I arrived at work and threw on my computer…as it booted up, I settled into a nice mug of coffee and read phone messages scattered on my desk…what a weird week, it feels like I haven’t been here at all.
After email, I scan my feeds…looking for new interesting things to pour over. NOTHING. What the heck? I’ve been pretty religious in my “feed-watching” since the class we were introduced to Google Reader - and have been enjoying so many different blogs, I feel addicted in some ways.
But nothing.
I am working on my ECMP final project, so I tootle away here and there, google some stuff - rewatch Dean Shareski’s Extreme Power Point Makeover and take notes (physical and mental - I’m gonna redo a BUNCH of stuff use here at work, thanks Dean!). Then I stumble off track and find THIS awesome movie (which blockbuster no longer has, and Roger’s video weirdos always give me raised eyebrows about)…Godfrey Reggio’s Koyaanisqatsi. Someone has put the entire move (2 hours +) on Google video. AWESOME.
If you’ve never heard of Koyannisqatsi or the Qatsi triology - check out this link - read about and then run, do not walk to find all of them! (or click the link to the Google video link above) Prepare yourself for an awesome spectal. It’s powerful, it’s provocative, it’s a summary of every technological nightmare I ever woke up sweaty from. It’s a cool view.
And while we are on the topic of “cool”, I checked my feeds again before signing off, and there were 15 new things to read! I love it! Gobble gobble! And then I stumbled on our class online moderator, Kyle’s blog where he recounts an online tiff that has raised some questions for him.
It got me thinking about how important it is for any person in any sort of position of authority with a younger one should be an example to that younger one. I think what Kyle discussed with his “students of the day” (being a substitute) about having your own “coolness” and defining cool, was important and probably pretty special to that kid in class who NOBODY thinks is cool.
In my expert inexperience with students, being “cool” is more often than not, more important than air. When something is THAT important, I think real or otherwise teachers MUST address it. When I work with kids, I try to constantly point out what makes THEM stand out, because for me, that’s what makes someone “cool”. I try to help them look for that “something else” in others that at first, don’t look very cool. Substitutes are real teachers. In a lot of ways, substitutes are teachers that don’t take each classroom they walk into for granted. And, you, Kyle, are my definition of cool.
Note: Je Pense is NOT a registered advertiser of all things Kyle…
Enjoy the weekend…I get to work through the whole thing - so no boat. Boo hiss.
Je Pense
2 responses so far ↓
Kyle Lichtenwald // June 1, 2008 at 8:20 pm
I like what you wrote here. “In my expert inexperience with students, being “cool” is more often than not, more important than air. When something is THAT important, I think real or otherwise teachers MUST address it. When I work with kids, I try to constantly point out what makes THEM stand out, because for me, that’s what makes someone “cool”.”
Facilitating students exploration and search for their own individuality is a challenge that is often neglected. I hope to be able to have real and authentic conversations with students on the big issues. Writing about it and starting conversations about ‘coolness’ was one way to incite and challenge traditional teaching practices. Discussing this concept on twitter challenged my perception and built upon my reflection process. This is just another demonstration of the power of social learning networks.
Alec Couros // June 2, 2008 at 10:44 am
I love the way your daily reading habits are shaping!
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