A compelling case for encouraging personal networks in school

The students in our school deserve the same learning opportunities as anywhere else and learning networks can level the educational playing field for students, teachers and administrators.

To quote Richardson & Mancabelli (2011),

"Since the mid-1990's, the sum of human knowledge and two billion potential teaches are available to us online. These shifts have huge implications for the field of education, demanding that we reexamine the way we structure our classrooms and our work with students." (p. 86, Personal Learning Networks)

Our students are already engaged in social networks online and using the web for learning would be a natural next step. However, to keep them safe online, we need to first know how to use these networks ourselves, and we need to teach students how to use them well and ethically.

Publishing content online and using the network to connect with people around the world could be the most powerful way of learning yet.

And, if we wish to have even a semblance of control "when facing the avalanche of information in the modern world is to learn how to use learning networks." (p. 88, Ibid.)

Does this make sense?

What are we doing wrong?

In the last reflection, I spoke of the things we are doing right.

But, what are we doing wrong?

In following twitter, I found this blog entry, http://coopcatalyst.wordpress.com/2011/10/23/the-real-reason-kids-are-missing-from-school/ I got to thinking - is there a connection between absenteeism and actually registering at a school. Do we have less students for the same reason students don't attend, according to the cooperative catalyst, lack of connection to parents?

How do we connect to parents? The usual school connections are to call when students are absent or in trouble. As principal, I encourage teachers to call when the students are doing well also, but are we doing that? I can remember each time I have called parents to report good behaviour, or to compliment a student on an accomplishment. On the other hand, I cannot remember how many times I've had to call a parent with regards to misbehaviour.

Reflection can sometimes be a bitter pill. However, reflection can lead to change.

In Kouzes and Posner's The Leadership Challenge, we are called to "model the way". Therefore, I am putting a task on my calendar for the new year: to call one parent per week regarding an accomplishment his/her child has made at school. I will need to look for the positive. As model, I will also need to share with my staff. I can share in my weekly memo to staff. By sharing the story of the task, I am not only modelling the way, but holding myself accountable to the task.

Let's see where this endeavor takes us in the new year!

So, why don't we have more students?

In reflection, these past four months at school have been tumultuous to say the least. The September 30 student count rocked our world - we lost another 15 students. Our enrolment, like other rural schools in Alberta, has been in decline. However, this last set back was a shock to the system. We lost a full time equivalent certified teacher and had to ask another to work half time. Our school board was faced with many questions and our local community woke up to a reality that its school might have to close.

Since September, we've all had to make adjustments at the school. As principal, I've had to take on half time teaching of our grade 1 to 3 classroom. Grades have been grouped together to form three classrooms, and teachers have had to make hard curriculum choices with regards to what we are teaching in the classroom. While we continue to hold the same high standards for reading, writing, and mathematics, we find time to teach the scientific method and globalization. Teachers are responsible for a wide spectrum of academic outcomes and yet, we also find time to be creative, to play with our students. We find time to create art and music, build things, act, cook, coach sports, and dance with our students.

We really haven't changed a whole lot.

So, why don't we have more students?

School Wiki

I was wondering where and how to start getting my class networked.

I decided to create a school wiki, https://ecoleprovidence.wikispaces.com/  as a place for the staff to post information about our school, their classes, and to work on projects together. As manager of this wiki space, I will have to be committed to inviting my staff to join as members. We'll see how this goes. I know I have a lot to learn about creating and managing a wiki space, but I am counting on my network to provide me with the knowledge and feedback I need.

Very exciting!

The world of personal learning networks is getting very exciting. Yesterday, I went to a classroom site out of Snow Lake, Manitoba. Wow! Students are posting comments, publishing writing, and creating and publishing video. See for yourself: http://www.ideahive.org/ The video of "The Little Drummer Boy" has class and has been totally produced by one of the students. I think the teacher, Mr. Fisher, has done an excellent job of providing opportunities for his students to network. Not only has he provided the opportunity, but he has provided incentive to get them going and keep them active in the community.

I'm just wondering how to get started.

Networking

I've been having some fun with a twitter account and am intending to create a professional facebook page. Networking is fun this way, but time consuming. It takes no time at all to rack up an hour or two on the Internet, reading up on the following and following others. :-)

On Will Richardson's blog, I got caught up in the reflection on the "dirty work of education" and how the Knewton group is going to look after that for us, http://willrichardson.com/post/13920273224/the-dirty-work-of-education#disqus_thread This blog is quite interesting and brings up several ideas that surprise me. Even more intriguing are the comments on this blog. See for yourself.