The Web is Agreement by PSD http://flickr.com/photos/psd/1805709102/in/set-72157602805227511/
I'd like to begin this post with the obligatory sentence for starting any posting on a meme, which goes something like 'I don't usually respond to memes, but I thought I'd do this one.' Except this is the first time I've ever been memed, (by John Connell), so I can't.
In the passion quilt you are meant to state what you are passionate about teaching I think. I work at the Open University, and back in 1998 I developed their first fully online course, called You, your computer and the Net. It was an introduction to how computers and the internet worked and also what you could do with them. It was at level 1, which means that anyone should be able to take it. We made the course entirely online, got students to create web pages as assignments, engage in collaborative activities in discussion forums, etc. We were repeatedly told that it wouldn't work at level 1, and that no-one would want to take it. Of course, the demand was unprecedented, with nearly 15,000 students in its first year. Some hated it to be honest, but for many it was a life-changing experience. They found that not only could they understand this technology, but they loved it. And furthermore they loved studying this way. As one student put it, 'I would study You, your garden and your allotment' if it was online. '
So that is what I am passionate about in teaching - taking technologies, removing the fear from them and getting people to see their potential. I run a Masters level course now, so the life changing moment isn't as common, but I still like to try and get students enthused about the potential of technology in education (you won't be surprised that it's Twitter this year).
I chose this web is agreement poster from Paul Downey because it acts as a reminder to me that the easy path is always to the right. The harder path is to go to the left, but the overall goal is greater if one does
As I understand it, I have to now tag five others to carry this on. I'm going to opt for Open University folk, just to give my go a particular flavour.
Here are the rules:
1. Think about what you are passionate about teaching your students.
2. Post a picture from a source like FlickrCC or Flickr Creative
Commons or make/take your own that captures what YOU are most
passionate about for kids to learn about…and give your picture a short
title.
3. Title your blog post “Meme: Passion Quilt” and link back to Miguel Guhlin’s original blog entry.
4. Include links to 5 folks in your professional learning network or blogroll or whom you follow on Twitter/Pownce.
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