Comments on: On Jedis and schooling http://tpon.edublogs.org/2006/09/11/on-jedis-and-schooling/ What is teaching and learning in the 21st century? Sun, 12 Oct 2008 02:53:16 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.2 hourly 1 By: Ideas and Thoughts from an EdTech » We’ve got too many consultants http://tpon.edublogs.org/2006/09/11/on-jedis-and-schooling/comment-page-1/#comment-10 Ideas and Thoughts from an EdTech » We’ve got too many consultants Wed, 13 Sep 2006 04:46:13 +0000 http://tpon.edublogs.org/2006/09/11/on-jedis-and-schooling/#comment-10 [...] It’s clear that we need to continue to help teachers see the need for change and that the solution is much more complicated and involved than simply providing more teachers. Last year as budget cuts call for the loss of over 40 teachers, reference was made to the large expenditure in technology and wondering if supplying a school with new computers was justifiable considering that schools were losing teachers. In this case, the understanding of technology as an intregal part of learning was not shared by all. Michael Fullan talks about the “daily grind” and how this makes it difficult for teachers to consider much else besides just getting by. I acknowledge this problem and sympathize with teachers in situations where survival is the best they can hope for. But we have to demand more. We have to have teachers who consider themselves learners first. We need teachers who believe that the reflective practice is critical for growth. Even when things are nuts and out of control, survival can’t be all there is. I remember reading the reflective teacher and my impression was that last year was a challenging year but through reflection and search for new ways of approaching teaching and learning, change happened. [...] [...] It’s clear that we need to continue to help teachers see the need for change and that the solution is much more complicated and involved than simply providing more teachers. Last year as budget cuts call for the loss of over 40 teachers, reference was made to the large expenditure in technology and wondering if supplying a school with new computers was justifiable considering that schools were losing teachers. In this case, the understanding of technology as an intregal part of learning was not shared by all. Michael Fullan talks about the “daily grind” and how this makes it difficult for teachers to consider much else besides just getting by. I acknowledge this problem and sympathize with teachers in situations where survival is the best they can hope for. But we have to demand more. We have to have teachers who consider themselves learners first. We need teachers who believe that the reflective practice is critical for growth. Even when things are nuts and out of control, survival can’t be all there is. I remember reading the reflective teacher and my impression was that last year was a challenging year but through reflection and search for new ways of approaching teaching and learning, change happened. [...]

]]> By: Dean Shareski http://tpon.edublogs.org/2006/09/11/on-jedis-and-schooling/comment-page-1/#comment-8 Dean Shareski Tue, 12 Sep 2006 05:34:18 +0000 http://tpon.edublogs.org/2006/09/11/on-jedis-and-schooling/#comment-8 You seem to have answered the response well. I would also add that in today's rush-all-the-time-too-busy schools, it's imperative that we posture the reflective approach. As well, when I"m asked "are you busy?" it's difficult to respond in kind without leaving the impression that you don't have work today. I try to respond to that question with, "Never too busy for you". You seem to have answered the response well. I would also add that in today’s rush-all-the-time-too-busy schools, it’s imperative that we posture the reflective approach.

As well, when I”m asked “are you busy?” it’s difficult to respond in kind without leaving the impression that you don’t have work today. I try to respond to that question with, “Never too busy for you”.

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