The way we learn...

I am never a big proponent of essentializing the way that people think and learn. However, we can say certain things about good learning (and teaching). We do not learn well under water without breathing equipment. (don't tell me that you are learning that you can't breathe underwater...that is a very quick lesson.)
There are more relevant ideas that we know about learning: It must be meaningful, it involves people, it is active, etc.
So my quote of the day: "Unfortunately, if human learning works best in a certain way, given the sorts of biological creatures we are, then it is not going to work well in another way just because educators, policymakers, and politicians want it to." (Gee, 2003, p. 68).
Or you can watch the presentation on How the Brain Works over at Darren's blog. The presenter says similar things but in a different way. Best line: "If we wanted to create the perfect opposite of what we know about how the brain works in education,it would look like the modern classroom"
Ouch...SO my goal- to start the conversations I am having in districts with: So what do we know we should be doing? Then how do we get there? This is very different than "What do you think we should do?" One is what should we do "in response to the current situation" The other is what should we be doing "in looking towards the future." I hope that with this being the focus of the conversation we will be able to move forward rather than just responding to what is.
Well, off for more exploring in the world of Learning, Identity and Technology.