• i3 Leadership Meeting. #
• Rain makes the paperwork easier. Keep coming, rain. #
• At a Boettcher Scholar alumni focus group. #
• Nice to visit tonight with other Boettcher scholars. Odd and pleasant to discover shared experiences with scholars from thirty years ago. #
• One interesting facet of our conversation was on place-based learning vs. online learning. Place is underrated. #
• @karlfisch By plenty of folks, in general. And, no. Online is a bunch of places. But often, a non-situated place. in reply to karlfisch #
• @luckybydesign Red Hawk Elementary? And now two more. http://t.co/12wTbcVa in reply to luckybydesign #
• @ijohnpederson Big day today? Go get 'em. in reply to ijohnpederson #
• Finding fresh chalk drawings on your driveway is like winning the art lottery. #
• @bgblogging It is a fascinating place. in reply to bgblogging #
• @bgblogging Lurking so far. But beginning to notice a story lens from exposure to the site. Very good thing. in reply to bgblogging #
• Looks like the device-level filtering amendment was added in to HB1240 on May 2nd. Second reading in the Colorado Senate today. Hmm. #
• @corisaas I'll be teaching a pair of courses for PLP. http://t.co/umnmoneA and http://t.co/sFxkbtZz in reply to corisaas #
• @DrThomasHo Then it will cease to be self-directed. Recognized, perhaps, but not rewarded. #edchat in reply to DrThomasHo #
• @jcalvert4 @drthomasho If we value something, do we need to further reward it? (Create structures to nurture it maybe, but reward?) #edchat in reply to jcalvert4 #
• @DrThomasHo @maryannreilly @jcalvert4 Suppose we focused on eliminating bad policy rather than mitigating it? in reply to DrThomasHo #
• I need a big and pretty searchable front-facing Web database tool for sharing links to teacher research reports. Ideas? #
• I thought @HuluBattle was sixteen episodes. Turns out, no. Standard thirteen. Last night was the end. Alas. C'mon, Season 2. Great show. #
• Fiddling with avatarishness this morning. http://t.co/46XNzgcE #
• @kfasimpaur That's us. More soon. Thanks. in reply to kfasimpaur #
• Student led conference night. Looking forward to it. (@ Bennett Elementary School) http://t.co/RDJSnISD #
• I think I'm getting my head wrapped around this next project. But lots of learning still to do. Which is, I guess, the point. #
• Introducing our district MediaCAST Live TV and digital resource library to fifty of our staff this morning. Should be fun. #
• @mrloucks83 I've not used it. What are you needing to accomplish? in reply to mrloucks83 #
• Just went to create a space that I keep forgetting to make – that I made last week. Oh. #
• I always find it interesting when proponents of #flippedclass say it's not about the videos. Then talk only about "the videos." #
• Writing with the teacher research team leaders about our new inquiry challenge. http://t.co/NTU9TmoS #
• Tired. And a book to finish for book club. Nuts. #
• How long until "Executive Director" is one adjective short of a full title? #
• "If you think about too many things, you'll never create anything." – @JaneEspenson via the Nerdist Writers' Podcast #
• @tieandjeans @benblacker It's certainly useful. And very educational. in reply to tieandjeans #
• Best thing about my new gym? Fresh coffee at the end of a workout. Nothing wrong with that. #
• @dajbelshaw As early as I start, I suspect I'd burn my house down if I tried the coffee before. But I'll take a look. in reply to dajbelshaw #
• Last night, our first order from @makershed arrived. Can't wait to play with some robots. #
• Sitting down to make some Web stuff with the staff of the district Innovation Academy. Fun. #
• Tastes like chicken. http://t.co/2a2fYL3u #
• Innovation Academy meeting – looking at the D School Design Thinking process. #
• Book club. Homemade cookies. Weekend. I can handle this. #
• Soggy soccer Saturday spectacular! (@ Rolland Moore Park) http://t.co/G0qjr9Dm #
• Teagan's playing with her food. @ Fort Collins, CO http://t.co/s9g5AZf5 #
• Off to see _Wicked_. #
• "Some things I cannot change/ But 'til I try, I'll never know." – Elphaba, _Wicked_ #
• Dinner. (@ Bud's Backyard Grill) [pic]: http://t.co/alrVZ1mj #
• I just grilled pineapple. That was pretty good. #
• @russgoerend @braddo Yep. Cinnamon, brown sugar and line juice. Delicious. in reply to russgoerend #

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• @rlgose As I understand, they've not yet been introduced. Last I knew, to be an amendment inserted at next action. Also watch SB106. in reply to rlgose #
• @rlgose My understanding is that lots of discussion over language has delayed introduction of language. in reply to rlgose #
• @rlgose I'd prefer they didn't bother – existing requirements are enough. in reply to rlgose #
• It gets ever easier to say things. But not so much to have something to say. #
• More on Common Core and prereading strategies from _Education Week_. http://t.co/OlQt7olR #
• @writerswriting I think that's true. And I think there has been too much emphasis on the stuff around the text. in reply to writerswriting #
• @writerswriting I don't mind either pre-reading or frontloading. I do mind too much of either. in reply to writerswriting #
• @writerswriting Hard to develop curiosity when folks satisfy all questions before they emerge. in reply to writerswriting #
• Video rendering. Stuck on another project. Help me get unstuck. http://t.co/fgd68Uxj #
• Yeah. I don't like the word "gamification" either. Thanks @annecollier. http://t.co/6nMtPpGw #
• @timmmmyboy Bravo. Keep going. It works until you stop recording and paying attention. in reply to timmmmyboy #
• @timmmmyboy Stay strong. There's art to make inside of WW, I'm sure. in reply to timmmmyboy #
• Dear everyone on Twitter: If someone's spreading terrible rumors about you, don't click the link. It's a clever ruse to hijack your account. #
• @ransomtech There you go. in reply to ransomtech #
• @intrepidteacher @courosa False binary there. in reply to intrepidteacher #
• @courosa @intrepidteacher Oops. The tech/no tech. in reply to courosa #
• We have a frog puppet that sings "You Are So Beautiful." it was a gift. #badfriends #
• @wfryer Photo Story. in reply to wfryer #
• @hpitler Best of luck. in reply to hpitler #
• Finally getting videos rendered from our share fair. Excited to share these presentations. #
• Today's "fortune." http://t.co/vB3fgZYp #
• @msstewart Thank you. in reply to msstewart #
• Uploading ginormous Flash files is a good way to test the backbone of our media distribution system. Good luck, backbone. I'm coming for ya. #
• Related: (I'm sorry, hard drive.) #
• There are more and more conduits between my harddrives and the Web. Plenty of stuff flowing both ways. Wow. #
• @woscholar Many happy returns. We feasted upon Chik-Fil-a this evening in your honor. in reply to woscholar #
• Supposed to be making lunches. Playing MarioKart with Ani instead. So worth it. #
• Forgot that Docs are now Drive. Brief moment of panic. All is again well. #
• @ErikBlack1 The connections have been fine. I just got lost for a minute. What kind of errors are you seeing? in reply to ErikBlack1 #
• Important question from @hrheingold. His new book is useful. http://t.co/0EMWFpdD #Kindle #
• I need to append some letters to the end of my name so that I can keep up with others. You know, letters that denote some sort of awesome. #
• I'm thinking on going with DAD. #
• I'm thinking of going with DAD. #
• @JuliaThornton It most certainly should. Get right on that. in reply to JuliaThornton #
• @JuliaThornton Print up some game pieces and you're off to something. in reply to JuliaThornton #
• Why, no. I don't require your daily newsletter on real estate in Europe. But thanks? #
• The St. Vrain DLC Share Fair Video Archive is now live. http://t.co/XHKUs86A #
• @frankisibberson @ruth_ayres That IS a great title. Will any of that be recorded? in reply to frankisibberson #
• I get about 15,000 spam comments a month. So that's something. #
• Been in an efficacy funk lately. I've watched & listened to this maybe a dozen times: http://t.co/HYRMCbHV
  It's helping. Thanks, @zefrank. #
• I'm having difficulty listening to a book on motivation. Which is telling, isn't it? #
• Celebrating our DLC 2nd cohort's year of teacher research today. Looking forward to seeing our team leaders' results. #
• Listening to teachers teach teachers as they share teacher research results. This is the good stuff. #
• Snapshot from the room:Special Ed. teacher explaining that using Google Docs with her students let them "do what the other kids were doing." #
• Another snapshot: K. teacher – The students learned things about writing (with computers) they couldn't've learned with paper and pencil. #
• Snapshot: "The tech. didn't improve my students' learning. Directly. But it did help me to better understand my students' writing process." #
• Not just in LA. How do we build/make kid-friendly makerspaces in all communities that want one? http://t.co/3L542E7Z #
• Snapshot: "'Teaching writing' and 'assessing writing' might be different things." #
• Brain full from morning of teacher research presentations. And more to come after lunch. Then the work of dissemination begins. #
• Teachers from the DLC reporting that teacher research is hard. But worth doing. #
• My Reading the Web eCourse with PLP kicks off in July and again in November. You should come. http://t.co/sFxkbtZz #
• DLC teacher researchers hearing form our project evaluators about what they've noticed. #
• General consensus? The inquiry work we've done together will stick. The technology learning might. #
• Okay. I'm rebooted. It's time to make a maker space here. A professional development studio. A space for unschool-y school. Now. How? #
• @jonbecker Yeah. ActivInspire has a screen capture tool. in reply to jonbecker #
• @jonbecker I wouldn't do it that way, but I'm guessing it's a "Love the One You're With" situation. in reply to jonbecker #
• A writer writes. A maker makes. Start and your space is a space of making. Thanks for the reminder, @tieandjeans. #
• @msstewart I enjoyed the first chapter of this very much. Saved it for later. http://t.co/Fhc3PDBy in reply to msstewart #
• I've worked here five years. I think I just did my expense report right. No mistakes. First time. (With help.) #learning #
• Ordered some small robot kits and some tools over lunch today. Going to teach the girls how to make robots while I learn how. Fun. #
• @bethanyvsmith This – http://t.co/qjqP6fuQ and this http://t.co/JmGEkEZZ in reply to bethanyvsmith #
• @kfasimpaur @seecantrill I hadn't. So there it is. And in Second Life, too, no less. in reply to kfasimpaur #
• @crafty184 Certainly. https://t.co/aNxLFB0n in reply to crafty184 #
• @bethanyvsmith Thanks. And just down the road from here is @sparkfun. So that's something. in reply to bethanyvsmith #
• Apple's new security questions are tricky. I don't know the answers to most of them anyway. #
• @Cindy_OA @Seecantrill @poh @anterobot And confluence. Don't forget the confluence. in reply to Cindy_OA #
• Here's @Cindy_OA on hacking, making and playing. http://t.co/dPIOXYJd #
• Dinner's a little late tonight. Because homemade nacho cheese takes time. It's cool. #
• @msstewart @poh Go get 'em. in reply to msstewart #
• Not to be all old fashioned & all, but might it be that long periods of time spent thoughtfully w/ others actually ARE a good way to learn? #
• @ErieElemPrin @milobo @kadding Are you looking for a teacher or for someone else? One of us would be happy to do so if schedule works. in reply to ErieElemPrin #
• @ErieElemPrin @milobo @kadding Prezi was a staff choice? I've got a good presentation on giving presentations in general ready to go. in reply to ErieElemPrin #
• I mean, fast attempts to cram information into one's head may work for some stuff, but as the gold standard of learning? No. #
• If your #edtech product promotes thoughtfulness, that's handy. If it gets in the way of that, it's a distraction and unneeded. #
• @ErieElemPrin @milobo @kadding Cool. I didn't see that trailer. Where can I find it? in reply to ErieElemPrin #
• @ErieElemPrin @milobo @kadding Thanks. I'm off to soccer, but will take a peek later. in reply to ErieElemPrin #
• From soccer games to birthday parties. We know how to rock a Saturday. #
• I really, seriously, wholeheartedly detest weeds. #
• I fixed my sprinklers. I fixed my sprinklers. I fixed my sprinklers. So that's something. #
• @ddraper I usually do my own fixing, too. But this was an extra special problem. in reply to ddraper #
• @sjciske @ddraper We shouldn't have grass. But we do. So there's work to do. in reply to sjciske #
• Listening to a 6-month old episode of #edtechweekly Does that make me hip for going into the archive or wildly out of touch b/c I'm behind? #
• @ddraper It's true. in reply to ddraper #
• @davecormier I figured. in reply to davecormier #
• It's raining. Nice. #

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• Added a silly read to my week: _Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter_. #
• Took a tour of Skyline High School at this morning's Dept. of Learning Services meeting today. Neat to see their STEM and VPA work grow. #
• Always interesting who is first to reply on attendance checkin messages and last to respond to anything else. #
• Today we are wrapping our third Digital Learning Collaborative cohort's first year of learning. Cool. #
• @writin4change Sure. Start here: http://t.co/GQpgMh44 Look for the DLC links to learn more. in reply to writin4change #
• Google Drive? Cool. Looks to need multiple account support. But not a bad launch. Apps for Ed supported. Will begin testing ASAP. #
• @mrmosesdotorg Hmm. Not on the Mac yet. But I'm hopeful. in reply to mrmosesdotorg #
• @stephenksu Yeah. It's interesting. in reply to stephenksu #
• Sharing feedback from our evaluators on the DLC with the DLC. #
• 41% of our participants say they feel more comfortable with technology. 8% feel "stuck." #
• @mrmosesdotorg That makes sense – iteration of the sweet Google Docs app on Android. in reply to mrmosesdotorg #
• @mrmosesdotorg I'm thinking that'll make it to the desktop. in reply to mrmosesdotorg #
• 68% of our participants say that students are using technology more. 49% say that the students are learning more. #
• @karlfisch Tricky. Not sure that you can say that from the question and the answer. But we thought it an interesting difference. in reply to karlfisch #
• Participant: "Being required to stop and figure out technology is wonderful. I have been able to actually work and figure things out." #
• @ScottElias @karlfisch The room noticed and is discussing. in reply to ScottElias #
• @bjfr Really? It's that hard to do that? in reply to bjfr #
• Evaluator – Many would say that the school day is an inappropriate time for teachers to learn. "Time for learning pays a powerful dividend." #
• So http://t.co/BaOorSj7 isn't terrible. #
• @bjfr Go get 'em. in reply to bjfr #
• Billy Colins at TED. 6 poems in fifteen minutes. http://t.co/euZFMX2h #
• Planning tomorrow's kickoff of the St. Vrain Inquiry Challenge – an intentional teacher research effort to explore new ground in district. #
• I love that the district is supporting institutional subversion in this way – and asking itself questions. Tricky stuff. Worth doing. #
• @hendron Not yet. That's coming. But think "teacher research" by the district and for the district. in reply to hendron #
• @hendron FYI, here's the original proposal for the work. https://t.co/BnSplGtS in reply to hendron #
• Required intro to hacking by @empathetics from #dml2012 http://t.co/CK6z8Vuc #
• A new piece over at the art museum about @empathetics' emphasis that we should teach students to hack. Yes. We should. http://t.co/mY8qGeYN #
• @schmutzie Here's a "go get 'em" from a far away stranger. So. Go get 'em. You can do it. in reply to schmutzie #
• Sometimes, when I get stuck with a piece of writing, the best thing I can do is change the mode of composition. That can unstick things. #
• For today, from computer to whiteboard. Then back to computer. It's helping. #
• @SVVSDLibraries Do what? Change the mode? Move. From paper to keyboard. From ink to Play Doh. From one thing to another. in reply to SVVSDLibraries #
• Not only does @chadsansing know an awful lot about teaching and learning and gaming, but he's also a fine artist. http://t.co/PG4OSBCL #
• About to start a "so you have a document camera and a SMART Board and you'd like to know how they work" session. #
• @willrich45 . . . not uniform. in reply to willrich45 #
• @jeannieccrowley Thanks much. in reply to jeannieccrowley #
• I'm on NWP Radio tomorrow w/ some smart folks to talk about Poem in Your Pocket Day. You should listen. Bring a poem. http://t.co/j6YGmMvh #
• Also – I'm cheating at my poetry prompts – writing tomorrow's poem today. Don't tell. #
• If you're able, you might want to go to #edcampdenver this Saturday. https://t.co/aSnx9bAI #
• Writing more about machine grading of writing. Wondering if I can run the draft by a machine somewhere. #
• @luhoka It is. And I cheated – recorded with @poh last week – but I think it'll be a good show. in reply to luhoka #
• @amichetti Yeah. in reply to amichetti #
• @mramidon @audreywatters Indeed. in reply to mramidon #
• Tomorrow's poem today – "Boxing" by me. https://t.co/yiH07XBM #
• @poh @luhoka I'm grateful for a kind editor who took out all the dumb parts. in reply to poh #
• @AndreaZellner @KSchulten @grantfaulkner I'd love to read that poem. in reply to AndreaZellner #
• @MaryAnnReilly @sinfin I think about Turnitin and how student work becomes more grist for a mill of distrusting the next round of students. in reply to MaryAnnReilly #
• "Pause" – A found poem from last summer's ISTE #engchat http://t.co/hVIbyxET #
• @KSchulten @grantfaulkner @andreazellner Your piece on found poetry reminded me of this found poem from #engchat http://t.co/hVIbyxET in reply to KSchulten #
• @grantfaulkner @AndreaZellner @KSchulten Thank you. in reply to grantfaulkner #
• Off to begin a new district teacher research group. Wish us luck. #
• Sometimes, a new endeavor requires a new notebook. Today is one of those times. http://t.co/AwwDjuBL #
• @writin4change This is the scope of our work. https://t.co/BnSplGtS in reply to writin4change #
• @MaryAnnReilly Kind of you to say. Thanks. in reply to MaryAnnReilly #
• Seeing an increase in file storage in St. Vrain Apps for Education. Sweet. 5GB of storage for students and staff. #
• @willrich45 It's good. in reply to willrich45 #
• @willrich45 @mrmacnology Yep. They go into the trash in Google Docs. in reply to willrich45 #
• Today, I wrote half the poem and then decided it'd be the prompt. I'm doing #npm2012 backwards. I'm okay with that. #
• @karlfisch Ahem. in reply to karlfisch #
• @cogdog Oh sweet crap. in reply to cogdog #
• Pro tip: Don't try to resume _Team of Rivals_ while also inhaling _Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter_. It'll mess you up. Now you know. #
• @shareski But you believe in auto-follow messages on Twitter? Interesting. in reply to shareski #
• Smarter Balanced assessment technology requirements for 2014-2015 assessments. Android, iOS, Linux, pleasant surprises. http://t.co/NPEigvdc #
• @sjciske The footnote about iPad and Apple suggests otherwise. Isn't that a 9.5? in reply to sjciske #
• @sjciske Makes sense. Interesting, too, that the need for physical mice for tablets is mentioned. That'd be odd. in reply to sjciske #
• @ScottElias Congratulations, Doctor. in reply to ScottElias #
• I just did a search in my email for the phrase "sonic screwdriver." For real. #
• @mikekaechele a 12th Doctor? Really? in reply to mikekaechele #
• Good morning & good luck to my #edcampco friends. Hope you take good notes and share what you're able to. #
• Silly me. Two hash tags. Good luck to #edcampdenver friends, too. #
• Building blanket forts this morning. Not sure what we're defending. Or from what. http://t.co/5oTsU93y #
• "What shall we buy to fix it?" should not be the automatic response to the statement, "We have a difficult issue here." #
• @NancyW The room's likely wrong. Most badges I've seen are framed and presented as awards and prizes. #edcampCO in reply to NancyW #
• @zmidler I'd love to see those sometime. in reply to zmidler #
• @zmidler Would love to see both. Thanks. in reply to zmidler #
• Colorado legislators considering requiring Internet filters on all student used devices. Proposed draft. #edcampco https://t.co/oKsR8033 #
• By the way, I believe that's unnecessary legislation that will add cost and decrease service by schools and districts. #
• @chemicalsams Yes. Computers aren't difficult. Tablets, iOS, Android, are a different story. (Still a bad idea.) in reply to chemicalsams #
• @chemicalsams Currently, filtering is federally mandated on a school network – if the organization takes eRate money. in reply to chemicalsams #
• @chemicalsams The real danger is the bad assumption that the filters solve the problem and that the devices are easy to manage. in reply to chemicalsams #
• I'd encourage you to call your state legs. next week and let them know you don't want the filtering change in HB1240 or SB106. #edcampco #
• @chemicalsams A-yep. More filters aren't useful. in reply to chemicalsams #
• @timholt2007 Colorado. in reply to timholt2007 #
• Just got a Bookworm badge on Foursquare. Really? Why'd it take so long? #
• @TraciLHaley We can do that. And I think it's time. Shoot me an email and we will set something up. in reply to TraciLHaley #
• @shareski You owe me $831.63. Done. in reply to shareski #
• Yep. http://t.co/lZLuVtpz #Kindle #
• "Agency" keeps emerging in more and more of my work. Important. http://t.co/Xq8IiGO3 #Kindle #
• @courosa Facebook aside, I'm usually unwilling to endorse upon request. Seems disingenuous most of the time. in reply to courosa #
• @MaryAnnReilly This is what's missing in many of the teachers I work with. They don't possess a sense of agency. in reply to MaryAnnReilly #
• @rogre @courosa Exactly like chain letters. in reply to rogre #
• @shareski @courosa Actually, I would. Get on that. in reply to shareski #
• @msstewart @dlaufenberg Dorks. #dorkchat #selfreferentialchat in reply to msstewart #
• About to light the grill after a day of soccer games and library visits and yard work. Rough existence, this. #
• @MaryAnnReilly I understand. And might agree. But is it also possible that it's easy to create a police state in a land with limited agency? in reply to MaryAnnReilly #
• @rogre @MaryAnnReilly Say more. But I think yes. in reply to rogre #
• @rogre @MaryAnnReilly Yes. in reply to rogre #
• @johntspencer @MaryAnnReilly Got an in on that for me? Link, perhaps? #lazyweb in reply to johntspencer #
• @Deacs84 And that's exactly what I'm reading. Exactly. Good sign I should continue. Thanks. in reply to Deacs84 #
• @MaryAnnReilly @johntspencer Thanks. My Foucault neurons are quite rusty. in reply to MaryAnnReilly #
• @rogre Thank you kindly. in reply to rogre #
• @MaryAnnReilly @johntspencer That'd be great, thanks. in reply to MaryAnnReilly #
• @Deacs84 I think I'm about to make a major shift in effort to go after agency. in reply to Deacs84 #
• @jonbecker @Deacs84 Thanks. I need to read more first, but possibly. in reply to jonbecker #
• @Deacs84 You'll never hear me say no to that. Certainly. in reply to Deacs84 #
• @irasocol @MaryAnnReilly But we made the government. in reply to irasocol #
• @MaryAnnReilly @irasocol And yet. in reply to MaryAnnReilly #
• I grow weary of seeing references to "the educational power of Twitter." The network has the power. The latest flavor is less relevant. #
• @BHS_Doyle @irasocol @MaryAnnReilly What a kind thing to say. Thank you. in reply to BHS_Doyle #
• Ms. the Teacher just apologized. The chocolate covered strawberries she was planning to make won't happen. So strawberry shortcake instead. #
• How rough my life is sometimes. But I cope as best as I'm able. #
• @audreywatters @wfryer That lobbying activity isn't about the filtering amendment, which isn't yet attached. Other rules are fascinating. in reply to audreywatters #
• One of those, "What a great Sunday. Oh. Here comes Monday," kind of nights. #

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Let’s tackle the last one first.  I didn’t say that I’m unsympathetic to the idea that more writing would happen if there was less grading to do.  Certainly, one reason that writing isn’t happening enough in classrooms now is that there’s a perception that every piece written must be “marked” or “graded” or “bled upon” by a teacher.  That’s completely false and a terrible idea. #

What our students need isn’t so many end comments or suggestions for grammatical or technical correction, but they need to be responded to as writers by readers who are reading their work.  Peter Elbow says this far smarter than I ever could, but we teachers should be doing less evaluating and more responding. #

So, yes.  Teachers are taking too long with papers.  The answer isn’t to stop reading them. It’s to read them differently.  Or to have more teachers reading fewer students’ writing.  And we don’t need to read everything that a student writes.  We certainly don’t need to grade everything a student writes. #

Where I think this gets messy is, as evidenced by Justin’s comment, is the notion that students need more grading from us in order to get better as writers.  They do not.  They need for we teachers to write with them, and to create cultures of inquiry and reflection rather than regurgitation in our classrooms.  They need to be treated as apprentice writers and brought up accordingly. #

Robotic graders are for people too busy to read the work our students are investing in.  That’s not fair to our students. #

Now, to clarify.  I’ve ben in classrooms where existing writing assessment software has been used, and I’ve been pleasantly surprised by what I’ve seen.  My most recent experience with a writing assessment tool was in a middle school classroom in my school district, where a gifted teacher was using the tool as a starting place for her writing courses.  The software did free her up to be in conversation with her students about their writing.  That was just the right way for her and the class to be – the students drafting, the teacher conversing and reading and being with her students. #

The students wrote more and revised more.  In talking with them, they felt a connection to their teacher and that she was concerned for them as writers.  The software was a scaffold, and a place to start. #

I was okay with that.  More than okay.  The teacher made the classroom shine.  The software augmented the teacher.  She could’ve run a similar, maybe not as prolific, writing workshop with her students using only paper and pencil. #

And she read what they wrote.  And encouraged them to share their writing with each other. #

Writing for a machine to read all the time, though, is not really writing.  It’s pretending.  It’s make believe.  And not the good and playful kind.  It’s faking it when there’s not an other someone reading at least some of the work.  We want our students to write well not because they’ll need to do so in some far off future job.  We want them to write well because they have something important to say to the world right now. #

So let me clarify further.  I get how the computers do the “reading” that they do¹.  And I won’t completely knock it.  It’s handy if you need to score a bunch of tests in a hurry. And that’s one kind of writing – writing as proof of knowing.  But it’s writing that assumes unimportance. #

And it’s writing that suggests that the students could build their own robot essay writers to write their essays for them.  In fact, that’s what an awful lot of student “cheating” cases are – they’re crowdsourcing their homework.  Some students do that out of malicious intent.  Others out of ignorance.  But too many students fake their way through essays out of boredom, and out of the knowledge that the teacher’ll be in a hurry and probably not notice. #

You’ve got to notice what your students are doing.  And you’re going to miss some things.  But you can’t miss all of them.  Maybe even most. #

I don’t think a machine grading writing is the end-all of everything I hold dear.  I’m sympathetic to the argument that our students need to write more and perhaps the machines will encourage that.  But the fervor with which I suspect machine grading of writing will be adopted suggests the real problem – we don’t actually want to read and write with our students.  We want to do reading and writing to them.  And that’s wrong. #

1. By the way, Justin’s series on automated essay grading is worth your time if you want to understand the processes and processing involved.

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photo: YannGar Photo in Lausanne

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