Comments on: Bubble Wrap

By: Filters and other annoyances (well actually only filters) « Greg's eduweb blog

Filters and other annoyances (well actually only filters) « Greg's eduweb blog — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 06:14:16 +0000

[...] Clearly filters are an issue about which many of us in the blogosphere have written long and sometimes distressing entries. I have no intention of rehashing that although I think that you should visit the following blogs from David Truss’ entries here and here to get an idea, although there are many more! Beyond the fact that they are a reactive approach to controlling students web activities, rather than a proactive approach to the problem [...]

By: gmaccoll

gmaccoll — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 05:37:52 +0000

Hi Dave,

I loved this entry having lived in some other more exotic places myself. I don’t think I’ve ever felt as alive as I did trying to cross the major streets when I lived in Ecuador. Anyway I recently heard about a guy who solved the problem of one of the most dangerous and congested intersections in the Netherlands by removing all the signs and traffic controls (including lane markers). People began having to pay attention to one another and apparently reduced collisions remarkably. I wish I could remember where I saw it, but I can’t, regardless a great and funny entry! Oh and I totally agree with the comment before mine!

By: The Trap | David Truss :: Pair-a-dimes for Your Thoughts

The Trap | David Truss :: Pair-a-dimes for Your Thoughts — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 16:11:18 +0000

[...] is my PhD I have given myself a Blogtorate of Philosophy. – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - Bubble Wrap What we are doing is creating a facade of security, nothing more than an illusion of bubble wrap. – [...]

By: Dana Woods

Dana Woods — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 05:27:35 +0000

Hi Dave, First of thanks for the excellent post. I just wrote a post on my blog about the way we "protect" girls from the internet. How do we remove the bubble wrap when its tied in place through fear and uncertainty?

By: On pedagogy, stupid rules and bubble wraps « It Caught My Attention

On pedagogy, stupid rules and bubble wraps « It Caught My Attention — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 15:08:50 +0000

[...]there are laws and bylaws and rules in place to make sure that we are ‘protected’ from unexpected harm[...]
[...] In the western world, common sense is not so common anymore. We’ve got the wrong mix of freedom, negative messages overload and total lack of positive attitudes or examples (or lack of media coverage to be honest, because scientific and humanitarian efforts make way less audience, therefore revenue, than american galdiators, hot babes or reality shows)[...]

By: Amalia

Amalia — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 09:57:42 +0000

Thanks for putting this common experience in to a new context for me. I have always told newcomers to China that there is no word in Chinese for “liability”. I’m not sure that’s linguistically true, but it certainly is culturally. The personal responsibility required in the context of safety crosses over to many areas of life here.

This week I’ve been teaching my students about the concept of independent investigation of the truth. We compare concepts like superstition, dogma and prejudice with the basic truths that are the kernels of those lies. So “7″ is not a lucky number, it’s just a number. A person is not inferior because of his/her skin color, nationality, gender, etc.; all people are equal. Though generally these concepts go over in the classroom, when I hit a real hot button, like the general attitude towards Japanese here, I find that there is plenty of bubble wrapping where learning is concerned.

I really felt the need to pop some of those bubbles, so thanks for providing the opportunity!

By: Dave Maclean

Dave Maclean — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 12:39:19 +0000

Cool message… there is a great and short TED talk that speaks to this (included in the following post). In addition, I’d love your thoughts on the following post that piggybacks on your ideas: http://b-i-a-t.blogspot.com/2008/12/5-dangerous-things-for-your-kids.html

By: Clarence Fisher

Clarence Fisher — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 11:30:42 +0000

Excellent post and an interesting one. I actually had the same feeling last year when I was in Shanghai for the Learning 2.0 conference. It actually seemed as if people had to be responsible for themselves crossing a street or when doing almost anything. I thought it was an interesting and powerful realization of the differences between cultures. Love to read about your experiences and about what you are learning. Thanks for continuing to share.

By: Dave Truss

Dave Truss — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 04:44:57 +0000

Good question Harold, though in asking it I think we fall into the mental construct of what we 'can' do vs what we 'can't' do... which allows 'we can't' to be an acceptable answer. It may just be semantics but I think the better question to ask is 'What can we do?' So, what can we do? • Talk to our district leaders about how 'Filters Filter Learning' (The POD's are Coming see the slides leading up to Slide 57)... and about how to use Personally Owned Devices for learning in schools. • Teach online safety. • Create social learning networks with students (even if it is a private, 'walled garden' that only the class can participate in). • Connect online with other students, even if they are from the same school or district, and promote creating safe, appropriate online identities. • Volunteer to help write a school or district Appropriate Use Policy (AUP). My point is that a lot can be done to remove the bubble wrap, without having to undo paranoid driven laws and regulations. We just need to: take on a leadership role, find the teachable opportunities, and do what we can to prepare our students for the world we live in today!

By: Harold Shaw

Harold Shaw — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 00:46:23 +0000

but now that much of the bubble wrap in the west is law or regulation how do we get rid of it? That is the question, because there is no question that I agree with you.