[youtube=http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=AYeTwfyx0nw]
Here’s a quirky and creative little flipbook animation called Kraak & Smaak: Squeeze me (source: Drawn).
Another example of the endless possibilities for creativity with technology. Literacies? The kinds of things that include storytelling, sequencing, playful possibilities, imagination, what-ifs and the like.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2j9qw-A0NM&hl=en&fs=1]
Is the picture of teachers in this video fact or fiction?
Let’s have a look at some of ideas here.
Firstly, teachers today work in a world that is fast-paced and rapidly changing.
Do we realise this fully?
Teachers today work together to facilitate, innovate, coordinate, participate, investigate, advocate and illuminate.
How are you doing so far?
Teachers today may have limited autonomy, opportunities and resources…
Is that true? Does that make you feel uncomfortable?
… but their possibilities are unlimited; they are leading, shaping, finding new approaches, new technologies and discoveries.
Sounds exciting.
Teachers today instil curiosity, extend possibilities, make connections, engage students, excite learners to solve problems of the new generation.
What are the problems of the new generation?
Teachers today overcome obstacles, embrace change, redefine education, are fluent in technological tools, are aware of global concerns.
This is a huge job and an amazing responsibility.
Teachers today are challenging students …
to find solutions;
to find their voices;
to change the world.
I’m interested to find out how teachers react to the messages in this video.
To quote a teacher recently:
‘Where does the academic fit into this?’
Isn’t it time we opened up our vision of what our role as teachers today is?
While you’re at it, have a look at Digital World: Kids today
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fu4vmiXxwc&hl=en&fs=1]
Thanks to Judy O’Connell for putting me onto these videos.
This is what Jason van Genderen did:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrDxe9gK8Gk]
The 3 minute film cost $57 to make, was shot in New York and Sydney, and won first place at the New York Tropfest. Tropfest is the largest short film festival in the world, with the aim of bringing exposure to talented, young filmmakers from around New York and the world.
Can you imagine the fun and creativity for students with such a project?
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6hz_s2XIAU]
I found this on Rob Jacobs’ blog.
What does this tell us as educators?
Think before you speak negatively or label a student. Try to find the best in the student. Encourage students to run with their passions, to have a go, to accept difficulties as challenges, to chill out.
We all ‘fail’ at something sometime. If we help students view their ‘failures’ as opportunities for growth, they’re learning the most important lessons in life. Learning from mistakes – you learn to think/approach things differently, to persist, to empathise with strugglers; you move forward, after a while you realise that’s the path we follow if we walk the path.
Calling all students! Edutopia has created a competition asking students to express their opinions about which skills they think their school should teach to help them succeed in life. Recognising young people’s expertise in technology, Edutopia has asked them to submit their opinions in the form of a 60 second video.
The competition closes October 15, and favourites will be published. There is no prescribed format for the answer to the question: ‘What do you think is the most important skill to learn for your future and why?’ – only that it is posted on YouTube and tagged ‘edutopiaskills’. Kids require proof of parental consent and must provide parental contact information. I’m puzzled about the choice to use YouTube, considering that YouTube is blocked by many schools.
I’d really like somebody to supplement this with adults’ guesses about what the kids would say. I’m not sure if I would be able say with any certainty how kids would answer this question, or how they would present it. Would it involve technology, social skills, financial know-how, health issues, emotional intelligence, practical knowledge, or??? I’m hoping that many kids would find transferrable skills and experiences the most valuable. I can’t wait to see the results.
What about learning that would be considered as a waste of time at school? Some might say that their whole school education was a waste of time. Most would isolate learning that they found unengaging or irrelevant. I could certainly make an extensive list of learning that screamed irrelevance: having to look up statistical facts about yawningly boring facts in a Victorian year book; sheep and sewerage; other things that I’ve successfully wiped out of my memory bank.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCM7w11Ultk&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&fs=1]
Found this video on Education Innovation and it prompted reflection. How quickly things have changed in the world of technology in the last few years. Well, ‘last few’ to a person of my generation could mean anything from 5-20. The theme of the video is crowdsourcing. The basic message – we used to have to be physically together to create a crowd, but suddenly, with the internet, we’re able to create a virtual crowd. That is, virtual communities can just form themselves on the basis of shared interests. Fascinating, also, to acknowledge how technology has changed possibilties with photography. Three things have changed what photography can do forever: the development of affordable digital cameras; photo-editing software; and the internet. People are sharing photos, and more and more applications are popping up for creative use of images. Stock photos which used to be expensive are now abundant and therefore cheap because of amateurs’ communities. Think Flickr, think Picasa. Think about photo sharing on Facebook and MySpace. Think about the combination of photos and Google Earth.
Interesting, too, is the blurring of lines between amateur and professional, company and customers. Crowds, or groups, can change a business dramatically, or so the video says. And the most interesting thing, in my opinion, is that online communities organise themselves – what used to take corporate managers to achieve. Could the same be said for schools? How could we free up the system to allow for self-organising groups to form on the basis of shared interest and passion?
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OBlgSz8sSM&hl=en&fs=1]
This is so cute. I love 4-year old’s lack of resentment towards his little brother; watch his face after the pain dies down. And Charlie chuckling.
Here’s an interview with the boys and their parents some time later, showing copycat videos.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kV8PbItDFS4&hl=en&fs=1]
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LxVDVggLqsA]
Skoolaborate put me onto this video by a young film maker, Robbie Dingo. The author of this blog uses this example to illustrate the learning potential of virtual worlds. He lists learning areas, such as maths, geography and problem solving that are demonstrated in the creation of this short and creative film.
Still browsing in my search for clarity and understanding of the purpose and potential of virtual worlds. What do you think?
There are many educational YouTube videos to be discovered. Then there are these…
