Lyceums...influences today?

I'm enthralled by the Lyceums educational movement from the 1830's to Civil War time, where Josiah Holbrook established a group that placed an emphasis on knowledge for self and through that came a better society. Idealistic as it was, its emphasis on educational accessibilty and learnig through engagement and speakers is remarkable similar to the way that I, we learn today. Granted many of the leaders of the time, Elizabeth Cady-Stanton, Susan B. Anthony, and Ralph Waldo Emerson, would be called socialist or communists today, but their philosophies were grounded in a better tomorrow through today. can you say Change. :)
We see it in a lot of educational legislation today IDEA, and the Adult Education Act, but where i see this philosophy the most is here...in blogs and other platforms. Today we see a revival of sorts in this field, as experts are everywhere and their information more accessible than probably at anytime since. As an educator, I try and follow current trends and information from the best in the field or just outside looking in. I am lucky enough to attend workshops and conferences all over the world without ever leaving my laptop. I am able to micro-blog during a staff meeting with teachers in Bangkok, Australia or Idaho who are struggling with how to engage today’s learners. Every day I share lessons, ideas, and pedagogical content with teachers from Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the U.S and I pay no airfare, no long distance fees, and no money for the knowledge. There is something magical about the time we live in right now; and I am proud to be a part of it, albeit a minor part, but I am here nonetheless. I think that Emerson and the others would be blogging, sharing, discussing, and joining in today more than during their time.

Rules for Laptops?

Jeff Utecht is a must read for me as a teacher and his recent posts have been right on. This post on being an "Information Hippie" hit home with me.
Let's put the computers in the kids hands. They don't need access to the servers, with all the web 2.0 file storage sites available, they just need their medium available to them and not under the constraints of 20th century security measures.

What's your philosophy on education?

What's your philosophy on education?
Recently as I continue to work on my Master's at CCU, I took a survey to find out where my educational philosophy lies. I took a similar survey in college a few years back, but this one seemed better done.
The schools of thought were:

* Liberal/Plato/Aristotle
* Behaviorist/Skinner
* Progressive/Dewey/Lindeman
* Humanist/Carl Rogers/Malcolm Knowles
* Radical/Mezirow/Freire

I believe that as teachers each of us reaches a blend or ability to adapt and change with the students class by class or year by year. My quote at the bottom of every email reads... "Do not train children to learning by force and harshness, but direct them to it by what amuses their minds, so that you may be better able to discover with accuracy the peculiar bent of the genius of each.” Plato… then some hippie dippy comment about “please consider the environment before printing this email.” :)
After taking this particular survey though, I found myself radically "liberal," yikes! My poor children have a liberal teacher for a Dad. J Seriously though, in the days since, I find myself more and more looking at the writings of Plato or Aristotle and finding myself applying those philosophies into the classroom. An emphasis on mathematical and moral knowledge I would think would create generations of creative problem solvers and we are lagging a bit as American students in that. Am I wrong to get excited when I read Aristotle and come away with ideals based on Free and deliberate choice, or the ideal that we should all strive for greater intellect? There is some great stuff out there for all of these philosophers and each one when applied could yield success for a teacher, I am sure.

Yawwwnnnn...Okay time to get back to work

Coming out of the Winter slumber I've self inflicted on myself I'm refreshed and ready to rejuvenate my students passions for reading, writing, math, science and social studies. I'm still passionate about this paperless classroom idea and now I've got some ammunition and support.
No Books No Problem
Thanks for this...I know it can be done and after recently getting berated for my "please think about the environment before printing this email" footer, I feel more determined than ever to see it through. Funny how when someone says, "It can't be done", or "you're wasting your time," the juices get flowing and the determination flows faster and harder.
100+ tools for making it work

In other news:
My New Year's Resolution..yes I made one or a few again...is to blog more, microblog even more than that, share more, and criticize less. I'll revisit this one in June...crossing my fingers.