Outside or Inside?

"Think outside the box, but be sure you know where the box is, and what's inside it." - copied from Grumpy Old Teacher blog at http://ict-grump.blogspot.com/

Could be reflective of what we're doing! We spent a day stormin' and normin', trying to begin to get a handle on the future. Is that even possible when things change so fast? Well, we do know what's INSIDE our box - doing things that we've always done, but doing some of them in a different way.

Are we ready to start thinking about doing NEW things in a new way? That will be the key this dilemma. Are you going to join in this conversation?

Here's another video - can you tell I'm become a short-video addict? They can carry a big punch! :)

This one comes recommended by Susan Brooks-Young on the Classroom 2.0 network. It was produced by the MacArthur Foundation. Are kids different due to digital media?

The 'New' Literacy

We hear a lot from various authors and speakers about the 'new literacy'. Sometimes that worries me, as if we're replacing the 'old' with the 'new'; almost like we used to judge people from other times or other places as being 'ignorant'.

I once heard a speaker talking about 'illiteracy' vs. 'alliteracy'; illiterate being unable to read and write, and alliterate being able to read and write but chosing not to. Which would be worse?

What defines literacy? Is it truly 'reading and writing'? or is it... understanding? Is the better student, the one who gives correct answers to all of those standardized test questions: tells the main idea, the plot, lists the main characters and identifies the problem, the solution or the resolution of the story? Or is it the one who can identify with and become immersed in the story; feels sad when the main character is hurt, or rejoices when the protagonist triumphs? Isn't the better student really the one who continues to ask Why? and How? when often all we ask them to respond to is Who, What, When, and Where?

Thomas Armstrong asks if we as educators are, “going to teach literacy skills in such a way that the words lie dead there on the page for so many students, or, conversely, are we going to take positive steps toward the ultimate goal of making the words come alive for all students?”

I am convinced that our success in integrating technology into learning across the curriculum is going to result in students who are truly literate in every sense of the idea of 21st century literacy. I think we are on the verge of some really wonderful, truly innovative approaches to having all people become truly literate. Are we really using what we're doing to help all learners become literate?

Where Education Is

Are we educating our students for their world - or ours? What do you think?

Are we killing creativity?

Please take the time to watch this. I guarantee you will find it well worth the thought you will put in to this discussion. Are we 'educating creativity' right out of our children?

Hyper World

This video tells it all - what a great commentary on Web 2.0!

I could also take this as a visual of what my life is - the more I learn, the more I know I don't know, the more my brain goes into 'hypertext mode'! What an exciting time to be in education!

Google This!

Google Earth - there is soooooo much to this! Here are a couple of videos that will help you.


Google Earth from Harvard University



Google Earth - The Grand Tour (NOTE: long video!)




Using Google Earth in the Classroom