Comments on: The Outside Voice http://mscofino.edublogs.org/2008/02/24/the-outside-voice/ teaching technology abroad Sat, 06 Sep 2008 19:32:42 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: The 21st Century Educator | always learning http://mscofino.edublogs.org/2008/02/24/the-outside-voice/#comment-1518 The 21st Century Educator | always learning Wed, 02 Apr 2008 02:45:13 +0000 http://mscofino.edublogs.org/2008/02/24/the-outside-voice/#comment-1518 [...] at an introductory level. Having just finished giving a presentation on that very topic in Qatar, I, of course, had lots to say (not quite as eloquently as others, [...] [...] at an introductory level. Having just finished giving a presentation on that very topic in Qatar, I, of course, had lots to say (not quite as eloquently as others, [...]

]]> By: Week 8 Blog #1 « Jeron’s Weblog http://mscofino.edublogs.org/2008/02/24/the-outside-voice/#comment-1491 Week 8 Blog #1 « Jeron’s Weblog Mon, 10 Mar 2008 06:13:14 +0000 http://mscofino.edublogs.org/2008/02/24/the-outside-voice/#comment-1491 [...] So I was reading up on the Always Learning blog for a change. Cofino did a blog called, “The Outside Voice.” The blog started out by talking about how Cofino went to Qatar to speak on 21st Century [...] [...] So I was reading up on the Always Learning blog for a change. Cofino did a blog called, “The Outside Voice.” The blog started out by talking about how Cofino went to Qatar to speak on 21st Century [...]

]]> By: mscofino http://mscofino.edublogs.org/2008/02/24/the-outside-voice/#comment-1484 mscofino Fri, 07 Mar 2008 02:20:07 +0000 http://mscofino.edublogs.org/2008/02/24/the-outside-voice/#comment-1484 murcha, Isn't it fabulous to be able to connect with exceptional educators all around the world - for free! I have to say, though, I do think there is something special about having a physical visitor, someone who can experience the actual teaching and learning environment and then share insights and ideas about how to improve. Graham, Perfect! You're both right on! Julie, Thank you! I totally agree that the hard work is left up to the inside voices. QA is so fortunate to have such exceptional inside voices! And such excellent PD and networking opportunities provided by your team! Doug, Thanks Doug! I believe I sent much the same message when I was there - but as you say, Julie has the reigns and she has made such amazing strides in her short time there already. Paul, I agree - there's something exciting and inspiring about that outside voice. No worries about HK - I would love to take part next year if it all works out! murcha,

Isn’t it fabulous to be able to connect with exceptional educators all around the world - for free! I have to say, though, I do think there is something special about having a physical visitor, someone who can experience the actual teaching and learning environment and then share insights and ideas about how to improve.

Graham,

Perfect! You’re both right on!

Julie,

Thank you! I totally agree that the hard work is left up to the inside voices. QA is so fortunate to have such exceptional inside voices! And such excellent PD and networking opportunities provided by your team!

Doug,

Thanks Doug! I believe I sent much the same message when I was there - but as you say, Julie has the reigns and she has made such amazing strides in her short time there already.

Paul,

I agree - there’s something exciting and inspiring about that outside voice. No worries about HK - I would love to take part next year if it all works out!

]]> By: Paul McMahon http://mscofino.edublogs.org/2008/02/24/the-outside-voice/#comment-1470 Paul McMahon Tue, 26 Feb 2008 10:17:51 +0000 http://mscofino.edublogs.org/2008/02/24/the-outside-voice/#comment-1470 Spot on Kim! Funny but sometimes it is not even from outside of your school but outside of your region! I think Doug has the distance about right at 75 miles as 3 of us were greeted so well in Nanjing 3 weeks ago and we all struggle to work with schools here in Hong Kong. I think a change is coming though! Pity we couldn't get you to Hong Kong this year but it will happen. I'll stay in touch. Paul Spot on Kim!
Funny but sometimes it is not even from outside of your school but outside of your region! I think Doug has the distance about right at 75 miles as 3 of us were greeted so well in Nanjing 3 weeks ago and we all struggle to work with schools here in Hong Kong.
I think a change is coming though! Pity we couldn’t get you to Hong Kong this year but it will happen. I’ll stay in touch.
Paul

]]> By: Doug Johnson http://mscofino.edublogs.org/2008/02/24/the-outside-voice/#comment-1464 Doug Johnson Sun, 24 Feb 2008 14:18:41 +0000 http://mscofino.edublogs.org/2008/02/24/the-outside-voice/#comment-1464 Hi Kim, Glad you had a good time in Qatar. I was going to say what Graham already said, so I needed bother again. But yes, that "expert" from more than 75 miles away is often listen to more carefully than is the local. I know this from personal experience in my own district. Just a bit of trivia... Another "facilities expert" and I were hired by an architectural firm to consult with the Qatari Academy back in 2003. While they wanted a design for a new learning space thinking that a building would give kids good IL/IT skills, we argued they needed staffing and program more. I don't think we were the most popular consultants at the time! But seeing as Julie is there, maybe we did SOME good! All the best and congrats for what I am sure will be the first of many, many consulting jobs for you, Doug Hi Kim,

Glad you had a good time in Qatar. I was going to say what Graham already said, so I needed bother again. But yes, that “expert” from more than 75 miles away is often listen to more carefully than is the local. I know this from personal experience in my own district.

Just a bit of trivia… Another “facilities expert” and I were hired by an architectural firm to consult with the Qatari Academy back in 2003. While they wanted a design for a new learning space thinking that a building would give kids good IL/IT skills, we argued they needed staffing and program more. I don’t think we were the most popular consultants at the time!

But seeing as Julie is there, maybe we did SOME good!

All the best and congrats for what I am sure will be the first of many, many consulting jobs for you,

Doug

]]> By: Julie Lindsay http://mscofino.edublogs.org/2008/02/24/the-outside-voice/#comment-1462 Julie Lindsay Sun, 24 Feb 2008 13:59:15 +0000 http://mscofino.edublogs.org/2008/02/24/the-outside-voice/#comment-1462 Kim, I love the term 'outside voices'! I think the energy you brought to Qatar Academy and now the ongoing interaction and positive conversations and actions amongst the Primary teachers who worked with you on those 2 days are evidence of the power of an outside voice. Now it is also up to the 'inside voices' to cultivate this enthusiasm and encourage it.....but of course with our Ning and international membership we have a whole new way to share our findings and achievements! http://elearning4life.ning.com Yes! Let's talk more about an 'outside voices' collaboration for next year! Kim, I love the term ‘outside voices’! I think the energy you brought to Qatar Academy and now the ongoing interaction and positive conversations and actions amongst the Primary teachers who worked with you on those 2 days are evidence of the power of an outside voice. Now it is also up to the ‘inside voices’ to cultivate this enthusiasm and encourage it…..but of course with our Ning and international membership we have a whole new way to share our findings and achievements! http://elearning4life.ning.com
Yes! Let’s talk more about an ‘outside voices’ collaboration for next year!

]]> By: Graham Wegner http://mscofino.edublogs.org/2008/02/24/the-outside-voice/#comment-1459 Graham Wegner Sun, 24 Feb 2008 11:51:31 +0000 http://mscofino.edublogs.org/2008/02/24/the-outside-voice/#comment-1459 I've always loved this great <a href="http://teachandlearnonline.blogspot.com/2006/03/classrooms-will-prevail-deschooling.html#c114297805157462420" rel="nofollow">Doug Johnson quote</a> left on one of Leigh Blackall's posts back in early 2006. "The biblical expression for this is "a prophet is without honor in his own land." Or as we say in Minnesota, an expert has to be someone from at least 75 miles away." On a footnote, if you scroll right down, you'll find my comment about how new voices don't always work in their new environments. It still rings pretty true two years on. I’ve always loved this great Doug Johnson quote left on one of Leigh Blackall’s posts back in early 2006.
“The biblical expression for this is “a prophet is without honor in his own land.” Or as we say in Minnesota, an expert has to be someone from at least 75 miles away.”
On a footnote, if you scroll right down, you’ll find my comment about how new voices don’t always work in their new environments. It still rings pretty true two years on.

]]> By: murcha http://mscofino.edublogs.org/2008/02/24/the-outside-voice/#comment-1458 murcha Sun, 24 Feb 2008 11:09:01 +0000 http://mscofino.edublogs.org/2008/02/24/the-outside-voice/#comment-1458 I agree wholeheartedly with your comments. It is fabulous to have outside people to work with outside your school, outside your country and to share ideas and projects with them. We had Jeff Whipple come into our library to teach our students how to use a wiki and to introduce the 1001flat tales project. The most exciting thing was that Jeff was in his own home, in Canada, late at night, using his laptop with his laptop projecting onto our IWB in the library. I wish the time slots were not so different, but with a country like yours and other Asian areas our timeslots would coincide more readily for all this wonderful e-connectedness. I agree wholeheartedly with your comments. It is fabulous to have outside people to work with outside your school, outside your country and to share ideas and projects with them. We had Jeff Whipple come into our library to teach our students how to use a wiki and to introduce the 1001flat tales project. The most exciting thing was that Jeff was in his own home, in Canada, late at night, using his laptop with his laptop projecting onto our IWB in the library. I wish the time slots were not so different, but with a country like yours and other Asian areas our timeslots would coincide more readily for all this wonderful e-connectedness.

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