Comments on: Learning to Learn http://weblogg-ed.com/2005/learning-to-learn/ The Read/Write Web in the Classroom Thu, 20 Nov 2008 20:53:44 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Tom McHale http://weblogg-ed.com/2005/learning-to-learn/#comment-1403 Tom McHale Sun, 15 May 2005 02:10:55 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2005/learning-to-learn/#comment-1403 <a></a>I agree with Susan. It's relevancy that schools are so sorely lacking not passionate teachers. And the kids haven't forgotten how to learn. They just would rather learn about topics of interest and importance to them, and there are so many outlets for them to do this now. So they come to school and play the game and then go home and interact, collaborate and learn in a variety of ways that have nothing to do with what we offer in school. In some ways, it's always been this way, but now we actually have the opportunity to change things somewhat, if we can clear out some space within an increasingly irrelevant education system. I agree with Susan. It’s relevancy that schools are so sorely lacking not passionate teachers. And the kids haven’t forgotten how to learn. They just would rather learn about topics of interest and importance to them, and there are so many outlets for them to do this now. So they come to school and play the game and then go home and interact, collaborate and learn in a variety of ways that have nothing to do with what we offer in school. In some ways, it’s always been this way, but now we actually have the opportunity to change things somewhat, if we can clear out some space within an increasingly irrelevant education system.

]]> By: Bob Irving http://weblogg-ed.com/2005/learning-to-learn/#comment-1402 Bob Irving Tue, 10 May 2005 15:51:52 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2005/learning-to-learn/#comment-1402 <a></a>Susan -- with the "competing interests"... Maybe we should view some of them as allies instead of enemies. The truth is that our non-digital, non-interactive presentation of material is sadly outdated. I know there is the fear that students will be missing some essential skill if we move towards a different delivery mode, but they probably said that when the pencil was introduced (or the TV, or the book, or the typewriter... pick any one). I've written more at <a href="http://www.e-lcds.org/wordpress/" rel="nofollow">http://www.e-lcds.org/wordpress/</a> on a personal note. Susan — with the “competing interests”… Maybe we should view some of them as allies instead of enemies. The truth is that our non-digital, non-interactive presentation of material is sadly outdated. I know there is the fear that students will be missing some essential skill if we move towards a different delivery mode, but they probably said that when the pencil was introduced (or the TV, or the book, or the typewriter… pick any one).

I’ve written more at http://www.e-lcds.org/wordpress/ on a personal note.

]]> By: susan http://weblogg-ed.com/2005/learning-to-learn/#comment-1401 susan Fri, 06 May 2005 21:51:43 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2005/learning-to-learn/#comment-1401 <a></a>The trouble is, alot of kids think the learning in school is irrelevant. So, we have to focus on making the learning very relevant, very engaging. Is that coddling kids? ("In MY day we learned what the teacher taught us, and that was that!") I don't think so. Like Friedman says, we need to prepare our kids for flexible thinking, learning for a purpose...and I think, learning for pleasure. I see that's what you mean... keeping kids' natural interest in and joy of learning. The million dollar question is....how can we do that with all of the competing interests these days? The trouble is, alot of kids think the learning in school is irrelevant. So, we have to focus on making the learning very relevant, very engaging. Is that coddling kids? (”In MY day we learned what the teacher taught us, and that was that!”) I don’t think so. Like Friedman says, we need to prepare our kids for flexible thinking, learning for a purpose…and I think, learning for pleasure. I see that’s what you mean… keeping kids’ natural interest in and joy of learning. The million dollar question is….how can we do that with all of the competing interests these days?

]]> By: Dave Bauer http://weblogg-ed.com/2005/learning-to-learn/#comment-1400 Dave Bauer Fri, 06 May 2005 11:48:25 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2005/learning-to-learn/#comment-1400 <a></a>Its not learning to learn, its "not forgetting how to learn" Kids naturally already know how to learn, and school helps them forget how to learn. The answer is to find ways to show everyone that learning is not something that happens in a special place, when an authorized adult tells you it is happening. Learning happens all the time, everywhere, unless you try to stop it. Kids can learn from anyone, of any age or background. They can help each other learn, and definitely can help adults to learn something themselves. Its not learning to learn, its “not forgetting how to learn” Kids naturally already know how to learn, and school helps them forget how to learn. The answer is to find ways to show everyone that learning is not something that happens in a special place, when an authorized adult tells you it is happening. Learning happens all the time, everywhere, unless you try to stop it. Kids can learn from anyone, of any age or background. They can help each other learn, and definitely can help adults to learn something themselves.

]]> By: Alfred Thompson http://weblogg-ed.com/2005/learning-to-learn/#comment-1399 Alfred Thompson Fri, 06 May 2005 09:54:35 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2005/learning-to-learn/#comment-1399 <a></a>The best teachers have passion for their subject. All to often today we burn the passion out of young teachers. They are the ones who get 3-4 preps and all the extra duties. They get the hard to teach students. The more experienced teachers get the single prep and the easy to teach students. We need to turn that around. Let teachers get experience without losing passion. We also have to lead by example. Do teachers complain about taking continuing ed or do they promote it as one of the exciting things in their life? In computer science we are seeing students seek out their peers and online support for learning because that is where they find the passion. And of course we don't pay CS teachers who are knowledgable and passionate enough to be able to stay in the field of teaching. The best teachers have passion for their subject. All to often today we burn the passion out of young teachers. They are the ones who get 3-4 preps and all the extra duties. They get the hard to teach students. The more experienced teachers get the single prep and the easy to teach students. We need to turn that around. Let teachers get experience without losing passion.
We also have to lead by example. Do teachers complain about taking continuing ed or do they promote it as one of the exciting things in their life?
In computer science we are seeing students seek out their peers and online support for learning because that is where they find the passion. And of course we don’t pay CS teachers who are knowledgable and passionate enough to be able to stay in the field of teaching.

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