Cultivating a Learning Environment

 http://www.flickr.com/photos/niclindh/1389750548/

After reading David Warlick's blog post this evening, I started to think about how schools can take this advice? I know we are focused on creating a Personal Learning Community. What does that mean? It can't mean just solely focusing on data driven instruction. It has to start somewhere in our classrooms. We need to make the connections to our students and create a level of trust along with nurturing them. Why not start by "Cultivating a Learning Community"?  Why not celebrate things we learn and are good at?  By asking questions and wanting to genuinely know the answers from those students, teachers, parents, administrators and who ever else we can find to ask, we will be creating a nurturing community of learners.  If we listen closely, the kids want to tell us about their lives, their interests, and what they are most passionate about.  We can the allow them to feel vested in their learning.  We can then use these answers to create meaningful lessons for our students which support and encourage their passions.  We should try to ask more questions and then listen carefully.

Love This Video!

Today I was reading David Warlick's blog and noticed this video.  I have to agree with him.  I wish more people understood the benefits of collaborative learning.  In my graduate work, I was asked to create my dream classroom.  My dream classroom looked exactly like the one in this video.  Comfy seating areas, along with round tables.  My tables were actually on wheels, but round too.   If kids can see each other when working together rather than sitting in rows and rows, it would make such a huge improvement in their learning environment.  If we could give those students technology to use in the classroom without worrying about "stranger danger" and showing their faces out on the internet, who knows what could happen within the school?  I hope it happens in my day of teaching.  I know it is happening in some schools but not nearly enough. 

Take a look at the web page for this video.  I love the comments.  That is what it is all about.  Great job!

Christa McAuliffe Technology Conference '08

I attended the Christa McAuliffe Technology conference this year in Nashua, NH. I have attended for the past four years, and I am amazed at the wonderful guest speakers they arrange each year. This year I was so excited to see David Warlick speak. I follow him on twitter as well as keep up with his blog writings. I am a big fan! This year, I convinced my other two colleagues to come with me on the same day, so they could hear David speak as well. They think I am a bit "geeky" because I am constantly updating them with some new article or blog post that I encountered using my PLN! I have to thank Jeff Utecht for this. Had I never taken his class through PSU, I would have never been fortunate to experience the "new world" that exists "out there" for us educators!

David did not disappoint. I sat, close to the front, so I would be able to hear and see everything! I was actually right in front of the video camera. Yikes, I can hear my giggles! Yet another "geeky" move! Here is what David had to say.. Recorded on UStream.

Live Videos by Ustream

I was reading the Free Technology for Teachers blog by Richard Byrne and I agree, being in the audience, almost next to the person who David was talking back and forth with, regarding wikipedia, I enjoyed his response. (I felt somewhat uncomfortable for that poor person!) It is poo-pooed so much not to use wikipedia in schools, but can't it be a jumping off point? I know I let my students use it as one resource. He reinforces that using any of these tools in school are "basic literacy skills".

What struck me as the most important or informational about David's speech, is how we are teaching our kids (teachers standing up and the learners are sitting down) model. We are the keepers of the knowledge and they are the ones with the empty minds we are trying to fill. Are our classrooms Flat? We need to be preparing our students for a future we know nothing about, yet.. The digital divide! I also like when David said, in order to be considered a "21st century educator, we must be a master learner." He also said, "if I could share anything with all of you as teachers, I would tell you to pay attention to your students and ask them about their experiences outside of the classroom with technology."

Watch the video in it's entirety, it is great! Can't wait to see who's coming next year. I only hope I can attend all three days!