The science work I have been doing is documented in the journal pages on this site. In the background, has been a nagging thought of how can this activity be a stepping stone, a starting off place, for better teaching and learning in my class and beyond. I recently received the following note from our technology coordinator. Ironically, the PolarTREC site did not allow her to post it directly into the Ask the Team section.
I appreciate the thought-provoking nature of this piece. Technology is all over the place up here, yet at the same time, there are traditional skills of map-making and data recording going on as well. Not to mention, the very traditional skill of moving gravel with a shovel.
I encourage others to jump into the discussion of technology and education.
More Lemming News coming later today, it’s a two journal day!!
Frank, Friday, August 8, 2008 It took vacation, but I have now caught up with your journal and have been impressed with all the details. I am a scientist by training and have wished that more kids would be interested in Science. Your journal entries have been a great story of the variety of skills needed to be a scientist - everything from sketching to perseverance - not to mention subject knowledge. I was reminded that when I used to hike I carried a sketchpad, not because I could draw well, but so I would study the details of the views from the summit. Much like a cartoon, it is a way to emphasize the features you found most interesting and making it personal record that a photograph can't quite capture.
Another thing I have enjoyed about your writing is how you have conveyed the joy, the pain and the rewards of collaboration. Every member of the team is valuable in some way and there is a sense of excitement and joy in the accomplishments of the team. Each team member is motivated to do their best and in doing so is involved in self-directed learning in hopes of being able to make the next valuable contribution to the team's effort. Isn't this exactly what we want to happen in our classrooms?
As I read your journal, I have had several thoughts related to the technology. First of all, the technology has been wonderful. I have been to many conferences and such lately showing the power of blogs, wikis and all the other Web 2.0 tools that are multiplying daily. You also know that we will be experimenting this year with more of a 1:1 learning environment in Grade 4 to potentially bring more of the web and what it offers effortlessly to the students. Hopefully this personal connection will inspire students to read your journal and learn from it. As great as this technology is, I wonder how many young students can read this much and assimilate it. To address the multiple learning styles of students, inserting some audio narrative might make it more versatile. Another thought was to include more links to supporting material. Information from other sources about the different animals or people you are talking about or links back to the forum topic that Michael when you were referring to that exchange. I can easily imagine this journal in podcast format.
One of the newer tools out there is generically called social bookmarking- del.icio.us or diigo.com which I am just experimenting with might be another way to further enhance the site.
Maybe some kind of guide for a classroom teacher would be helpful. Maybe there is information in the Learning Resources section that I haven't explored yet...
Here some articles I have found interesting lately that you might find interesting too:
About the Age of Interruption - which might explain a bit about the type of students are showing up in our classrooms these days... http://www.pierretristam.com/Bobst/library/wf-227.htm I will now be able to read one day at a time until you are back to Chester. What a great experience for you and us!
Lauren Baker Apple Distinguished Educator
Educational Technology Consultant Chester-Andover Elementary School Cavendish Town Elementary School 72 Main Street Chester, VT 05143 802 875-2108 x 106, 802 875-3998 (fax) lbaker [at] wswsu.org