What happens when
students have a voice?
Gerald Ardito, Pace University
May 18, 2008
NYSCATE Metro Conference

Or
How my life was ruined
by Will Richardson

For a long time, education looked like this.

The teacher was the authority, sprinkling information on thirsty students.

Paulo Freire likened traditional teachers to bank tellers, doling out information in frugal
doses.

Students were considered sheep, needing to be led.

Then, some people said, “Stop!”

Maybe things were out of order.

Maybe students could work to build their own understanding.

Maybe students had something to say, something that needed saying, and the saying of
which would allow them to educate themselves.

They could communicate and collaborate.

They could create.

There are lots of tools to let this happen.

Lots of ways students can grow their understanding.

They make posters

They make models

They perform experiments

They go on field trips

They work together.

All of it designed to have the students construct their own meaning and understanding.

And then, along came Web 2.0

Instantly, people could communicate, collaborate, and think together ...

Suddenly being an author with a real audience became a reality for just about
anybody...students included

In all kinds of new ways.

Blogs

Wikis

Podcasts

Social Networks

Google Docs

Vokis

Voicethread

What when students get to use their own voices? have a voice?
So, what happens
happens when students

The End

Being in communication
❖ gmanb5@gmail.com
❖ teachingownership.blogspot.com
❖ Skype: gmanb5

Photo Credits
❖ http://flickr.com/photos/mmarsupilami/
❖ http://flickr.com/photos/angel_shark/
❖ http://flickr.com/photos/atencion/
❖ http://flickr.com/photos/gak/
❖ http://flickr.com/photos/jonastherkildsen/
❖ Library of Congress
❖ http://flickr.com/photos/bg/
❖ http://flickr.com/photos/poldavo/
❖ http://flickr.com/photos/dailypic/http://flickr.com/photos/
❖ http://flickr.com/photos/slightlynorth/http://flickr.com/ weston/
photos/beija-flor/
❖ http://flickr.com/photos/ianus/
❖ http://flickr.com/photos/n8wood/archives/date-posted/
2006/01/29/
❖ http://flickr.com/photos/28481088@N00/
❖ http://flickr.com/photos/garon/