// Langwitches Blog

7 Responses to Learning: Then & Now

1. Sabridv
   December 25th, 2009 at 1:54 pm

   Hi Silvia,
   First of all I would like to congratulate you on your blog. It is really inspiring. While I was reading this post, some thoughts came to my mind. I would love learning to take place in that way. I love new technologies and the idea of collaborative work but sometimes all the things you’ve shown in the pictures are so far away from my reality. I’am from Argentina and I work in private and public schools. In state schools of course access to technology is close to none. And the students are not used to using technology except for maybe some little things such as downloading music and films, chatting and… stop counting. Most private schools don’t invest in technology much. Sometimes when we so something in connection with new technologies, I am very surprised by the questions they asked (for they are basic things, and I assume that 21st century teenagers should know that) I believe teachers should start reflecting about this technological/knowledge gap.
   Thanks for all the hard work.

2. Steve Barkley
   December 26th, 2009 at 8:39 am

   The picture contrast are great. There sure are many schools that are still THEN and have students who go home to NOW. Believe we need to get many parents and boards of education u see the conflict that your pictures present and its impact on student motivation for school.

   steve barkley
   stevebarkley/twitter .com

3. Langwitches
   December 26th, 2009 at 9:35 am

   @sabridv
   You are right. I am fortunate to be working in an environment, where I have technology available to teachers and students. We are fighting the “problem” that our students are “powering” down when they come to school. They have to leave their cell phones and other “toys” (yes even some first graders own iPod Touches…) at home. The computers that they are used to using at home are faster with more up to date operating systems and software than the ones that are provided at school.
   Most of the “learning of now” that we want to engage our students in can be introduced and developed with one classroom computer that has internet access. That window to the world is the tool to connect, collaborate and start communicating with each other and peers around the world. Web based sites, such as edublogs, wikispaces and voicethread can get you started in the world of free blogging, wikiing and audio commenting. Programs, such as audacity, moviemaker (PC) , garageband and iMovie (mac)are also available to start creating content.
   All I am trying to say is that it does not take much in terms of money investment to get started. The real investment comes with teacher training. Again not money related, since there is already free professional development galore on blogs, wikis and conferences such as K12Online. The investment lies in school expectations and individual teacher motivation of finding and taking advantage of these.
   There is absolutely no doubt that there is a technology/knowledge gap. K12Online Conference 2009 has exactly tried to address this gap. The theme of the conference was “Bridging the divide”. Reflecting about the issue is a start, but we need to find committed administrators and teachers who will start building a bridge.
   You are one of these teachers, since you are reaching out and communicating and contributing! Let me know if we can collaborate with our students.
   Muchos saludos a la Argentina.

4. rw
   December 26th, 2009 at 10:17 am

   I’m deaf. I was the only deaf kid in a school of 500. All thru jr hi andhi and into college, I was the only ‘integrated’ kid sticking out like a sore thumb…bullied and avoided and made miserable. Had to memorize everything because no notetaker, no help, no terp, (I didn’t know sign language) no nothing. Even in college a teacher said he’s not getting paid to teach special education…I should get out of his class. Now, NCLB. What a ‘crock’ no peers, no role models, no advice from one who’s been there. Congress is stupid abt the needs of deaf children and schools are powerless to act: damn the test scores, leave congress behind!

5. Langwitches
   December 26th, 2009 at 10:26 am

   @Steve
   I agree that getting the buy in from administrators, parents and school boards is crucial. There is not only the gap @Sabridv talks about (not having the technology available in schools AND home), but there is also the gap widening when students are powering down when they come to school. Not having access to the tools they are used to in their free time away from school in addition to slower computers and older software versions contribute to frustrations not to students’ motivation and engagement.
   .

6. Sabridv
   December 26th, 2009 at 8:41 pm

   Hi Silvia! Thanks for all the support and encouragement. I’m trying to work towards reaching the “now” here in Argentina too. Of course we can do it without investing a lot of money. Apart from that, with all the help that all the teachers that are online provide it is easier and great fun. I love introducing new technologies in my classroom. I’m trying to do my best, and I’m sure that with collaborative work we will be able to advance even more. Thanks for all your support. Let’s keep in touch.

7. Lesson Pathways Blog » Technology In Education Round Up
   December 28th, 2009 at 7:10 am

   [...] Langwitches blog shares slides visually depicting the changes in learning in the post Learning: Then and Now. Not too long ago, I stumbled across the presentation Learning 2.0 from Mike Lambert on Slideshare. [...]

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