David Warlick has posted audio from his TechForum presentation last week on “Blogs & RSS: Tapping into the global conversation” in three parts (part 1 – part 2 – part 3)
Yet another example of blogging the conference! 🙂
David’s exhortation to educators to challenge students to “prove the authority” of content on the Internet instead of “assuming the authority” (as we all did for years in “traditional” educational settings) is right on the money. We have to help students become digitally literate, and validating digital content is an essential piece of this puzzle.
David’s discussion of the growth of “personal learning networks” is also spot on. This is how I am learning, and if you’re reading this blog post, likely the way you are learning– through an “organic learning network.”
George Sieman’s “connectivism” theory that I blogged about last weekend was also spotlighted by David in this presentation. He also discussed “the long tail,” which is a concept everyone needs to be aware of in our 21st century informational environment.
David was preaching the 21st century digital/contemporary literacy gospel in part 2 of his recorded session when he advocated students PRODUCING multimedia content and not just CONSUMING it. His observation that “part of being literate is asking questions about the information that you find” is right on.
The shared fact that there is only ONE person in all of North Korea who is online (the president) was new to me and REALLY sad. I wonder when that will change? Let’s hope it can without a US military invasion. (As an aside, as long as North Korea doesn’t suddenly become a major oil producer, it is doubtful we will pre-emptively go to war against them as we did in Iraq. For more on this, refer to the podcast “Lawless World: America and the Making and Breaking of Global Rules” from the University of Washington Law School podcast website. I have not yet picked up a copy of Philippe Sands’ book“Lawless World: America and the Making and Breaking of Global Rules–From FDR’s Atlantic Charter to George W. Bush’s Illegal War” but will likely do so in upcoming months.)
David is correct that people who blog should have a particular goal in mind. This made me think about what the goals of my own blog are. These are probably to:
- Share educational technology ideas and resources with others.
- Record for my own future use links and ideas I learn about online, from print reading, and in face to face discussions.
- Engage in a global dialog with others about posted ideas.
- Help promote the noble and important cause of reforming the US educational system.
I laughed out loud at David’s question in his session, “Remember the good old days when students could get their teacher off the subject?” That is so true. Teachers and administrators in schools are often too pressured, too stressed, and too busy to get off topic. Even if it is a “teachable moment.” That is something, btw, that needs to change.
Thanks to David for posting this preso as a podcast. I would have loved to attend in person, but my passion for digital storytelling drew me to David Jakes and Joe Brennan’s presentation “Digital Storytelling, Visual Literacy and 21st Century Learning” during that same timeblock at the TechForum. My notes from their session are available online, as is the handout for the session (as a 16 page PDF file.)
David Jakes’ websites and blogs (GREAT resources btw) are available on www.jakesonline.org.
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