Comments on: Constructing Modern Knowledge 2009 http://bengrey.com/blog/2009/07/constructing-modern-knowledge-2009/ Standing on the verge of a technologically educational revolution. Thu, 17 May 2012 09:49:01 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Emeline Casas http://bengrey.com/blog/2009/07/constructing-modern-knowledge-2009/comment-page-1/#comment-37324 Emeline Casas Thu, 17 May 2012 09:49:01 +0000 http://bengrey.com/blog/?p=211#comment-37324 Thx for information. Thx for information.

]]> By: Weekly Spotlight (weekly) « Keeping Kids First http://bengrey.com/blog/2009/07/constructing-modern-knowledge-2009/comment-page-1/#comment-1649 Weekly Spotlight (weekly) « Keeping Kids First Sun, 02 Aug 2009 06:45:03 +0000 http://bengrey.com/blog/?p=211#comment-1649 [...] Constructing Modern Knowledge 2009 [...] [...] Constructing Modern Knowledge 2009 [...]

]]> By: Matt Montagne http://bengrey.com/blog/2009/07/constructing-modern-knowledge-2009/comment-page-1/#comment-1643 Matt Montagne Sun, 02 Aug 2009 00:34:33 +0000 http://bengrey.com/blog/?p=211#comment-1643 The current statistics for women in engineering and software engineering, to say the least, are bleak. Enrollment of women in engineering classes at the university level is at an all time low (something like 80% or engineering students are male). Enrollment peaked about 10 years ago and has been tailing off ever since. This is a HUGE equity issue that we pretty much seem to accept. If I were education czar, I would make software engineering and design an integral component of the education of all girls in the world. Something, for crying out loud, has to be done. Great audio slidedeck here on the topic of Girls and STEM education: http://www.slideshare.net/mjmontagne/glenn-ellis The current statistics for women in engineering and software engineering, to say the least, are bleak. Enrollment of women in engineering classes at the university level is at an all time low (something like 80% or engineering students are male). Enrollment peaked about 10 years ago and has been tailing off ever since. This is a HUGE equity issue that we pretty much seem to accept. If I were education czar, I would make software engineering and design an integral component of the education of all girls in the world. Something, for crying out loud, has to be done. Great audio slidedeck here on the topic of Girls and STEM education: http://www.slideshare.net/mjmontagne/glenn-ellis

]]> By: Routinization of Novelty: Influencing Positive Change in Practical Ways « iThinkEducation.net! http://bengrey.com/blog/2009/07/constructing-modern-knowledge-2009/comment-page-1/#comment-1626 Routinization of Novelty: Influencing Positive Change in Practical Ways « iThinkEducation.net! Sat, 01 Aug 2009 06:03:49 +0000 http://bengrey.com/blog/?p=211#comment-1626 [...] things and sharing what they are doing.  While, this doesn’t replace the experts (see Ben Grey’s recent article mentioning experts) that are out there, it is a highly needed supplement to what we see at many [...] [...] things and sharing what they are doing.  While, this doesn’t replace the experts (see Ben Grey’s recent article mentioning experts) that are out there, it is a highly needed supplement to what we see at many [...]

]]> By: sylvia martinez http://bengrey.com/blog/2009/07/constructing-modern-knowledge-2009/comment-page-1/#comment-1584 sylvia martinez Wed, 29 Jul 2009 16:24:56 +0000 http://bengrey.com/blog/?p=211#comment-1584 @Ben 1. I acknowledge that big systems like schools and government have appalling abilities to mess up good stuff. And yet, Dr. Papert whom you've quoted spent his life trying. So has Deborah Meier. These people are my heroes. 2. The context of what I said was that an uninformed choice is a false choice. awesome...programming is awesome...programming is... ;-) @Ben
1. I acknowledge that big systems like schools and government have appalling abilities to mess up good stuff. And yet, Dr. Papert whom you’ve quoted spent his life trying. So has Deborah Meier. These people are my heroes.

2. The context of what I said was that an uninformed choice is a false choice.

awesome…programming is awesome…programming is…

;-)

]]> By: Brady Cline http://bengrey.com/blog/2009/07/constructing-modern-knowledge-2009/comment-page-1/#comment-1583 Brady Cline Wed, 29 Jul 2009 14:31:59 +0000 http://bengrey.com/blog/?p=211#comment-1583 Deon: OK - that is a fair interpretation, and that's why I suggested that he "monumentally clarified" himself (at least to me) in his later post. I suspect that we are all agreeing. I too would have taken great exception to the ivory-tower assertion that Gary made if it was really in the tone/spirit that Ben suggested. I think someone is an expert (no double quotes) when he proves himself in the marketplace of ideas. This leaves room for (but grants no special right to) Travis, Gary, Ben, you, and me. Deon: OK – that is a fair interpretation, and that’s why I suggested that he “monumentally clarified” himself (at least to me) in his later post. I suspect that we are all agreeing. I too would have taken great exception to the ivory-tower assertion that Gary made if it was really in the tone/spirit that Ben suggested.

I think someone is an expert (no double quotes) when he proves himself in the marketplace of ideas. This leaves room for (but grants no special right to) Travis, Gary, Ben, you, and me.

]]> By: Deon Scanlon http://bengrey.com/blog/2009/07/constructing-modern-knowledge-2009/comment-page-1/#comment-1582 Deon Scanlon Wed, 29 Jul 2009 13:33:51 +0000 http://bengrey.com/blog/?p=211#comment-1582 Ooh... Embarrassing autocorrection: their = there... [credibility slips a little] Ooh… Embarrassing autocorrection: their = there…

[credibility slips a little]

]]> By: Deon Scanlon http://bengrey.com/blog/2009/07/constructing-modern-knowledge-2009/comment-page-1/#comment-1580 Deon Scanlon Wed, 29 Jul 2009 13:17:17 +0000 http://bengrey.com/blog/?p=211#comment-1580 Brady: I disagree that Ben G has changed his stance. I take his reference to "experts" (note the double quotation marks) as meaning "experts as Gary refers to them", and not "experts in Ben Grey's terms". I agree with Ben G's stance. Take a look at the iSchool Initiative (ischoolInitiative.com). Travis Allen came up with this idea as a teenager... Does that mean his ideas aren't worthy of being shouted from every hilltop, conference and webinar this side of cyber space (if cyber space has sides)? Personally, I have found a lot of so-called "experts" (in the way Ben G suggests Gary refers to them) to be out of touch with the reality of classroom life, and not worthy of the status afforded to them by their credentials. I in no means transfer this to Gary or any others taking part in this discussion, but poor "experts" are out their soaking up education funding, pushing paper and thrusting standards and nationalized curricula in our faces. Not all "experts" are worth listening to, and not all those worth listening to are "experts"! NB: please take note of my use of double quotation marks! Brady: I disagree that Ben G has changed his stance. I take his reference to “experts” (note the double quotation marks) as meaning “experts as Gary refers to them”, and not “experts in Ben Grey’s terms”.

I agree with Ben G’s stance. Take a look at the iSchool Initiative (ischoolInitiative.com).

Travis Allen came up with this idea as a teenager… Does that mean his ideas aren’t worthy of being shouted from every hilltop, conference and webinar this side of cyber space (if cyber space has sides)?

Personally, I have found a lot of so-called “experts” (in the way Ben G suggests Gary refers to them) to be out of touch with the reality of classroom life, and not worthy of the status afforded to them by their credentials. I in no means transfer this to Gary or any others taking part in this discussion, but poor “experts” are out their soaking up education funding, pushing paper and thrusting standards and nationalized curricula in our faces.

Not all “experts” are worth listening to, and not all those worth listening to are “experts”!

NB: please take note of my use of double quotation marks!

]]> By: Brady Cline http://bengrey.com/blog/2009/07/constructing-modern-knowledge-2009/comment-page-1/#comment-1577 Brady Cline Wed, 29 Jul 2009 11:28:13 +0000 http://bengrey.com/blog/?p=211#comment-1577 Ben G, you've drastically changed, or monumentally clarified, your initial position on experts. Your original post took issue with Gary's belief in experts (without qualification). You claimed that the need for experts is "proven defunct, is rife with complication." Your most recent comment, turns this on its head. It seems that you now argue (correctly in my view) that experts are, in fact, needed and that many teachers (like those in this discussion) are experts (whether or not they have been properly recognized as such by elitists (Gary?). Ben W. - Your focus on good teaching is spot on. It just isn't helpful (or honest) to pit traditional content, taught badly vs. new content taught well. Ben G, you’ve drastically changed, or monumentally clarified, your initial position on experts.

Your original post took issue with Gary’s belief in experts (without qualification). You claimed that the need for experts is “proven defunct, is rife with complication.”

Your most recent comment, turns this on its head. It seems that you now argue (correctly in my view) that experts are, in fact, needed and that many teachers (like those in this discussion) are experts (whether or not they have been properly recognized as such by elitists (Gary?).

Ben W. – Your focus on good teaching is spot on. It just isn’t helpful (or honest) to pit traditional content, taught badly vs. new content taught well.

]]> By: Ben Wildeboer http://bengrey.com/blog/2009/07/constructing-modern-knowledge-2009/comment-page-1/#comment-1572 Ben Wildeboer Wed, 29 Jul 2009 02:48:31 +0000 http://bengrey.com/blog/?p=211#comment-1572 A few typos & omitted words in that comment (too late for commenting I guess). Hopefully my meaning still comes across. A few typos & omitted words in that comment (too late for commenting I guess). Hopefully my meaning still comes across.

]]>