Knowledge Sharing and Dissemination by Choconancy1
Last nights EC&I 831 class topic was “The Power of Sharing” with guest lecturer Dean Shareski. There were many excellent points of discussion on the importance and power of sharing resources and information that reinforced my beliefs on this topic. Yet the idea that captured my attention, and perhaps convicted me, was that of “Mind your own business learning”. It was using this method that I was educated. It involves very little group work, a “keep your eyes on your own paper” because what others are doing is none of your business and education became a competition to see who could get the highest marks. Hmmmm, I wonder where the “doesn’t work well with others” remarks come from? My education training came about around the introduction of CELs (Common Essential Learnings – CCPINT) and I was trained to foster group work and collaborative learning, yet somehow, unconsciously, I wound up mostly teaching how I was taught. Isn’t this the bane of education? Even now, I have individualized programs and I tell students not to worry about where everyone else is, just to concentrate on their own work. I realize that this is because my students are all over the map in their levels, but it does remind me that I need to find a way incorporate more cooperative learning and sharing opportunities than currently exist – both in class and online. It seems an old(er) introvert can learn new tricks; learning communities are important.
I will be more aware of the power of sharing in planning future lessons, and I believe that my learners will benefit from it. I know that I have sure benefitted from the knowledge shared by all of you in our classes, discussions, blogs and comments, and I thank you all for that!
Good luck to everyone as we finish up our projects as this class winds down – I will miss it - and all of you! However, I don’t intend to just fade away. I’m sure we’ll run into each online in the future! Take care.
Greg
Tags: eci831
December 3, 2009 at 10:40 pm |
Good for you for addressing something that you feel you need to work on. It’s not easy to do! Funny how we all seem to resort to what we experienced in school when we were growing up hey? What I find sad about this is that the people who get into Education were by and large successful in this system and through no fault of their own may struggle to grasp the difficulties certain students may have. I can’t imagine how frustrating it must be for students with learning difficulties to sit through the traditional sit down, shut up “old-school” approach. So good for you for looking at other ways of doing business!
December 3, 2009 at 11:42 pm |
Thanks Brian! I’ve always thought if I get to the point where I don’t think I have anything more to learn, it’ll be time to retire… Great point about the system recreating itself with those who were successful in it – that really underlines the need for change in how we do things.
Take care!
Greg