Our blog prompts / questions for this week are the following: 1.How do you take up teaching in a world where knowledge is becoming obsolete? I try to embrace this and teach in a manner that accepts this and sees this an important concept to share with my students.I look for new ways to engage and empower students to help them learn how to learn that works best for them.I see myself more as a lead learner than a traditional teacher that possess the knowledge to disseminate to the masses.I find myself taking more risks with new lessons and tools to help create the conditions that promote the ability to analyze and synthesize knowledge. 2. What steps should/could we as educators take in relation to bringing social networks into the classroom? I try to model what I hope that students could see as an effective way to harness the power of social networks.I have implemented my social networks into class and I’m trying to great students to build theirs.I try to create and promote collaborative projects so students can build networks and realize learning is social and active. 3. How do we balance the “moral imperative” to educate children to succeed in a rapidly changing world (see the NCTE definition of 21st century literacies) with concerns around student safety and privacy? I think the balance comes with many factors.Knowing that this is the world that we currently live in and that students are experiencing this first hand (most times without a compass in this uncharted world), schools should be preparing them for their future and not the past or the futures we think should happen.A partnership amongst stakeholders (students, teachers, administration, and parents) needs to be established in order to provide these 21st Century opportunities.There are many that argue ‘get back to basics’, but I’m not sure those that argue this understand that there are new ‘basics’.Our students (and I would argue all of us) need to learn how to navigate these new ‘norms’ in order to be successful in a global society. (I also thought it was interesting that the NCTE site stated ‘This position statement may be printed, copied, and disseminated without permission from NCTE.’) Mulling and Musings on this week’s assigned readings and videos:
8 Comments
Melinda Demeter
10/7/2019 11:00:14 am
Dean, it was a pleasure to read your insightful blog on the power of networks. I have had a chance to see how engaging you make your lessons using technology. I also know that you do it because you are passionate about it and have a set of goals for your students to not only fit into but succeed in the 21st century global society.
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Dean Vendramin
10/7/2019 11:30:49 pm
Thanks Melinda. I have heard a few time that teachers that don't use technology will be replaced by though who do (here's one of many examples I have found on this http://www.dailyedventures.com/2015/03/12/hari-krishna-arya/) I think it's not just the fact that one uses technology but the opportunities there are to empower and engage learners including the teacher. Should allow students to own their knowledge and build important relationships. Appreciate your comments and I'm really impressed by your journey and growth mindset.
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Brooke
10/7/2019 07:56:35 pm
Hi Dean, great to read your post again this week. I like how you decided to organize your ideas. Very easy to follow! I think you are doing an except job of "unlearning" the traditional role of teacher that Curtis discusses in his post this week. I enjoy the term you used as "lead learner" which indicates to your students that you too, are long for the (learning) ride. Cheers!
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Dean Vendramin
10/7/2019 11:34:57 pm
Thanks Brooke. One of the many reasons I got into teaching was a love of learning and it has not disappointed. There is always room for growth and development and teachers need to model this for the students. I use this line a lot ... does one want a 30 year teaching career or 30 one year teaching careers? Appreciate your comments
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Daniel
10/7/2019 08:44:45 pm
Dean, I enjoyed your post and the comments you made related to the readings/videos from this past week. Do you find some kids being excluded from social media or technological initiatives you undertake in your classroom? If so, how do you do about including them in the discussion and engaged? I have many students who don't have access to a computer or the internet at home. Thanks.
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Dean Vendramin
10/7/2019 11:38:55 pm
I allow for different ways to share thoughts like posting inside a formative. I'm lucky to have a class set of laptops so students have many opportunities to participate and get support on these activities. I can see you point for sure and I try to make sure that we bridge the digital divide. Thanks for your comments / question.
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I enjoyed your insight into "new" basics. The idea of "basics" could be argued forever because they are constantly changing, especially depending on who you are talking with (ex. carpenter vs. accountant). Grasping on to this change is hard and will always be difficult to adjust to. "Knowledge is growing faster than ever, expiring faster than ever, and is more accessible than ever" (Pavan Arora). Therefore, the basics are always changing.
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Dean Vendramin
10/7/2019 11:43:50 pm
Thanks for your comments. The landscape has and will continue to change. I really feel that the institution of education hasn't adequately adapted to meet the needs of its clients (our students). There is hope and great discussions like this and progressive teaching practices hopefully will foster change from within or maybe schools will become obsolete.
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AuthorDean Vendramin. Educator for over 20 years. Currently Education Leader for Math/Science at Archbishop M.C. O'Neill Catholic High School. Have a passion for all things in education with emphasis on technology integration, assessment, professional development, and 21 Century Education. Posts are articles he has written for the Saskatchewan Teachers' Federation monthly newsletter The Bulletin, Saskatchewan Math Teachers' Society The Variable, blog requests from memberships he is a part of, and his own thoughts. Archives
February 2022
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