tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2758981773206245192.post9148583224272091493..comments2024-01-14T09:03:20.015-08:00Comments on Against the Wind: One of my favorite Seth Godin posts of all time!Nunavut_tweeterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07843569330908992824noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2758981773206245192.post-48125558350476677722011-03-23T02:06:49.697-07:002011-03-23T02:06:49.697-07:00Indeed, that would be the function and definition ...Indeed, that would be the function and definition of our profession, particularly as it is being defined now.<br /><br />A couple of days ago, I tweeted several articles about individual learning and collaboration, the best of which I think is <a href="http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/21/independence-day-developing-self-directed-learning-projects/" rel="nofollow">Ideas for student-centered learning projects - Related Stories</a>.Shawn Urbanhttp://bit.ly/stefdigsubnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2758981773206245192.post-88897781767919031302011-03-21T05:21:42.064-07:002011-03-21T05:21:42.064-07:00Brian, I'm so with you that we need to facilit...Brian, I'm so with you that we need to facilitate peoples' talents and to collaborate with themRobyn McMaster, PhDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04893633050214440599noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2758981773206245192.post-26922951071071046042011-03-20T21:27:34.355-07:002011-03-20T21:27:34.355-07:00Oh yes, one further point that I forgot to address...Oh yes, one further point that I forgot to address. Godin seems to believe that, "most people can't manage themselves well enough to excel in the way you need them to, certainly not immediately." I took this to mean that we need to work with our students to be problem solvers. And as always, we need to work in a collaborative environment.Nunavut_tweeterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07843569330908992824noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2758981773206245192.post-78963429468996267852011-03-20T21:22:18.885-07:002011-03-20T21:22:18.885-07:00Hi Shawn, thanks for the comment. First I would li...Hi Shawn, thanks for the comment. First I would like to say that the text to which you refer was written by Seth Godin. I was just reproducing it here. I do apologize for the confusion.<br /><br />That said, you raise excellent points. I also would like Seth to expand on the open door. I would like to point out that he is talking about adults so some of his ideas may have to be tweaked a little for the classroom. What I got from his post was, give students more choice in what they have to do, and create a collaborative approach, as you mention above.<br /><br />I hope this comment explains how I feel about Godin's post and how I want my classroom to be.<br /><br />Cheers to you for reading.Nunavut_tweeterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07843569330908992824noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2758981773206245192.post-37134160039923642372011-03-20T21:02:35.651-07:002011-03-20T21:02:35.651-07:00Hi Brian,
Great post and I agree. Bullying and sh...Hi Brian,<br /><br />Great post and I agree. Bullying and short-term reward are not the ways to teach. But I noticed two points about your post which I think need further address.<br /><br />First, you provided good examples of best-meant bullying and immediate goal and reward, but none for opening the door. (I am not even sure what opening the door really looks like.) I believe this is likely because we as educators are still idealizing this set-the-environment and light-the-wonder approach to teaching, which I agree is currently the best school on how to best serve our kids and students. But a lot of us, most of us (?), are idealizing this. When are we going to consider how? Don't get me wrong; I am still working on the case by case approach of this way of teaching. Perhaps we all are. But while we are, this method must be maintained and passed on from topic to topic, class to class and grade to grade (a very easy way to toss the ball out the window or back through the open door). It is possible, I think, for this method to sustain itself throughout our students' careers. We need to agree on the cross-the-board how though through planning and collaboration.<br /><br />Second, you mentioned that some people will thrive on the open-the-door method. However, others will fail. And both of these extremes, and the continuum between, are true of the other two methods as well. So do we abandon those who thrive in one method and fail in another? Personally, I like the ideas of empowering people and encouraging student-directed individual and collaborative study. I encourage each kid who graduates from the schools I teach at to take some directed studies in post-secondary education during and after their second year of post-secondary study or apprenticeship. But some people, particularly in elementary and secondary school, are not ready for such individual study, as you mention. So, when should we plunge these kids into the open-the-door classroom?<br /><br />Idealism is great. It encourages improvement, problem solving and innovation. But where are the examples, the details and the how-tos?<br /><br />Thanks for a great post. You offered thoughtful food to chew on.<br /><br />ShawnShawn Urbanhttp://bit.ly/stefdigsubnoreply@blogger.com