Friday, July 14, 2006

This is NOT Education as Usual

What are qualities of good teachers? What are qualities of good students? What expectations do you have of this class? What expectations do you have of me as your teacher?

What does it mean to have a professional learning environment? What does it mean to be a producer of information versus a consumer of information?

29 Comments:

Blogger jbarry said...

As a producer of information, you think of information while others consume that information. However consumers just sit back and let others do the thinking. I prefer to be a producer.

Thu Aug 17, 12:42:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I think having a professional learning enviornment means that the enviornment that you are allowed to work in is set in a way that doesnt make you feel "childish". It is one that allows you to feel like you have some freedoms while at the same time, is an area where you are expected to act and work maturly and in a professional matter.

Thu Aug 17, 03:12:00 PM  
Blogger KathrynT said...

Good teachers and students communicate well and understand each other. Good students work hard and participate just as much as good teachers do. Both must do their part to learn from each other and to create a "professional learning enviroment." In such, the students nor the teacher can be lazy or negative. Participation and a positive attitude are key.

Thu Aug 17, 03:23:00 PM  
Blogger Shelby B. said...

Madisonm I agree with you about what a professional learning enviornment means, I would also add that it is a enviornment that no matter what age you are, you are treated the same as older more educated professionals are treated.

To be a producer of information means that you are the one doing research and learning about a certain topic, but then also being able to share the information in a way someone else can understand. As where a consumer may just listen to the information given or could even do the research, but won't or just doesn't feel like sharing the information.

Thu Aug 17, 03:40:00 PM  
Blogger KariB said...

This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

Thu Aug 17, 04:02:00 PM  
Blogger AnnaD said...

To me, the most important quality in a good teacher is understanding. A teacher can't truly reach out to a student unless he or she is able to connect with and understand the student's learning methods. If a teacher can truly know how a student learns, then he or she can surely teach that student.

Good students are persistent. They understand what they need to do, and they consistently do it. And, in times where they don't understand a concept, they are persistent in their trying to understand it.

With the "professional learning environment" we, as students, are allowed the privilege of being treated more maturely than we have before, but under the condition that we act mature enough for this given respect. I personally think that it is a nice relief from the strict, "no leeway" classes of middle school.

The debate between being a "consumer" of information versus being a "producer" of information is a bit like history. There are the people who watch history happen, or "consume" it. There are also the people who "produce" history by actually contributing to it. So, the difference between "consumers" and "producers" is that consumers understand the information, while producers not only understand the information, they use it too!

Thu Aug 17, 04:43:00 PM  
Blogger Hannah J said...

Qualities of good teachers are:

•being understanding of students
•being able to talk intelligently
•can also listen
•has a good sense of humor
•can give reasonable but challenging homework

Qualities of good students are:

•being inquisitive
•diligent
•respectful
•responsible


Having a professional learning environment means that people aren't always goofing off and everyone stays on task. Also, the teacher keeps the class under control and educates the class in a professional way.

A producer of information is most often the teacher of the class. They have a specific curriculum that they follow and they'll also use teaching methods of their own.
A consumer of information is most often the students of the classroom because we learn new things from the teacher to use later in life. These roles can sometimes and are switched as the students educate the teachers with experiences of their own.

Thu Aug 17, 05:09:00 PM  
Blogger TyC said...

Someone who provides information for those around them so that others may learn would be considered a producer. Producers make the people around them more knowledgeable. Consumers are the people who take in the information that they hear from the people around them.

Thu Aug 17, 06:10:00 PM  
Blogger krump said...

A producer is one of those "make it happen" people while consumers are more like the "watch it happen" people. Both types are really important to have to make up a working professional enviroment. I agree with maddyg and I think a professional learning enviroment has to be made with responsibility, but the end result can be an amazing place to learn in.

Thu Aug 17, 06:39:00 PM  
Blogger erinl said...

Producer is someone that comes up with their own ideas and shares them with anyone who will listen. Consumers are simply people who listen to others ideas and takes in the ideas that they have heard and expand from them. We are all producers and consumers and neither one of them are bad.

Thu Aug 17, 06:43:00 PM  
Blogger Alex_Manning said...

Good teachers are people who will help you learn, not just throw things at you.

A good student is one accepts and challenges the rules all at once.

A prfessional learning environment is one that exceeds the needs of the consumers (teacher and student). In this environment, it is easy and fun to learn, with no setbacks.

I agree with phillips, in that the producer of info will take and spread the information, while consumers absorb the knowledge, until they have enough to become a producer. Its like a never ending cycle, the producers are consumers, and vice versa.
G'bye

Thu Aug 17, 07:44:00 PM  
Blogger Laurab said...

I think that acting as a producer of information is sharing ideas and thoughts for others to learn from. When somebody acts as a consumer of information, they listen to others to learn information. Just like a food consumer eats food to gather nutrients, a information consumer gathers information in order to expand their mind and is better acquainted with the world around them. Sometimes, people are both consumers and producers of information. They will throw out ideas to others and also pick up thoughts from them. These types of people are some of the best set to thrive in the world.

Thu Aug 17, 07:55:00 PM  
Blogger sarahc said...

I think that to be a producer of information, we have to be a consumer of information, simialar to what tanal said. No one can be a producer of information without first consuming information that will be a base for their thinking. A great thinker not only thinks, but they listen to others. As we listen to others' ideas, we may change the information that we produce.

A professional learning environment should be organized, yet fun. To be a learning environment, it has to be organized or nothing will get done. On the other hand, no one will learn if the environment does not stimulate them. stimulation comes best from fun, especially when controlled.

In a teacher, I expect a listener; one who is open to new ideas, and one who can admit they have made a mistake. Good teachers allow themselves to be questioned, and treat students as adults. Teachers who beleive that their way is the only right way, hinder a student's ability to think.

Thu Aug 17, 08:19:00 PM  
Blogger hannahs said...

A professional learning environment means that everyone tolerates each other and focuses on the task at hand. Although we might not all like each other, we need to put that aside to achieve a professional learning environment. Also, we need to be open to other ideas than our own and try to learn from our peers as well as our teachers.

A producer of information is a person who provides the material that we need to learn. A consumer is someone who takes in information. However, as a consumer, that person has the choice of whether or not they take that information and use it to their benefit.

Thu Aug 17, 08:29:00 PM  
Blogger chelseah said...

I think a professional learning environment is one where everyone is treated like an equal. Also, you are treated like a professional, so with that comes specific responsibilities that one must meet. I also agree with what hannahs said about being open to others ideas and learning from our peers, but at the same time I think you need to build off of your own ideas too.

A producer is one who gives/makes something. For example: information, a product, etc. A consumer is the one who takes that information and uses it to expand their knowledge or build off of their idea. I think that we are all producers and consumers at different points.

Thu Aug 17, 08:42:00 PM  
Blogger Connor DUCETIME said...

Good teachers explain everything and dont just say it. They also talk to you and not just at you. They are fair to everyone and push you but have reasonable expectations.They answer questions well and actually know what they are talking about. Good students come prepared and are on time. they take notes and study for tests and pay attention. they do their homework to. A good class helps each other and doesnt get to far off subject. A good class has fun. I want this class to actually be fun and i want the teacher to be able to talk to me and help me with the work. A professional learning environment usually is a place that doesnt have distractions that can take your focus away from the work. In a pro. learning envirnment everyone wants to learn. A consumer of information istaking in and learning things and a producer informs the consumer of the information.

Thu Aug 17, 09:04:00 PM  
Blogger lauraf said...

I agree with what chelseah said about the professional learning environment. One of the big responsibilities one must meet is to be involved with what is going on in the class and to participate. Therefore, in order to be successful in a professional learning environment, one must be a producer, giving feed back and new ideas to the discussions, not a consumer who just sits in class listening to others' opinions.

Thu Aug 17, 09:07:00 PM  
Blogger endsleye said...

I think a professional learning environment is one where the students are treated with respect and are trusted with responsibilites of an adult.

A producer of information is a student/teacher who share ideas of what is being taught but also use the information to expand their knowledge on the subject. The consumer is the one that learns the material but never gains anything from it because they show no interest to learn and make no effort to particpate. The consumer can also be the one that is expanding their knowledge on the subject and gains a lot from the lesson but never shares any ideas on the matter.

Thu Aug 17, 09:19:00 PM  
Blogger briang said...

A producer is someone who gives out imformation, while a consumer is one that takes in that imformation given by the producer.I agree with Sara, if everyone were a producer there would be a less professional learning environment. We all need to be both consumer and producer so that not only can we give out our own opinions and ideas, but to take in others so we can improve and expand on our own. In this way, if everyone were both consumer and producer, you would have a professional learning environment. Professional learning environments need everyone cooperating, everyone being on task, and everything being productive. It needs fun and different teaching methods though as well. Everyone, including the teacher, needs to be comsumer and producer in order to get the most out of this class.

Thu Aug 17, 09:45:00 PM  
Blogger BenH said...

I think one of the most important qualities of a good teacher is that the teacher has to care about teaching. They have to be commited to doing their job, otherwise they will not do it well. Also, teachers should be knowledgeable about the subject material that they are teaching. It is hard, if not impossible, for a teacher to teach things that they do not know.

It is also important for students to care about learning. Humans in general do not do things with as much passion if they do not want to do them. To properly reatain information, students should be attentive, quiet, and diligent in their studies.

I expect the class to be very educational and a lot of fun. Everyone I have asked has said that it will be, and i trust most of them. I also expect that the laptops will be a lot of fun, and a great way to learn more in depth material about what we are studying.

As a teacher, I expect you to be energetic and know the subject matter well. I also expect you will make the class a lot of fun, and the laptops will run smoothly because you have a good grasp of technology.

Mutual respect is an integral part of a proffesional learning environment. Equal participation, appropriate material, and whiteish walls also contribute to a proffesional learning environment. The most important element is that all memebers of the group working to create the environment conduct themselves with dignity and honor.

Producers of information extract information from situation. Nature is the true producer, but humans are necessary to extract it. For example, a producer of information may point out that trees have never been known to solicit candy to small children. Consumers of information collect this information, and often put it to use. A consumer of information might decide that because of the aforementioned fact, trees would not make a good workforce for his candy company. I agree with adriana g in the sense that it is preferable to have people that function both as consumers and producers. People that are only one or, even worse, neither can often cause problems when information is shared rapidly, large amounts of information are exchanged, or both.

Thu Aug 17, 09:49:00 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

A professional learning environment is important in any class, but especially in an honors environment. This envitonment needs a lot of respect from and for every member of the class including the teacher. Each participant should have a mind that is ready to accept new ideas but is also passionate about their position. This makes the classroom more like real life where people discuss their ideas not only write about them.
My expectation is that this class will be challenging and fun at the same time and will help me to develop my ideas and philosophies on life through discussion. I hope that my teacher and fellow students will be open and willing to learn and accept new ideas as well as make some mistakes.
The students in the class will largely consist of what are considered to be producers of information. These students will have the desire to challenge the system and create new ideas as well as adapt older ones.
This differs from other students because those who choose to pursue an average English class are more likely to be consumers of information. These are the students who are more likely to sit back and have facts pushed into their heads as apposed to thinking for themselves. (I mean no offense to non honors students.) I think that both groups play an important part not only in the education system but in life as well. I also agree that most of us are both of those though at different points. This should produce a wonderful learning environment where both types of students can flourish.

Thu Aug 17, 09:59:00 PM  
Blogger EmilyH said...

Are you a producer of information or a consumer? I beleive that is a great question to ask any student. It sets the stage for their attitude about how far they will take their education. So whats the difference? A producer of information is, to use the words in the assembly, someone who gets things done. Someone who creates new ideas, and digs deeper into questions.
A consumer then would be the opposite, someone who takes in the new information. A consumer would not dig deeper into the information, just take it as its surface idea and acept it.
There is so much knowledge in the world right now that it is hard to dig deeper, to get to the new ideas, but we can do it. Lets be producers instead of consumers. (they make more money anyway) :)

Fri Aug 18, 05:38:00 AM  
Blogger KariB said...

I think a professional learning environment is one in which students can learn without unnecessary distractions but still have a good time. As for producers and consumers, I think good students are both. They can digest information that's given to them and also draw their own conclusions from that material. I think the most important quality for a teacher is to love to teach, and students need to love to learn. For learning to occour, both of these things are needed.

Sat Aug 19, 04:58:00 PM  
Blogger BenH said...

One theme that seems to be emerging here (at least in my perception) is that of balance. Such as how lindseyc says that there should be leniency and rules, and how alexm says "a good student is one accepts and challenges the rules all at once." Also, many people have said that humans should be both producers and consumers of information. I strongly beleive that balance is one of the most important principles to live my life by. In my opinion, extremism in any direction is one of the most dangerous things in the world. And I am glad to see that many people agree with me that balance is important.

Sat Aug 19, 08:03:00 PM  
Blogger BenH said...

I strongly agree with sarahc when she says "A great thinker not only thinks, but they listen to others. As we listen to others' ideas, we may change the information that we produce." I think being able to refine your ideas based on new information into what is the best idea for the new environment is extremely valuable. Adapdability is hugely critical in the real world, especially in high stress environments that rapidly change. This can be anywhere from a corporate office to a battlefield. Both involve large amounts of information that has to be consumed, and both require information to be produced. But the environment is constantly changing, and so must your thinking. Some people admire sticking to your original position despite the new information. They call it resoluteness, or sticking to the course. In my opinion, it is stubornness.

Sat Aug 19, 08:45:00 PM  
Blogger BenH said...

I agree with adriana g as well. I think her point is similar to mine about having to adapt to a changing situation.

Mon Aug 21, 03:31:00 PM  
Blogger Dan said...

A good teacher delivers straight direct and most important of all understandable information to the student. Every student perceives information differently. I don't quite believe one teacher in the world would engage the whole world in his or hers teaching. If the student understands, then the teacher is a great teacher.

Being professional means not involving your own personal feelings, or personal life in the work area. A professional learning environment is just the same. The student is engaged and is swamped with ideas and questions in his or her head. I believe a professional learning environment will be the most beneficial to the student's learning. It also doesn't hurt to have fun once in a while too.

Tue Aug 22, 01:13:00 PM  
Blogger sarahc said...

I agree with paigen. Also, a professional learning environment should be a place where students feel free to bounce ideas off each others' heads without feeling like they will e criticized.

Wed Aug 23, 10:00:00 PM  
Blogger KathrynT said...

To build off of this idea, I have another question; based on how class has gone, how could we improve our learning environment? Is class meeting your expectations? If you were to answer the questions on this post now, would your answers be any different and how so?

Wed Sep 06, 11:35:00 PM  

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