I am upgrading WordPress to 2.6 and when I get the kinks worked out will change my theme. Right now my categories do not show up, I see a list with no names, it even tells me how many posts are linked to the name less categories. Not sure if I should delete categories and start again which will take less time.
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I was driving from the Cape to NJ today and had an interesting conversation while at a McDonald’s along 95. Not sure how it got started, we were exchanging pleasantries and such and it turned to what we did (he is a retired accountant, I am an educator) and it then turned to education. And did he have an opinion of education!
“The purpose of education is to produce workers.” I suggested that “…it is an outcome of education but not the sole purpose of education.’” I told him that “I believe that education is more than that. If we just produce workers we would stagnate as a society. We need to foster a variety of skills, talents and creativity.” I was told that was a lot of m’larky in a less then polite manner. I continued, “society changes over time, we need people who are able to change, adapt and invent if we are to continue to move forward and grow.” The conversation went downhill from there. Those of you who have met me face to face know I am pretty low key. I was not up for the debate, just wanted my lunch and to get back on the road, but it did get me thinking.
He, in my thinking, saw education at its most basic; give people enough education so they can get a job and not be a burden on society. He did not see that education can also elevate a society. If we only shoot for the base we will never reach the top. As educators we realize education’s role is more then producing workers (see tweets and plurks below). We see it as very complex but vital to our society’s continued success. We are passionate about change and improving education for all, but if his thoughts on education, JUST to produce workers, is prevalent then we can see why the general populace are not up in arms about the need for better, richer education of our children.
I believe that education in whatever form (public, private, formal and informal) is to bring out the best in the individual, to aid each of us in reaching our FULL potential. Education is more then just academic and testing success, as we currently stress, but includes the development of reasoning, creativity, talents among other things.
Many of you are more eloquent then I on this matter please share your thoughts in the comments below.
Here are some thoughts from ‘the network’.
Poll: is the production of an educated workforce the purpose or by product of education?
Plurk: Link to responses
Twitter: The following are some twitter response. Not sure how best to show them so I just copied. (Link to screen shot of the tweets) Twitter responses are best read bottom to top.
ClareLane @glad2be So now we test how well we have taught what we do not value.” Art Costa
ClareLane @glad2be “What was once educationally significant, but difficult to measure, has been replaced by what is insignificant and easy to measure.
Tom_Turner @bknittle which leads hopefully to successful, educated responsible members of society
Tom_Turner @bknittle imo I view my role as educator as a facilitator in educating my students to be empowered in their education.
glad2be @bknittle now ed has skewed focus: passing a test.
glad2be @bknittle original ed was to enhance quality of life,through cultural,scientific awareness & employability
WendyDrexler @bknittle If done well, both. Not the only purpose though. Might add good citizen, moral being, problem solver, prep for uni, etc.
glad2be @bknittle sounds like a good blog question
bknittle @smartinez I think in theory ’cause practice SHOULD come from theory.
smartinez @bknittle re: poll. in theory or in practice?
Riptide_Furse @bknittle I always thought it was to produce successful members in society. We are preparing students for jobs that don’t exist yet.
bknittle @Tom_Turner not sure they are the same. If the sole purpose then we just make workers, I think education is more. Sorting my thoughts out now
Tom_Turner @bknittle wouldn’t it be considered both?
glad2be @bknittle the answer is yes
Please add your thoughts below.
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I spent the day reading George Washington on Leadership by Richard Brookhiser. I love to read the history, letters and thoughts of our founding fathers and their British counterparts. There were many parts of my reading I found thought provoking but two I would like to share. I was reminded of “The Rules of Civililty & Decent Behavior in Company and Conversation.” Washington copied these in a penmanship exercise, they were originally compiled by Jesuits in 1595. These rules were written in the time of a class based society but respect, politeness and courtesy are never out of style, though sometimes I find these lacking in today’s inteactions.
The second is a quote by the author (pg 161)
A leader must believe that there is some best to brought out. If men are wretches, they have no best.
I would paraphrase it this way;
A teacher mush believe that there is some best to brought out. If students are thought to be wretches they have no best.
Some times when I listen to some teachers talk about their students I wonder how they ever expect them to learn if they think so little of them. Though these teachers are not common they whine about their students and speak negatively of them. They do not respect them, nor their potential.
I am certain that if we treat all with respect and honor their gifts, talents and potential we can bring out the best in all of us.
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The high light for me at NECC was to meet the DEN in SL leadership council and some of our SL community and present with the LC. We only had an hour to share everything and we could not do it all. The list of links below takes you to video, and some posts about our session. If you were there or know of a post regarding it please leave a comment and share.
One of the objectives of our session was to explain how we built our community in the Second Life ® environment. Any community is made up of people and it is people that grow and strengthen this community. It takes a conscience effort to seek out the members; to welcome and orientate them to the group and it’s surroundings. This role is carried out by the Guides, wonderful people who volunteer an hour or so a week to greet visitors and answer their questions.
It is also vitally important to aid the members in sharing what they know and provide an opportunity to learn and grow. We do this with our Wednesday workshops and other discussions and events. At first the LC did most of the presenting but we see these workshops as a place for the membership to share with each other. We will support them in learning how to present in this unique and changing platform. There needs to be a mix of learning and social opportunities. The LC and guides also need to make an effort to introduce the membership to each other. I frequently use the note feature in SL to record what I learn about various members so I can introduce members to others who may have similar interests and talents. A follow up note and thank you is also helpful in keeping the community connected and valued.
The DEN in SL also provide other avenues for the membership to connect and keep up to date with events. We have a blog, wonderfully maintained by Laelia, and a Google group. These provide links to resources and discussions that are less transient then those that occur in SL.
We currently have a membership approaching 600. Of these we have the usual regulars who pop in almost daily, or at least 3 times a week. We have members who come for all events and those that attend only those of interest to them. Some of our membership visit once or twice a month. Another group seems to have entered SL, joined the DEN in SL and did not return to SL. Did they try SL and find it was not for them? Or were they so bewildered they gave up before they connected with other educators? It is these people I would like to find a way to support and encourage. I realize SL is not for everyone but if I had not returned and given it more of an effort I would have missed out on some great friendships and learning. I am eager to help more voices join the conversation.
For further infomation:
- The DEN in SL presentation wiki and video
- The DEN is SL Blog
- The Den in SL Google Group
- Steve Dembo’s live blogging of the event
- David Warlick’s live blogging of the session
- Musings from the academy thoughts
- Thoughts from a confessed tech dork
- Another cover it live post
- And Jen Dorman’s notes on the session
Tags: neec2008
n08s242
DENinSL
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I returned from NECC to face a household of guests. It is similar to leaving a movie 1/2 way through and being dropped in the middle of another one. I am a little dazed and confused.
I attended a variety of sessions some great, some not so great. I wish they came with a label such as introduction or advanced. The best part of NECC for me was meeting and talking to people. I meet some of my network face-2-face for the first time, had a chance to reconnect with others I had met at EduCon and the New England tweet up. I added to the list of people I wish to learn with and from. One of the recurring themes of the many discussions I had at NECC was regarding the network itself. I am sure there are studies and books on how networks grow and work. I have not read any. I do plan to change that soon. But I can speak from my experience.
In the morning quiet I have begun to reflect and share my experiences with my folks. On the front porch over morning coffee I have tried to explain how it works for me. In the past I have referred to a network has being made up of evangelists, parish priests, and parishioners. The evangelist inspires, excites, and draws people to the congregation. The parish priests supports the membership on an ongoing basis teaching skills and offering support for the members to carry out their individual work.
The network has also been described as the greater mind, the collective brain. In the nervous system a single neuron does not do much. But connected they are a powerful force. Not all neurons have the same role or purpose if they did the system would not work. Some are sensory neurons – exciting and inspiring others to action. Other neurons or members of the network share and pass that information along and other neurons carry out the actions. I see similar roles within my learning network. All the roles are valuable and necessary. Some participants are flexible and can take on different roles at different times. No member is less valuable or un-needed, as we cannot anticipate all that might happen and what information or action is needed.
So to all the members of my learning network thank you for your inspiration, information, and hard work. Its been great learning with you and looking forward to what comes next.
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I am trying to get ready for NECC. I am very excited and am sure I will forget something. This is my first NECC and I have been trying to follow all the advice from the NECC Ning. Bring business cards, pre-printed labels, power strip, comfy shoes, sturdy tote. I have spent the day printing up all my confirmations, clearing out my readers, email and getting all the little things done at home so I can focus on meeting friends and learning.
I will be presenting with the DEN in SL leadership council, I have never met any of my colleagues face to face. I have come to count them among my friends and am looking forward to the conversations. Though my communications with my network is rich and meaningful, I found the conversations and connections became deeper after the face-2-face contacts I made at EduCon 2, I believe this will be true after NECC. I have also be working with (more like struggling) my NECC Planner there is so much to do and so little time. I found most of my focus in on Second Life® and Personal Learning Networks.
I know I will be at our presentation Monday, July 1 at 8:30 at HGCC 211, and the the DEN in SL meet and greet Tuesday 3pm at the SL lounge.
For a list of other Second Life sessions please take a look at KJ’s post.
Hope to see you there.
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About a week ago my dad called telling me about 3D connexion’s Space Navigator. My dad was reading about Second Life, trying to understand what is I do. Thanks to dad I now have the Navigator for notebooks. It arrived yesterday evening and I took it for a test spin last night in SL. I did need to download the new release candidate for SL. 3D connexion suggests setting up on the opposite side of the mouse. I do not use a mouse on my laptop and honestly I am so uncoordinated with my left hand that would be a disaster. So it sits on the right side of my MacBook Pro.
It was easy to set up and fits comfortably in my hand. I first tried it out flying and that seems fun and easy. Walking and manipulating objects was a different story. The mouse is designed to respond to input from any direction and the slightest movement up or down was reflected in my avatar. But it is just a matter of getting use to it and playing with a few setting. I need to think 3D and not 2D. Today I hope to play more in SL, and take a tour in Google Earth (it is compatible with GE). I am glad school is winding down, there is now more time to play and explore.
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