tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1293651735518246988.post1358279613860869520..comments2023-11-05T02:10:50.039-07:00Comments on Drape's Takes: The Current State Of AffairsUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1293651735518246988.post-28279006366979349112008-05-14T04:22:00.000-06:002008-05-14T04:22:00.000-06:00Kia Ora Darren!I will resist the temptation to apo...Kia Ora Darren!<BR/><BR/>I will resist the temptation to apologise for this late post :-)<BR/><BR/>Education, as a global entity, is a complexity system. Like the fractal shown on your post, it is complex because of its intricacies. But its nested, recursively elaborate, scale independent and dynamically self-similar characteristics are also often its strength.<BR/><BR/>I have a lot of empathy with you over the mediocrity that appears to be abundant. It is apt to exist in pockets, however numerous they may be. The self-organising, self-transforming nature of ‘education’ also tends to foster these pockets principally because inherent in such a system is a lot of redundancy. Its often summarised as an inertial quality of the system, which I believe is also indicative of a deep and very human social characteristic.<BR/><BR/>Unfortunately, those who are sensitive to the mediocrity are perhaps more bothered by it that than most. It is up to such people to write posts and comments on themes that voice feelings about the mediocrity so that those less perceptive of it can be made more aware.<BR/><BR/>Good on you for posting your feelings on this fundamental issue.<BR/><BR/>Ka kiteBlogger In Middle-earthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08722634477041121797noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1293651735518246988.post-85030169883372447452008-05-05T12:39:00.000-06:002008-05-05T12:39:00.000-06:00"some seem to feel that educational bloggers are f..."some seem to feel that educational bloggers are fundamentally bound by the same rules of etiquette that have been unofficially set forth by the global blogging community in general.<BR/><BR/>Honestly, it is that very mindset of mediocrity (the mindset that educators are free to slack because others slack) that has contributed so forcefully to the detriment of public education during recent decades past."<BR/><BR/>You got it. 100%<BR/><BR/>Additionally, these "rules" can be very, deeply political. <BR/><BR/>A lot folks, on the right especially, use the argument of etiquette to silence dissent - labeling dissenters (including those students who disengage from their teaching) as "trouble makers" and etc. I'm always wary of any discussions of "etiquette" versus "democratic."<BR/><BR/>One of the biggest problems in education until now is its use as a tool for normative social assimilation as opposed to active citizenship and inquiry. Those educators who are really doing innovative work are the ones asking questions - and questioning education and teaching itself.chandrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09088860307824698867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1293651735518246988.post-39783008037040053212008-05-04T12:21:00.000-06:002008-05-04T12:21:00.000-06:00Darren,As always you have me thinking deeper with ...Darren,<BR/>As always you have me thinking deeper with these conversations about creative commons, etiquette and beyond. I do think it is important that we have these conversations and that we cite our sources. I am not particular about having only ONE way to do this. Since becoming a member of the blogosphere and a webcaster, I am constantly reminding myself that my way is not the only way. Just because it is spring in New England, not everyone is experiencing spring at this time.I mention this because my conversations are not egocentric any longer but rather geocentric. I sometimes slip in the spelling for colour or say brilliant or something else more global. I think as we are evolving to a more global unit, we will develop alternative citation rules. Right now I am happy to be using something or anything that points back to the originator of a photo, image or facts so another individual can go deeper with their research of my "borrowed" information.Cheryloakes50https://www.blogger.com/profile/05109916636552623596noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1293651735518246988.post-52098477551974955232008-05-04T12:20:00.000-06:002008-05-04T12:20:00.000-06:00Darren,As always you have me thinking deeper with ...Darren,<BR/>As always you have me thinking deeper with these conversations about creative commons, etiquette and beyond. I do think it is important that we have these conversations and that we cite our sources. I am not particular about having only ONE way to do this. Since becoming a member of the blogosphere and a webcaster, I am constantly reminding myself that my way is not the only way. Just because it is spring in New England, not everyone is experiencing spring at this time.I mention this because my conversations are not egocentric any longer but rather geocentric. I sometimes slip in the spelling for colour or say brilliant or something else more global. I think as we are evolving to a more global unit, we will develop alternative citation rules. Right now I am happy to be using something or anything that points back to the originator of a photo, image or facts so another individual can go deeper with their research of my "borrowed" information.Cheryloakes50https://www.blogger.com/profile/05109916636552623596noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1293651735518246988.post-6052537373699636842008-05-04T10:06:00.000-06:002008-05-04T10:06:00.000-06:00Darren wrote:Would our profession not be better re...Darren wrote:<BR/>Would our profession not be better respected – both in attitude and in finance – if we teachers hadn’t lost the confidence and trust of our patrons somewhere along the way?<BR/><BR/>This is an interesting point, Darren---and one that I hadn't ever considered in connection to edublogging behaviors. <BR/><BR/>I couldn't agree more that teachers have lost "confidence and trust" along the way---and I like the idea of earning that confidence and trust back through the transparency that blogging brings to education. <BR/><BR/>Do you think that some of the reaction against standardizing etiquette for edubloggers comes from our failure to see blogs as a form of advocacy for our profession?<BR/><BR/>I suppose there are some writers who have made a conscious decision to blog to elevate the profession----but do you think that's the case for the majority of teacher-bloggers?<BR/><BR/>Interesting questions, <BR/>BillBill F.https://www.blogger.com/profile/06569401112555104479noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1293651735518246988.post-58489367379125027412008-05-04T01:49:00.000-06:002008-05-04T01:49:00.000-06:00thanks for the fractals link Darren. Years ago I s...thanks for the fractals link Darren. Years ago I saw a documentary on fractals and it was incredibly captivating.<BR/>Cheers, John.johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17796427867978058720noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1293651735518246988.post-71635758537253408952008-05-03T22:17:00.000-06:002008-05-03T22:17:00.000-06:00I chose the fractal because I wanted to find an im...I chose the fractal because I wanted to find an image representative of the chaotic nature of the blogosphere. It may have been a stretch, but I think the blogosphere is very much like fractals: as you dig deeper, you find repetitions coupled with additional diversity. Great stuff!<BR/><BR/>On a side note, I found that if you go to Compfight (compfight.com) and do a Tag search for 'fractal', you'll see an amazing array of fractals - all contributed by the Flickr community. Absolutely amazing. http://tinyurl.com/4sp28dDarren Draperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17578208859042859340noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1293651735518246988.post-12601118836171899802008-05-03T16:03:00.000-06:002008-05-03T16:03:00.000-06:00One more thing Darren and Britt... I agree with Br...One more thing Darren and Britt... I agree with Britt regarding the image of the fractals. They have always fascinated me. Their presence in nature is simply something that I find hard to describe.<BR/><BR/>That is an excellent point about teasing out the professional from the personal Britt. Human being are complex and our interactions many.<BR/><BR/>Finally, if I may indulge myself gentlemen. If I had my life over again... I would either be an astronomer or a scientist exploring fractals. Great photograph indeed!<BR/><BR/>Cheers, John.johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17796427867978058720noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1293651735518246988.post-84086718412176190992008-05-03T06:02:00.000-06:002008-05-03T06:02:00.000-06:00First, anyone who illustrates their posts with fra...First, anyone who illustrates their posts with fractals is alright in my book! That said, you really nailed the issue here. I work with some fantastic people and one reason we think about norms is that, as Jeff Nugent remarked this week, it really is difficult teasing out the personal from the professional aspects in our blogs and comments. Whether I like it or not, what I say reflects on the Center where I work, which implies some aspect of norms is needed.Britt Watwoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08487014790973980773noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1293651735518246988.post-78913648228446358742008-05-02T22:16:00.000-06:002008-05-02T22:16:00.000-06:00Hi Darren,Thank you for the reply. True, one gener...Hi Darren,<BR/><BR/>Thank you for the reply. True, one generation certainly differs from the next and I certainly encounter some 'interesting' members of the current generation at school each day. Yet, I try to have faith in their growth and through my own example each day display a positive hope with my students and peers. We have too. I do not wish to sound old fashioned just now but such hope helps the 'world go round'.<BR/><BR/>The semantic web is certainly an interesting beast. When apis and other web services technologies start "speaking to" and "understanding" each other anything may be possible.<BR/><BR/>The net will simply "know" what you are interested in based upon your previous Internet habits and predict (second guess?) what you will do and type online in the future. The resources that you are most likely to seek will already be waiting in the digital wings for you to access. I feel if that comes to pass then citations may become automatic, if it hasn't already in some lab somewhere.<BR/><BR/>Cheers, John.<BR/><A HREF="http://blog.larkin.net.au/" REL="nofollow">TeachTech</A>johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17796427867978058720noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1293651735518246988.post-40008535546294999142008-05-02T20:50:00.000-06:002008-05-02T20:50:00.000-06:00Hello John,I too appreciate your ideas as I've lea...Hello John,<BR/><BR/>I too appreciate your ideas as I've learned substantially through such conversation. I must admit that self governance and common sense have served as our teachers up to this point in the history of blogging and will likely regulate its future. <BR/><BR/>Nevertheless, I hope with hesitancy for a brighter future than our past for, in my opinion, the generation that follows most certainly displays a lack of respect for and adherence to any kind of intrinsically understood etiquette we may have established.<BR/><BR/>That said, your ideas describing a semantic web intrigue me and <I>feel</I> like a logical direction for a future network still only imagined.Darren Draperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17578208859042859340noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1293651735518246988.post-60771375116518266762008-05-02T18:17:00.000-06:002008-05-02T18:17:00.000-06:00Hi Darren,A nice post. I am also pleased to read t...Hi Darren,<BR/><BR/>A nice post. I am also pleased to read the various interactions. It is good reading. It was good to skip across to the blogs of Stephen Downes and Mathew Tabor to take in their views.<BR/><BR/>Certainly teachers can display sound online publishing exemplars for their students. That is a good idea and I support it.<BR/><BR/>Yet, as Graham Wegner wrote on your Edublogging Etiquette post I feel that teachers "are better off relying on self governance and common sense rather than defining what Codes and Rules could or should be." Can that and similar views be defined as an example of a mediocrity mindset?<BR/><BR/>As I indicated within my comment on your etiquette post Darren, I blog, and probably many other teachers as well, with a set of principles that reside within my own conscience and not "rules of etiquette that have been unofficially set forth by the global blogging community in general". My internal etiquette is inherently different to that of the broader blogging community and I am not guided by a rule book. It is intrinsic within me. It is me, John, a teacher and a bloke that lives down the street.<BR/><BR/>I do not think an entire generation of learners will be negatively impacted if an 'edublogger' here and there does not cite their sources and publish in a fair minded manner. The learners will be able to see through the fluff just as we can and sort out the good from the bad. They will learn. Their profession and academic pursuits will probably demand it.<BR/><BR/>Perhaps, the net will be so semantically wired in the future that if you do employ another's work in any shape or form it will be automatically cited, whether you desire it or not.<BR/><BR/>Darren, thank you for the opportunity to respond. I sincerely appreciate that. I enjoy reading your thoughts.<BR/><BR/>Best wishes, John.<BR/><A HREF="http://blog.larkin.net.au/" REL="nofollow">TeachTech</A>johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17796427867978058720noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1293651735518246988.post-62857295138177482752008-05-02T14:06:00.000-06:002008-05-02T14:06:00.000-06:00And yes, it wouldn’t hurt if we were to get out mo...And yes, it wouldn’t hurt if we were to get out more often. :)Darren Draperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17578208859042859340noreply@blogger.com