On Integrated Learning

One of the most exciting and daunting aspects of being a 21st century educator is the charge of keeping up with the high rate of information exchange in a global society.  No matter how specific one’s content area, there are still a multitude of competencies outside an educator’s natural skill set with which he or she must keep current.  In addition, while the momentum of a knowledge driven society propels education forward, oftentimes the who one is teaching gets lost in the what one is teaching.  Ironically, the former dictates the most important facet of the entire process — how the information is being presented.

In an integrated learning approach, subject matter is overlapped and presented in such a way as to eliminate disconnected concepts; it provides better overall comprehension, and highlights interdependencies in points of view and subject matter.  An integrated learning approach boasts an increase in student motivation, and promotes cooperative learning.  Simply put, integrated learning theory presents a combination of curriculum from two or more disciplines, to facilitate student recognition of the connectivity of ideas.  Many scholars refer to the theory as a non-compartmentalized approach to education, embed in project-based learning environments.

According to Edutopia magazine, the approach has been utilized in a variety of forms for over a century, but has garnered recent attention from U.S. schools reporting great success with the approach.  Among the success stories for integrated learning, are the DC Museum Magnet Schools.

The DC magnet program started in 1996, and includes two, inner-city schools – Robert Brent Elementary and Stuart Hobson Middle School.  Drawing on the vast collections from the Smithsonian Institutes, the program layout is extremely unique, yet combined with traditional classwork.  Student projects include original exhibitions, showcasing the information they’ve gathered, coupled with the knowledge of curator design and display methods.

Most assuredly, there are pros and cons to any instructional strategy, but I can’t help but be a little envious of these districts… envious of administrators who are willing to try something new and seemingly radical within their districts, and envious of parents who are supportive of sending their children to schools who want to shake things up a bit.  It’s one thing to acknowledge the changing face of education, but another to meet those challenges with something other than the what’s been done in the past.  Our students are ready for a transformation. Why aren’t we?

the commando-confessional-professional

Do you want more followers on Twitter?  Would you like to increase the traffic and commentary on your blog?  How about upping your Google ranking?  For many of my colleagues, friends, and family, these are matters of great importance.  However, even though these are all services that I frequently use, the statistical value of them matters very little, if any, to me.  Furthermore, as shockingly naive as it may sound, I hope to keep it that way.  Forever.

Career wise, some professionals find these statistics impossible to ignore.  They are undeniably an indicator of one’s social worth and success in the digital world, but doesn’t the pressure and time spent in perusing the numbers take a considerable amount of one’s professional time?!?  Still, the oddity I’ve found is in the preoccupation of it in laypersons like myself – individuals whose primary focus for writing comes from the sheer catharsis of the act, not the ever-elusive fame that they might achieve in doing so… 

In blogging, there is new ambiguity in the terms audience and purpose – an ambiguity that is digital-world specific.  Nearly every social networking site I can think of prods its users to answer what he or she is doing, if nothing else, by means of an empty, taunting, text box.  Most of us feel compelled to answer the question in a routine, honest fashion, and soon enough, it becomes habitual.  It’s easy to become accustomed to these short bursts of thought in recounting one’s actions, and addicted to crafting witty and incisive commentary to peers.  In this instance, the audience is an entertaining and discernable one. 

Then, the writer switches gears, and opens a new, blank, blog entry (i.e.- the ambiguity strikes!).  Needless to say, writer’s block can be fast and furiously crippling. This is especially true as the author begins to question: Who will be reading this?  Do I want anyone to read this? Since when did I quit using the journal in my nightstand, and instead become the commando-confessional-professional? 

I’d be lying if I said I could answer any of my own questions with great certainty, and I’d be equally as pompous if I claimed that just because I’m an English teacher, I’d long ago hammered out how I’d create a confident blogging voice.  I’ve done none of these things.  What I can say is that I enjoy it, and it’s a happy consequence indeed if someone finds what I’ve written to be engaging, too.  I hate the thought of anyone agonizing over his or her blog or patrolling Twitter clientele; it seems counter-productive and creatively stifling. For this reason, I am quite lucky.  I’m fortunate to write simply inasmuch as I can, and in view of the fact that I have a regard for the process. 

Oh, I did mention that I hate math anyway? 

Recession In My Neck Of The Woods

Here's hoping my alma mater fares well...

Recession, recession, recession.  It seems as though it’s the third word uttered in  every sentence these days, and it’s especially true this week in Ashland, Kentucky.  Just yesterday, WSAZ (our local news channel based out of Huntington, West Virginia) was the first to break the bad news about the 798 Chrysler dealerships which will be immediately closing.  The list also included 13 local dealerships which were among the 25 percent deemed “too many.”

Sadly enough, only 24 hours prior, employees of AK Steel were dealt a similar devastating blow.  According to The Daily Independent, “AK Steel is shutting down its Ashland Works again. The company announced Wednesday it will ‘likely’ idle most operations at the plant beginning in late July or early August.  The shutdown will affect roughly 750 hourly and salaried workers and is a direct result of recent announcements by struggling U.S. automakers General Motors and Chrysler of significant production cutbacks, as well the continuing global recession, the company said.”  I cannot imagine how horrified their affected employees must feel, considering they were only recently called back to work after previous layoffs.

As I’ve mulled over these stories the last couple of days, I have found myself considering the connections between economy and education like never before.  How will our local school districts be affected?  To what extent are the ramifications already being felt?  Presently, the budget cuts in Kentucky are taking a massive toll on public school systems.  However, the dismal effect of a detioriating community will only exacerbate the problem.
In addition to K-12 settings, local universities, such as Morehead State University or Marshall University, could also be forced to reduce aid, the number of course offerings, or cut certain service programs altogether.  Hiring more graduate teaching assistants, as opposed to employing professors holding doctoral degrees, is another option universities have to cut costs- but only to the detriment of the quality of their programs.

In short, 2009 is proving to be a rough (and scary) year for all of us.  One can only hope that the institutions who are blessed enough to continue their philanthropic endeavors will continue to do so, while giving careful consideration to what their monies are funding.  As for myself, I choose to remain cautiously optimistic.  My small community may be struggling, but I have faith in its ability to unify and weather this economic storm.

They Found Me. Thanks, Facebook.

So, today I logged onto my Facebook account, only to discover that my student loan officer and the Columbia House representative finally found me, and that my wages will soon be garnished.  Okay, not a true story. However, it’s sadly the reality for Gordon Poyser and Carmel Corbo of Canberra, Australia, whose situation is lot more dire – they’ve lost their mortgage, and learned about it courtesy of the social networking behemoth.

 

On December 12, Canberra’s Australian Capital Territory Supreme Court ruled that lender MKM Capital was justified in its use of serving the couple legal documents, having tried various other means of notifying the borrowers.  The lender claimed after numerous emails, text messages and home visits, they were unable to make contact with the couple, and turned to Facebook as a reputable alternative.

 

The odd implication is that social networking sites are in danger of becoming a little more anti-social in nature.  Although United States citizens are currently in no danger of being subjected to the precedent, it’s most likely more of a situation of when, not if. 

 

Legal professionals and scholars disagree on the ethics and potential for the trend.  Should Facebook be considered a viable and reliable means of communication?  Facebook spokesperson Barry Schnitt couldn’t be more thrilled.  He asserts, “We’re pleased to see the Australian court validate Facebook as a reliable, secure and private medium for communication.”  In addition, he said this is the first time the service has been used as a means of delivering a pending foreclosure. 

 

Without a doubt, lenders are taking notice of the 140 million users that have been active since 2004, and the number continues to grow exponentially.  I think the real question boils down to how users perceive the purpose of Facebook, not just its utility.  For example, what if a user’s restrictions prevent such notices from being delivered?  What about lenders leaving embarrassing messages on someone’s wall?  Is this a violation of privacy??  What if I simply don’t check my account for weeks at a time, or check it via my iPhone, where I can only access certain aspects of the full site?  Ultimately, I see it like this.  If you wouldn’t interrupt someone having Friday night dinner at O’Charley’s to discuss their account, then don’t write on their wall.  It’s essentially the same thing, virtual appetizers and good conversation via Wi-Fi. 

 

 

Mumbai, Social Networking, & Thanksgiving

The recent attacks in Mumbai has left much of the world watching in horror, as the continuos videos, blogs, pictures and Twitter Tweets pour in from cyberspace.  The aftereffects are anything but difficult to follow, as evidenced by the emergence of both a Google map and Wikipedia site featuring photos of actual attackers.  

Diligent bloggers are calling on the public for blood donations, and recent rumors on Metblogs Mumbai claim that Twitter feeds have been quieted by government officials after clogged networking streaming.  Although the Twitter block has not been officially confirmed, most all Mumbai news organizations have stopped carrying the feeds on their broadcasts.

Finally, haunting photographs of the blast have been posted by “Vinu” to Flickr- they are amazing, disturbing, and humbling.  I am thankful today, of all days, to live where I do, surrounded by friends, family, safety and love.  Hugs and prayers to all those affected by this tragedy…

The Inability to Disappear & Literary Criticism

In “Hamlet.doc? Literature in a Digital Age,” Matthew Kirschenbaum writes:

We may never know if Shakespeare had a sister, but we can be certain he didn’t have a hard drive. What if he had? Details of his writing process and his life currently a mystery might be pitilessly exposed.

Kirschenbaum couldn’t be more accurate in his assessment.  Interestingly, although academics find this period of unknowns in Shakespeare’s life fascinating, it frustrates most modern students studying his work.  Undoubtedly, their exasperation is primarily rooted in the following belief  – in their digital worlds, it is impossible for anyone to completely disappear.  

In this particular article, Kirschenbaum goes on to argue that even if Shakespeare did have a hard drive, the same questions about his work would still likely emerge, because they are human, not technological questions.  However, he lists possible benefits of The Bard being ‘wired’ as knowing his start and finish dates, the possibilities of multiple versions, as well as what he might have been reading on the Internet that could have influenced plays such as Hamlet.

The most interesting part of his article surrounds the significance of creative pieces being born digital and the notions of digital preservation.  For instance, consider the body of work by Emily Dickinson, and the painstaking study of her handwriting used to determine the chronology of her poems.  Through the years, fading has occurred, which has led to discrepancies in how scholars have interpreted meaning.  The existence of digital preservation, as well as digitally birthed work, certainly affects the way research is conducted, and negates many of the avenues of potential ambiguity. It’s a bit sad to think about this process as extinct. 

Ultimately, the 21st century makes it extremely difficult for an author (or anyone) to disappear.  For instance, on any given day, it is entirely possible to determine where a person has traveled, eaten, and oftentimes what thoughts he or she has entertained.  This is discoverable through the variety of media an individual has accessed or come in contact with, such as blogs, social networking sites, and email.  More impressively, it is possible to acquire this information without having a single exchange with the subject in question. 

Even though many of these long-term effects have yet to be seen, the inability to disappear in today’s society is simultaneously producing drastic ramifications for the future of literary criticism. Part of the enjoyment that accompanies literary scholarship and research is derived from creative guesswork, and the meticulous research process.  Arguably, many enter the field for the sheer experience of inquiry, and the digital world is slowly altering this process of discovery.  So, what will become of the debates concerning handwritten manuscripts when they no longer exist, or the dialogue created over the possible errors due to such things as fading ink?  One can only hope for typos, and avant-garde methods of inquiry for what lies ahead.  

CBS EyeMobile: Amateur’s Delight Or Big Brother?

 

Now available as an iPhone application

Nicknamed “Citizen Journalism,” CBS is now offering wanna-be, news gurus a mobile application via iTunes where anyone and everyone can report the news.  CBS is encouraging laypeople to shoot and record footage, which can be uploaded to their site.  In addition to merely trying one’s hand at reporting, one can also view the videos submitted by other subscribers, and sort footage according to “What’s Hot,” “Most Viewed,” “Most Popular,” or create a library of self submissions.

I have so many conflicting emotions about the growing popularity of iReporters.  First of all, there have never before been so many eye witnesses (with gadgetry) to history.  As a result, even the most unplanned, monumental moments are destined to have a camera on them.  Period.  

From the standpoint of an educator, this sounds remarkable.  It opens up new avenues of wrangling in teachable moments; gone is the day of scrambling for a VHS tape to capture something that would fit perfectly with the next, planned lesson.  Simply put, I already operate under the notion of if I’ve heard about it, I can find it.  

Then, there is the personal viewpoint… What about the portion of the population that likes to travel to places and sometimes not be found, or those of us who, at least on occasion, prefer to leave their cell phones at home?  Although I am quite found of technology and all the bells and whistles that go with it, I hate the idea of constant documentary.  It could easily become an invasion of one’s privacy (I’m sure in many cases it already has), and perpetuate chronic, unauthentic behavior.  

For now, I suppose I’ll resign myself to a double standard.  Yes, I want to peruse CBSEyeMobile, and see what’s going on in the world.  And no, I do not want to discover I’ve been chronicled by the so-tiny-it’s-nearly-undetectable Flip Video recorder.  Everyone can sing in the shower… and I won’t conclude by saying that everyone shouldn’t.  However, I will argue that the majority aren’t seeking American Idol stardom by doing so.  So, for heaven’s sake, let us lather, rinse and repeat in peace.  I will also anticipate teaching more lessons on moral responsibility, as the media becomes more and more capable of microscoping us all…

iTunes: Politically Correct, In More Ways Than One…

Political speeches now a part of the iTunes Store.

Democrats and Republicans alike should celebrate the arrival of these monumental podcasts on iTunes- audio recordings of each of the Presidential candidate’s speeches. Currently, users can listen to Senator John McCain’s address at the Republican National Convention from St. Paul, Minnesota, as well as Senator Barack Obama’s speech to the Democratic National Convention from Denver, Colorado. Each page also includes links to the respective Party’s website, as well as suggestions as to what other listeners are downloading.

For many, this service provides an incredible way to catch up on missed convention speeches, not to mention the incredible opportunity given to educators who might be interested in discussing rhetoric, persuasion, politics and/or current events with their students. In this case, forget TiVo, opt for the subscription service with the free, automatic download, and simply plug and play. I wonder how long before this trend emerges with state and local elections… If I had to estimate, I’d say not long at all…

I’m Twitterpated

Yesterday, Twitter made headlines with TIME magazine and CNN with “Even Gen X is a Twitter.” This was a great review of the Web 2.0 program that allows users (or those who follow other members) to view what others are doing all day, every day. What I like best is about Twitter is the sheer character limitation… I wish I were more disciplined in keeping up with a blog, but for the times when I am not, or even the time in between, there is Twitter. With a limitation of 140 characters, it doesn’t take long at all to update. In addition, it is a fabulous way to network… I’ve discovered all kinds of new gadgets and professionals worth following.

For the skeptics, TIME’s article provides an incredible demographic breakdown of users. Bill Tancer writes:

More interestingly, the age demographics of Twitterers show a dramatic shift. When the site became popular in early 2007, the majority of its visitors were 18-to-24-year-olds. Today the site’s largest age demographic is 35-to-44-year-olds, who make up 25.9% of its users.

Like everything else, there is a downside. I can envision the number of people I’m following getting out of control, at which time l would cease to follow them as closely. So, I think the trick is to approach Twitter with a very different intention than say, Facebook. A large contact list in Facebook is an impressive feat, but to establish the same with Twitter would take away its utility- it would become just another unmanageable tech task minus the quaint appeal which led me to try in the first place…

Oxford Conference On Global Catastrophes and The Superhuman…

On July 17th 2008, a team of international experts met to address the possibility of global catastrophes and their consequences in the very first conference of its kind.  Among other topics, the team’s discourse focused on how to protect life as we know it, and how to minimize the damage from potential disasters.  Other discussions included nuclear terrorism, and emergency measures necessitated from colliding asteroids.  As interesting as all of this was, it didn’t come close to the most interesting aspect…

The last day of the event was exclusively reserved for discussing emerging technologies, and the consequences of “superintelligent machines.”  As a matter of fact, Dr. Nick Bostrum, director of Oxford’s Future of Humanity Institute, remarked, “Any entity which is radically smarter than human beings would also be very powerful.”  Bostrum is a proponent of ‘transhumanism’– a movement dedicated to the research of emerging technologies insofar as they impact human life, which investigates how technologies could either help or harm the human species.  Transhumanists like Bostrum predict a future where aspects of artificial intelligence and nanotechnology are used to catapult the human intellect into a being he refers to as ‘posthuman.’  He contends the beings will be so exceedingly advanced that they will longer be considered human.  Period.

Now, juxtapose this information with a current article from CNN entitled “Human Remote Control Might Spell End For Teachers.”  The article focuses on the work of University of California doctoral student Jacob Whitehill, whose facial recognition software can amazingly accelerate the speed of a video tape. The teaching robots created at U of C are part of the ITS project- Intelligent Tutoring Systems.  Mike Stone writes: 

Although robot teachers of varying abilities have existed for more than 30 years, ITS developments such as Whitehill’s and Olney’s are pushing beliefs that robots could soon be as effective — if not more effective — than human teachers. 

Dr. Andrew Olney, a University of Memphis researcher, argues that current ITS are already better than existing, inexperienced teachers.  Furthermore, the ITS philosophy is based on a one-to-one, interactive learning model, which traditional teaching is unable to deliver.  

So… what does this all mean?  At the most obvious level, it means that educators must commit themselves to lifelong learning.  Veteran, technologically illiterate teachers may find themselves facing remediation, as the standard for use is becoming more of a focused requirement, instead of just an admired skill. The days of teaching one year, twenty-five times are looonnngggg gone.  Daniel Pink, I think you are absolutely correct…  Artistry, empathy, and holistic capabilities will always separate us (in this case, teachers) from them (computers), and we must aim for mastery…