I’ve been learning a lot during CyberCamp. Not just about Google Apps Education, my project structure (chaos), and using some great tools, but I’ve been learning so much on how to learn. There’s a lot of great energy in the CyberCamp lab — some “deer-in-the-headlights” moments, frustration, and some a-ha moments as well. But the one thing that is evident, with every camper, is the passion with which they are experimenting, researching, questioning, and building/rebuilding their individual projects.
Many are here to create relevant, engaging, and meaningful projects for their students, but what is becoming very evident is that our own project-based learning model is working quite well. If only we could bottle this passion for learning — learning not for just an end product, but for the process.
Another observation: Sarah, in her presentation today, said that the tools are still just the bells and whistles, the “magic” being performed by little elves somewhere. What I see in the CyberCamp presentations is that good teachers will be good no matter what the tool — a piece of chalk or thousands of dollars worth of technology tools. But, when you hook up a great teacher with engaging tools — that’s when magic happens. The tools become transparent.
Every presentation thus far in CyberCamp, regardless of the presenter’s doubt that they were ready, has been wonderful. We can see the vision and see the pieces starting to fit together. We can see the passion. Very cool.
4 responses so far ↓
1
aly28
// Jun 10, 2008 at 5:48 pm
Aye! You are so articulate! You put into words just what my brain has been thinking, but even better! I agree with you and know without doubt that a great teacher is the key and that the “bells and whistles’ are just the add on. In other words, they 9the bells and whistles) are wonderful when, and if , available.
Thanks, you constantly amaze me!
2
dogtrax
// Jun 11, 2008 at 3:56 am
I love the insight that the tools are there, but it is the teacher who decides how they can be used for instruction inside the classroom – this is so true. It’s easy to get carried away by the bells and whistles, so we need to keep the focus on our students.
On another note: I run a feature called Day in a Sentence, where teachers from around the world boil down a day of their week, or their entire week, into a sentence and share it out.
I want to invite you to consider participating
http://dogtrax.edublogs.org/2008/06/11/day-in-a-sentence-is-only-a-sentence/
Keep on exploring!
Kevin Hodgson
Western Massachusetts
3
myrag
// Jun 11, 2008 at 8:06 am
Thank you for stopping by and commenting, on all the camper’s blogs, during CyberCamp. It really reinforces the power of connection and adds to our learning journey. I look forward to attempting to sum up CyberCamp in a sentence and adding to Day in a Sentence. What a great idea!
4
sueahlberg
// Jun 11, 2008 at 9:45 am
Well said Myra. You are such an excellent teacher and quite amazing.
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