What a difference eight months make! In the whirlwind of moving across state to hit the ground running in a new district that is rapidly redoing a 1:1 initiative, launching a Twitter account, attending conferences and PD, and trying to keep my head above water on all the educational technology tools exploding (including drinking the Google Kool-aid), this tech trainer must never miss a healthy breakfast.
And the more I rethink how every educational tool is used, the more I think the traditional factory model is more and more irrelevant. Time, location, and separated subject areas should not be singular items - if every student has a device, has internet access, they have learning capacity. This makes me rethink how a classroom is even set up. This month my tech dept cleared out truckloads of old unused equipment - things that are likely to never be used again because new technology has meshed one-trick-ponies into single devices.
If we are expecting students to do more group work (when naysayers expect those under 30 to not have any social skills), then single desks in a grid is that antithesis of social learning! I keep thinking of college lounges......with lots of charging outlets!
If we are expecting students to demonstrate what they know, then MC/TF/fill-in-the-blank assessments are weak feedback methods - this is the equivalent of cross examining a witness instead of letting one testify. In a data-driven world, isn't qualitative information always better? I love to see students teach others what they have learned since I usually end up learning something new in the process.
If we are expecting students to problem solve creatively, why tell them to use specific tools instead of letting them "think outside the box"? I never thought of Twitter as anything other than shortened Facebook posts. Now it's my PLN!
As I have more and more of these types of conversations with my colleagues, I feel positive that American education made some progress in 2014. So here's to a new year of continuing to shake off the shackles of confining habits for more dynamic learning environments.
Friday, December 26, 2014
2014 in Review
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
Information OverLORD
I deal with a lot technology for my job. I like teaching people how to use it (hence my job). My premise is technology is a tool and once you know how to wield your tools, you become powerful. When I get push back from people that "don't like technology" I am always flabbergasted.
Except when it comes to Twitter.
Given my background, I admit it seems weird that I do not have a Twitter account. It's not that I haven't contemplated it - I've been flip flopping like a tennis match. But the more I think about it, the more I simply can't bring myself to do it.
Lordy, lordy, I am in information overload!
I don't dismiss the value of Twitter but I already have information streaming to me in a variety of forms on a variety of devices; Twitter might push me over the edge. I don't think I can handle hashtag hell right now. Chalk it up to "Spring Forward" as I call it (when the world fast forwards to lightning speed during the months of April and May).
I completely understand the push back now. I don't blame people for wanting a mental break from constant streaming of information. Although I don't understand the desire to hide from technology completely, at least we have the ability to pick and choose our tools.
Twitter will just have to wait to be included in my tech toolbelt.
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