Do we really need technology in the classroom?

I feel we must have technology in the classroom.  If we are educating our children for the twenty first century we must incorporate technology into education.  I know my own children and many to most of my students have more technological awareness and understanding than I currently do.  I have not grown up using technology the way today’s youth are using technology.  They use expect from technology things that I would not have thought to expect.  I recently watched a young child tapping on a wall that had the image of a projected computer screen the child expected the image to interact with her.  I would not have thought to try to interact with this projected image.

Our youth are creating using technology.  Why not incorporate this desire to create within their self directed and self paced learning?  The first video talked about sharing your creations with others, a “valid audience.”  In my Innovative Solutions class students are creating products for the various challenges we do in class.  The first marking period I invited parents in to watch student presentations to showcase their creations.  Subsequent marking periods I moved away from formal presentations as I wanted the students to feel their work was more fluid works in progress through the engineering design process instead of a onetime “right or wrong” answer.  I have wondered about having the students save their favorite projects for a showcase of their best work, but I am concerned about the space needed to house all the projects.  Tonight, I am wondering how can I utilize technology to help with this idea?  What if students create a video exploring their solution to our class challenges (projects), post the video for other students and parents to view and leave feedback. 

Sir Ken Robinson has so many thought provoking ideas about creativity or how we squash it.  I had the pleasure of hearing him speak in San Jose at the National Service Learning Conference several years ago.  His comment about, “technology is not considered technology if it happened before you were born” is interesting. 

What does technology make possible to do that we can't otherwise?

One thing that technology has made possible is connecting with anyone you want to connect with.  John Seely Brown’s video was fascinating.  I see how embracing change is very important. Technology helps us make change.  Some people are generally more comfortable with change than others.  Developing a “questing disposition and curiosity” will help our learners develop as thinkers and learners. John used great examples of gaming to explain how people want to be evaluated (score) and how people create challenges and change for themselves.  The influence of digital media on surfing makes me wonder how I can help my students to develop that type of passion to make progress in their learning.  How can I provide a platform for my students to build something new?  Technology also helps us create.

 

What would you say to a teacher that was reluctant to use technology in their practice?

I would guess that a teacher that is reluctant to use technology in their practice is probably not comfortable with change or doesn’t yet have access to or experience with using technology.  If we are in the business of educating for the twenty first century we need to incorporate technology.  Technology needs to be integrated into learning in opportunities for students to practice researching, analyzing, synthesizing, and creating to develop into self directed learners.

If I ran our school system...

Vision for my school

 

School will be engaging, individualized, and purposeful for all participants through real world experiences that prepare and empower us for the future. 

 

If I ran our school system learning would be experiential and connected to the real world.  Students and staff would be physically and technologically outside of the four walls that make my classroom.  Learning would be application based and meaningful to our students. 

 

Teachers would develop learning experiences and opportunities for student learning in the real world.  Teachers would front load some learning and would look for student learning requests and inquiry.  Teachers would work to bridge school and home by inviting families to join their children at school regularly to learn about their child’s learning, progress, areas to develop, and to learn how to support their child in their learning (and there would be food).

 

Students would set goals and learn based on their needs and inquiry.  Their learning would be purposeful (have a need to learn information to apply to real situations).  Students would be engaged.   Students would be empowered to make selections and be part of their learning path. 

 

Assessment will be formative with students being part of and using the formative assessment and self reflection to drive next steps in their needs and learning.  Summative assessment will be in the form of the end product or project.

 

Technology will be used in many ways.  Technology will help make learning more efficient and effective.  It will help students to access information, communicate, and connect students, teachers, and parents to real life situations.  Technology will also help us capture learning and transform learning into new ideas.

http://teach.oetc.org/oregon/multimedia/project-based-learning-web

 

I can dream? Right?

What can I do to be a visionary leader?

I am thinking about what I can do to be a visionary leader.  I wonder several things.  As a visionary leader, am I involved in setting the vision, am I given the vision, or do I even know the vision?  I am not a black and white thinker.  I think about the spectrum of greys and the many possibilities.

We need to make a sharp the distinction between a vision statement – words on paper – and the vision itself, which is more of a living power. While the vision or mission statement often serves a necessary purpose, the fundamental question – the measure of a vision's power – is what stays in thought or in the heart when you put aside the words on paper. A vision that is original and powerful should plant an image in consciousness that provokes deep feelings, that stirs a sense of possibility and inner commitment.

Scott Thompson http://education.jhu.edu/PD/newhorizons/Transforming%20Education/Leadership%20in%20Education/Getting%20Real%20About%20Visionary%20Leadership%20for%20Progress%20in%20Education/

To become a visionary leader I can understand and effectively communicate the vision so all members can be invested and play a role in making the vision a reality.  I can be a role model to others so they can see what it looks like to work toward the vision. I can listen and be willing to accept multiple points of view about how to move toward the goal.

a.    Inspire and facilitate

Students and staff should have the opportunity to use technology in meaningful and beneficial ways.  They should have the opportunity to grow.  They should have the opportunity to explore options that will allow for future development.  Students and staff need to know what options are available now and learn to effectively use technology so when new technology is available they can be ready to adjust to new opportunities. 

 

b.    Engage in an ongoing process

Where are we now?  What are our goals?  How will we reach our goals?  Use self assessment to determine where we are and what we need. 

As a visionary leader I can facilitate a differentiated environment to help my coworkers and students to reach their technological goals.   I can be understanding and accepting of other’s current level of knowledge.  As in any good classroom, learners evaluate where they are and where they would like to be.  A facilitator helps develop instruction and a learning environment so learners can make progress and reach their personal goals.  It is important to realize individual’s levels of comfort and understanding currently and to make connections available to “experts” who can be of assistance when needed to accommodate differentiation. 

I would like to suggest a menu of options in which staff could visit other “technology experts” in their building for a brief introduction, overview, or assistance in regular intervals built into the schedule like three choice option “Tuesday morning tech” for fifteen minutes before school with the choices being at different levels.  The same would be great for our students, for example the lab will be open for on Wednesday morning for any students who would like instruction on how to access their PowerSchool account, log into their email for the first time…  Sessions can be requested by the participants which will be helpful in reaching a shared vision.

c.    Advocate

Where to begin?   We need technology in the hands of the users with the needed support for success.  Maybe our development of advocacy begins very local and once shared leadership can make our vision a reality advocacy can occur at a higher level.

Personal Learning Environment Toolkit

What makes a good blog?

A good blog should be meaningful to the user.  In the past I have created blogs for our trips so family and friends could "join" our family on our travels.

How could a blogs enhance your existing school web presence?

I think I will have a better answer later in the class for this question.  In the past I haven't jumped in on my use of technology as my students are waiting in line to use my one networked computer.  I do keep up my website as basic info about my classes.

Are blogs an easier way for people to self-publish?

I guess that blogs are an easier way to self-publish.  My mother is trying to publish her first book and it has been a lot of work.  I guess a blog is just a little chunk at a time.

TLA TAL – Getting Started

I am hopeful that through the knowledge I gain in this class and the ability for students to bring their own devices to school, that I will find purposeful applications of technology in my classroom to enhance my student's thinking, creating, and learning.