Comments on: The origins of BSOS – Bright Shiny Object Syndrome http://robwall.ca/2009/05/21/the-origins-of-bsos-bright-shiny-object-syndrome/ Just because I'm making it up as I go along doesn't mean I don't know what I'm doing Tue, 11 May 2010 03:38:11 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Samantha Melvin http://robwall.ca/2009/05/21/the-origins-of-bsos-bright-shiny-object-syndrome/#comment-433 Samantha Melvin Sun, 28 Jun 2009 21:21:46 +0000 http://robwall.ca/?p=270#comment-433 I do think teachers and districts, especially, get caught up in the Bright Shiny Object Syndrome... I do catch it myself occasionally--thinking about how "cool" it would be to have a particular tool for the classroom, but then I do sit and play and figure out how it can be integrated seamlessly into the learning/teaching. That is where I think we need to focus: how can we 1) get the tools in our classrooms, 2) find the time to play with them 3) have professional development to support the learning~all the while facilitating the learning with all the other tools we have on hand. I am doing a focus on notebook software for my newish Smartboard~got the software loaded in Feb., but have not had time to play and create lessons until now... I suppose that is what summer is for! Our BSOS is the whiteboard--used as a screen until more recently in most classrooms. I am waiting on the class but I'll get myself going first. I do think teachers and districts, especially, get caught up in the Bright Shiny Object Syndrome… I do catch it myself occasionally–thinking about how “cool” it would be to have a particular tool for the classroom, but then I do sit and play and figure out how it can be integrated seamlessly into the learning/teaching. That is where I think we need to focus: how can we 1) get the tools in our classrooms, 2) find the time to play with them 3) have professional development to support the learning~all the while facilitating the learning with all the other tools we have on hand. I am doing a focus on notebook software for my newish Smartboard~got the software loaded in Feb., but have not had time to play and create lessons until now… I suppose that is what summer is for! Our BSOS is the whiteboard–used as a screen until more recently in most classrooms. I am waiting on the class but I’ll get myself going first.

]]> By: David Truss http://robwall.ca/2009/05/21/the-origins-of-bsos-bright-shiny-object-syndrome/#comment-432 David Truss Sun, 28 Jun 2009 18:28:30 +0000 http://robwall.ca/?p=270#comment-432 I've had this post on my iphone for a month now and I'm finally reading and reflecting on it. More than once in the last while I've ranted that 'it's not about the technology, it's about the learning.' Yet I totally get that we need to talk about the tools too! I'm formulating ideas around tool use being like language immersion learning: people need to play with the tools, mess up the order of things, (syntax), and generally 'play' before using the tools effectively. You don't correct every error someone new to a language makes when speaking and writing... How much guidance & 'correction' should we provide to those new to ed tech when they are still so new to the tools? I’ve had this post on my iphone for a month now and I’m finally reading and reflecting on it.

More than once in the last while I’ve ranted that ‘it’s not about the technology, it’s about the learning.’ Yet I totally get that we need to talk about the tools too!

I’m formulating ideas around tool use being like language immersion learning: people need to play with the tools, mess up the order of things, (syntax), and generally ‘play’ before using the tools effectively. You don’t correct every error someone new to a language makes when speaking and writing… How much guidance & ‘correction’ should we provide to those new to ed tech when they are still so new to the tools?

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