a new ontology of learning forming that the younger generation is embracing=
without really understanding its significance. When they do realize the po=
wer and liberation of this new ontology, formal education had better be pre=
pared. If we don't start to make changes that are informed by the ontology =
of the independent learner, traditional schooling could become irrelevant.
The first place we will see this appear will be in growth in quantity and t=
he quality of homeschooling. There will always be a place for the "more exp=
ert learner" (teacher) but only if they understand this shift. Teachers wil=
l be more necessary than ever but their role will be very different. Curric=
ulum will become more fluid and boundaries between disciplines will largely=
dissolve. This could be very exciting, and frightening at the same time. S=
till, I am looking forward to this evolutionary shift and what that will me=
an for me as I struggle to remain relevant as an educator of independent le=
arners.
Now, it is a Friday and I am a bit sleep deprived (grin) so this may just b=
e the coffee speaking. However, I do feel we need to deeply consider this e=
merging philosophical shift.
Some Friday afternoon thoughts :)
Chris Bigenho
Director of Educational Technology
Greenhill School
4141 Spring Valley Road
Addison, TX 75001
Ph. 972-628-5479
Fx. 972-628-5279
bigenhoc@greenhill.org
www.greenhill.org
AIM: chris bigenho
Yahoo: chris_bigenho
Skype: chris_bigenho
Tapped In: ChrisWB
-----Original Message-----
From: A forum for independent school educators [mailto:ISED-L@LISTSERV.SYR.=
EDU] On Behalf Of Lisa Douthit
Sent: Thursday, February 19, 2009 8:26 AM
To: ISED-L@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU
Subject: Re: cell phones
Please keep this topic going.
I have great interest and agree with Ross' comments. The teacher's as
well as others in my school would not be ready or willing to even
consider use of these tools. They mostly do not even realize that a
great percentage of students in around 5th and up have iPod Touches or
cell phone with all the data at their fingertips. At this point the
student are very good at hiding the cells, but the iPods are somewhat
more accepted mostly, because teachers do not realize how some tools
such as the iPod touch works. In other words they think they can only
hold music. They see these items as ones that mostly should be banned.
I would love to work towards better use of these products when
appropriate, but as for our school, I am not sure we are as ready as
the students are, yet the longer we go without addressing integrated
use of these tools, the students will use them mostly in the social
sense and may miss out on seeing the whole picture of how these could
help them in use of technology.
Lisa Douthit
Technology Resources & Locust Systems Admin
Notre Dame de Sion
ldouthit@ndsion.edu
On Feb 19, 2009, at 5:52 AM, Ross Lenet wrote:
> The comment I am about to make may seem strange coming from a former
> Director of Technology, but I think that we all need to take with a
> grain of salt many of the assertions and predictions related to the
> role of technology in education (both present and future) in light
> of the fact that most of these comments are being made by people
> whose job titles include the word "technology" or similar.
>
> As I recall from the original charter (although I am willing to be
> corrected on this point), the ISED-L list was never meant to be a
> technology forum dominated by Directors of Technology, but that is
> what it has, de facto, become. Asking Directors of Technology to
> make predictions about the future of technology in education is
> akin, as I see it, to asking a real estate agent whether it is a
> good time to buy a house.
>
> Don't get me wrong. I wholeheartedly agree the we should loosen up
> about cell phones and iPods and even encourage their use. I just
> wish we could hear more from people whose job titles do not include
> the word "technology." I want to hear from "regular" English
> teachers, history teachers, religion teachers, and Kindergarten
> teachers.
>
> Ross Lenet
> Sidwell Friends School, Washington, DC
> Former Director of Technology
> Mathematics Teacher
>
> P.S. By the way, universes may come and universes may go, but you
> will *never* hear a dumber question than asking a real estate agent
> whether it is a good time to buy a house. The next dumber question
> (whatever it is) is a distant second.
>
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