My goodness- I am so far behind!

I am now back to my own blog. So many interesting and exciting things have been happening in my class. After doing some action research last year into teaching practice for 21st century learners, I have made some major modifications to my teaching and to the my programme. The focus for this year has been the integration of technology into all aspects of learning, collaborative construction of knowledge and giving the students in my class a voice. The results have been amazing. I realize more and more that the students are often limited by the teachers inadequacies. If we could feel more confident about releasing control and letting these amazing young people that we teach, run with the ball, I think that we would be surprised at what they can actually do.
A colleague and I are going to present a paper at Navcon 2K7 in Sydney later this year. Today, I gave two students in my class they day off school. Their task was to develop a blog where they could share their views on how they use Web 2.0 tools in their learning , to share examples and to say how they feel about their learning.
These two students are 11 years old. They are going to provide online support in teaching other teachers about blogs at this conference.
I was amazed at what they did.
Take a look!
http://navcon2k7livefrombbi.blogspot.com

Creativity in Learning

Having recently attended the 8th World Convention of the International Confederation of Pricipals, I was interested in the views presented by Sir Ken Robinson on creativity, innovation and cultural awareness in order to cope in our rapid canging world.
How has your teaching practice changed and what modifications have you made in your presentation and planning and in the processes of learning in your classroom, if any, to promote and teach the kinds of creative and innovation thinking that your students will need in order to be successful in the working world of 2027-2065 , when they retire?
A sobering thought!
Sheryl Nussbaum-Beach said at a recent Tuanz conference that we are the last generation of teachers who have the choice of whether or not we want to be incorporate 21stcentury literacies. She also expressed the view that teachers will not be replaced by technology but those teachers who do not use technology in teaching, will be replaced by those who do.
Another sobering thought!
Where do you stand in the reassessment of your own teaching practice ? Is the thought of this something for the too hard basket ? Are you happy to just modify old units of work taught or are you committed to serious changes in creative and innovative teaching and learning?
It is certainly a challenge for us digital immigrants ( Marc Prensky )- but also very exciting!

Introducing Myself

I have finally joined the ranks of the Web 2.0 community and I was amazed to find that it was quite easy - in fact all it took was three easy steps.
It is great to be part of a broader, connective community and I am really looking forward to the debate and discussion that this forum allows. I
I have been privileged over the past month to spend time listening to Sir Ken Robinson, Marc Prensky, David Warlick and Sheryl Nussbaum-Beach. They have all inspired yet challenged my philosophy of teaching and many aspects of my teaching practice.
I am passionate about the changes teachers need to make in order to engage and not enrage the 21st learners that we presently teach, yet concerned about the slow pace at which these necessary changes are taking place.