Self-Evaluation

In my opinion the most important skills for 21st Century learning are critical thinking skills, communicating, collaborating, solving problems, and making decisions. The core subjects will still be necessary, but a shift to these higher level knowledge skills will be vital. Technology skills will be important to a new learning environment, but it will be secondary to the other skills. We still need to teach content, but in a different way.

Some digital tools that I will use to bring about 21st Century learning are VoiceThreads, Wikis, Blogs, Google Docs, and Web 2.0 tools.

I to plan implement many of the things I learned from this class. I have an excellent start on contacts for collaboration projects. I also want to use Blogs and Wikis with my students. Getting my students to think and solve problems is going to be a goal of mine.

I didn't create more than I consumed, but I had the chance to get a taste of several new activities and how to use them in my classroom.

The sharing in class was great--I enjoyed having a chance to hear what my peers thought about different topics. Hearing information from different perspectives is a learning experience in itself.

I enjoyed reflecting digitally and it was nice to get comments from others. I also learned from reading other people's blog. It is something I think my students will benefit from.

The time we had to explore new tools and read different information was helpful. Time went quickly, but I was glad I had an opportunity to look at some of the different technology and tools available. It was also nice to have the others share what tools they found. I plan to incorporate a "Share Your Knowledge Day" once a month so students can also tell their classmates about great technology sites and/or tools.

I have started to think differently about how students learn and how I can incorporate different activities to foster their growth. I also really like the idea that in the Conceptual Age we are getting back to High Touch and the need to empathize with others. How can putting people first be a bad thing.


My thinking has changed on what is important

Dan Schmit-Podcasting

Articulation, Participation and Citizenship-Podcasting as a Scaffold for Significance

Dan reinforced the idea that technology is secondary and the rich experiences are the things that are important. Teacher podcasts are nice, but there is great potential for students.
The best thing about podcasting and new technologies is that we have many audiences.
Academic Expression is vital and we need to look at problems differently and reach for significance. Students need to be aware of their audience, professional sound, roots in what we are studying, great podcasts aren't about us, planning--80% developing content, 20% Production. Podcast need to have interesting questions, explore unique angles and perspectives, weave a compelling story, show literacy, logically reason, writing and oral communication.

Charlene & Kevin--Empathy Sense
Your examples were great. The examples made me feel something and I was instantly connected. Empathy was one of the biggest discussions one weekend in my Master's class a couple of years ago.

Dianne and Molly -- Laughter Sense
In the conceptual age work and play are more acceptable. Games are bigger than the motion picture industry. Humor is very important and is an asset to a company. We need to have joy. I need to work on this area and laugh more often at school.

9 Principles for Implementation: The Big Shift

I remember hearing the part about that real change happens when there is personal ownership--that is so true for everyone. Starting at the top was something that struck me because our HS principal said he wanted to switch over to the Mac if all the students and teachers were going to be asked to do it and our superintendent also bought into the idea quickly. I think it is very true "people matter" and if you want to have change and be successful you need to have strong relationships.

First 3 Senses-Design, Story, Symphony

I liked Steve's Design presentation and how he showed the connection to our cell phones and all the designs. Teri and Julie's Story chapter review was creative and they used the story telling idea directly in their presentation. Julie and Sarah's Symphony sense showed how the human brain can decipher metaphors and a computer can't. Sarah told how the symphony with many instruments is so much more beautiful than if it were only one instrument playing.

It's Different! Learning through Networking

I was amazed that the studies showed that proficiency would increase from 50-75% because students are talking with each other. The comment about students feeling safe in your classroom so they feel like taking risks and not being ridiculed is something I definitely want to be sure of.

Keynote-High Concept, High Touch

A presentation on Ch. 3 from "A Whole New Mind"

Evolution to Right Brain

A picture that depicts the evolution of workers that may speak more

to the right side of your brain.