tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16660456.post8190775065065193679..comments2024-02-26T07:18:16.299-07:00Comments on The Fischbowl: The Twitter Distortion FieldKarl Fischhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11121548023409279686noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16660456.post-5134914170129219602013-02-12T18:00:02.565-07:002013-02-12T18:00:02.565-07:00Thanks Karl. I beat myself up daily when I spend t...Thanks Karl. I beat myself up daily when I spend time with my PLN - blogs, wikis, tweets, Google+ communities, ETMOOC, etc - when I see all they are doing and feeling like I am always behind the 8 ball! However, I trudge along because I have grown tremendously from the collective wisdom! <br /><br />In response to you and Julie, I can't help but think that we - at least I - still haven't figured out the "magic bullet" for promoting PLNs for our teachers. In our district, it is becoming about the ONLY way to expand your learning as everyone is tutoring afternoons and no money for some other models of PD. I wish we could take some of the sit-and-get required PD time to allow teachers to explore what is out there! (I know I'm not sharing anything we don't all know.)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16660456.post-2341520147846830092013-02-12T13:31:48.615-07:002013-02-12T13:31:48.615-07:00Randon - I don't know. I hate to say that, but...Randon - I don't know. I hate to say that, but I really don't know.Karl Fischhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11121548023409279686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16660456.post-89588672228159309532013-02-12T13:30:46.036-07:002013-02-12T13:30:46.036-07:00Julie - I don't think I have ever blogged spec...Julie - I don't think I have ever blogged specifically about that. I think it's a hard sell because of 1) time, 2) the feeling of having no control over anything so why bother, 3) not seeing the value in it.<br /><br />I've attempted to address #3 in my own building, but mostly unsuccessfully.Karl Fischhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11121548023409279686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16660456.post-35208447575598219962013-02-12T13:19:04.330-07:002013-02-12T13:19:04.330-07:00I've been "chewing" on this post for...I've been "chewing" on this post for a while. I agree with the things you state about Twitter, and that's one of the reasons I seek out people with whom I vehemently disagree. <br /><br />The piece that I feel you tapped into that warrants more discussion, however, is why are the people teaching so powerless? What has gone wrong with our systems that teachers are basically doing only what they're told to do? Why do we have leaders that lead by force, instead of by example? It's no wonder our kids can't make decisions. Their teachers are not allowed to do that, either. Shared ownership/responsibility/accountability -- all of that is gone. <br /><br />The bigger question is this: what is it going to take for the teachers in this country to take back their classrooms? When will teachers stop doing what they know is NOT best for kids? <br /><br />I know that's easy for me to ask, and I already know the answer from most teachers. They're not in a place financially to stand up and take the risk. How can we all change that, so that we do what we know is best for kids?Michellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15579202992634736988noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16660456.post-27290116149680872902013-02-10T11:04:27.065-07:002013-02-10T11:04:27.065-07:00Hi Mr. Fisch,
I am Jana Sharpe from The Universi...Hi Mr. Fisch,<br /> I am Jana Sharpe from The University of South Alabama. This is the second blog of yours I have read and I just want to say I love them! I feel like your writing something I would never think of, but agree completely with. I think your making the point of take some things on twitter, "with a grain of salt." Meaning grow from other people's ideas and reflect on them but most likely there even a bit exaggerated. I love the point you made about teachers going on strike! If they want things changed for their students, a strike is not the right way. Let them learn! Jana Sharpehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00081482652519450453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16660456.post-76876559452986289122013-02-06T10:17:27.055-07:002013-02-06T10:17:27.055-07:00Karl,
Thanks for this thoughtful post. It reminded...Karl,<br />Thanks for this thoughtful post. It reminded me of some of the "group think" ideas in Carol Dweck's "Mindset" book. I know I sometimes live too much in the "Twitter Distortion Field," and need to both pop the "filter bubble," and remember that sometimes other factors(Common Core, High Stakes tests) take precedence over tech integration ideas.<br />Thanks for keeping me grounded.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07463146767986843944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16660456.post-7381979918049991672013-02-05T12:06:58.468-07:002013-02-05T12:06:58.468-07:00These are oscillation points also. I can't do ...These are oscillation points also. I can't do anything I have to stand for my and my student's rights. Brendanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03851321965073197018noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16660456.post-39138829656849507822013-02-04T18:46:36.118-07:002013-02-04T18:46:36.118-07:00Hi Karl
I am interested in your comment "As ...Hi Karl<br /><br />I am interested in your comment "As to getting more colleagues active on Twitter, good luck - I think that's a hard sell for most folks." Have you blogged about the process of becoming a connected learner and/or the process by which teachers discover the value of connection? How do we find ways past "the hard sell"?<br /><br />Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on this, <br />JulieAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12673579851516502643noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16660456.post-36028427495994843662013-02-03T14:03:14.337-07:002013-02-03T14:03:14.337-07:00Maybe if the session was about cool tools that fai...Maybe if the session was about cool tools that failed....Wm Chamberlainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06692221214846665588noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16660456.post-24784970235556553562013-02-03T13:51:56.937-07:002013-02-03T13:51:56.937-07:00Last edcampnj I went to had a session all about fa...Last edcampnj I went to had a session all about failing as a teacher...awesome session...not very well attended :)Paul Bogushhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14806034438548226901noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16660456.post-31607875995625849472013-02-03T13:50:55.926-07:002013-02-03T13:50:55.926-07:00There has got to be something about teachers' ...There has got to be something about teachers' reaction to feeling a lack of empowerment. I honestly feel as though I have no say in my school system. I have zero power, zero control over my destiny, and next year will have so much less as I get prepackaged units and final products handed to me. It is that total lack of control that drives me to figure out how to subvert the system and still stay employed.<br /><br />I do wonder if when teachers are hired we select for those that feel this way. Admins would not want to hire teachers who feel empowered, that would threaten their authority. You have heard this before, teachers were kids who were good little boys and girls who followed the rules and so therefore don't fight the "man" after being hired but instead fall in line and complain in the faculty room. Because admims, bds of eds, ed-reformers, etc, know teachers won't fight back they feel free to keep taking power...<br /><br />I fight back in my own personal space (classroom), but I draw the line at my walls. I don't fight outside my walls for fear of death.<br /><br />I know, kind of diverting from the point of your post, but ya got me thinking...Paul Bogushhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14806034438548226901noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16660456.post-39278250190958085722013-02-03T13:43:53.396-07:002013-02-03T13:43:53.396-07:00Failure isn't publicized until you become famo...Failure isn't publicized until you become famous and then it is over-publicized. If we can learn from success, we can learn from failure too. While I don't think we should embrace failure, we should embrace the fact failure happens and be willing to discuss it.Wm Chamberlainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06692221214846665588noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16660456.post-13541988309670518612013-02-03T13:35:38.983-07:002013-02-03T13:35:38.983-07:00Throughout history the things that are most common...Throughout history the things that are most common are never recorded...maybe that is why failure is not publicized? I assume everyone does so I usually skip it. So new idea for post..."This project sucked."Paul Bogushhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14806034438548226901noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16660456.post-59602368645612820002013-02-03T13:27:28.273-07:002013-02-03T13:27:28.273-07:00I see very few tweets or posts about how something...I see very few tweets or posts about how something we tried failed in the classroom. None of us like to admit when we fail. We all love a winner.<br /><br />I will be presenting a session a week from Wednesday a session on using video to record student reflections in the classroom. While I got the program going and it was working for a while, eventually it petered out and now it isn't being done in my classroom. I failed to find a way to make it work in a sustainable way. I had to send the session idea in before school started. I never would have submitted it in October or later. <br /><br />Now my session will be two fold, the first explaining how I implemented it and showing the tools I used. The second will be a deconstruction of the failure of implementation on my part. You can probably imagine I am not looking forward to it. Honestly it would be much easier to just not talk about it, I have enough good examples that I could easily fill the time slot with but that would not be honest. How many others on Twitter or who blog would do the same? I don't know the answer but I suspect not enough.Wm Chamberlainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06692221214846665588noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16660456.post-22413791143882350872013-02-03T13:10:51.972-07:002013-02-03T13:10:51.972-07:00Paul, I don't know if it's so much a fixed...Paul, I don't know if it's so much a fixed vs. growth mindset thing, as it is an empowerment thing. The Kansas City Chiefs will draft first next year, and they probably feel like they have some control over their destiny. I think many (most?) teachers don't feel that way. Not necessarily saying that's right, but I think that's the general feeling.<br /><br />And, by the way, you do know the coach of the Chief's got fired, right? :-)Karl Fischhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11121548023409279686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16660456.post-55173819052245537602013-02-03T13:03:30.156-07:002013-02-03T13:03:30.156-07:00Sounds like there may be some fixed mindset vs gro...Sounds like there may be some fixed mindset vs growth mindset issues here (http://goo.gl/iG0g) <br /><br />I bet the coach of the Kansas City Chief (worse record) is not telling his player to turn off the super bowl so they don't "feel like crap."<br /><br />Do you think TDF is a teacher thing? Do you think other fields have a TDF? Apply this post to scientists, artists, or musicians...<br /><br />There is some neat research on "echo chambers" and how they actually help people to become more motivated to change and grow.<br /><br />And last random point :) I love having unrealistic expectations...it is what drives me forward each day. Research shows that people who are depressed have the most realistic expectations...not ready to be depressed yet! Geez...if I woke up with realistic expectations for my school system each day I could not continue...Paul Bogushhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14806034438548226901noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16660456.post-69434375406632414032013-02-03T09:54:04.836-07:002013-02-03T09:54:04.836-07:00I think you hit on a really important idea and som...I think you hit on a really important idea and something for all of us to remember as we read our feeds day after day. It isn't reality. Period. I mean how many people tweet about a piece of technology blowing up while thirty students stare and laugh? Or the server going down in the middle of an engaging lesson? It's just not stuff we read about on Twitter.<br /><br />My question then is how do we teach those that do want to get on to Twitter to navigate the "playing with the NFL quarterbacks" and still learn something from their PLNs? As you write, and I agree, our PLNs have awesome things to share, but there is a fine line between learning and being overwhelmed. Especially for people that are very new to the Twitter world. Thoughts?<br /><br />Thanks for sharing. rugglesrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04442878455219664244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16660456.post-26594252634852573192013-02-03T08:51:18.415-07:002013-02-03T08:51:18.415-07:00I like the idea of focusing on what we do that mak...I like the idea of focusing on what we do that makes a difference, and feeling a "just right" amount of motivation to continue to use others' ideas. I'm one of those people who gets overwhelmed by the great ideas via twitter! Thanks.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16660456.post-9210754517532661702013-02-03T08:33:36.292-07:002013-02-03T08:33:36.292-07:00Yup! It's a shame when good people who are doi...Yup! It's a shame when good people who are doing good things start to feel like they suck at what they are doing. The TDF and the BDF (Blog Distortion Field) works much the same way. Thanks for the reminder to all that we need to be less judgmental and more supportive of each other's situations. Lee Kolberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14710085354049378555noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16660456.post-53528926179611017812013-02-03T08:02:43.346-07:002013-02-03T08:02:43.346-07:00Part of the problem, as I see it, is trying to cha...Part of the problem, as I see it, is trying to change the way that we play a game that has a very rigid rule structure. The newspaper sports section gives me the final results of the game, showing that our team won with a score of 2 - nil, but doesn't show that the other team had some amazing plays on the field and played much better. Our team practiced goal scoring and after our playing days were over, we went on to other things. The people on the other team -- they became coaches.<br />The point, if this obtuse sports analogy can be said to have one, is that innovative teaching, and important learning (collaboration, creation, inquiry and experimentation) are not being measured or valued by the current rule structure. That is why, at our dept. meetings, we are all struggling to align best practices with the things that will help students succeed in an outdated model.G. Levackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14046825006324750971noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16660456.post-62389573035646546082013-02-02T21:05:01.643-07:002013-02-02T21:05:01.643-07:00Ryan, I agree and I hope I was clear in my post th...Ryan, I agree and I hope I was clear in my post that I think there are many positives to be gained from PLN's. But I think it can be disheartening for many folks because of the natural inclination of humans to compare ourselves, and I think that is a danger.<br /><br />As to getting more colleagues active on Twitter, good luck - I think that's a hard sell for most folks.Karl Fischhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11121548023409279686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16660456.post-32830957938615109902013-02-02T21:04:11.483-07:002013-02-02T21:04:11.483-07:00I'm sorry. I'm afraid we have many fights ...I'm sorry. I'm afraid we have many fights - on many different fronts - ahead of us, my friend.Scott McLeodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08368435018346090846noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16660456.post-72864070888821423942013-02-02T21:02:51.111-07:002013-02-02T21:02:51.111-07:00You're welcome.You're welcome.Karl Fischhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11121548023409279686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16660456.post-28342871681769536962013-02-02T21:02:36.486-07:002013-02-02T21:02:36.486-07:00Scott, I generally agree about the idea of standin...Scott, I generally agree about the idea of standing together, but I don't think it's quite that simple for most people. For example, you mentioned the CTU, but the district I live in (and my wife teaches in) recently effectively eliminated the union by simply refusing to negotiate (that's the school board President the Denver Post named a "top thinker" in education) and did away with the collective bargaining agreement. This was in a high performing district that had always had a great, collaborative relationship with the union.Karl Fischhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11121548023409279686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16660456.post-55059485514765658252013-02-02T18:38:13.750-07:002013-02-02T18:38:13.750-07:00Interesting concept: the Twitter Distortion Field ...Interesting concept: the Twitter Distortion Field ...<br /><br />As inspired as I get by interacting with my PLN, I sometimes feel like I'm behind the curve - or more to the point, my school, colleagues, and I are really missing the boat. I oscillate between two extremes: (1) thinking we're doing our best to constantly improve and (2) we're stagnant and therefore "falling behind." The reality, of course, is somewhere in between.<br /><br />Having said this, however, I wish more of my colleagues were active on Twitter.<br /><br />The net effect of my "TDF oscillations" has certainly been better for my students. It's thinned the walls (so to speak) of my classroom and encouraged me to reflect on my efforts and truly collaborate (and create) with other professionals - all so-called 21st Century chic - or as a colleague and good friend of mine calls it, "appropriately modern learning."<br /><br />Great post, thank you Karl.Ryan McClintockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04875566034718538070noreply@blogger.com