LearnHub

Join LearnHub

Community

Tux University

The Good Teacher (Discussion)

jza said – Fri, 06 Jun 2008 20:32:10 -0000 ( Edit Link )

This is an awesome reading for everyone, since technology is not magic, just because a tool is built to be engaging doesn’t mean the teacher shouldn’t. This ia very important lesson for all web 2.0, OLPC, visionary educators. The Good Teacher. Some real good quotes from the article:

Some of her students must have been talking about Moodle in a less than complimentary way, because the Pretty Good Teacher had to endure some snide comments about it in the staff room. Some of her so-called colleagues actually seemed happy to see her struggle a little. It was incomprehensible to her, but it was undeniable. And she didn’t like looking foolish. Now the Pretty Good Teacher was quite sure that Moodle was not as wonderful as Mr. Dougis seemed to think it was. Annoyed, she sent him an email, telling him so.

Actions

Respond

Author: jza; Authority 262

Vote

Current Rating: 0; Rate Up; Rate Down

No Votes

3 Responses

Enkerli said – Sat, 07 Jun 2008 12:45:28 -0000 ( Flag Edit Mark / Unmark Best Link )

Good point about the thrust of the piece. Moodle and Linux “suffer” from similar issues, in edu contexts. People can get very enthusiastic about them (especially because Open Source as a process is so compatible with learning). But it’s easy to get bogged down in details and evaluate tools as either appropriate or not based on features or degree of adoption. In cases like these, it might be important to stress that Linux (or Moodle, etc.) may not be “the solution to all your problems.” But to show what makes Linux appropriate in a given context. Helping people evaluate their needs. Get them to try Linux out. Your WiZiQ presentation was quite good for this. Like an increasing number of Linux enthusiasts, you’re able to describe Linux in a thoughtful way, without resorting to the tired “you need to use it because it’s better” line.
Actions
Reply To This
Author

Enkerli

Authority 106

Vote

Current Rating

0

Rate Up

Rate Down

No Votes
Post Comments
Add Comment

Your Reply
jza said – Sun, 08 Jun 2008 04:25:18 -0000 ( Flag Edit Mark / Unmark Best Link )

One of my goals is not just show open source as a ‘solution’ but as part of a practice. After all MS is not really made for schools either (folder, files, documents belong to an office) not so much of a school.
Good practices of technology empowered by open source means that you can instantly implement these technology/practices without expecting or waiting your school to adopt it. Is true that the OLPC laptop might not be acquired by every school. But every school can use the software of the OLPC on their Intel desktop computers right now.
Actions
Reply To This
Author

jza

Authority 262

Vote

Current Rating

0

Rate Up

Rate Down

No Votes
Post Comments
Add Comment

Your Reply
Enkerli said – Sun, 08 Jun 2008 15:01:53 -0000 ( Flag Edit Mark / Unmark Best Link )

Good point about the OLPC. It might even be a more important impact the project has had than this move to push laptops on governments.
Actions
Reply To This
Author

Enkerli

Authority 106

Vote

Current Rating

0

Rate Up

Rate Down

No Votes
Post Comments
Add Comment

Your Reply