Steve Wheeler talks Learning with ‘e’s

Every individual’s context is unique. -Steve Wheeler

I know what I need to do with the tools that are available to me and so do my students. -Steve Wheeler

We learn best when we are curious. We become curious when we don’t know the answer to something. And we don’t know the answer to something when we get challenged. Problem based learning is probably the most powerful method you could possibly use. -Steve Wheeler

Twitter

Initially got interested in the backchannel chatter happening at a conference.

@stevewheeler account – started with that, though his more popular account to follow is…

@timbuckteeth – avatar – Dave, the astronaut on the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey

Twitter for me is probably for me the most powerful tool for communicating I’ve ever used. -Steve Wheeler

Lack persistence – You need to give it time.

[Twitter] is not about the content; it’s about the conversation. -Steve Wheeler

The practice of blogging

If [professors don’t blog], how else are they going to express themselves? -Steve Wheeler

Professors normally express themselves through closed, academic journals. The academic capital that most universities currently subscribe to… That’s going to change.

Why Steve knows that blogging is much more effective:

Wrote an article in 2005: wasn’t published for nearly three years; revised. 36 academic citations.

At the same time, wrote another article, sent it in to an open-access journal; five people instead of two… Not only did they publish it within six weeks. The way forward for disseminating… 550k views; Almost 1,000 citations.

Blogging. People are actually reading it. Could be much harsher in their criticism. Reflect on practice more deeply. 3,000 views in a day. Don’t know how he could possibly get that kind of exposure through traditional academic journals.

US

Jim Groom (edupunk) (on Twitter)
George Siemens (on Twitter)
Steven Anderson’s blog – web 2.0 classroom (on Twitter)
Sherry Terrell (on Twitter).
Amy Burvall Hawaii History Teachers channel
Audrey Watters
Alan Levine (on Twitter)

UK

Martin Weller (on Twitter)
David Hopkins‘ blog Don’t waste your time (on Twitter)
Helen Keegan (on Twitter)

Privacy

Audrey Watters on Teaching in Higher Ed podcast

Death of privacy – all surveilled; all followed; difficult to be a private citizen

The death of privacy has happened. It’s very difficult to be a private citizen these days. -Steve Wheeler

The law is running to catch up
Difficult question to answer
School systems differ; social contexts differ; social norms differ

Steve’s addition

How the maker movement is moving into classrooms

Taupaki School in Aukland – principal of the school, Stephen Lethbridge (on Twitter)- primary plus school. 5-13… through making things. Papert’s Constructionist theories. Learning the curriculum subjects in a fun, challenging, exciting way.

Recommendations

Bonni recommends:

Doug McKee’s kids’ books recommendations

Hope for the Flowers by Trina Paulus
A story about a catepillar

…partly about life, partly about revolution and lots about hope – for adults and others including caterpillars who can read.

Steve recommends:

Don’t Change the Light Bulbs: A compendium of expertise from the UK’s most switched-on educators