Comments on: Exploration is Key http://googtweetblog.edublogs.org/2008/03/15/exploration-is-key/ Education, technology, and other geeky things Wed, 20 Aug 2008 14:28:09 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: bcds http://googtweetblog.edublogs.org/2008/03/15/exploration-is-key/#comment-402 bcds Sun, 16 Mar 2008 01:44:55 +0000 http://googtweetblog.edublogs.org/2008/03/15/exploration-is-key/#comment-402 I too am in a lab with my middle school kids (6-9) and I only get 6th and 9th once a week, 7th and 8th twice a week- this is when we don't have snow days, holidays, field trips, etc. I really feel pressed for time to teach some of the basics. I've tried to get away from the way I usually do things this year using wikis and blogs for a couple of projects with pretty positive results. I actually had the most fun with my 2nd grade science students when we made a voice thread on how to grow borax snowflakes. The kids begged to come up at lunch time and add more to it. Since we are an independent school- no tech director- very little is blocked, and I unblocked facebook, myspace and a couple other sites myself so we can use them in class. I'm a little wary of parent reaction if I allow my older kids free rein. But I absolutely agree with you that the best way to learn is by experimenting. I got "pushed" into my position a few years ago, from being a Kindergarten teacher of almost 20 years... been learning as I go. I've often wished for a guardian angel who didn't tell me what to try, but could help out when I was stuck. My best lessons out of all the "stuff" that I teach are in 3rd grade science- after teaching about circuits- the kids have to make something that moves- with Linx, a battery and motor. We all learn- and I get to truly be a teacher/learner/facilitator, etc. How to transfer that to the computer classes I teach without incurring the wrath of parents and admin?? How to get some of the basics in, with a very limited amount of time? Our curriculum scope and sequence has been changed unilaterally by admin over the last few years from gr 1-12, to gr 1-8, to gr 6-8 and now to gr 4-9... so everyone is coming in with a different starting point and I juggle from year to year. Hopefully this will stabilize soon and I can stop reteaching basic skills and start using them to actually do something. I too am in a lab with my middle school kids (6-9) and I only get 6th and 9th once a week, 7th and 8th twice a week- this is when we don’t have snow days, holidays, field trips, etc. I really feel pressed for time to teach some of the basics. I’ve tried to get away from the way I usually do things this year using wikis and blogs for a couple of projects with pretty positive results. I actually had the most fun with my 2nd grade science students when we made a voice thread on how to grow borax snowflakes. The kids begged to come up at lunch time and add more to it.

Since we are an independent school- no tech director- very little is blocked, and I unblocked facebook, myspace and a couple other sites myself so we can use them in class. I’m a little wary of parent reaction if I allow my older kids free rein.

But I absolutely agree with you that the best way to learn is by experimenting. I got “pushed” into my position a few years ago, from being a Kindergarten teacher of almost 20 years… been learning as I go. I’ve often wished for a guardian angel who didn’t tell me what to try, but could help out when I was stuck.

My best lessons out of all the “stuff” that I teach are in 3rd grade science- after teaching about circuits- the kids have to make something that moves- with Linx, a battery and motor. We all learn- and I get to truly be a teacher/learner/facilitator, etc. How to transfer that to the computer classes I teach without incurring the wrath of parents and admin??

How to get some of the basics in, with a very limited amount of time? Our curriculum scope and sequence has been changed unilaterally by admin over the last few years from gr 1-12, to gr 1-8, to gr 6-8 and now to gr 4-9… so everyone is coming in with a different starting point and I juggle from year to year. Hopefully this will stabilize soon and I can stop reteaching basic skills and start using them to actually do something.

]]> By: susant http://googtweetblog.edublogs.org/2008/03/15/exploration-is-key/#comment-401 susant Sat, 15 Mar 2008 19:54:55 +0000 http://googtweetblog.edublogs.org/2008/03/15/exploration-is-key/#comment-401 I so agree with you! Unfortunately my students only get to visit the computer lab once a week, when of course I usually feel obliged to follow the "click here" methodology. I have found therefore, that some of the most successful lab time has been when our network was down, no possibility of saving work and so - freedom. OK kids, we can't save your work today, so go ahead, try things out, click on buttons and see what they do, draw, record yourselves, make a clip, a ppt, whatever you want! I love those lessons, the students love those lessons and some of the most creative work has been achieved in those lessons. I'm almost sorry when the network fires up again. I so agree with you! Unfortunately my students only get to visit the computer lab once a week, when of course I usually feel obliged to follow the “click here” methodology.
I have found therefore, that some of the most successful lab time has been when our network was down, no possibility of saving work and so - freedom. OK kids, we can’t save your work today, so go ahead, try things out, click on buttons and see what they do, draw, record yourselves, make a clip, a ppt, whatever you want!
I love those lessons, the students love those lessons and some of the most creative work has been achieved in those lessons. I’m almost sorry when the network fires up again.

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