I recall one of the authors of our Reinventing PBL text referred to making decisions about curriculum, etc. in “comfortable anonymity”, and it struck me that I had made decisions like that, quite often, mostly because of circumstances; most tech teachers in SVVSD are a one-person department. I recall her closing sentence, she now feels like she would never want to plan a PBL unit on her own.
And we don’t have to….dammit…no more excuses, there are plenty of other tech teachers to talk to on the planet; other resources, ideas, software, that we were shown this week. I had to admit to being a bit of a ‘phobe, and felt like I turned an important corner this week. And thanks to Frau Van, can no longer think of computer gamers as couch potatoes…another generalization shattered for me
I learned once again that I still value a classroom setting, learned so much from the Wips, informal chats with fellow students, watching Bud and Jerry run the tekkie stuff with no breakdowns or glitches (and they even let us drink and eat in there, no spills, we’re good). Great mix of hands-on activities, modeling stuff, then letting us run with it.
I have known about blogging, wikis, for some time but am amazed at the speed and instantaneous nature of it….a conversation with the authors of the text?? Real-time?? I’m wowed (okay I’m over 50…..) but having done an undergrad degree in the dark ages and remembering snail mail books…just looks so archaic now.
I am just amazed at what we have to sift through, and teach kids to sift through, they are bombarded. They need a “wired”- type class, not because they are college bound, or AP or IB but because they need to know how to decide, vote, buy, parent based on the right information.
What I leave camp with is a sort of (good) urgency……once teachers know what’s out there in the realm of resources, teachers, students, communities to connect with, it’s our obligation to share/teach it. Thanks, it leaves me more hopeful, and a bit more willing to try new things just below the radar. Go figure….its June and I’m excited to go back in the fall. The proposal piece is coming along…has turned into a stars and wishes list that I must now go back thru……good night campers
2 responses so far ↓
1
johrt
// Jun 12, 2008 at 8:35 am
I very much agree about a Wired-type class need for all students. Filtering though information in an informed and safe way is a life skill we need to be teaching, rather than letting it just “happen,” as most of us are doing now. Pushing this will be a big action item for me in the Fall.
2
sueahlberg
// Jun 12, 2008 at 9:19 am
What great revelations you have made! Librarians are sort of out there alone too like the tech teacher, but you also have the opportunity (at least librarians do) to collaborate and work with anyone in the building in lots of different ways. You also have more freedom with curriculum which is great. It is so great what you are already doing to improve your classes and delivery to students!
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