Clarence Fishers Remote Access Blog Review

Howdy one and all again for this weeks review. Today's entry is really about connections. At start of the blog Clarence lists an email address that allows for free downloads of astronomy ( vs using paying sites). For this block 5 we started with Dewey's quote of teaching today as we taught yesterday, then we rob our children of tomorrow. This is a really good example of how having a little courage to try something new can improve what we're doing now. How using the internet to make lessons/plans can improve the quality of what we're teaching. I also read a quote (Bob Gates) about how technology is just a tool, but it's the teacher that makes connections with students. I guess that I have to be more willing to come out of my comfort zones and try new things. I then went some of the web2.0 tools and looked at Disruptive Class: How Disruptive Innovation Will Change How The World Learns Chrisatensen et. al., What I took from there was something about how often powerful stoftware and hardware are still being used in limited ways to simply maintain rather then transform instructional practices. Clarence's blog is a perfect example of how change should be embraced (and for less cost too). It just really got me thinking about how things always change, but that the change is constant. Dewey wrote in the early 1900's and here we are in the 21th century facing different hallanges, but new challanges just the same. Change is really constant. I do think that there is some value in at least being brave and trying new things, even if you're not using them to the fullest value. For me, technology is so overwhelming at times, that baby steps are definately the way to go for me. Maybe this kind of means that some teachers may need more support/instruction on how to use technology more effectively. This certainly has been stressed in the 21st century skill literature that I have read so far. thanks again Clarence for a basic reminder of how to hang in there and keep on fighting for something better or more effective. What a good lesson for this class too. I'm going to try to set up a facebook account. We'll see how it goes and I'll keep you posted on the blog. darcy