tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318734518772387227.post568953206067872421..comments2024-03-28T05:35:07.354-04:00Comments on Lisa Nielsen: The Innovative Educator: There is Such a Thing as a Free Lunch: 8 Free and Easy Ways to Begin Educating InnovativelyLisa Nielsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07759123507185453030noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318734518772387227.post-26172671792685375652012-04-15T22:01:24.351-04:002012-04-15T22:01:24.351-04:00@Anonymous,
I've written about the acquisitio...@Anonymous, <br />I've written about the acquisition of Iba's Etherpad on this blog. He actually went to Google to make their Google docs better and now it is and it's free! <br /><br />Because Iba left the code open, there's all sorts of alternative etherpad apps like TypeWith.me and iEtherPad.com<br /><br />Sometimes the tools are bought and changed, but they all still exist and they're all still free.Lisa Nielsenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07759123507185453030noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318734518772387227.post-71514389203492089992012-04-13T14:44:04.231-04:002012-04-13T14:44:04.231-04:00One of the old guys said, “Maybe you can get somet...One of the old guys said, “Maybe you can get something for free but it won’t last.”<br /><br />I went to check out Etherpad. And guess what? <br /><br />"Google has acquired AppJet Inc. and its EtherPad collaboration product and technology. The EtherPad.com servers have now been shut down, according to the timetable announced previously."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318734518772387227.post-66011774215735512852012-03-20T23:13:52.612-04:002012-03-20T23:13:52.612-04:00Thanks for sharing these 8 resources.
I do not k...Thanks for sharing these 8 resources. <br /><br />I do not know if in 2009 http://www.Zoho.com was around. I like it. At times I think, it would be good to have a Googledocs+Zohodocs environment.<br /><br />TXTNLRN DanAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318734518772387227.post-6409921864573283332011-07-08T04:58:19.648-04:002011-07-08T04:58:19.648-04:00I still wonder if the fundamental, or should I say...I still wonder if the fundamental, or should I say primary activity in education is thinking: all else is secondary, or worse... irrelevant.<br /><br />Students only use smartboards, or whatever the gadget is, AFTER they have thought about something, usually after having been prompted.<br /><br />So the fundamental art of asking good questions is still the key role of a teacher, and the first goal we should set for our students is to have them think. Sadly, some never appear to think much at all.<br /><br />The second role of a good teacher is the art of listening to students questions and answers. Then replying with good answers, or, even better still, more good questions. That way, it is the student who arrives at an answer or outcome or conclusion because they have been deliberately invited and included as part of a dialogue. Their thinking is valued...<br /><br />It is this one feature that overcomes fear in the student, and allows and encourages them to be an active participant in their own learning.<br /><br />It unambiguously conveys the powerful notion that mind-expanding ideas and thoughts and concepts and principles are already inherent and understood 'deep down' in the student. Thus it puts them on the stage to the extent that they cast away their fears and allow it to happen, and the deep to become suface and conscious. And that deals with the sage on the stage problem very easily.<br /><br />So, if a bright teacher leaves a student feeling dumb, then that is a sure sign the teacher has not yet learned to question listen and answer. And the students will turn off as fast as you can say 'examination'.<br /><br />Oddly enough, those two skills - questioning and listening - are expensive to acquire. Why? Because the teachers' colleges and universities spend so much time and money cramming knowledge into people's head that they completely stifle the creativity and innovation and independent thinking capability essential for teaching.<br /><br />And their grauduates then proceed to repeat the same ineffective process in schools, resulting the closing of even more healthy and fertile and capable minds.<br /><br />It's more than ironic, it is sad. And it's more than sad, it's a huge waste of resources and potential.<br /><br />The issue about digital or gadgets is almost superfluous, because someone who cannot think independently, and who is scared of their own mind and creative potential, will still display fear even in the face of some quick-fix bright shiny object.<br /><br />Either that or they will happily push buttons and click a mouse, and take the answer at face value without any insight into magnitude or reasonableness or common sense. The gadget actually hinders and beguiles them into thinking they are thinking correctly. Oh dear...<br /><br />Sorry to go on about this, but so many students have arrived in my class with years of conditioning that simply must be undone before they can make progress. That is what makes teaching a challenge, but also so enervating.Stephen J Barretthttp://www.thespokenword.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318734518772387227.post-32695000088663017102009-12-06T10:09:34.004-05:002009-12-06T10:09:34.004-05:00Thank you for sharing these ideas Jason. I think ...Thank you for sharing these ideas Jason. I think I am among the few in this corner (right now) but I actually do feel the tool IWBs, in this case, prompt even innovative educators to be the sage on the stage. I have not made a good case here as to why...fodder for another post, but in part, set up properly, a laptop and projector enable the teacher to be "a part of the class" rather than "apart from the class." Ugh...I really have to find time to take what is swirling about in my mind and develop it into a coherent case.Lisa Nielsenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07759123507185453030noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318734518772387227.post-39501781094841163802009-12-06T09:54:59.172-05:002009-12-06T09:54:59.172-05:00I definitely understand your point, and basically ...I definitely understand your point, and basically agree with it, but I personally find them to be a useful tool. As with the incorporation of any technology it can be overused and relied on to heavily. I suspect that even the laptop/projector option could become dangerous in the wrong hands and present much the same problems you see with the IWBs. I don't think technology dictates good or bad pedagogy. Rather good teaching strategies incorporate technology in a useful way. I guess what I am saying is that it is teachers using the IWBs poorly, not the IWBs using the teachers poorly. Of course your blog does a great job of promoting this kind of stuff, so I guess I am really just writing here to entertain myself... :)Jason K. Suterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03191450817515402401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318734518772387227.post-61902309689649692442009-12-06T09:04:49.045-05:002009-12-06T09:04:49.045-05:00I have some comments here and at FB to incorporate...I have some comments here and at FB to incorporate the wimote alternative, so i will probably update the article to include that, however, the point I really want to develop, but don't here, is that the pedagogy is stronger when an IWB is not used but rather just a laptop/projector.Lisa Nielsenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07759123507185453030noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318734518772387227.post-1857390028570879752009-12-06T01:15:13.827-05:002009-12-06T01:15:13.827-05:00@ecornwall, I'm not surprised but another ethe...@ecornwall, I'm not surprised but another etherpad update is here http://etherpad.com/ep/blog/posts/etherpad-back-online-until-open-sourced. Thanks to my friend Luke for sharing the notification when he posted on FB, "Props to the AppJet team and their new Google colleagues for adjusting the plan for Etherpad."Lisa Nielsenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07759123507185453030noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318734518772387227.post-85670370029920491262009-12-05T22:10:17.254-05:002009-12-05T22:10:17.254-05:00I too was going to bring up the Wiimote as an alte...I too was going to bring up the Wiimote as an alternative to the expensive interactive whiteboards. Being split this year between two buildings I am using both. I have a Wiimote in my middle school room and a Promethean board at the high school. I don't think that they tie me to the spotlight in front of the room though. I find them very useful in integrating the technology I use with my students. Truthfully, I feel tied to the computer without them. The IWB's gives the students and I freedom within the room. I don't use much of the software that came with the Promethean board and end up using it more to demo, for short lectures or chats about a topic, and to access and display student work. I have only been using the Wiimote for a couple of months now but like it every bit as much as the Promethean board and think it is a great alternative to the expensive IWBs.Jason K. Suterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03191450817515402401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318734518772387227.post-16310642496510520772009-12-05T18:36:49.986-05:002009-12-05T18:36:49.986-05:00Jeff, you were so at the forefront of my mind as I...Jeff, you were so at the forefront of my mind as I wrote this, and it could definitely use some editing (that's an invitation). What I need to convey is that old timers can be both out of touch and in touch as can young teachers. This was one of those true stereotypical moments though. However, I should (or you could) revise to get that point across. And, yes, I have seen and love that TED talk. Thank you for sharing the url.Lisa Nielsenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07759123507185453030noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318734518772387227.post-28955337453273503052009-12-05T18:26:32.326-05:002009-12-05T18:26:32.326-05:00Dear Lisa,
I am in 100% agreement with you regard...Dear Lisa,<br /><br />I am in 100% agreement with you regarding the availability of free tools. [By the way, did you ever see the TED talk video showing how to convert a $40 Wii remote into doing what an IWB does? www.ted.com/talks/johnny_lee_demos_wii_remote_hacks.html]. I do take exception, though, to your depiction of out of touch white old-timers, as I fit two of the three categories ...<br /><br />Seriously, though, in my current consulting probably the most ardent teacher i am working with would fit that categorization (although he is trying not to be out of touch, to his immense credit). And, some of the younger people seem to be the most resistant. SO, although the age-based generalization is not necessarily false, it also is not consistently true.<br /><br />Your ideas for your upcoming presentation are well founded. The job of the private sector in education (and elsewhere) is to sell their services. And educators need to know that in many cases they can utilize services that are just as good for free.Branzburghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02958536497477359917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318734518772387227.post-45537221554856913022009-12-05T18:24:01.728-05:002009-12-05T18:24:01.728-05:00@dodie, thanks for the feedback. I agree. Much o...@dodie, thanks for the feedback. I agree. Much of the software we buy is unnecessary and doesn't promote 21st century skills.<br /><br />@ecornwall, yes, I know. I have this in my Facebook status update, but the tool exists until March and is really just so fab that Google had to buy them. I have a Wave account too, but I don't see it really taking hold which is why I think they brought the Etherpad folks on board. My guess is that as Wave accounts are easier to come buy they'll have the etherpad functionality embedded. Until then and until people can get Wave accounts easily, I wanted to share this fantastic tool to give folks a sense of what is available for free.Lisa Nielsenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07759123507185453030noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318734518772387227.post-33313434478920032442009-12-05T18:17:23.485-05:002009-12-05T18:17:23.485-05:00FYI: Etherpad is no long accepting new accounts as...FYI: Etherpad is no long accepting new accounts as they have been bought by Google. Evidently, they are working to integrate it into Google Wave. See Etherpad's blog here: http://etherpad.com/ep/blog/posts/google-acquires-appjetAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318734518772387227.post-27623310722927663372009-12-05T17:48:42.027-05:002009-12-05T17:48:42.027-05:00Thanks- I agree we have to believe that things hav...Thanks- I agree we have to believe that things have changed and we can't let the 'it is the way it was and will always be' crew get the best of us. We have to have hope- and yes, there is so much free stuff out there! I often look at some of our software and wonder why are we paying for it?<br />Thanks-<br />DodieDodiehttp://vestaltech.edublogs.org/noreply@blogger.com