The Value of Conversations

Last spring I had the honor of participating in a panel discussion with Steve Hargadon and other amazing educators at the Dynamic Landscape Conference at Champlian College in Burlington, Vermont. Prior to this panel discussion I first met/heard Steve speak through a prerecorded Google Hangout created by Lucie Delabruere and Charles Wilson. It was an amazing conversation. Steve shared with us about the importance of having conversations and being open to what they can reveal, inspire and the value of face to face conversations. This has had me thinking deeply for awhile now about how I can not only have meaningful conversations, but how this might look and sound like for me professionally and with my Kindergarten students and their families.

1.Twitter: My students have “conversations” through threaded tweets about ideas that we find interesting, curious about or that we connect with. The blue lines help my students visualize how our ideas, words are connecting. My students parents are also tweeting us as well and asking us questions about ideas we have explored.

2.SKYPE: Skype has been an awesome tool for us to use to have face to face conversations with others outside of our classroom. This tool has only enhanced and enriched our thinking and we have developed a very positive and kind online etiquette as well because of how we use Skype to converse.

3. SpeakPipe: This is a great gadget that I found out about thanks to Karen Lirenman. I put this on our science blog. Some parents leave questions and comments about scientific ideas we are exploring. I have also had a few educators leave comments and questions for me as well. This is great because I am then able to continue our conversation via Skype or Google Hangout.

4. Blogging/Kidblog: Blogging is an amazing platform to share and reflect. My students experience commenting and giving compliments as another way to “speak” about what they are discovering.

5. Google Hangout: This is an amazing tool that can bring people together to have a conversation regardless of where you are. I have used this tool with students, other professionals to share their ideas, have conversations and get help and advice.

6. Oral Language: I have created an Important Word Tree in my classroom where we post new words that we begin to explore and use everyday in Kindergarten. This has been an amazing opportunity for me to capture and enhance the words of my students as well as offer them other words that mean the same thing. For example in kindergarten we are not talking, but having conversations. This has really raised the level of vocabulary not only being used, but how my students are beginning to strengthen and develop their oral vocabulary and understanding.

So because of my experience last spring I was inspired, my views and perspectives were challenged and I made some new connections with other inspiring educators.

I learned about how conversations can be experienced in a variety of ways and some of the tools that can make this possible.

One of the things that I enjoy most when I meet new people is what their story is, their experience and what they have discovered. This offers me an opportunity to stay connected and know that these connections are always there and available. The technology does not replace ideas or opportunities to have face to face conversations, it captures, connects and enhances our stories.

Who are these amazing educators?

You can find these educators on twitter. They are: @stevehargadon @alanfletcher4 @babbitjoyce @nissakauppila @mattallenedu @techsavvygirl and @chaswilson.

4 responses to “The Value of Conversations”

Sharon, As usual you are in the forefront of ideas that have so much potential to make learning happen. Thanks for the list of tools! I, too, have been focused lately on preparing a course on text complexity, communication, and the Language Arts standards. Hope we have a chance to continue our conversation soon.

Hi Sharon! I watched one of the panel videos, and I like your open-minded attitude toward change and how change can give us more tools for learning. I think it is great that you are incorporating so much technology in a kindergarten class. I especially like that parents are tweeting questions. It’s great when the parents are involved in their child’s learning! Thanks for your encouraging blog!