The Lifelong Learning Toolbelt
Nov
8
Written by:
11/8/2009 1:48 AM
I think we need to refocus professional
development on learning how to learn with technology. The vast majority
of professional development focused on technology is focused on
creating a product, i.e. movies, podcasts, documents, etc. Until
education seriously believes in technology as more than a tool, we will
continue to implement weak initiatives and see vast amounts of
professional development money wasted. Too often, professional
development models focus on technology initiatives that do not
encourage the highest goal of learning and that is, "Lifelong
Learning". As Kim Cofino stated, "It's Not Just a Tool, Technology As Environment".
Here is my presentation at Techforum Northeast: The Lifelong Learning Toolbelt
Meaning:
- Researching:
Begin with learning how to find good resources, judge their merit, and
reflect on their value as you continue to use the resource.
- Reading: Gather your research and continually follow the quality work from those that teach you well.
- Archiving: Save and share the best resources for your work.
- Reflecting: Write or record your thoughts on your learning experiences.
- Participate: Join the conversation. Start slowly by listening and then jump into the discussion.
- Finally,
worry about what you think you should be creating or different creative
uses of technology. We focus too much on what we want to do with
technology and we don't focus enough on how that technology can help us
learn.
Image and Color Scheme:
- Primary colors are chosen to represent the core skills of the learning tool belt.
- Each
of the areas overlaps and is not independent of each other. You archive
along with reading and you gain new resources through use of your
reading, archiving and participation.
- Example: Delicious is an archiving tool and can also be a research tool.
- Example: I will mind Twitter along with using Google Search and my network of Delicious users.
- The primary colors blend into brown that is where you mix your core skills with the learning community at large.
- The
outer ring is rainbow in colors because your level of creativity and
thought can grow exponentially when you utilize the entire tool belt.
Leading Tools: These happen to be the top tools (as of 11/2009) in these areas but they are replaceable.
- Searching: Google
- Reading: Google Reader
- Archiving: Delicious
- Reflecting: Blogger.com
- Participating: Twitter and NING
My Personal Choice:
- Search: Delicious
- Reader: Google Reader
- Archiving: Simplybox
- Reflecting: Squarespaces
- Participating: Twitter and NING
Crossposted at
SMeech.net
2 comment(s) so far...
The Lifelong Learning Toolbelt
Scott, what a clever way to think about personal learning networks. I had heard good things about your presentation at T&L Northeast and now see how informative and relevant it was. The visual is powerful and easy to understand. Your message of professional development neglecting the "lifelong learning" is sadly all too true and as you say, needs to be changed..now! Thanks for sharing.
By Judith Epcke on
11/13/2009 5:42 AM
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The Lifelong Learning Toolbelt
Well I think that technology would be great for our kids. Some have argued that technology should not be taught to our kids, but the truth is that they need technology. This world is advancing everyday and these kids are actually smarter than the kids ten years ago. they grow up already learning about technology and how to work computers. I have twin 10-year old brothers and they can do just about everything I can do on the computer which is great.
As a matter of fact, I have a blog which I posted earlier that I want you to look at, I need as many viewers and comments as possible. It is about Kids and Technology and it tells why we need technology. I also have a blogtv broadcast which I will be doing to show what I mean when I say we need technology for our kids. I have a show today at 1pm central time. You can look me up by typing nikki87simone and you can find me there. I would love for anyon who is reading this comment to watch the live broadcast and comment please.
By ChristySimmons09 on
11/18/2009 5:35 AM
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