Ideas and Thoughts from an EdTech

I spent the afternoon with three teachers all involved in one to one computing classrooms; the two teachers from the Palm handheld project and a veteran teacher in a tablet PC classroom.

We spent part of the afternoon in the tablet classroom observing the setup and watching the students work. This isn’t about student excitement over a new tool. It’s gone way beyond that. Technology in these classrooms is virtually seamless. Yet motivation and engagement still exists. The classroom is not quiet as students talk about their work, help each other and share their learning in large groups. (This classroom has a wireless projector which allows any student to project their screen to the projector)
We talked about pedagogy, engagement, the importance of essential questions and lamented on how students leaving these classrooms will feel when they no longer have access all day long. All three agree, kids need this. How will they go back? What if you were told that next year, you’ll only have access to a computer twice a week for 45 minutes?

Tom Hoffman writes about the possibility of a low-cost laptop on the horizon. The Palms have provided a low-cost option as well. My concerns about lack of internet access still exists but they have begun to provide a learning environment that embraces much of what is right about digital learning. The point is we have to continue to find ways to get this in students hands. I’m reminded of the presentation from the K-12 Online Conference dealing with a 2-1 environment. I think of Pam Shoemaker’s involvement with having parents purchase the laptops. In any case, we have teachers and administrators commitmed to the idea of getting computers in students’ hands. With teachers this passionate about students and access, it’s not likely these types of efforts would fail. The failings of other initiatives come from mass roll outs when many teachers aren’t ready or able to make the adjustments in pedagogy. But when teachers are ready and want their students to have access, I say to administrators and central office decision makers, “just do it“. Find a way to get it done.

It’s noteworthy that Ev, who is a teacher of 30 years is, retiring this year. She is doing so somewhat reluctantly because she is feeling like she is just on the verge of exploring a new way of teaching and learning for her students. She is a true learner.

I’ve been involved in a handheld computer project in our school division. It’s been exciting and interesting to observe this. The best part for me is that the teachers recognize the evolution that needs to take place. The realize that early success centers around efficiency and organization, what Alan November calls automating. They understand the real learning comes from informating.

There is a fundamental shift of control with informating. Relationships change, schedules change, the use of space changes, and, most importantly, responsibility shifts to the person who is closest to solving the problem….Automating reinforces the current relationship of control. Informating leads to empowerment. (xxi, Empowering Students with Technology, Alan November, 2001)

These teachers recognize, they are there, but they want to be. The handhelds are simply one tool that can lead them. The work of folks like Tony Vincent have proven that there is the potential of these tiny devices to support a shift in learning.

Have a look:

[tags]handhelds, palm,teachers,learning,alannovember,tonyvincent[/tags]

Like many others in my position, I often lament the fact that discussions with teachers around Web 2.0 and the changing classroom often fall by the wayside and teachers can’t or won’t considering how to implement this into their classrooms.

This fall I spent about 4 sessions with a small group of teachers interested in exploring the possibilities of the Read/Write Web. These sessions were fairly interactive and we met to discuss how the use of new tools were impacting learning. They also were candid about the challenges and struggles they faced and frustrations with technical and time issues.

On Tuesday many of these teachers and a few others listened to Darren talk about his journey and his innovative approach to teaching and learning.

Today I spent the afternoon with some of these teachers who all teach high school math. They were truly enthusiastic about what they might be able to do with their students. After our conversation on Tuesday with Darren, they were excited about the use of an Interactive Whiteboards. There was one at our division office that rarely got used. I made arrangements to have it shipped to their school to try out. Kids at Christmas. Usually a Friday afternoon PD session on a beautiful, sunny spring afternoon is about the worst time to think about innovation in education. Not a problem for this crew.We spent the afternoon learning, laughing and discussing the future. They were jacked.

Tonight at 10:11PM I received an email from one of them. Here’s an excerpt:

Hey I’m officially a loser….computer use on a Friday night!  I got my wiki going!! How great is that. 

This is about the best residual for anything I might have done to help.

Comments may be the most underrated component of a blog. For me, they breathe life into most posts and add the texture and indeed make them conversational.

Will posts about an experience speaking to new teachers. What follows are, at the time of this post, 38 insightful comments from a variety of people with various backgrounds and interests including the students who participated in the original conversation. Please read the entire set of comments but here are my favourite snippets:

When I brought up the idea of technology in my graduate course in Educational Administration, my professor exclaimed that he was a techno-phobe, and therefore, my idea about using technology in the classroom is worth nothing. Other students in my class with me complained that relationships are lessened if we communicate via the internet. If we subscribe to Will’s point that we need to wait until “the old guard retires and [we] take over” we also need to wait until the old guard that teaches teachers retires. They teach us how to teach. They teach us to be techno-phobes. My professor knows that technology is important and useful, but the only technology he uses in our classes is the VCR (and on occasion, he will use the DVD player).

See Marco Torres’ student video on Digital vs. Analog

As you well know, many of the day-to-day duties of a new teacher are completely overwhelming. How can we expect our young colleagues to learn not only new technologies, but learn pedagogical application at the same time. I am sure that I am missing the point somewhere, but I feel that all of our energies are being focused in the wrong direction. We have yet begun to recognize the need for a strategy of institutional change. Being a grateful student of your’s (Ellicotville 2006), I do not think many educators will deny the educational and intellectual value of these technologies. Why not begin to address the mechanism of change that will promote the growth of the 21st century learner, by creating the most conducive environment for our teaching professionals.

This next one is my personal favourite.

I’m completely exasperated by the collective resistance to change in every arena. Why is it so incredibly hard? Why are so many people completely comfortable residing in the status quo? I agree with Dan, the current teacher candidates probably became teachers because they’re comfortable in the system as it is. I should start trying to hire teachers who weren’t successful in school. I’ll add interview questions that ask, “what did you hate when you were in school and why?” “What do you want to do differently?” “What do you think and what are you curious about?”

Lead by example, get in the face of those who are hesitant, resistant and even oppositional and take them by the hand, kicking and screaming like 4 year olds to the dentist and make it happen.

That’s one way.

I will continue to try to learn as much as I can about this subject, but as a new teacher I know my plate will be full and it will be hard. I do believe, however, that just waiting for the old guard to leave is not the answer because some of those educators know more than me when it comes to technology. I think both old teachers and new teachers need to be educated from those, like most of you, who know what they are talking about.

I think one has to step into our shoes as the so called “technology saviors” and think about what immense pressure that puts on us as new and absolutely terrified teachers. With teacher accountability being the way it is and in an age of standardized tests many districts and administrators would not approve of us integrating many of the new and cool technologies that are available to us. No matter how cool and innovative I may think they are, are people TRULY expecting us to walk in the doors of our new schools and rock the boat? I’m sorry, but I’d like to keep my job for more than a year. I know many schools like to say that they are integrating technology into the classrooms today, but when it comes down to it, I don’t think many of the administrators really allow their teachers to use technology in the ways that may be available.

I’ve been trying different ways to awaken folks to the new stories. In December I had Will Richardson skype in and talk about the New Face of Learning. I brought around 20 people in and also had another half dozen linked via Polycom. The intent was simply begin conversations.

On Tuesday, we had part 2. This time Darren Kuropatwa stopped by via Skype and talked about the things he’s done and is doing in his classroom. I’m going to assume most reading this know who Darren is but if you don’t, you really need to listen to the podcast.

Given the fact that we broke a record for high temperature (16C or 62F) the turnout of about 15 in total wasn’t bad. Darren was truly impressive. His natural, humble and pedagogical sound approach made for very compelling listening. We began about 5:30 and finished near 8:00 with Darren sharing for about an hour. I was pretty tired and wished I hadn’t scheduled this but after spending the time with Darren and listening to the discussion that followed, I was energized.
Darren based all his talk on his wiki. You can follow along if you like. The recording is just over an hour of Darren’s presentation.

Time: 1:09
Size: 33MB (sorry)
[tags]change, conversations, prairiesouth, darrenkuropatwa[/tags]

 

 Conversations on Change: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (688)

While the survey will continue to be open, I’m going to analyze the results received.

37 Respondents ranging from administrators, consultants, coordinators and teachers. Overall I nice cross section of folks within K-12. Here are the results including my own observations for whatever they’re worth:

How did you first come to start using Web 2.0 tools?

a. colleague introduced me 13%
b. personal exploration 54%
c. workshop/presentation 22%
d. other 11%

This tells me that no matter how time we spend promoting the value of these tools, that ultimately people need to spend time on their own sorting things out. Perhaps the question might have also been phrased, “How did you first come to hear about Web 2.0 tools?” The conference/presentation item may have represented a greater number. In any case the learning that is crystalized for me is help provide time for exploration. Many of these I’m sure where a result of grad classes that was also mentioned 3 times from the other category.

Which Web 2.0 tool is most important to you?

a. blogs 27%
b. rss 41%
c. wikis 8%
d. podcasts 3%

e. social bookmarking 5%
f. other 16%

Not surprising to me, every category got at least one vote. Tells me how important that all these tools receive attention and are considered valuable depending on their use and situation. I too choose RSS as the key tool as it provides the glue to all these.

In your opinion, why aren’t more educators using Web 2.0 tools?

a. lack of understanding 54%
b. lack of time 8%
c. lack of conviction 16%
d. unsure of how to implement 3%

e other 19%

What is surprising here is that although, folks citing personal exploration as their in to using the tools, it wasn’t considered the barrier here. While I tend to agree with many of the other responses that choose all of the above, I think lack of conviction is an issue we need to address. One of the guiding principles our school division is incorporating social learning into classrooms. I think most teachers recognize change is happening. It’s hard to miss it. They may not understand the implications to the classrooms but once they recognize the possibilities for their kids, it’s hard to ignore. I’m not convinced teachers think flat classrooms will make much difference. To that end, I’ve begun a series called Conversations on Change. This Tuesday interested teachers will be gathering to chat with Darren Kuropatwa to discuss his approach to teaching and learning.

What would you say is the best way to help educators fully utilize the tools of Web 2.0?

a. encouragement/support from administration 5%
b. workshops/training 16%
c. mentorship in small groups 60%
d other 19%

Here are what the “others” were:

• Hold them accountable as professionals. Would you visit a Dr. who wasn’t up to speed with modern medicine?
• Facilitation from a technology person who is within the building.
• Mentoring_+ practical use in action research- reflecting on their learning
• all listed plus time for development and effective use
• It has to be supported but that isn’t enough, change has to be required and checked on regurlarly.
• have to bring a professional reading to staff meeting monthly and then show them bloglines/netvibes etc
• Requiring them to learn and use one new technology tool a year, with demonstrable evidence that they are doing so
  

I really like the idea of small groups. Many of us started out on our own and are quite fine with our online connections. It sure is nice to have these discussions with folks you work with everyday. I think there are also some great ideas from the others category.

Thank you to all who participated. Most of this confirms my belief but there were some things I hadn’t considered to be as important as others.

[tags]survey, web2.0, education[/tags]

Okay Steve, you asked for it! There’s probably some others out there but here’s what I came up with. Sort of listed in order of activity but not really.
Online Presence:

• Flickr…2,000+ photos
• Youtube…30+ videos
• CoComment…130+ comments
• Delicious…670+ items
• SlideShare..5 slideshows
• Wikispaces
• Odeo
• Archive.org
• Geocaching.com
• OurMedia
• Revver…9 videos
• MySpace…never really used it.
• Twitter…very new

IM Presence:

• Skype…dean_shareski
• MSN Messenger…rarely used
• Google Talk

Blogs:

• This one
• It’s also syndicated here and here
• Digital Learning
• Family Blog

Group Blogs

• Conversations on Learning
• Edtech Posse
• Hillcrest Church
• Eyes Right

Living in Canada, snow really never gets me too excited. Needless to say, I’ve seen it all. That is until today. We’ve had some unseasonably warm temperatures and most of our snow had melted. Tonight we received some very interesting snowfall. The largest flakes I’ve seen in my life and snow the consistency of styrofoam or my favourite treat….dippin’ dots. Here’s some footage of the falling snow.

I later found out it’s called Thundersnow. I had never hear of it before. According to sources, it’s extremely rare.