When the media looks for a story to print, they don’t usually look for the good news story. Probably because negativity and gossip are habits people have and the media capitalizes on our collective comfort in hearing about other peoples problems. Misery likes company.
When it comes to education and technology – my favourite subject, I think back about the stories that the press has featured lately. Stories about teens videotaping screaming teachers and posting them on YouTube, sexting, cyberbullying, or cheating on assignments using FaceBook. I most certainly read the stories and passed them on to others. Didn’t you? My question, challenge or wishful thinking is found in this question. “Can we turn human behaviour around and get people talk about celebrating teachers and students not defaming them?”
My New Year’s resolution is to try and convince the media to feature and sensationalize the outstanding practices that teachers use to engage students using technology. I am convinced that if all the people in Twitterland started to sing the praises of these best practices, administrators, parents and the “not so convinced” teachers would sit up, take notice and start wondering why Youtube is not being used as a learning tool, why cellphones aren’t being used as teaching devices or twittering to parents and why all classrooms don’t have their own blogging platforms.
I want to talk about marketing this idea. It is the business part of me at work. When you sell anything – personal recommendation and commendation is the best way to advertise. When you need new windows in your home you ask your friends and family for their advice and experience. You trust their judgment and often follow their recommendations
I have been following some great educators on Twitter. You can follow me, if you like to meet some of them. My Twitter Id is http://twitter.com/lornacost. They already know the story and can make recommendations and are making them but we need a collective energy to get the message across.
I find that teachers are really a humble group and although they appreciate praise that don’t go about their day writing stories about themselves and submitting press releases at the end of the school day.
Can I convince you to write stories in your blog – in your network about the teachers you know who are doing great web 2.0 teaching ? Can I then convince you to email or fax the media your story(ies) and then come back here and tell us about your success and not so successful efforts. Your advice will help others.
I am asking you to join in this meme to get the media to bring the message to the uninformed and the nay sayers.
Name 3 educators who you think are making an impact on students using web 2.0 tools. Tell us what they are doing and let your “three” know that you think they are making a difference and then ask them to identify three more teachers – pass it on. Ask them to name their own 3 stars.
Here are my three:
1) Kathy Cassidy
Kathy Cassidy is a Grade one teacher in Westmount School in Moose Jaw, SK Canada.. Kathy has her own personal blog http://primarypreoccupation.wordpress.com/ and her classroom blog. http://www.classblogmeister.com/blog.php?blogger_id=1337&newlimit=25 Kathy was the first and only teacher I came across 3 years ago who was using a classroom blog to teach students. Watch the YouTube videos featuring her students in a way that parents can get excited about watching their children in class and at the same time follow the content and curriculum Kathy is teaching. Take a tour of the classroom blog and enjoy videos like this one.
2) Rodd Lucier
Rodd has been an elearning coordinator and now Student Success teacher at London Catholic District School Board in London Ontario. Rodd does a lot of good things that I find inspiring. His blog thecleversheep.blogspot.com his Teacher 2.0 podcast series and this twitter for teachers wiki. http://twitterforteachers.wetpaint.com/ In addition to all of these outstanding activities, Rodd is influencing and impacting on learning through his personal learning network on twitter. http://twitter.com/thecleversheep Rodd’s talent at community building shines through in his engaging tweets and inspiring blog posts.
Take a look at this slide share presentations. I love this one about creative commons. Follow Rodd on twitter and you will always find a good take away.
3) Matt Montagne
Matt is a Tech Coordinator at the Castilleja School in Palo Alto, CA. Matt is an innovator. EVery time I turn around Matt has found another way to look at at subject and mould it into exceptional learning activities for his students. I first met Matt when I searched for teachers who were involving parents in their child’s school work. Imagine how excited I was to find a wiki for parent education workshops. From that point on I can’t keep count of all of the new and exciting things Matt has done. I watched Matt become an outstanding webcaster at edtechtalk.com. You will find Matt in EarthBridges and Earthcast, Parents as Partners and Edtechbrainstorm (when Doug Symington is away.) Calling home with ustream is one of my favourite memories of our K12Online conference presentation.
If I was a reporter in Palo Alto, I would be telling them about “Gator Radio” a podcasting series with Matt’s students. Permission slips. one on one with parents to get them on side.
Check out Matt’s submission for Google Teacher Academy. It is Matt’s message. Pass it on. Now Kathy, Rodd, Matt Over to you.
PS. Peggy George, Kim Caise and Steve Hargadon you are my heros.
