JP teachers invite ALL students to the table of learning….

I was taking executives from IBM through Johanna Perrin recently to show them the completed technology upgrades that their team engineered.  They were excited to see so many students actively using technology.  However, I shared with them that the real excitement lies not in that the kids are using the technology, rather it was in how the students were using technology.

Take for example, blog writing….these gentlemen knew what blog writing was, but they did not know the difference between general blog writing,  versus blog writing that enhanced student learning.  I shared that good blog writing invites all children to participate in the conversation.  Traditional blog writing is not much different than journal writing and, while the medium is intended to be conversational, it is very exclusive because participants have to be competent readers and/or writers.  Students who struggle with reading and writing are unable to participate traditional blogging.

Blog writing that enhances learning allows all students to participate in this conversation.  Johanna Perrin is rich with examples of teachers who have invited all their students to this conversation. Mr. Jeff Sherner, for example, had a student post their opinion about the flag burning and the Constitution.  To invite all his students to this debate he enables students the ability to post their positions via audio files.  Mr. Sherner effectively invited students, even those who struggle with writing. to engage in this conversation….similarly students who have difficulties reading can listen to their peers’ audio and respond….the list of such teachers who utilize this pedagogy is growing.

The key part I wanted to emphasize to my IBM visitors, and the community at large, is that blog writing with media would not be able to happen in the old network environment.  The old computer network prevented  teachers from executing pedagogy that promotes student learning…..and is an important 21st century skill.