tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-338834914703775055.post7402926563028488846..comments2024-02-01T11:43:09.830+03:00Comments on Reflections of a Teacher and Learner: Why my PD wiki failedDaveDodgsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16896292275243412346noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-338834914703775055.post-31126164800078857772011-09-20T20:12:39.644+03:002011-09-20T20:12:39.644+03:00Hi Greg and thanks for the comment.
I think it...Hi Greg and thanks for the comment.<br /><br />I think it's a classic case of 'need' v. 'want'. The need was clear - ad hoc seminars and workshops given by publisher reps with a product to sell weren't doing much for our professional development (plus, nobody liked the after-school or weekend timings). An alternative was desired and this was my idea. By doing all things PD online, there was the potential to access a whole host of ideas and resources as well as share our own in a manner that could be accessed as and when the individual saw fit.<br /><br />The problem was not that it wasn't needed but rather that it wasn't wanted. In truth, harsh as it sounds to say, I think the majority of the teaching staff didn't really want a viable alternative - they rather hoped that no regular PD programme would be instituted. And that is what we have now - a conference once a year and the odd seminar or two. Is that enough for continuing PD? I don't think so...DaveDodgsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16896292275243412346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-338834914703775055.post-38105699371193408552011-09-20T09:51:08.503+03:002011-09-20T09:51:08.503+03:00Dave,
I think the comment from languagegarden nail...Dave,<br />I think the comment from languagegarden nails it: what was the need? What problem are you solving for them? What's the benefit to them? What's the benefit to their students? To the School?<br />It's marketing 101: You needed to answer the "What's in it for me?" question and help teachers make the connection between what you're offering and what they need/want/care about.<br /><br />Change is never easy, and people always need good reasons to change. Those reasons need to address both the intellectual and emotional objections we all naturally bring to any change process. Helping people answer the "WIIFM" question for themselves is often a good start.<br /><br />You have my congratulations for being so open and honest about your experiences. I'm sure it's something we can all learn from.Greg Basfordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02889214543202197320noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-338834914703775055.post-49587975049288442912011-09-08T21:43:33.008+03:002011-09-08T21:43:33.008+03:00Thanks for all the comments guys. It's good to...Thanks for all the comments guys. It's good to hear about all your experiences as well.<br /><br />Lesley - I like your approach of sitting at the PC in the staffroom and waiting for the teachers to come to you. As with learners, if the curiosity comes from within, more progress will be made. I'm about to embark on a student wiki project and I hope some of the resources I upload there will lead to colleagues asking how I did it - I can then direct them to the wiki.<br /><br />Vicky - like you, I think I will keep this project on the backburner ready to make a return when the time is right. :)DaveDodgsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16896292275243412346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-338834914703775055.post-58289774462465800412011-09-08T16:57:44.235+03:002011-09-08T16:57:44.235+03:00I had THE EXACT SAME EXPERIENCE last year. Nobody ...I had THE EXACT SAME EXPERIENCE last year. Nobody even wanted to HEAR why they would want to know about a platform for PD...Naomi Epsteinhttp://visualisingideas.edublogs.org/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-338834914703775055.post-60539913214786790032011-09-08T16:20:44.191+03:002011-09-08T16:20:44.191+03:00Hi, Dave,
Your reflection resonates deeply with a...Hi, Dave,<br /><br />Your reflection resonates deeply with a very, very similar experience I had at my school. However, I still keep it and I am looking for ways to bring it back to life. Maybe I`m a dreamer....<br /><br />You can read about it here<br />http://educationaltechnologyinelt.blogspot.com/2010/01/collection-of-web-20-resources.html<br /><br />Thanks for sharing, I sympathize and feel less lonely in my failure,<br /><br />Vicky SaumellVicky Saumellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01704209634745035528noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-338834914703775055.post-5165126089870342532011-09-07T11:54:08.449+03:002011-09-07T11:54:08.449+03:00Oh Dave, you have my sympathy and I feel your pain...Oh Dave, you have my sympathy and I feel your pain! <br /><br />I am in the midst of trying something like this myself and am also doing lots of reflection, in fact I'm formalizing my reflection as I'm turning it into a self-study project for my Masters research project. <br /><br />Did you catch Carla Arena's session at RSCON? I had a Twitter exchange with her afterwards where she shared with me that it took her about 10 years before <br />she got any real engagement from other teachers on a similar type of initiative. That has helped me realize that there may not be any shortcuts and that I'm in this for the long haul. <br /><br />I support teachers across 7 teaching programs on three campuses (at least they're all in one city). My latest strategy, and I'm finding it IS making a difference, is to spend some time physically in different staff rooms. I just sit at a PC in that room and wait for teachers to ask questions, or I might overhear something or see someone do something and I make a suggestion. Just my being there has encouraged some teachers to try things, and I have done a lot of ad hoc PD sessions. It has also resulted in more teachers going into the virtual community I have set up, some just to have a look, but some are asking questions, and posting to forums and also adding resources. Only little steps so far, but I can see movement now. <br /><br />I realize not many teachers have the time to do this themselves (it is nominally half of my job, but it takes up half of my life!) but in my situation it is paying off. And, like you, I'm learning a lot myself along the way.<br /><br />I have to agree with some of the comments suggesting that some teachers just don't want PD, don't want to learn anything new or use any technology - rather depressing in our profession.<br /><br />It has been great to see your post, also Martin's and all the responses to both your posts, and to know that there are others out there taking it upon themselves to help teachers develop and share resources.<br /><br />Cheers, LesleyLesleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05398883659899214375noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-338834914703775055.post-81521282836874006882011-09-07T11:38:47.416+03:002011-09-07T11:38:47.416+03:00You hit the nail on the head with the lack of inte...You hit the nail on the head with the lack of interest point. Wikis are one of those things that people like to enthuse about, but the reality of getting effective use out of them is much different. <br /><br />You need a good number of people at the start, about a dozen I'd say, who all have a similar vision of where they want the wiki to go. You have to have a format on which you all agree and, most importantly, you need to make it very easy for newcomers to get to grips with what you're doing if they are to successfully contribute. None of these things are anywhere near as easy as they sound. I've been part of the foundation an extremely successful wiki*, but only because all of the above somehow fell into place.<br /><br />Let's face it, Wikipedia is a f**king miracle.<br /><br /><br /><br />* http://peel.wikia.com/ if you're interested.Adamhttp://www.yearinthelifeofanenglishteacher.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-338834914703775055.post-41857008949739950462011-09-07T11:07:09.118+03:002011-09-07T11:07:09.118+03:00Hey Dave-
Sorry it didn't work out. Tough to...Hey Dave-<br /><br />Sorry it didn't work out. Tough to get things off the ground, just as it can be tough to keep 'em moving. Your energy was there, but it seems it wasn't met. As Leahne said, PD just isn't everyone's cup of tea.<br /><br />For what it's worth, I think the PD you experience w/ your blog, twitter and international exposure certainly return to your local teaching environment in a healthy way. Don't they ?Bradhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17434760963789275129noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-338834914703775055.post-34104633684011615882011-09-06T23:01:05.655+03:002011-09-06T23:01:05.655+03:00Hi Dave,
Depressing but true. PD is not popular w...Hi Dave,<br /><br />Depressing but true. PD is not popular with everyone. No time, family commitments bla, bla .... a sad fact but true. I've seen this a lot over the years. <br /><br />Keep trying!<br /><br />LeahnAbouthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13906040203602069047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-338834914703775055.post-53748721951307506532011-09-06T22:12:49.513+03:002011-09-06T22:12:49.513+03:00Hi Dave, you have my sympathy. People in my school...Hi Dave, you have my sympathy. People in my school look at me strangly when I say anything about technology, online PD and so on, even they all use ppt and computers in their classrooms, but no more than that. So, I don't talk about it too much, just mention to those who are interested or want to be, like younger collegues. I do small steps, try to learn a lot by myself and hopefully things will improve. <br /><br />Take careMarijanahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01416670202551700734noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-338834914703775055.post-12081878426418373932011-09-06T19:15:29.696+03:002011-09-06T19:15:29.696+03:00Hi David (Mearns this time!)
I also have a wiki p...Hi David (Mearns this time!)<br /><br />I also have a wiki project in the pipeline for use with 5th grade students with teacher input only coming from those who want to help. More of that in my next post. ;)<br /><br />Looking forward to hearing how yours developsDaveDodgsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16896292275243412346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-338834914703775055.post-90710878561812095312011-09-06T19:13:58.988+03:002011-09-06T19:13:58.988+03:00Hi David (languagegarden David that is!)
I never ...Hi David (languagegarden David that is!)<br /><br />I never got the first training session done. I was always waiting for the permission to come but it was never organised. You are right in that nobody asked for the wiki but there is a definite vacuum in our professional development programme at present - we have just a couple of seminars throughout the year which lead to all sorts of excuses from those desperate to get out of them. I thought this would offer a way for professional development but with the flexible asynchronicity of a wiki... I guess no PD was preferred by most!DaveDodgsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16896292275243412346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-338834914703775055.post-50536572599441125992011-09-06T18:48:51.573+03:002011-09-06T18:48:51.573+03:00Dave, ı am about to start my own wiki at my school...Dave, ı am about to start my own wiki at my school. However, it won't involve pc-unfriendly folks- ıll be doing it with my tech-savvy colleague and 30 hazırlık students. ıt will be part of their yearly project grade so they will contribute. carrots my friend will usually get a person to do the thing you want. Yes, I have reservations, but I know that by keeping it at it and putting a lot of hours in myself, Ill make it workAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13910226053073453593noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-338834914703775055.post-63474966423618339862011-09-06T18:46:53.246+03:002011-09-06T18:46:53.246+03:00UK schools have spent countless pounds on these ty...UK schools have spent countless pounds on these types of platforms to share lessons between schools within the local area, but are greatly underused. Perhaps if you had not given the first training session till everything was up and running, and there was already a nice collection of material there (you could have got some of their work and posted it up on their behalf), this might have worked. Was there a clear reason why they needed it? had they asked for it? It's true what you say tough, we learn more when things go wrong.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com