Reflections Week 2

I've been formulating ideas for a posting off and on since our last class. My head has been spinning with different ideas about some of the topics we have been discussing in class. I must admit I am somewhat conflicted. I really have been thinking about the inherent contradiction of moving towards the use of the Internet to increase social and professional contact with others and by doing so lessening the time I spend in face-to-face contact with people. I know that it is imperative for all of us to move forward as educators and embrace the use of technology. There is no doubt that it is a resource that enhances education. But at the same time therein lies one of the contradictions. We're teachers. We're people persons. We thrive on interaction with our students and our colleagues. How does this all fit together? Does the Internet connect us, but at the same time make us more isolated?

I just finished reading an article about Marc Adreessen, founder of Netscape and Web guru, in Fortune magazine (July, 2009). A hand me down magazine that I happened to pick up. Now, here is a guy that moves at warp speed when it comes to technology and the Internet. According to this article, Andreessen's view is that "the Internet will soon take over all aspects of our lives. Online services won't merely supplement your TV viewing and newspaper reading, but will replace those activities altogether." Andreessen talks about technology moving so quickly that only the young can keep up with what the latest stuff can do. I'm at that transition point in my thinking where I realize the Internet will increasingly become more and more a part of our everyday life, but I'm just not sure that I think that this is totally positive. I'm definitely one of those people who is not ready to give up my "real" newspaper.

Prior to reading the Adreessen article I did view the Rachel Boyd video and found it very impressive. Many of the classroom activities that involved technology appeared very interactive and stimulating for the students. The activities were so embedded in the classroom routines and procedures that they appeared to be second nature to the students. Many of the activities were interdisciplinary and mostly student directed. It made me realize that we are fostering independence and empowering students by teaching them appropriate use of technology and the Internet. Rachel Boyd is obviously passionate about the use of technology in the classroom and the use of the Internet as a communication tool for her students and herself as a professional.

Which brings me to the article on Describing 16 Habits of Mind. As I read this article I couldn't help but think about how important passion is to both learning and teaching. If we are not passionate and curious and in wonder, how can we effectively teach? I decided that the habits of mind could kind of be categorized in 2 categories - the emotional, interactive habits and the more cerebral, reflective habits (you can decide which is which), both kinds being important in different circumstances. As teachers we are intelligent, educated people who probably take these habits of mind for granted. We expect that most intelligent people can call upon different habits as needed to effectively problem solve. I think what this article reminded me is that habits of mind need to be taught and that modeling and practice can help students develop and use them effectively. The authors emphasized that student performance should be judged by how students handle themselves in novel, challenging circumstances when they don't easily know an answer more than by how many answers they know. School should be about "how students produce knowledge rather than how they merely reproduce knowledge".

I'm not sure that all people are adept at using all the habits of mind effectively and I guess that's where collaboration and communication and cooperation come in. I'll take a cooperative learning and problem solving experience any time.