Have you seen this man?

Have you seen this man? He is a cyberbully

Now, he doesn't mean to be a cyberbully but if you have read this blog in the past. You know that he can be really mean. It isn't intentional. I can vouch for his motives. They are pure. He wants to be funny, well liked, even a positive influence for good in the cyberworld.

He just puts his foot (or rather keyboard) in his mouth. (I think that others may want to put either their foot or that keyboard somewhere else.... but... that's why this post)

Trying to convey dry/sarcastic humor via the internet is nearly impossible. My friend Jared (@covili) and I were at NECC09 and through a perfectly normal series of events (No sarcasm or humor intended...seriously) I had a less than great experience at the White House. I wrote about it. I figured folks would take it for what it was just a long drawn out rant about the silliness of being stuck in a situation I could do nothing about. Apparently that wasn't so much the case. It was received poorly. I was informed face to face of this.

So, sorry. No harm meant. Not trying to be a cyberbully just pointing out the silliness that can sometimes happen in life. None of it was Jared's fault at all.

I guess, I really am learning. Just not fast enough.

Session 4: Designing Education tools in Layers

One of the best things about this session was the Zork Discussion.  Zork was fantastic.  The reason it came up was the fact that there are multiple layers to how Zork worked.  It was originally a product in a text only format.  When Graphic Design begin to have power and got more than 4 colors, it was possible to peel back the original layer of display/interaction and create a new layer, but leaving the original story/game intact.

Increasing the layers increases the complexity, but allows us to create layers that can be stripped off and replaced with an improved layer.  For example, if all of the images in a 'textbook' or website are connected together and can be stripped out and updated then replace the old 'image' layer.

It is kind of like putting a new cover on an old book.

Becoming an expert when it comes to Instructional Design works like becoming a Chess expert.  A Chess expert has the ability to track more of the pieces on the board at one time than a novice.  The same is true of an Expert Instructional Designer versus a Novice Instructional Designer.

Layering is the natural outgrowth of the increasing complexity of a technology.  Shelter originally consisted of nothing but 4 posts and some palm fronds.  Instructional Design is evolving the same way.

As the complexity increases the ability to create as an amateur decreases.  I could still build a house by myself as an amateur, Instructional Design can be done by individuals but the quality is much improved by having experts do the design work. 

What prompts layers????  The history of movies changing from the Silent Era to the Talkies.  This prompted a whole bunch of layering to the process of creating movies.  This has a bunch of application for what is going on now.  It makes the idea of a Social Learning Specialists so much more valid.  This technology is emerging and it makes sense that Educational Entities would be looking for someone to specialize in Social Learning

Examples of layers:
Message Layer
Representation Layer
Control Layer
Strategy Layer
Content Layer
Data Management
Media Logic

The metaphor for instruction should be conversation!


BTW Dr. Gibbons showed my alma mater's library!!!!

Citation Nods:
flickr User: tina_manthorpe
Andy Gibbons

The connected Classroom via iPhone

Watch the video first or after or whenever?



Regarding this video in his blog: Darren Kuropatwa said

but, in most subjects, does every kid have to learn exactly the same stuff?

My response to his question:

NO!

Not only does every kid not have to learn the exactly same stuff....they can't. Based on their prior knowledge they will connect and construct their own learning as you present material to them. So the question really is not do they have to learn the same stuff, but do they have to be presented the same material?

My response to my question:

NO!

I tried my very best when I was in the classroom to get kids to explore and create networks of learning for themselves. I have learned since then what more I could have done to really build those. For example why not have each student subscribe to two out of four or five suggested podcasts. Not just my class podcast. Or have them choose two relevant films to watch and use that to drive discussion. Clearly there are times when you want each student to be able to work with a specific body of material, skills, or information. But students can and should be forming their own areas of interest that will develop into areas of expertise. My job as an educator can then be to prompt them into making connections they haven't and into thinking about things they may have missed. Instead of a single assigned textbook why not 3 options?

Then, the face to face time with students can focus on those skills and information that can only be imparted in the face to face setting.

Probably some broad brush strokes here, but just some thoughts!

BTW my original comments were:

I was already doing this in my class before I left to become a professional developer. Not to the extent here, but for example during our unit on energy and power I provided links to video, websites, and even suggested items that were going to be on TV for kids to watch and summarize before our next in class discussion.

To me you value the students time and your own time when you reserve for the face to face time those things that can only be done face to face. Me modeling, problem solving or helping with skills.

The challenge I had with the video was how locked into Apple this is. What about those kids that don't want an iPhone? iTunes U is awesome, but I hate locking our delivery to one platform and one portal.

Social Networking, Social Learning and ......Social Teaching!

I bumped into Erika's Blog via a tweet from @shareski.

I found it pretty interesting and it prompted me to think a little about something I hadn't really thought about before.

I really was a social learner, IMHO, we all are. We learn by talking, chatting, arguing and discussing things with others. Despite my social learning, I was limiting my society by not engaging as much as I could have via the interwebs. I admit that I was fearful. I was specifically fearful of how the powers that be would react to my web presence, when, not if, it came to their attention. I realize now, that that fear held me back. It is very sad to me in a way that I had to leave the classroom to learn how much better a teacher I could have been.

Now, I realize, maybe there are more ways I can help, more things I can do. If learning is social, maybe teaching can be too. Why would I limit my student's learning to just what I can teach them. I could now bring other teachers into my classroom, experts in may fields, students, and learners, and politicians and who knows what else if I just open myself to the vast possibilities of what social teaching could do.

Response to Ryan Bretag: Should we or shouldn't we....

I got a tweet from @briancsmith that mentioned a new blog post by Ryan Bretag. I hadn't read his stuff before, but found it interesting that he was posting about the same topics I have but from a different perspective. It looked to me like he was discouraging "friending" students on Facebook. I got the feeling that it was let them have their space. Let them have their "hangout"

Sorry, but I disagree. I don't want to be the creepy adult lurking in the kids tree house. Just like I wouldn't join in my kids slumber party. However, I would darn well supervise the slumber party, and let the kids know I was going to checking in on them from time to time. The same is true of online spaces. Students should not be allowed to develop the false impression that adults don't frequent the internet. Employers are checking on potential employees, students should know that adults are online.
My comment on his blog is below:

I replied to this post in my own blog about two months ago: http://jorgie-learning.blogspot.com/2009/01/what-if.html But wanted to make a comment here. The argument, and concern I have is if we abandon these spaces to the kids and basically let them have their "hangout" we are then throwing them to the sharks. If we as adults are fearful of being to available to students or to out there, then the only adults in that environment are the dangerous ones, or the ones who are willing to snub their noses at convention, if instead we as adults and educators firmly stake our claim in that world, and then model good behavior by good clean appropriate conduct we are doing not just students, but the whole online environment a huge favor.

IMHO it is vital though that we set explicit (in the being clear sense not the other sense) guidelines with students for example:
I will add you as a friend if you request, I don't request students as friends.

Whatever we are comfortable with is what we should set up ahead of time. Also, involve the powers that be. Explain to administrators why and what you are doing. No principal wants to find out after there is an accusation of misconduct that you are online friends with a student.

I also wonder what Edna Mode means when she states I keep the number to a minimum? If we selectively choose which students we accept as friends we run the risk of alienating some students and giving the impression that we favor some. For instance, if a teacher only accepted young men, it might give the impression of impropriety.

I actually think it is a really good idea to set up guidelines about what we think is appropriate with our online interactions with students and will make some suggestions the topic of a future post.

A Statement of Principle

I have recently been called upon to think in much more depth about what should and shouldn't be done by teacher online. I teach an Internet Safety Course (ironically, I do this as an online course) and I have been thinking about what makes a good online presence and whether teachers should have one. I think they should

Now, what happens when a students wants to 'friend' me? Or a parent? Or my Principal/Supervisor? What now?

I used to think that to protect teachers and to provide guidance that school districts had to have a policy regarding online contact between students and teachers. I have changed my mind. A policy is specifically proscriptive, prohibitive, and by definition enforceable which means that to be of any value it must be fully enforced. I think this is a bad idea. A district that adopts a proscriptive policy on what isn't allowed will soon find themselves in battles when they try to enforce it or if they don't enforce it they will find that the policy has all the teeth of a duck. All quack and no bite.

What School Districts and Universities need is a Statement of Principles. A document that defines the principles which would precipitate online contact. A document that defines what good online interaction between students, and teachers, and teachers and parents could include. It should also give a set of guidelines for what could potentially be risks or problems with online contact. A document that doesn't inhibit the great potential for positive online interactions but also provide clear guidelines for preventing inappropriate interactions (which are all too real) With the pace and growth of handheld devices this should also cover contact via txt, phone, and IM. In all ways it should be a document that enhances professionalism and effective teaching and interaction without inhibiting teachers.

Different than a policy which requires that you enforce specific rules and impose specific sanctions a Statement of Principles creates a guide for educators and administrators so that on a case by case basis each interaction can be judged without the compulsion of censuring a teacher nor censoring a teacher which could put districts right into a battle over Freedom of Speech.

What should this document look like and say? Well I am working on drafting one. Look for it in a future post.

Gold Farming

I actually found this a while back, but migrated it from my personal blog. 

I found this fascinating quote today:

World of Warcraft and other Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games (MMORPGs) sure do look exciting (see screen grab of Battle Ready Cat Thingy with Large Sword and Big Fangs at right). And WoW is exciting. I should know, as I've wasted a fair amount of my life parked in front of a computer, fighting off the Horde, etc.Discovery News: Etherized, Aug 2008

You should read the whole article.

A vision for the future: Gadgets

This video sure shows some unique perspectives and allows me to rant about two things I have been wanting to rant about.


Future Vision Montage


Ok first,

What does knowledge mean? We are fast approaching a time when access to what others have already studied and learned will be immediately accessible to anyone. I had a Botany class where I memorized 200 plants. I had to be able to recognize woody parts, leaves, and flowers. I could be shown anyone of them and would be required to recognize them. Do I remeber them now? NO! Well ok a few, but not most of them. If I had been taught how to accurately look them up and use a botanical key, I would still have that skill.

Second,
What gadget will we use? I don't know but it is clear we will use them. And we will use them to connect to people. Today I was waiting for an interview with a school district and suddenly on my phone I get a text. Former student wants to add me on facebook. So I text back add. Suddenly we are connected. Within a moment I get a new message

This is where things are going. We touch through tech. Not in some creepy way, but in the normal ways we have for years. We connect with people and interact, debate, discuss, and collaborate. I don't know exactly where we are going, but it's going to be a fun ride!

Citation Nods:

http://video.msn.com/video.aspx?vid=a517b260-bb6b-48b9-87ac-8e2743a28ec5

http://www.officelabs.com/Pages/Envisioning.aspx

What if......

I hear a lot of what if regarding social networking and the school environment. The basic concern is all about safety and influence. The concerns are along the lines of

• Teachers shouldn't have contact with students
• Teachers shouldn't ever text message students
• Why would anyone want to have this kind of contact
• What if a teacher has an inappropriate relationship/influence on a student
• What if... What if...

Basically, what if something bad happens... maybe we shouldn't do this. It is the reluctance to adopt. Technophobia is common and probably at some level necessary and appropriate. Early adopters often jump in and start to use a tool or technology without worrying about the while the

My what if is....What if we don't connect this way?

What will happen if we don't connect? What will happen if students begin learning from other sources? What will happen if students form relationships online only with their own age peers? What happens when the only adults online are those trying to harm young people. What if the only example of online behavior are those who aren't accountable for their example. What if students really want to stay connected to a teacher that was a positive influence on them. What if we shut down the personal connection because of the fear of inappropriate connections? What if we become so out of touch that we become irrelevant? What if this has already happened?

I honestly believe there is a perception that all relationships online have the potential of being sinister. I guess that is true. There is a certain sense of freedom or license and anonymity. But every f2f interaction we have has the potential of turning sinister too. Look at the headlines, how many loving trusted spouses have turned on the family?

What if we don't use the technologies? What if?

Shhh... no talking!

I am teaching an online course about Internet Safety and this week was about Social Networking.  One of the discussion questions was basically:  Is there a place for social networking in the schools.  The answer an ear splitting: maybe!

Seriously though.  a reoccuring comment by those who see it as negative is: 

Kids are supposed to be learning in class.  There is no place for socializing.  They can socialize on their own time.

Well sure they can, but don't we want them to do homework on their own time too?  The lines between home and work life are blurring as we see more flexibility available due to connectivity.  Additionally,  I personally believe that as long as we avoid the internet as the domain of "them" then we don't have a stake in how it turns out.  When responsible thoughtful adults and educators take back some of that territory and use the internet for worthwhile purposes I think students will follow suit.  As far as learning being more important than socializing.  Isn't learning a social experience?  I learn from what I talk to people about, from listening to their opinions and disagreeing with them.  Sometimes heatedly.  We are social beings.  Education is a social construct that is designed (at least ideally) to take the very best people in our society and have them pass on our social and cultural values. I think we learn socially and as long as we are going to help students learn we need to find ways to cultivate exceptional conversations in our learning environments.

Another person, commented: They don't have time to be commenting on someone's hair.  Why not?  We do it all the time.  In the hall, with other teachers, in the lunch room, even when a student comes in dressed a little nicer I would often ask "Why so dressed up?"  I would get varying responses, but invariably it was a time I connected socially with these people I was teaching.  I stand firm in my conviction that people learn from people they know care!  We must be social, the question is what it too socialy to effectively teach.