Reviewing this week's materials on the value and responsibility of sharing made me reflect about why I have never consider sharing any of my work "with the world". Why do I find the thought so overwhelming? I do share what I know or have with others but generally with people I know and feel somewhat comfortable. The idea of putting myself "out there" means that big part of who I am is open for the good, the band and the ugly. Isn't that what people I learn from do regularly?
Over the past few weeks I have become more aware of all the things I have learned thanks to the generosity of strangers who decided to share their ideas, mistakes and work online. For example, about 7 years ago I decided to enter the world of dog sports. I actively compete and over the years I have become a fairly decent dog handler and instructor. I have attended a few seminars and read some books but a great percentage of what I know comes from free online resources. Pro and amateur trainers sharing their ideas, struggles and methods online. A while ago a friend who is a long time competitor was talking about how much higher the standards of performance have become, I asked her why and her response was that never before people had access to so much knowledge about the matter. It is easier now to learn that ever before!
Sharing is valued by many cultures around the world and like many other kids, I was encouraged to share from a very young age and I learned that by doing so the world is better. Growing up in Mexico city, sharing was not optional but rather a reality of life. My family of 7 lived in a very small house so we all had to share pretty much everything including our unique skills, ideas and knowledge. I was the youngest so by the time I was 10 my siblings and I were responsible for getting ready to go to school without my parent's help. We were all good at something; my oldest sister Iliana, will cook breakfast while my brother Domingo polished everyone shoes, my sister Lucero was in charge of setting the table and I would iron everyone's uniforms. We worked to perfection! When it came to school work we all contributed to each other's learning and improve each other's homework. We are all adults now and live far away but we still benefit from each other's unique abilities.
The thing about sharing is that it requires a certain level of comfort with ourselves and those we share with. The process of becoming comfortable with "sharing with the world" demands some reflection, the wiliness to take risks and above all the understanding that what may be ordinary to us is extraordinary to others. While I watched Dean Sharesk's video Sharing: The Moral Imperative it make me think about all those things that seem ordinary to me but when I share them they are extraordinary to others. On the video he shares Dan Meyer's story who during his third year of teaching took 40 hours designing a lesson and creating the materials and decided to share it. His work was well received by thousands! The thing is that everyone has something to offer, it may not be anything amazing to us to it may to others.
During the past few weeks I have taken little steps towards being more comfortable sharing my thoughts, my findings and develop a greater awareness about the power of Open Education. I am thinking more and more about the importance of creating professional networks to share not only content and ideas but concerns and mistakes. Also we need to make sure that we help our students to understand the power of sharing and the importance of being an active player, a creator rather than a consumer.
Read / Watch More:
Over the past few weeks I have become more aware of all the things I have learned thanks to the generosity of strangers who decided to share their ideas, mistakes and work online. For example, about 7 years ago I decided to enter the world of dog sports. I actively compete and over the years I have become a fairly decent dog handler and instructor. I have attended a few seminars and read some books but a great percentage of what I know comes from free online resources. Pro and amateur trainers sharing their ideas, struggles and methods online. A while ago a friend who is a long time competitor was talking about how much higher the standards of performance have become, I asked her why and her response was that never before people had access to so much knowledge about the matter. It is easier now to learn that ever before!
Sharing is valued by many cultures around the world and like many other kids, I was encouraged to share from a very young age and I learned that by doing so the world is better. Growing up in Mexico city, sharing was not optional but rather a reality of life. My family of 7 lived in a very small house so we all had to share pretty much everything including our unique skills, ideas and knowledge. I was the youngest so by the time I was 10 my siblings and I were responsible for getting ready to go to school without my parent's help. We were all good at something; my oldest sister Iliana, will cook breakfast while my brother Domingo polished everyone shoes, my sister Lucero was in charge of setting the table and I would iron everyone's uniforms. We worked to perfection! When it came to school work we all contributed to each other's learning and improve each other's homework. We are all adults now and live far away but we still benefit from each other's unique abilities.
The thing about sharing is that it requires a certain level of comfort with ourselves and those we share with. The process of becoming comfortable with "sharing with the world" demands some reflection, the wiliness to take risks and above all the understanding that what may be ordinary to us is extraordinary to others. While I watched Dean Sharesk's video Sharing: The Moral Imperative it make me think about all those things that seem ordinary to me but when I share them they are extraordinary to others. On the video he shares Dan Meyer's story who during his third year of teaching took 40 hours designing a lesson and creating the materials and decided to share it. His work was well received by thousands! The thing is that everyone has something to offer, it may not be anything amazing to us to it may to others.
During the past few weeks I have taken little steps towards being more comfortable sharing my thoughts, my findings and develop a greater awareness about the power of Open Education. I am thinking more and more about the importance of creating professional networks to share not only content and ideas but concerns and mistakes. Also we need to make sure that we help our students to understand the power of sharing and the importance of being an active player, a creator rather than a consumer.
Read / Watch More:
- OER IPR Support Project
- Creative Commons
- The big challenge is that Open Education meets closed educational institutions
- Why Open Education Matters