Ever since class on Friday, I've been fixated on the word "chaos." As Twitter was introduced to us that day, it seemed that the world became infinitely more complicated. All these streams of images and conversations were in the ether, and frankly, I couldn't focus on anything. I had this nagging feeling that I was missing something important, potentially really important. In retrospect, I started thinking about the so-called butterfly effect, in which you start with similar conditions, with a few slight variations, and in one instance you have someone latching onto webinars on physics and someone else on text messages for spelling. Physics, English, Social Studies, Spanish - the subject doesn't matter.
In the end, we 50 SMAC'ers wind up on parallel but different paths. And we have all these amazing media out there to experiment with. This very blog, Twitter, podcasts, Facebook, webinars, wikis - the possibilities are endless.
Although all this newness in my life at once is unnerving, I am thrilled with the prospect of landing in new territory. Imagine a runaway hot air balloon in which you get to explore every single day! We'll bring the kids along - those who are willing - and we turn chaos into something comprehensible.
Love it or hate it, chaos is here with us to stay. What do we choose to make of it?
I'd have to say that after Friday's class, I believe the Chaos Theory to be more of a universal truth.
ReplyDeleteGranted, "simpler times" for me pretty much constitutes my childhood in the 1990s, which wasn't all that long ago, but even still, some of the technology we use in class confuses me. Technology definitely picks up the pace, especially when we're using multiple pieces of technology at once. I also felt as if I was missing an important point or two throughout the class, especially after I realized that a large number of our classmates had been updating Twitter during the webinar.
Interesting parallel to the butterfly effect. That's a brilliant way of illustrating Friday's chaos.
I hear you, I hear you!
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that one has to move with the times (especially teachers) but I guard my solitude, privacy and quiet time like a secret treasure.
Moderation and balance in everything!
Joe, there's no question that we're coming pretty fast with the new technologies. Believe it or not, we've slowed down the pace of introducing new tolls relative to last year...there's just so much out there. In the end, of course, we're hoping that a couple of these new tools will stick in the back of your mind, and will help elicit some useful thinking about our teaching and learning aims.
ReplyDeleteI guess we'll see how that plays out, eh?
Joe,
ReplyDeleteI agree that it's chaotic but exciting. I'm actually enjoying blogging and tweeting even though I thought I wouldn't be able to figure it out at first.
Here's to runaway hot air balloons!
Danielle
Joe, when I clicked on your name to get to your blog, I ended up at your profile and we pretty much love the same music.
ReplyDeleteAside from the music, I dig the tone of your blog, to be able to see the excitement in the chaos is sometimes an incredible gift. And it probably means you'll navigate the beautiful and yet sometimes dangerous waters of education very well. Also, don't you wonder what SMAC students will be learning in the ed tech class 5, 10, 20 years from now? How chaotic might that be?
There really are so many different technologies out there, which definitely seems chaotic. But I also find it exciting because that means there are endless possibilities! Each technology or website (or what have you) has so much potential to be that butterfly and have an influence that could take off exponentially.
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