A lot of folks talk of connecting teachers, but everybody knows that most teachers still work as "independent contractors," "flying solo" in their isolated, personal, rectangular classroom domains. Most classrooms remain as much a "one-person forum" as the original "one-room schoolhouse."
Sidebar
One factor preventing teachers from using the free resources of the Internet to improve education is the close reign that school district employers hold on the free expression that teachers are guaranteed under the US Constitution.
This is a rights and responsibility issue on two levels.
On one level, school district administrators do not want the public to suspect the goofs, miscues and misfeasance that bureaucracy is heir to.
On the other hand, how are the waste and abuse going to be corrected unless bureaucratic fiascos see the light of day?
Of course it would be logical, responsible and effective to have top level bureaucrats "just listen" to what teachers, counselors, custodians, bus drivers, cafeteria staff, students, and parents have to say. Then, logic dictates that the top level "honchos" just fix the mess for the good of everyone. (True democracy in action!)
What happens instead is (Undemocratic inaction!), (Entrenching Reaction!) or (Cover up Lip Action!).
For now, teachers must exercise caution with any Internet posting because of its "career-threatening" potential.
But, if Microsoft™'s press release is correct. then the teaching profession could benefit from innovation.
So, what is required to bring the teaching profession to a level of collaboration is vision, leadership and direction? What has been tried?
Coming Up Short
Unfortunately, Microsoft™'s competitors have come up short in their quest to "upgrade education" by improving teachers with online initiatives.
Examples of these good programs that fall short are: Curriki™ founded by Bill Gates' rival Scott McNealy of Sun Microsystems™ and Edutopia™ founded by Star Wars creator, George Lucas.
What all these well-meaning projects have in common (besides failure to gain traction) is that they were conceptualized and funded by non-educators.
Of course, many programs (almost everyone under funded) that were designed, developed and administered by educators also failed to ramp up to spectacular success, so we can't be too harsh in our criticism.
But, contrast the effectiveness of these high-priced Web "spreads" to the excitement of an informal, ad hoc, social network…created without cost, in a niche that most teachers don't care about, i.e., technology. That no-cost success innovation is Classroom 2.0.
Classroom 2.0 is a Web 2.0 application run with the free NING™ platform.
If you want a no-cost social media network presence of your own, check out NING.
Beware "Geeks" Bearing Gifts
The Internet Super Highway represents one huge resource with equally huge potholes.
The problem, like too much food that leaves you with indigestion and a stomach ache, is that there is too much of everything.
And too much of everything means that teachers waste too much time in sorting through and sifting out the useless before they discover the useful.
In this way, finding valuable Internet resources is similar to panning for gold. Teachers have to wash a lot of gravel before they encounter precious nuggets of content…and those precious nuggets are few and far between.
At least Microsoft™ beat its rivals in understanding the basic problem. What innovative teaching needs least is "more of the same." This true for the Internet, too.
"'What the U.S. needs the least is another database of lesson plans,' said Mary Cullinane, director of Microsoft's U.S. Partners in Learning program. 'What we do need, and what we believe is of significant value, is a place for innovative teachers and educators to have access to high-quality resources, to have an area for sharing best practices in learning communities, to communicate and collaborate with colleagues, and ... to expose [educators] to a worldwide conversation.'"
Source:
eSchool News
http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/top-news/related-top-news/?i=51777;_hbguid=1fc9f28d-e682-4ad7-b1b9-69b274c94ce4
Sidebar
Classroom Toolkit advocates a common sense approach to instructional planning and classroom project management.
The problem with finding lesson plans on the Internet is that it takes more time to adapt the lesson plan than it takes to create them from scratch.
Classroom Toolkit recommends a modular strategy to instructional planning and a "mix and match" materials creation.
Graphic Organizers provide
Classroom Toolkit provides a no cost library of Graphic Organizers
So, what is Microsoft's strategy?
"The ITN also might help cut down on the amount of time teachers spend searching for tips or solutions for classroom practices or problems.
As educators search for information, they can become inundated with results and must spend time sorting through material and judging its appropriateness, Cullinane explained."
Source:
eSchool News
http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/top-news/related-top-news/?i=51777;_hbguid=1fc9f28d-e682-4ad7-b1b9-69b274c94ce4
Backwards Process: Misses the Boat, Misses the Target
The problem with each of these great "education innovation" projects…
…is that these projects focus upon technology first. What these projects need to focus upon is improving teaching to the master teacher level, and let technology tools take the "after-thought, nice-to-have," "we'll use them when we have time" role that they are fitted for.
Of the programs, Edutopia™, founded by a film maker, comes closer to understanding the real issues of education, i.e., students with incredible abilities, and teaches with incredible skills to share.
Call to Action: Join the Microsoft™ Innovative Teaching Network
Here are links if you decide to check out Microsoft™'s program…
Join the Microsoft Innovative Teachers Network
Microsoft™s Partners in Education Program
Let's hope that Microsoft™ can be the first of the "Big Boys" to pull of a educational innovation project that really helps teachers where they need it., i.e., saving time, delivering usable (right now, no strings, no additional work, no cost) content.
