by Beth Knittle on May 31, 2013
It has been my experience that we all use terms such as learning, education and schooling. We assume we agree on their meaning but I do not think we truly have a shared understanding of these terms. There are also terms and phrases I wish would not be bantered about such as ‘21st Century Learning’. Does that mean we learn differently in this century than in previous ones? To me learning takes place in the mind. How we create understanding, make connections and build memories are rooted in our biology. How we interact with our world can change as new technologies evolve, but essentially we still use text, images and audio. We still read, write, communicate and collaborate as we develop understanding.
Tim Stahmer of Assorted Stuff writes about defining the term “digital learning” and shares his thoughts on other education jargon. Does digital learning mean we learn differently with digital content or does it mean we should learn how to utilize digital tools for research, creation and communication? His posts are well worth the read so please take a look.
Past related posts
by Beth Knittle on May 31, 2013
I am an introvert and working in this world of social media, and constant connections can be difficult. It is hard to sustain a social network presence when doing so goes against your natural instinct and you need to force yourself to do so constantly. It is the way things are done today. It can be draining and exhausting and I have not been doing a good job of it lately.
I am not a self-promoter and talking about my family and friends is much easier than talking about myself. I cannot list my skills and accomplishments without feeling like I am bragging. I watch people share their experiences and and say “ I can do that, in fact I have and done even better.” I have knowledge, varied experience and expertise but I am quiet, not gregarious and therefore often these ideas are overlooked.
I am re-reading Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can’t Stop Talking by Susan Cain, for the third time. I highly recommend it. For a small taste of it please watch this animated clip. If you can’t read the whole book this summer then at least the first chapter to get your wheels turning.
We talk a lot about the need for communication and collaboration today in education and often we are leaving out about ½ of individuals who fall in this introverted category. As educators it would be beneficial if we understood and recognized the introverts in our care and their strengths and roles in collaborative teams.
In our cultural past character was the mark of a ‘man.’ In today’s society we focus more on personality. The author demonstrates how we moved from the culture of character to the culture of personality which I find quite thought provoking. This explains a lot for me how we almost worship celebrity even if there is no substance.
Speaking as an introvert who once sat in a classroom and now tries to connect and learn with other educators out there, please take the time to read and reflect on Quite. As noted in the book the most productive teams are those comprised of introverts and extroverts. But as introverts do not necessarily speak loudly you may not know what you are missing unless you know to look for it. Just because someone is not shouting from the rooftop, raising their hand in class or posting constantly does not mean they do not have great ideas and something to contribute.
by Beth Knittle on April 30, 2013
Not an educational related post just sharing some of my geekdom, fandom, nerdy side. There is much I am looking forward to this month; Iron Man 3, May 2 and StarTrek ,May 15.
Not to mention I am enjoying the new run of Dr Who and all The Doctor Revisited episodes re-living the Doctor’s of my youth. This November it is the 50th anniversary of Dr Who, as well as, the return of Sherlock.
All of these are appealing to a new generation, good stories and characters matter and last across the generations. I am very much enjoying my TV and movie options.
