#cyberPD Part 3: Who Owns the Learning?

This summer I am participating in the #cyberPD conversations about the book by Alan November titled Who Owns The Learning? Preparing Students for Success in the Digital Age.

As always, thanks for taking the time to read and share YOUR voice!

You can visit the conversations this week:

• Chapters 5 & 6 at Laura's blog: Ruminate and Invigorate 
• A compilation of all the #cyberPD posts at Jog the Web: Who Owns the Learning? #cyberPD 2013
• More sharing on the #cyberPD2013 Pinterest board

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"I think the process of education is collaboration. The idea of school should be collaboration and communication with people that are different from you and see the world with different eyes" Alan November quoting Garth Holman (p.87)

My Thoughts and Reflections

Can I be honest with you?  I'm am SO relieved that the last two chapters were a "lighter" read.  Still full of great ideas and examples of incorporating digital learning into our classrooms, but my head is still spinning from last week's thoughts and posts and comments and tweets and very cool tech tools used to synthesize the ideas and learning.

You see, even though it's summer break, and I'm relieved of my daily school duties, I am officially a full-time mom of two three year olds.  And they are busy.  Always.  I am seriously more tired putting in a full day at home!  And I have less and less time to read, write, reflect, comment, and play around with very cool tech tools.  (Yes, I'm a little jealous, but I'll get over it and learn from you all for the time being!)

So, all that being said, I'm thrilled about the opportunities for our students to learn in learner-centered approach with a forward-thinking teacher.  The student as a global communicator and collaborator learns about empathy and understanding and appreciating other points of view:  "...we're in great danger if we're only listening to our own" November states (p.68).  I think this is where my learning is growing the most.  I tend to be a bit naive and trust what I hear or read.  I need to extend my thinking in all directions and see the BIG picture.  I need to question more.  As I grow in this area, I know that my students will begin to grow in this area as well.

Implications in My Classroom
November provides concrete examples in real classrooms and school of forward-thinking teachers.  Again, I'm not sure how much I can implement in my literacy resource classroom, but the seeds have been planted.  I may be able to incorporate a student job or share an idea with a colleague.  But the ultimate goal, as November stated:  "...experiencing an essential change in the culture of teaching and learning" (p. 89).

I will start small and it will lead to great things.  Reading this book has encouraged me to think about engaging students in a meaningful way through the use of technology that knocks down the four walls of our classroom.  

I appreciate even more the opportunity to participate in #cyberPD.  We brought this book to LIFE.  We lived it.  We learned it.  We collaborated.  We communicated. 

I was trying to think of a fun way to summarize #cyberPD for me.  It's summer and who doesn't love ice cream?  Wish I could include some graphic (or use a cool tech tool), but this will have to do:

• Reading a book is like ice cream.

• Reading and discussing a book is like ice cream with sprinkles.

• Reading, writing, reflecting, sharing a book is like ice cream with sprinkles and chocolate syrup.

• Reading, writing, reflecting, sharing and learning from comments is like ice cream with sprinkles, chocolate syrup, whipped cream, and a cherry on top. (Ding!)

Thank you, #cyberPD colleagues, for sharing the most delicious dessert of the summer!

"The kids are realizing that learning is a natural process of life.  It happens and it should be happening all the time, and as long as you are aware of it, you're going to get so much more out of it" Michael Pennington (p.85)

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Thanks for stopping by and please share your thoughts and ideas!

#cyberPD Schedule:

• July 3rd:  Chapters 1 & 2 at Cathy's blog: Reflect and Refine
• July 10th:  Chapters 3 & 4 at Jill's blog:  My Primary Passion
• July 17th:  Chapters 5, 6 & Epilogue at Laura's blog:  Ruminate and Invigorate 
• To be announced:  Final chat on Twitter.