tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318734518772387227.post1434271283895389443..comments2024-03-29T06:57:49.917-04:00Comments on Lisa Nielsen: The Innovative Educator: 10 Ways Technology Supports 21st Century Learners in Being Self DirectedLisa Nielsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07759123507185453030noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318734518772387227.post-77291543767386133392011-09-22T20:54:05.875-04:002011-09-22T20:54:05.875-04:00Your blog is very helpful and insightful to teache...Your blog is very helpful and insightful to teachers who are trying to keep up with 21st century learners. You are absolutely right that educators should collaborate with students rather than be "the gatekeeper to the answer key". The relationship between students and teachers should not be mutually exclusive but mutually inclusive. If student’s feel that they have control of their education they will be motivated to get the most out of it. They will no longer feel confined to a room for eight hours. I agree with Larry’s comment that the transition won’t be easy. Many teachers find it hard to meet the individual needs of students especially those who are experimenting with new technologies every day. <br />However, as you pointed out, the transition is very much needed. There is not an easy way out. Teachers of all grade levels need to take the leap of faith and supply students with the best resources. Teachers should provide the resources and guidance. In return, the students discover the effectiveness of these resources through independent practice. The issue you raised about the restriction on YouTube is very prevalent in our educational system. YouTube has such a vast amount of knowledge that it would be a shame to deprive students of this free resource. Nevertheless, Larry brings up a good point. In that vast amount of knowledge, there is the opportunity for “a lot of nasty stuff”.<br />Perhaps, a solution to this issue may be holding supervised computer lab sessions where teachers guide students to specific video clips. Also, teachers could access the clips through their private computers and share them with the class. One issue to keep in mind is that the availability of new technological resources in schools is limited because of budget cuts being made on education. Also, Teachers cannot always count on students having access to computers at home. As long as we keep our focus on the individual growth of students, we will all be able to find a happy medium.<br />I appreciate your input on this issue and I hope to incorporate more student-driven lesson plans into my teaching career.Kristen Perezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03077358521357864778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318734518772387227.post-25739283543146926262011-09-12T12:12:47.225-04:002011-09-12T12:12:47.225-04:00While I can attest to the speed online learning pr...While I can attest to the speed online learning provides, my experience gave me a nagging feeling that the course could be quickly completed because it did not have the same amount of content as an in-person class. I was thorough with my notes, yet I wound up taking less overall than in my normal classes. Some of my fellow students have also shared similar experiences, making me feel as if I am not alone in these concerns. Online learning can be effective, but, much like with normal schooling, where a student learns could be a major factor.codymmm@wordpressnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318734518772387227.post-1426658136548710112011-04-26T15:18:33.541-04:002011-04-26T15:18:33.541-04:00It will take a long time to cycle out the dinosaur...It will take a long time to cycle out the dinosaur administrators and reluctant teachers. <br />There are so many tools out there for challenging students to think critically and problem solve instead of being storage containers for information they don't want. There is a reason why schools have had to block sites (YouTube) and it's usually because kids will see what they can get away with and there is a lot of nasty stuff out there. And it's usually because they don't have access anywhere except at school. It is getting better. For now we may have to rely of sites like http://www1.teachertube.com/Larryhttp://www.idealnm.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318734518772387227.post-19551168391672268312011-04-23T14:37:56.223-04:002011-04-23T14:37:56.223-04:00Yes!!! Thank you so much for this post. This needs...Yes!!! Thank you so much for this post. This needs to be widespread. I get frustrated when learning that digital tools and resources are blocked for student use at school. Makes me think school is jail. Why not marry technologies students use during out of school time into the school day? We have to be 21st century adults and 21st century systems open to the endless possibilities these forms of technologies allow our students to experience.Kevinhttp://www.knowdoservelearn.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318734518772387227.post-91739242485748412552011-03-19T12:40:22.087-04:002011-03-19T12:40:22.087-04:00this is very helpful information! I love the idea ...this is very helpful information! I love the idea of using technology that students are already familiar with and love and channeling those skills/passions to the classroom. Thanks for the post!Just The Two Of Ushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00653321349719685827noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318734518772387227.post-38044151559673872752011-02-06T20:40:18.681-05:002011-02-06T20:40:18.681-05:00I love the idea of using Skype in the classroom to...I love the idea of using Skype in the classroom to connect with people from other parts of the world. This could be a great way for world language teachers to bring their target languages home to their students in a really authentic way, as opposed to showing students outdated videos of characters having stilted conversations with one another based on the week's vocabulary from the textbook, as I have seen done in world language classrooms. <br /><br />GVSU-SaraAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318734518772387227.post-75545775039071178032011-02-05T09:31:12.715-05:002011-02-05T09:31:12.715-05:00@Jess-GVSU, glad to hear the e-portfolio idea reso...@Jess-GVSU, glad to hear the e-portfolio idea resonates with you. One word of caution if you take this path is don't mandate the container. Give students choice. Give them ownership. Ensure it is a platform owned by the student, not the school or district. Something that they can take with them even after they leave your school. Helen Barrett suggests Google Sites. Wikispaces is another option. Wordpress is yet another as is something like Blogger. Give students options. Be open to ideas you have not thought of. There's always new and undiscovered options. <br /><br />You are right about the discussion board. Absolutely. I can tell comments on my blog that were forced by a professor. They're so boring/forced and have no passion. I don't know the answer there. Something to think about.Lisa Nielsenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07759123507185453030noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318734518772387227.post-90771787235749497072011-02-04T23:07:32.330-05:002011-02-04T23:07:32.330-05:00The e-portfolio really piques my interest. I am i...The e-portfolio really piques my interest. I am in a classroom situation where students quickly drop their graded assignments and projects into the wastebasket. It would be wonderful to be able to store their work as a reference for me--to have at hand, their strengths and areas for improvement. As well, students would benefit from assessing their complete journey from trimester beginning to end--it really would drive home the overall point of the class, and, maybe, they would be proud of their accomplishments. This is something I would really like to try.<br /><br />One technology source that I am skeptical about is the discussion forum. While it definitely extends classroom conversations, I think that posts can be forced and artificial, especially if students are mandated to make them. Who really learns from inauthentic material? <br />Jess-GVSUAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318734518772387227.post-41557255979796495392011-01-29T05:57:21.682-05:002011-01-29T05:57:21.682-05:00Lisa,
Your post helps teachers understand the impo...Lisa,<br />Your post helps teachers understand the importance and ease of removing themselves from the front of the classroom, to the side, guiding their students to become independent learners. <br />Another important skill we can help our learners develop is that of their own PLN, by connecting our students to others around the world. This week my gr. 7/8 students finished a shared writing activity with partners who lived almost 3 000 km. away. After the project was completed, students realized the skills they developed reached far beyond what the initial activity focused on. Communicating and creating with other students in this global world are skills that any 21st employer will value. Let's make sure we give our kids the chance to develop these skills as well. <br />@hdurninHeather Durninhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04684357575430635346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318734518772387227.post-39695840737684349842011-01-28T18:01:48.584-05:002011-01-28T18:01:48.584-05:00This is soooo extremely helpful! I work in an alte...This is soooo extremely helpful! I work in an alternative education setting where self-directed learning has been the norm for more than a decade. Last year we finally got high speed internet in our classroom. I have been trying to update our self-directed learning model to the 21st century, but it is a struggle because we don't have enough computers and most students don't have access to technology at home. Just last week we all started blogging together and now and I am trying to introduce them to more skills--but there is so much out there! I am their guide on this technological journey, and you've just given me a map!<br /><br />THANKS!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318734518772387227.post-66886036862324678382011-01-28T13:36:30.898-05:002011-01-28T13:36:30.898-05:00Another outstanding posting! Thank you Lisa.
I ag...Another outstanding posting! Thank you Lisa.<br /><br />I agree with all of your statements. We are fortunate in our school (independent K-12 in Dallas, TX) about being able to empower our students with open access to educational resources and social networks.<br /><br />I have never heard of the Passion Profiles and I am ready to explore. I always learn something from your postings!<br /><br />I'm very grateful and looking forward to seeing you at #educondgendehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02179741683558253638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318734518772387227.post-50352920504019059242011-01-28T09:46:39.403-05:002011-01-28T09:46:39.403-05:00@willynwebb, I would love that! It's a shame ...@willynwebb, I would love that! It's a shame that in places like NYC students need to leave school to learn because of political BANdates, and filtering. In NYC your daughter would be banned from using any of her digital devices and at most schools she would be unable to access the sites she needs to learn and connect.Lisa Nielsenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07759123507185453030noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318734518772387227.post-58935350111727957592011-01-28T09:33:36.350-05:002011-01-28T09:33:36.350-05:00I should have my youngest daughter write a post ab...I should have my youngest daughter write a post about being self-directed and coming home (or staying home) from school so she could watch and replicate science experiments from utube, create electicity after watching on her ipod, writing up what worked and recreating again, making recycled flipflops and sharing/selling them on facebook, etc. School is not her learning time, home is (on her own time) because its better and it means something to her.willynwebbnoreply@blogger.com