Educational Discourse

Passion – the emotion of feeling very strongly about a subject.

While working my way through some reading, I cam across the following on Peter Ford’s Fordlog blog. It is an YouTube video of Taylor Mali, a teacher with a passion. As I viewed the video, I was immedieately reminded of rant by Joe and the impression that it left on the public. If you remember, for a short period of time, it was the thing everyone was talking about. Well, I think that if all teachers demonstrated the passion that Taylor displays, people would be talking about education much differently than they do.

For me, the last few days have given me time to sift through my thoughts and ideas about web2.0, its implications on the school in which I teach, the division I work within and education as a whole. I have also had time to listen to Chris Betcher and The Virtual Staffroom podcasts, spoke via Skype with Chris which was a first for me. It was great to have the video and audio. Chris explained how he prepares his works for podcasts as I’m trying to upload a few. Then, much to my surprise, I ended up with comments from: Stephen Downes, Graham Wegner, Jenny and Chris Craft. Of course I did a visit to each one, left a comment thanking them and then did some reading. Chris’s passion for what he is doing comes through in his writing:

As always, I only ask that in all of this, you hear my heart.

As I read through the different blogs in each site, the passion of each showed through in what they said. In his comment, Stephen reminded me that it’s about the passion, not any of the other stuff “There’s an aspect of blogging that is very much about the superficial. It’s best not to get caught up in that.” Of course, he’s right.

So, what is my passion? What makes my eyes light up, my heart beat a bit faster and me to lean in a bit closer? Children. I love reaching out to them, finding ways to touch them, to get them to spark, whatever cliche statement you want to fill in. But it’s more than a cliche. It’s doing what needs to be done so that they can excel.

So today in my talk with Chris, I was able to tell him that his podcasts had already given me several ideas for my classes using some of the tools to which he had referred. I like discussing possibilities and looking for ways to make things happen. So, before I stumbled across Will Richardson, Vicki Davis and the rest included on my blog roll, I was working on Professsional Learning Communities as this was where our school division is focusing right now. As I read more, I see the need for time investment in the area of communication literacy training (Darren’s Kuropatwa fine example comes to mind regarding a recent list discussion) and discussions regarding the tools that are available and what can be done with them. I have stumbled on some great podcasts at itunes which explain some of the techniques of making a podcast, uploading a podcast and other technical aspects. I also find the podcasts that discuss the use of various technologies like blogs, wikis and flat classroom projects to be very useful. I’m still looking for a way to make contacts with classrooms of different teachers who have done/are doing a flat classroom project to get some information and ideas that I might be able to pass on to a teacher or two so that I can help on the resource end. Another tool I’m going to introduce to my staff is the wiki. I am in the process of building one that my staff can access – right now it is private. I am doing the same for the administrators group in my division. I am thinking that Chris and others have the right idea about doing the podcasts. This may be a way for our admin group to begin using the tools. The ideas are starting to flow – better get to my idea sticky;)

Passion – the emotion of feeling very strongly about a subject.

No holding back. I look forward to the challenge of building the 21st century student.

This is my ultimate all time favourite movie belief statement: Crash Davis – Bull Durham

Well, I believe in the soul, the small of a woman’s back, the hanging curve ball, high fiber, good scotch, that the novels of Susan Sontag are self-indulgent, overrated crap. I believe Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone. I believe there ought to be a constitutional amendment outlawing Astroturf and the designated hitter. I believe in the sweet spot, soft-core pornography, opening your presents Christmas morning rather than Christmas Eve and I believe in long, slow, deep, soft, wet kisses that last three days.

Of to look at 2 cents.

Kelly

T’is a lonely moment in the blogosphere. I haven’t been tagged – I really don’t have a list of top blogs for the year – only been at this for three months and, with all the reading and the information that is swirling around, I’m still putting together what the next 3 weeks will look like before the final exams for my CPT class never mind my top 5 hopes for 2007!

While Reading Today
I’ve found some great information at Chris Betcher’s Virtual Staffroom. I’ll be using some of the information from the podcasts for sure!! I was interested in the conversations about groups that took place from Bud’s site and then continued to several other sites. Of course, I joined in. After first resisting the whole idea, I began to think that maybe there needs to be a wiki where bloggers can congergate for chatting. Then, I began to think about people having an avatar in the 2life world, meeting and chatting there or setting up further discussions. Creating a kind of educational discussion coffee shop where people could meet to discuss things. It trickled through my mind that a place like Tapped In  might serve for this but I find it a bit difficult to get around. I guess, I am looking for ways to make contacts and get things rolling. I have done some podcasts with my class and I am looking at using wikis, blogs and other tools to enhance what I am doing in my grade 9 social. I’ve even begun to plan out the unit using these tools and working with the assessment ideas I was able to take from Darren. I’m also looking at how I might be able to use the podcasting idea with the work that needs to be done in the class. I like the wiki idea as it will allow me to see who is editing and when which will be valuable in the assessment portion. Probably one of the best ways I’ve seen of ensuring that all group members are actually contributing to the work in the project. The same can be done with the podcast, especially if the script is written on a wiki or uploaded to a blog for editing.

The Road Not Taken – because I can’t see it!

I would love to introduce my teachers to some international work with other schools and I’d be very interested in doing something with another class for a short period of time but I can’t find a road or a map or even figure out where to stop to ask. Any suggestions?
Another reason for a central place to meet – that could be found when googling “Educator blogs” or some such terms.

For now, I’d appreciate more than myslef linking to my site Oh, and any pointers from those who have done flatclassroom projects. I think it would be a great way to have the students experience student life outside of their own.

Upcoming events : I have several ideas for blogs so stay tuned – it might even be worth the price of admission!

Kelly