Clarence Fisher and I seem to be on the same wavelength today:
Remote Access: Planning for Networks of Learners
Soon after we have our blogs, Bloglines accounts, and have a day or two of wiki introduction next week when school returns, I plan on beginning to talk to the kids in my class about networks. What are networks? How can they help us? How are these spaces like a virtual classroom, a collection of minds that can learn together and push each other forward?
He’s using the phrase “virtual classroom” but he’s talking about a learner-centered space in much the same way I’m suggested that we organize ourselves as a function of participation in our own class. And note that he’s talking about a rural middle school — 7th and 8th graders. What does it mean to your practice if you grant that students have that kind of power over their own learning? What does it do to Education?
Take a few minutes and go read the whole post. You should have found it in your ‘gators this morning.
August 30th, 2006 at 10:10 pm
I can see how a learning community can be established through the aggregators and assigned feeds. I have witnesses several teachers that complain about students loosing interest in reading and writing–I think a web-based learning community would enhance student’s reading and writing skills because they are participating in something that interests them. In addition, they are building upon one another’s observations and discoveries and there seems to be a great positive in this idea.
I have added several feeds that interest me, and when I log on to my computer “I can’t stop reading!” Wouldn’t that be a nice motto for an elementary classroom?
August 27th, 2008 at 9:03 pm
My overall goal as a teacher was teach students “how” to learn. To that end end I have no problem granting them greater control over their learning. In fact, I don’t really think of myself as a teach but a learning facilitator. Someone who assists the student in learning.
Learners have countless interests. How can we limit them? Learning communities will allow them to reach out to others that share their interests and though exposure increase their knowledge. Is not that the point?
We sometimes forgot that knowledge is not limited to few. There are many “experts” who never attended a college or finished public school. Learning occurs anywhere, anytime, anyplace and from anyone.