Class scholars: Last evening as we talked about the reading of the text and the learning ahead of you, I recommended you not begin the interviews until you had read the book and done your reflecting for your own story. As you read the text on Culturally Proficient Leadership, what are some thoughts that are surfacing for you as you think about your Cultural Autobiography? (Title of blog post: Reflections on my Story)
From Pat
- Ensure you have read all of A Whole New Mind and bring to class
- Write a blog post titled, Reflection on Pink. Consider the concepts of 'symphony,' and 'design,' discuss what learning environments would support more innovative thinking.
- Read about disruptive innovation from Clayton Christensen's Website
- For the 8th, you want to read whichever Christensen book you choose:
Disrupting Class: Intro, 1, 5, 7, 8, 9
Innovate University: Intro, 1, 15, 16, 20, 21
From Jeff
- Complete the "About Me" page on your blog. Include a picture
- Ensure you have your Twitter, iGoogle, Gmail, Blogger, Tweetdeck, Diigo accounts/tools
- Watch the videos on Twitter/Tweetdeck from the PLN Tools tab
- Begin to build your networks in Twitter and Diigo
- Share what you are reading/discover on Twitter and bookmark on Diigo
- Write a blog post titled, "Creating My PLN" Reflect on the process, your level of comfort, and any questions that you might have about the concept or process of creating a PLN (at least 400 words)
In summary, I want you to develop the following habit:
read
tweet
tweet
bookmark
write
comment
Repeat
This Week's Question: What is something that you have learned without formal teaching? (Leave a comment on this post)
This Week's Question: What is something that you have learned without formal teaching? (Leave a comment on this post)
HTML language (although I have forgotten most of it now).
ReplyDeleteI also taught myself French when I was living up in Montreal, by the time I got into the governmental class they offer for all persons immigrating (I had married a French Canadian) I was placed in the highest level they offered.
I love learning--(strengths profile #2)
Reading(as my mother so proudly states) is something I acquired by listening and watching her read. At the age of 3, without formal teaching, I was reading to my brother. Greek is what I learned initially as one of my first languages. Even though I attended Greek classes at the University of Athens and lived in Greece for entire summer vacations throughout my pre-administration years, the Greek that I use is that which I learned from my mother and father in our home.
ReplyDeleteAnother skill I learned without formal teaching is how to access technology, I taught myself how to create documents using Word, presentations using Power Point etc. Participating in marathons, half-marathons and triathlons is something I learned to do by watching, modeling my actions after others, reading and researching. The access I currently have to these skills is due to my own experimentation, desire to explore and time to do so.
First of all I have an issue with this question. What would you define as “formal” teaching? Is it classroom based direct instruction? Is it a step by step video? A YouTube video? Is it an online course? Is it an instruction manual? Does “formal teaching” require someone next to you (physically or virtually) each step in the process grading, or at least directing, your progress?
ReplyDeleteI have one example of learning without any of the mechanisms listed above that comes immediately to mind. A couple of quarters ago I taught myself how to do a cluster analysis. There are actually many ways to do a cluster analysis. I figured out how to do a cluster analysis one way. I didn’t have a choice I thought it was a statistical analysis that I might find useful in my dissertation but my statistics professor could not remember how to do it. Statistics, it turns out, is one of the many things that the phrase “use it or lose it” applies to.
I find that formal teaching can be a time saver. It is quicker than me teaching myself. That requires researching, reading, synthesizing, trying it out, more researching, reading… You get the point. That said, when you teach yourself your understanding normally is deeper and definitely more applicable to your endeavors.
I am a constructivist at heart and believe we each have to construct knowledge for ourselves. With the exception of basic skill acquisition I am not sure you learn much with just “formal teaching”.
I'm pretty sure I learned to read without formal teaching. I don't remember not knowing how to read, although I am told I was frustrated I couldn't read as fluently as my parents.
ReplyDeleteSusan,
ReplyDeleteI would say formal teaching usually requires a "formal" teacher. It is classroom based direct instruction; it is not a step by step video; it is not a YouTube video; it could be an online course; it is not an instruction manual; and yes, by definition, or the one I just defined, there is a teacher guiding you in what could be consider an "educational" setting.
jeff
I learned to stand up for myself, what I believe in and speak my mind. My parents said I have always been this way. Unfortunately, I was always in trouble at school...I suppose my formal teachers would have preferred me to be less "me" in class :).
ReplyDeleteAs you have all witnessed, I learned to use a computer and muddle around with technology without any formal training. I have experimented, tried and failed, tried and succeeded, and benefitted from some advice and guidance along the way. In this realm, I am a bit like Susan...a constructivist. I am also motivated to some degree with a bit of "panic" in not wanting to be left too far behind.
ReplyDeleteI learned how to fresh water fish without formal teaching. As a young lad I watched friends and experimented on my own quite a bit... I definitely trained myself to a large degree, and I spent many hours fishing as a pre-teen. I experimented with different baits and practiced techniques with various lures. It took a long time, but after careful observation of others and a lot of practice I became proficient at landing large fish.
ReplyDeleteI still learning how to be a dad and a family man. It takes alot of hard work-- especially these days! Learning to be a parent is especially difficult, especially the first few days after your first one is born. Lots of crying, little sleep (and the baby wasn't doing to hot either).
ReplyDeleteI taught myself how to re-upholster my kitchen chairs. I unscrewed the seats, used the same fabric ( left over from a professional job) from new couches in the family room, cut to fit the seat, purchased clear plastic to protect them, yet allow the fabric to clearly be seen, used a staple gun to put it all together and screwed them back in place. I completed it last year in time for Christmas dinner and the entire family thought we sent them out.
ReplyDeleteI have never taken formal cooking lessons, yet I am a great cook (at least that's what my family thinks). I learned to cook by watching and helping my mom as a young girl. Now my mom and I tackle tough recipes together. Our latest "gourmet" meal was Paella. It's fun to continue this tradition of cooking with my mom as an adult.
ReplyDeleteOne of the things I am very glad I have ever taught my self is to ride a motorcycle. After have been left behing for hours on end by my husnban and two boys, one day I decided to start that thing. After many times falling and getting up, finally one day I did it. Now the four of us go on rides and I enjoy it very much regsardless of still falling and getting up at the end of the line.
ReplyDeleteWell let see! I would say I taught myself how to converse in English without any formal teaching. I had some formal learning in terms of grammar when I was in high school but that was it!
ReplyDeleteNext one would be my cooking. My family and friends think I am a good cook! I guess I can cook well when I am in the mood of being creative and having a party!