Here's my picture from Day 9 of my 365 Photo Project. At first glance it just looks like teachers in a computer lab, probably chatting with other. Nothing extraordinary. Ahh, but that's where you are wrong. This was really quite a lot more than what meets the eye.
I facilitate technology study groups in each of our 3 elementary buildings. We meet in person periodically to learn about some new tools and then the participants also work on assignments between face-to-face meetings using what they've learned about. This year we have a theme of collaboration.
At this particular meeting, instead of learning something new, the group decided that they wanted time to work on some projects using tools we'd already learned about, but having me there to support them. They'd all been having trouble trying to figure out ways to use Google Docs, which was their assignment from last time.
This session began with a few questions I could address and then "the magic" happened. Someone leaned over and began helping the person next to them and before you knew it, I was the superfluous one in the room! Those who had thought they didn't know what to do or how to use the tools, began helping each other. Ideas began to flow, projects started taking shape, and the excitement level started rising. Two participants, from 2 different buildings, who were already more familiar with Google Docs, started talking about Scratch, a programming tool. They began teaching each other, sharing experiences and planning some collaborative projects for their students. Time flew by and everyone left our session enthused and fired up about what they had begun and where they planned to take it from here! And the best part is that none of this came from me, the teacher, the facilitator of the group! I had been the observer, not the leader.
So what do we, as educators, take from this? How can this inform our classroom practice? In our classrooms we need to encourage collaboration between students. We need to have times where we set the stage, get things started, and then stand back and let our students talk to each other, take charge of their own teaching and learning, struggle, share, negotiate, laugh, make mistakes, problem solve, and help each other. We may not know ahead of time exactly where such an environment will take our students, but don't we all dream of a day when students leave our room talking emphatically about what they learned and how they are going to use it tomorrow? Ahhh, the power of collaboration!
Friday, January 9, 2009
Friday, January 2, 2009
Beginning a New Year
I've decided to give myself a new challenge for 2009. I've joined a 365 Ed Tech Photo Project on Flickr and a 365 Random Photo Project, both inspired by other members of my PLN. The goal is to post a new photo every day in 2009. To that goal I've added a goal of my own and that is to try to find a photo that I can use as a reflection focus and post those here on my blog. I'm not sure that I'll post all 365 photos here, but I'll try to capture something that I can reflect on at least once a week. You can see my full LoriB's 365 Photo Project 09 photo stream on Flickr to view all the photos I'll be posting. You can also visit my photo blog specifically for this project, LoriB's 365 Photo Project.
I live in a high tech world, and, given my job, my focus is almost always on using technology in some way to accomplish my daily tasks, to interact with colleagues, friends and family, and to help others integrate technology into teaching and learning. However, as a child of the mid 1950's, I would be classified by many as a "digital immigrant" and admittedly, all of my technology use has been part of my learning journey. But, I also have the opportunity to observe a true digital native, my granddaughter. You will see some other blog posts here about her digital life.
On January 1st, as she and I spent much of the day together, it was nice to see that some rather old-fashioned, non-tech things are as much a part of her life as are her iPod and other digital accouterments. She enjoyed sitting with her bear and sharing animal crackers as they chatted and watched the Tournament of Roses Parade on TV. Proof, I guess, that being immersed in technology and digital tools, doesn't mean that your imagination, creativity, or enjoyment of simple pleasures is deleted.
I live in a high tech world, and, given my job, my focus is almost always on using technology in some way to accomplish my daily tasks, to interact with colleagues, friends and family, and to help others integrate technology into teaching and learning. However, as a child of the mid 1950's, I would be classified by many as a "digital immigrant" and admittedly, all of my technology use has been part of my learning journey. But, I also have the opportunity to observe a true digital native, my granddaughter. You will see some other blog posts here about her digital life.
On January 1st, as she and I spent much of the day together, it was nice to see that some rather old-fashioned, non-tech things are as much a part of her life as are her iPod and other digital accouterments. She enjoyed sitting with her bear and sharing animal crackers as they chatted and watched the Tournament of Roses Parade on TV. Proof, I guess, that being immersed in technology and digital tools, doesn't mean that your imagination, creativity, or enjoyment of simple pleasures is deleted.
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