Comments on: Creating “space” for thought http://futura.edublogs.org/2008/05/14/creating-space-for-thought/ technology, libraries, and schools Wed, 02 Dec 2009 18:29:26 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.2 hourly 1 By: Jo Hawke http://futura.edublogs.org/2008/05/14/creating-space-for-thought/comment-page-1/#comment-1842 Jo Hawke Sun, 18 May 2008 18:51:16 +0000 http://futura.edublogs.org/2008/05/14/creating-space-for-thought/#comment-1842 Definitely not the stress of learning, it's more like the stress of trying not to forget what's been crammed! @scmorgan: How will supervision work during those times between classes? Definitely not the stress of learning, it’s more like the stress of trying not to forget what’s been crammed!

@scmorgan: How will supervision work during those times between classes?

]]> By: Carolyn Foote http://futura.edublogs.org/2008/05/14/creating-space-for-thought/comment-page-1/#comment-1834 Carolyn Foote Sun, 18 May 2008 03:27:19 +0000 http://futura.edublogs.org/2008/05/14/creating-space-for-thought/#comment-1834 Great comments. Kim, I agree--sometimes I think we should "cover" less and focus on depth not breadth. What does it mean to know something fully? and what does it add to our experience? Susan, It'll be really interesting to see how this works on your campus. And I'm sure there will be the temptation to fill the time with other things--it'll take courage and vision to resist that. And Jo--I agree that stress shows up everywhere in our schools this time of year. But it doesn't seem really like the stress of real learning does it? Great comments.

Kim, I agree–sometimes I think we should “cover” less and focus on depth not breadth. What does it mean to know something fully? and what does it add to our experience?

Susan, It’ll be really interesting to see how this works on your campus. And I’m sure there will be the temptation to fill the time with other things–it’ll take courage and vision to resist that.

And Jo–I agree that stress shows up everywhere in our schools this time of year. But it doesn’t seem really like the stress of real learning does it?

]]> By: Jo Hawke http://futura.edublogs.org/2008/05/14/creating-space-for-thought/comment-page-1/#comment-1828 Jo Hawke Fri, 16 May 2008 01:58:58 +0000 http://futura.edublogs.org/2008/05/14/creating-space-for-thought/#comment-1828 Great questions raised. It does often seem that we're programming our students to rush-rush-rush to the task without really exploring or enjoying anything along the way, which I feel hinders their learning to love learning. When I look around my school this week, I see burned-out, ready-to-get-out students...and some teachers, as well. (We're in the midst of state testing.) There really isn't any breathing room anywhere until that sigh of relief come June 3rd. Great questions raised.

It does often seem that we’re programming our students to rush-rush-rush to the task without really exploring or enjoying anything along the way, which I feel hinders their learning to love learning.

When I look around my school this week, I see burned-out, ready-to-get-out students…and some teachers, as well. (We’re in the midst of state testing.) There really isn’t any breathing room anywhere until that sigh of relief come June 3rd.

]]> By: scmorgan http://futura.edublogs.org/2008/05/14/creating-space-for-thought/comment-page-1/#comment-1827 scmorgan Thu, 15 May 2008 12:12:27 +0000 http://futura.edublogs.org/2008/05/14/creating-space-for-thought/#comment-1827 So true, Kim. And some teachers are more concerned with covering their content, so they are obviously concerned with fewer class periods (approximately 20 fewer over the course of the year). I, though, see time for working collaboratively or getting extra help, time for learning new technologies, time for thinking about the content. I hope we don't fill the "time" with all those other things people want. So true, Kim. And some teachers are more concerned with covering their content, so they are obviously concerned with fewer class periods (approximately 20 fewer over the course of the year). I, though, see time for working collaboratively or getting extra help, time for learning new technologies, time for thinking about the content. I hope we don’t fill the “time” with all those other things people want.

]]> By: mscofino http://futura.edublogs.org/2008/05/14/creating-space-for-thought/comment-page-1/#comment-1826 mscofino Thu, 15 May 2008 05:49:45 +0000 http://futura.edublogs.org/2008/05/14/creating-space-for-thought/#comment-1826 That word "schedule" just makes me shudder. I'm not sure how you would get over the transition from scheduled time to more free-flowing time, but I think it's the only way forward. My learning doesn't stop after 45 arbitrary minutes have gone by, why should the students'? I think schools suffer from placing, on themselves, the pressure to be all things to all people. We can't leave something out, because then one constituent group would be upset, so we've got to include everything. And when you include everything, you don't leave much time for space or breathing room. That word “schedule” just makes me shudder. I’m not sure how you would get over the transition from scheduled time to more free-flowing time, but I think it’s the only way forward. My learning doesn’t stop after 45 arbitrary minutes have gone by, why should the students’?

I think schools suffer from placing, on themselves, the pressure to be all things to all people. We can’t leave something out, because then one constituent group would be upset, so we’ve got to include everything. And when you include everything, you don’t leave much time for space or breathing room.

]]> By: scmorgan http://futura.edublogs.org/2008/05/14/creating-space-for-thought/comment-page-1/#comment-1824 scmorgan Wed, 14 May 2008 14:40:17 +0000 http://futura.edublogs.org/2008/05/14/creating-space-for-thought/#comment-1824 We have had similar discussions on our campus. Next year, we are moving to a new schedule, one that rotates and allows for breaks between classes for both students and teachers (much like a college schedule). It will be interesting to see what we all do with this "breathing time" and whether it is abused. I hope not. There is great potential. We have had similar discussions on our campus. Next year, we are moving to a new schedule, one that rotates and allows for breaks between classes for both students and teachers (much like a college schedule). It will be interesting to see what we all do with this “breathing time” and whether it is abused. I hope not. There is great potential.

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