Whose Tools? Theirs.

Still fighting with 54 students logging in to Moodle chat rooms at the same time, we decided to take the collaboration between Snow Lake and St. Elisabeth school in Los Angeles outside of school hours. All of our kids have Internet access at home so their in-school-chat- task this week was simply to schedule a time where they could meet to chat outside of school hours. We thought this would reduce the load on the software, allowing the chat sessions to flow much more smoothly.

But looking at the logs from chat session #1 that happened outside of school, we were all frustrated. Even though there were only five kids on at once, the same troubles were happening. The logs showed kids constantly being kicked out of their chat sessions and having to spend time logging back in and trying to pick back up on disjointed conversations.

The technology was taking over. It was in the way. We were losing our focus on learning.

Talking Thursday by email and by Skype, Barbara, the principal at St. Elisabeth's school, and I were both frustrated and saw what was happening. It was time for a change. Why can't we simply allow the kids to use the instant messenger programs they use at home? I know all of my students use MSN, can't they just use that? They came back with the problem that only seven of their kids have MSN. But in deeper conversations on their end, it ends up that their students all use Yahoo Messenger: which can talk to MSN!

We quickly typed up a short code of conduct for using IM software outside of school for school purposes but before we could get it traded, the school day ended in Snow Lake. A simple document, it simply states that kids need to have user names and personal messages that are appropriate for school, they must use language that is appropriate for school, they must not abuse in any way the list of student email addresses they will be receiving, and finally, that they must send us a transcript of their chat sessions when they are completed.

Fast forward a few hours to find Barbara and I chatting on Skype when an email from a student rolls in that is obviously a transcript of a chat session between students from our schools. But wait a minute: these students are supposed to be meeting in a few hours in a Moodle chat room.....? They don't yet know of our discussions today about using IM instead. Turning to MSN, I find the student of mine who was involved and begin peppering him with questions about how this happened. Ends up they had a change in their schedules and had to move the chat forward a few hours so they simply found each other and they knew we would want a copy of the chat so they sent one on to us.

This story is everything a story about kids and classrooms and technology should be.

- They are independent learners.
- They are responsible learners.
- They are thinking globally.
- They are using technology transparently.
- They are using technology to solve problems and overcome obstacles.

Barbara and I were simply wowed. We wondered why we keep getting in the way of their learning. We wondered about our role with technology and students. She deserves great credit for being an administrator who can see the value of things like this and simply allow them to happen. She allows the learning to emerge and the focus to remain on it instead of on using the "right" tool.

So now our job becomes one of validating the channels that are being used. The tools work. Get the focus back on to the learning. Safety is still a concern as is privacy. But now I am predicting an explosion of communication between the two classes. It will not be on "official" channels and much of it will be "under our radar" and on their own time. But this will change the relationships and deepen them between our classes. It changes our role.

Tags: barbarabarreda, st. elisabeth, MSN, technology, learning, classrooms

Comments

[Jenny]

I've been enjoying all of your posts about this process with your students. This example is inspiring.

[Barbara]

So eloquently said...I think I might leave the ThinWall reports to you. my blurried eyed account written at 5 am my time does not seem near so coherent. Perhaps its strength is it highlights the thinking processes that have to change.

[Joseph Thibault]

I like the continuation of your earlier post (engaging students with the technology they're already using).

The standard Moodle chat is a bit problematic, and using the outside IM is a great alternative.

If you still want to try and get Moodle to work for the chats there are a few things you can do: DimDim is one way to enable chat...and video and can be installed to the server. It's also FREE. There is also a chat daemon server option that someone on the tech side can configure. As well, there's a UK based open source addition that is purportedly similar to Google's email based chat. From it's documentation on the Moodle.org site it's a great way to replace Moodle's chat feature. If you have a Moodle.org account, here's the link... http://moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=69307.

Of course, looking back at my comment, it seems that having students use the programs they are already using (Gmail chat, IM, etc) is a MUCH easier solution. Maybe someday those will all interface with Moodle...

[Dave]

This just proves that the students at times find the quickest way to solve the problem. What makes this great is that they were so responsible as to send a script of their chat. Maybe we should listen to them more sometimes.

[mrsdurffmrsdurff]

Here's an idea you probably thought of = Meebo
You can create Meebo rooms and several IM networks can talk to each other as long as one person creates the Meebo room. I use Meebo to IM students, faculty, parents, past schools, friends - all in one place. I'm not sure if one can do private rooms - Vicki Davis has used these rooms in her classrooms for a backchannel....

[George]

The devil's advocate for a second-
I always try to think of possible problems before I start using various technology with my students. Isn't it worrisome when you set up ways for middle school students to chat "off the radar." Can you assume that all students will e-mail you their chat transcripts? As a teacher that uses many of these tools, I get nervous when you start having students do things online you can't track. It just seems to open the door to criticism.

It is interesting how this one story played out, but what about the big picture?
Sure we can unleash students to connect through "their channels," but it does raise some real security questions.

[Clarence Fisher]

This comment was sent to me by NBosch who tried to post it but for some reason had technical problems. Clarence

Related topic? Maybe? I've used technology in my program for over 20 years and one thing I've learned is the teacher doesn't have to understand the technology to use it. I think this is a stumbling block for many teachers who think they have to understand a program before they can let their kids use it. Many times this is a brick wall to letting kids use any technologies at all. I teach gifted kids and every time they ask me how to so something application related I say "that's why we call it problem solving; otherwise we''d call it ask Mrs. Bosch and she'll tell you how to do it". Given enough time they figure it out and I don't have to. Of course, when it comes to Moodle, blogs, wikis, etc--I know what I'm doing but when I give them an application online like Animoto, Scratch, Alice or Floorplanner I say "go at it".

[Clarence Fisher]

Thanks for all of the response to this story of mine.

George: certainly it raises security and safety concerns when kids are doing things like this; we would be naive to think otherwise. But I do not believe it raises any further concerns than having kids use IM at any time does. In fact, I believe it places the kids in a position of safety as we are going to have them sign an IM Code of Conduct with the understanding that misuse of the tool, even if it is at home, will lead to consequences at the school. Any research into teen use of the Internet clearly shows that their parents often have no idea about what they are doing online and who they are speaking with. At least using IM like this they will know that someone is supervising their conversations and activities.

[Marie Coleman]

"getting in the way of their learning"? Maybe, but I think you are (and need to continue to be) doing just what you are doing - creating an environment that is both safe and challenging! Allowing students the freedom and flexibility to display their independent, self-directive, social learning tendencies and to problem solve and think creatively is not evident in every classroom - a true tribute to your classroom and project!