Comments for Reflections http://tlehmann.edublogs.org Thu, 23 Jul 2009 17:16:52 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.2 hourly 1 Comment on Using Wikis by tlehmann http://tlehmann.edublogs.org/2009/06/25/using-wikis/comment-page-1/#comment-7 tlehmann Thu, 23 Jul 2009 17:16:52 +0000 http://tlehmann.edublogs.org/?p=10#comment-7 I used the wikispace simply because it was a new tool that I was trying out. As each teacher read the chapters she would leave comments about her understanding of the text, her connections, inspiring ideas, or questions. Using the wiki was a great tool for us to use as the four of us were all in different places for the summer vacation. Everyone was able to participate in the discussion. After each post the teachers were asked to leave their initials just so that we would have an idea of who was making the comment. However, that can be intimidating for some teachers who might be new to the experience. In hind sight I am thinking that perhaps a blog is better for book discussions. Blogs are great for conversations and wikispaces are great for changing texts. In book studies the teachers are not changing other teacher's texts; they are leaving their comments and connections. Thus the blog would probably be a better choice. However, think about this... ownership in blogs is one person and ownership in wikispaces is more of a community. The blog is dependent on the owner of the blog (as you know it took a month for me to reply to this blog). The wikispace is not dependent on the owner; anyone can make a comment to the wikispace. The discussion is more of a community. In our wesbookstudy.wikispaces.com Kerrie feels as much ownership to the wikispace as I do. Another plus for wikispaces is if you plan to revisit the book, it will be easier to retrieve rather than scrolling down forever to find the original blog. We have moved onto another study this summer but I was able to pass last year's book to another interested teacher. It was easy for her to revisit our bookstudy and to add her reflections from the book. If we want to revisit this book again with another group of teachers, it will be easy to find. Just a few more thoughts to ponder! I used the wikispace simply because it was a new tool that I was trying out. As each teacher read the chapters she would leave comments about her understanding of the text, her connections, inspiring ideas, or questions.

Using the wiki was a great tool for us to use as the four of us were all in different places for the summer vacation. Everyone was able to participate in the discussion. After each post the teachers were asked to leave their initials just so that we would have an idea of who was making the comment. However, that can be intimidating for some teachers who might be new to the experience.

In hind sight I am thinking that perhaps a blog is better for book discussions. Blogs are great for conversations and wikispaces are great for changing texts. In book studies the teachers are not changing other teacher’s texts; they are leaving their comments and connections. Thus the blog would probably be a better choice.

However, think about this… ownership in blogs is one person and ownership in wikispaces is more of a community. The blog is dependent on the owner of the blog (as you know it took a month for me to reply to this blog). The wikispace is not dependent on the owner; anyone can make a comment to the wikispace. The discussion is more of a community. In our wesbookstudy.wikispaces.com Kerrie feels as much ownership to the wikispace as I do.

Another plus for wikispaces is if you plan to revisit the book, it will be easier to retrieve rather than scrolling down forever to find the original blog. We have moved onto another study this summer but I was able to pass last year’s book to another interested teacher. It was easy for her to revisit our bookstudy and to add her reflections from the book. If we want to revisit this book again with another group of teachers, it will be easy to find.

Just a few more thoughts to ponder!

]]> Comment on Using Wikis by Carrie Whalen http://tlehmann.edublogs.org/2009/06/25/using-wikis/comment-page-1/#comment-6 Carrie Whalen Wed, 01 Jul 2009 16:38:36 +0000 http://tlehmann.edublogs.org/?p=10#comment-6 I was wondering if you could give me a little more detail of how you used it for a book study. We are going to try a district wide book study this year. We have been able to choose between about 7 books and through the year, we will meet with our small groups and discuss the book we are reading. As I am reading Will's book, I am trying to decide which tool (Blog or Wiki) may be the best supplement to our study. I think it would be a great way to introduce our teachers to a blog or wiki. At first glance, I think a Wiki would be the best way, but I am trying to think what types of things could be done with it. I was wondering if you could give me a little more detail of how you used it for a book study. We are going to try a district wide book study this year. We have been able to choose between about 7 books and through the year, we will meet with our small groups and discuss the book we are reading.

As I am reading Will’s book, I am trying to decide which tool (Blog or Wiki) may be the best supplement to our study. I think it would be a great way to introduce our teachers to a blog or wiki. At first glance, I think a Wiki would be the best way, but I am trying to think what types of things could be done with it.

]]> Comment on Creating A World of Thinkers by tlehmann http://tlehmann.edublogs.org/2008/04/28/creating-a-world-of-thinkers/comment-page-1/#comment-5 tlehmann Tue, 29 Apr 2008 21:51:32 +0000 http://tlehmann.edublogs.org/2008/04/28/creating-a-world-of-thinkers/#comment-5 @Dr. Sanford Aranoff I agree that one of the goals of education should be thinking. Thank you for suggesting the book "Teaching and Helping Students Think and Do Better". I am always looking for ways to improve my teaching and student learning. I am looking forward to reading and studying this book in detail. @Dr. Sanford Aranoff I agree that one of the goals of education should be thinking.
Thank you for suggesting the book “Teaching and Helping Students Think and Do Better”. I am always looking for ways to improve my teaching and student learning. I am looking forward to reading and studying this book in detail.

]]> Comment on Creating A World of Thinkers by Dr. Sanford Aranoff http://tlehmann.edublogs.org/2008/04/28/creating-a-world-of-thinkers/comment-page-1/#comment-4 Dr. Sanford Aranoff Tue, 29 Apr 2008 13:37:10 +0000 http://tlehmann.edublogs.org/2008/04/28/creating-a-world-of-thinkers/#comment-4 One of the goals of education should be thinking. See the new book on amazon.com: "Teaching and Helping Students Think and Do Better". One of the goals of education should be thinking. See the new book on amazon.com: “Teaching and Helping Students Think and Do Better”.

]]> Comment on The Important Questions! by tlehmann http://tlehmann.edublogs.org/2008/04/22/the-important-questions/comment-page-1/#comment-3 tlehmann Mon, 28 Apr 2008 21:30:20 +0000 http://tlehmann.edublogs.org/2008/04/22/the-important-questions/#comment-3 @KGustin The learning curve is steep. At times I have thought maybe the learning curve is too deep. Asking 1st grade students to read on a level 18 (beginning 2nd grade level) by the end of the year is a bit much. Reading is a process and as teachers we know that some take longer than others. But then when I think about the concepts and the material that I have taught my students this year and I have come to realize that they can take in so much more. I have to say the learning curve may be steep but is also attainable. Keep high standards! Consider how your students learn best! Ask them to clarify. Help them become thinkers, not just waiting for all of the answers! @KGustin The learning curve is steep. At times I have thought maybe the learning curve is too deep. Asking 1st grade students to read on a level 18 (beginning 2nd grade level) by the end of the year is a bit much. Reading is a process and as teachers we know that some take longer than others. But then when I think about the concepts and the material that I have taught my students this year and I have come to realize that they can take in so much more. I have to say the learning curve may be steep but is also attainable.
Keep high standards! Consider how your students learn best! Ask them to clarify. Help them become thinkers, not just waiting for all of the answers!

]]> Comment on The Important Questions! by Kerrie Gustin http://tlehmann.edublogs.org/2008/04/22/the-important-questions/comment-page-1/#comment-2 Kerrie Gustin Wed, 23 Apr 2008 00:44:23 +0000 http://tlehmann.edublogs.org/2008/04/22/the-important-questions/#comment-2 How true, how true! I can't count how many times I was blissfully ignorant of a student's total confusion regarding a concept, until it was revealed by their response to "How do you know?" I think that is one of the reasons I love being able to use my student blog, <a href="http://magnoliaisdcommunities.org/communities/kgustin" rel="nofollow">Mrs. Gustin's Go-Between</a> , to require my students to leave comments. Their proficiency (or lack thereof) is clearly shown by the way they express their understanding of the concept explored in each post. Using blogs with the primary kids, is good for them on so many levels . . . how did we ever get along before Web 2.0? Sure, the learning curve is steep, but the benefits are well worth the effort! How true, how true! I can’t count how many times I was blissfully ignorant of a student’s total confusion regarding a concept, until it was revealed by their response to “How do you know?” I think that is one of the reasons I love being able to use my student blog, Mrs. Gustin’s Go-Between , to require my students to leave comments. Their proficiency (or lack thereof) is clearly shown by the way they express their understanding of the concept explored in each post. Using blogs with the primary kids, is good for them on so many levels . . . how did we ever get along before Web 2.0? Sure, the learning curve is steep, but the benefits are well worth the effort!

]]> Comment on Hello world! by Mr WordPress http://tlehmann.edublogs.org/2008/04/09/hello-world/comment-page-1/#comment-1 Mr WordPress Wed, 09 Apr 2008 22:27:33 +0000 #comment-1 Hi, this is a comment.<br />To delete a comment, just log in, and view the posts' comments, there you will have the option to edit or delete them. Hi, this is a comment.
To delete a comment, just log in, and view the posts’ comments, there you will have the option to edit or delete them.

]]>