Friday, February 1, 2008

AWNM: Symphony Period 2

February 1 Live Blogging Participants
8:25-9:24 am MST

Eric Grant:
Eric is a techie, an educator, and a futurist. He holds degrees in Information & Decision Systems and Political Science from Carnegie Mellon, and a Masters in Learning, Design, and Technology from Stanford. Eric's career began in enterprise software, moved to new media, and then drifted into education; he spent the past few years as a researcher and instructional designer at the Stanford Center for Innovations in Learning. His areas of academic interest include learning and working spaces, distributed and co-located collaboration, cross-cultural education, foresight strategy, and just about anything to do with the intersection of humans and technology. Eric lives in the SF Bay Area.

Renee Howell:
Renee is a parent of a Littleton Public Schools student as well as the Vice President of the LPS School Board.

Tim Stahmer:
Tim is an Instructional Technology Specialist working in the Office of Instructional Technology Integration for an overly-large school district on the Virginia side of Washington DC. He taught middle and high school math as well as computer literacy. For the past 11 years, he has helped teachers, administrators and others at all levels make sense of technology in their classrooms and, of course, repaired a few computers and printers along the way. These days he works mostly with the technology trainers in elementary schools.

277 comments:

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Eric Grant said...

johnb - congrats. you are ready to graduate. please skip the rest of the school year and go directly to the college of your choice.

amyw said...

I think we need to question what Daniel Pink is saying. You can't just swallow everything anyone tells you. You have to question it and formulate your own opinion.

Eric Grant said...

johnb - or whatever you'd rather do instead of starting college right away.

Alyssa S. said...

John B.- Do you think that its hard for kids our age to formulate their own opinions because throughout our education, we have been taught mostly right-brained opinions?

aaronw said...

haha eric. it's almost true too...

Bill Gaskins said...

How do you know when teachers are allowing you to think outside the box? What does it look like?

Bill from South Carolina

aaronw said...

south carolina's sweet too man!!!

nicolek said...

I think that we need to hear a symphony of information and opinions because this is one of the first times I've heard more than one opinion and I don't know what to do with them. I think in school we need to learn how to see more than one side of things and figure out how to decide for ourselves what we believe.

amyw said...

I've found that when you talk to adults about certain things, you get a new perspective and a new side. Because half the time, we teens are just fed one steady opinion and never given the other side of it.

Liap said...

Mr. Grant-
I like this quote, but I don't agree with 'the future is already here'. The future is not here, we are in the now, and the future is just coming up in front of us, little bit by little bit, giving us only a tiny glimpse.

josed said...

So, we've discussed sypmhony in the school.... but what about symphony OUTSIDE of school? In the workplace? When you're playing football? When you're eating? Think deep and think thoroughly.

Javonm said...

I disagree with Nick I think that it depends on the teacher there are many teachers that are trying to push this forward into the future. In fact, Ben Wilkoff was my middle school teacher, and we were some of the first classes to move forward into the classroom 2.0 thought and we were the first class in that school system to start trying this new movement and it has spread since then.

Tim said...

You really do need to question everything that's presented to you, both in school and out. Not in an aggressive way. But in a way that encourages you to do your own investigation to clarify ideas in your own minds. That's really the essence of learning.

Eric Grant said...

alyssas - yes, but as a 32-yr-old, i can also come down on you youngin's to say that experience counts too. school gives you some. would making school more symphonic give you even more?

MollyS said...

Lia- I love that metaphor you just made about chewing and other qualities of the digestive system... that is so interesting

John- it's also like when you are in 4th grade and somebody asks you, "Are you a Democrat or a Republican?" well of course we have no idea what those are, none of the less have our own ideas about politics. But what kind of 4th grader would we be if we didn't regurgatate what our parents say...? "Reublican of course..." you respond, "well... thats what mommy is anyway."

interesting

amyw said...

In history, we talked about the pros and cons of legalizing marijuana. It gives you a new side that you'd never thought about before.

Eric Grant said...

josed - what? there's no learning outside of school.

Caitlin said...

Amy- thats true, I was thinking that if we did think outside the box, then maybe we could change the face of learning.

Alyssa S. said...

Bill- I believe that thinking outside the box looks like having no limitations. When teachers tell us what we should do, instead of telling us what not to do, we will be more free to think outside the box.

Louiseb said...

Bill-
I think that in a way when I am interested, I am thinking outside of the box. It seems like when something is interesting to me I tend to involve myself with it more and I will do much more with the topic because there is more that I want to know. When teachers pick topics that I want to learn about and then allow me to think on my own- that is when I am truly thinking outside of the box.

Liap said...

Bill-
I tyhink that teachers let us think outside the box when they give us a lot of wiggle room with assignments, like telling us we can write a poem, draw a picture, write a song, or anything else that expresses our feelings on a subject.

aaronw said...

she's on wikipedia for epistenmology

josed said...

Did I say learning? I meant Symphony! Sorry!

amyw said...

jose---I think there is symphony everywhere if we look for it.

chelseas said...

I think that it is very important to consider both sides of an issue. I also think that we need to look at both sides of the story. I also liked Liz's Venn Diagram. I completely agree with this and why this is important.

aaronw said...

this is a pretty beastly conversation

kristenw said...

bill - i personally think that everything we do se should be able to think outside the box but in today's world we usualy are only allowed to do this in english and art classes

Caitlin said...

I agree with Lizzie, the more you learn no matter what, you gain more knowledge.

alexd said...

It is hard to know what it actually true after learning about everyones ideas. What is really correct?

Eric Grant said...

josed - i was totally kidding.

alexd said...

It is hard to know what it actually true after learning about everyones ideas. What is really correct?

johnb said...

I strongly disagree with Mark. Adults and teens are people. They can both research the same things and they can both learn. They also function the same. For example, I researched String Theory, and I had a conversation with a teacher about it. We both had a similar understanding, and we were 35 years apart.

Eric Grant said...

alexd - many would say there's no such thing as "correct". no black and white or right and wrong. that's one of the "other" purposes of education - to help you figure all that out for yourself.

Lukez said...

Josed - I agree with Mr. Grant. I think that everybody is always learning new things. But I also see what your saying, I think that symphony in the workplace has to do with everybody working together. I would think that if a company were to have everybody working in harmony then it would be much more productive.

Alyssa S. said...

Alex- I don't think that there really is correct. Once you have learned other ideas, you have to come up with your own opinion as to what is right and wrong.

Bill Gaskins said...

alyssas--How would you suggest teachers make this transition? How do students interpret this transition? I worked with fifth grade GT students last year and some found thinking outside the box difficult while others coped well. Are these the esperiences you are having in your classrooms?

Eric Grant said...

btw, this is fun and all but it makes me want to be there in person to meet all of you and argue all day.

aaronw said...

luke- harmony is essential in music, which is essential for symphony!!! good one.

chelseas said...

Caitlin-good comment. I agree with this and I think that we will always be learning knowledge throughout our entire lives. I don't think that we will ever stop learning.

aaronw said...

eric- come some day...

Tim said...

If you want something concrete to work with, think of what scientific concepts were thought to be the "truth" in the past. It once was the truth that the earth was the center of the universe.

MollyS said...

Bill-

I don't think that when you are thinking out of the box that you know when its happening. I think good laerning feels like... Symphony. It is like every loose end is finding one to tie to, and all of the facts make sense

Renee Howell said...

Another piece to think about is Dan Pink wrote the book because he believed it, but also to make some money. He has a new book coming out, too.

Liap said...

Mr. Grant- I'm glad you were kidding about not learning outside of school. I read that and was like "Um..is this the type of person we should be blogging with?"
It is so restricting to think that we can't learn outside of school. After all, we learned how to speak didn't we?

amyw said...

I've found that with religion, as you get older, you find it hard to just sit there and be fed it. Once you start to question and wonder, your beliefs aren't so rock-solid anymore. As you get older, you aren't as malleable. Some people are so loyal to a certain religion that they just believe everything by the sheer force of their beliefs. But if you leave for a little bit and start thinking, that force will stop, if that makes any sense.

amyw said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Eric Grant said...

lukez - i like your answer but i want a better idea of "harmony". some of the best ideas come from conflict and argument and dissonance.

kristenw said...

alex - I don't think there is a truth because their is always going to be exceptions

stefo said...

argue away Eric. We need different perspectives to form our our truths

Lukez said...

Bill - I think that its very easy to tell when a teacher is letting me think outside the box. They let the entire class have a lot more say in what we do. We also get a lot more choice on what kind of projects that we do.

alexd said...

Eric and Alyssa-
I agree with what you are saying but for me sometimes my classes make it hard for me to come up with my own ideas. Not only in math class but in Social Studies as well. I dont usually get the opportunity to come up with my own ideas. I am realizing that now reading this book and in the discussion.

Renee Howell said...

String Theory - wikipedia is a good place to read about this because you can click on links and find out more.

aaronw said...

eric- again dissonance is a music thing, which is essentail for symphony!!!

Eric Grant said...

liap - sadly, more learning takes place outside of school for most people. most of the "soft skills" i use every day in my "symphonic" job were learned outside of the classroom.

stefo said...

Sorry. Our Own truths is what I meant to say

Brian c said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Alyssa S. said...

Bill- Yeas, I'm having these expierences in my class. When I first walked into this class, Mrs. Smith told us to write a thesis- based paper. That's it- no other instructions which left me free to write about whatever I wanted. And it scared me! I had never had that much freedom, and once given it, I didn't know what to do with it. But as I adjusted, I expanded my knowledge. I think the same thing would happen to other students if given the oppurtunity i have been given.

Liap said...

Bill-
Another thing, simply saying "think outside the box" is an oxymoron. If you say that expression, you are thinking like other people and using a common expression instead of coming up with your own. That's thinking INSIDE the box, isn't it?

aaronw said...

bells about to ring... good job ya'lls. this was one of our best convo's

Renee Howell said...

Thanks everyone. You are all great thinkers. Stretching your mind is a good thing.

Tim said...

"It is so restricting to think that we can't learn outside of school. After all, we learned how to speak didn't we?"

liap: I'd bet that you learn a lot more outside of school than you do in. Most of it, however, is not necessarily the stuff that will be on your tests.

amyw said...

If you listen to other people and their perspectives and their beliefs, it really adds to your own. Sometimes you'll have never even thought of some of the stuff people believe, and it shapes the way you think.

aaronw said...

bells about to ring... good job ya'lls. this was one of our best convo's

josed said...

There are very few things that are "right" and "wrong" other than 2+2 and the maximum corn production in Iowa. Obviously these are examples, but those are the only kinds of things you can be wrong on. Don't let anyone else tell you otherwise. Even in physics, there is so much that is mysterious, that you can even say the universe rests on a tower of turtles all the way down (I just butchered a quote from Stephen Hawking's "A Brief History of The Universe," I think).

chelseas said...

Mrs. Howell- this is true, and Pink had this idea in one of the portfolio activities for symphony.

Louiseb said...

Renee Howell-
That is something I thought about too- It seems to me like anyone could write down their opinions and publish them and then readers would believe them no matter how out there they were.
This firms up my thoughts that my ownopinions are at many times the best for me to believe.

Brian c said...

Alexd, There's no real way to tell if someone is correct or not, you just have to decide for yourself based on what you know and on what other people have said which could be wrong too. Think about all the times the curiculum has been changed over the years just because enough people said that is how it is. I'm jus saying that no one can be 100% sure that what they say is entirely correct. There will always be something more to be discovered that could change what people see as truth.

aaronw said...

bye

Lukez said...

Mr. Grant - I can see how having conflicting opinions could create better ideas. I think that harmony really means that even if there is disagreement people are still working together towards whatever answer is reached.

johnb said...

MARK-
Science does not blow away religious beliefs.They are just different. In fact, some faiths fit in seemlessly with science.

josed said...

Thank you so much for being with us, but we must leave now. Bye!

josed said...

Thank you so much for being with us, but we must leave now. Bye!

Eric Grant said...

alexd - please graduate now with john b.

Bill Gaskins said...

I appreciate your interesting perspective and I have enjoyed following along. Keep up the thinking? I just finished the chapter on Symphony last night. I have to leave now.

Bill Gaskins from South Carolina- I live between Myrtle Beach and Charleston. It is sweet!

Tim said...

Looks like we lost the Mebeam connection just as the bell rang.

Thanks for a great discussion. I really enjoyed being part of it.

Eric Grant said...

lukez - i like that answer. managed dissonance?

Eric Grant said...

class is over already? my coffee was just kicking in. thanks all!

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