Looking for Learning

A. I am your friend. I don’t work in education. You are talking to me about the idea that we all learn from each other, in all kinds of contexts, and that this can often be richer than more formal classroom based learning. I am skeptical. Tell me about an informal learning experience you have had online in which collaboration was involved, show me a concrete example to help me to see what you mean.

Okay – I run an Internet project called the Monster Project. It’s a multischool project in which the parts of a friendly monster are divided among the participant classrooms (K-6). The idea of learning from each other is illustrated in each classroom and across classrooms as the kids are from around the world. Collaboration is required becasue without it, the monster will not get done.  Each class chooses a Monster part. Then, each class writes a description of that part and sends it to this project web. When all of the descriptions are in, each class builds a single MONSTER using everyone’s descriptions from the table below. Students discover that designing and building a monster together is a very big job. It is a major lesson in working together and learning to compromise in a group decision process. For example, the kid responsible for the head has to plan with the kids doing the eyes, nose, neck, mouth, ears and hair. So kids must collaborate to construct their class MONSTER . The result is satisfying proof that a community of kids can accomplish anything!! Project Site Link.

B. We all explore new technologies, some grab our attention more than others, some seem revolutionary, others simply bore us. Tell us about that new tool, or set of tools, you have just discovered that really excites you, talk about the potential it has to change your work. What do you want to do with it?

The best new tool I use with my kids is a teacher moderated blog site called Classblogmeister. It is not only a place where kids can write their own blogs as wellas respons to my quesitons regarding asignments, it is a majot attraction for them – it appeals to their use of writing skills. They want to check for comments, they want to leave comments, they want to explore other kid blogs – almost makes my job easy! I watch and guide and instruct in how to write meaningful comments. Besdies other kids inother locations reading our blogs, grandmas, grandpas, mom, and dads get the benefit of being able to see into the classroom to know what the kids are doing. www.smithbloggers.org

C. Do you see yourself as a pioneer? Do you think you are more innovative than others in your organisation? Do you think your organisation is lagging behind? Tell us how you feel about this?

I see myself as following a path that is exciting and interesting and I know furthers my knowledge and skills as an educator. I think the Internet allows so much self teaching  that we can all be innovative. As far as being ahead of anyone, I don’t look at it that way. There are many great teachers who may or may not be using web tools in their classrooms as much as I do.