Darren Draper

"Jethro, Thank you for taking the time out of your day to share a few of your opinions. In considering your first paragraph, I question your definition of the word "effective" when you claim that in spite of the fact that many aren't participating online "we still have many librarians and teachers that are very effective in their teaching." While social media may not play as large of a role in the pedagogy of certain teachers (PE teachers, for example, come to mind), is it not vital that it come nearer to the forefront of others' curriculum in order for them to be truly "effective"? To suggest, for example, that a Media Specialist is "effective" when they lack even the most basic of social media skills is absurd. Period. I mean, how effective can they be if they aren’t able to teach our students how to safely and responsibly navigate the social networks that many of our students today so frequently inhabit? Blogs and wikis and Twitter and digital citizenship? Yes, but that’s really not..." - Darren Draper

"Upon thinking further about this topic, I've decided to add a few important words to my second category of educator. Originally it read: 2. Those content to lurk but still hesitant to contribute. I've edited it to read: 2. Those content to lurk but still hesitant (or unable, for whatever reason) to contribute. The fact of the matter is that there exist a very large number of effective educators that are simply not able to contribute in any significantly recurrent amount to online discussion. All told, it's not that they're incapable of participating and it's not that they're unwilling. Rather, this group maintains perceived silence online because their professional priorities prohibit them from spending the time or energy required to provide plausible contribution. As I think Jared was suggesting in his comment, this population includes some teachers. Likewise, I think that school/district administrators and other members of the school community should be included. Furthermore, any..." - Darren Draper

"Well, slowly but surely I'm plowing away at the Lit. Review - a somewhat intense process because this kind of dissertation is related to so many other fields and topics. Among the topics I am currently reviewing are: effective teacher professional development (linked methods and procedures), OER, educational social software, factors effecting teacher attitude, and educational change theory. Unfortunately, the work I do with the Canyons District has been incredibly consuming since July (opening a new school district will do that), but I've been able to slowly chip away at the research. When I get the proposal at a more presentable stage, I'll be sure to share it here. Thanks for you interest. What's your background?" - Darren Draper

"Very well said. In our district, the Ed Tech team (of which you are a part) has been discussing the very kind of plan that you mention. Together, they created the survey that is being distributed to teachers - a sort of needs assessment, if you will - on where teachers currently sit and wherein their interests and needs lie. I look forward to the time when you will be able to more fully participate with the team." - Darren Draper

"Hello Jorgie, It has been a while! Regarding context, I asked the question the other day for several reasons. First, I wanted to see how people would respond. Specifically, I wanted to see the range of responses people would give (and was genuinely surprised by the quality of those responses). Second, I needed help brainstorming the topic. We are in the process of developing a model for professional development in our district, and I would like to base that model on the ways that learning is best accomplished. I collected the responses using Skitch and then pasting them into Photoshop. Unfortunately, it seems that the day of technology-facilitated Twitter conversation trackers has never truly come (or has sadly past). Either way, I couldn't find a tool online that would accurately collect all of the responses." - Darren Draper

"Nathan, I like your metaphors more than mine. Also, I like the ideas you've put forth here about external validation. Frankly, one of my favorite things about social media is its uncanny ability to provide external validation to the ideas I share therein. Furthermore, that validation is not only external in the sense that it's coming from someone else - it's external in that it's often coming from people in other states and nations and of other cultures and backgrounds." - Darren Draper

"Jared, I really appreciate your openness and willingness to contribute to the discussion here. I'm very interested in understanding your concerns and look forward to discussing this further with you in the future. Regarding the fourth category you recommend, I can see where you're coming from and suspect that a number of teachers would likely offer the same suggestion that you have. All told, they may feel that what they're currently doing is simply good enough. Nevertheless, I think your category gives rise to two important additional questions: 1. Can a teacher be "technology literate" and not use social media? My answer: I guess that depends on your definition of "technology literacy" and on the level of literacy you're willing to settle with. Along these lines, I wonder aloud: Can a person be literate in math without understanding calculus? Well, sort of. But if you were really in need of a good mathematician, wouldn't you hope they had a little calculus under their belt?..." - Darren Draper

"I hope you know by now, Carolyn, that I don't just worry about the librarians. I'm a worry wart all around. :) I see so much good that can be accomplished through social media that I wish everyone with a stake in education would participate." - Darren Draper

"Of course." - Darren Draper

Thought provoking, as always. - Darren Draper

"Cloud computing needs to be defined more clearly if we are to talk about it meaningfully." For the first time, I find myself In disagreement with George. Just because a concept is vaguely defined doesn't mean it can't be meaningfully discussed. Or are the thousands of discussions that have already centered on the cloud as a topic really meaningless? - Darren Draper

I'll take door number 3, Alex: Sad. If kids can't relate to the person standing in front of them, we might as well elect a President that can turn the world portrayed in the new movie "Surrogate" - into reality. - Darren Draper

Wow. - Darren Draper

Great post by Will. Yep, it's all about trust. - Darren Draper

Should make the drive interesting. - Darren Draper

Should make the drive interesting. - Darren Draper

Kids these days... Good stuff. - Darren Draper

Conviviality is right! - Darren Draper

"Thank you, Donna, for your thoughtful feedback. By the phrase "explicit topics at hand" I mean the curriculum specific to the course itself. In other words, if it is a digital photography course, then the topic at hand is photography -independent of the methods used to teach photography and independent of whether or not the course is open or closed. I also appreciate your observation about the varied research questions. I'll need to think this through further, but I can certainly see the value in limiting the focus of the study. Again, thanks for your feedback." - Darren Draper

"I don't have a problem with the Ed-tech canon, either - in fact, I'm a firm believer. :) That said, I also think it's important to find balance in all that we do as well as live in such a way to consistently put first things first. While there is definitely value and great insights to be found in the writings of Shirky, Christensen, and Chris Anderson (of late, with his free book called "Free"), I just think there is a tremendous amount of worth in exposing ourselves to the more measured ideas found only within the writings of academia. Call me old fashioned. Sheesh, *I'm* even starting to think I sound like a grumpy old codger." - Darren Draper

"Thanks for stopping by, Dan. I look forward to seeing how you react to doctoral work and am anxious to compare your experience to mine, particularly in light of the fact that you've been immersed in the blogosphere for so many years now, previous to your formal exposure to the world of academia as a doctoral student. My situation was slightly different. I began blogging as a doctoral student. In an early class back in 2007, one of my professors told me that the best way to could prepare to write a dissertation would be for me to "write more than anyone would ever read." And so my blog was born. While I haven't written more than anyone would ever read, I can definitely attest to the value of writing on a regular basis - and owe at least some of my success in graduate school to the writing I have done here and in comments elsewhere. Additionally, I'll be interested to see how your opinions of what is written throughout the blogosphere change as you're exposed to more refined thought...." - Darren Draper