GH http://lgwilliams.edublogs.org/2009/06/30/heres-something-to-work-on/comment-page-1/#comment-143 GH Tue, 30 Jun 2009 03:40:42 +0000 http://lgwilliams.edublogs.org/2009/06/30/heres-something-to-work-on/#comment-143 You forgot * Create a wiki for your favourite subject You forgot

* Create a wiki for your favourite subject

]]> Comment on Seems pretty straightforward by GH http://lgwilliams.edublogs.org/2009/06/27/seems-pretty-straightforward/comment-page-1/#comment-142 GH Mon, 29 Jun 2009 09:35:35 +0000 http://lgwilliams.edublogs.org/2009/06/27/seems-pretty-straightforward/#comment-142 Well my information suggests that specific ICT-related tasks will be built into the NC documents, forcing teachers to use technology-related assessments in their learning programs. Perhaps one of the good things to come out of the "education revolution" is that schools won't be able to use the excuse that they don't have enough resources anymore. Maybe, this will be form of payback. A national curriculum full of common, mandatory, well-written, real-world assessment tasks would have to be worthwhile. Fingers crossed that somebody has the guts to do it ...... Well my information suggests that specific ICT-related tasks will be built into the NC documents, forcing teachers to use technology-related assessments in their learning programs. Perhaps one of the good things to come out of the “education revolution” is that schools won’t be able to use the excuse that they don’t have enough resources anymore. Maybe, this will be form of payback. A national curriculum full of common, mandatory, well-written, real-world assessment tasks would have to be worthwhile.
Fingers crossed that somebody has the guts to do it ……

]]> Comment on Seems pretty straightforward by Lisa-Gaye http://lgwilliams.edublogs.org/2009/06/27/seems-pretty-straightforward/comment-page-1/#comment-141 Lisa-Gaye Mon, 29 Jun 2009 08:53:18 +0000 http://lgwilliams.edublogs.org/2009/06/27/seems-pretty-straightforward/#comment-141 I dont know how you imagine that the NC - if it ever gets up and running - will address these issues. From my readings about the NC it is flagged as GREATER conformity across the states rather than meeting the 21st educational needs of students. I dont know how you imagine that the NC – if it ever gets up and running – will address these issues. From my readings about the NC it is flagged as GREATER conformity across the states rather than meeting the 21st educational needs of students.

]]> Comment on Seems pretty straightforward by Graham Hughes http://lgwilliams.edublogs.org/2009/06/27/seems-pretty-straightforward/comment-page-1/#comment-140 Graham Hughes Fri, 26 Jun 2009 23:05:00 +0000 http://lgwilliams.edublogs.org/2009/06/27/seems-pretty-straightforward/#comment-140 No ... if it ain't in the textbook it doesn't get a guernsey. Very few teachers think it's their job to write curriculum let alone find materials to make it engaging. Most textbooks are linear and limiting and most student tasks are the same and rarely associated with real-world scenarios. I hope a National Curriculum will address some of these issues so we can at last start to move forwards ..... will that be before the pigs fly? No … if it ain’t in the textbook it doesn’t get a guernsey. Very few teachers think it’s their job to write curriculum let alone find materials to make it engaging. Most textbooks are linear and limiting and most student tasks are the same and rarely associated with real-world scenarios. I hope a National Curriculum will address some of these issues so we can at last start to move forwards ….. will that be before the pigs fly?

]]> Comment on BLOGS vs WIKIS by GH http://lgwilliams.edublogs.org/2009/06/21/blogs-vs-wikis/comment-page-1/#comment-137 GH Sun, 21 Jun 2009 10:16:44 +0000 http://lgwilliams.edublogs.org/2009/06/21/blogs-vs-wikis/#comment-137 btw ...I have picked some of the educause docs and published them on my blog ....http://geejayh.wordpress.com I have included wikis, blogs, twitter, google aps and a few others btw …I have picked some of the educause docs and published them on my blog ….http://geejayh.wordpress.com

I have included wikis, blogs, twitter, google aps and a few others

]]> Comment on BLOGS vs WIKIS by GH http://lgwilliams.edublogs.org/2009/06/21/blogs-vs-wikis/comment-page-1/#comment-136 GH Sun, 21 Jun 2009 08:40:29 +0000 http://lgwilliams.edublogs.org/2009/06/21/blogs-vs-wikis/#comment-136 why does it come down to one or the other? Each has a place in our classrooms, and would be used for different purposes. I see a wiki as a shared space for student (or teacher)collaboration on a specific topic, such as the use of text, video and photos to create a living textbook. In essence they are mashing together items that would never exist in the same place if it were not for their efforts and visions. It is one of the most creative and rewarding activities that students can do. If you use the history tab of a wiki and examine the discussions that go on it can be quite illuminating. Have a look at the discussions occuring on any wikipedia page .....This is a bit like a behind-the-scenes blog discussing all aspects of a topic and the rights and wrongs of specific entries. A wiki can be used as a school or class website and for online courses such as http://science-learning2009.wikispaces.com/6th+-+Class+Presentation+for+Term+I or http://curriculum-science.wikispaces.com/IS+Resources-+Formation+of+Stars+%26+Planets ....sorry this is not your fav subject area but they illustrate the point. Have a looks at the educause site and their series called 7 Things You Should Know About ..... http://www.educause.edu/ELI/7ThingsYouShouldKnowAboutWikis/156807. At the bottom of this page, you can download the pdf, but there is also a link to all their other docs in the same series. How's that for starters? I could ramble on some more! why does it come down to one or the other? Each has a place in our classrooms, and would be used for different purposes. I see a wiki as a shared space for student (or teacher)collaboration on a specific topic, such as the use of text, video and photos to create a living textbook. In essence they are mashing together items that would never exist in the same place if it were not for their efforts and visions. It is one of the most creative and rewarding activities that students can do. If you use the history tab of a wiki and examine the discussions that go on it can be quite illuminating. Have a look at the discussions occuring on any wikipedia page …..This is a bit like a behind-the-scenes blog discussing all aspects of a topic and the rights and wrongs of specific entries. A wiki can be used as a school or class website and for online courses such as http://science-learning2009.wikispaces.com/6th+-+Class+Presentation+for+Term+I or http://curriculum-science.wikispaces.com/IS+Resources-+Formation+of+Stars+%26+Planets ….sorry this is not your fav subject area but they illustrate the point. Have a looks at the educause site and their series called 7 Things You Should Know About ….. http://www.educause.edu/ELI/7ThingsYouShouldKnowAboutWikis/156807. At the bottom of this page, you can download the pdf, but there is also a link to all their other docs in the same series.

How’s that for starters? I could ramble on some more!

]]> Comment on Studying Shakespeare by Jenni Mc http://lgwilliams.edublogs.org/2009/06/11/studying-shakespeare/comment-page-1/#comment-135 Jenni Mc Sun, 21 Jun 2009 06:45:04 +0000 http://lgwilliams.edublogs.org/2009/06/11/studying-shakespeare/#comment-135 WOW! Gave me goose-bumps! WOW! Gave me goose-bumps!

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