a funny thing happened when students learned to use forums - moodle imoot2010 presentation

A personal experience, presented by

Drew Buddie

iMoot 2010

I am Pseudolus. (A sneaky slave and playful prankster who desperately wants his freedom.)

drew@buddie.plus.com

Moodle: www.merapolis.co.uk

Personal Blog:

digitalmaverick.ethink.org.uk

Can you see anything

with the next slide?

Bloom’s Digital Taxonomy

(Andrew Churches)

My 20 steps to giving pupils wings through the use of FORUMS

1. Don’t be afraid of giving them something to THINK about.

X. Is there anything wrong with this picture?

A – Yes

B - No

Y. Look at this picture and describe anything you find unusual about it

2. Help them to realise that things are not always what they seem.

Sometimes things get LOST IN TRANSLATION

3. Employ the ‘Mentos and

Coke effect’ – the oddest

combinations can yield

surprising results

What JAMES SUROWIECKI in his book calls:

THE WISDOM OF CROWDS

or

How the many are smarter than the few!

4. Look at things from a

different angle.

5. Just like the Naica Crystals – things don’t have to stop growing just because…

6. Don’t be afraid of a bit of

self-congratulation.

7. NEVER assume you know more than your students do.

8. Be like the Nail House – don’t just do something ‘cos everyone

else is.

And inspire

9. Sometimes we need to work on our own or go out on a limb, to try an idea that works.

10. Try not to be a

puppetmaster – let the

students have control.

11. Give them ‘situated meaning’

See the work of James Paul Gee

12. Not all contributors are alike

Pat Parslow & Shirley Earley created this excellent resource, reminding us of the importance of Digital Identity.

13. Sometimes kids will just work things out for themselves – ON THEIR OWN

14. Don’t let one person

shout too loud.

15. Who’s got the authority?

16.It’s important we ALL pull together

17. Be Stetson Kennedy

I started the VERBAL Web 2.0

As described in Freakonomics by Levitt & Dubner

18. Give them opportunities they will NEVER forget.

19. Be a sympathetic MENTOR

20. Stick at it when it can seem like an impossible task….

drew@buddie.plus.com

www.merapolis.co.uk