tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16660456.post116590032578879904..comments2024-03-22T08:16:45.553-06:00Comments on The Fischbowl: It's About TimeKarl Fischhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11121548023409279686noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16660456.post-1166568364278598422006-12-19T15:46:00.000-07:002006-12-19T15:46:00.000-07:00Karl, thanks for this conversation. I'm in an elem...Karl, thanks for this conversation. I'm in an elementary district that is actively setting up Professional Learning Communities. Across our district, teachers are looking at state and district standards, trying to determine what our essential outcomes should be for each grade and subject. It seems as though we keep drifting toward the assessment of isolated skills rather than looking at what we really want our students to be able to do as learners. I certainly haven't heard any conversations about being competitive on a global scale!Tracy Fowlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13212075017880598415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16660456.post-1166023723910279782006-12-13T08:28:00.000-07:002006-12-13T08:28:00.000-07:00Thanks Kristin. Yes, that article from the Washing...Thanks Kristin. Yes, that article from the Washington Post has made the rounds here as well. Here's what I wrote back to our district CIO:<BR/><BR/>Most (not all) of the story contradicts the headline. It all comes back to teacher training – and staff development time. If we try to shoehorn laptops onto an obsolete, industrial-age system of education, then of course they won’t be used effectively. But if we integrate them into a 21st century education, they are indispensable.Karl Fischhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11121548023409279686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16660456.post-1166023022555745642006-12-13T08:17:00.000-07:002006-12-13T08:17:00.000-07:00I am glad to see these questions being asked and t...I am glad to see these questions being asked and the conversation emerging. When I first read the Time article, I forwarded it to my team of one to one classroom teachers. One of them replied with this this article from the <A HREF="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/08/AR2006120801826.html" REL="nofollow">Washington Post </A> that argues that laptops don't make a difference... I read both articles and then read the comments...This is what we are battling when we put laptops in a classroom. <BR/><BR/>BKitch made an interesting point..."schools and we, as teachers, need to get on the change train" We can't just give kids laptops to replace 20th Century skills / learning we need to utilize them to build 21st Century Skills. We need to continue this conversation and helping folks (from both sides) make some changes.Kristin Hokansonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04644948722592900823noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16660456.post-1165942399202256212006-12-12T09:53:00.000-07:002006-12-12T09:53:00.000-07:00Wow, this is definitely some food for thought and ...Wow, this is definitely some food for thought and it parallels all that we have been discussing in our critical thinking meetings and 21st century meetings. I truly feel that this globalization happened over night, or maybe it is just that I just woke up to reality. Either way schools and we, as teachers, need to get on change train. This is not to say that everything we have done is obsolete or irrelevant; however, our students need to be worldly educated people. What is really interesting to me is that science imbeds mathmatics and social studies imbeds reading and writing and yet these subjects are often put on the back burner (so to speak) In addition these subjects allow students to really apply math and language and use their skills to problem solve, hypothisize, and critically think. Why don't we integrate more cross curricular activities/learning? Why are some elementary schools continually lowering the number of hours a week that science and social studies are taught? And where is the technology literacy classes in elementary, middle and high schools? I feel that the ability to sift throught the vast amount of information out there and really question the validity and source is essential for this generation. As a matter of fact, I think most of us (adults) could use information literacy classes as well.bkitchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05950261563703794986noreply@blogger.com