Comments on: Serendipitous Reading http://weblogg-ed.com/2006/serendipitous-reading/ The Read/Write Web in the Classroom Fri, 25 Jul 2008 19:26:37 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Jonathan Seal http://weblogg-ed.com/2006/serendipitous-reading/#comment-4126 Jonathan Seal Wed, 21 Jun 2006 00:09:39 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2006/serendipitous-reading/#comment-4126 I also agree with everyone here, yet want to post a concern. It is important but starting transformation at the teacher level is difficult at best, because without administrative support this is type of learning teaching is extremely difficult. For example, I teach math in a technical high school (www.cttech.org/norwich) and am mandated to teach difficult abstract concepts. Many of my students will never need, or would discover if guided these abstract algebraic or geometric concepts my state requires be taught and “mastered”. Thanks for the provoking discussion. I also agree with everyone here, yet want to post a concern. It is important but starting transformation at the teacher level is difficult at best, because without administrative support this is type of learning teaching is extremely difficult. For example, I teach math in a technical high school (www.cttech.org/norwich) and am mandated to teach difficult abstract concepts. Many of my students will never need, or would discover if guided these abstract algebraic or geometric concepts my state requires be taught and “mastered”.

Thanks for the provoking discussion.

]]> By: Borderland » Making Things Public http://weblogg-ed.com/2006/serendipitous-reading/#comment-4001 Borderland » Making Things Public Fri, 16 Jun 2006 23:55:38 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2006/serendipitous-reading/#comment-4001 [...] I agree with Will Richardson, David Warlick, Leigh Blackall, and Stephen Downes, who have all posted recently on this issue, that the roles of teachers and learners change in what I’m going to call a new classroom environment, but it would be useful to understand the ethos behind this transformation. [...] […] I agree with Will Richardson, David Warlick, Leigh Blackall, and Stephen Downes, who have all posted recently on this issue, that the roles of teachers and learners change in what I’m going to call a new classroom environment, but it would be useful to understand the ethos behind this transformation. […]

]]> By: Brian http://weblogg-ed.com/2006/serendipitous-reading/#comment-3976 Brian Fri, 16 Jun 2006 18:15:34 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2006/serendipitous-reading/#comment-3976 I think the most challenging part of the whole process is learning to unlearn. I think the most challenging part of the whole process is learning to unlearn.

]]> By: Dan http://weblogg-ed.com/2006/serendipitous-reading/#comment-3951 Dan Fri, 16 Jun 2006 14:42:26 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2006/serendipitous-reading/#comment-3951 I have always started out any professional development "class" by reminding people that I am a learner first, a teacher second and that is why I got into this profession. 40 year veterans who remember that are still vibrant. I like to refer to Neil Postman's "Technopoly" in which he posits the notion of "filters" in society. The Internet has removed "curriculum" as a filter, because "curriculum" tells people (kids and teachers)what is important to learn and, by ommission, what is not. The "people", however, can now learn anything, anywhere, anytime. As you say... "...we can be authorities of learning"... - but not learning in ONLY a classroom! I have always started out any professional development “class” by reminding people that I am a learner first, a teacher second and that is why I got into this profession. 40 year veterans who remember that are still vibrant.

I like to refer to Neil Postman’s “Technopoly” in which he posits the notion of “filters” in society. The Internet has removed “curriculum” as a filter, because “curriculum” tells people (kids and teachers)what is important to learn and, by ommission, what is not. The “people”, however, can now learn anything, anywhere, anytime. As you say…
“…we can be authorities of learning”…
- but not learning in ONLY a classroom!

]]> By: Tom Hoffman http://weblogg-ed.com/2006/serendipitous-reading/#comment-3937 Tom Hoffman Fri, 16 Jun 2006 01:51:36 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2006/serendipitous-reading/#comment-3937 Murray published Learning by Teaching in 1982, so you could say 25 years as easy as 15. Or, to put it another way, these ideas have been held by practically everyone actually interested in the discipline of teaching writing for the entire professional career of everyone reading this blog. Murray published Learning by Teaching in 1982, so you could say 25 years as easy as 15. Or, to put it another way, these ideas have been held by practically everyone actually interested in the discipline of teaching writing for the entire professional career of everyone reading this blog.

]]> By: Clarence Fisher http://weblogg-ed.com/2006/serendipitous-reading/#comment-3936 Clarence Fisher Fri, 16 Jun 2006 01:38:39 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2006/serendipitous-reading/#comment-3936 I truly believe you are touching something very important in this post. I see it in my junior high students all the time. They cry out to be led, to be "force fed" material they sometimes hate. It makes it easy for them to be passive receivers of information. They need to unlearn this state and learn that education is an active process that requires them to be involved. Only by changing our classroom structure can we begin trying this out. I truly believe you are touching something very important in this post. I see it in my junior high students all the time. They cry out to be led, to be “force fed” material they sometimes hate. It makes it easy for them to be passive receivers of information. They need to unlearn this state and learn that education is an active process that requires them to be involved. Only by changing our classroom structure can we begin trying this out.

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