Tweet Totals: 2 days of STAO and 1 day of ECOO
So what?
I can hear some of you now. What’s a tweet? What does it matter?
I think it matters a great deal, and it speaks to some of the issues that I think we are having in education in general, and in science education in particular. In one of the sessions today at the STAO conference, a presenter was discussing how we are facing a crisis in recruiting new students into science and technology in post-secondary education and on into industry and research. We are not alone in this. This is a trend that is all across North America. The question is why? I think that the answer has multiple levels to it, as its a complicated one, but the one that occurs to me today is the disconnect in the way we teach science, and the way that students interact with science in their lives.
Look around you. You see the impacts of science and technology everywhere. You’re reading this on a device that is the result of over 100 years of progress in physics and chemistry, from the electricity generation stations, to the circuits in the device to the materials that house everything inside. Its all a result of science. So what do we want more than anything as classroom science teachers. A new set of text books. We tell students that they are not allowed to use any of the technological devices that they bring with them to class so that we can use a book to learn about the science that led to these technological devices. What? Why do we do that?
We close the door to our room, and then discuss the impact of global warming on the planet. We use the internet to pull up a picture of a polar bear on an ice floe. But we balk at the idea of having kids use the internet to speak face to face with someone who sees polar bears regularly, and lives in the arctic. Why are we so scared of the technology? There was a session I attended at STAO and it was done via videoconference. A group of three teachers were visibly surprised that it was done that way. The chatted and talked audibly for about 10 minutes (and the presenter could hear the noise) and then got up and left. Why didn’t they see that kind of interaction as valuable? It was great. The presenter was in Minnesota and did a great job of the presentation and then a short Q&A at the end. Just like a regular presentation. Only without the expense and carbon footprint of flying to Toronto to do a 1 hour gig. Cool.
Which brings me to Twitter. At the same dates and times in two parts of the same city, two conferences were occurring. One science teachers association and one educational computing organization. You’d think we’d have lots in common right? You’d think that the science teachers would love to be with those that love to use technology to teach? Right? Apparently not.
In my non-scientific analysis of the available data. Over 2 days of the science teachers conference there was a total of 25 tweets sent out with the #stao hashtag. 14 of them were by me. 260 tweets were sent out of #ECOO in just one day!
Oh.
I was very happy to jump into the Twitter stream and read what people were saying as I sat in my sessions in a conference across town. In a lot of ways it was like being in two places at once. I was learning about science education here, and clicking links and getting quotes from speakers across town about using technology to assist in improving education. It occurred to me that we all needed to be together! We’re doing the same things!
So what? What does it mean? Well, I think it means that science teachers are not yet plugged in to the concept of professional learning networks. I think that we as a whole system are not used to the idea of sharing thoughts and having professional conversations with others using technology. I think we need to be. I’m realizing that I missed an opportunity to advance this with a presentation at STAO. Maybe next year. My hope is that we wouldn’t need to have it presented to us. My hope is that we do better at online collaboration and sharing and being open.
Don’t get me wrong. Science teachers are awesome. I think that I’ve realized that the type of connected teacher that attended ECOO and went to the TwECOO meetup is not the average teacher that is in our classrooms across the province. But we’re starting, and we’re growing, and we’re breaking down the barriers and the classroom walls.
We just need to continue. And maybe speed it up a bit. The students aren’t slowing their pace of learning, why should we?
I think it was driven home by @msjweir when we were chatting via Twitter this evening.
Can’t we all join in and continue our conversations? Isn’t that how we learn?
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November 14, 2009 at 12:33 am
I was also inspired by the connections that I made at ECOO this year Colin. There is something so powerful about having a virtual PLN that is available 24/7 but then infusing those connections with f2f time that reinforces those bonds.
The wine and the great space to party helped too.
Somehow, I feel a real trust with this group of people with whom I network…something that Alec mentioned in his closing keynote as such an important component of online community.
I think we better make sure the dates don’t conflict with STAO next year because we need you there!
November 14, 2009 at 12:44 am
Nice grab of the social data… and I think your commentaru is bang on! There is so much to be gained by having a networked PLN in your back pocket at all times. … I’ve *attended* many PD events virtually through the shared wisdom of my colleagues.
November 14, 2009 at 1:17 am
Sadly, you are right on-point. There is a huge disconnect between the way that science is taught (when it even is taught) and the way that students actually interact with science. In fact, this is true of all subjects; and it is exactly why I choose to homeschool my children. As a home educator, I am able to offer my children harmonious learning opportunities – experiences that will expand their horizons – rather than force them to endure un-relatable, quickly-forgotten recitations of a traditional classroom.
With today’s technology, there is no excuse for our country’s continued failure to finally fully embrace a “hands-on” concept.
November 14, 2009 at 1:37 pm
That’s quite a scoreboard, Colin. Got me thinking. What is needed to turn it around? Why does ECOO get it (whatever it is) Do you see people wandering around with iPhones and Blackberrys waiting for someone like you to help them reach their tipping point?
November 14, 2009 at 5:08 pm
There was cell phone everywhere but not a lot of laptops. I only saw a few of those for note taking etc. Too bad as the wifi was free and pretty reliable. As for what to do … I’m not sure. I think starting with some presentations and conversations about networks and being connected. I talked to a few people and there is the questions of time and ‘one more thing’ that people have. I think showing the benefits to the teacher as a pro first and foremost might have some impact.
November 14, 2009 at 4:07 pm
Excellent post.
I would have thought that science teachers would be ahead of the curve when it comes to utilizing instructional technology. Apparently not.
I presented “Wikis in Science Education” at STAO this year on Thursday. I was surprised to see how few other technology related presentations there were this year.
I think that the organizers of STAO are looking to develop in the ways you have described in your posting. What we need are new presenters – That’s how we get the word out!
November 14, 2009 at 5:01 pm
Sorry I missed you wiki presentation. Sounds like we have some work to do for next year. Thanks for comment