It’s a habit I’ve developed over the years. So if really need to concentrate on something, I get out a highlighter, turn off peripheral devices, and make myself pay attention.
When I skim,I always read enough to allow me to think and ponder the issues, but often find myself thinking back, wishing I had spent more time on the text (time I never seem to have these days).
Recently, I skimmed Seth Godin’s Tribes (can you skim while you listen?), The MacArthur report, and Christenson’s Disrupting Class. Christenson’s book is a fascinating look at how “disruptive innovation” will change learning.
For a few weeks now, I’ve been thinking about his ideas. Yesterday, I was delighted to tune into EdTechTalk on 21st Century Learning to hear a conversation with Michael Horne, co-author of Disrupting Class. As I puttered around my classroom, cleaning up for Thanksgiving break, it was great to hear the ideas I’d been thinking about bantered back and forth among those present. This second chance allowed me to focus on some of the points of how schools need to change. Here, have a listen:
Download 21stCenturyLearning#86-2008-11-24
2 thoughts on “I Skim”
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Thanks for linking to us Susan. Sometimes it takes me multiple passes to get something and I find different media help me engage in a topic. Our webcast has truly been the best PD that I could every have imagined.
So a challenge — Speak with your administrators about Disrupting Class. Buy them the book (or have your library buy it:). Send them a list of resources: http://www.learning-blog.org/2008/11/19/disrupting-class-primer/.
I’ve been spending time having this conversation with administrators, because the concepts of personalized learning and 40% of students taking online courses in 2019 creates an interesting conversations. Disruption can be a good thing to get creative juices going.
Hope you’re having a good holiday!
– Alex
Susan,
I’ll echo Alex here; sometimes it takes a couple nudges for me to engage in something I initially mark as important. That’s one of the greatest parts of viewing networks as filters–that you’ll never miss something that is transcendent. If enough of the individuals that make up your network view an item, whether it be post, podcast, interview or video, as necessary, you won’t miss it.
I’ve been banging around the idea of offering PD focused on the Christenson work, and this podcast will help get that more in line.