New Tool for Students: Storybird

I just found a new tool for students--Storybird.  Students create narrative short stories based on a visual and collaborate on the story with friends.  I have not yet begun to use the tool, but you should check out the cool stories posted by students.  I think the key here is "students" are the creators.  I have not had time to explore, but it appears to cater to K-8.

A new literacy tool for a new generation

"Storybirds are short, art-inspired stories that are curiously fun to make, share, and read. Teachers love them because they inspire their most reluctant writers and readers and reward their most adventurous. Kids adore them because they feel empowered by the tools and supported by the social feedback."

How Finland became an education leader

How Finland became an education leader

The final point of the article really hit home:
"How did Finland manage to elevate the role of teacher in the eyes of the population to something that is not just an honorable profession, but a revered profession, whereas in the United States, teachers are so regularly denigrated?"

"They really think about teachers as scientists and the classrooms are their laboratories. So, as I mentioned -- every teacher has to have a masters degree, and it's a content degree where they're not just taking silly courses on education theory and history. They're taking content courses that enable them to bring a higher level of intellectual preparation into the classroom. That's the first point.

The second point is that they've defined professionalism as working more collaboratively. They give their teachers time in the school day and in the school week to work with each other, to continuously improve their curriculum and their lessons. We have a 19th century level of professionalism here, or worse, it's medieval. A teacher works alone all day, everyday, and isolation is the enemy of improvement and innovation, which is something the Finns figured out a long time ago. Get the teachers out of their isolated circumstances and give them time to work together."

A Changing Culture of Technology

Isaac Asimov on Computers and Education (1988)

View part 2 of a three part Bill Moyers interview of Isaac Asimov in 1988.  A summary of Asimov's thoughts follow.  Through computers, each child can have an individualized education that was in the past was only accessible to the wealthy.  If all children have access to computers, the creative minds of children will not be stifled by our current system of education.  Students will be guided by teachers on how to access common knowledge, and to interact with others students.    All students can enjoy personal learning, and people of all ages can become learners.    Most people seek good sense, clarity, and truth (Saul Bellows in Herzog).  Things are changing so fast, that we must embrace change.