Ok, I have come to the conclusion that I will not “ace” my
PLN assignment, at least according to Jeff’s rubric - although it is very
slick. I have tried over a dozen times
but I do not like, enjoy, or benefit from n-way synchronized communication. When I think back I realize that whenever I
built on-line training I always avoided the
everyone-get-online-at-the-same-time-and-chat assignments. I find it too difficult to listen, reflect
and respond effectively. In my way of thinking
the dialogue that an online asynchronous discussion, blog, or even twitter provides
is far more meaningful and allows for much deeper learning. When we meet
together we do not all talk at once for good reason. Good listening requires time for processing
that chatting doesn’t allow. Maybe its
me. Maybe I have a slow visual
processor.
Anyway, I intend to grow and use my PLN without the chat sorry @jheil65.
Susan,
ReplyDeleteI have a few thoughts on this. First of all, this is the first time you have ever written about any chat of the dozen that you have tried to participate in. It would have been a lot more authentic if you had written after each failed attempt. You havent discussed the chat, tool, topic, or anything else that might lead others to an understanding of what chats you were not enjoying and what tools to avoid or use. Again, a missed opportunity for you to write and for others in your PLN to learn.
Also, as one of your instructors, you absolutely do all talk at the same time on multiple occasions I have witnessed. This occurs during small and large group instruction with some side conversations sprinkled in (and maybe even an IM or DM or two). It is also true in most of the JCCS classes I have observed. Perhaps your issue isn't the information overload, but a filter issue. Are you using Tweetchat so you can pause the chat? Even Tweetdeck does a good job of this. You could even read an archive of a chat if you prefer to learn asynchronously.
I am not saying that you have to incorporate this into your future PLN, but it is part of the class assignment. The writing, both positive and perhaps negative, about the experience was my expectation. I find it interesting that you feel you can simply opt out of a PLN requirement. Would you be just as comfortable telling Dr. Stall that you are really more about the present than the future, so you won't be completing the futurist scenario? Or tell Dr. Lindsey that you are just not that comfortable interviewing others around issues of race, so you aren't going to do it? The entire point of the PLN is to get you to stretch yourself beyond your comfort level. . .even if this means dealing with the messiness that is an educational chat. . .
@jheil65
Jeff,
ReplyDeleteA few thoughts (Part 1)
1. Autonomy. Daniel Pink has expressed its importance. Over the last decade Self-Determination Theory (Deci & Ryan, 2000) has shown supporting it is essential to student motivation, achievement and well-being. For the sake of supporting autonomy perhaps a less prescriptive approach to the PLN assignment is in order. I am not opting out of an assignment just a specific mechanism. If Dr. Lindsey had insisted, I write my cultural autobiography in Haiku I probably would have challenged the format. She, however has made it very clear that she does not think it is appropriate to comment on the form and format of something as personal as a cultural autobiography. If Dr. Stall had insisted that the Futurist Scenario be presented in a Gantt chart I most likely would have pointed out that the format was not appropriate to task.
A Personal Learning Network is just that personal. The Objectives stated in the syllabus:
• To identify critical issues, directly related to your current position, for 21st century education.
• To manage information utilizing digital tools
• To engage with your colleagues through the use of digital tools and to find your leadership voice (blog)
• To produce symphony (Pink will be proud of you) of arguments to influence opinion.
• To make good use of your knowledge and future thinking to influence policy and take action for change.
I believe I can meet those objectives without educational chats
2. Established, well founded belief. My feelings about chat are not new. This is something I have commented on several times. Frankly, we have done a lot of shared reflection in this program and I sometimes have trouble remembering what is written in which classes. I truly believe n-way synchronized communication is not terribly effective, particularly online. This is a position I have held for years. I am pretty sure I wrote a couple papers on it when I was getting my masters in Instructional Technology. When my stuff gets unpacked I should take a look. My argument centers on the concept that to really listen, process and respond meaningfully takes time. A chat is just that a chat. A way of socially connecting to exchange casual information normally between friends or family. To make it a central tenant to a Professional Learning Network I feel runs counter to its purpose. If it works for people great. I feel the mechanism minimizes the learning that can take place. The ratio of learning per minute is low compared to blogging and tweeting or traditional publishing.
Jeff,
ReplyDeleteA few comments (part 2)
3. Disabilities. If Abagail had a brain test that could measure visual processing and we found out that I was “Low” or below “Normal” in this area - essentially had a disability- would you still insist that I participate in this particular mechanism?
4. Stengths. One of the values that I truly treasure in the JDP program is that it is a strengths based program. From the beginning, we were encouraged to both find our strengths and use them and identify the strengths in others. Synthesis or symphony as Pink refers to it is one of my strengths. However, that strength comes with a down side. I need time to ponder ideas before I am comfortable responding to them. It is quite simply the way my mind works. An example of this could be seen in our Saturday class when we were asked to post an idea from Project Tomorrow and then respond to the posts of others. I was unable to even completely produce a response in the time everyone else had posted and responded and then chatted with each other. It wasn’t because I was off task. I simply needed more processing time.
Educational chatting for the purpose of learning is frustrating at best. Even reading the logs. I feel I have to build maps of the different conversations. It takes a long time to sift through it all with a very small return. Mostly because nobody is doing a lot of processing.
5. I am just plain insulted by your post inferring that I am unauthentic and that I do not challenge myself or put myself out there. Your observations are simply inconsistent with feedback I have received throughout this program.
6.. Finally, I would like to point out that the one reason I have consistently given for not putting a lot out there is because I have an uncanny knack of writing stuff that unintentionally pisses people off. This series of posts now, sadly, serves to validate this point
I don't care if you "piss people off" as long as I get you to reflect about your PLN. . .that's the authenticity for which I was asking. This isn't only about you, it's about my expectations for the entire cohort. I'm sure everyone has an amazing past record of participation,analysis,and research; unfortunately, I'm responsible to get people to use technology to create their PLNs for this class. There are no bonus points for previous accomplishments. As such, there are specific tools and concepts I am asking you, and everyone else, to try for 10 weeks. Ten weeks. If after that period of time you decide that some, few, or none of the tools or concepts work for you, then by all means, don't use them. Or, if you need to make a case for why you don't like a tool or a blog post, then write about it at a level fitting the expectations of the course. Your comments to my thoughts are a prime example.
ReplyDeleteYou make a much better case for yourself and the reasons you don't like educational chats in these comments. If they would have been expressed as a post, it would have made for a lively online discussion . . .asynchronous, of course ;-)
And, by the way, it seems that you aren't the only one with an uncanny knack of writing stuff that unintentionally pisses people off :^D
ReplyDeletepeace,
@jheil65
This would seem to be true
ReplyDelete