1) There are lots of possibilities for including a photo sharing service into an educational unit. It could really speed up the old leaf collection unit. It could be an alternative to taking a leaf, ironing it between wax paper, and putting it into a binder with loose leaf paper with descriptions and empirical data. A close up photo with the proper information and labels can be more environmentally friendly as well. I think this can allow for some well done presentations. Local history units could utilize this. Even foreign language units can use it. A pic of something and its appropriate label can add some pizzazz to a boring noun lesson. There are obvious concerns with photo sharing. We had to suspend a student ten years ago for sharing inappropriate pictures on the internet at school. Unfortunately, the Jackass generation doesn’t seem to understand boundaries so well. It seems that the more shocking, the funnier it is, and the more street cred a student can get. We must establish clearly communicated, well defined expectations. We must inform parents of these expectations. I think most school districts are doing a good job of this, at least I hope so, and have specific protocols in place. I think plagiarism and copyright infringement need to be in that protocol. Students often assume that if it is on the internet that it is free to anyone. These services can provide a great benefit to learning in creating contrived experiences and relating concrete experiences with others. It really can incorporate all the bands of Dale’s Cone. It definitely uses computer imagination. The site can also be used to post responses and comments allowing for group collaboration and collective intelligence. It can definitely aid in real learning. I think Postman would agree that it solves problems that, yes, other means can accomplish, but in much more effective and efficient ways.
2) I find the process of ISD to be very thorough, which I love. Yet the problem that kept arising in my mind was time. This can consume a lot of time for a lot of people. But the answer that kept returning was that this is necessary! This process can really make a difference! It really is a lot like lesson planning as a teacher, but as a teacher, I often made all of the process decisions very quickly and even simultaneously at eleven at night after a road basketball game and grading 60 tests! There is that time problem again. I have come to find that a well organized well planned out teacher is ultimately more effective than a naturally gift one who takes the process for granted. I hold that to be true in most aspects of life. Unfortunately, I’m still working on it.
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