Task Discussion

Jose Rodriguez Oct. 27, 2012, 6:08 p.m.

Bud, you pose some interesting ideas on learning and the challenges we face as a learning community. For me, as a classroom teacher it comes back to some fundemental practices. It is easy to get comfortable in our daily classroom environment. At the same time, I can get excited about learning when I am able to see my students engaged in what is going on both in and out of the classroom. When we are able to find time to Make/Hack/Play my students then the learning begins and new possibitlies open. I like the idea of hacking as improving what's already there. We can take the topics we are exploring in the classroom as a launching pad to explore and come to new learning. I can especially appreciate the idea of Play as having space to explore. The challenge is taking back my agency and understanding that I as a classroom teacher have the power in the teaching and learning with my students. Thanks for a very cool presentation.
KevinHodgson Oct. 26, 2012, 6:10 a.m.

Bud

This issue of the "the role of school" in the shadows of innovation in the after-school programs is something I also struggled with after the Digital Is conference. It seems like those kinds of self-selected audiences really narrows the learning, as great as it is, and I have really tried to think in terms of all my students when it comes to bringing in projects. At one point, I even jettisoned an idea for an after-school video game design course in favor of having ALL of my students working on game design.

http://gaming4schools.yolasite.com/

While the work load and scale factor was difficult, I knew I was reaching a lot of kids. I don't mean to sound negative on some of the wonderful after-school grant-funded programs that go on, but I wish there was more sharing with schools about how to "scale" up those ideas. Maybe we need more partnerships in that direction ...

Kevin
karen Oct. 25, 2012, 12:42 p.m.
Some random thoughts, notes, and questions:
- "Looking at student work" - This came up in a conversation yesterday as well. Every time we talk about standards or curriculum, we should have lots of student work to talk about as well.
  When we do "research," engage in PLCs, and otherwise examine our practice, it should revolve around authentic student work.
- Innovative learning activities don't have to happen during school. They can be near school...after school, on weekends, during the summer.
- What is the purpose of school?
- Professional development - We need make/hack/play professional learning. (That's what P2PU School of Ed is about.)
  
  How do we help more teachers be succesful with this kind of learning?
- Agency - for students and teachers, learners of all kinds - is so important.
- "Hack the curriculum"
- Remixing is hacking.
- "How do you make school look less like school?"
- How do you make/hack/play in learning?
How I have started to make/hack/play in learning.....
- P2PU School of Ed - This has been a great source of agency for me in how I've approached professional learning. Anyone can make or participate in a learning group and it's all about peer learning.
- DS106 - The Daily Create - Bite-sized daily creation exercises
- NaNoWriMo - a month of novel writing (It's coming up fast!)
- NWP and Digital Is (and looking forward to learning about Gamestar Mechanic, Scratch, and Adrino at NCTE with NWP next month)
- Social media, especially Twitter
- ...thinking about some kind of online maker space
KevinHodgson Oct. 26, 2012, 6:14 a.m.
In Reply To: karen Oct. 25, 2012, 12:42 p.m.

I find it intriguing how that word "hack" changes in meaning, in context. In some circles, it still has a negative tone (the lone hacker bringing down a network or pilfering credit cards), but it was initially part of a movement of leverating technology for the greater good, regardless of the original intent of a technology creator/developer. I like how we are talking about more and more ways to put agency into the hands of our students (who all to often become stuck in the role of consumer and captive audience).

I need to find ways to bring the hacking mentality into my classroom. I haven't done it much, mostly because I am struggling with where it fits in with my literacy program. I see places, and now need to think it through a bit more.

Thanks, Bud, for continuing my thinking.

Kevin