Comments on: At some point it's about the technology http://www.thethinkingstick.com/at-some-point-its-about-the-technology/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=at-some-point-its-about-the-technology Educator Consultant Author Mon, 13 Feb 2012 00:34:39 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Jorgie http://www.thethinkingstick.com/at-some-point-its-about-the-technology/#comment-3770 Jorgie Wed, 07 Jan 2009 14:58:09 +0000 http://www.thethinkingstick.com/?p=837#comment-3770 I heartily agree that we need both "why" and "how" and just in time. Two challenges I have found are that often people hear about something and then must do it. Dreamweaver is a great example. We have lots of folks who take the Dreamweaver courses my organization offers when what the really need is something like Google Page creator (Which I am still upset they have dropped by the way) They take Dreamweaver because they have heard of it not because they need that level of complexity. The other side is when people want too much how. They want step by step detailed instructions for an essentially immersive experience. Some want us to hold their hand through every step of subscribing to every blog the choose to put in their reader, when they would do better 'just signing up and trying it out' There really needs to be a balance between the to and especially the 'just in time' help. Because we need both a reason to do something new, skills to accomplish our goals, and support along the way. I heartily agree that we need both “why” and “how” and just in time. Two challenges I have found are that often people hear about something and then must do it. Dreamweaver is a great example. We have lots of folks who take the Dreamweaver courses my organization offers when what the really need is something like Google Page creator (Which I am still upset they have dropped by the way) They take Dreamweaver because they have heard of it not because they need that level of complexity. The other side is when people want too much how. They want step by step detailed instructions for an essentially immersive experience. Some want us to hold their hand through every step of subscribing to every blog the choose to put in their reader, when they would do better ‘just signing up and trying it out’ There really needs to be a balance between the to and especially the ‘just in time’ help. Because we need both a reason to do something new, skills to accomplish our goals, and support along the way.

]]> By: www.quranreading.com http://www.thethinkingstick.com/at-some-point-its-about-the-technology/#comment-3769 www.quranreading.com Fri, 02 Jan 2009 10:58:08 +0000 http://www.thethinkingstick.com/?p=837#comment-3769 Hi, You are absolutely right most of us are in condition why and how.But i want say something different.We should adopt the technology, improve education policies and teaching method.This is your great post.I congratulate you. Thanks Hi,
You are absolutely right most of us are in condition why and how.But i want say something different.We should adopt the technology, improve education policies and teaching method.This is your great post.I congratulate you.
Thanks

]]> By: Rob Jacobs http://www.thethinkingstick.com/at-some-point-its-about-the-technology/#comment-3768 Rob Jacobs Tue, 16 Dec 2008 04:29:09 +0000 http://www.thethinkingstick.com/?p=837#comment-3768 If I want to be able to teach, communicate, and network with today's learner, I need to understand the tools they are using. This is the HOW. I may never understand their WHY, but I am trying, that is my WHY. If I want to be able to teach, communicate, and network with today’s learner, I need to understand the tools they are using. This is the HOW. I may never understand their WHY, but I am trying, that is my WHY.

]]> By: Jeff Utecht http://www.thethinkingstick.com/at-some-point-its-about-the-technology/#comment-3767 Jeff Utecht Tue, 16 Dec 2008 00:10:57 +0000 http://www.thethinkingstick.com/?p=837#comment-3767 I agree that we are often simultaneously in the why and how stage. They need to be taught together and "just in time". I agree that we are often simultaneously in the why and how stage. They need to be taught together and “just in time”.

]]> By: Carl Simmons http://www.thethinkingstick.com/at-some-point-its-about-the-technology/#comment-3766 Carl Simmons Mon, 15 Dec 2008 21:20:06 +0000 http://www.thethinkingstick.com/?p=837#comment-3766 What a brilliantly balanced post - I love it when I see articulated a thought that's been floating around in my brain for a while. I think at times we are all HOW and WHY people at different times, and often simultaneously once we get going with something new. What a brilliantly balanced post – I love it when I see articulated a thought that’s been floating around in my brain for a while. I think at times we are all HOW and WHY people at different times, and often simultaneously once we get going with something new.

]]> By: Lindsay Price http://www.thethinkingstick.com/at-some-point-its-about-the-technology/#comment-3765 Lindsay Price Mon, 15 Dec 2008 15:40:17 +0000 http://www.thethinkingstick.com/?p=837#comment-3765 I'm always frustrated with the lack of HOW. Especially in slick speeches which basically tell me my life is going to change through use of XYZ. But there's never a specific, practical HOW. I’m always frustrated with the lack of HOW. Especially in slick speeches which basically tell me my life is going to change through use of XYZ. But there’s never a specific, practical HOW.

]]> By: Barbara http://www.thethinkingstick.com/at-some-point-its-about-the-technology/#comment-3764 Barbara Mon, 15 Dec 2008 14:30:12 +0000 http://www.thethinkingstick.com/?p=837#comment-3764 Thamks for the perspective Jeff. You are right- it is not either/or it is both/and... I have made mistakes on both sides. I have taught tools or provided time to play with tools and found months later no one remembered how to use them. The exposure was good because at some point some teachers asked for another lesson- But practical hands on learning needs to be 'just in time' learning and sometimes that means answering the why first. This is also why I choose a set of tools and stick with them rather than chasing the latest new thing. We do need to provide long term support for our staff and many of them want to learn some basic tools they can implement without going through a new learning curve all the time. The innovators will explore on their own. Others want to get at the teaching and need tools with learning curves they can handle, tools which become transparent overtime. Thamks for the perspective Jeff. You are right- it is not either/or it is both/and… I have made mistakes on both sides. I have taught tools or provided time to play with tools and found months later no one remembered how to use them. The exposure was good because at some point some teachers asked for another lesson- But practical hands on learning needs to be ‘just in time’ learning and sometimes that means answering the why first.

This is also why I choose a set of tools and stick with them rather than chasing the latest new thing. We do need to provide long term support for our staff and many of them want to learn some basic tools they can implement without going through a new learning curve all the time. The innovators will explore on their own. Others want to get at the teaching and need tools with learning curves they can handle, tools which become transparent overtime.

]]> By: Wayne Basinger http://www.thethinkingstick.com/at-some-point-its-about-the-technology/#comment-3763 Wayne Basinger Mon, 15 Dec 2008 12:51:50 +0000 http://www.thethinkingstick.com/?p=837#comment-3763 Jeff, Your point about why is well taken, but most teachers are so frustrated with education theory (that is all we ever seem to get in credentialing classes and professional development) that they crave practical tools that they can implement tomorrow in the classroom. I have recently done some PD sessions and got rave reviews because I just focused on how to rather than giving the "bigger" picture. But I will think about how to incorporate the why question in to my PDs as well. Jeff,

Your point about why is well taken, but most teachers are so frustrated with education theory (that is all we ever seem to get in credentialing classes and professional development) that they crave practical tools that they can implement tomorrow in the classroom. I have recently done some PD sessions and got rave reviews because I just focused on how to rather than giving the “bigger” picture. But I will think about how to incorporate the why question in to my PDs as well.

]]> By: Sue Waters http://www.thethinkingstick.com/at-some-point-its-about-the-technology/#comment-3762 Sue Waters Mon, 15 Dec 2008 07:35:15 +0000 http://www.thethinkingstick.com/?p=837#comment-3762 The need for the WHY and the HOW relate to the Roger's Innovation Adoption Curve. Majority of the educators we work with are the early and late majority. They have totally different needs for hearing the Why and have a higher level of support needed compared to people who are innovators and early adopters. Regardless of who you get in to offer the PD running one off short workshops aren't going the meet the needs of most educators. While RSS is an important skill, it does take time to understand and we need to be looking at considerably longer term development of their skills. The need for the WHY and the HOW relate to the Roger’s Innovation Adoption Curve. Majority of the educators we work with are the early and late majority.

They have totally different needs for hearing the Why and have a higher level of support needed compared to people who are innovators and early adopters.

Regardless of who you get in to offer the PD running one off short workshops aren’t going the meet the needs of most educators. While RSS is an important skill, it does take time to understand and we need to be looking at considerably longer term development of their skills.

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