Reflections+on+Personal+Paths+of+Change

=Reflections on Personal Paths of Change=

EduCon2.1, January 2009 Session Facilitator(s): Linda V. Nitsche

As I listened to Konrad Glogowski’s presentation about Blogging Communities in the Classroom at NECC 2008 and his unfolding understanding and change in perspective in the roles of teacher and learner, I was drawn to question the experiences over time that had brought him and others, including myself to change our views of teaching and learning embracing the guiding principles of EduCon2.1. I wondered, what were the formative experiences, which had set others on a path toward a commitment to the development of an inquiry approach to learning? What were the rudimentary experiences, which had led others to away from their own personal, authoritative school experiences toward the implementation of one, which is empowering for all members? As we have grown in our ability to use technology and web2.0 tools, how was it that we understood that the child, learning, and pedagogy where the driving forces, not technology? What is it that has caused us to embrace networked learning while others remain behind their closed doors, alone in their domain, rejecting entreaties to expand their learning? Through this discussion we will explore whether there have been critical and essential experiences that have lead others on their own paths toward changing views of understanding. Would similar critical experiences emerge? Would there be commonalities that we could synthesize? Most importantly, how could we use our reflections and synthesis as a foundation for real action that would help to scaffold others toward these essential understandings?

Discussion Format
We will be using the [|World Cafe] model for our discussion to discuss and examine our personal paths of changing understanding. The World Cafe is "a //conversational process// based on a set of //in////tegrated design principles// that reveal a deeper //living network pattern// through which we co-evolve our collective future."


 * As a conversational process**, the World Café is an innovative yet simple methodology for hosting conversations about questions that matter. These conversations link and build on each other as people move between groups, cross-pollinate ideas, and discover new insights into the questions or issues that are most important in their life, work, or community. As a process, the World Café can evoke and make visible the collective intelligence of any group, thus increasing people’s capacity for effective action in pursuit of common aims.

=Round 1= ====**What critical and essential experiences have led you on their own paths toward changing views of understanding? What experiences have led you to embrace the Guiding Principles of EduCon2.1? Do similar critical experiences emerge? Would there be commonalities that we could synthesize?**====
 * ====**Question 1**====

The Axioms
Guiding Principles of EduCon 2.1 2) Our schools must be about co-creating -- together with our students -- the 21st Century Citizen 3) Technology must serve pedagogy, not the other way around. 4) Technology must enable students to research, create, communicate and collaborate 5) Learning can -- and must -- be networked.**
 * 1) Our schools must be inquiry-driven, thoughtful and empowering for all members

=Round 2=
 * ====**Question 2**====

**What obstacles, if any, did you face and how did you overcome them?**
=Round 3=
 * ====**Question 3**====