World Without Walls: Learning Well with Others
by Will Richardson
I am really intrigued by the possibilities of collaboration across classrooms. Using the Web 2.0 tools, it might be easier to communicate with a classroom in Alaska than a classroom on the 3rd floor of my building (I am on the second floor). This article speaks to what I know is true for education, that we need to change the status quo because it just isn’t working anymore. Why should America be less than other countries in education? It is not because our teachers are not as smart or that we don’t have as much technology available to us. The organization and business of education these days needs to shift into something more meaningful for all involved.
I often like to watch John Stossel for his unique slanted views on controversial topics. He has often attacked the education system in America and many teachers did not appreciate his criticism. I do not see his criticism as an attack, but rather a “What’s going on and how can we change it?” It is a call to action but where do we go from there?
I like that this article by Will Richardson offers some inspiration. He urges teachers to be “connectors first” not content experts. I totally agree that we need “classrooms built around deep inquiry and defining questions.” I’m not totally sure how much I can accomplish as one teacher, but with this class I feel like I have opened up my world and will be able to bring that appetite for discovery to the classroom.
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I really like this line: "Using the Web 2.0 tools, it might be easier to communicate with a classroom in Alaska than a classroom on the 3rd floor of my building." I wholeheartedly agree. It may be for a plethora of reasons, but still it blows my mind to think that reaching AK is easier than upstairs!
ReplyDeleteI think some of the problem is that the ones who make the decisions in our schools are unaware or undereducated when it comes to all of the new technology. I know they are busy worrying about passing tests and that may be their primary focus. It takes small steps by a lot of educators such as your self, your classmates, me and all of the other bloggers you have started learning about, to bring about change. It is through people like Will who are not afraid to stand up to the education system of today and say "Hey, look at where we can go.. why are we still teaching in rows and taking tests that I have to fill in bubbles?" Even if you connect classroom to classroom, it is a step forward. That is what I do in my school. I connect my 8th grade students with other 8th grade students in the building using our wiki. Once we are satisfied that it works, we will begin to branch out, and even try to connect middle school to middle school next year! Baby steps! You have a lot of power! :)
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