I’ve probably written this post before. But a long conversation with a teacher brought up my concerns with inservices yet again. We know what works for inservice–prolonged coverage of a subject, a mission that people buy into, small groups, choice, and self-directed learning. We also know that sometimes a district needs to convey information/techniques/methods to their staff. So, how to reconcile those things and still have an effective, productive use of time, so that everyone isn’t just going through the motions and just hoping […]
Category: Educon 2.0
Your wild and precious life
When it’s over, I want to say all my life I was a bride married to amazement. I was the bridegroom, taking the world into my arms. When it’s over, I don’t want to wonder if I have made of my life something particular, and real. I don’t want to find myself sighing and frightened, or full of argument. I don’t want to end up simply having visited this world. –When Death Comes by Mary Oliver Yesterday, while live blogging with Maura Moritz’s class at […]
Picking up the conversation where we left off
I’m reflecting on Educon 2.0 this morning and the most powerful parts of it for me. One of the most powerful aspects for me was online community turned real community -that in 140 characters on Twitter , bit by bit, you create connections with other educators. And when you meet them, it’s like you are just picking up the conversation where you left off, not like meeting them for the first time. So, that’s what I’m hoping we do after Educon—pick up the conversations where we left off. […]
Conversations that matter
I’ll be writing more for weeks I’m sure about the conversations and sessions at Educon this weekend, but in looking over my notes this morning, the thing that strikes me the most is the power of conversation in learning. One of the most powerful part of Kevin Jarrett’s and Sylvia Martinez’s session, “Influence Without Authority” about the Future Search process, was that Sandra Janoff, who initiated this process, was there in the room, and in the conversation with all of us. Future Search is a method […]
Stretching our gaze outward
Kate left a comment on my blog yesterday about personal learning networks, and that now all we need to do is show teachers the why. And sitting here, at Educon 2.0, surrounded by so many other dedicated professionals that I never would have met otherwise, is my reason why. There are educators and bloggers from around the country here–from Florida to South Carolina to New York to Canada who have gathered here because they are passionate about education and want to share ideas, (and gadgets!) […]
Learning from peers
This summer, at the NECC conference, I was sorry to have missed the first “Educon” — an informal gathering of educators/bloggers who had only previously met virtually –who were meeting in Atlanta to talk informally about education. Tomorrow I’m leaving for an experience I am very excited about–and the seeds of which were planted at that first meeting. If you aren’t familiar, I’m heading to Educon 2.0, which takes place at the Science Leadership Academy in Philadelphia, and is composed entirely of conversations about education (and I […]