Once again, from the “Shameless Self-Promotion Deptartment” comes this essay I wrote for the December issue of Edutopia Magazine. As always, would love to know what you think.
The need for classroom teachers to embrace these new technologies is essential. Without that buy-in and classroom teachers seeing the need for the technology it will not filter into the classroom.
I have enjoyed reading your blog over the past year. Thank you for all the ideas and thoughts.
This is a nice article. I actually get the print version of Edutopia here at the office. Alot of higher ed people still don’t get the web collaboration thing. But things are changing.
Leosays
Thanks for all of the great information Will. Keep it up.I just wanted to share with you another site that I frequent: http://thetechteacher.libsyn.com Great stuff there too.
Leo
Tedsays
Will–
Echoing what is sure to be a common voice in this discussion, I will start by saying that the educators’ willingness to embrace these game-changing tools will determine the speed in which culture of learning shifts.
Your points are well taken:
“In fact, in my own kids’ lives, I believe their best, most memorable, and most effective teachers will be the ones they discover, not the ones they are given.”
This has peaked my curiosity. Actually how many educators (not specifically teachers) are out there to be ‘found’?
I want to believe there are a multitude of educators out there for our learners…..let’s see:
I have created a voicethread that can be located at:
Let’s see how quickly we can prove your point. I believe there are teachers out there to be ‘found’.
Tedsays
Will–
Echoing what is sure to be a common voice in this discussion, I will start by saying that the educators’ willingness to embrace these game-changing tools will determine the speed in which culture of learning shifts.
Your points are well taken:
“In fact, in my own kids’ lives, I believe their best, most memorable, and most effective teachers will be the ones they discover, not the ones they are given.”
This has peaked my curiosity. Actually how many educators (not specifically teachers) are out there to be ‘found’?
I want to believe there are a multitude of educators out there for our learners…..let’s see:
I have created a voicethread that can be located at:
Let’s see how quickly we can prove your point. I believe there are teachers out there to be ‘found’.
Great article, Will. Thanks for sharing it. “In our zeal to hold on to the old structures of teaching and learning and to protect students at all costs, we are not just leaving them ill prepared for the future, we are also missing an enormous opportunity for ourselves as learners” I couldn’t agree more. I fear that most of the teachers that I work with see computers and online tools as a distraction, an impedance to their teaching. I know that their lack of understanding comes mostly from how pressed they are for time, how underappreciated they are, and the sketchy support they find for doing anything new or outside the norm. I passed your essay along to the science department teachers at our local high school, hoping that your words might resonate more effectively than mine. I’ve been talking with them about using web 2.0 tools for increased collaboration and expanding the boundaries of their classrooms but, I’m afraid, I’m not making much progress. In a recent department meeting where I was invited to brainstorm with them about a teacher workshop (I regularly organize teaching with technology workshops for science educators), one of the teachers asked, “What does any of this have to do with teaching?” I attempted an answer but quickly realized that I was swimming upstream. One 10-minute conversation (without a computer in the room) with a group with firmly made-up-minds was not going to cut it. Let’s hope your essay provides a wedge.
Will,
Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
The need for classroom teachers to embrace these new technologies is essential. Without that buy-in and classroom teachers seeing the need for the technology it will not filter into the classroom.
I have enjoyed reading your blog over the past year. Thank you for all the ideas and thoughts.
Jonathan Ferrell
ferrellj@usd231.com
Hi Mr. Richardson! I blogged about you today. Thank you. I have exciting news! Go see.
This is a nice article. I actually get the print version of Edutopia here at the office. Alot of higher ed people still don’t get the web collaboration thing. But things are changing.
Thanks for all of the great information Will. Keep it up.I just wanted to share with you another site that I frequent: http://thetechteacher.libsyn.com Great stuff there too.
Leo
Will–
Echoing what is sure to be a common voice in this discussion, I will start by saying that the educators’ willingness to embrace these game-changing tools will determine the speed in which culture of learning shifts.
Your points are well taken:
“In fact, in my own kids’ lives, I believe their best, most memorable, and most effective teachers will be the ones they discover, not the ones they are given.”
This has peaked my curiosity. Actually how many educators (not specifically teachers) are out there to be ‘found’?
I want to believe there are a multitude of educators out there for our learners…..let’s see:
I have created a voicethread that can be located at:
http://voicethread.com/#q+Educators.b293549.i1543228
Let’s see how quickly we can prove your point. I believe there are teachers out there to be ‘found’.
Will–
Echoing what is sure to be a common voice in this discussion, I will start by saying that the educators’ willingness to embrace these game-changing tools will determine the speed in which culture of learning shifts.
Your points are well taken:
“In fact, in my own kids’ lives, I believe their best, most memorable, and most effective teachers will be the ones they discover, not the ones they are given.”
This has peaked my curiosity. Actually how many educators (not specifically teachers) are out there to be ‘found’?
I want to believe there are a multitude of educators out there for our learners…..let’s see:
I have created a voicethread that can be located at:
Let’s see how quickly we can prove your point. I believe there are teachers out there to be ‘found’.
Hello Mr. Richardson,
One extremely minor point, if I may: the word “Department” [in the title] is misspelled.
Sorry to be a pain:-)
Great article, Will. Thanks for sharing it. “In our zeal to hold on to the old structures of teaching and learning and to protect students at all costs, we are not just leaving them ill prepared for the future, we are also missing an enormous opportunity for ourselves as learners” I couldn’t agree more. I fear that most of the teachers that I work with see computers and online tools as a distraction, an impedance to their teaching. I know that their lack of understanding comes mostly from how pressed they are for time, how underappreciated they are, and the sketchy support they find for doing anything new or outside the norm. I passed your essay along to the science department teachers at our local high school, hoping that your words might resonate more effectively than mine. I’ve been talking with them about using web 2.0 tools for increased collaboration and expanding the boundaries of their classrooms but, I’m afraid, I’m not making much progress. In a recent department meeting where I was invited to brainstorm with them about a teacher workshop (I regularly organize teaching with technology workshops for science educators), one of the teachers asked, “What does any of this have to do with teaching?” I attempted an answer but quickly realized that I was swimming upstream. One 10-minute conversation (without a computer in the room) with a group with firmly made-up-minds was not going to cut it. Let’s hope your essay provides a wedge.