What does C21 learning look like?

Yesterdays seminar What does C21 learning  look like? – interesting day with Mark Pesce doing a great job of hosting what could be argued to be an event dominated by vendor interests. This was the formal agenda but thanks to an undercurrent in the twitter back channel, a parallel commentary was running.  Mark & Gary Putland tried to bring the channel into the mainstream conference. This is becoming an emerging  aspect to the conference format– with the informal chat running ‘underneath’ – both with conference attendees and those outside.  But maybe at the end of the day  its the more potent discourse. Provided some tweets below which captured the undercurrent. Must get an IPhone…

 

C21 Learning

A good discussion running on David Warwicks  blog on what is 21s Century learning. Dipping his toe into a muddy puddle, he has offered some succinct points, being careful not discount 20th century practise of- listening, watching, remembering, his following points grow out of these dimensions: questioning your learning experience, engaging your information environment, proving (and disproving) what you find, Constructing (inventing) new learning and knowledge teaching others what you have learned being respected for the power of your learning, and being responsible for your learning and its outcomes.

 

NewTube

YouTube is finally available to DET NSW teachers- after years of frustration beating on doors. Access will of course allow teachers to plan, research, display and embed YT videos in their resources, within their working context . One giant step…for liberal access and OER . Now state teachers can enjoy the same access entitled to many private school colleagues. The interesting aspect will be to see what impacts it has on:

• DET produced resources

• Teaching practice in respect to utilising video clips as a valid resource and involving group participation esp. with IWBs

• Use of video as a legitimate presentation form and for student self expression

• Student engagement.

For many students (my kids included) the preferred source of information is through YT and not text based sources, or even Google. They are also furiously loading up clips to YT for personal use and school assignments. Look at the collections building up under any school banner- its becoming a contest between schools and a personal badge of honour for students in building their own portfolios.

 

Mind over matter

Todays Edu.au seminar with Professor Martin Westwell Martin (Director Flinders Centre for Science Education in the 21st Century ). Below I’ve taken some of the main points of interest -

Teachers are asked to be experts in everything. Whereas in other sectors, people can specialise.

• People now say intelligence 20% nature, 80% nurture — used to be other way around
• There is very little doubt that violence in an environment causes violent attitudes and behaviour – your brain re-wires.
• An interesting trend — young people are better than ever at distinguishing between authentic and synthetic environments/environments
• So socialistion the primary use of Internet – not finding info
• Our brains are constantly wiring and re-wiring
• But the emotional context has a large effect on the learning and thinking

 

Static Learning Objects?

Paul Reids piece  (Digital Chalkies) taking a swipe at LO implemenations such as TLF,

has sparked a running debate. The comments represent ‘where are we at’ X section of opinion on the worth of LOs (and associated implementation) and what constitutes good connected learning.

 

Interactive White Board-primary lessons

Interesting to see the changes in my daughters primary school with the introduction of IWBs in every classroom.  Her teacher seems to have undergone (as the principal) described it – a rebirth in terms of teaching. Alice comes home and babbles on about the new things which they tried on the boards. Yep- ‘they’- as in real collaborative learning.

 

Waiting for the revolution

Reading today in the SMH about the demise in the record industry, seems to have parallels and similar lessons for education.  Firstly the industry is based on flawed assumptions:

• Generic business mode
• Monopoly on information
• Single source providors
• Users can’t be creators
• Captive audience

 

First lists for 2008

 Back to the Blog  (and work) after being ‘off air’ due to a lightning hit & feeling the need for a break from everything…

The Trendsters are making their proclamations for 2008 . Closer to home, Jerry’s list shadowed my experience of purchasing a computer/peripherals. Especially liked this one from The Sydney Morning Herald (thanks Grant)

1. Google will still have access to more information about you than your mother has.2. The DVD drive on your computer will still be ideal for holding your first cup of coffee while Windows Vista loads.3. Internet filters will still require children to help their parents view the websites they want.4. Spammers will still exploit the inverse relationship that exists between IQ and greed.5. Social networking sites will still be the best place for identity thieves to refine their craft.6. People will still visit Second Life trying to discover if there’s something to do other than to see if there’s something to do.7. YouTube will still be the definitive source for guidance on how to train cats to flush a toilet.8. Mobile phones will still come with a choice of 200 ring tones, none of which anyone wants.9. Broadband in rural Australia will still involve paper cups and string.10. Video iPod users will still squint into postage-stamp screens and convince themselves they’ve enjoyed watching something.

In my work space I’m hearing calls for orientation to ‘immersive learning’ (why not a good dunking) and Web 3.0(…why not). I think the reality check of the BECTA report  (Times) says it all- lets just genuinely deliver what the teachers/students want in an accessible environment which supports online learning and leave the semantics to the spin merchants.