Gifted and Talented in the 21st Century » Web 2.0 http://talentedandgifted.edublogs.org A blog on technology and gifted education Wed, 23 Jan 2008 18:58:17 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.2 en hourly 1 Importance of connecting with others in an area of passion http://talentedandgifted.edublogs.org/2007/10/22/importance-of-connecting-with-others-in-an-area-of-passion/ http://talentedandgifted.edublogs.org/2007/10/22/importance-of-connecting-with-others-in-an-area-of-passion/#comments Tue, 23 Oct 2007 01:57:04 +0000 mdeckstein http://talentedandgifted.edublogs.org/2007/10/22/importance-of-connecting-with-others-in-an-area-of-passion/ Steve Hargadon interviewed a 14 year old, Arthus, who has been blogging on Educational Technology . It’s so great that Arthus has been able to use Web 2.0 technologies to connect with others in his area of passion.  He has found an authentic audience to respond to his thoughts, and to help him continue to explore his area of interest.   Reading Steve’s interview with Arthus and then Arthus’s blog really supports my thoughts that GT kids need Web 2.0 technologies to connect with mentors, like minded peers, and high level content. 

]]> http://talentedandgifted.edublogs.org/2007/10/22/importance-of-connecting-with-others-in-an-area-of-passion/feed/ 2 Election and debates, making it real for GT students http://talentedandgifted.edublogs.org/2007/10/19/election-and-debates-making-it-real-for-gt-students/ http://talentedandgifted.edublogs.org/2007/10/19/election-and-debates-making-it-real-for-gt-students/#comments Sat, 20 Oct 2007 03:09:59 +0000 mdeckstein http://talentedandgifted.edublogs.org/2007/10/19/election-and-debates-making-it-real-for-gt-students/ Technology continues to change the way the world functions.  Tech President joined forces with the New York Times, and MSNBC  to launch 10Questions.com, an online presidential debate that’s a fascinating mix of video blogging, tagging and user-generated content.  This is another great way to use Web 2.0 technologies with gifted students. Why not have students brainstorm a few questions to ask the presidential candidates.  Students could vote on the questions to come up with a list of 3 or 4 really good questions. Then play 4 corners, have students select the question that they want to work on.  They create a video of their question and post it according to the rules specified at  10Questions.com .  This is a great way to get students thinking about

1.        What are the big issues in the presidential election this year?

2.      What issues or platforms are they personally concerned about and how do their personal view affect how they view the candidates.

3.      How can they use technology to get involved in the political process?

]]> http://talentedandgifted.edublogs.org/2007/10/19/election-and-debates-making-it-real-for-gt-students/feed/ 1 Blogging for a Cause http://talentedandgifted.edublogs.org/2007/10/16/blogging-for-a-cause/ http://talentedandgifted.edublogs.org/2007/10/16/blogging-for-a-cause/#comments Tue, 16 Oct 2007 15:41:43 +0000 mdeckstein http://talentedandgifted.edublogs.org/2007/10/16/blogging-for-a-cause/ One common characteristic of gifted students is their intensity.  Gifted students frequently wish to find ways to help others, and perform good deeds.  In Judaism this is referred to as Tikkun Olam, repairing the world.  In the 21st Century there are so many ways for gifted students to become involved in repairing the world.  Activism is just one of those ways.  Gifted students frequently look for important causes to support.  My daughter recently created a cookbook and sold it donating the proceeds to a local non-profit, CSAW, engaged in helping to resettle and support Sudanese refugees in Boulder, Colorado.    

Yesterday was Blog Action Day. Jamais Cascio says “Blog Action Day is an interesting concept: make the environment a topic of conversation by making it essentially unavoidable for people who read blogs. If it’s successful — and in this kind of effort, success is measured not in practical results, but in levels of participation — I’d expect to see this become a regular type of event, across a variety of issues…. We’re still in the early days of figuring out how to use this Web thing for good.”

It’s so simple, gifted kids need to make a difference.  Blogging is easy, fun, and accessible.  We need to encourage gifted students to find a cause, and blog about it.  Others will read their blog, comment, forward the link to the blog to others… the cycle continues.  Students can connect with others interested in the same cause by searching Technorati for other blogs on their cause.  Social action or community service, needs to be part of all GT programs.  Students need it, the community needs it, our future needs it.  Blogging is such a simple way to start, to get connected to others doing good in the world. 

]]> http://talentedandgifted.edublogs.org/2007/10/16/blogging-for-a-cause/feed/ 0 Need a Technologist? http://talentedandgifted.edublogs.org/2007/10/15/16/ http://talentedandgifted.edublogs.org/2007/10/15/16/#comments Tue, 16 Oct 2007 03:54:25 +0000 mdeckstein http://talentedandgifted.edublogs.org/2007/10/15/16/ Will Richardson blogged today on a topic very close to home, “supplementing my kids education“.  I have spent years supplementing my kids education, trying to keep them engaged in learning, even when school couldn’t.  Technology is one major aspect of that engagement in our house.  One of my initial blogs talked about my son’s first success in school, his first web site!  This week he is working on a high school science project with classmates using google docs.  Did they suggest this in school?  No, he was talking with me about the problems of sharing a document with 5 other people and the frustrations of one person changing something but not emailing to everyone … You get the picture.  Enter Mom, the technologist, as I’m now being called at home.  Google Docs is now his ‘best friend’.  If only schools would share the technology options with kids.  Productiving, engagement and learning would improve drastically.   

]]> http://talentedandgifted.edublogs.org/2007/10/15/16/feed/ 0 Ask what’s missing, analyze, and revise http://talentedandgifted.edublogs.org/2007/10/14/14/ http://talentedandgifted.edublogs.org/2007/10/14/14/#comments Mon, 15 Oct 2007 02:03:23 +0000 mdeckstein http://talentedandgifted.edublogs.org/2007/10/14/14/ Vickie Davis ’s commented on her blog “I am having students from this year edit the work of last year’s students. This is a great exercise. —The point is that sometimes students should not only create from scratch, but should edit something previous students have done — asking themselves what should be improved. Sometimes asking oneself what is missing is exactly the type of deep learning experience needed. I’m finding I have to work with students on editing. We have a lot of improvement to do…..”

The type of skills needed to do what Vickie suggests are at the higher ends of Bloom’s taxonomy.  These are exactly the types of things gifted students need to do.  

]]> http://talentedandgifted.edublogs.org/2007/10/14/14/feed/ 1 Did You Know? http://talentedandgifted.edublogs.org/2007/10/13/did-you-know/ http://talentedandgifted.edublogs.org/2007/10/13/did-you-know/#comments Sat, 13 Oct 2007 20:52:08 +0000 mdeckstein http://talentedandgifted.edublogs.org/2007/10/13/did-you-know/ Did you Know? Or Shift Happens

What do you think of this video?  Are we really preparing GT students for the world ahead.  How can we prepare students for a world we can’t even envision?  What are the skills and tools GT student will need to be leaders, to be the next Nobel Prize winners, to be our future?  We need connected, collaborative and authentic learning for all students.  We need to break down the barriers to learning and allow students to discover for themselves. 

]]> http://talentedandgifted.edublogs.org/2007/10/13/did-you-know/feed/ 0 Google Docs and Survey Monkey http://talentedandgifted.edublogs.org/2007/10/12/11/ http://talentedandgifted.edublogs.org/2007/10/12/11/#comments Sat, 13 Oct 2007 03:18:57 +0000 mdeckstein http://talentedandgifted.edublogs.org/2007/10/12/11/ I’ve been working with Google Docs and Survey Monkey today and find both to be great tools for the Enrichment 2.0 Network.  I work with PowerPoint 2007 most of the time and am still finding it a bit frustrating working on a PowerPoint and then loosing the formatting and animations when I load it to Google Docs.  My first attempt at a Google Docs presentation is a bit disappointing but hopefully they will get better over time.  I really like Survey Monkey.  I’ve set up a two surveys to get students started in Enrichment 2.0. 

]]> http://talentedandgifted.edublogs.org/2007/10/12/11/feed/ 0 Enrichment 2.0 http://talentedandgifted.edublogs.org/2007/10/11/enrichment-20/ http://talentedandgifted.edublogs.org/2007/10/11/enrichment-20/#comments Fri, 12 Oct 2007 03:27:17 +0000 mdeckstein http://talentedandgifted.edublogs.org/2007/10/11/enrichment-20/ Enrichment 2.0 is up and running in Beta Test Mode.  Enrichment 2.0 combines the idea of a flat classroom with the Renzulli Enrichment Cluster model. Enrichment 2.0 is an internet based Enrichment Cluster utilizing collaborative, connected, authentic learning in student areas of interest. Students begin by completing two brief surveys to help identify their interests for enrichment and to identify their current level of readiness for interent based learning. Students enrolled in Enrichment 2.0 will gain experience using 21st Century skills such as analyzing information, collaborating, and remaining safe in our increasingly connected world.

Enrichment 2.0 is a private wiki and student will be accepted into the enrichment program after their identity is confirmed by a school district.  The private nature of the wiki will allow young students to interact in the social network without fear of preditors.  Internet safety will be stressed and older students will interact both on Enrichment 2.0 and in the larger open internet. 

I am really excited about the possiblities for collaboration, connectedness, and high level content. 

]]> http://talentedandgifted.edublogs.org/2007/10/11/enrichment-20/feed/ 0 New Enrichment Network http://talentedandgifted.edublogs.org/2007/10/09/new-enrichment-network/ http://talentedandgifted.edublogs.org/2007/10/09/new-enrichment-network/#comments Tue, 09 Oct 2007 15:15:15 +0000 mdeckstein http://talentedandgifted.edublogs.org/2007/10/09/new-enrichment-network/ Dr. Reis presentation on Enrichment Clusters in Connecticut had a profound affect on my thinking this week.  I also attended Ben Wilkoff’s presentation on the Academy of Discovery Model.  I am trying a new model using a Social Network for an Enrichment Cluster (based on the Joseph Renzulli’ s Schoolwide Enrichment Model). By forming a social network, students from rural areas or in schools with limited funds for a full SEM program can participate in enrichment clusters. Students in the Enrichment Network on NING will gain valuable skills in utilizing 21st Century technology tools while exploring areas of interest. If your school is interested in having students participate in this beta version please contact me.

]]> http://talentedandgifted.edublogs.org/2007/10/09/new-enrichment-network/feed/ 2 Web sites and expression tools http://talentedandgifted.edublogs.org/2007/09/21/web-sites-and-expression-tools/ http://talentedandgifted.edublogs.org/2007/09/21/web-sites-and-expression-tools/#comments Fri, 21 Sep 2007 15:22:31 +0000 mdeckstein http://talentedandgifted.edublogs.org/2007/09/21/web-sites-and-expression-tools/ In 2002, my then 10 year old son, was working on report on the State of
Idaho for school.  He enjoyed learning about the state but when it came time to write the report, he was struggling.  Each attempt at creating the paper was frustrating and the end result did not represent what he knew about Idaho.  Matthew had enjoyed computers immensely and had been teaching himself various programming tools.  I suggested to him that perhaps he try designing a web site for his state and hand it in along with his paper.  He was immediately excited and spent every free minute of the next week working on his site.  It was amazing.  The site was well written, easy to navigate, and filled with pictures, links to other sites on Idaho and very fun to use.  Matthew’s 5th grade teacher was amazed.  Up until this point Matthew had been a great math and science student, but a struggling reader and writer.  His project demonstrated his abilities in ways that a paper never could.  He was no longer the average student, but seen for his gifts and talents.  We later had Matthew evaluated by the Gifted
Development Center and learned that Matthew was both high gifted and suffered from a vision processing disorder that could be easily addressed using vision therapy.  Matthew’s early experiences with technology allowed him to demonstrate his giftedness in ways that were just not showing up using more traditional products.

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