Comments on: Students in a new universe? http://futura.edublogs.org/2008/06/01/students-in-a-new-universe/ technology, libraries, and schools Mon, 30 Jan 2012 15:49:38 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Patrick http://futura.edublogs.org/2008/06/01/students-in-a-new-universe/comment-page-1/#comment-1864 Patrick Mon, 02 Jun 2008 14:44:31 +0000 http://futura.edublogs.org/?p=703#comment-1864 Related post going on at http://whatitslikeontheinside.com/2008/06/edge-of-your-rut-is-not-horizon.html The New York Times article "Can you become a creature of new habits? (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/04/business/04unbox.html?_r=2&oref=slogin&oref=slogin that she references gets at some of what we are thinking about. How do you get students and teachers to "stretch?" Related post going on at

http://whatitslikeontheinside.com/2008/06/edge-of-your-rut-is-not-horizon.html

The New York Times article “Can you become a creature of new habits? (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/04/business/04unbox.html?_r=2&oref=slogin&oref=slogin that she references gets at some of what we are thinking about. How do you get students and teachers to “stretch?”

]]> By: futura http://futura.edublogs.org/2008/06/01/students-in-a-new-universe/comment-page-1/#comment-1862 futura Mon, 02 Jun 2008 12:25:27 +0000 http://futura.edublogs.org/?p=703#comment-1862 I just ran across a quote in a beautiful presentation by Barbara Ganley (http://bgblogging.wordpress.com/)that captures this issue so well-- "The systematic bias for continuity creates tolerance for the substandard." Clay Shirky http://www.vuvox.com/collage/detail/29836 I just ran across a quote in a beautiful presentation by Barbara Ganley (http://bgblogging.wordpress.com/)that captures this issue so well–

“The systematic bias for continuity creates tolerance for the substandard.” Clay Shirky

http://www.vuvox.com/collage/detail/29836

]]> By: susan http://futura.edublogs.org/2008/06/01/students-in-a-new-universe/comment-page-1/#comment-1861 susan Mon, 02 Jun 2008 12:08:03 +0000 http://futura.edublogs.org/?p=703#comment-1861 I am so glad you posted about this Carolyn. I was a way for most of the weekend, but didn't want to thoughts to go unnoticed. This is the very subject of discussion at our school these days, and as Antonia said, parents are often looking for their own experience when they look to their students' teachers. And Patrick's comment about homeschoolers and students working the system is one I've been rolling around in my head for some time. Thanks for your thoughtful post. I am so glad you posted about this Carolyn. I was a way for most of the weekend, but didn’t want to thoughts to go unnoticed. This is the very subject of discussion at our school these days, and as Antonia said, parents are often looking for their own experience when they look to their students’ teachers. And Patrick’s comment about homeschoolers and students working the system is one I’ve been rolling around in my head for some time. Thanks for your thoughtful post.

]]> By: Patrick http://futura.edublogs.org/2008/06/01/students-in-a-new-universe/comment-page-1/#comment-1860 Patrick Mon, 02 Jun 2008 02:58:46 +0000 http://futura.edublogs.org/?p=703#comment-1860 Carolyn, As you know, this conversation, or one very similar to it, is one that I've been engaging teachers in lately. One great idea that keeps popping up is the process of unlearning that is going to have to take place when our new class begins in the fall. Since this class is predicated on thinking and writing, there is "right" answer. The teachers are asking the students to think, and then defend that thought. What we are anticipating is a lot of initial revolt at first. Why? Students, like you intimate above, have learned that there are right answers and wrong answers, and they have learned, like many of us have in our experiences as well, what the teacher wants. They, as we did, then spend the rest of the semester working on how to give the teacher what they need in order to get whatever grade they want for the class. Homeschoolers talk about the process of unlearning that students transitioning from public schools to homeschooling go through. We are anticipating a period of the same. Our students have become good at working the system, and when you think about it, part of what made a lot of us become teachers was our success in the system--another stumbling block. Sorry for the generalizations--but I think you are touching on some great points here. Carolyn,

As you know, this conversation, or one very similar to it, is one that I’ve been engaging teachers in lately. One great idea that keeps popping up is the process of unlearning that is going to have to take place when our new class begins in the fall. Since this class is predicated on thinking and writing, there is “right” answer. The teachers are asking the students to think, and then defend that thought. What we are anticipating is a lot of initial revolt at first.

Why? Students, like you intimate above, have learned that there are right answers and wrong answers, and they have learned, like many of us have in our experiences as well, what the teacher wants. They, as we did, then spend the rest of the semester working on how to give the teacher what they need in order to get whatever grade they want for the class.

Homeschoolers talk about the process of unlearning that students transitioning from public schools to homeschooling go through. We are anticipating a period of the same. Our students have become good at working the system, and when you think about it, part of what made a lot of us become teachers was our success in the system–another stumbling block.

Sorry for the generalizations–but I think you are touching on some great points here.

]]> By: Antonio Viva http://futura.edublogs.org/2008/06/01/students-in-a-new-universe/comment-page-1/#comment-1859 Antonio Viva Sun, 01 Jun 2008 22:51:59 +0000 http://futura.edublogs.org/?p=703#comment-1859 In many ways, I believe students are ready to receive a learning environment where the approach and more importantly physical setting are more conducive to higher order thinking, creativity and problem solving. It has been my experience that parents on the other hand struggle with classrooms where teachers are exploring and innovative. Some parents realize that we must prepare students for their future not ours. Yet others believe that unless a student is experience a learning environment much like the one they had, their preparation will be lacking. In many ways, I believe students are ready to receive a learning environment where the approach and more importantly physical setting are more conducive to higher order thinking, creativity and problem solving. It has been my experience that parents on the other hand struggle with classrooms where teachers are exploring and innovative. Some parents realize that we must prepare students for their future not ours. Yet others believe that unless a student is experience a learning environment much like the one they had, their preparation will be lacking.

]]> By: Doug Johnson http://futura.edublogs.org/2008/06/01/students-in-a-new-universe/comment-page-1/#comment-1858 Doug Johnson Sun, 01 Jun 2008 15:14:25 +0000 http://futura.edublogs.org/?p=703#comment-1858 Hi Carolyn, On a small scale, I am seeing this happen in our schools. With about half our elementary classrooms now having SmartBoards (and teachers having training in how to use them interactively), I am hearing more kids express a desire to get into a classroom next year that has the IWB set-up. Will this extend into lobbying parents for particular teachers, who will in turn lobby the school principal? (Which principals hate.) There is no doubt that kids' expectations of teachers and school are growing. Now to see if they can do anything about it! Interesting post - thank you. Doug Hi Carolyn,

On a small scale, I am seeing this happen in our schools. With about half our elementary classrooms now having SmartBoards (and teachers having training in how to use them interactively), I am hearing more kids express a desire to get into a classroom next year that has the IWB set-up. Will this extend into lobbying parents for particular teachers, who will in turn lobby the school principal? (Which principals hate.)

There is no doubt that kids’ expectations of teachers and school are growing. Now to see if they can do anything about it!

Interesting post – thank you.

Doug

]]> By: Carolyn Foote http://futura.edublogs.org/2008/06/01/students-in-a-new-universe/comment-page-1/#comment-1857 Carolyn Foote Sun, 01 Jun 2008 14:00:30 +0000 http://futura.edublogs.org/?p=703#comment-1857 I agree, and reading your post, it really struck me that for this to become real, we have to involve students in thinking and talking about it. I agree, and reading your post, it really struck me that for this to become real, we have to involve students in thinking and talking about it.

]]> By: Antonio Viva http://futura.edublogs.org/2008/06/01/students-in-a-new-universe/comment-page-1/#comment-1856 Antonio Viva Sun, 01 Jun 2008 13:51:10 +0000 http://futura.edublogs.org/?p=703#comment-1856 Thanks for linking and using some of my student responses in your post. I often feel that we do not involve students in the change process. The value of student feedback is critical if we are going to make strides in re-thinking how we teach and how students learn. Thanks for linking and using some of my student responses in your post. I often feel that we do not involve students in the change process. The value of student feedback is critical if we are going to make strides in re-thinking how we teach and how students learn.

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