Comments on: One Town’s Reform…Close the Schools http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/one-towns-reformclose-the-schools/ Learning with the Read/Write Web Tue, 19 Jul 2011 20:36:16 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Tadge OBrien http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/one-towns-reformclose-the-schools/comment-page-1/#comment-27671 Tadge OBrien Mon, 23 Jul 2007 17:40:55 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/one-towns-reformclose-the-schools/#comment-27671 Just thinking in relation to how the structure might look in a school like this. I think it is funny to see this <i>"They will be given their day’s assignments in groups of 120 in the morning before dispersing to Internet cafe-style zones in the learning centres to carry them out.”</i> Wouldn't it make more sense to give students in this environment more open ended questions and projects that are truly interdisciplinary? Giving students projects that last months or years would be interesting in this type of setting. Decompartmentalize the learning and see what happens. Just thinking in relation to how the structure might look in a school like this. I think it is funny to see this “They will be given their day’s assignments in groups of 120 in the morning before dispersing to Internet cafe-style zones in the learning
centres to carry them out.” Wouldn’t it make more sense to give students in this environment more open ended questions and projects that are truly interdisciplinary? Giving students projects that last months or years would be interesting in this type of setting. Decompartmentalize the learning and see what happens.

]]> By: Technology in Education » Blog Archive » Learning http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/one-towns-reformclose-the-schools/comment-page-1/#comment-27270 Technology in Education » Blog Archive » Learning Tue, 17 Jul 2007 18:53:07 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/one-towns-reformclose-the-schools/#comment-27270 [...]             Is there another way?  Is the way children learn evolving faster than they how they are taught?  Many educational leaders believe that the “digital natives” may be leaving traditional school systems behind.  A district in the U.K. just abolished their traditional schools and opened up Learning Centers.  At these learning centers students are given tasks to perform or goals to achieve.  Resources are provided, teacher guidance can be utilized, yet the students are expected to form their own networks to find the knowledge and gain the skills needed to move up in level.  Very much like the video games students are used to.  Leaders in this school have applied connectivism theory to the structure of their school. [...] [...]             Is there another way?  Is the way children learn evolving faster than they how they are taught?  Many educational leaders believe that the “digital natives” may be leaving traditional school systems behind.  A district in the U.K. just abolished their traditional schools and opened up Learning Centers.  At these learning centers students are given tasks to perform or goals to achieve.  Resources are provided, teacher guidance can be utilized, yet the students are expected to form their own networks to find the knowledge and gain the skills needed to move up in level.  Very much like the video games students are used to.  Leaders in this school have applied connectivism theory to the structure of their school. [...]

]]> By: Dean Shareski http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/one-towns-reformclose-the-schools/comment-page-1/#comment-27084 Dean Shareski Sun, 15 Jul 2007 05:24:50 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/one-towns-reformclose-the-schools/#comment-27084 Gary, Not sure if you're still lurking around this post but my take on the Microsoft link is again perhaps naive but I'm not convinced it's all bad. They may not get it all right and certainly can't simply impart their business success formula into schools but my guess is they want to provide some perspectives on education. I've had some contact with Microsoft Canada's Education Unit and have for the most part been impress with their understanding of a changing world and need to connect students with ideas and explore new strategies for teaching and learning. These are not always in the context of Microsoft making big dollars either. Again, I realize their bottom line is their bottom line but I'm still not convinced their input and contributions are all bad. I agree, let's pay attention, let's make sure we as educators have the biggest say but I also think we can be a bit paranoid of business as well. Gary,

Not sure if you’re still lurking around this post but my take on the Microsoft link is again perhaps naive but I’m not convinced it’s all bad.

They may not get it all right and certainly can’t simply impart their business success formula into schools but my guess is they want to provide some perspectives on education.

I’ve had some contact with Microsoft Canada’s Education Unit and have for the most part been impress with their understanding of a changing world and need to connect students with ideas and explore new strategies for teaching and learning. These are not always in the context of Microsoft making big dollars either. Again, I realize their bottom line is their bottom line but I’m still not convinced their input and contributions are all bad.

I agree, let’s pay attention, let’s make sure we as educators have the biggest say but I also think we can be a bit paranoid of business as well.

]]> By: UK district shuts down schools, opens “learning centers” http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/one-towns-reformclose-the-schools/comment-page-1/#comment-26957 UK district shuts down schools, opens “learning centers” Fri, 13 Jul 2007 13:10:59 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/one-towns-reformclose-the-schools/#comment-26957 [...] Link via Will Richardson. [...] [...] Link via Will Richardson. [...]

]]> By: Schulschluss « MedienABC http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/one-towns-reformclose-the-schools/comment-page-1/#comment-26799 Schulschluss « MedienABC Wed, 11 Jul 2007 21:51:40 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/one-towns-reformclose-the-schools/#comment-26799 [...] Mehr dazu im Independent , bei Graham Attwell, Stephen Downes, und Will Richardson. [...] [...] Mehr dazu im Independent , bei Graham Attwell, Stephen Downes, und Will Richardson. [...]

]]> By: Tom McGee http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/one-towns-reformclose-the-schools/comment-page-1/#comment-26792 Tom McGee Wed, 11 Jul 2007 18:49:44 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/one-towns-reformclose-the-schools/#comment-26792 Will, Tom McGee here from Lower Merion SD. Talk about open source. Have you seen these apps yet? <a>http://www.getdemocracy.com/</a> <a>http://www.joost.com</a> These are video on demand apps. They're trying to mainstream the apps with internet technology- sharing, collaborating etc. So Cool! Will,

Tom McGee here from Lower Merion SD. Talk about open source. Have you seen these apps yet?

http://www.getdemocracy.com/
http://www.joost.com

These are video on demand apps. They’re trying to mainstream the apps with internet technology- sharing, collaborating etc. So Cool!

]]> By: Mario tout de go http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/one-towns-reformclose-the-schools/comment-page-1/#comment-26791 Mario tout de go Wed, 11 Jul 2007 17:24:22 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/one-towns-reformclose-the-schools/#comment-26791 <strong>Quelques réseaux avec qui je me sens en communauté de pratiques...</strong> Les cyberportfolios d’Opossum Le groupe des institutions utilisant nos fermes de blogues se trouve à la fin de ce billet décrivant l’outil des cyberportfolios d’Opossum. Des conversations dans lesquelles je suis engag&ea... Quelques réseaux avec qui je me sens en communauté de pratiques…

Les cyberportfolios d’Opossum Le groupe des institutions utilisant nos fermes de blogues se trouve à la fin de ce billet décrivant l’outil des cyberportfolios d’Opossum. Des conversations dans lesquelles je suis engag&ea…

]]> By: David http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/one-towns-reformclose-the-schools/comment-page-1/#comment-26787 David Wed, 11 Jul 2007 16:30:05 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/one-towns-reformclose-the-schools/#comment-26787 We have tendency to land on the latest method and hold on with a conviction that this at last will be the answer. Technology is a tool, one of many we must apply, to the rich, complex, and complicated challenge that is contemporary education. We need to use it with what we already know works - differentiation, heterogeneity, collaboration, workshop, portfolio, etc. It simply does not make sense educationally or communally to give hundreds of kids assignments and cut them loose. To suggest that they can or even should learn independently of peers and adults in their community suggests an alarming disintegration of the community. This is probably overly dramatic because communities are more than their education system, but kids thrive on collaboration and guidance and structure. To deprive them of these feels like a return to the open classroom and learn-at-your pace models of the early seventies and which were largely ineffective. To make our schools stronger, we must invest in them. We know what works in instruction, in pedagogy, in school management. What we do not need is the top down business model evaluation of teacher competencies. These are designed to save money. As long as policy and vision are driven by cost cutting, teachers will continue to viewed, to one degree or another, as dispensable. We have tendency to land on the latest method and hold on with a conviction that this at last will be the answer. Technology is a tool, one of many we must apply, to the rich, complex, and complicated challenge that is contemporary education. We need to use it with what we already know works – differentiation, heterogeneity, collaboration, workshop, portfolio, etc. It simply does not make sense educationally or communally to give hundreds of kids assignments and cut them loose. To suggest that they can or even should learn independently of peers and adults in their community suggests an alarming disintegration of the community. This is probably overly dramatic because communities are more than their education system, but kids thrive on collaboration and guidance and structure. To deprive them of these feels like a return to the open classroom and learn-at-your pace models of the early seventies and which were largely ineffective. To make our schools stronger, we must invest in them. We know what works in instruction, in pedagogy, in school management. What we do not need is the top down business model evaluation of teacher competencies. These are designed to save money. As long as policy and vision are driven by cost cutting, teachers will continue to viewed, to one degree or another, as dispensable.

]]> By: Onderwijsinnovatie op z’n Engels: we sluiten de scholen. http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/one-towns-reformclose-the-schools/comment-page-1/#comment-26779 Onderwijsinnovatie op z’n Engels: we sluiten de scholen. Wed, 11 Jul 2007 14:18:05 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/one-towns-reformclose-the-schools/#comment-26779 [...] Weblogg-ed heeft een mooi bericht over onderwijsinnovatie die maar eens een keer niet stukkie-bij-beetje gaat. Een Engels schooldistrict(Knowlsey Council, Merseyside)  dat 21000 leerlingen vertegenwoordigd, heeft besloten om bij wijze van onderwijsvernieuwing al haar elf scholen voor voortgezet onderwijs te sluiten.  Het district kampte met onderwijsresultaten die al jarenlang ver achterbleven bij het landelijk gemiddelde. Het bestuur zag geen andere optie dan het probleem rigoureus aan te pakken en onderwijs voortaan niet meer via (traditionele) scholen aan te bieden, maar via learning centers. [...] [...] Weblogg-ed heeft een mooi bericht over onderwijsinnovatie die maar eens een keer niet stukkie-bij-beetje gaat. Een Engels schooldistrict(Knowlsey Council, Merseyside)  dat 21000 leerlingen vertegenwoordigd, heeft besloten om bij wijze van onderwijsvernieuwing al haar elf scholen voor voortgezet onderwijs te sluiten.  Het district kampte met onderwijsresultaten die al jarenlang ver achterbleven bij het landelijk gemiddelde. Het bestuur zag geen andere optie dan het probleem rigoureus aan te pakken en onderwijs voortaan niet meer via (traditionele) scholen aan te bieden, maar via learning centers. [...]

]]> By: Cyberportfolio de Roberto Gauvin http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/one-towns-reformclose-the-schools/comment-page-1/#comment-26750 Cyberportfolio de Roberto Gauvin Wed, 11 Jul 2007 01:54:48 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/one-towns-reformclose-the-schools/#comment-26750 <strong>Blogging off the job......</strong> Here it is, an English post.  After having a couple of days of freedom with vacation time, I have decided to try to share ideas in English in order to reach more peoples.  As you may have already noted, English isn’t...... Blogging off the job……

Here it is, an English post.  After having a couple of days of freedom with vacation time, I have decided to try to share ideas in English in order to reach more peoples.  As you may have already noted, English isn’t……

]]> By: Gary Stager http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/one-towns-reformclose-the-schools/comment-page-1/#comment-26734 Gary Stager Tue, 10 Jul 2007 20:37:16 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/one-towns-reformclose-the-schools/#comment-26734 Dean, No seriously, read the document. The link worked for me. This is not part of an Apple vs. Microsoft jihad. Apple is not claiming to know what is in the best interest of education to the extent that Microsoft is. Suggesting that my OS preference clouds my educational judgement is ridiculous. You should know me better than that. If the link doesn' work, please just Google (or MSN if you prefer) "wheel of competencies home" Dean,

No seriously, read the document. The link worked for me.

This is not part of an Apple vs. Microsoft jihad. Apple is not claiming to know what is in the best interest of education to the extent that Microsoft is.

Suggesting that my OS preference clouds my educational judgement is ridiculous. You should know me better than that.

If the link doesn’ work, please just Google (or MSN if you prefer) “wheel of competencies home”

]]> By: Dean Shareski http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/one-towns-reformclose-the-schools/comment-page-1/#comment-26733 Dean Shareski Tue, 10 Jul 2007 20:08:05 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/one-towns-reformclose-the-schools/#comment-26733 Gary, Your link to microsoft didn't work... I still think if it had been Apple, nary a word would have been spoken. Gary,

Your link to microsoft didn’t work…

I still think if it had been Apple, nary a word would have been spoken.

]]> By: Gary Stager http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/one-towns-reformclose-the-schools/comment-page-1/#comment-26732 Gary Stager Tue, 10 Jul 2007 20:01:57 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/one-towns-reformclose-the-schools/#comment-26732 PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE read http://www.microsoft.com/education/competencies/default.mspx and discuss whether you want these folks near the education of children. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE read http://www.microsoft.com/education/competencies/default.mspx

and discuss whether you want these folks near the education of children.

]]> By: Mario tout de go http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/one-towns-reformclose-the-schools/comment-page-1/#comment-26727 Mario tout de go Tue, 10 Jul 2007 17:59:16 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/one-towns-reformclose-the-schools/#comment-26727 <strong>Ouvrir des centres d'apprentissage et fermer des écoles...</strong> Ce n’était sans doute pas le bon soir pour visionner «Écrire pour exister». Un peu avant le souper, mon agrégateur m’a mené à ce billet de Will, «One Town’s Reform…Close the S... Ouvrir des centres d’apprentissage et fermer des écoles…

Ce n’était sans doute pas le bon soir pour visionner «Écrire pour exister». Un peu avant le souper, mon agrégateur m’a mené à ce billet de Will, «One Town’s Reform…Close the S…

]]> By: Terry Elliott http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/one-towns-reformclose-the-schools/comment-page-1/#comment-26721 Terry Elliott Tue, 10 Jul 2007 17:17:48 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/one-towns-reformclose-the-schools/#comment-26721 You are right to worry about MS connection here. I recently responded to this same news report and mentioned MS's other foray into education--http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_6157839?source=most_viewed and my response here--http://tex2all.com/?p=212 I think a more interesting development in alt-ed is here--http://farm.omegaproductions.org/2007/06/18/open-source-education/ You are right to worry about MS connection here. I recently responded to this same news report and mentioned MS’s other foray into education–http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_6157839?source=most_viewed
and my response here–http://tex2all.com/?p=212

I think a more interesting development in alt-ed is here–http://farm.omegaproductions.org/2007/06/18/open-source-education/

]]>