Pair-a-Dimes Comments

Comment on Assessment & Rote Learning: Math Conundrums by Multiplying Integers: Why is -3 x -4 = +12? « ‘Practic-All’

Multiplying Integers: Why is -3 x -4 = +12? « ‘Practic-All’ — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 03:16:06 +0000

[...] uploaded a couple pages of my Math Model Book for a ‘Pair-a-Dimes’ post, “Assessment & Rote Learning: Math Conundrums“… and thought I would share these very practical resources [...]

Comment on Facebook Revisited by Dana Woods

Dana Woods — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 09:11:16 +0000

Hi Dave

Thanks for the shout out. I feel proud to have introduced someone to danah boyd. Hope all is well in China.

Comment on Blogs as Learning Spaces by School 2.0 Participant’s Manifesto | David Truss :: Pair-a-dimes for Your Thoughts

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 13:24:45 +0000

[...] Blogs as Learning Spaces [...]

Comment on The POD’s are Coming! BLC09 by datruss

datruss — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 03:10:34 +0000

No apologies for the wonderful comment are needed.
I think you are absolutely correct about putting portable technology into the hands of teachers. It is why my big push at my new school is to provide every classroom teacher with an LCD projector and every teacher with a netbook… small, portable and powerful! I also agree with the reflection time (that I have limited control over) so I have implemented something equally important… collaboration time! It's amazing what teachers can do (and how professional they are) when you give them time together in a classroom.
Again, thanks for such a thoughtful response, I appreciate the extra time you put into it!
~Dave.

Comment on The POD’s are Coming! BLC09 by gmaccoll

gmaccoll — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 02:50:54 +0000

Hi David,

I really appreciate your blog, I find it interesting and an important read. I have only just discovered it and I found this entry to be one that really spoke to me. Believe it or not less than 10 months ago I was a Luddite when it came to technology and education and I have moved very far in a short time. You ask the question of what will shake people from the 'fear' that you very accurately describe? Can I suggest some things that changed the way I look at technology and education. First of all I got my hands on an Apple iTouch, and it very, very quickly revolutionized the way I lived my life so I began to think about ways that it could revolutionize my classes. Therefore I think one thing that teachers need is to have the technology given to them, and I mean put it in their hands so they have it all the time, as opposed to just at school, the technology must be portable. The second thing that has made a difference is that in my new position I have something more precious than any other teaching tool I've ever had. Time for reflection, instead of feeling part of the treadmill of marking and meeting and whatever else, I've had time to reflect about how I could put technology into place. There are of course other things that I think have made a difference but those two alone have changed the way I look at things. Ironically of course I am now no longer in the classroom full-time. Sorry for the long response, and if you might have covered this somewhere else that I haven't yet discovered, cheers.

Comment on Digital Teachers by monika hardy

monika hardy — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 23:46:37 +0000

to both of you – huge bravo. the ipod interview brought me here.

well and then after i found her on twitter – with like 2 tweets – one saying…wondering how i can shake my class up.

then dave tweets to me…She REALLY has no pre-conceived notions of what a classroom 'should' look like, so she asks herself, What's possible? -Then tries.

beautiful. what a role model.

Comment on Blogs as Learning Spaces by Eric

Eric — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 20:26:18 +0000

Hey there.

Thanks a lot for posting that comment on my blog. It's kinda nice to know that people do actually read it once in a while. I thought that the above post was very true. I love blogging, but I only really found out about it after my first of two years in Mr. Fishers class. People need the chance to find out about different things when they are still young. If they don't, they won't have any motivation to do anything about it when they are old and grumpy.

-Thanks for listening

Comment on Caring across the curriculum by silvana_c

silvana_c — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 21:59:24 +0000

Hi Dave,
great post…as always and so thought provoking. I recently changed age groups and inherited an archaic curriculum…..my goal this year is to update my curriculum so it becomes creative, meaningful and relevant to the 21st century learner. Your post has certainly inspired the direction I would like to move in. I also have attended some conferences on promoting global sustainability in schools, which I beleive should also be a pertinent factor in education.
I enjoy reading your posts and the way being in China affects your digitallity…..and how you are responding to this. I hope you and your family continue to enjoy your China experience.
Ciao Silvana

Comment on Caring across the curriculum by datruss

datruss — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 15:06:59 +0000

Amalia,
Two great quotes… they both remind me of the Zoroastrian quote that I end all my emails with: “Think Good Thoughts, Say Good Words, Do Good Deeds.” -A simple reminder to nurture all that is positive in this world.

Jeanne,
Wonderful to hear! I didn't dream up this post, I lived it, then I wrote about it. Being at an International school, I decided to start a staff meeting with these videos and share my views. I had to add the update with the dropio video files to accommodate my teachers since they can't get YouTube. I completely agree that global responsibility should be embedded into the curriculum. I'd love to hear about how you embed this into your 5 year tech plan!

Comment on Caring across the curriculum by Jeanne Procell

Jeanne Procell — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 13:23:02 +0000

Thank you for this wonderful post. We are currently working on the five year tech plan at our school and I truly feel, after reading/watching the videos here, that we have a responsibility to include global responsibility as one of our goals that should be embedded into the curriculum.

Thank you! I always get thought provoking ideas from your writings.