What next?...

Sacha Chua's concept of Shy Connector is good to start/ continue with when at a loss with what to do next. The need to retire from time to time in a computer/noise/crowd-free environment are part and parcel of a healthy "stay-sane" routine - i.e. trying to find a balance between offline and online presence, creating time pockets for reflection that is not imposed by the pressures and pace of external systems/ tools/ technology-based interaction/ communication. Breathe deeply, count to 10, 100, 1000 and then go further, step by step... try to find your own pace...your own peace!

The Shy Connector

View more presentations from Sacha Chua.

Prin urmare se poate... Enjoy!

"Does Google Make Us Stupid?"

A very exciting survey released recently by Pew Research Center about possible scenarios on the future of the Internet and human cognition. Worth a good read!
To connect it with an overview on the Millenials generation - good stuff for educators to take into account! You might like to take their quiz, How Millenial are You?
As for me, hmmm...

Angela Meiers’s - My L.O.V.E. Affair with Learning

Cred ca aceasta scurta si pasionata interventie a Angelei Meiers (reputat si respectat blogger si educator) ma ajuta sa raspund la cateva intrebari legate de adevarata frenezie a invatarii care m-a cuprins de o vreme incoace. Ii voi da ei cuvantul (traducerea este mai mult o adaptare…!)

    I love learning. I love being around people who are passionate about their own lifelong journey of learning and teaching. It's contagious.

Imi place grozav sa invat. Ma simt extraordinar in preajma oamenilor pasionati de propria odisee a cunoasterii si a instruirii celorlalti. Este molipsitor.

     As I reflect on these past 20 years of working in this great profession of education, and particularly the past few years of worldwide connections I've been fortunate to find due to the blogosphere, I'm excited about learning now more than ever. I strive for at least one WOW each day.

Reflectand la cei 20 de ani de activitate in aceasta minunata profesie de educator si mai ales la acesti ultimi ani in care am fost norocoasa sa-mi creez contacte in toata lumea datorita blogosferei, constat ca invatarea ma entuziasmeaza mai mult decat oricand. Ma stradui sa am parte de cel putin o exclamatie de entuziasm zilnic.   

On this day where we celebrate sharing our hearts and passion, I thought I'd share something I've been thinking on for a few days.

In aceasta zi in care ne celebram pasiunea si entuziasmul, voi impartasi cu voi cateva ganduri.

    My L.O.V.E. Affair With Learning

     Literacy: Though we often think about literacy with regard to book learning, there is so much more to literacy than that. Social literacy and how we interact with others. Health literacy and how we treat our bodies. Global and Economic literacies and how we are supporters of our neighbors and steward of our possessions. And with changes constantly about, we continue to learn.

 Alfabetizare / (Competente de baza in actualele discutii din domeniul pedagogiei, nota mea, CF) – Cu toate ca asociem acest termen cu invatarea traditionala pe baza cartilor, exista acum mult mai multe tipologii de luat in considerare: competente sociale sau felul cum interactionam cu ceilalti, competente legate de sanatate si felul cum ne tratam corpul, competente globale si economice sau cum ne sprijinim vecinii sau ne gestionam proprietatile. Cu toate schimbarile care au loc in permanenta, continuam sa invatam.

  Odyssey: And with changes constantly about ... we realize learning is not a destination (and I think this is what I love most about learning), but a lifelong journey. Who knew 4 or 5 years ago we would be sharing our thoughts via blogs and wikis and Twitter?

 Cu toate schimbarile care au loc in permanenta… realizam ca invatarea nu este o destinatie (si asta imi place cel mai mult la invatare) ci o calatorie de o viata, Cine s-ar fi gandit acum 4-5 ani ca ne vom impartasi gandurile prin intermediul blogurilor, al wiki-urilor sau pe Twitter?

     Valuable: Our brains are pattern-seeking, meaning-making muscles. Thank goodness for that, because otherwise the noise would be too much to filter. Each of us have different styles and reasons to learn. What I am learning (important to me) may not be your cup of tea -- and that's okay, as long as each of us continue to find value in what we are learning, we will continue in our learning odyssey.

Valoare: creierul nostru este un muschi aflat in cautare de modele/ configuratii si creator de sensuri. Slava domnului ca este asa fiindca altfel nu ar putea filtra harmalaia generala, Fiecare dintre noi avem stiluri si moduri diferite de a invata. Ceea ce invat eu (ce e important pentru mine) poate sa nu ti se potriveasca tie – si asta este in regula - atata vreme cat fiecare dintre noi incearca sa gaseasca valoare in ceea ce invata, ne vom continua odiseea cunoasterii.

     Enduring: The most important part of lifelong learning is that it endures. That's the passion part of our love affair. And yet, just like in this acronym - it's often silent and unrecognized. I ask students from 17 to 70 what drives them to continue to learn. Often, a shrug of the shoulders is the immediate answer. If we recognize our enduring love affair with learning, we will continue to nurture it, and even spread it with enthusiasm.

Cea mai importanta componenta a invatarii permanente este ca e durabila. Aceasta e componenta de pasiune din povestea noastra de dragoste. Si totusi, la fel ca in acronimul pe care l-am creat, este adesea tacuta si nerecunoscuta. Intreb studenti cu varste intre 17 si 70 de ani ce-i face sa continue sa invete. Adesea, ridica din umeri. Daca recunoastem ca avem o nesfarsita poveste de dragoste cu invatatura, vom continua sa o cultivam sis a o daruim si altora cu entuziasm.

     It is my hope that you are having a lifelong LOVE affair with your learning, and you spread it infectiously to everyone you meet.

Sper ca si voi traiti o poveste de dragoste cu invatarea si ii molipsiti pe toti aceia pe care-I intalniti.

    But let me ask you this: What drives you to continue to learn (watch the shoulders)

Dar dati-mi voie sa va intreb: Ce va face sa continuati sa invatati (atentie la umeri).

Trust and Respect

Yes, it is time consuming, yes, sometimes you feel discouragingly insignificant in such a huge blogosphere, yes, the impact you produce is next to zero in this stage, but… but…

The satisfaction to discover and re-discover out there thoughts and ideas you have always had and kept for yourself for some reason compensates for the “wasted time” and transforms it in “time regained” because finding out there, in the wide world, people sharing same values and attitudes compensates for the frustration of not finding them in the immediate proximity. However, I know there are such people around, and I’ll do my best to find them.
As to the impact, I don’t worry, you can’t have it in such a short time. Making an impact needs patience, focus and self-confidence…and trust from others.

At the same time, yes, Trust and Respect, said Chris Betcher on his blog, Betchablog, are decisive values in the creation of a good relationship between educators and students. This reminded me of old wounds – the suspicion climate in a Romania traumatised by communism –
So, others too fight rigid frames within which you “are guilty until proven guilty” – others too have to fight educational policies in which students roles are restrained to accepting passively decisions taken for them, with too little space left for discussion or negotiation –

Food for thought for all of us: to what extent do we offer our students a framework based on TRUST and RESPECT, meant to bring us THEIR Trust and Respect?
Or, in Chris Betcher’s words: Seriously, what’s the worst thing that could happen if we created an environment of trust and respect?

Incredere si respect - Trust and respect

 An English translation will follow shortly...
Da, consuma timpul, da, e uneori te simti descurajant de neinsemnat intr-o blogosfera atat de mare, da, impactul pe care il produci este aproape nul in aceasta faza, dar... dar...
Satisfactia de a gasi si re-gasi "out there" ganduri si idei pe care le-ai avut dintotdeauna compenseaza pentru "timpul pierdut" si il transforma in "timp regasit", fiindca a gasi in lumea mare oameni cu aceleasi valori si atitudini compenseaza frustrarea de a nu-i gasi in imediata proximitate.Totusi, stiu ca exista asemenea oameni si aici, pe aproape, am sa fac tot posibilul sa-i (re)gasesc.
Cat despre impact, nu-mi fac griji, nu se poate realiza de azi pe maine... Trebuie rabdare, concentrare si incredere...
Incredere si respect, spunea Chris Betcher pe blogul sau, Betchablog, sunt valori decisive in crearea unei relatii bune intre educatori si studenti. Si asta mi-a adus aminte de vechi rani - climatul de suspiciune dintr-o Romanie traumatizata de comunism -
Iata, deci, si altii se lupta cu cadrul rigid in care "esti vinovat pana esti gasit vinovat" - si altii se lovesc de politici educationale in care rolul studentilor este de a recepta pasiv deciziile facute in numele lor, cu prea putin spatiu de manevra sau negociere -
De reflectat prin urmare, la masura in care oferim studentilor nostri un cadru bazat pe INCREDERE si RESPECT, menit a ne aduce si noua INCREDEREA si RESPECTUL lor!






 
 





 






  

Nu e deloc usor... dar merita/ It's not easy, but it's worth every bit of effort!

Still immersing, still struggling to breathe in this ocean of information - it's not easy but it is worth every bit of effort!
Interestingly, I haven't been so excited about everything around me for a long time now. I'm just like a kid in Disneyland!
Ok, but how about this time-wasting and wild goose chasing? No, it's not about gadgets and playing around with all sorts of glamorous glowing interactive toys...
It is all about being free to wonder around, being free to make decisions that transcend institutions and may reach real people either as friends or collaborators or students, being free to learn avidly new things and at the same time feeling comforted by the thought that everything you have been and are learning can be put to work in this generous global environment where like minds can meet - 
Not easy, but worth every step...!