I’m in my hotel room, overlooking the University of Minnesota, preparing for my keynote and 21st century literacy. I’ve scanned through the program and one thing is jumping out at me, pretty blatantly. I’m seeing terms of phrases that seem to follow a fairly consistent theme. They include:
* Web portals
* Global communications
* Podcasting
* Online discussion boards
* Online learning
* Distance learning
* Online classes
* Cyber villages
All of these at least imply the use of online communities. So why is congress trying to ban online communities in our classrooms?
Well, for one thing, if you don’t identify who specifically is doing it when you criticize it, they don’t risk any political cost.
Hello David,
It was a pleasure meeting you today at the Summit. I missed your third session but the first two were great. Your example of connections made in the blogoshpere as a way of promoting your own lifelong learning resonated with me to a tee. I have learned more in the last six months than in the previous six years by following your blog in addition to many other education blogs.
I agree that DOPA is one of the dopiest things to come out of D.C. in a long time….okay, maybe it’s tied for the dopiest thing with about twenty other things. Cheers, Barry
I think the folks behind this legislation are trying to score points with conservatives back home, and are not thinking about children and learning at all. Sadly, I think that has been the case with much of the legislation we’ve seen in recent years concerning education.
I attended and enjoyed all 3 of your thought provoking sessions today.
In response to the question you posed: Check this out – “8 most common reasons for resisting change” at
http://cpd.boisestate.edu/cpd_articles/Why_People_Resist_Change.pdf
As congress is “by the people for the people” it seems to me that our senators and representatives may resist for reasons similar to the 8 — or perhaps they may have constituencies who are pushing the “make a bill button” for reasons similar to the 8.
If some or all of these 8 reasons are the root cause for congress or the constituencies to which they must be responsive wanting to ban online communities from classrooms, the question I have is, “What can we (the educational practice) do to minimize or eliminate some or all of the 8?”
Some of us on this side of the pond are watching this situation with interest. I reckon other countries may well take their lead from what transpires. So, whatever you do, speak up! Write to your congressman or whatever it is that you do there to get heard. As Teresa says – they represent, serve and work for the people.
I’m with Barrydahl – I have learnt more from the blogosphere in the past year than in the previous, well… I’m tempted to say forever, but that would be a slight exaggeration.