Teachers Teaching Teachers #194 - Two First-Year College Students Help Us Reflect on Youth Voices and More - 03.31.10

Post-Show description: 

What does working in a school-based social network like http://youthvoices.net have to do with getting ready for college? Chris Sloan had a great idea. “Why don’t we invite former students who used Youth Voices and who are now in college to Skype in with their thoughts about what college is like these days … and if Youth Voices maybe does or doesn’t fit with what they are doing now?”

Two of Chris’s former students joined us on this episode of Teachers Teaching Teachers. Here’s Chris’s more detailed introduction to this week’s podcast:

It’s that time of year again when the seniors I teach are in that bittersweet time; they’re happy to be moving on but sad to leave some things behind.  They’re distracted by plans for the future but also trying to live up to their many commitments.  As their teacher I often wonder whether the things we do in my classes has value, if I’ve prepared them enough for “life after high school.”  So I thought it might be an interesting idea to catch up with some of our former students to see how their first year is wrapping up.  Was college all they dreamed it would be?  Is it better than they imagined? not quite as good?  Did the kind of work they did on Youth Voices, the digital compositions and the collaborative writing, prepare them for the kinds of things they’ve been asked to do this year in college? Judging by the 2010 Horizon Report, I think we’re on the right track, but there’s only one way to find out. 

Here are a couple of Youth Voices alumni who join us on this podcast: Last year Katie appeared a couple of times on TTT, first as part of a discussion about the seniors’ plans for college, TTT 134, Four Young Bloggers Apply to College where she said things like: “I don’t think that as an 18-year old in college, it’s a life or death situation about whether you’ll be successful or not.  The college application process is a stressful thing, but you have to keep it in perspective.”  Katie also appeared on TTT 130, which was an extension of the Youth Voices discussion, “YES WE CAN: my experience in Grant Park on election day.”

We were also joined by Jimin who blogs regularly at Crunchgear in addition to being a student at NYU.  Last year Jimin wrote posts like  All Your Intellectual Property Are Belong to Us, It’s Not Fair, It’s Laissez-Faire!, and used Youth Voices as another way to promote his band Illegal Beagle.

Click Read more to see a copy of the chat that was happening during the webcast.

20:50:56 Paul Allison: http://paulallison.tumblr.com/post/484749213/youth-voices-alumni-on-teac...
20:51:40 Paul Allison: Hi.
20:51:40 DaveC: Just showing off ETTformat to grad students at SNHU
20:51:51 skierlinds: whats up?
20:52:04 Paul Allison: http://paulallison.tumblr.com/post/484749213/youth-voices-alumni-on-teac...
20:52:24 Paul Allison: College students who have used http://youthvoices.net in high school to join us tonight.
20:54:46 RonnieO: hello   does anyone know how this works?
20:55:37 SusanEttenheim: hi everyone - can you hear us?
20:56:20 RonnieO: I wish i could   I'm clueless over here
20:56:39 SusanEttenheim: hi all checking our sound
20:57:39 RonnieO: Will there be a show tonight?
20:57:53 Paul Allison: We are getting set up now.
20:58:01 RonnieO: Right on!
20:59:33 SusanEttenheim: does anyone hear us now?
21:00:03 jennybrandon: not i
21:00:37 Paul Allison: We're re-setting. Something seems wrong with the broadcast.
21:00:47 Paul Allison: But we'll be back soon!
21:00:54 jennybrandon: should we logout and log back in?
21:01:34 chris sloan: Hi Jenny and Ronnie.  Where are you from.  I teach high school in Utah
21:02:40 jennybrandon: 2nd grade in WEst Tennessee
21:02:45 RonnieO: Hi there  I am from PA   back in grad school for special ed. and elementary.  I was a slp before!
21:02:58 Paul Allison: A slp?
21:03:15 RonnieO: speech lang. path.
21:04:00 Paul Allison: Hi Peggy, can you let us know if you can hear us?
21:04:16 RonnieO: all of this is new to me
21:04:26 SusanEttenheim: hhi all
21:04:26 PeggyG: just logging into the audio
21:04:27 jennybrandon: oh should we be hearing something?
21:04:34 SusanEttenheim: this is so odd - do you hear us?
21:04:43 PeggyG: no I can't hear you
21:04:47 RonnieO: nothing here
21:04:49 SusanEttenheim: every week I do the same thing and hear us now I don't
21:04:59 SusanEttenheim: k give me a minute please
21:05:00 jennybrandon: nothing
21:05:17 PeggyG: stream status says server currently down
21:06:16 RonnieO: has anyone listened to previous shows?
21:06:26 PeggyG: yes many times :-)
21:06:29 jennybrandon: frequently
21:06:52 PeggyG: servers were changed in the last few days--maybe that is the problem?
21:07:40 RonnieO: very cool  im jealous    we are supposed to listen to a live show and report for class tomorrow  i hope it works!
21:08:05 PeggyG: me too RonnieO :-)
21:08:07 chris sloan: Hang on Ronnie.  We're almost there
21:08:08 Paul Allison: We will be starting very soon,.
21:08:18 PeggyG: I have faith!!
21:08:23 jennybrandon: It will seem more authentic if it doesn't work Ronnie - that's how it goes
21:08:34 RonnieO: i already thought of that
21:08:34 jennybrandon: I do believe in fairies!
21:09:01 RonnieO: but you know my prof will just say i made it up right?
21:09:26 PeggyG: would your instructor allow you to listen to a recording of an earlier show?
21:09:32 jennybrandon: If you say everything worked perfectly he should say you made it up!
21:09:47 RonnieO: for sure that was an option
21:10:11 PeggyG: there are some awesome recordings on EdTechTalk of previous shows
21:10:11 RonnieO: its a tech integration class and we have seen somethings go wrong already
21:10:24 RonnieO: thats the way it goes
21:10:33 SusanEttenheim: ok all up and running
21:10:40 SusanEttenheim: please click on edtech talk a
21:10:53 PeggyG: hooray! hearing you now :-)
21:10:58 RonnieO: ill be sure to check them out      i just saw my first successful skype last week  it was great
21:11:01 mslaneeus: I've got sound.
21:11:07 SusanEttenheim: yes helps to have the right server settings!
21:11:12 SusanEttenheim: sorry for the delay!
21:11:16 jennybrandon: yep!
21:11:28 PeggyG: all a part of the learning process with technology :-)
21:11:37 RonnieO: thats what im talking about
21:12:06 PeggyG: at least it's not April Fool's Day :-)
21:13:24 PeggyG: it's always great to hear from former students!
21:13:57 SusanEttenheim: ok everyone! our guests are introducing themselves - please introduce yourself here!
21:14:03 SusanEttenheim: where and what do you teach?
21:14:16 ElyseEA: Hi Everyone, Elyse here from the NWP
21:14:21 SusanEttenheim: I'm Susan... in NYC - at Eleanor Roosevelt High School
21:14:24 ElyseEA: I love hearing from the students
21:14:30 PeggyG: I'm a retired elementary principal and university pre-service instructor in Phoenix AZ
21:14:32 SusanEttenheim: hi Elyse - welcome@!
21:14:52 jennybrandon: 2nd grade in West Tennessee  WTWP Tech Liaison
21:14:55 mslaneeus: I'm Siobhan.  I'm currently a grade 6 teacher in Kamloops, British Columbia.
21:15:31 RonnieO: hello everyone  I am a graduate student special ed. and elementary ed.  from pittsburgh
21:15:33 PeggyG: how exciting!!
21:15:36 chris sloan: http://www.crunchgear.com/author/jimin/
21:15:42 ElyseEA: @Hi Siobhan, I spent a lovely night in Kamloops on a trip on the canadian rail
21:15:57 mslaneeus: Nice to hear! 
21:16:55 SusanEttenheim: welcome everyone!
21:17:03 PeggyG: what a great story!
21:17:10 SusanEttenheim: ronnie did you say you were here for the first time?
21:17:27 RonnieO: yes maam   its crazy for me
21:17:32 SusanEttenheim: Hi Siobhan welcome!
21:17:38 SusanEttenheim: have you joined us before?
21:17:56 SusanEttenheim: what's crazy?
21:17:57 mslaneeus: Thanks.  I've been lurking for about a month now.  Getting into it....
21:18:03 RonnieO: the technology
21:18:10 SusanEttenheim: in what way?
21:18:12 PeggyG: love seeing you in the chat room mslaneeus!!
21:18:21 mslaneeus: Thanks Peggy!
21:18:25 SusanEttenheim: yes I've seen you around welcome again!
21:18:27 PeggyG: 2-3 a day is part time??
21:18:34 mslaneeus: Bringing the Western Canadian perspective :)
21:18:49 RonnieO: for one its all new to me   email is about as far as i go
21:19:06 RonnieO: both of these students sound impressive
21:19:09 mslaneeus: It does get easier Ronnie.  Honest.  I'm pretty new.
21:19:11 SusanEttenheim: ahah this is fun because it's just a live conversation and we never know who will come by
21:19:15 SusanEttenheim: makes it a lot of fun
21:19:22 PeggyG: I agree Susan!
21:19:31 SusanEttenheim: welcome jon!
21:19:36 SusanEttenheim: where and what do you teach?
21:19:50 jon.derpak: thank you, i am actually a student, looking to get into teaching
21:19:58 SusanEttenheim: joining us tonight are some high school bloggers with us now in college!
21:20:08 ElyseEA: Great. Welcome @jon.derpak
21:20:11 SusanEttenheim: welcome!
21:20:16 SusanEttenheim: where is your school?
21:20:31 RonnieO: right on @jon   i am in school as well!
21:20:35 jon.derpak: In Montreal
21:20:45 PeggyG: that sounds like a high stress situation to produce things so quickly!
21:20:54 ElyseEA: That's the life of a journalist
21:20:56 SusanEttenheim: well welcome! what year are you?
21:21:16 PeggyG: it's great to have students joining us for this conversation!
21:21:33 SusanEttenheim: yes peggy - chris had a great idea!
21:21:47 SusanEttenheim: to talk to our youth voices bloggers and see where they are now
21:22:07 Paul Allison: http://paulallison.tumblr.com/post/484749213/youth-voices-alumni-on-teac...
21:22:34 PeggyG: they sound so wise!!! :-)
21:22:41 SusanEttenheim: any of you have experience in the print world?
21:23:13 ElyseEA: I think this is an important issue for us to reflect on at the k-12 level. The new common core standards are not necessarily forward looking that way.  The ability to move easily among media is essential
21:24:06 PeggyG: did you all learn these skills in HS?
21:26:18 PeggyG: this is so helpful to hear! they are clearly demonstrating how competent they are!!
21:26:38 SusanEttenheim: ronnie and siobhan are you learning online skills in your teacher training?
21:27:22 RonnieO: for sure   it is a program requirement "instructional computer integration"
21:27:31 mslaneeus: I've been teaching for 15 years.  We do not have a huge budget in our district for tech but my admin is excellent at supporting me with online courses, bringing in pro-d experts etc etc.
21:28:06 mslaneeus: I received a SMARTboard last year and have gotten level one and two training etc.
21:28:07 RonnieO: its fantastic and obvious that it is needed when i listen to the skills these two students have
21:28:17 chris sloan: Jiminhttp://youthvoices.net/blogs/2Hectic
21:28:34 chris sloan: Jimin's blog http://youthvoices.net/blogs/2Hectic
21:28:43 ElyseEA: This issue of collaboration and being able to work as a collective team responsible for a shared online space is interesting and definitely something you would learn in Youth Voices
21:28:43 PeggyG: I love hearing about the connection between music and writing that led him to where he is now :-)
21:28:49 RonnieO: mslaneeus   are you using the SMARTboard then?
21:29:31 mslaneeus: I am.  Lots.  I am lucky because my admin will find a way to pay for any tech training I can find.  The SMARTboard is invaluable.
21:29:41 mslaneeus: And, of course, these online sessions.
21:29:44 lneuburger: Love hearing how tech teaching in HS helps students in college
21:30:16 ElyseEA: Interesting
21:30:36 RonnieO: the game (teaching) is totally changing   i try to use SMARTboards as much as possible for my presentations
21:31:07 SusanEttenheim: ronnie and siobhan do you have any digital portfolio work for your own work?
21:31:19 SusanEttenheim: hi kjaxon welcome!
21:31:23 SusanEttenheim: where and what do you teach?
21:31:31 ElyseEA: Hi Kim!
21:31:33 mslaneeus: @ Ronnie....For me it is about getting the kids involved with the presentations.  Interactive learning. 
21:31:48 kjaxon: CSU, Chico. lots of writing related classes. Many for pre-service teachers in English
21:31:53 RonnieO: i created a podcast and i had so much fun doing it so yes i saved that.   other than that no
21:31:55 SusanEttenheim: that can actually be challenging with a smartboard!
21:32:17 chris sloan: http://wp.nmc.org/horizon2010/chapters/trends/
21:32:22 SusanEttenheim: welcome kjaxon!
21:32:29 RonnieO: you said it mslaneeus  interactive learning!  thats why i try to use it
21:32:33 kjaxon: thanks
21:32:56 SusanEttenheim: so what's the difference between collaborative and interactive?
21:33:14 SusanEttenheim: welcome back peggy!
21:33:27 PeggyG again: sorry! lost my connection! but the audio kept going :-)
21:33:30 SusanEttenheim: I was just asking about the difference between being interactive and collaborative
21:34:12 mslaneeus: @ Susan.  I think they can be one and the same but they don't have to be.
21:34:21 RonnieO: great question i think interactive is individuals interacting with a project and collaborative is tying in more than one mind
21:34:31 PeggyG again: were they this successful because they were part of an AP program?
21:35:12 lneuburger: Collaborative = student entered learning
21:35:22 RonnieO: i am wondering when these students began working with technology?
21:35:23 lneuburger: centered
21:35:30 SusanEttenheim: hi carol!
21:35:56 PeggyG again: Hi Carolyn :-)
21:36:00 carolteach4: Hi!
21:36:11 ElyseEA: Clickers make me crazy.  Am I the only one?
21:36:31 mslaneeus: @ ElyseEA .....I hear you!
21:37:16 SusanEttenheim: carol - please jump in and introduce yourself!
21:37:20 PeggyG again: they are very tech savvy!!
21:37:38 mslaneeus: I feel like I have to work at what comes perfectly naturally to them.....
21:37:53 PeggyG again: me too @mslaneeus!!
21:37:56 RonnieO: thats what im talking about mslaneeus
21:37:59 carolteach4: Why would you take the pictures down? Just curious.
21:38:00 mslaneeus: Will I ever catch up?????
21:38:14 PeggyG again: yes--one step at a time :-)
21:38:21 SusanEttenheim: hi tunaguy welcome again!
21:38:26 RonnieO: thats why i want elementary  we will be on the same page
21:38:29 SusanEttenheim: please introduce yourself
21:38:39 mslaneeus: @ Peggy.  Hence the lurking.....thanks.
21:38:40 RonnieO: but what about in school for katie and chris?
21:38:45 carolteach4: Carolyn - middle school computer tech integration facilitator
21:38:49 PeggyG again: you can always learn WITH your students :-)
21:39:04 SusanEttenheim: welcome carolyn!
21:39:20 SusanEttenheim: tunaguy please introduce yourself! where and what do you teach?
21:39:23 mslaneeus: @ Peggy.  That's exactly right.  The way it should be sometimes.  Lifelong.
21:39:27 PeggyG again: that's me too!! always the girl with the camera :-)
21:39:30 RonnieO: what a cool idea for a lesson from mr. sloan
21:39:33 carolteach4: I'm always the teacher with the camera!
21:40:13 PeggyG again: I think that's a great habit to get into--take your camera with you wherever you go :-)
21:40:43 ElyseEA: Nice.  I wonder about the students who wouldn't have access or wouldn't get instruction to really grow with their skills if they didn't get it in school.  I think there are still plenty of those students out there too.
21:40:46 tunaguy: Oh sorry... Hi Susan and company
21:41:06 PeggyG again: yes! this generation doesn't know life without technology
21:41:10 tunaguy: I'm Tom, I teach speech to high schoolers in the Dallas area
21:41:11 SusanEttenheim: hi ! welcome!
21:41:25 tunaguy: thanks
21:41:32 RonnieO: hi tom welcome
21:41:58 Jimin: http://www.crunchgear.com/2010/03/17/generation-i-the-middle-children-of...
21:41:59 PeggyG again: I have a feeling they got more out of high school than many other students
21:42:06 lneuburger: Thanks for the ?, Paul
21:42:37 mslaneeus: One day I want a student to describe me as the most tech savvy :-)
21:42:44 mslaneeus: Well done Mr. Sloan.
21:43:02 PeggyG again: I think conversations like this from former students would help Seniors to understand how important their learning is!!
21:43:36 PeggyG again: students seem to prefer to hear from other students than the teachers :-) very validating!
21:43:55 carolteach4: So both students are taking responsibility for their own learning - that's a very mature response
21:44:04 PeggyG again: yes it is!
21:44:49 ElyseEA: Shouts in the forest -- that's a good metaphor
21:44:55 PeggyG again: such a valuable point!! just posting isn't enough--commenting and interacting makes it so much more meaningful
21:45:35 PeggyG again: powerful testimony for the potential of Youth Voices!
21:45:52 SusanEttenheim: but peggy that has not always been a given at all - some feel that journalling is fine for some and you don't have to have the converstaion
21:46:17 PeggyG again: I agree and these are great changes in perspective
21:46:18 SusanEttenheim: that it is just as valid if you are exploring and writing and researching
21:46:32 SusanEttenheim: for yourself
21:47:09 carolteach4: I get discouraged and don't post as often as I should because the teachers in my school, at whom my blog is mainly directed, are too busy to take a look and comment.
21:47:16 ElyseEA: I like the balance.  I like that there are times and spaces to just figure out what you have to say, make a post, work at it and publish...and other spaces that are multivoiced and conversational. 
21:47:28 SusanEttenheim: how true
21:47:32 ElyseEA: Go Chris -- a shout out for Digital is
21:47:34 PeggyG again: I think they need to be guided to see that it isn't enough to just do those postings for themselves or for an assignment
21:48:16 PeggyG again: it is discouraging when you write and peope don't respond but that is often the case with people who are blogging
21:48:55 PeggyG again: these are such great points about conversations around blog posts
21:48:55 ElyseEA: Excellent point -- really about public culture online
21:49:13 lneuburger: How have the students extended what they learned? What tech tools do they use now?
21:49:23 carolteach4: I have occasionally looked at comments on You Tube or on articles on AOL, and I can't believe how ignorant many of the comments are.
21:50:04 lneuburger: witter?
21:50:09 PeggyG again: I have noticed that kind of commenting on my local TV/newspaper posts that are anonymous
21:50:13 lneuburger: Twitter?
21:50:42 PeggyG again: most of them use a name that isn't identifyable or they use anonymous
21:50:58 carolteach4: On the other hand, I look at comments on our ed-tech teachers, and I guess their audience is different, for the comments there are so thoughtful and deep. People need guidelines for comments, and inappropriate ones should be deleted. I know that is almost impossible to manage.
21:51:14 PeggyG again: Twitter is a microblogging tool where you have to comment with just 140 characters
21:51:31 PeggyG again: yes @carolteach4
21:51:55 carolteach4: I use comment moderation on my blog.
21:52:00 RonnieO: carol... i often find myself laughing at the ignorance of those responses you were referring to
21:52:08 PeggyG again: I think you should always monitor comments posted on your blog--so easy to attract spam that is inappropriate
21:52:48 PeggyG again: off topic posts aren't as bad as spam or offensive posts
21:54:14 RonnieO: mr. sloan...  did you or do you use social networking (facebook / myspace) with your students or do you steer clear!
21:54:51 PeggyG again: good question RonnieO
21:54:55 chris sloan: Youth Voices is the only social networking I use in my English class.  We explore Twitter, etc. in my New Media class
21:55:06 lneuburger: Google Reader is awsome!
21:55:46 PeggyG again: Google Reader is such a good way to follow blogs you find interesting
21:56:17 lneuburger: Read and listened to student work on my drive home. (50 minutes)
21:56:26 PeggyG again: good idea to upload PDFs to website :-)
21:57:11 ElyseEA: Very true -- college websites are not necessarily cutting edge.
21:57:24 PeggyG again: I've learned a lot tonight :-)
21:57:38 mslaneeus: I always learn a lot here!
21:57:40 jennybrandon: thanks so much
21:57:50 SusanEttenheim: ronnie - do you have any questions to take back to your class?
21:57:59 SusanEttenheim: or any class questions you'd like to ask us?
21:59:14 lneuburger: Awesome show!
22:00:24 ElyseEA: Agree -- nice showl
22:00:30 RonnieO: we often talk about the social networking and whether or not it is appropriate for educators or even future educators.  i was just curious if mr.sloan was involved.  overall this has been so worthwhile and informative
22:00:39 RonnieO: def. be back for sure
22:01:21 RonnieO: best of luck to both of these students.  i am sure that you will find success in whatever the two of you decide to do!
22:01:36 Jimin: cheers
22:01:38 PeggyG again: thank you so much for having Katie and Jimin share tonight!! Brilliant idea Chris and outstanding choice of students!!
22:02:21 chris sloan: Thanks Peggy.  I'm pretty fortunate to have had them in my class, huh?
22:02:42 PeggyG again: absolutely!!! a teacher's dream!!!
22:03:15 carolteach4: There is so much teacher bashing in the media lately, I love to hear these students speaking of awesome teachers!
22:03:35 RonnieO: good job mr.sloan keep it up
22:03:36 mslaneeus: You said it Carol.  No different here.
22:03:52 PeggyG again: yes and successful, motivated students are a powerful testimony to awesome teachers!
22:03:58 mslaneeus: Absolutely.
22:04:46 Jimin: http://illegalbeagle.bandcamp.com
22:04:50 Jimin: Free album downloads for everyone!
22:05:01 PeggyG again: :-)
22:05:14 carolteach4: Teachers always have to keep a professional distance, however.
22:05:15 Paul Allison: Thanks Jimin
22:05:17 RonnieO: heres a question for the tech kids...   can i listen to this on my phone?
22:05:38 PeggyG again: this live webcast, RonnieO?
22:05:39 SusanEttenheim: thanks jimin and katie!
22:05:50 SusanEttenheim: ronnie you can subscribe to the rss
22:05:51 RonnieO: yeah   with a smart phone?
22:06:03 PeggyG again: you can listen to the recording on and ipod or iphone
22:06:20 RonnieO: good  ill figure it out from here!
22:06:30 PeggyG again: if they were streaming on ustream you could listen to the stream on your mobile phone
22:06:34 carolteach4: google-certified -high praise
22:06:46 PeggyG again: absolutely @carolteach4!!
22:06:52 RonnieO: very inspiring!
22:06:53 tunaguy: thanks all, as always
22:06:54 carolteach4: Thanks - nice show.
22:06:55 PeggyG again: wonderful show!!! as always!!
22:06:58 RonnieO: good night
22:07:02 chris sloan: night
22:07:05 PeggyG again: good night everyone
22:07:09 PeggyG again: see you next week
22:07:09 lneuburger: Nice work!