The Classroom

I have been so busy over the last little while I can’t even think straight… but I have been learning and learning and oh how I’ve been learning. I’ve finally managed to just take some time, to lock myself away (thanks to Glen for the use of your office… even though you don’t know I’m in here…) and try to process everything.  Please excuse me if I ramble on a bit here – as I go on this magical mystery tour of thought I’m letting you come along for the ride…

Lately I’ve been throwing myself into the online world of EdTech theories and conversation – though I will admit I haven’t been an active participant in that conversation (apparently, as I learned today that’s called being a lurker – JMS would be proud).  I’ve been following Warlick, Fryer, Sprankle, Mcintosh and Lyseng, reading their blogs and tweets – trying to keep up with what’s happening.  I went to sessions at GETCA (Greater Edmonton Teachers Convention) and today sat with staff from EPSB’s Centre High to listen to a keynote from Dr. Phil McRae.  I have scribbles, notes, inaudible voice recordings – I bought books, read on-line journals – and learned that I have so much to learn… and I love it!

What I really excited about is this notion of Connectivism.  The learning theory that (to my understanding) basically states that we can’t learn in isolation.  We learn as a community.  Warlick calls them Personal Learning Networks.  I call them cool. 

To think that we can/should learn from multiple people and multiple points of view.  Not just take what the bald man at the front of the class says as gospel truth.  The idea that we learn best when we can bounce ideas off of each other, build upon the thoughts and work of another, and create an understanding so vast and powerful as a group makes sense to me.  It’s likea great wall of China of knowledge.  One person alone could never do it….

So why is this all the rage in EdTech?  Because of social networking and the Internet we now have opportunities to connect and expand out Personal Learning Network to span the globe!  Dr. McRae showed a stat today that stated all Internet users are but 5-7 emails away from each other.  If I sent a message to all the people in my address book - and they send the message to everyone in theirs etc – with in 5-7 repostings everyone who is connected to the net will have read my post.

It makes me wonder if we had this capability years ago, would Jim Keegstra have been able to spread his message to his class so effectively?  I think not.

I watch my students working with google docs in class – sharing their work with kids both in and out of my class – thinking I don’t see them – and getting feedback from multiple sources prior to handing the assignment in to me.  For years we have labeled this as “cheating” and that feeling still permeates a lot of teacher/student interaction (which is why my students try to hide the fact that they’re doing it).  But if we really think about it isn’t this when our best work happens?

I recently got a call from a gentleman who’s just written a novel for young adults and wanted to know if he could have my students read it so he can know “if it sucks or not” prior to him trying to get it published.  Is that cheating?  His publisher will then go over the content and make changes that he/she thinks is needed.  Is that cheating?  No – it’s refinement.  But for the most part we expect our students to work independently – to show what they can do – alone… When really in the “real world” they will never be alone.  They will always be bouncing ideas, topics and concepts off of their teams, leaders, testing groups and the occasional random stranger to improve and refine their products/ideas.  Isn’t that how you build a better mouse trap?

So the question is if that’s how it’s done outside of school, why would it look like cheating IN school?  We have to prepare our students for a time when they will be incredibly interconnected (yes – even more so then now…) and give them the skills to deal with it.  We have to teach them the new forms of public etiquette and communication (I’m still trying to figure out Twitspeak) and how to adapt and change with it.

We also need to talk about the dangers of hyperconnectivity.  An not just about “creepers”.  We need to look at the cases where people have 1000′s of “online friend” but none in real life.  We need to look at the real physical problems that develop from having so my screen time.  We need to look at possible physiological stresses (apparently we have 5 time the number of kids suffering from depression then we did in the 1930′s… is that connected?)  We need to plan and prepare for the best and the worst that the world now offers.

Humans are by nature social creatures.  Just like the little tetra fish in your local pet shop, we only thrive when we’re connected to others in some way.  Physiologics and Sociologists have known that for years – so why are we as educators just now catching up?  Is connectivism really a new theory, or are we just defining something we already knew?

It takes a village to raise a child….

And now the world can help us teach them.