After reading Steve Hargadon’s six points, I have a few things to say. Hargadon makes a point in number two that states “topic or content may not be as important as the act of engagement.” Engagement can top topic, but it seems more difficult in a traditional 180 day school. Sure, participation is nice, but there are fire drills and assemblies and professional development and picture day and counselor day. I already feel like I give away my precious time with students to “school functions”. I don’t have time to waste in the engagement when the topic is all they will be tested on (and can’t graduate if they don’t pass the test). However, in classes such as debate and Senior English when they participate in the Socratic method, engagement should be more important than the topic. That is the whole point of those classes.
Hargadon’s points three and four go together, as far as I’m concerned. It’s basic economics…the old supply and demand thing. Every product needs to be wanted or needed. If you already have the buy in (the early adopters) then you are more likely to be successful. If no one needs the SNS, no one will use it. It’s that simple. As with all things, there has to be a need for it. But, if you go for the big bang without the baby steps to ensure you are getting and receiving what you wanted out of the product, you might wind up with the “freedom to fail”. Again, as with any product, a little research and development never hurt anyone.
My final point about this article, and a major problem I have with all these wikis and blogs and articles, is that spelling and grammar is still important. And when I am required to read an article with more than three errors for a homework assignment, I get extremely frustrated. Why would someone publish half assed work and why must I comment on it?
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Hi, Annie!
ReplyDeleteGood point about the need to prepare for tests. As it turns out, I was thinking more about professional development networks than students ones in that post.
Sorry about the errors! I'm not even sure where they are, but part of what comes from the Web becoming a "conversation" is that we are producing so much more material to communicate that sometimes the communication is more important than the polishing... :) Since many or most of us blog as a hobby or avocation, be careful not to criticize us for making a few mistakes here and there... however, a nice note letting me know of the mistakes would be appreciated so I can correct them!