Communicate: Definitions of Communication 1.1.1

Communicate: Definitions of Communication 1.1.1

My communication skills have changed.  Five years ago, I would have called.  I might have emailed.  Instead, today I found myself sending 5 text messages over the course of 18 minutes to communicate with a retired teacher (and highly respected colleague) about subbing for me on Tuesday.  (I am trying to finish the TOOL MOOC.)  Like I said, she is RETIRED, which is very interesting as, since I am in my "middle age", I would expect that a person 15 years older than me would not be texting.  Apparently, she LOVES it, because she is quite good at it, even sending appropriate emoticons attached to phrases.  I find it less invasive of my thinking mind to send a text message.  (I was writing and engaged in deep creative thought.)  Had I known the delight that she would take in practicing her newly acquired language, I would have started texting her months ago.  Today, however, I should have called.  It would have taken 5 minutes, and would have been a done deal.  On second thought, the experience did provide a unique set of fodder in which to grow my thoughts on how my individual communication skills have changed.  After watching Sherry Turkle this afternoon, I will be watchful, and make sure that I make TIME to, "have conversations".  She said, "We use conversations with each other to learn how to have conversations with ourselves. So, a flight from conversation can really matter because it can compromise our capacity for self reflection.  For kids growing up, that skill is the bedrock of development."  (Sherry Turkle, on TED Talks)

Email seems to be the most frequent method of communication that I employ.  I also post on facebook something worthy of a view or a ponder every day.  I tweet.  (The words to the left look amazing on this page.)  I never thought I would be a tweeter, seriously!  I post on my calendar for my students.  I post on EDMODO.  I submit assignments to a digital drop box.  I like. I share.  I comment. But, I don't bake cookies anymore.  Ten years ago- before my home went digital, I baked.  I had friends come over for coffee.  Life was slower then, and it was gone too fast.  So-  I type so I can post.

My classroom communication has changed. I skype to interview teachers across the country who have developed resources and /or published vodcasts that i use with my students.  My students get their homework assignments form a digital calendar, and post them to a digital drop box.  They take all of their tests on a digital platform and get their results on that same digital platforms.

As for the children in my classroom, there is a set of leaders in the physical world.  They take initiative and make things happen in class as we move through the projects, labs, and learning activities.  They are AMAZING.  In my digital classroom, there is a shy set of leaders in the digital world who take initiative and make things happen (get bossy and leave many comments) in the class as we move through simulations, projects, and virtual labs.  They are AMAZING!  The strange thing is that I am talking about the same set of children.  The virtual classroom leaders are quiet observers in class while the classroom leaders are quiet observers online.  Isn't that interesting?  Oh- and the partnerships made are so different than in years ago.  These kids all want to work with one of the digital geniuses on their projects, so finally, the geeky kid is BOSS.  Isn't that crazy?  I love it!  Since I teach 11 and 12 year olds, they are absolutely craving conversations.  Some of them will talk the graffitti off the sides of the science tables, if I let them.  They are more talkative now than 6th graders were 5 years ago.  I wonder if their parents are otherwise engaged- as in on their mobile devices.  Tomorrow I will start asking about when and how much time at home is dedicated to time for conversation.... and then I will show Dr. Turkle's video.  http://new.ted.com/talks/sherry_turkle_alone_together  And when I share it, we will have a conversation in class.  Students will all have stories to share and comments to make and we will spend 2 minutes discussion for every 1 minute on the video and it will be as it should be, these kiddos coming to different points of self realization.... I will post a link to it on Edmodo and students will share it with their families and have that discussion with their families.  And then at night, the digital students will emerge and the talk will get even more animated and go to the next level... until 9:30, when the Ogre Ms. Salomon emerges and says, "Go to bed"!