A Healthy Sustainable Future is Possible

Have I been educated to grapple effectively with my current reality? What am I doing to make a shift towards a sustainable future? How can I teach in a school that is supported by the Cloud Institute? These are just a few of the questions I had after reading this chapter and then exploring the Cloud Institute website. This chapter absolutely inspired me. Their framework and vision encompasses exactly what I am seeking. Maybe it is not too late for me to enroll in a course similar to the Inventing the Future: Leadership and Participation for the 21st Century for students at the Cloud Institute!

Flying into Virtual Worlds

Left to my own indulgences and a few extra hours on the weekend, my activities of choice would be reading a good book, knitting, a walk in the woods with my husband or a visit with a friend. Today, I took my first trip into a Virtual World. I have NEVER been remotely interested in spending any time creating new worlds on the computer. I have such little time in the real world. However, I took a leap and gave it a try. I wanted to see how virtual worlds such as Second Life could be used in schools.

More than once, I had to be patient with my learning curve and my oldish desktop computer. It took me a bit to navigate around and I stayed in the tutorial area. I felt like a toddler just learning to walk. Fortunately I could fly instead.

On this initial virtual voyage, I learned it would take quite a bit of time for me to be proficient. If I worked with older students I would not need to be proficient, as they could be the teachers and I their student. Since I work with younger students, I also checked out some virtual worlds for children. Has anyone has used them in their classrooms or with their own children?

Building a Better Teacher

Would you be a better teacher if you got paid more money? Would you be a better teacher if you knew you would be replaced if your students did not make the academic gains that were required?
What would (or will) you do differently when faced with these choices?

One of my colleagues sent me this article from the NY Times Magazine, it is not a quick read, but worth it if you have some extra time on your hand. Elizabeth Green leaves few stones unturned discussing what makes better teachers. It certainly made me think (and sweat) about where we are heading with teacher accountability.



http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/07/magazine/07Teachers-t.html?em