Ramblings 395

One of the emerging uses of computer technology is the rapid growth of “computing in the cloud”. Its appropriateness to the K-12 educational enterprise is still in limbo, in most cases. Is this development one that should be promoted in schools? 

I can see several benefits. Using blogs and wikis, Google Docs, and other services designed to encourage collaboration has great appeal to me. On the other hand, I also need to consider the potentional dangers of using them The following link indicates some of these.:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/20/opinion/20zittrain.html?_r=4&scp=1&sq=zittrain&st=cse

Even though I am a proponent of integration of technology into the classroom, I often ask myself if it is reasonable to expect that all forms of technology might be adapted to classroom use. One form of technology that causes me to ponder how it can be useful is the cellphone. I have yet to see this device as more than a distraction if regularly available to students during class time. There are its supporters, however, apparently including President Obama’s Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan, show here in a video clip.

We find inspiration in many places and through many people. Of course, scripture is often a source of inspiration. One of the people who has given me the opportunity to think deeply about what it means to be a good teacher is Louis Schmier. For may years, I have followed his daily journal (he was blogging long before the word was invented). He has spent considerable effort resisting the bureaucracy often found in an educational institution, as well as sharing his reflections about his teaching. One of the foremost characteristics of a good teacher he led me to is suggested by part of the verse Exodus 24:7. I like it because even the numerics of the reference hint at it.

After reading Gardner’s book, Five Minds for the Future, and stumbling upon a blog posting by Diane Ravitch entitled “Partnership for 19th Century Skills“, it brought to my mind that there is something a little strange about labelling a set of desirable learnings “21st Century Skills”, or, for that matter, “minds for the future”.

I receive a newsletter from Terry Freedman, who maintains a website dedicated to educational technology in the U.K. The current issue contains a link to an article he created lask week with the title “What makes a good teacher as far as technology is concerned?” He describes a set of ideas he thinks are characteristics. they include: a willingness to experiment, the opportunity to experiment, intellectual honesty, love of technology, a willingness not to know everything, and, an opportunity to have excellent professional development.

http://terry-freedman.org.uk/artman/publish/article_1546.php