Comments on: Stephen Downes Takes a Break http://weblogg-ed.com/2006/stephen-downes-takes-a-break/ Learning with the Read/Write Web Tue, 19 Jul 2011 20:36:16 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Laura http://weblogg-ed.com/2006/stephen-downes-takes-a-break/comment-page-1/#comment-2216 Laura Tue, 07 Mar 2006 09:21:49 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2006/stephen-downes-takes-a-break/#comment-2216 <a></a>Oh, good! I'm always directing people to your work. I know you'll have influence no matter what you do. Oh, good! I’m always directing people to your work. I know you’ll have influence no matter what you do.

]]> By: Will Richardson http://weblogg-ed.com/2006/stephen-downes-takes-a-break/comment-page-1/#comment-2215 Will Richardson Tue, 07 Mar 2006 09:16:24 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2006/stephen-downes-takes-a-break/#comment-2215 <a></a>Just for the record, I'm hoping I'll still be a voice in the K-12 community. In my next life, I'm looking forward to working with many different districts, teachers and students to think seriously about these and other technologies, and I hope to continue to post whatever hopefully relevant reflection and ideas come out of it. Having said that, it does get frustrating sometimes, doesn't it? Just for the record, I’m hoping I’ll still be a voice in the K-12 community. In my next life, I’m looking forward to working with many different districts, teachers and students to think seriously about these and other technologies, and I hope to continue to post whatever hopefully relevant reflection and ideas come out of it. Having said that, it does get frustrating sometimes, doesn’t it?

]]> By: Laura http://weblogg-ed.com/2006/stephen-downes-takes-a-break/comment-page-1/#comment-2214 Laura Mon, 06 Mar 2006 23:07:20 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2006/stephen-downes-takes-a-break/#comment-2214 <a></a>You know, I was going to comment below on your "Future of Blogs" post, but as I clicked through, I saw your note about Stephen. Stephen's was one of the first edtech blogs I found, maybe 2 years ago. Maybe later. I'm actually quite saddened by his loss in the blog community and your quitting your job. And there have been others who've grown frustrated, who feel like they're fighting a losing battle. Your voice in the K-12 community will be missed and I'm sure your district will suffer your loss in some way. Stephen's work was an inspiration to many of us. He was so full of ideas--tips, tricks, thoughts, musings. I fear we have all moved to the new economy, to the way things work in the new world--interconnected, collaborative, open--while the rest of the country (the educational system in particular) still lives in an isolated, closed, routinized world. My institution often talks about creating lifelong learners, but instead of tapping into people's passions, connecting them to other people, other ideas, encouraging them to explore new ideas and try them out, they keep focusing on "objectives" and "measurable outcomes" and testing and pretesting. They're going about this whole thing ass backwards. I'm gonna keep on pushing. And by George (or Stephen or whoever), I'm gonna get that research out there and I'm gonna keep talking and writing and blogging and connecting. I hope Stephen returns, renewed and refreshed, perhaps with new inspiration. You know, I was going to comment below on your “Future of Blogs” post, but as I clicked through, I saw your note about Stephen. Stephen’s was one of the first edtech blogs I found, maybe 2 years ago. Maybe later. I’m actually quite saddened by his loss in the blog community and your quitting your job. And there have been others who’ve grown frustrated, who feel like they’re fighting a losing battle. Your voice in the K-12 community will be missed and I’m sure your district will suffer your loss in some way. Stephen’s work was an inspiration to many of us. He was so full of ideas–tips, tricks, thoughts, musings. I fear we have all moved to the new economy, to the way things work in the new world–interconnected, collaborative, open–while the rest of the country (the educational system in particular) still lives in an isolated, closed, routinized world.

My institution often talks about creating lifelong learners, but instead of tapping into people’s passions, connecting them to other people, other ideas, encouraging them to explore new ideas and try them out, they keep focusing on “objectives” and “measurable outcomes” and testing and pretesting. They’re going about this whole thing ass backwards.

I’m gonna keep on pushing. And by George (or Stephen or whoever), I’m gonna get that research out there and I’m gonna keep talking and writing and blogging and connecting. I hope Stephen returns, renewed and refreshed, perhaps with new inspiration.

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