Comments for Every1Speaks - Collaborative Learning Platform for the 21st Century

Comment on Institutions Vs Collaboration by Peter

Peter — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 18:12:06 +0000

Thanks very much for your comment! How do you think the structure supports the goal? I’d say the goal of a council, or any student voice activity, is young people encouraging positive change via their participation in a decision making process that otherwise wouldn’t actively include them…

Comment on Institutions Vs Collaboration by Peter

Peter — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 18:08:26 +0000

Great response Philip! Does successful local collaboration bring eye’s from up high? Using the hierarchy of an institution to change it is usually very hard because they make barriers to stop it from being too easy. What would it take for me to change the law on Euthanasia for example, using the political institution?

I’d argue that consumers of information need to be aware of the potential invalidity (if that’s a word) of the sources they use. I think this in itself is a great learning opportunity. It’s what science is all about. Have an idea and try to DISprove it rather than trying to prove it…?

Comment on Institutions Vs Collaboration by School Councils UK

School Councils UK — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 13:04:13 +0000

I’d hold the view that communication has speeded up and widened communication but the structure/institution is still needed.

Comment on Institutions Vs Collaboration by Philip Benz

Philip Benz — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 11:13:11 +0000

Sure, institutions’ first goal is self-preservation. But given that you can’t just disband an institution like the National Education system (even more hierarchical and fragmented in France than elsewhere, IMO), there is a conundrum for the collaborative-minded educator. Do you remain satisfied with implementing collaboration in your local sphere (your own classrooms, perhaps your whole school) or do you try to act on a higher level of the administrative food chain in order to have a wider impact? Can you use the hierarchy of the institution to fundamentally change that institution?

There are loads of tough questions in this debate, and you have to think through things to come up with a good answer. Would we all agree with Rupert Murdoch when he writes:
“Better doesn’t have to be more expensive, either. For example, Georgia state legislators now spend $40 million a year on textbooks. They are considering iPads to save money and boost performance. Unlike a textbook—which is outdated the moment it is printed—digital texts can be updated.”

Sounds good, right? But if iPads replace textbooks, where does the content come from? Wikipedia and web searches? What about the pedagogical methods embedded in most modern textbooks? What about programmed class activities that support collaboration, autonomy-building and students taking responsibility? Are we going to find those on the iPad too? Or do we have to find some alternate way to pay textbook writers to provide open-source material we can display on our iPads and other mobile learning devices?

Let’s tackle “Big Problems” and institutional inertia, but let’s also think things through.

Cheers, — Phil
http://cartesmentales.blogspot.com

Comment on How Every1Speaks at St Bernadette’s by Peter Hirst

Peter Hirst — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 15:34:24 +0000

Thanks Asher – i’ll ask them to do an update in a few weeks!

Comment on How Every1Speaks at St Bernadette’s by Asher Jacobsberg

Asher Jacobsberg — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 10:02:34 +0000

Excellent stuff! The RRSA is very good, it’s a fantastic way for really embedding student voice in a school, ensuring that all students are actively involved.
Would be really interesting to hear the next bit of this story: once the opinions and data have been collected, how do the students get involved in turning it in to action?

Comment on 10 reasons questionnaires DON’T work… by Ross

Ross — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 11:19:09 +0000

I think questionnaires can be used effectively for collecting simple census type information, eg. age, sex, ethnic origin. However I do agree that questionnaires are not the best medium for collecting personal opinions or encouraging debate. After all, articulating ideas verbally is a much more natural process than having to write the same information in pen and ink. A 30 second verbal exchange could take several minutes to transcribe which can discourage users from answering questions fully.

We must also not forget the issue of social desirability bias, whereby the subject will give the answer they feel is socially correct, rather than their own opinion. This could be an issue if the questionnaire is distributed by a perceived expert or person in a position of authority with whom the subject will not want to be seen to disagree.