Connecting Learning and Life. Bertram C. Bruce National College of Ireland, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Connecting Learning and Life Bertram C. Bruce National College of Ireland, 2007-08 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Questions How do we learn to use (or just survive) new technologies? How do they reshape our work, roles, and relations with learners? What is John Dewey's view of education as life? How can we foster organic learning?

Who dares to teach must never cease to learn. John Cotton Dana

Learning technology Do you use Bebo? Facebook? LinkedIn? How long could you survive without your mobile? Would you take your laptop to a Parisian café? How did you learn some technology recently?

Development models

Development models preservice

Development models preservice induction programs

Development models preservice induction programs inservice

Development models preservice induction programs inservice vendor-supplied training

Development models preservice induction programs observation & assessment inservice vendor-supplied training

Development models preservice induction programs inservice observation & assessment being part of a development process vendor-supplied training

Development models preservice induction programs inservice vendor-supplied training observation & assessment being part of a development process individually-guided learning

Inquiry cycle

Ask: Formulating your own question teachers saw the enormous pedagogical difference between solving problems and formulating them, between answering someone else's question and generating your own Olds, Schwartz, & Willie, 1980

Ben and its just that I work around computers that I never went near them, the last what seven years in the last job I was in what I didn t learn from that from them, what I could have learned, and I m just ignorant passing by them every day knowing that here could you print me this or do this on it and all that but I was never there, here I ll do it meself whatever so I never went out and did it

Ben (cont.) and then looking back at me new job now I m just away from the office now and all that and I m away from computers and I m missing out somewhere along the line

Investigate: AV

Investigate: AV 1. Blackboards & bulletin boards

Investigate: AV 1. Blackboards & bulletin boards 2. Posters, cartoons, clippings

Investigate: AV 1. Blackboards & bulletin boards 2. Posters, cartoons, clippings 3. Dramatics: pantomimes, playlets, pageants, puppet shows, shadow plays

Investigate: AV 1. Blackboards & bulletin boards 2. Posters, cartoons, clippings 3. Dramatics: pantomimes, playlets, pageants, puppet shows, shadow plays 4. Trips, journeys, tours, visits

Investigate: AV 1. Blackboards & bulletin boards 2. Posters, cartoons, clippings 3. Dramatics: pantomimes, playlets, pageants, puppet shows, shadow plays 4. Trips, journeys, tours, visits 5. Models, objects, specimens 6. Charts: organization or flow, table, tree or stream 7. Graphs: area, bar, diagram, line, pictorial statistics 8. Maps: flat, relief, projected, electric, globe (celestial or terrestrial) 9. Microscopes 10. Microprojectors, reading machines; microfilms, microphotographs, microprint 11. Stereoscopes; hand, binocular, televiewers; stereographs, disc for televiewers 12. Flat pictures; photographs, prints, postcards, positive transparencies 13. Still pictures projectors & projectedopaque, filmslides, slides (glass, cellophane, ceramic, etc.)

Media ecosystems

Media ecosystems Print: books, magazines, maps, charts, handwriting, journals, captions

Media ecosystems Print: books, magazines, maps, charts, handwriting, journals, captions Realia: painting, toys, clay, blocks, rocks & fossils, specimens, puppets

Media ecosystems Print: books, magazines, maps, charts, handwriting, journals, captions Realia: painting, toys, clay, blocks, rocks & fossils, specimens, puppets Digital media: simulations, web spaces, social networks, texting, video, photos games, probes, VR, GPS

Create: Learning & life Experience has its geographical aspect, its artistic and its literary, its scientific and its historical sides. All studies arise from aspects of the one earth and the one life lived upon it...when the child lives in varied but concrete and active relationship to this common world, his studies are naturally unified...relate the school to life, and all studies are of necessity correlated. Dewey, School & Society

Discuss: Water coolers

Discuss: Water coolers Social affordances:

Discuss: Water coolers Social affordances: privacy

Discuss: Water coolers Social affordances: privacy propinquity

Discuss: Water coolers Social affordances: privacy propinquity social designation

Discuss: Water coolers Social affordances: privacy propinquity social designation Anne-Laure Fayard & John Weeks, 2007

Reflect: Spiral learning Students, age 11-14, develop audiovisual podcasts on topics of their choice Mexican-American families, low-income, low academic achievement, limited access to computers After school & Saturdays Post-program surveys & interviews; parent interviews

UMS curriculum Storyboard Storytelling through symbols Critical literacy, Net safety, Podsafe music Image & Sound: Combination & manipulation

Storyboard for a podcast page 2 This page is about my interests friends family cultural background Please explain: I like outdoor activities, such as biking and hiking. Page5 The most important or greatest funniest thing that has happened to me was: I came to the United States to study! I want people to SEE Biking in Oregon Me in Urbana In order to see the above pictures, I need to prepare and learn. 1. Bring in some pictures. 2. Learn how to scan my pictures. 1. A digital camera 2. Ask the teacher to take a photo of myself 3. Learn how to make my photo shows up on the computer. I want people to HEAR I like hiking and biking. I went mountain biking in Oregon last summer, and it was a amazing trip that I have ever had. The greatest thing that has happened to me was I came to the United States to study. I am glad my dream came true and I really enjoy my life here.

UMS student podcasts

Professional learning Working with students... was an inspiring journey for me to appreciate Hispanic culture and revisit my own cultural identity... I tried to put myself in these students shoes, imagining how difficult may be for these immigrant young people to live and study in a new country. I brought my own away-from-home experience into designing the sample storyboard... I came to understand that I was telling my own story to these students as a self exploration journey... the students and I were interchangeably engaging

Johnny Lee s inquiry Ask: play with Wii, better input devices Investigate: read specs, checks performance Create: build device Discuss: web page, video Reflect: procrastineering, inspire kids

My inquiry Ask: youth projects, this talk! Investigate: website, YouTube, blogs Create: email, blog?, Wiimote board Discuss: colleagues, IPDA, article? Reflect: how it works, how we learn ICT

Inquiry learning Ask: Formulate your own questions Investigate: Learn about, through, and with multiple media Create: Connect learning and life Discuss: Learn with supportive others; help others to learn Reflect: Spiral learning

Thanks for listening!