“Sweat” thoughts

As I reviewed Jim’s work in his final project I became inspired by its purpose of providing witness to student work. The community now has recorded access to the effort provided by the students and their fine teacher. This knowledge is now achieved for future witnesses. Social networking has been under the debate by many educators. The Economist Debate Series – Education

One strong point that should be debated is the access to knowledge through Web 2.0. The possibility to witness great minds speak through web 2.0 has become accessible . Not only has can second life connect participants but also regions. Technology has allowed access to public discussions across the world. I can witness Presidents, Spiritual Leaders, and Inspirational Educators through the many tools of the internet. Second Life, I believe will be the future. Instant meaningful communication can occur worldwide after perhaps a purposeful presentation. Like minds around the world will have convenient encounters.

In terms of education we can look forward to students attending or witnessing current events or knowledge happening that may be unaccessible due to location. Unlimited youth could attend a public speaker or perhaps even listen to a musical production live. Many things to look forward to.

There has not been a President in history who has embraced the power of video and technology more than Barack Obama has. He first utilized it during his campaign to become leader by infiltrating the internet to reach the many citizens out of touch with politics. His recognition of the changing times and in especially communications has resulted in the successful transition into leadership. His latest use of technology which I have included above also demonstrates his teams acknowledgement of how to reach the common person. By participating in this video Obama has went beyond the political realm into a personal direct form of communication. With access to technology rising worldwide, the common person of many countries have the ability to become informed through the web. If restrictions of censorship are not strict a citizen can become exposed to differing perspectives allowing informed decisions.

By reaching out to the people of Iran, Obama is recognizing the power of the people to make substantial change. This is a positive foot forward in today’s political evolution.

For my circumstances in Big Island the problems of communication are evident. The reliance of few to direct and lead the communication is incorrect. Following in the footsteps of Obama, the use of video and technology should be implemented in aiding in the communication process. This would take an investment by the board of education, by providing the tools necessary to facilitate effective web-based communication.

The simplicity of a directive video is very powerful. The tools are now available to post the product, we simply have to use it. This course has been very enlightening to me allowing exposure to the power available for meaningful deep conversation.

It will need to be managed in order for success to occur.

I am the first to admit I do not like crowds. I have a thing about waiting in line or congested classrooms. This does not appeal to me. It is for that reason that I choose not to participate in GETCA. Yes there are amazing resources and discussions held that I missed but I did not experience a hectic environment that week. Having the opportunity to explore some of the online PD resources I was optimistic that the days of overwhelming crowds will soon be in the distant future. If you are like me, you will enjoy the opportunity to converse to professionals around the world on any given topic. Meeting in a virtual world like Second Life eliminates the cost and hassle of attending a PD event. More people will be willing to host events when the cost can be reduced dramatically through the communication over the net. Instead of booking flights and hotel rooms one could attend a PD event online. The tools in Second Life allow for complex interactive presentations, including power point, video, and virtual whiteboards.

I see no limit to the possibilities of a tool like Second Life. I already envision a future class of students from Big Island communicating and learning with me while I am overseas.

Young students will be able to use this tool very easily. Its style emulates the features of popular computer games. Traveling the world in search of contact is always enjoyable. As Wesley Fryer points out it is the fun of technology that is most attractive to kids. They are already over consuming on it so why not channel it to more constructivism. Fryer’s passion for technology is based on his love of it. His experimental nature is often displayed on his blog.

As Rheda puts in her presentation, “games engage reading more and more”, Second Life is a GAME. In the meantime students are both reading and learning. I myself have explored Rheda’s choice of ItunesU. This Web 2.0 Tool can be a excellent PD providing choice. It can be accomplished on your own time and allows for diversity.

Viewing the presentations of my peers that choose “23 Things” each was excited by the possibility of the PD resources. Comments on flexibility, diversity and ease were several united comments of the participants. A commonality between my own choice of Second life, ItunesU, and 23 Things is the ability to manage personal time around the event. Each resource provides independence to scheduling viewing of the resource. As Jim puts it “people can work at their own pace!”. This differs drastically to the deadlines many face-to-face presentations can hold.

In the world of Second Life time flies.

As an educator at a First Nations’ School, I have come to an awareness of the inequalities at the school.  It is not the lack of resources, facilities, or staff of the educational system but the continous cycle of generational poverty maintained by the community.  Being an optimistic person I believe strongly that this cycle can be disrupted in a single generation.  In order for this to occur a sense of “enlightenment” must occur from within the community itself.  Since enlightenment occurs with inspiration strong examples and role models are often the key for change.

My first year teaching at the First Nations school I was asked to teach Native Studies.  Being a non-aboriginal, many students and parents were opposed to my placement but I learnt a great deal that year.  In one unit I compared the hardships of African Americans to the North American Natives using the projects versus reservations as the starting point.  I was pleased to see the students ability to compare.  This than led to the recognition of accomplishments of many African American people and how american society has changed within a generation when it comes to African American rights.  The current election of President Borack Obama would confirm this idea.  But sadly many are still left behind due to socio-economic problems resonating from histories negative mark on family structures of many African American people.  This breakdown of the family has led the continous cycle of poverty.  To break the cycle, the emergence of past family ideals have to be reestablished.  In the U.S. one project called the “HARLEM CHILDREN’S ZONE” addresses this concept and has had incredible results.

The goal now becomes to get my community to become informed by this project.  To recognize the value of its creation and the opportunity to create change within our own community.  As an educator I can introduce the harlem project but I need to go beyond a simple introduction.  As this course has taught me I now have the knowledge to establish a social connectivism.  Creating dialougue between communities allows for much more opportunity for sustainability.  This is a process I will need to explore with the leaders of the community.

Investing in the future

Block 6 has caused me to ride the metaphorical fence.  Yes, students
are naturally drawn to literacy on the web.  They are communicating
tremendously over the internet.  They recognize the efficiency of it,
replacing the agonizing effort needed to pass notes.  With blogs,
wikis, texting, and other social networking sources are used with ease
by most students.  Even in my own experiments with student technology
literacy I found students comfortable with the process of literacy.
The unfortunate part though is that students have complacent grammar
skills when it comes to technology literacy.  In my students they have
created a new language when it comes to words.  This is something that
I find distressful since all of my students must  write a departmental.
Trying to get students to write proficiently online has been a chore
for me.  They keep resorting to their social format when it comes their
input.

On the positive side to literacy on the web my students love to read
off the computer screen.  They are reading proportionately more off the
net than paper products.  I believe the draw is its options.  Our
library although numerous in resources cannot compare to the
incalculable resources of the internet.  Just like a great magazine the
internet has the ability to provide tidbits of information and facts.
As I witness daily the students are intrigued by the overwhelming info
available online.

The problem I have is that I now have the difficult task as a Language
Arts teacher is too require students to read provincially selected
novels to prepare them for the test.  A book is not flashy, quick or
interactive.  A book requires time, patience, and imagination.  It is
hard to compete against the power of the net.

For me I need to manage a balance in my class and teachings.  I want to
still encourage students input on the connective spirit of Web 2.0 but
must follow the purpose of the curriculum in interpreting the depth of
a novel.  This is a challenge I will need to address in the upcoming
semester.  Introducing students to relevant websites will be part of my
focus for ELA 30B.  I must utilize the web as a way to enhance their
grammar skills not  degrade them.  I look forward to the challenge.

I remember hearing about the world of second life on CBC last year. My first impressions were tainted by the commentary of the broadcaster. His view did not mention any educational purpose for second life. In my research of Web 2.0 tools I stumbled upon Second Life once more. Not designated as a Web 2.0 tool but the up and coming Web 3D tool. Its advancement in educational purpose is coming quickly.

Here is a competition that I believe my students may be interested.  Thanks Wes for introducing it to me.

I enjoyed the audio Podcast that Fryer included on his blog.  I was able to sit back and soak in the information.  Fryer began by informing us of New Zealand’s educational policy including the lack of textbooks.  This he saw as positive and negative.  Negative in the sense that it places a lot of reponsibility on the educator to create the curriculum.  Positive in the way teachers can adapt to their students needs.   His comparison of his home state, Oklahoma, and New Zealand demonstrated the diversity of educational beliefs across the world.  New Zealand’s new initiaive in reducing content falls in line with Saskatchewan’s new curriculum.  A reduction of objectivesis the new belief.