Comments for phaedrus http://durandus.com/phaedrus Technology is neither the problem nor the solution. Thu, 28 Aug 2008 01:59:55 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 Comment on On the Classroom by Latisha Howard http://durandus.com/phaedrus/2006/08/29/on-the-classroom/#comment-10809 Latisha Howard Thu, 28 Aug 2008 01:22:57 +0000 http://durandus.com/phaedrus/?p=13#comment-10809 It is easy to assume that learning only takes place in the classroom, but we have to get away from that way of thinking. I have taken a good number of online classes, and many of these I got more from than a "traditional" classroom. Learning is about getting out of your comfort zone and discovering ways to solve problems. It is easy to assume that learning only takes place in the classroom, but we have to get away from that way of thinking. I have taken a good number of online classes, and many of these I got more from than a “traditional” classroom. Learning is about getting out of your comfort zone and discovering ways to solve problems.

]]> Comment on Planning for Networks of Learners by David Frazier http://durandus.com/phaedrus/2006/08/30/planning-for-networks-of-learners/#comment-10808 David Frazier Thu, 28 Aug 2008 01:03:25 +0000 http://durandus.com/phaedrus/?p=15#comment-10808 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. 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.

]]> Comment on Gaming : MUDs by lowell http://durandus.com/phaedrus/2008/08/26/gaming-muds/#comment-10807 lowell Thu, 28 Aug 2008 00:29:39 +0000 http://durandus.com/phaedrus/?p=219#comment-10807 Oh, that's an interesting interpretation, David. I think you're right, tho. Gredler's suggesting that to be educational, the winning is the indicator that learning -- even mastery -- has happened. No wonder I'm not big on "educational games." Oh, that’s an interesting interpretation, David. I think you’re right, tho. Gredler’s suggesting that to be educational, the winning is the indicator that learning — even mastery — has happened.

No wonder I’m not big on “educational games.”

]]> Comment on Gaming : MUDs by David Frazier http://durandus.com/phaedrus/2008/08/26/gaming-muds/#comment-10806 David Frazier Wed, 27 Aug 2008 23:51:10 +0000 http://durandus.com/phaedrus/?p=219#comment-10806 Correct me if I am wrong but I think the point is that everyone "wins' through the experience of playing MUDs. It is not broken down into winners and losers since by playing you are winning (learning). Gelder's methodology seems to describe winning as in binary terms. If you win you learn. if you don't win you don't learn. It does not consider different levels of learning. Correct me if I am wrong but I think the point is that everyone “wins’ through the experience of playing MUDs. It is not broken down into winners and losers since by playing you are winning (learning). Gelder’s methodology seems to describe winning as in binary terms. If you win you learn. if you don’t win you don’t learn. It does not consider different levels of learning.

]]> Comment on Gaming : MUDs by lowell http://durandus.com/phaedrus/2008/08/26/gaming-muds/#comment-10804 lowell Wed, 27 Aug 2008 22:41:47 +0000 http://durandus.com/phaedrus/?p=219#comment-10804 MUDs violate every one of Gredler's characteristics of an educational game, except they're not zero sum. In the world of MUD, everybody can "win" MUDs violate every one of Gredler’s characteristics of an educational game, except they’re not zero sum. In the world of MUD, everybody can “win”

]]> Comment on Monica’s Comment by Elizabeth Freeman http://durandus.com/phaedrus/2008/08/27/monicas-comment/#comment-10803 Elizabeth Freeman Wed, 27 Aug 2008 20:58:11 +0000 http://durandus.com/phaedrus/?p=221#comment-10803 I think that learning is a difficult term to define and it is hard, almost impossible to measure learning. As teachers we measure what we teach the students, but as said in this posting we have no way of determining if the students actually learned the content 5 or 10 years down the road. Plus there is also the factor as to what type of test is being administered. Some students perform better on essay exams, while others do better on multiple choice. I do not think that learning means memorizing something for a test, which I have been guilty of. There have been many tests that I got A's on because of memorization, not learning. To me learning means that you remember something for a long time. I think that learning is a difficult term to define and it is hard, almost impossible to measure learning. As teachers we measure what we teach the students, but as said in this posting we have no way of determining if the students actually learned the content 5 or 10 years down the road. Plus there is also the factor as to what type of test is being administered. Some students perform better on essay exams, while others do better on multiple choice. I do not think that learning means memorizing something for a test, which I have been guilty of. There have been many tests that I got A’s on because of memorization, not learning. To me learning means that you remember something for a long time.

]]> Comment on Gaming : MUDs by carla http://durandus.com/phaedrus/2008/08/26/gaming-muds/#comment-10802 carla Wed, 27 Aug 2008 20:24:08 +0000 http://durandus.com/phaedrus/?p=219#comment-10802 While reading your post, I was still trying to figure out what exactly you are saying. I am a visual learner and MUD's are still coming around. As far as the 5 points discussed, I agree more with you than Gredler's view. I mean really. No games without random factors. That is real life. If you are playing a game and doing good, slam in a random factor and it leaves the game open to imagination. The content but no trivia... that is how I learn. Ask me what I don't know and I promise I will find some way to remember it the next time. Finding what we don't know help us scaffold new information. The simple games are looked at as elementary type. The more complex the more students will be engaged. Wrong answers (wrong decisions) in life result in negative things happening. Who wants to play a game when there is no threat of losing. If the author has made these recommendations for educational games then that is the reason most educational games suck. IMO While reading your post, I was still trying to figure out what exactly you are saying. I am a visual learner and MUD’s are still coming around.
As far as the 5 points discussed, I agree more with you than Gredler’s view. I mean really. No games without random factors. That is real life. If you are playing a game and doing good, slam in a random factor and it leaves the game open to imagination.
The content but no trivia… that is how I learn. Ask me what I don’t know and I promise I will find some way to remember it the next time. Finding what we don’t know help us scaffold new information.
The simple games are looked at as elementary type. The more complex the more students will be engaged.
Wrong answers (wrong decisions) in life result in negative things happening. Who wants to play a game when there is no threat of losing.

If the author has made these recommendations for educational games then that is the reason most educational games suck. IMO

]]> Comment on On the Classroom by lowell http://durandus.com/phaedrus/2006/08/29/on-the-classroom/#comment-10800 lowell Wed, 27 Aug 2008 13:37:37 +0000 http://durandus.com/phaedrus/?p=13#comment-10800 "We need to consider the different learning styles of our students and work to help each student learn accordingly." Actually, this is a myth. There's no credible evidence that so-called learning styles exist. I know it's in the KY Educational Standards. It doesn't make it so. "A classroom is a scheduled way to bring students together for learning," This is also a myth. A classroom is a scheduled way to bring students together for TEACHING. It's a mistake to confuse those two goals. "I do think that most teachers probably follow this “tradition” because it is expected in their school and they don’t want disapproval from others." Unfortunately, I think you nailed this one down pretty well. Especially, if by "others" you mean the administration who can deny a contract renewal. The other factor is that most teachers -- all levels -- teach the way they were taught. “We need to consider the different learning styles of our students and work to help each student learn accordingly.”

Actually, this is a myth. There’s no credible evidence that so-called learning styles exist. I know it’s in the KY Educational Standards. It doesn’t make it so.

“A classroom is a scheduled way to bring students together for learning,”

This is also a myth. A classroom is a scheduled way to bring students together for TEACHING. It’s a mistake to confuse those two goals.

“I do think that most teachers probably follow this “tradition” because it is expected in their school and they don’t want disapproval from others.”

Unfortunately, I think you nailed this one down pretty well. Especially, if by “others” you mean the administration who can deny a contract renewal. The other factor is that most teachers — all levels — teach the way they were taught.

]]> Comment on Considering Education by phaedrus » Blog Archive » Monica’s Comment http://durandus.com/phaedrus/2006/08/25/considering-education/#comment-10799 phaedrus » Blog Archive » Monica’s Comment Wed, 27 Aug 2008 13:15:56 +0000 http://durandus.com/phaedrus/?p=9#comment-10799 [...] of the comments on my earlier post deserves some attention: Considering Education Education, I think is often seen as formal instruction, and learning as something that can be [...] […] of the comments on my earlier post deserves some attention: Considering Education Education, I think is often seen as formal instruction, and learning as something that can be […]

]]> Comment on On Distance Education by Kim Clevinger http://durandus.com/phaedrus/2006/08/31/on-distance-education/#comment-10798 Kim Clevinger Wed, 27 Aug 2008 13:14:04 +0000 http://durandus.com/phaedrus/?p=17#comment-10798 I agree with a lot of the other comments being made by my classmates. I have always thought of distance education of online classes. I based it on proximity. However, now I can see that distance education is occurring in the traditional classroom. Many people are not "at the same place at the same time" even if they are together in one room at the exact same moment. The lecture may be over the heads of some or many students may be thinking of what they will have for lunch. This was a great observation to think about and I agree totally. No matter if we are face to face with our students or talking to them online we must bridge the gap of what they know and what they are trying to learn. I agree with a lot of the other comments being made by my classmates. I have always thought of distance education of online classes. I based it on proximity. However, now I can see that distance education is occurring in the traditional classroom. Many people are not “at the same place at the same time” even if they are together in one room at the exact same moment. The lecture may be over the heads of some or many students may be thinking of what they will have for lunch.

This was a great observation to think about and I agree totally. No matter if we are face to face with our students or talking to them online we must bridge the gap of what they know and what they are trying to learn.

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