Response about Bill Kerr's blog:

Bill Kerr (2007) in his blog had some valid points. Cognitivism as responded to by Karl Karp (2007) in his blog referred to more of the aspects that I was thinking after reading Bill Kerr’s blog. Karl Karp (2007) stated, “What we need to is take the best from each philosophy and use it wisely to create solid educational experiences for our learners.” I concur.

Reference:

Karp, K. Out and about: Discussion on educational schools of thought. Retrieved September 26, 2009, from http://karlkapp.blogspot.com/2007/01/out-and-about-discussion-on-educational.html

Kerr, B. Isms as filter, not blinker. Retrieved September 26, 2009, from
http://billkerr2.blogspot.com/2007/01/isms-as-filter-not-blinker.html

The difference between humans and machines, such as computer, is that humans are sentient beings. Computers can never replace that aspect. Feelings, background experiences, and genetics are important to what makes us individuals, so it is urgent for us to differentiate, not only between our students, but also in our –isms. Students need individual interaction. All –isms have their place. They are the starting point where we as educators can evaluate ourselves to improve on or teaching. We do “cherry-pick” our ideas; sometimes without even knowing they were ever a part of an –ism, until we study them. We do a combination of them daily. To disregard something, such as suggested by Stephen Downes, because it was disregarded by an era of thinkers in the evolution of education is ludicrous. I don’t think the Lancasterian Monitorial Method (Saettler, 2004) of the classroom is best for all because of the extremely huge class size, but there have been individuals for which it worked. Getting so many students in one area in which the Lancasterian Monitorial Method would be appropriate way to teach, would be nearly impossible. So why do some teachers continue to teach in lecture style? It is the same as saying that any group of students would connect to one –ism. Sure computers have taken over some jobs that require little more than the binary system, such as those ran by computers in a nuclear power plant, but that also is not the only way to do something. I partially agree with Bill Kerr (2007) when on his blog he stated, “_isms are important but use them as a filter, not as a blinker,” but instead of “blinker” I’d put “blinder.” With this I mean: the leather flaps that keep us (horses) from seeing the “whole picture.” It was said that we, even teachers, are all individuals. I wonder why it is not just as controversial that our “teaching preferences” has as much to do with an individual child’s performance as does the “cherry-picked” -isms in the classroom. If a teacher doesn’t like the subject matter, the students usually will not either.

Reference:

Kerr, B. Isms as filter, not blinker. Retrieved September 26, 2009, from
http://billkerr2.blogspot.com/2007/01/isms-as-filter-not-blinker.html
Saettler, P. (2004). The evolution of American educational technology. Greenwich, CT: Information Age Publishing.

Educators as Botanists

Plants have developed different varieties with many hybrids in existence. Botanists identify specific needs of the various young flowers. Some needing shade, while others need direct sunlight. Botanists must give them the right stimulus to keep them reaching for the sun. Covered with soil, they must be planted with them all the theories at her disposal. Botanists must prune away all the dead leaves and keep the temperature at a comfortable level. Botanists continue to cultivate them with just the right nutrients. Visitors learn about them with the posts to the web. Their growth is seen in their blossoms. The botanists continue to use the communication at through the internet to find other theories about how to better reach the needs of her “Blooming” little flowers. Debra L. Hanks

Varieties refer to the various cultures that we teach.
Hybrids refer to those coming from drug or alcohol abuse families.
Specific needs identifying gives way to individualized teaching.
Covered with soil symbolizes the impoverished.
Prune away means uncovering bad experiences exposing the fresh new learning.
Temperature refers to holding your temper in face of resistance.
Blooming children refers to those reaching different levels of Bloom’s taxonomy.
Theories refer to those of the behaviorism, cognitive learning, and social learning etc...
Cultivate refers to teach.
Nutrients represent the strategies that we use to teach them.


Botanists were not the parents of the young flowers. They take what nature gives them. They expose children to various strategies and methods taught to them through on-the-job training and learned experiences. However, they can’t stay at the agricultural age; they are now moving into an age of communication for them and their little flowers. They use research-proven theories. Just as Siemens (2008, January 27) stated about curators, “they balance the freedom of the individual learner.” However, I felt that there was a lack of the “nature vs nurture” aspect in Siemens’ metaphor.


References

Siemens, G. (2008, January 27). Learning and knowing in networks: Changing roles for educators and designers.