Deck Chairs on Titanic 2.0 - Classroom 2.02024-03-29T00:35:46Zhttps://www.classroom20.com/forum/topics/649749:Topic:383?feed=yes&xn_auth=noHey Shawn, your plan to set u…tag:www.classroom20.com,2007-03-30:649749:Comment:12072007-03-30T00:45:30.695ZTom Kennedyhttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/tjkenn
Hey Shawn, your plan to set up a Linux server and start dishing out Web2.0 apps is something that I have done pretty much just as you describe. Guerrilla server full of powerful free stuff, wikis, blogs, and cool tools. I say go for it! Good luck with that.
Hey Shawn, your plan to set up a Linux server and start dishing out Web2.0 apps is something that I have done pretty much just as you describe. Guerrilla server full of powerful free stuff, wikis, blogs, and cool tools. I say go for it! Good luck with that. I like the anarchy approach.…tag:www.classroom20.com,2007-03-30:649749:Comment:12062007-03-30T00:40:12.485Znlowellhttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/nlowell
I like the anarchy approach. I think a CHEAPER and less easily traceable approach is to install the software on a USB stick. I THINK that'll work on a locked down machine because most of them allow students to use the USB port to store their documents on. You might look into that. (<a href="http://portableapps.com">http://portableapps.com</a> is an interesting place to start)<br />
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The problem with the rest of the idea of <i>a al carte</i> education is the lockdown schools have on credentialling.…
I like the anarchy approach. I think a CHEAPER and less easily traceable approach is to install the software on a USB stick. I THINK that'll work on a locked down machine because most of them allow students to use the USB port to store their documents on. You might look into that. (<a href="http://portableapps.com">http://portableapps.com</a> is an interesting place to start)<br />
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The problem with the rest of the idea of <i>a al carte</i> education is the lockdown schools have on credentialling. You can't earn a diploma unless you take OUR courses. Don't matter how much ya know. Same in colleges. <br />
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What has to happen is some kind of loosening of that stranglehold -- perhaps some "Yup, I are a Graduate" test from the local Sylvan Learning Center or something. OK, maybe it is the closet an…tag:www.classroom20.com,2007-03-29:649749:Comment:11902007-03-29T23:46:46.072ZShawn Moorehttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/shawnmoore1
OK, maybe it is the closet anarchist in me, but I'm not letting any of the problems and obstacles stop me from integrating WEB 2.0 into my school. We have a particularly onerous system here called "Active Directory" which prevents everyone from adding any program, software, update, etc. to their computer. An IT person has to do it and they have stated pretty flatly that those sorts of things are pretty low on their list of priorities. So, I'm acquiring surplus computers, I'm going to put an…
OK, maybe it is the closet anarchist in me, but I'm not letting any of the problems and obstacles stop me from integrating WEB 2.0 into my school. We have a particularly onerous system here called "Active Directory" which prevents everyone from adding any program, software, update, etc. to their computer. An IT person has to do it and they have stated pretty flatly that those sorts of things are pretty low on their list of priorities. So, I'm acquiring surplus computers, I'm going to put an open source OS on them and then beg for forgiveness if anyone says anything about it! As for the future of education (wow, if that isn't a broad topic), I think technology is going to open up a new vista of entrepeneurship and specialization in the teaching profession. With Web 2.0, students can choose classes and teachers from around the world! The local school district may come to serve only those students who do not want to attend virtual classes or those who have proven to be virtual "truants"! Teachers could form online schools and would exert more control over their curriculum AND their student body in order to maximize effectiveness. Students would be able to customize their educational experience based on their own educational goals. Imagine a virtual high school modeled after the open curriculum example at The Evergreen State College in Olympia, WA! I don't think that the ship is sinking for all of us, but as educators I think we need to be forecasting our own futures and making some definite preparations for it. I'm with ya on the power of b…tag:www.classroom20.com,2007-03-29:649749:Comment:11012007-03-29T11:50:35.907Znlowellhttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/nlowell
I'm with ya on the power of building community in real space. Really young kids need it in particular.<br />
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The teacher prep programs *are* in need of overhaul. I used to teach the required two credits in technology, and the standards I was required to teach to were dreadful. But just getting the standards changed, changing the two credits to something more realistic -- like nine hours -- that's not going to help when they go to all their other classes and the methods, tools, and techniques are…
I'm with ya on the power of building community in real space. Really young kids need it in particular. <br />
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The teacher prep programs *are* in need of overhaul. I used to teach the required two credits in technology, and the standards I was required to teach to were dreadful. But just getting the standards changed, changing the two credits to something more realistic -- like nine hours -- that's not going to help when they go to all their other classes and the methods, tools, and techniques are right out of the 19th century. <br />
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Moreover, the current state of hysteria in schools across the country prevents the use of 99% of the tools that *I* think should be included. Blocking access to MySpace and delicious and blogger and all the rest of that protects the schools, but does absolutely nothing to protect the kids. It just leaves the playing field bereft of moderating influences. I think that schooling must a…tag:www.classroom20.com,2007-03-29:649749:Comment:10422007-03-29T06:07:21.962ZDiana Laufenberghttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/laufty
I think that schooling must always include a combination of the virtual and the real. Eliminating 'school' (bricks and mortar) is not the solution, IMHO. I believe strongly in the power of building community in real space and online because there is immense value in both arenas.<br />
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One area that needs EXTENSIVE overhaul is teacher prep. I have a preserveice teacher in my room this week and she relayed how little technology is highlighted in her classes... at all... we are spending her time in…
I think that schooling must always include a combination of the virtual and the real. Eliminating 'school' (bricks and mortar) is not the solution, IMHO. I believe strongly in the power of building community in real space and online because there is immense value in both arenas. <br />
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One area that needs EXTENSIVE overhaul is teacher prep. I have a preserveice teacher in my room this week and she relayed how little technology is highlighted in her classes... at all... we are spending her time in my room as a crash course in tech tools for the 21st century classroom. She claims that she is woefully underprepared to teach while utilizing technology. <br />
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Unfortunately I think things will have to actively be REALLY bad to get the attention of the power holders. Bureaucrats like to measure, quantify, report and recommend; a process that takes a ton of time. We may need to find a way to 'prove' the efficacy of 21st century skills. Charters are still schools --…tag:www.classroom20.com,2007-03-28:649749:Comment:9462007-03-28T16:55:47.408Znlowellhttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/nlowell
Charters are still schools -- at least in Colorado. Part and parcel of the Edusaurus Wrecks. <br />
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Home schools have some potential, but the functionality -- the credentialling which is the primary function of schools -- will need to be picked up. <br />
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Perhaps some progeny of ETS will become the de facto credentialer -- a kind of Super-GED?
Charters are still schools -- at least in Colorado. Part and parcel of the Edusaurus Wrecks. <br />
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Home schools have some potential, but the functionality -- the credentialling which is the primary function of schools -- will need to be picked up. <br />
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Perhaps some progeny of ETS will become the de facto credentialer -- a kind of Super-GED? Charter schools? Home schooli…tag:www.classroom20.com,2007-03-28:649749:Comment:9422007-03-28T16:47:25.200ZSteve Hargadonhttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/SteveHargadon
Charter schools? Home schooling?
Charter schools? Home schooling? Which brings me back to my qu…tag:www.classroom20.com,2007-03-28:649749:Comment:9362007-03-28T15:11:56.882Znlowellhttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/nlowell
Which brings me back to my question:<br />
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What's going to arise to take the ecologocial niche left when the Edusaurus finally kicks the bucket?
Which brings me back to my question:<br />
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What's going to arise to take the ecologocial niche left when the Edusaurus finally kicks the bucket? I interviewed John Seely Brow…tag:www.classroom20.com,2007-03-28:649749:Comment:9342007-03-28T15:03:31.684ZSteve Hargadonhttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/SteveHargadon
I interviewed John Seely Brown, and in preparing for the interview I remember listening to a podcast of his in which he talked about the American automakers and their inability to treat suppliers as partners. One possible, sad conclusion that we came to is that large organizations have a hard time reacting fast enough (or at all) to change, and sometimes have to fail...
I interviewed John Seely Brown, and in preparing for the interview I remember listening to a podcast of his in which he talked about the American automakers and their inability to treat suppliers as partners. One possible, sad conclusion that we came to is that large organizations have a hard time reacting fast enough (or at all) to change, and sometimes have to fail... This certainly one of the pro…tag:www.classroom20.com,2007-03-28:649749:Comment:9022007-03-28T12:23:32.202Znlowellhttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/nlowell
This certainly one of the problems.<br />
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But another issue is how to change the course of the leviathan that is Education. Seven million teachers in the US lack the requisite skills -- and 6.9M of them will resent my saying that. Teacher preparation programs around the country keep churning out more teachers with the wrong skills. State and Federal decision makers have bought into the "accountability" mantra, but instead of actually establishing a meaningful program of accountability they're…
This certainly one of the problems. <br />
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But another issue is how to change the course of the leviathan that is Education. Seven million teachers in the US lack the requisite skills -- and 6.9M of them will resent my saying that. Teacher preparation programs around the country keep churning out more teachers with the wrong skills. State and Federal decision makers have bought into the "accountability" mantra, but instead of actually establishing a meaningful program of accountability they're measuring what's easily measured, even though it doesn't reflect what they want to know. (It's the "looking for the lost contact" syndrome -- from the old joke about the guy looking for his contact at night under the streetlight because the light's better there.)<br />
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But the legislators got elected by people who believe that "accountability" is important and that the educator voice is suspect because the generally held belief is that "teachers don't want to be held accountable." Just try telling a member of the general public that the high stakes testing isn't valid and you'll see what I mean. The most common response is "Well, of COURSE you think it's not valid!" You can't make them understand that it's a statistical evaluation of the outcomes -- not an opinion about the rightness or wrongness of the approach. <br />
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So, if the educators can't educate the public, and the public doesn't understand the issue, and the call is to "continue doing what we're doing, but expect different outcomes" then how do we stop the insanity?