General Forums >> Hot Topics & Headlines >> Professionalism
Professionalism
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Posted 3 months ago I am wondering if we are seeing on the Apple a generation gap in what constitutes professional behavior. Consider dress codes, the name we go by to students, and focus on lessons. When I came to the Apple I was looking to share and get feedback on teaching ideas and classroom practices. I have found some VERY intelligent and insightful friends here, but overall I am finding less and less that appeals to me, rather than more and more. When it comes down to it, I could go into any chat room for the discussions that have been going on here lately. What do you think? Is the Apple a place for teachers to share education ideas or a chat room? Children are the living messages we will send into a time we will not see. – John W. Whitehead |
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| Posted 3 months ago In 1995, when I first went online, I became a "community leader" on AOL. We had regular chats on specific topics within our specialty areas. The general chats were for folks who wanted to talk about more general, social things. Unfortunately, the number of folks who came to the specialty chats dwindled and they were eliminated due to lack of interest. That, perhaps, is inevitable. The same is true of TheApple. Very few discussion threads focus on issues like infusing technology or classroom management. The topics seem to be going more toward the recent topics of "Splurg" and "Wishes." I had thought that stuff like that was better on MySpace, at least that's what my son tells me. When message boards allow the Splurgs to move the other more serious topics off the boards...you truly end up with what Deven called anarchy. The management of the site isn't interested in EDUCATION. It never was and never will be. Monster.com is interested in other things. Education on TheApple is like the articles in a newspaper...that fill the space between the ads. In order to have a true area for professional discussion, I'm thinking more and more, there needs to be another Web site, made by and for teachers, just for serious discussions...where the discussions would be moderated and restricted. With software like DISCUS, that's actually possible pretty easily. It's something I've been thinking about. The Story Starter provides 373,067,200 creative ideas for writers.
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| Posted 3 months ago I am on several LISTSERVES that focus on science teaching (chemistry, biology, highschool, and middleschool), but they come in just the form of posts. I DO appreciate the articles and videos posted by John, Deven, and others. And the listserves run into the same problem as the forum topics - they get messy and lost, then people reinvent them. Children are the living messages we will send into a time we will not see. – John W. Whitehead |
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| Posted 3 months ago Well said. I have not been on the site for a week because I do not want to get online just to talk about "stuff", though that is interesting at times. I have found great value in the "news" section as I think it is a good source of updates on what is happening in the education world, but I agree that the site could use a focus on specifics. "All men dream: but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dream with open eyes, to make it possible. " -T.E. Lawrence |
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| Posted 3 months ago My recent post: "What more could we ask from TheApple?" Joelheffner's recent post: "It's the points!!" Deven's recent post: Who's minding the Apple? and now this one "Professionalism" Hhmm...It seems these recent posts all have a common thread. They are all attempts to keep this site moving in the right direction. I think as a site manager, I would welcome the feedback. Listen to your loyal customers. I think it's alright to have a non-educational posting area..but call it that. Create a "Useless Topics" tab...or something lol |
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| Posted 3 months ago Its all just up to us. If you ignore useless stuff it WILL go away. If you foster and participate in constructive ways it WILL dominate. |
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| Posted 3 months ago Si senior. |
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| Posted 3 months ago MisterD says ...
I agree, it is up to us to focus our posts, comments and efforts in a constructive direction. Am I thge only one who is starting to think of this site as a Lord of the Flies social experiment: lets put teachers on an island without administrators to tell them what to do and see what happens. "Learning is not attained by chance, it must be sought for with ardor and attended to with diligence." ~~ Abigail Adams (1744 - 1818) |
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| Posted 3 months ago Deven says ...
Deven, I interact with the site as if it was exactly that. It is a fun concept! The entire content could be driven by a single person or even a properly programmed computer. |
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| Posted 3 months ago MisterD says ...
True. Children are the living messages we will send into a time we will not see. – John W. Whitehead |
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| Posted 3 months ago Sorry, but it isn't true. If a flood of new messages are added to the forum the rest of the stuff gets moved off into never, never land. If ignoring it was possible, that would be great. If there was a clear separation of messages by content, then if some content were ignored the posters would get bored and go away. With everything going together, they are encouraged to continue to stuff up the board. sanmccarron says ...
The Story Starter provides 373,067,200 creative ideas for writers.
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| Posted 3 months ago Joel, I do understand what you are saying and I can sympathize, but on the other hand I have had no trouble finding and responding to content that is relevant to the site and cogent for me. You can use tools that watch a certain forum. You can look into what other serious posters are doing and you can scroll a little further!
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| Posted 3 months ago So true. Bump up the threads you feel are relevant.
MisterD says ...
A witty woman is a treasure; a witty Beauty is a power.
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| Posted 3 months ago I just wanted to let you know that are indeed listening to your feedback, and it's incredibly valuable to TheApple team. So, thank you! You might also want to take a look at this recently posted letter which may help clear up any questions you have: http://www.theapple.com/topics/1736-a-letter-to-our-members/posts As always, feel free to private message Jill, the "editor", or myself with questions and concerns. We're here to make your experience on this site enjoyable.
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