There has been lots of chatter over the last week or so about whether learning styles are a real phenomenon, or just a posit that was let loose and has become a self-fulfilling prophecy of sorts.

I can't help but wonder, even if they do exist, do they matter? Is it my learning style, or my learning patterns that matter? As a teacher, am I wasting my time trying to adapt teaching to fit their learning styles while force fitting them into a pre-defined learning pattern that is cold and unnatural to many of them?

I have increasingly over the last 6 months found myself wanting to spend more time talking to student about this question - which I see as a key to unlocking what might be wrong with education today...

"How do you learn when you WANT to learn?"

So, I'll pose the question first to any of you reading this. How do you learn when you want to learn? Do you follow the patterns you had imprinted on you in your days as a student? Have you patterns changed? How has technology changed them?

I've got to figure out a way to try and get some honest answers to this question from students, as I am sure there is a lot we can uncover that might help us reach more of them...

Not sure what I make of this, but though provoking none the less.

(maybe not a good time to post this  - right after so many have just left summer institutes where differentiated instruction seems to be the theme of the day...)

I've had this poster/image up on a bulletin board in my office for about a year now. I had always intended to share it, as there is lots of great stuff in it to unpack and think about, but lost the bookmark to the original and couldn't find it! (when did the Internet get so big???)

Anyway, here it is in all its glory 4mb jpg glory!

http://elearningargentina.files.wordpress.com/2008/03/informal-learning.jpg

(source Jay Cross, "Internet Time")

Just in case anyone missed it (I would have if my wife hadn't brought her copy home), the latest ETFO magazine ("Voice") had 3 great articles

http://www.etfo.ca/Publications/Voice/Pages/default.aspx

(coincidentally, 2 of the articles were about/by Commun-IT.org members!)

Also of note on the graphic novels idea, OSAPAC has announced that licensing a piece of software to help teachers/students author their own graphic novels/comics this year (http://www.osapac.org)

Scrabulous aside, I often recommend that teachers and administrators setup at least a basic facebook profile. News out of Manitoba today reaffirms that idea...

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080506.wlfacebook

Stake your claim to your digital footprint before someone else does! Incidentally, if you aren't the #1 hit on a google search of your name, are you comfortable with the person who is???

I wanted to share something we have been working on (here in Ottawa) for the last little bit to help make tings easier for teachers interested in podcasting/video sharing in a safe environment. Its called "Netcaster". It is essentially a home grown podcast/video streaming server, where teachers can easily host their content/student produced work in a safe (yet still social!) environment.

Rather than over describe it, here is a (too long, I know...) screencast showing how it works. Feedback appreciated as well as any ideas to improve it. I will eventually clean up the code and publish it somewhere (just working out some additional features for a progress bar showing upload of larger files, and hopefully automatic conversion of video to flash video a la Youtube...)

This message come in recently via the COntact from on Commun-IT...

If you are using podcasts in primary grades, perhaps you can assist... 

kaymcc@eircom.net

Hello,
I am an Irish primary teacher, currently doing some research on Podcasting in
Primary Education, for my Master’s degree at Trinity College Dublin.  There
are currently very few, if any, primary schools in Ireland using podcasting as
an educational tool.  

From my reading, and Internet searches, I see that you have been using
podcasting for a number of years and have developed some expertise in the area.
 

In order to help me with my work, I would be most grateful if you would
complete this online survey:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=VtgTBEWcUTepJPf3Jf0EFQ_3d_3d

Many thanks,

Kay McCarthy