Shows
The Learning is Change PodcastMy Digital Identity during the week of the #StemShooting.
This was going to be a different post filled with all kinds of rich artifacts of my digital identity during a regular week of life and work. It was going to be a reflection on the past decade or so of sharing my experience within the many social and private spaces I inhabit, but that isn’t this post. Instead, this post is a reflection of my digital identity during the week that my two older children (10 and 12) experienced the most extreme form of violence within their school. You see, they go to Stem School Highlands Ranch. And, on Tu...2019-05-1022 min
The Learning is Change PodcastMy Digital Identity during the week of the #StemShooting.
This was going to be a different post filled with all kinds of rich artifacts of my digital identity during a regular week of life and work. It was going to be a reflection on the past decade or so of sharing my experience within the many social and private spaces I inhabit, but that isn’t this post. Instead, this post is a reflection of my digital identity during the week that my two older children (10 and 12) experienced the most extreme form of violence within their school. You see, they go to Stem School Highlands Ranch. And, on Tu...2019-05-1022 min
EdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerEdTech Situation Room Episode 52Welcome to episode 52 of the EdTech Situation Room from May 17, 2017, where technology news meets educational analysis. Visit http://edtechsr.com/links to access all referenced links from our show. This week Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach), Ben Wilkoff (@bhwilkoff) and Wesley Fryer (@wfryer) discussed an array of exciting announcements from today's Google i/o conference, as well as an interesting but disturbing video from the May 10th Microsoft Build Conference perhaps foreshadowing our "privacy free future" powered by ubiquitous surveillance cameras, artificial intelligence and machine learning. Panelists also discussed the recent WCry worm whose ransomeware payload has made headlines and wreaked havoc...2017-05-181h 01EdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerEdTech Situation Room Episode 52Welcome to episode 52 of the EdTech Situation Room from May 17, 2017, where technology news meets educational analysis. Visit http://edtechsr.com/links to access all referenced links from our show. This week Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach), Ben Wilkoff (@bhwilkoff) and Wesley Fryer (@wfryer) discussed an array of exciting announcements from today's Google i/o conference, as well as an interesting but disturbing video from the May 10th Microsoft Build Conference perhaps foreshadowing our "privacy free future" powered by ubiquitous surveillance cameras, artificial intelligence and machine learning. Panelists also discussed the recent WCry worm whose ransomeware payload has made headlines and wreaked havoc...2017-05-181h 01EdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerEdTech Situation Room Episode 50Welcome to episode 50 of the EdTech Situation Room from May 3, 2017, where technology news meets educational analysis. Visit http://edtechsr.com/links to access all referenced links from our show. This week Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach), Wesley Fryer (@wfryer) and Ben Wilkoff (@bhwilkoff) discussed today's widespread Google Docs phishing attack, Microsoft's newly announced Windows-S operating system, new Microsoft laptop announcements targeting the Chromebook market and MacBook users, and recent controversy regarding the website Unroll.me selling anonymized user data to advertisers. They also discussed Mark Zuckerberg's recent forecast for the future of social media and screens (mixed-reality), a new Kickstarter campaign (Jelly...2017-05-041h 02EdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerEdTech Situation Room Episode 50Welcome to episode 50 of the EdTech Situation Room from May 3, 2017, where technology news meets educational analysis. Visit http://edtechsr.com/links to access all referenced links from our show. This week Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach), Wesley Fryer (@wfryer) and Ben Wilkoff (@bhwilkoff) discussed today's widespread Google Docs phishing attack, Microsoft's newly announced Windows-S operating system, new Microsoft laptop announcements targeting the Chromebook market and MacBook users, and recent controversy regarding the website Unroll.me selling anonymized user data to advertisers. They also discussed Mark Zuckerberg's recent forecast for the future of social media and screens (mixed-reality), a new Kickstarter campaign (Jelly...2017-05-041h 02EdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerEdTech Situation Room Episode 41Welcome to episode 41 of the EdTech Situation Room from February 22, 2017, where technology news meets educational analysis. Visit http://edtechsr.com/links to access all referenced links from our show. This week Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach), Wesley Fryer (@wfryer) and Ben Wilkoff (@bhwilkoff - aka "the 12th man of @edtechSR) discussed unlimited cell phone carrier plans, rumored Apple iPad and iPhone upgrades, the privacy and surveillance hazards of taking a smartphone on an international trip, and slow, disruptive changes brought by technology to network television. They also discussed the continuing relevance of "old school" technologies like email in the workplace. Geeks of...2017-02-2457 minEdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerEdTech Situation Room Episode 41Welcome to episode 41 of the EdTech Situation Room from February 22, 2017, where technology news meets educational analysis. Visit http://edtechsr.com/links to access all referenced links from our show. This week Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach), Wesley Fryer (@wfryer) and Ben Wilkoff (@bhwilkoff - aka "the 12th man of @edtechSR) discussed unlimited cell phone carrier plans, rumored Apple iPad and iPhone upgrades, the privacy and surveillance hazards of taking a smartphone on an international trip, and slow, disruptive changes brought by technology to network television. They also discussed the continuing relevance of "old school" technologies like email in the workplace. Geeks of...2017-02-2457 minEdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerEdTech Situation Room Episode 38Welcome to episode 38 of the EdTech Situation Room from January 25, 2017, where technology news meets educational analysis. Visit http://edtechsr.com/links to access all referenced links from our show. This week Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach), Ben Wilkoff (@bhwilkoff) and Wesley Fryer (@wfryer) discussed in-depth the new Chromebook announcements by the Google Chrome team, Samsung and Asus, and Microsoft's announcement of "Intune for Education," a cloud-based tool offering functionality to manage Windows10 devices similar to the Administration console in Google Apps for Education (gSuite). They discussed the alarming aggregation of data on millions of U.S. citizens by private companies using innocuous...2017-01-261h 04EdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerEdTech Situation Room Episode 38Welcome to episode 38 of the EdTech Situation Room from January 25, 2017, where technology news meets educational analysis. Visit http://edtechsr.com/links to access all referenced links from our show. This week Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach), Ben Wilkoff (@bhwilkoff) and Wesley Fryer (@wfryer) discussed in-depth the new Chromebook announcements by the Google Chrome team, Samsung and Asus, and Microsoft's announcement of "Intune for Education," a cloud-based tool offering functionality to manage Windows10 devices similar to the Administration console in Google Apps for Education (gSuite). They discussed the alarming aggregation of data on millions of U.S. citizens by private companies using innocuous...2017-01-261h 04EdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerEdTech Situation Room Episode 36Welcome to episode 36 of the EdTech Situation Room from January 11, 2017, where technology news meets educational analysis. Visit http://edtechsr.com/links to access all referenced links from our show (as well as some we didn’t have time to discuss.) This week Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach), Eric Langhorst (@elanghorst), Ben Wilkoff (@bhwilkoff) and Wesley Fryer (@wfryer) reflected back on 10 years ago when Steve Jobs first announced the iPhone, discussed new "2 in 1" laptops announced this week at the 2017 Consumer Electronics Store, and more! Follow us on Twitter @edtechSR to stay up to date about upcoming show times. Please refer to our podcast sh...2017-01-121h 05EdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerEdTech Situation Room Episode 36Welcome to episode 36 of the EdTech Situation Room from January 11, 2017, where technology news meets educational analysis. Visit http://edtechsr.com/links to access all referenced links from our show (as well as some we didn’t have time to discuss.) This week Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach), Eric Langhorst (@elanghorst), Ben Wilkoff (@bhwilkoff) and Wesley Fryer (@wfryer) reflected back on 10 years ago when Steve Jobs first announced the iPhone, discussed new "2 in 1" laptops announced this week at the 2017 Consumer Electronics Store, and more! Follow us on Twitter @edtechSR to stay up to date about upcoming show times. Please refer to our podcast sh...2017-01-121h 05EdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerEdTech Situation Room Episode 5Welcome to Episode 5 of the EdTech Situation Room, the weekly webshow and podcast where technology news meets educational analysis! This week we had a lively discussion with special guest Ben Wilkoff (@bhwilkoff) along with show hosts Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach) and Wes Fryer (@wfryer). Our conversations touched on the articles "Google Eliminates Right-Side Adds" (discussing the ascendency of mobile computing as well as the implications of our "you are the product" digital social environment,) "Veteran Station Crew Returns to Earth after Historic Mission," the amazing "State of EdTech from EdSurge" interactive article, and "Touch Screen Laptops Aren’t Just a Gimmick: Th...2016-03-0359 minEdTech Situation Room by Jason Neiffer and Wes FryerEdTech Situation Room Episode 5Welcome to Episode 5 of the EdTech Situation Room, the weekly webshow and podcast where technology news meets educational analysis! This week we had a lively discussion with special guest Ben Wilkoff (@bhwilkoff) along with show hosts Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach) and Wes Fryer (@wfryer). Our conversations touched on the articles "Google Eliminates Right-Side Adds" (discussing the ascendency of mobile computing as well as the implications of our "you are the product" digital social environment,) "Veteran Station Crew Returns to Earth after Historic Mission," the amazing "State of EdTech from EdSurge" interactive article, and "Touch Screen Laptops Aren’t Just a Gimmick: Th...2016-03-0359 minThe Learning is Change PodcastChange List: Teachers Should Not Be Anonymous Or InterchangeableTeachers are not and should not be interchangeable with one another. This vlog is both an introduction to myself and a way of expressing what I would like to see as a part of a teacher profile/portfolio. My klout profile/portfolio: http://klout.com/#/bhwilkoff Google+ Reflective Practice Vlogging Community: https://plus.google.com/communities/116395158372553895482 Powered by WPeMatico2013-01-0707 minThe Learning is Change PodcastChange List: Teachers Should Not Be Anonymous Or InterchangeableTeachers are not and should not be interchangeable with one another. This vlog is both an introduction to myself and a way of expressing what I would like to see as a part of a teacher profile/portfolio. My klout profile/portfolio: http://klout.com/#/bhwilkoff Google+ Reflective Practice Vlogging Community: https://plus.google.com/communities/116395158372553895482 Powered by WPeMatico2013-01-0707 min
Discourse about Discourse: Educasts by Ben WilkoffTwo New DocumentsI have been working on a couple new documents that make sense for the development of pedagogy and the future of education. You can find the links to them at the k12online conference: http://k12online.wm.edu/AuthenticLearning.pdf
http://k12online.wm.edu/101Resources.pdf2007-10-2712 min
Discourse about Discourse: Educasts by Ben WilkoffA New PossibliityThis new possibility (which is now kind of old) is a total reversal of some of the things that I have consistently talked about and advocated for. This only comes about because of a great contact I have made with the principal of our online school (eDCSD). The possibility is this: Starting from a place of amazing technology and bringing in education rather than starting from a traditional school and trying to shove technology into it. What do you think about it2007-10-2709 min
Discourse about Discourse: Educasts by Ben WilkoffThe Act of CreationSometimes we get so caught up in creating the system and the environment for learning that we forget about the most important element of that environment: creation. The singular act of creation is not something to be glazed over; it is the backbone of all that we do, and sometimes we need people to remind us of this.2007-09-2410 min
Discourse about Discourse: Educasts by Ben WilkoffArticulating VisionI am now convinced that the only way to create widespread change within our schools is to articulate a singular vision for the future of education. I don't know if I am the person to articulate that vision yet, but I am working toward it.2007-09-1309 min
Discourse about Discourse: Educasts by Ben WilkoffBeginning the year, systematically.This podcast is all about how I am starting my year. I would love to know how you are starting your year and how we can collaborate (share) any of the resources and systems that we have set up. Send me an e-mail at benwilkoff@gmail.com2007-09-1319 min
Discourse about Discourse: Educasts by Ben WilkoffChoices, Choices...This is the first podcast in over a month because I needed to upgrade for more storage space. It is not an enhanced podcast, but I'm sure it will be illuminating nonetheless.
I was trying to figure out which content management system to use for The Academy of Discovery. I am still not sure if I picked the best one, but I am pretty confident that we are doing some great things. Check it out at http://academyofdiscovery.com.2007-09-1318 min
Discourse about Discourse: Educasts by Ben WilkoffI vs. WeI don't know when it happened, but I have started using the word "we" in my podcast and blog when I would normally use the word "I." I believe that it is due to my increased awareness and involvement of the community that I have surrounded myself with. I also think that many more of "us" should start using "we" when "we" write and speak. It makes me feel like I am a part of something, that "we" are going in a particular direction. I want "us" to be aware of how amazing "our" community can become, so...2007-08-0114 min
Discourse about Discourse: Educasts by Ben WilkoffWhy do I want to work here?Well, this is the official podcast about my interview with Littleton Public Schools. Although I was passionate and had a great experience in the interview, I was not offered the job. That made my decision to leave the classroom much easier. I still think that this podcast is relevant to anyone else who is thinking about leaving the classroom. I also outline the idea that passion and vision are the two elements that will allow you to progress professionally and personally. I think that I will continue to explore these ideas in the classroom next year, and I...2007-07-1809 min
Discourse about Discourse: Educasts by Ben WilkoffThe Social Networks of TragediesThis podcast is pretty heavy:
I was in Osawatomie, KS for the 4th of July. It flooded earlier in the week, and my sister-in-law lost her car and her apartment due to this natural disaster. This event really got me thinking about how we can use the technology that our schools provide (especially in 1:1 programs) in order to create social networks for a community. I hope that we can start putting together ideas like Steve Hargadon's Public Web Stations (link below) in non-crisis times. If you have any ideas about how to do this, please shoot me an...2007-07-0613 min
Discourse about Discourse: Educasts by Ben WilkoffThe Most Change For The Most KidsIt is with some hesitation that I post this podcast. I am a teacher, and I will always be a teacher. However, I have been given the opportunity to do more. I have been recruited (although not formally given the position) for a Technology Integration Position in a nearby school district. This podcast is all about coming to terms with the idea of leaving the classroom so that I might create change and achieve School 2.0 in a larger way. At this point, I am very much interested in following my passion for finding solutions, and if this job provides...2007-06-2713 min
Discourse about Discourse: Educasts by Ben WilkoffThe 1.0 to 2.0 TransformationWell, there are two main elements to this podcast.
1. This is my first blog post/podcast about being named the 2006 Totally Wired Teacher by Edutopia and Yahoo Teachers. I am honored, but I hope that the one thing that comes out of flying to San Fransisco is that I meet as many would-be advocates for School 2.0 as I can. I really would love to be a larger instrument for change than merely by blogging and podcasting.
2. I am challenging everyone to come up with a description for Teacher/Classroom 1.0, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, and 2.0. I would really like to know what it should...2007-06-2014 min
Discourse about Discourse: Educasts by Ben WilkoffThe New Job DescriptionThe more that I think about doing something "different" in my classroom, the more that I feel that process should be transparent. Not just for my students and their parents, but also for my administrators. Principals, Assistant Principals, and even Super-Intendants should be aware that there is change happening in the classroom. They should also want that change to occur, meaning that they should actively support it. But the only way that this is going to happen is if we start advocating for it.
So, this podcast is all about how we should be writing our own job descriptions...2007-06-1121 min
Discourse about Discourse: Educasts by Ben WilkoffDigital Sticky NotesFeedback continues to be something that requires a lot of thought to do right. I want to provide my students with as much timely feedback as possible, but I don't want to have to resort to the methods of printing out blog posts and putting paper sticky notes on them. In this podcast I explore the possibility of giving student feedback using web annotation tools. If anyone has any good ideas for tools like this (other than diigo) please e-mail them to benjamin.wilkoff@dcsdk12.org
00:00:00: Intro to Feedback
The Podcast Blog
00:01:33: Feedback Methods
00:02:56...2007-06-0513 min
Discourse about Discourse: Educasts by Ben WilkoffMy Students Are Known For...This is the first podcast that I have done on my new MacBook and I was used GarageBand rather than ChapterToolMe in order to create the chapters. I have, as of yet, not been able to find a way of exporting the chapters and links into html using GarageBand, so you will have to download the show in order to get the links. If anyone has a way of doing this, I would love to hear about it.
As for the episode itself, I have been hoping for a very long time that my students are learning everything that...2007-05-2913 min
Discourse about Discourse: Educasts by Ben WilkoffDigital Ex-Patriots and The Formula for TransparencyWell, I may be going out on a limb with this one, but I have described in the podcast a level of discomfort with technology that goes beyond the simple immigrant/native debate. The fear and panic that is associated with technology in the classroom comes from Digital Ex-Patriots. These people (parents, teachers, administrators, etc.) are so sure of their anti-technology stance that they are actively pursuing a life (of education) away from technology integration. These are the people that we must win over if we are going to continue our collaborative efforts and truly create change. Please let...2007-05-1523 min
Discourse about Discourse: Educasts by Ben WilkoffWhat Happens Next Year?I am very worried about what is going to happen to my students when they leave me at the end of this school year. Not because I think that they won't be able to handle to rigors of high school life, but rather because I think that they won't be able to handle going back to a traditional classroom. I wonder what the transition will be like when they know that collaborative tools exist, but they aren't allowed to use them for school. Will they revolt? Will they create change? Or, will they just take it as another in...2007-05-1211 min
Discourse about Discourse: Educasts by Ben WilkoffThe Would-Be School 2.0 AdvocatesThe podcast episode is based upon the idea that teachers will listen to someone who has a lot of experience teaching without technology and then stumbled upon the effectiveness and authenticity of technology and became an advocate for change. They will not listen to someone who grew up with technology, and for who it naturally comes to. They need "one of their own kind" to bring them on board with the School 2.0 movement.
I also decide that we need a School 2.0 plank in the 2008 presidential election. No matter who wins, I want our commander and chief constantly...2007-05-0619 min
Discourse about Discourse: Educasts by Ben WilkoffVisions of ChangeWell, I guess it was bound to happen sometime, but I really didn't expect it to happen this soon. We have received funding for our School 2.0 within a school idea, The Academy of Discovery. So, what do we do now? How do we continue to articulate the vision in the face of overwhelming support. Adversity I can handle, but what do we do now that everyone is behind us, just waiting to see how we can pull this off. It leaves me very excited to have the freedom of collaboration and experimentation within my community, but it also leaves...2007-04-2418 min
Discourse about Discourse: Educasts by Ben WilkoffCreating the School 2.0 Movement
I have become dissatisfied with talking about School 2.0 only among educators. It seems to be this feedback loop that creates a lot of noise, but in the end, really doesn't create any massive change. So, I am proposing a change in tactics. We need to begin talking to anyone who has the time to listen about School 2.0. We need to show them artifacts of authentic learning so that they know just how effective it can be. We need to get outside of the blogosphere and podcast communities, and talk to the parents that don't get it yet. Although "...2007-04-1913 min
Discourse about Discourse: Educasts by Ben WilkoffBeyond RubricsThis podcast was created because of a discussion I had with my students about the merits of rubrics in a School 2.0 classroom. The data was mixed. Some students felt very comfortable with rubrics because it let them know how to get an A. Others believed that rubrics would hinder their creativity and ability to be authentic. Although I had asked students to help me create a rubric for an assignment, I had never asked them if they thought a rubric was a good idea at all. This podcast is a summary and a discussion of what I decided to...2007-04-1014 min
Discourse about Discourse: Educasts by Ben WilkoffThe Embedded ClassroomThe two wiki project that my students have started to work on have taught me that an open framework that allows for embedded materials is preferable to any all-in-one solution that tries to do too much at once. I also would like to apply this concept to my classroom in a concrete way. My students should be able to embed their knowledge and experience into the framework of the classroom. They should be allowed to use whatever service/method they can to prove that they have learned something.
Show Notes and Links:
00:00:00: Introduction to The Embedded Classroom
The...2007-04-0518 min
Discourse about Discourse: Educasts by Ben WilkoffRemixing The ClassroomOne of my students came up with an amazing metaphor for how intellectual property should work in the classroom and in greater society. She described the idea that remixing should be like cake making. You buy all of the ingredients and then can prepare any kind of cake you like. Once you have the cake, however, you can't un-remix it and get back to the sugar and flour. You can also borrow sugar from a neighbor, but generally you give them credit when you are serving your delicious cake. I hope that this podcast outlines such a metaphor a...2007-03-3110 min
Discourse about Discourse: Educasts by Ben WilkoffThe Great Remix DebateI give all of the credit for this podcast to my amazing students. They were the ones that kept a debate on intellectual property, remixing, and mash-ups going for nearly thirty minutes. They were the ones that came up with the amazing examples to support their points. They were also the ones to inspire many thoughts on creating rules for how we use content in the classroom.
I am now convinced that each classroom of students should decide for themselves just what they want to be done with their content. Should teachers be able to use it for next...2007-03-2829 min
Discourse about Discourse: Educasts by Ben WilkoffA New Image for New StudentsMy students are different. Not from yours, but from the ones that came before them. They are desperate to connect everything together: disciplines, ideas, home and school. They need a way of bridging the gaps that many adults artificially create. We must help them to connect. I don't have any five point plans in this podcast, but I do have a good example from a student about tormenting substitute teachers. Have a listen.
I am looking for a new image to help explain this phenomenon of connection as a reaction to the increasingly splintered world that they experience. If...2007-03-2013 min
Discourse about Discourse: Educasts by Ben WilkoffResearching School 2.0In creating a wiki for my vision of School 2.0 within a school, I have found that there is quite a bit of research out there supporting 1:1 computing, constructivist teaching practice, and engaging technology usage in the classroom. What is even more amazing is that I didn't know that this research existed because it has been so universally ignored by much of the proponents of this kind of reform. We must have this kind of research on the tips of our tongues, and we must be ready to spout off both the anecdotal evidence and the numbers to anyone who...2007-03-1415 min
Discourse about Discourse: Educasts by Ben WilkoffWhat does support look like in School 2.0?Support is such an essential part of education, but many of us who are looking ahead to a technologically rich educational experience sometimes forget this. Because we are savvy, we expect others (including our students) to be savvy. I created this podcast in order to flesh out a few of the ways that we can support teachers who want to transition to School 2.0. The basic points that I came up with were:
1. All teachers need an aggregator starter pack.
2. School 2.0 must be framed in terms (and using tools) that most teachers understand.
3. Small groups of teachers must conduct relevant...2007-03-0318 min
Discourse about Discourse: Educasts by Ben WilkoffWhat Myspace can teach us about School 2.0This podcast was brought about because of the classroom discussion that my eighth graders had about what a terrible affect Myspace can have on their lives. I wanted to start brainstorming a school-sponsored space that we could substitute for Myspace that would be an extension of the classroom. This space would have the ability to connect students over academic interests as well as personal interests. It would allow for photo sharing and digital storytelling within these photos. Primarily, however, this space would allow students to comment on everything. Each element of the space (a module) would have a feedback...2007-02-2222 min
Discourse about Discourse: Educasts by Ben WilkoffThe Internet as UtopiaThis was a discussion I had with my 8th graders about how the Internet could be used as a vehicle for creating a utopia in their everyday lives. I was truly surprised and intrigued by some of their responses. Many of the students believe that the internet is a "0." Meaning that there are just as many bad things on the internet as there are good. One student also identified the three most influential groups for his (and other young people's) life: The Governement, Celebrities, and The Internet. Another student proposed splitting the internet into different sections, so that no...2007-02-1812 min
Discourse about Discourse: Educasts by Ben WilkoffParents as School 2.0 StakeholdersConvincing parents that the skills of School 2.0 are important is going to be one of the biggest jobs facing all teaching in the very near future. I have outlined in this podcast three possible ways of accomplishing this goal:
1. Student exemplars of continual advancement.
2. Constant communication and reflection on learning between parents and teachers, students and teachers, and parents and students.
3. Parent and Student testimonials of engagement and achievement.
My hope is that by identifying the things that are the most convincing to parents, we can create a compelling argument for technological school reform.2007-02-1421 min
Discourse about Discourse: Educasts by Ben WilkoffHow do we assess School 2.0?I've been trying to figure out for a while just how assessment is going to look in School 2.0. I have developed (or at least half-baked) 3 types of assessments that I would consider in this new type of environment:
1. Conversation
2. Reflection
3. Aggregation2007-02-1219 min
Discourse about Discourse: Educasts by Ben WilkoffThe New Graduation RequirementsI have been thinking a lot about how we have the same graduation requirements that we have always had. We may have upped the number of Math and English classes, but each student has to do the same things in high school, jump through the same hoops. Why is it that none of the new literacies and skills are included in the graduation requirements? Why should each student accomplish the same things in four years, when they will all be doing different things with their lives? Shouldn't we be preparing our students to compete, to stand out in a...2007-02-0222 min
Discourse about Discourse: Educasts by Ben WilkoffTeacher-Proof TeachingI created this podcast because I was frustrated with the way our vision of education seems to conflict with the reality of education. I know that the administration at my school wants only what is best for kids. I do not have any doubts in their abilities as leaders. Yet, I do wonder if every "education movement" we fall prey to is good for our school. This podcast takes a critical look at current educational practices, and is therefore both different from and similar to my other podcasts.2007-01-3109 min
Discourse about Discourse: Educasts by Ben WilkoffThe Perfect Learning EnvironmentThis podcast is of a discussion that I had with my 7th and 8th grade students about what they think the perfect learning environment would be like. I asked them a few guiding questions, but their ideas were purely their own. I think there is a lot of insight here. If you would like to follow the online discussion, you can go to our conversate page at http://conversate.org/conversation/3JTD3.2007-01-3111 min
Discourse about Discourse: Educasts by Ben WilkoffWhy All Teachers Should Be Using Web 2.0I have been thinking a lot about this question. Should all teachers be using the Read/Write Web in their classrooms, or am I merely a part of the latest educational technology trend. I try to answer it in a fairly in-depth, before-school podcast.2007-01-2418 min
Discourse about Discourse: Educasts by Ben WilkoffThe Future of LiteracyThis is a podcast about how I see the world of literacy shaping up in the next few years. This idea was brought about by discussion ideal learning environments with my 7th and 8th grade students.2007-01-2417 min