TSoF Masterclass

9 responses so far ↓

• 1    Mike Seyfang // Jun 8, 2006 at 9:36 pm

  Yes

• 2    Graham Wegner // Jun 9, 2006 at 10:44 am

  Definitely.

• 3    Susan Kilgour // Jun 12, 2006 at 7:22 pm

  I’m interested in working with younger students….Yrs 3,4,5 and wonder where others began. Mike do you use a blog with your students? I know you don’t yet Graham

• 4    Bob Bowden // Jun 13, 2006 at 8:02 pm

  I am interested in looking into using blogging for digital storytelling and sharing successful student learning experiences, very interested in working in this group

• 5    Yvonne // Jun 28, 2006 at 8:30 am

  Yes.

• 6    Al Upton // Jun 28, 2006 at 10:18 pm

  Yes I’m interested in being part of the group. I have noted that the first meeting is at TSoF 4:00pm, Thurs 6th July.

  Possible agenda items could include -
  Creating SA blogging networks
  - blogging services/approaches
  - supporting the creation of these networks
  Links to student learning outcomes
  - eLearning events
  Blogging as professional learning
  - supporting eLearning events, supporting educators
  Application of blogging across the learning continuum (R-12)
  Blogging across schooling sectors

  http://alupton.wordpress.com/

• 7    Al Upton // Jun 29, 2006 at 10:09 am

  I would also like to add for consideration/discussion

  to … Creating SA blogging networks
  - creating a blogging presence/visibility/cohesion

  to … Links to student learning outcomes
  - eLearning events, curriculum integration

  and in the interests of seeking ‘the big picture’ from the start

  Acknowledgment of broader learning technologies/issues
  - web 2.0, social software
  - definitions/directions of ‘learning’

• 8    Al Upton // Jun 29, 2006 at 4:21 pm

  With reference to the ‘charter’ above
  “to discuss raised issues by educators in order to develop proposals for consideration by identified officers in DECS?”

  we could begin the session with a round table
  (focusing on whatever participants want to highlight from the start)
  examples include …
  - establish who everyone is
  - our current perspectives/strengths/areas we are looking to develop
  - perceived purpose of the group
  - short term/long term goals

  eg I would like to say that “I’m a Year 3/4 teacher at Glenelg School. I have created a class blog and individual student blogs. I’m interested in setting up blogging networks within South Australia for educational dialogue, professional learning and providing meaningful, sustainable learning opportunities for our kids. My focus is catering to and resourcing busy teachers with time commitments, crowded curricula and often elusive lives of their own.”
  BTW my resource page is http://alupton.wordpress.com/resources/

  Other items for the agenda

  Filtering/accessibility as an issue
  - creating a ‘Safe but Savvy’ approach to blogging
  - other perceived restrictions/limitations

  *** in the interests the whole thing doesn’t get too amorphous, here’s some quick brainstorming. Agenda Item 108 …

  Maximising opportunities that are available now
  - structures, scaffolding
  - resourcing
  – available budgeting
  – provision of release time to create/meet group’s shared goals
  – provide a model for other educators to adapt to their own needs
  - considered timelines
  - proposed format (a blog/wiki?) for our own educational dialogue
  - plan research and reflection processes
  - determine to attract other interested educators
  - linking in with existing DECS initiatives
  eg eTeachers, events
  - when do we reconvene?

• 9    Al Upton // Jul 1, 2006 at 8:30 pm

  We also need to be wary of being too structured and endgaming.

  Stephen Downes recently noted that …

  George Siemens observes, “The desire to control and manage communities… [is] at odds with how things need to happen for online spaces to prosper.” Quite right. People always seem to feel they need to manage the outcome, even if they know what it is they are managing or what outcome they desire. “Instead of trying to force these tools into organizational structures, let them exist for a while. See what happens. Don’t decide the entire solution in advance. See the process as more of a dance than a structured enactment of a solution.”

  The post continues … “React as the environment adjusts. Allow feedback to shape the final product. Let the process bring its own lessons before applying structured approaches. ”

  Above is an example of quick professional learning scanning and reading of blogs. It’s also an example of the importance of blogging in the classroom.
  I subscribe to Stephen Downes’ OLDaily email newsletter (or choose OLWeekly) http://www.downes.ca/news/index.htm
  It’s free and quickly alerts me to eLearning items of interest.
  I didn’t have time to fully read George Seimens’ post
  http://www.connectivism.ca/blog/70 but was able to pinpoint the essence of the post by someone who did and had left a comment – Mike Hetherington. Mike also gave me a classroom teacher’s perspective so I hovered my cursor over his name, right-clicked and discovered an excellent class blog to explore at greater depth later.
  http://hetherington.learnerblogs.org/

  “See what happens. Don’t decide the entire solution in advance. React as the environment adjusts. Allow feedback to shape the final product.” is what resonated with me.
  I think it’s vital that we, hand in hand, educators and students undertake this journey together. Don’t let such wonderful phrases as “see the process as more of a dance” float idly in your professional learning safety zone. By all means, provide the grounding – blog, read, comment – but don’t forget to include those whose education you are guiding. How else are you going to know the relevance? How else are you going to collaborate with an informed perspective based on personal experience? How else are you going to learn?