Alan November

This morning during the TxDLA2012 Conference in Dallas, Alan November was the keynote and did a follow up session. As always, he shared some great ideas and made you think. He had an "aha moment" that he shared about a research experience with a recent student. His conclusion and question to the audience made us wonder..."Are you teaching literacy?" He was referring to digital literacy and the way our students conduct searches online for information. What grabbed my attention was the thought that we expect students to conduct internet searches for information, but in most cases we don't stop and give them the knowledge and tools to do it correctly and analyze their sources properly. We teach them about "Internet Safety" using a variety of resources then we move on and expect that they know it. Do we take the next step and have them truly conduct different types of research at different levels? Do we make sure they know how to uncover the author/creator of the websites they choose? Do we help them to understand how to "read a weblink" when they see it in a search engine list? Are we watching to see if students that do the exact same search end up with the exact same results in the list or is bubble searching at play even in our schools? If you aren't familiar with "bubble searches," do a little research into how our searches become personalized without our intent.

Alan made a comment that relates to our students being illiterate in what they don't know related to technology. That really hit home with me because this resonates in all areas of the curriculum and not just with students. People asked him questions during the session that I thought seemed like common knowledge, but whose common knowledge is it? If I took one thing away from this session (I took a lot more than 1 thing for the record), it is a refreshed view of what students and teachers don't know. Remembering that we are all at different levels in what we know and don't know for that matter, is such an important key to teaching and learning.

Thanks Alan for reminding me about what I know and don't know along with what I have forgotten.

TxDLA 2012

The TxDLA Conference is right around the corner. Beginning on April 15 and running through April 18 it will be held at the Dallas Convention Center and will be filled with sessions related to distance education. This is one of my favorite conferences to attend each year. There are always great resources shared that relate to all areas of distance learning (virtual schools, blended learning, readiness, classroom suggestions and more). If you haven't registered yet, visit http://conference.txdla.org/attend/register/ to learn more and get registered.

   If you attend the conference and are interested in blended learning, find my session on Monday.