Comments on: Overblown alarmism and empty rhetoric http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/2007/03/overblown_alarm.html Technology, leadership, and the future of schools Wed, 08 Feb 2012 23:00:32 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Arnold Kriegbaum http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/2007/03/overblown_alarm.html/comment-page-1#comment-14902 Arnold Kriegbaum Tue, 30 Nov 1999 05:00:00 +0000 http://annahein.com/2007/03/overblown_alarm.html#comment-14902 Does an educational improvement only count when it is "at scale" ? The kids in the Milwaukee charter are probably happy with the improved option they now have, but that doesn't mean that their solution will replicate easily. Does an educational improvement only count when it is “at scale” ?

The kids in the Milwaukee charter are probably happy with the improved option they now have, but that doesn’t mean that their solution will replicate easily.

]]> By: Patrick http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/2007/03/overblown_alarm.html/comment-page-1#comment-14903 Patrick Tue, 30 Nov 1999 05:00:00 +0000 http://annahein.com/2007/03/overblown_alarm.html#comment-14903 I have been waiting for this post, or something like it, for some time now. We have all been thinking this, and some have even expressed it in other terms, but this hits it squarely. This is the echo chamber where it all sounds dreamy. What is real, however, is that this is not a new phenomenon: education is always the whipping boy for both big industry and big government. What I do appreciate about this idea of school reform we call School 2.0, is that it is coming from educators, not government. We rail against the constraints of NCLB and still push towards integrating these ideas and changes. No one from a state office is telling me to use a wiki, a blog, or a podcast. I am choosing to do that because I think it promotes legitimate learning. You are correct, we need big solutions if we succumb to the idea that this problem is as severe as corporate giants tell us it is. However, I think that the impetus for change is coming from the right side of the equation for once: the schools themselves. I have been waiting for this post, or something like it, for some time now. We have all been thinking this, and some have even expressed it in other terms, but this hits it squarely. This is the echo chamber where it all sounds dreamy. What is real, however, is that this is not a new phenomenon: education is always the whipping boy for both big industry and big government.

What I do appreciate about this idea of school reform we call School 2.0, is that it is coming from educators, not government. We rail against the constraints of NCLB and still push towards integrating these ideas and changes. No one from a state office is telling me to use a wiki, a blog, or a podcast. I am choosing to do that because I think it promotes legitimate learning.

You are correct, we need big solutions if we succumb to the idea that this problem is as severe as corporate giants tell us it is. However, I think that the impetus for change is coming from the right side of the equation for once: the schools themselves.

]]> By: Miguel Guhlin http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/2007/03/overblown_alarm.html/comment-page-1#comment-14904 Miguel Guhlin Tue, 30 Nov 1999 05:00:00 +0000 http://annahein.com/2007/03/overblown_alarm.html#comment-14904 Unlike Patrick, I think we need little solutions. Solutions that flow from the little people--like you and me--and not anyone else. It's time to reshape education, not in the image of the way things should be, but the way things are. That alignment of education to the real world...that's what's needed. All that other stuff that's mentioned in your great post, well, let's leave that to the big people. They like to worry about garbage like that. ;-> Miguel Unlike Patrick, I think we need little solutions. Solutions that flow from the little people–like you and me–and not anyone else. It’s time to reshape education, not in the image of the way things should be, but the way things are. That alignment of education to the real world…that’s what’s needed.

All that other stuff that’s mentioned in your great post, well, let’s leave that to the big people. They like to worry about garbage like that.

;->

Miguel

]]> By: Alice Mercer http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/2007/03/overblown_alarm.html/comment-page-1#comment-14905 Alice Mercer Tue, 30 Nov 1999 05:00:00 +0000 http://annahein.com/2007/03/overblown_alarm.html#comment-14905 I agree that a lot of what we're talking about with web 2.0 goes back to progressive education, that's what makes it good an worthwhile. But I also think it take progressive ideas in education to the next level. I did a hokey little slide show on journaling to show this... http://www.slideshare.net/mizmercer/webed-20/1 I think there is a lot of alarmism, but I teach some of the poorer students in this country (and I always have). These are the students who are more likely to drop out, these are the students that don't always succeed, and while our overall economy is doing well, these people are not (income inequality, anyone?). I don't think education will do it all, but it can do something about this. Thank your for the soapbox. I agree that a lot of what we’re talking about with web 2.0 goes back to progressive education, that’s what makes it good an worthwhile. But I also think it take progressive ideas in education to the next level. I did a hokey little slide show on journaling to show this…

http://www.slideshare.net/mizmercer/webed-20/1

I think there is a lot of alarmism, but I teach some of the poorer students in this country (and I always have). These are the students who are more likely to drop out, these are the students that don’t always succeed, and while our overall economy is doing well, these people are not (income inequality, anyone?). I don’t think education will do it all, but it can do something about this.

Thank your for the soapbox.

]]> By: Ken Pruitt http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/2007/03/overblown_alarm.html/comment-page-1#comment-14906 Ken Pruitt Tue, 30 Nov 1999 05:00:00 +0000 http://annahein.com/2007/03/overblown_alarm.html#comment-14906 Schools can make small changes that will create big ripples later on. It starts at the top with a commitment to allow time for teacher education. A savvy staff can work its way around slow government policy making them "dangerously irrelevant." (sorry, had too.) Ken Schools can make small changes that will create big ripples later on. It starts at the top with a commitment to allow time for teacher education. A savvy staff can work its way around slow government policy making them “dangerously irrelevant.”
(sorry, had too.)

Ken

]]> By: Alice Mercer http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/2007/03/overblown_alarm.html/comment-page-1#comment-14907 Alice Mercer Tue, 30 Nov 1999 05:00:00 +0000 http://annahein.com/2007/03/overblown_alarm.html#comment-14907 Sigh, it would be nice to work around slow government policy, but look at the discussion about how we teach technology. The requirements for filtering are affecting how we teach and what tools we use. How many hoops do we jump through because of filtering? I have my students work on the Internet rather directly, but many of my peers I'm meeting on the web cannot share their students work with me because there students need to be "walled-off", so I can't see what their work is like. It is interupting my ability to collaborate and develop my teaching. Scott, I'm starting to see posts from folks not wanting to get political. I know I'm much more willing than my peers to get in the fray because of my background and union membership, but am I swimming against the tide here? Sigh, it would be nice to work around slow government policy, but look at the discussion about how we teach technology. The requirements for filtering are affecting how we teach and what tools we use. How many hoops do we jump through because of filtering? I have my students work on the Internet rather directly, but many of my peers I’m meeting on the web cannot share their students work with me because there students need to be “walled-off”, so I can’t see what their work is like. It is interupting my ability to collaborate and develop my teaching.

Scott, I’m starting to see posts from folks not wanting to get political. I know I’m much more willing than my peers to get in the fray because of my background and union membership, but am I swimming against the tide here?

]]> By: Mit http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/2007/03/overblown_alarm.html/comment-page-1#comment-14908 Mit Tue, 30 Nov 1999 05:00:00 +0000 http://annahein.com/2007/03/overblown_alarm.html#comment-14908 You figured this out in your two years of subbing? You know what you should do? Steal a PowerPoint about this. Are you crazy, Agent? You figured this out in your two years of subbing?

You know what you should do? Steal a PowerPoint about this.

Are you crazy, Agent?

]]>