Lettin' 'Em Run

My daughter is running around the house naked again. Thankfully, she's two and not 22. Apparently, now that she's learned to remove her diaper by herself, she's enjoying a new sense of freedom and accomplishment. It's a new thing she's taken to and has run with...literally.

I bring this up because I've just recently introduced this year's students to MassONE, and so far, it's been great. It's something that they too have taken to and have run with. Among other things, MassONE allows you to post discussion threads to which the kids can respond. These can spark some really great conversations with the students that you wouldn't necessarily get in class. More importantly, because it's web-based, these conversations can happen outside of class.

Currently, we're reading The Revealers in advance of Doug Wilhelm's visit next week, but we've been discussing a lot of it online - actually, I should say the kids have been discussing it because I haven't had to do much facilitating. They're doing it completely on their own without the expectation of credit or a grade, mind you. All I've had to do is post a question or a topic and they have at it.

Here's an example:

Mr. O: Why do you think Russell and Richie are the way they are?

Peter: I think Russell has no friends because he doesn't really try. Once he makes a fool of himself, he doesn't try to cover it up. He just gives up after his first try. I think the same thing happened to Richie, but in a different way, and with different results. With Richie, nobody liked him, perhaps for the same reason as Russell, or for a different one. Then, when nobody wanted to be friends with him, instead of becoming shy like Russell, he became mean. If either of them thought they could make friends with intimidation or shyness, they were both wrong.

Mary: I think Russell doesn't have any friends from when they all left him because he doesn't try making any new friends. Richie doesn't have any friends because he is too mean and he doesn't want any friends. Richie is really independent.

Peter: I agree. Russell's friends met new kids and made new friends, but Russell just gave up. He didn't stick with his old friends, nor did he try to make new ones.

Jason: I agree but I think that Russell is afraid to make friends because he might say the wrong thing.

It goes on, but what's really impressive is the richness of the conversation coupled with the degree of interest. The kids are doing everything you'd want from a classroom discussion, and they're doing it independently. And, not just a few students are participating. Last night alone, more than 50% of my students were on discussing the book - purely on their own!

But wait, there's more. Many of the students who are logging on each night are those that you'd never hear from in class - the quiet introverts who have a lot to contribute, but for some reason never do. (Coincidently, that's a theme in the book, as well) Right there, that's the real success story. This online setting finally gives those students the voice they've been missing in the regular classroom setting. Like my daughter in a full sprint, they too are experiencing a new found sense of freedom and accomplishment.