Will says DO IT! but they turn the other cheek

Will posts a much needed rev up in owning the teaching… and the learning.

We go back and forth in this community about whether teachers who use blogs should blog, or podcast or read RSS feeds. I’ve always hesitated to come down on one side or the other in that debate for a variety of reasons. But it’s become clear to me that the answer has to be yes. If you are an educator, I think you have little choice but to choose option 3 in the Marco Torres mantra: “You can complain, quit or innovate.” I know in many ways it stinks to have to be an educator at a moment in history when things are changing on a glacial scale. But what you signed up for is preparing kids for their futures. You have little choice but to deal.

I’d like to second Will and say that I am also concerned that we are not seeing true and honest attempts to change systems and practices in a way that is better suited to the new world we are heading towards. I share his sense of urgency about it. But more and more, I think I’m realising that the changes we hope for will not come. The changes are happening outside the classroom walls (as always) and so the schools are becoming even more irrelevant to real life. Perhaps we are mistaken in the first place in our thinking that the formal education systems have any significant bearing on our socialisation… perhaps we are contribution to the blockage by attributing more significance than is warranted to the teachers, and thus failing to see what experiences are really important to a person’s learning. Perhaps we might do better refocusing our efforts away from schools and teachers, and more towards community groups, parents, home-schoolers, scouts and sporting clubs etc.

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North Sydney Institute – Web2Debate, Guidelines for using Blogs and Wikis

An interesting project unfolding at North Sydney Institute. A draft set of guidelines for the use of blogs in wikis in formal educational settings. Acknowledges things llike duty of care to minors, and public and private communications etc… (I was surprised to see my blog linked in there – so this is not a self promo).

I know they’re not the only ones developing up such things – though they are using wikispaces – its a sure sign that we’re in 2nd wave though. This is the 2nd wave adoption stage where the hi hopes, ideals and dreams of the 1st wave get compromised.

A skim read of their guidelines looks hopeful. Something in me recoils from the idea of setting guidelines though – which inevitably inform policy – but at least this one works to balance the facistically inforced IT policies of the Department over arching them. Good luck to them.

Thanks Peter Enderby for the pointer.

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