Comments on: Never going to happen? http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/2009/12/never-going-to-happen.html Technology, leadership, and the future of schools Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:42:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: ~synthesis~ http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/2009/12/never-going-to-happen.html/comment-page-1#comment-9459 ~synthesis~ Tue, 30 Nov 1999 05:00:00 +0000 http://annahein.com/2009/12/never-going-to-happen.html#comment-9459 <strong>shibumi</strong> Shibumi is one of my favorite books - it was written by Trevanian, a brilliant author of among other things, spy stories. "Shibumi" is described on P74 of the book: "Shibumi is understanding, rather than knowledge. Eloquent silence. In demeanor,... shibumi

Shibumi is one of my favorite books – it was written by Trevanian, a brilliant author of among other things, spy stories. “Shibumi” is described on P74 of the book: “Shibumi is understanding, rather than knowledge. Eloquent silence. In demeanor,…

]]> By: TCSpartan http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/2009/12/never-going-to-happen.html/comment-page-1#comment-9458 TCSpartan Tue, 30 Nov 1999 05:00:00 +0000 http://annahein.com/2009/12/never-going-to-happen.html#comment-9458 Ben got it right. Students need teachers who will wade into the fray and help them use technology to make sense of the information overload. More than ever students need to be good evaluators of content. They need to see how the communication tools they are adept at using can be used to foster useful collaboration. Teachers excel at the real purpose of these tools. They can't just throw their hands up and say "I can't do it." With that said, there is obviously a leadership opportunity here as well. What is the best way to approach a staff member with this belief? Ben got it right. Students need teachers who will wade into the fray and help them use technology to make sense of the information overload. More than ever students need to be good evaluators of content. They need to see how the communication tools they are adept at using can be used to foster useful collaboration. Teachers excel at the real purpose of these tools. They can’t just throw their hands up and say “I can’t do it.”

With that said, there is obviously a leadership opportunity here as well. What is the best way to approach a staff member with this belief?

]]> By: Carolyn Foote http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/2009/12/never-going-to-happen.html/comment-page-1#comment-9456 Carolyn Foote Tue, 30 Nov 1999 05:00:00 +0000 http://annahein.com/2009/12/never-going-to-happen.html#comment-9456 We have to believe that as adults with life experience and knowledge of our subject area that we have something new to add to the conversation. IT's about the learning, not the tools. We have to believe that as adults with life experience and knowledge of our subject area that we have something new to add to the conversation.

IT’s about the learning, not the tools.

]]> By: Scott McLeod http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/2009/12/never-going-to-happen.html/comment-page-1#comment-9457 Scott McLeod Tue, 30 Nov 1999 05:00:00 +0000 http://annahein.com/2009/12/never-going-to-happen.html#comment-9457 @Joel Verduin: Let me explain my original thinking and see if it helps you feel any better about this: 1. Word choice of "said with all sincerity": I included b/c at the time I wanted readers to understand that this was a genuine, sincere comment, not some flippant, off-hand, disingenuous comment. The teacher was very concerned about this. This was an important issue for the teacher. 2. Word choice of "Not going to happen?" in title: This was my response to her - that it was unlikely that this would ever occur - but I phrased it as a question in my blog post title b/c that opened up the door for others to disagree with me. So... that's it. Nothing negative in my original thinking. No desire to disparage anyone. Just a post to start some conversation. As to whether you're far off or not in your interpretation, I guess it comes down to whether you believe me or not that there was no negative connotation intended. Thanks for keeping me honest. =) @Joel Verduin:

Let me explain my original thinking and see if it helps you feel any better about this:

1. Word choice of “said with all sincerity”: I included b/c at the time I wanted readers to understand that this was a genuine, sincere comment, not some flippant, off-hand, disingenuous comment. The teacher was very concerned about this. This was an important issue for the teacher.

2. Word choice of “Not going to happen?” in title: This was my response to her – that it was unlikely that this would ever occur – but I phrased it as a question in my blog post title b/c that opened up the door for others to disagree with me.

So… that’s it. Nothing negative in my original thinking. No desire to disparage anyone. Just a post to start some conversation. As to whether you’re far off or not in your interpretation, I guess it comes down to whether you believe me or not that there was no negative connotation intended.

Thanks for keeping me honest. =)

]]> By: ben http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/2009/12/never-going-to-happen.html/comment-page-1#comment-9455 ben Tue, 30 Nov 1999 05:00:00 +0000 http://annahein.com/2009/12/never-going-to-happen.html#comment-9455 Students DON'T know more than teachers. If they did, why keep them in school? Just send them on out into the world. (imagine businessmen using Leapsters and DSi, lol) Unfortunately many teachers and administrators mistake a student's fearlessness with technology for knowledge. Just because a kid will push the button doesn't mean they understand what will happen or why the button needs pushed. Students DON’T know more than teachers. If they did, why keep them in school? Just send them on out into the world. (imagine businessmen using Leapsters and DSi, lol)

Unfortunately many teachers and administrators mistake a student’s fearlessness with technology for knowledge. Just because a kid will push the button doesn’t mean they understand what will happen or why the button needs pushed.

]]> By: Joel VerDuin http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/2009/12/never-going-to-happen.html/comment-page-1#comment-9454 Joel VerDuin Tue, 30 Nov 1999 05:00:00 +0000 http://annahein.com/2009/12/never-going-to-happen.html#comment-9454 I probably agree more than disagree with what you have said in the past. (Such is the life of a political arena like education - hard to find people who agree 100% with each other on 100% of the topics). I generally like your work, and find your approach to looking at leadership admirable. Having said all of that, you certainly have every right to say whatever you want about participants of your workshops. It is a free country in this manner and should be. You purposefully chose the comment, title, and words like "said with all sincerity" (which, to me, says you find the teacher's comment to be almost too hard to believe). You state that you were simply restating it - I perceive you found it to be further proof that teachers are out of touch and used it to make that point. Since no context is provided around it (such as your thinking), it is left up to the reader to determine what you might have meant - and this is my interpretation. Given the your previous posts, I don't think I am far off. If I am - well, I would be happy to be wrong. I probably agree more than disagree with what you have said in the past. (Such is the life of a political arena like education – hard to find people who agree 100% with each other on 100% of the topics). I generally like your work, and find your approach to looking at leadership admirable.

Having said all of that, you certainly have every right to say whatever you want about participants of your workshops. It is a free country in this manner and should be.

You purposefully chose the comment, title, and words like “said with all sincerity” (which, to me, says you find the teacher’s comment to be almost too hard to believe). You state that you were simply restating it – I perceive you found it to be further proof that teachers are out of touch and used it to make that point.

Since no context is provided around it (such as your thinking), it is left up to the reader to determine what you might have meant – and this is my interpretation. Given the your previous posts, I don’t think I am far off. If I am – well, I would be happy to be wrong.

]]> By: Scott McLeod http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/2009/12/never-going-to-happen.html/comment-page-1#comment-9453 Scott McLeod Tue, 30 Nov 1999 05:00:00 +0000 http://annahein.com/2009/12/never-going-to-happen.html#comment-9453 Hi Joel, 1. I didn't think what I said was critical of the teacher at all. In fact, I didn't really say anything at all. My intent when posting was simply to throw up something to which others could reflect and respond. Can you clarify what you think was negative? Other than restating her comment, all I said was that the statement was true and sincerely made. I guess I don't see the negativity in that. I know you've been unhappy (and probably deservedly!) with what I've said in the past but... 2. I think comments made by participants in workshops are fair game, just as are comments made on the Web. As long as I'm not personally demeaning anyone, I think I should put things out there for discussion. We can't address issues if we can't talk about them... Hi Joel,

1. I didn’t think what I said was critical of the teacher at all. In fact, I didn’t really say anything at all. My intent when posting was simply to throw up something to which others could reflect and respond. Can you clarify what you think was negative? Other than restating her comment, all I said was that the statement was true and sincerely made. I guess I don’t see the negativity in that. I know you’ve been unhappy (and probably deservedly!) with what I’ve said in the past but…

2. I think comments made by participants in workshops are fair game, just as are comments made on the Web. As long as I’m not personally demeaning anyone, I think I should put things out there for discussion. We can’t address issues if we can’t talk about them…

]]> By: Tina http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/2009/12/never-going-to-happen.html/comment-page-1#comment-9451 Tina Tue, 30 Nov 1999 05:00:00 +0000 http://annahein.com/2009/12/never-going-to-happen.html#comment-9451 We’re so far behind our students. How do we catch up and move past them so that we can then teach them things they don’t know? The statement was indeed sincere and made out of fear. Fear that she/he would not be able to teach effectively and perhaps fear for job security. I remember hearing a five year old student saying,..." but what if I never can learn to read!". It is the teachers job to get that child to read through whatever resources are needed. It is the educational leadership staff who should be reassuring and finding resources. It is also the responsiblity of all learners to be courageous with the help provided. We’re so far behind our students. How do we catch up and move past them so that we can then teach them things they don’t know?
The statement was indeed sincere and made out of fear. Fear that she/he would not be able to teach effectively and perhaps fear for job security. I remember hearing a five year old student saying,…” but what if I never can learn to read!”. It is the teachers job to get that child to read through whatever resources are needed. It is the educational leadership staff who should be reassuring and finding resources. It is also the responsiblity of all learners to be courageous with the help provided.

]]> By: Marshall http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/2009/12/never-going-to-happen.html/comment-page-1#comment-9450 Marshall Tue, 30 Nov 1999 05:00:00 +0000 http://annahein.com/2009/12/never-going-to-happen.html#comment-9450 It takes us all; students, faculty, admininstration, staff, parents, community, etc. to make this work, and we all will have some levels of discomfort and lack of preparation. The fact that we don't have all the answers has forced a shift in the thinking from a climage of dissemination of information to a climate of searching for solutions and answers. There is still some content that teachers will need to have a deep understanding of, but the tools are more flexible to be accessed and used as a team. None of us has all of the answers, and that paradigm shift has enabled us to collectively search them out and work WITH students and others to build the best opportunities for us all. It takes us all; students, faculty, admininstration, staff, parents, community, etc. to make this work, and we all will have some levels of discomfort and lack of preparation. The fact that we don’t have all the answers has forced a shift in the thinking from a climage of dissemination of information to a climate of searching for solutions and answers. There is still some content that teachers will need to have a deep understanding of, but the tools are more flexible to be accessed and used as a team. None of us has all of the answers, and that paradigm shift has enabled us to collectively search them out and work WITH students and others to build the best opportunities for us all.

]]> By: Doug Johnson http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/2009/12/never-going-to-happen.html/comment-page-1#comment-9445 Doug Johnson Tue, 30 Nov 1999 05:00:00 +0000 http://annahein.com/2009/12/never-going-to-happen.html#comment-9445 Hi Scott, I hope this teacher remembers s/he still brings a lot to the table in a technology environment: No matter how sophisticated the N-Geners are technologically, in matters of ethics, aesthetics, veracity, and other important judgments, they are, after all, still green. By virtue of our training and life experiences, we can apply the standards of older technologies (the pencil, the podium, the book) to those which are now technology enhanced. And we’d better. Given the choice of having Socrates or Bill Gates as a teacher, I know whom I would choose. <a href="http://www.doug-johnson.com/dougwri/old-folks-and-technology.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.doug-johnson.com/dougwri/old-folks-and-technology.html</a> We old people give ourselves too little credit sometimes. Doug Hi Scott,

I hope this teacher remembers s/he still brings a lot to the table in a technology environment:

No matter how sophisticated the N-Geners are technologically, in matters of ethics, aesthetics, veracity, and other important judgments, they are, after all, still green. By virtue of our training and life experiences, we can apply the standards of older technologies (the pencil, the podium, the book) to those which are now technology enhanced. And we’d better. Given the choice of having Socrates or Bill Gates as a teacher, I know whom I would choose. http://www.doug-johnson.com/dougwri/old-folks-and-technology.html

We old people give ourselves too little credit sometimes.

Doug

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