As we get into our week on the basic tool box, consider how we combine tools. In the kitchen we have a collection of tools, from simple to complex, that permit us to do some pretty amazing things. Likewise teachers use a variety of tools and technologies to help students make sense of some body of knowledge. What this class is trying to do is help you all create a collection of tools that will help you learn and that collection is known as a “Personal Learning Environment” or PLE. The concept has been around for a while now and the greater ed tech community is struggling — not only with what this might consist of but also what it will look like.
From Rob Walls’ Stigmergic Web, today’s post refers to a “screen cast” from Graham Atwell in the UK on the subject of PLEs. This pithy quote seems particularly relevant to our discussions of the last couple weeks — and pre-sages the discussions we’ll be having on policy and practice:
StigmergicWeb
Learning, especially informal learning is not something that can be commoditized, monetized or discussed in the context of free markets. Learning, and education, is a public good - the more people in a society that are learners, the better off that society will be.
As we talk about tools and as we think about the issues many of you face in rural and poor communities, remember that tools alone — no matter how good — are useless. Your stove will not cook dinner by itself. Your computer will not learn anything. A personal learning environment may be no more complex than a spiral binder and a library card. As you construct your basic tool box lists, don’t overlook simple tools because they don’t require electricity.
While we’re on the subject of toolboxes, what do you think the differences are between a learner’s toolbox and a teacher’s toolbox? Are there things that a teacher needs that a learner doesn’t? What about the reverse? How can you - as learner - take advantage of teachers’ toolboxes and vice versa as teacher? Leapfrogging off the quote above, what tools will help us create more learners?
September 12th, 2007 at 2:54 pm
[...] As you’re looking at tools this week, remember that you’re looking from two perspectives — as teacher and learner. This class is about creating and maintaining your own toolbox — a Personal Learning Environment — so that you can manage your own learning. Eventually you’ll want to look at it from “the other side of the desk” and use something like this in your own practice. See Personal Learning Environments for some insights from last year. Google that phrase and see how things have changed! [...]
September 13th, 2007 at 10:56 pm
As I stated in another comment (which I can’t remember which blog I was answering) I will be going to a conference for four days in which I have to leave my students. I find this very troubling because no matter how much work I leave for them, they never seem to accomplish the task I set before them. I plan on using one of the tools, probably Tapped-in, to help with this problem I have had in the past with my students being in one location and me being in another. My intention is to set up an environment (on-line) where I leave them assignments during their class period and they must submit their responses electronically to me while I am gone. Another tool I mentioned in that same blog (it is all coming back to me now - it was the one about innovations) is the ability to monitor my students through a website both visually and auditorily at any given time. Now I understand that this type of techonology has been in existence for many years regarding home security systems, etc. but how wonderful would it be if it were available in all classrooms for each and every teacher!
Those are two tools that I would love to see come to light in my classroom - one I can currently work on, the other is hopefully in my future.
September 11th, 2008 at 7:22 am
[...] is winding down but it’s not over yet. This post from 2006 is, amazingly, still current. Personal Learning Environments. As we talk about tools and as we think about the issues many of you face in rural and poor [...]
September 11th, 2008 at 1:22 pm
Not only did I love the excerpt above but I loved the whole article and video! Graham Atwell hit the nail on the head when he said the “Learning, and education, is a public good - the more people in a society that are learners, the better off that society will be. We have become so focused on education (or should I say, scoring high on the test) that we have lost sight of the true goal, which is learning! We (everyone, not just kids) should be learning new things everyday, and not just what is in a textbook or what the teacher says. That is not the way to be a life long learner. You learn more by, here we go again, interaction. Being engaged is still the key to all learning, whether in the classroom or up in the hills somewhere.
Opinion here: if there is not some type of intervention, then the “education system” (politics being strongly emphasized) is going to break the quality of learning. When we teach kids that the test is all that matters, even if we don’t specifically say that they learn more from our actions and they are constantly bombarded with it at school, then what are we really teaching them. Why should they care about learning anything new if there appears to be no benefit for them?
September 11th, 2008 at 6:17 pm
The one thing that will be different inside a teacher’s tool box is the knowledge of content. The student lacks the content and needs to aquire it. After students aquire the knowledge then the content is in both tool boxes. A teacher’s toolbox is going to have motivational tools to have the student engaged in learning the content. The teacher is going to have research the core content. Some things that are the same is communication tools like email, Instant Messaging, virtual classrooms, wiki’s, MUDs, webquests, video, photo, camera, classroom, desk, pencils, paper, and so on. All these tools will be used by the teacher and student to learn. All the communication tools will keep the learner connected with the teacher and other students around the globe. Students will socialize and learn from others. Simulations and games will have students learn through fun play. Teachers can learn from these types of communication and find other proffessionals to collaberate, like at Tapped In. The same with games and simulations, a teacher will play and learn to use the software to teach students. The basic tools like paper, writing utensils, manipulatives, the classroom, textbooks, are tradional technologies that students will aid in research and recording infromation. The classsroom is the environment that students will use informational posters, students, and the teacher to learn content. The teacher will use those tools to prepare the content and teach. Everything we use to help students understand content is considered a tool and both students and teachers need to use the tools.
September 11th, 2008 at 8:49 pm
I think that teachers and learners have a lot in common because teachers are still learners. I am still learning everyday. As a teacher and learner you have access to many of the same tools. It is how the tools are used that makes them effective. I can have resource books, manipulatives, access to computers, smartboards, etc but if I don’t actively use them they do me nor my students any good. When it comes to tools as a teacher and learner the older you get the more tools you have access to. Teachers need accurate resources for teaching because students, especially at a young age depend on their teachers for accurate information. A learner depends on the tools a teacher has and learners should have access to many of the tools that a teacher has in their possession. Teachers determine from their standpoint what a student needs to know. We are looked at as the key to knowledge in our classrooms. We teach students how to learn. I do think that a teacher is not required for all learning to take place. We need to provide students with tools that promote self-learning/exploration. A learner need to have a curious mind. When the mind is curious we learn. I have seen teachers with many tools that just sit in their classroom. What good is a Promethean board that is not used? I have seen them take up wall space in classrooms.
September 11th, 2008 at 9:53 pm
The more learners we have, the better off our society is–how true!! But, are our children really learning what they need to? They learn that they must do well on a test, but what about life? Are they learning enough to make it in the world when “tests” are over? We need a system where we think of the best interest of our students and not just how our school is going to score for the year–we need a system where that students are accountable for their education and want to do well.
To teach and learn students and teachers share many of the same tools such as listening (just as our students listen to us teach, we must listen to them to know how to teach). However, there are also many tools that would be different. One is that teachers have been trained in content (so it is in their toolbox) and they are expected to put it into the students “toolbox”. I think that teachers and learners need many things that are common such as good listening skills and patience. Teachers and students learn everyday–we learn without even thinking about it. We need to use our tools to be lifelong learners and educators who want to create lifelong learners.
September 11th, 2008 at 10:25 pm
[...] Wow! Nate’s blog has once again made me scratch my head as I ponder what he is truly wanting to know. (I am [...]
September 11th, 2008 at 11:06 pm
Content knowledge should indeed be part of a teachers toolbox, but if they are not required to go beyone what is on the test, then a curriculum map and book will suffice just fine. teachers toolbox will be different depending on what content they are teaching but should include a few things in common, method of organization, knowledge of available technology(notice I did not say of all technology, because all technology is not available in all schools especially rural one). Teachers should also have good planning for conductive classroom and means to implement that planning.
Students toolboxs should include desire, willingness to learn, and most importantly the support of the teacher. I didn’t go into material objects because I personally feel material objects are not in the mix here.
Another thought is to look at some of the worlds great teachers in history, they had nothing other than what was in their head. Take Socrates, he just walked around and talked with people and asked questions. I am certainly not saying technology, binders, etc have no place, they certainly do, but at the very root of good education you need a teacher with content and a desire to teach and a student without that content knowledge and a desire to learn.
September 12th, 2008 at 6:03 am
I like the concept of a Personal Learning Environment. It turns the onus of the educational process on the person who is being educated, if done properly. Only the student truly knows what he wants and how he wants to go about learning. The teacher/mentor/expert should be able to adapt to that student’s needs and meet him where he needs to be met. if he works best straight out of a book, let him work that way. if he needs video conferencing, then let him use that.
September 13th, 2008 at 7:30 pm
It is definitely true that the more learners in a society, the better the society. A quick look at statitics on the education of different parts of the world will prove that. Stereotypes label our part of the country as less educated than many other areas. It is a stereotype that will be very difficult to overcome. In order to create more learners, we must use tools to first encourage people to take the first step toward bettering themselves. People often find themselves in situations that do not allow them to attend regular classes in a traditional setting. I believe the tools that we are gaining from this class will be the a wonderful addition to the toolbox that is needed to create more learners. Creating more opportunities for online classes that would allow people to complete an entire degree program would create more learners.
As teachers, we should alawys be adding tools to our tollboxes. As times change and our educational system changes, we need new ways to gain the attention of our students, while not leaving behind the simple tools “that don’t require electricity.” Students, in the same way should also always be adding tools to their toolboxes. Although many of the learnining stategies that we teach them as young children are the same that they use as adult learners, they must continue to “sharpen” these tools.