tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74200261233275827472024-03-12T20:53:26.649-07:00Educational Paradigms: Learning and Leading in the 21st CenturyEducation, Technology, Arts, Culture and Future Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06119217598369528623noreply@blogger.comBlogger104125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420026123327582747.post-71538206029127741622015-04-11T09:05:00.001-07:002015-04-11T19:16:05.511-07:00Observations and Reflections from the New England 1:1 Summit<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_-zM59MZaA7Skpr6rNzStpIe8xdiB7q6MFdQPGiKvcTUEZdjrbbIGRzraqBZmA_kdeizx-bJ-CLd7AGGEXfi5glL_ONt00LxHv3BAOUoScYftxh6HGKFgaBm7SjtnwnpMDXLm9Qkfdp1b/s1600/Roadmap-Marcinek.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_-zM59MZaA7Skpr6rNzStpIe8xdiB7q6MFdQPGiKvcTUEZdjrbbIGRzraqBZmA_kdeizx-bJ-CLd7AGGEXfi5glL_ONt00LxHv3BAOUoScYftxh6HGKFgaBm7SjtnwnpMDXLm9Qkfdp1b/s1600/Roadmap-Marcinek.jpg" height="320" width="224" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Andy Marcinek is a thoughtful educator who served <br />
on the panel at the New England 1:1 conference,<br />
April 10, 2015. He is currently the Director of<br />
Technology at the Grafton Public Schools.<br />
Previously he served as instructional<br />
technology specialist in the Burlington<br />
Public Schools where he played a major<br />
role in launching a 1:1 environment.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">Here's what becomes readily apparent when you visit a school that is 'high tech' (ie-1:1): It's NOT about the tech. It's about Learning. </span><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">Schools are places of learning, first and foremost. </span><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"> This too: The device doesn't matter. Tablets and laptops and Chromebooks</span><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"> facilitate learning and access to the greater world. They are <i>in service</i> of existing learning objectives. </span><br />
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Here's what I observed at Marshall Simonds Middle School in Burlington on Friday April 8 at the <a href="http://newengland1to1.org/" target="_blank">New England 1:1 Summit </a>(in no particular order):</div>
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<ul>
<li>A high level of awareness and social responsibility</li>
<li>A high level of community engagement</li>
<li>Students as problem solvers</li>
<li>Students as leaders</li>
<li>Students as teachers</li>
<li>Students as fund raisers</li>
<li>Students as engineers</li>
<li>Students as innovators</li>
<li>Students 'tuned into' the Big Picture of responsibility to the local and global community</li>
<li>A respect and appreciation for the responsibility that comes with having tools to connect with the world at large.</li>
</ul>
</div>
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<ul>
<li>Technology Directors and Integrators that put access and learning front and center.</li>
<li>An EdTech Team that solicits feedback from ALL stakeholders- students, teachers, parents, the community at large.</li>
<li>Integrated, professional development (student-led)</li>
<li>Teachers teaching subjects not 'technology'</li>
</ul>
</div>
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<ul>
<li>A cheery, respectful, upbeat school culture</li>
<li>Password-free Guest WIFI with social media sites whitelisted</li>
<li>A learning environment connected to the REAL world </li>
</ul>
</div>
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Some of the above touches on intangibles- those difficult to quantify aspects that can only be felt and observed. Every student-every single one!- that I and our group came in contact with was respectful, helpful and generous in sharing information. They were also enthusiastic when explaining their involvement with various activities that were connected to the community and real world outside of school (ie: fundraising for mental health awareness or developing a prosthetic hand for the son of a teacher born without a hand).</div>
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Ever since researching and writing '<a href="http://books.google.com/books/about/Schooling_and_Student_Perceptions.html?id=5nigNwAACAAJ" target="_blank">Schooling and Student Perceptions'</a> I've been interested in the ways students experience school and where and how they find relevance to their real lives within school contexts. In the last few years as technology has allowed for more and better access to resources, people and places, the lines are effectively blurring between the real world vs. school(ing). Tablets, laptops, chromebooks, apps and ubiquitous WIFI are game changers. More than that, they are culture changers when thoughtful educators use them as utilities to connect students to the real world, to real problems, especially when they challenge and empower students to find solutions to those problems. <br />
<br />
That's what I saw in Burlington. It was powerful. And it should happen everywhere. It's not a stretch to say that our future depends on this kind of cultural transformation in our schools. Thank you Dennis Villano and the <a href="https://twitter.com/bpsedtech" target="_blank">BPS EdTech Team</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/patrickmlarkin" target="_blank">Patrick Larkin</a>, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Roadmap-Setting-Innovation-Education/dp/1452226342/ref=as_sl_pc_ss_til?tag=pd01-20&linkCode=w01&linkId=KRNHMNZTF2ODB7W6&creativeASIN=1452226342" target="_blank">Andy Marcinek</a>, etc for bravely leading the way and being the change we need to see in our schools. You offer a solid and successful example of how to integrate technology to accelerate and enhance Learning.</div>
Mr Garciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10115807396818762457noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420026123327582747.post-15261078522740399732015-04-11T08:13:00.003-07:002015-04-11T19:13:54.247-07:00Twitter Is For Real: The Learning Paradigm has Shifted<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr43i2Nt4YPCV1SPBG4fwThKReaPtWDRcjVk7-OA_tX6VupTpIckQW3Lt63xqud7gYkapQrqZdUt8wzDEUxB43h6gIlWXuqE0uRL6_1Dv4P76qZ4NI_byUliaGlMBbxGRHPJjdE-wTUaHr/s1600/twitter-chats-360.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr43i2Nt4YPCV1SPBG4fwThKReaPtWDRcjVk7-OA_tX6VupTpIckQW3Lt63xqud7gYkapQrqZdUt8wzDEUxB43h6gIlWXuqE0uRL6_1Dv4P76qZ4NI_byUliaGlMBbxGRHPJjdE-wTUaHr/s1600/twitter-chats-360.jpg" height="200" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Source: http://bit.ly/1ylhCLa</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">Here's a question: Would you decline an opportunity to attend an all-expenses paid education conference that promised sessions and recourses related to your work as an educator? Furthermore, would you decline if the session leaders shared their presentations and resource material? </span><br />
<div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">
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If the answer to these questions is yes, then you have no need to use Twitter. Because Twitter for educators is exactly that- a FREE, global education conference you have the choice to drop in on 'sessions' and gather resources whenever you want.</div>
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Connecting and sharing resources with other educators and communicating/collaborating in real-time conversations (chats) throughout the globe is exactly how Twitter is used by educators. Evident is a culture of sharing, generosity and gratitude. Whenever "tweet-savvy" educators attend conferences, they share information they are learning in real-time via the conference-issued hashtag. Which means: you can learn along with them from wherever you are (and whenever you want to "tune-in").</div>
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By following educators and education leaders, you have access to their blogs and resources that they have shared over time. Arguably one can 'curate' enough resources that, if read, synthesized and put into practice would equal a graduate degree's worth of learning in a relatively short time. Along these lines, it will be interesting to see if personalized learning routes will be accepted as a valid 'credential' by employers in the future if an individual can demonstrate a strong knowledge base on a topic/subject despite never having attended a traditional college or earned a degree in the area of expertise. </div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">This is for real. The</span> learning paradigm has shifted and, leaders in education have pointed out: It is now a choice for an educator to remain in isolation and <a href="http://georgecouros.ca/blog/archives/4156" target="_blank">ignore the opportunity</a> to connect, learn and become better teachers for their students. Tens of Thousands of educators across the globe are personalizing their education and professional development because they recognize that they are the lead learners in their schools and classrooms. Twitter and other online networks (ie, Google+) are accelerators of this process</div>
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<h3>
Join the Learning Revolution. It's time.</h3>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06119217598369528623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420026123327582747.post-61240724523306734582015-03-05T09:26:00.001-08:002015-03-05T12:57:53.894-08:0010 Google Things to Try for Digital Learning Day<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="line-height: 33.1199989318848px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Digital Learning Day is March 13th. Here are ten things to try. All compliments of Google.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1-Use </span><a href="https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=google+timer&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Google Timer</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> to time activities in the classroom</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2-</span><a href="https://www.google.com/get/googletips/card/unsend-the-email-youre-having-second-thoughts-about/detail/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Unsend</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> an email </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">3-Create and Use the built in </span><a href="http://youtu.be/qrka_3jui8M" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Task Feature</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (Google’s To-Do List)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">4-Add </span><a href="http://youtu.be/RZSLYrcUk1g" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">new fonts</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> to Google Docs.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">5-Do </span><a href="http://agbeat.com/social-media/google-cheat-sheet-every-trick-you-need-to-master-search/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Smarter Google Searches</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Tailored to your exact needs.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">6-</span><a href="https://www.google.com/work/apps/education/resources/lesson-plans.html" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Find Lesson Plans</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> sorted by App, Subject and Grade Level.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">7-Explore Museums and curate your own gallery with the </span><a href="https://www.google.com/culturalinstitute/project/art-project" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Google Art Project</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> or explore the </span><a href="https://www.google.com/culturalinstitute/about/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Google Cultural Institute</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">With Google Cultural Institute you can find landmarks and world heritage sites, as well as digital exhibitions that tell stories behind the archives of cultural institutions across the globe. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">8-Create </span><a href="http://youtu.be/jwDsxuoicWg" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">playlists</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> in You Tube for use in class. </span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">You Tube is owned by Google and you already have You Tube account. If you regularly use You Tube videos in class, you may want to create a playlist with different topics to help organize them.</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">9-Manage your classes with</span><a href="http://youtu.be/K26iyyQMp_g" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Google Classroom</span></a></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #444444; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Google Classroom helps teachers create, assign, and collect student classwork and homework paperlessly. More Google Classroom resources </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://educationaltechnologyguy.blogspot.com/2015/01/google-classroom-resources-for-educators.html" style="text-decoration: none;">here</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">10-Finally understand </span><a href="http://youtu.be/ljvFCIuN8I8" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">what Google+ is</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Join/follow communities related to your interests and/or communicate with fellow colleagues. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #444444; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #444444; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Get better and learn more about any Google App using the </span><a href="http://learn.googleapps.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Apps</span><span style="color: #1155cc; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Learning Center</span></a></span><br />
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Mr Garciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10115807396818762457noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420026123327582747.post-44001819869497924862015-02-28T10:50:00.000-08:002015-04-11T08:23:08.415-07:00Creativity in Progress<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2FRH9iR4ri8/VHImnbiCKaI/AAAAAAAAB0Q/ZIDKHC753_o/s1600/AG-Legos.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2FRH9iR4ri8/VHImnbiCKaI/AAAAAAAAB0Q/ZIDKHC753_o/s1600/AG-Legos.JPG" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Creator amidst his Creative "Mess"</td></tr>
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The drive to create is natural. Creating things can get messy.<br />
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At last count there were over 45 instances of original creations in this scattering of legos in the picture to the left. To many, this room is "a mess". <br />
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Creativity isn't interested in neat. Creativity isn't interested in being organized. It is focused on bringing into existence something new. Something original. It is novel. <br />
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Being creative and creating things is empowering. Cleaning up is not. Cleaning up a creative "mess" requires a different part of the brain and is the opposite process (but it can bring a certain sense of satisfaction.) Of course, cleaning up is necessary. However, it can wait. I'd rather encourage creativity in the moment than limit it by insisting on neat and tidy (and quiet) right now.<br />
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What a magical time to be alive- with so many apps and tools at our disposal to Create and Learn. For <a href="https://www.commonsensemedia.org/lists/best-creative-apps" target="_blank">Kids</a> and <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/09/09/art-apps_n_5762584.html" target="_blank">Adults</a> . And, of course, there's <a href="https://www.buildwithchrome.com/" target="_blank">This</a>. <br />
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Admittedly, the number of tools and apps to engage creativity, assist and empower students to learn better has become overwhelming. How to encourage and implement creativity and scale technology integration for learning in <i>classrooms</i>, consistently, remains a challenge. The <a href="http://esheninger.blogspot.com/2015/02/looking-at-teacher-accountability.html" target="_blank">current climate</a> in Education doesn't make it easy but it is high time for all schools and districts to identify and promote their technology 'pioneers' to help sort through the 'mess' of options and assist new, willing technology integrators one classroom at a time so that students can begin to enjoy school as a place where they can follow their interests, engage in what matters and make sense of the world by creating their <u>own</u> artifacts of learning. Our young creators are depending on it.<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06119217598369528623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420026123327582747.post-6109673688289575312014-11-22T08:35:00.001-08:002014-11-22T08:35:53.930-08:00What If Classes were Structured like TED Talks?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-y5KMHqvf9U4/VHC5e8vm0pI/AAAAAAAABzw/F8xBuGnRQAI/s1600/TEDCLock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-y5KMHqvf9U4/VHC5e8vm0pI/AAAAAAAABzw/F8xBuGnRQAI/s1600/TEDCLock.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>Ready? Set?</b><br />
<b>Learn!</b><br />
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TED Talks are popular. Part of the reason is that they are short which causes the presenter to construct a talk that gets to the point immediately and stays with it. The best TED Talks contain abundant potent, quotable/memorable moments even though most last only 18 minutes or so (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ni75vIE4vdk" target="_blank">many excellent talks are even shorter)</a>. When one decides to watch a TED Talk a decision has been made that the topic is worthy and the second consideration is that there is enough time to view the talk-that watching the talk will have some redeeming value to the watcher.<br />
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Contrary to the notion in education circles that more time needs to be added to schools/classes, I'm not convinced. I wonder if class time was actually shortened, if there would be a rise in engagement and productive, in-the-moment learning. And less clock watching. Imagine this: What if classes were structured like TED Talks? What if Teacher's taught TED-Talk -style. Imagine, too, if students, to demonstrate learning of topics also would be expected to deliver Talks. Educational Research has found a correlation between student engagement/success and <a href="http://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=%22teacher+intensity%22&btnG=&hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C22" target="_blank">teacher </a><i><a href="http://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=%22teacher+intensity%22&btnG=&hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C22" target="_blank">intensity</a>. </i>Also largely accepted as integral to student learning is a sense of student accountability.<br />
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To work, classrooms, would literally need to be transformed to 'feel' like TED Talk stages. The feeling of real-life, immediacy would need to be constructed making use of the appropriate props. All classes should/would be recorded and uploaded to the class blog/website for (re)viewing.<br />
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<li>What if a syllabus was handed out on day one and students were given the task of choosing a topic from it to present about? </li>
<li>What if students could request (from the syllabus) what a teacher /student would talk about each week...(given the obvious limitations of scope and sequence/content standards). </li>
<li>What if students engaged in projects that led to products that demonstrated learning/mastery of material and then their Talk was about the <i>process</i> of learning/creating?</li>
<li>What if students became producers of the Classroom Talks and learned about audio/video production in the process?</li>
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If not every class, perhaps a few? One per week?<br />
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What if....? Ideas? Comments?<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06119217598369528623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420026123327582747.post-18116388475391689872014-11-20T17:32:00.000-08:002014-11-20T17:33:27.636-08:00Technology In Education: Software is the New Hardware<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RqbmmdSFGPk/VG6VX-3GMwI/AAAAAAAABzQ/X1KxZAjLppw/s1600/Apps%2BLeverage%2BLearning-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RqbmmdSFGPk/VG6VX-3GMwI/AAAAAAAABzQ/X1KxZAjLppw/s1600/Apps%2BLeverage%2BLearning-2.jpg" height="288" width="320" /></a></div>
The paradigm in education has shifted. Web-based technology, apps and the devices that run them are the driving force behind the shift. Early adopters recognized <a href="http://shifthappens.wikispaces.com/History+of+the+Presentation" target="_blank">this shift</a> and "got on board" in spirit and then, in <i>fact,</i> more than 6 years ago when 'Web 2.0' became a reality. Many educators have embraced learning networks, blogging, wikis, i-Pads and have used these to learn, create, collaborate and teach. And yet, so many more educators have not taken steps to embrace the new realities and opportunities that emerging technologies represent. <br />
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REDEFINING 'TECHNOLOGY'<br />
Administrators and teachers who have a fixed definition of technology have also been slow to adopt anything new and may even be skeptical of all of the tablets, iPads, cloud-based apps and their potential drain on school bandwidth. Those in this camp have 'seen it all before'. Technology to them is stuff. Technology to them is the Device-the tablet, the computer, the iPad, the Smart Board, the smartphone, etc.. And, to them, the devices will all go the way of dinosaurs soon enough. Fair enough. However! Current technology that is useful in education-for learning and for teaching- is not about the device. Technology that is useful in education is about the applications that assist teachers in discovering, collating or curating resources. Technology that is useful in education is about the applications that assist students in learning material in multi-dimensional, differentiated and media-rich ways. Technology that is useful in education is about the networks that allow administrators, teachers and students to learn from and in collaboration with each other. Technology that is useful in education is cloud-based allowing data and information to be accessed from anywhere, anytime, regardless of what device is used to access that data/information.<br />
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NEW POSSIBILITIES<br />
Current technologies change how things have always been done in education. True differentiation is now possible using learning applications that have programmed in multiple levels of concept mastery. Current technologies by their nature allow for student-centered approaches in the classroom. Global collaboration is a possibility cheaply. Relevant Professional Development for Educators is a click away. And the ability to create and publish projects and products that demonstrate learning are exploding. <br />
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<a href="http://ericsheninger.com/esheninger?sid=28" target="_blank">Some leaders</a> of schools/districts have recognized that the paradigm has shifted permanently<i> in favor of </i>learning/education as other leaders lag behind thinking technology is about stuff that will become obsolete soon enough. I am willing to bet that those that have embraced this new app-driven, networked learning paradigm have more engaged students. I am certain that students in those schools/districts are being better prepared for an even more app-driven, cloud-based, networked future regardless of the devices that may be invented to connect to them in the future.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06119217598369528623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420026123327582747.post-54798332272640912182013-02-23T09:46:00.002-08:002013-02-24T17:43:27.275-08:00Connecting With Students Students, especially our youngest ones, enter the domain of school with open hearts (and imaginations). Too often, we meet them with fixed minds and ignore the gift of these open hearts and minds that they bring into school and into our classrooms. Ultimately, they learn that occupying the mind with things to remember is more important than either of these. Eventually they lose touch with their true nature, disconnect and fall into the 'game' of 'learning'.<br />
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If there is to be true Educational 'Reform' at all, it must begin with a paradigm shift of seismic proportions: one that reorients our compass from student's minds to their hearts-to WHO they are not what they THINK. This necessitates an internal shift within us as well. We need to open ourselves up as well so we meet our students halfway. Students will always remember how we made them feel, not necessarily what we made them think.<br />
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When students trust a teacher they are more apt to listen and learn from them. Trust is not built by teaching facts. <br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 17.990449905395508px;">“Relational trust is built on movements of the human heart such as empathy, commitment, compassion, patience, and the capacity to forgive.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 17.990449905395508px;">” </span></i></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; line-height: 17.990449905395508px;">― </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/0787996866/ref=as_li_ss_til?tag=pd01-20&camp=0&creative=0&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=0787996866&adid=0NECVJ9VTB5806X9WWQA" target="_blank"><span style="color: #666600; font-family: georgia, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 17.990449905395508px;">Parker J. Palmer</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; line-height: 17.990449905395508px;">, </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; line-height: 17.990449905395508px;"><span style="color: #666600;">The Courage to Teach: Exploring the Inner Landscape of a Teacher's Life</span></i></a></h4>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06119217598369528623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420026123327582747.post-38240953306714606982012-08-05T08:55:00.000-07:002015-03-26T11:59:50.845-07:00Harvard Reflections: Arts, Education and LearningThis summer I was fortunate enough to have been selected to participate in the first ever Institute on the <a href="http://www.silkroadproject.org/Education/SilkRoadConnect/SummerInstitute/tabid/1534/Default.aspx" target="_blank">Arts and Passion-Driven Learning</a> held at Harvard's <a href="http://www.gse.harvard.edu/ppe/programs/prek-12/portfolio/arts-and-passion-driven-learning.html?utm_campaign=APL%3A%20Summer%20Institute&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&utm_content=Harvard%20Programs%20in%20Professional%20Education" target="_blank">Graduate School of Education</a> in collaboration with Yo-Yo Ma and members of the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/silkroadproject?feature=watch" target="_blank">Silk Road Ensemble</a>. <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6MBGVLCHyXs/UB6VwIPijLI/AAAAAAAABAc/kaPhmD5K9aY/s1600/DSCN0426.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6MBGVLCHyXs/UB6VwIPijLI/AAAAAAAABAc/kaPhmD5K9aY/s320/DSCN0426.JPG" height="237" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo Andrew T. Garcia</td></tr>
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My situation was unique. I was camping in the Adirondacks for 5 days and planned to continue the same for another 5 days after the Institute. I emerged from the woods, attended the 2 1/2 day Institute and traveled straight back to the Adirondacks. While in a hammock at the edge of Rollins Pond, I reflected on the experience. The result is below. This list is in no particular order and may not even make sense to those outside the context of the experience. However, I have attempted to expound on the list. Feel free to contact me for any clarifications or <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/100154835038800354425/about" target="_blank">just to connect</a>.</div>
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<b>'NOTHING WITHOUT JOY'</b></div>
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This is a quote by Loris Malaguzzi that host and Harvard Graduate School of Education Lecturer <a href="http://pzweb.harvard.edu/pis/SS.htm" target="_blank">Steve Seidel</a> shared at the opening plenary session. He also concluded the Institute with the quote. Mr. Seidel was the best of hosts (Yo-Yo Ma referred to him as "Mr Rogers for adults"). He used humor when appropriate but also posed excellent questions to frame the Institute. Some examples: <i>What is the role of passion in learning? What are the possible roles for the arts? How can the arts deepen learning in other subject areas? <a href="http://educationalparadigms.blogspot.com/2011/02/on-arts-education-changing-paradigm-in.html" target="_blank">How do the arts support students in becoming more engaged, empathetic and responsible participants in their learning?</a></i></div>
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<b>WHAT'S WORTH KNOWING</b></div>
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This question was also raised by Steve Seidel. It seems like a simple question but it is so important for all educators to spend some time thinking about it. Given precious little time in the school day/year, what <i>is</i> worth knowing? And why? Answers to those questions drive the curriculum and what gets 'learned' in schools. If you teach something, why did you decide it was worth knowing?</div>
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<b>SNAKES (ARE BORN THIS WAY)</b></div>
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As an example of what is worth knowing, the video Snakes Are Born This Way was shown. The 2nd grade class at Conservatory Lab Charter School wrote and performed <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXcZ4srsLx4&feature=player_detailpage" target="_blank">this parody</a> to share what they had learned about snakes through their learning expedition. The <a href="http://conservatorylab.org/" target="_blank">Conservatory Lab Charter School</a> is unique as it "empowers a diverse range of children as scholars, artists and leaders through and El-Sistema-based orchestral education and rigorous Expeditionary Learning curriculum." As the students tell us: "In 2nd Grade our teachers told us that we would be herpetologists". And that began the exploration. Worth knowing?</div>
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<b>EMOTIONS ARE CONTAGIOUS</b></div>
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More than once <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=teauoWFZgGg" target="_blank">Cristina Pato</a> (Gaita player) said this. The important takeaway is to be genuine in teaching, performing and learning situations. The more one is open and transparent, the better the learning for everyone involved. </div>
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<b>MAKE LEARNING VISIBLE</b></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8N6rE8xSskg/UB6VSbeuQiI/AAAAAAAABAU/qaeEaQbd94Y/s1600/DSCN0405.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8N6rE8xSskg/UB6VSbeuQiI/AAAAAAAABAU/qaeEaQbd94Y/s320/DSCN0405.JPG" height="250" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Butterfly by Aidan William Garcia, age 6</td></tr>
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Making learning visible was a theme of one of the workshops I attended. There are many ways to do this but so much of the time we feel (as teachers) that we lack the time to follow through on this. However, it is probably the most important part of learning in schools. It reminds me of the quote from Stephen Sondheim's Sunday in the Park With George. The character (and once real life artist) George Seurat sings:<i> "A vision's just a vision if it's only in your head. If no one gets to see it, it's as good as dead".</i> Likewise, it easy and tempting to keep learning in the classroom only. But it should be shared. Starting now. </div>
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<b>COLLABORATION, TRUST=SAFETY AND NEW CREATIONS</b></div>
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Collaboration was a big theme of the Institute since the role of the Silk Road Ensemble involves collaboration 100% of the time. In their own performances, the musicians are always working together, sharing, experimenting and pushing themselves into new territory. When the Ensemble visits schools (as with the Silk Road Connect venture), collaboration is the name of the game. There exists the school culture and the Ensemble (made up of members from many different cultures). In these environments, open mindedness, negotiation and flexibility lead to trust and true collaboration which leads to a feeling of safety and comfort for all participants. Once this level is reached the collaborative 'dance' can yield new, spontaneous creations. Powerful stuff. How can we create these conditions in our classrooms and schools?</div>
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<b>DISCIPLINED IMAGINATION</b></div>
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Yo-Yo Ma described an exercise he uses to spark creativity and new thinking. In a conversation with Steve Seidel, he said he uses something he has dubbed "Disciplined Imagination", the crux of which is to take something known and transpose this to a new setting in your mind. He used the example of knowing Steve and his thoughts, mannerisms, interests, passions in the context of Harvard and then imagining Steve in other settings and how he might engage, communicate and participate in those other settings.</div>
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<b>CULTURE BUILDING</b></div>
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Small and large group conversations in several workshops led to the understanding that, as arts educators and educators in general we are really involved with 'culture building'. Culture building is laying the foundation of how individuals would act, speak, respond and participate in the classrooms/school setting where collaborative (trust-based) learning would take place. We spoke of the difficulty of some students bringing jaded and negative attitudes into the classroom impeding trust and true expression, sharing and learning.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K8Dk88OQysw/UB6V5E4eANI/AAAAAAAABAk/kfgWhxSK-80/s1600/DSCN0425.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K8Dk88OQysw/UB6V5E4eANI/AAAAAAAABAk/kfgWhxSK-80/s320/DSCN0425.JPG" height="320" width="228" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo Andrew T. Garcia</td></tr>
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<b>LISTENING</b>
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Related to Culture Building is building a 'Culture of Listening' in our learning spaces. Since listening and considering the thoughts, ideas, music, etc.. of others leads to true growth and learning and opens the mind. A powerful definition for teachers in this context would be "The most experienced <i>learner </i>in the room."</div>
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<b>KNOW DEEPLY AND SHARE GENEROUSLY</b></div>
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In a conversation on the final day of the Institute, <a href="http://www.silkroadproject.org/MusicArtists/TheSilkRoadEnsemble/PerformersComposersTabbed/MikeBlock/tabid/238/Default.aspx" target="_blank">Mike Block</a> of the Silk Road Ensemble said learning happens and transcends the local environment when one knows deeply and shares generously. Amen.</div>
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And there you have it. Some nuggets I took away from the 1st Harvard Institute on the Arts and Passion Driven Learning. I have shared generously and hope that these personal recollections are of some use to others. I will forever be working on the 'knowing deeply' part.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06119217598369528623noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420026123327582747.post-40928937992986445202012-06-06T07:32:00.000-07:002012-06-06T07:34:40.776-07:00Be Not Afraid of the Hyperlink<div style="text-align: left;">
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-R7n7TpI9o9M/T89nsWXO6YI/AAAAAAAAA-A/B9NG4GructQ/s1600/Computercat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="304" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-R7n7TpI9o9M/T89nsWXO6YI/AAAAAAAAA-A/B9NG4GructQ/s320/Computercat.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(original photo by Michael Nagle, Getty Images) </td></tr>
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We can't and shouldn't expect all educators to spontaneously understand
emerging technologies, social networking and the rich proliferation
of tools and apps available for learning these days.<br />
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One thing stands out right away, however, as I lead workshops on the read/write
web and social networking for educators: teachers who have the most
immediate success adopting and applying web-based technology to their situation
are those that are not afraid to click hyerlinks.<br />
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As a member of my school district's technology committee, I am in the
process of identifying what teacher's technology proficiencies
should be. Questions being considered are:
What tech skills are indispensible going forward? Is it OK that
teachers are at varying levels with regard to technology use?
What do we do about this fact? What separates those that 'know and can do'
and those that do not (or won't)?<br />
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With regard to the last question, I think it really comes down to basic
curiosity which is the precursor to learning anything. Curiosity +
critical thinking (knowing what resources have value) + risk taking= <i>learning and
transformation</i>. The risk taking in question with regard to web-based technology use
is the aforementioned click factor. Either one clicks a link (and risks) finding a shoddy site or a
gold mine of information and/or connections to others that can feed an entire teaching
unit or full curriculum, or one sits and stares at one site
(and gains and learns very little).<br />
<br />
Based on these observations, I believe what we really need to be building into professional development these
days is the 'capacity to click' in our teachers. Clearly, it is necessary to
teach specific tech-based skill sets (uploading, downloading, sharing, bookmarking,
subscribing, etc...) but if teachers would use crictical thinking to do targeted
searches and then not be afraid to click with abandon, they will be able
to learn much on their own.<br />
<br />
It is how I learned. But I was unafraid to click (to find out). I was interested
to 'know' about things. This drive to learn is alive in me every day. I know
I am not alone. Every single person I am connected to in my personal learning networks shares this trait with me. Why are we like this? Was it learned? What life experiences differentiate clickers from non-clickers? And how do we build that
capacity (curiosity) in others?<br />
<br />
Be not afraid of the hyperlink. You just might learn something.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06119217598369528623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420026123327582747.post-42869860772791983932012-05-10T07:26:00.001-07:002012-05-10T10:52:41.191-07:00Finding Real Reasons to Embrace Technology in Schools<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">"<i>Knowing how to make use of online tools without being overloaded with too much information is, like it or not, an essential ingredient to personal success in the twenty-first century</i>." -Howard Rheingold (in <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/0262017458/ref=as_li_ss_til?tag=pd01-20&camp=0&creative=0&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=0262017458&adid=1X8N1XGJPDMHH573AQX8" target="_blank">Net Smart</a>)</span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">"<i>I would challenge each of you to truly analyze how you are using the technologies that you are using</i>." -Nick Sauers </span></blockquote>
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nXMAwJCyuDs/T6v8ndhiZKI/AAAAAAAAA7g/RxgeSjQ7Boo/s1600/aidanipadrollins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nXMAwJCyuDs/T6v8ndhiZKI/AAAAAAAAA7g/RxgeSjQ7Boo/s200/aidanipadrollins.jpg" title="" width="198" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">Nick Sauers has an </span><a href="http://1to1schools.net/2012/04/how-are-you-using-your-wiki-and-other-web-2-0-tools/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+1to1schools+%281+to+1+Schools%29" style="font-family: inherit;" target="_blank">interesting post</a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> citing the results of an </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">Educational Researcher</i><span style="font-family: inherit;"> article that analyzed how wikis are being used in schools. He is essentially asking us to reflect on why we are using the technologies we are using. While it is OK to use tech tools for efficiency purposes or for the "fun factor", we need to ask more and more whether the technologies we are adopting have value in terms of student learning. That should always be the bottom line.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The Digital Native argument is getting tired. If you haven't heard, the digital native argument goes something like this: Kids are immersed in technology. Kids seem to intuitively understand how computers and mobile devices work without having to read a manual. They "communicate" and "collaborate" with each other with these technologies despite us (teachers). Let me be as clear in this as I can be: It is <i>not a strong enough argument. </i>Anymore.</span><br />
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Principal Eric Sheninger's post, "<a href="http://esheninger.blogspot.com/2012/05/school-should-reflect-real-life.html" target="_blank">Education Should Reflect Real Life</a>" is short and to the point. As always he makes good points, such as:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">"<i>Many of us firmly believe in the potential that technology has to transform the teaching and learning cultures in schools. Whether it is used to enhance lessons, assess learning, engage students, or unleash creativity, technology has a defined role in variety of school functions.</i>"</span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">He then shares a video by Power on Texas which ends well but made me cringe at first because, once again, the digital native paradigm is raised. Ultimately in the video, teachers are interviewed and they cite real evidence that students have become more engaged in their learning and test scores have risen as a result of the technologies that have been adopted in the classroom.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">This is where we should focus now: finding real, evidence-based reasons to adopt technology in schools. We need to reflect on our goals and employ technology use as a tool for increased student engagement and learning. Thankfully, evidence is being <a href="http://thejournal.com/articles/2012/02/17/kindergarten-ipad-initiative-reveals-modest-literacy-gains.aspx" target="_blank">gathered and shared</a>. It is up to us to mine through the available (digital) information and collect the data to support the use of technology as a tool that improves student learning-and to continue to do Action Research studies on our own uses of technology with students.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Data doesn't lie. And 'digital native' is just a term. Some (economically privileged) students have and employ technology to their educational benefit but many need to be shown smart ways to learn in digital realms <i>without being overloaded with too much information. </i>We then to need to assess their use and determine if the technology was truly helpful to learn pre-existing curricular learning objectives. My bet is that the technology is helpful when used mindfully but we shouldn't justify our future technology purposes just because students text each other. A lot.</span><br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06119217598369528623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420026123327582747.post-6465016391857418232012-03-02T18:19:00.001-08:002012-05-10T10:44:17.425-07:00Dear Post-Conference Self<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Dear Post-Conference-Self: <br /><br />A few days (weeks, months) ago, you were at the (Massachusetts Music Educator's Professional Development) Conference. You were energized, psyched, stoked, jacked! You came in contact with inspirational people, ideas, students and programs which you thought at the time you would like to emulate in some way. You were full of hope and renewed vigor and a revived sense of purpose. <br /><br />In his talk, Dr. Gordon reminded you of the deep, enduring value of music to humans. He also reminded you that if you want music to endure in schools, that is critically important to teach well. Mr. Butera cautioned that you should be proactive in your support for music in schools. He reminded you that, unfortunately, not everyone who runs schools has music education as a priority. <br /><br />The many sessions you attended provided concrete examples of HOW to teach well. You took notes and you jotted down sites that could serve as resources for you. You planted the seeds of change and transformation in the sessions. You vowed in those moments- in those sessions- that you would teach different next week. You vowed to review all this stuff when you got home. You dared yourself to 'be the change you want to see in the world.' <br /><br />You did. So where are the notes? Do yourself a favor, post-conference self. Find yourself alone with those notes and reflect on those little, silent promises you made to yourself. Make a simple list of 5 things you will follow up on and implement them. You can do it. You can. Because you are worth it and because your students deserve this empowered, transformed you. And so does the profession. Do it for Music if nothing else. <br /><br />And next year? Lead a session on your Newfound Skills.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Sincerely,</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">At-Conference-Self </span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06119217598369528623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420026123327582747.post-39863666783379488902011-10-24T06:20:00.000-07:002011-10-24T06:31:33.005-07:00Teachers: Do You Tweet? (You Should)<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%">“You don't know what you don’t know.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt; line-height:115%">There are two ways to grapple with the truth of the above quote</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><ol><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 21px; ">Embrace this fact. And: Get curious about what it is you don’t know (that could potentially and immeasurably improve your knowledge base, skills, instruction).</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 21px; ">Be an Ostrich: Stick you head in the sand and pretend that there’s nothing more to learn.</span></li></ol><p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt; line-height:115%"><a href="http://twitter.com/">Twitter</a>, for many teachers, represents a vast landscape of knowledge that they have yet to tap into. On a certain level, that makes sense.<span> </span>Twitter seems, on the surface, to be a shallow stream of self-centered ‘reports’ about what’s going in in one’s life.<span> </span>And, yeah, it could be this.<span> </span>But, for the majority of teachers who have twitter accounts and use it daily, it is far from this.<span> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt; line-height:115%">Twitter for teachers who have gotten curious is now (as some have called it) a ‘professional development superhighway’. <span> </span>And it is.<span> </span>The learning potential is literally endless.<span> </span>The collective knowledge represented there is awesome in scope.<span> </span>The isolation so often cited as a problem in Education vanishes when there is sudden and immediate access to other teachers grappling with the same problems and questions you are. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt; line-height:115%">Stop worrying how to use Twitter and other “<a href="http://educationalparadigms.blogspot.com/2011/03/whose-definition-of-educational_08.html">Tech tools</a>”.<span> </span>Just make an account and Get Curious.<span> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt; line-height:115%">Check out <a href="http://twitter4teachers.pbworks.com/w/page/22554534/FrontPage">Twitter4Teachers</a> and <a href="http://tweepml.org/">Tweepml</a> to find teachers to follow.<span> </span>Lurk for awhile and see how these teachers use Twitter. Click out to their blogs.<span> </span>Subscribe to their blog feeds. Eventually, <a href="http://educationalparadigms.blogspot.com/2011/10/join-education-chats-on-twitter.html">join in on some #edchats</a>.<span> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 21px;">Get to know what you don't know. Get curious and don't turn back. Create a Twitter account today.</span></p>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06119217598369528623noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420026123327582747.post-7268601337653877692011-10-24T06:13:00.000-07:002014-11-24T16:43:58.466-08:00Join Education Chats on Twitter<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Eclfo1ouQwE/TqVk1hCL6oI/AAAAAAAAAws/i7U4xEg2eIM/s1600/edchat.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Eclfo1ouQwE/TqVk1hCL6oI/AAAAAAAAAws/i7U4xEg2eIM/s320/edchat.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667046576679021186" style="float: left; height: 247px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 320px;" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">image courtesy Shelly Terrell</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">#Edchat</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> has become an incredible collaborative tool for educators to debate and evaluate solutions to various education, learning, teaching and curricular questions/problems through Twitter. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="background-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Chats have now been expanded from the original #edchat’s created by @web20classroom, @tomwhitby and @shellterrell. They now exist for multiple subject areas. Most chats take place at a specific time each week and last for one hour with a specific focal question for the hour.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: transparent;">
<span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here is a list of the most popular chats. There is great power when hundreds of teachers collaborate in real time. That’s what chats are-teachers thinking and responding to real problems and questions we all face at once. </span><br />
<hr style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: medium;" />
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="background-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span><br />
<a href="http://edition.tefl.net/articles/interviews/shelly-terrell-defines-edchat/" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000099; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">#EdChat defined</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> by Shelly Terrell</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="background-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="font-family: Verdana;">
<table style="border-bottom-style: none; border-collapse: collapse; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; font-size: medium; width: 624px;"><colgroup><col width="*"></col><col width="*"></col><col width="*"></col><col width="*"></col><col width="*"></col></colgroup><tbody>
<tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 7px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Monday</span></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 7px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tuesday</span></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 7px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Wednesday</span></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 7px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thursday</span></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 7px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Friday</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 7px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">#sschat </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">7pm</span></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 7px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">#edchat </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">7pm</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://edchat.pbworks.com/w/page/219908/FrontPage"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000099; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Archives</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 7px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">#ipadchat</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1pm</span></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 7px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">#artsed</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">7:30pm</span></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 7px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">#gtchat</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">7pm</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">#musedchat </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">8pm</span></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 7px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">#scichat</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">9pm</span></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 7px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">#web20chat</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">6pm</span></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 7px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">#mathchat</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></div>
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</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 7px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">#elemchat</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">7pm</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></div>
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<a href="http://elemchat.wikispaces.com/"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000099; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">wiki</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></div>
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<tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 7px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 7px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 7px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 7px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">#langchat</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">8pm</span></div>
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<a href="http://langchat.pbworks.com/w/page/39343677/FrontPage"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000099; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">#langchat wiki</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 7px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">#midleved</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">8pm</span></div>
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<a href="http://midlevedchatarchive.pbworks.com/w/page/37112728/FrontPage"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000099; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Archives</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></div>
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<tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 7px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 7px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 7px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 7px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></td><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 7px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 7px; vertical-align: top;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06119217598369528623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420026123327582747.post-22636821946682232432011-09-28T12:22:00.000-07:002015-02-28T12:35:32.141-08:00Making the Case for Technology Integration Without Invoking the Digital Native Paradigm<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span">(Preamble: In this post, when I refer to students, I am referring to middle school-aged students in a rural-suburban area of Western, MA that I teach but I suspect that others may relate to my experience with regard to students and tech. use. I submit that students are NOT as tech savvy as most ed. tech enthusiasts would have us believe. The Digital Native Argument is alive and well but in my experience it is erroneous. After spending 3 years of my life as an Educational Blogger blogging about the need to change how we teach to accommodate ‘digital natives’, I have had to stop in my tracks and retreat from my position based on the real students before me. Their lives, experiences and even their interests were not in sync with the Digital Native Argument-a very seductive argument, indeed. So, here's my first blog post from the other side of the fence so to speak. With apologies to Marc Prensky whom I greatly respect.)</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; line-height: 21px;"><b>How do you make the case for technology integration?</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;">How do you make the case for technology integration? Is it because kids are incessantly using technology, including many multifunctional mobile devices and they ‘demand’ that our pedagogical choices match their ‘digital learning style’ ‘in the 21st Century’? Are they <i>really</i> wired differently?</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;">Most of what I read (and view) on the web regarding the why’s of tech use in education makes this argument. I’ll call it the Digital Native Argument. Videos are put up (copycat versions of original videos) that star ‘wise’, ‘tech-savvy’ <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0VSymMbMYHA&feature=related">children confronting</a> an (apparently) ignorant non-tech using teacher. The claims are that kids spend countless hours immersed in media, texting, 'surfing', etc. and if teachers aren’t allowing them to do the same at school, they are out of touch and, well, ‘bad teachers’. These videos would have us believe that all this time spent doing media is all good. Unstructured, undifferentiated time but time well spent! Hmm.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;">Here’s where I fight a serious case of cognitive dissonance. I want to believe this is true. It’s tempting to believe in the past 9 or so years that students have suddenly and spontaneously evolved new brains; that they are wired differently and we should teach them accordingly. There is something to this but making blanket claims that ALL kids experience this type of engagement with technology all the time is simply untrue. That the time they spend using media is all ‘good’, ‘productive’ and ‘educational’ is seriously misleading, too. I know this is NOT true because I actually teach real, live, students not 'actors' on You Tube Videos repeating words scripted for them by adults. I teach in a technology lab. In the last 5 years, in a class of 20 students, maybe 5 have what I would call basic technological competence. They do not know the difference between a file, a software program or folder let alone the myriad uses and learning potential of blogs, wikis, podcasts and social learning networks. They do not know how to change the volume on a computer and they do not know how to do a basic Google search, let alone fire up a web browser other than Internet Explorer (to get to Facebook). Most, however, have handheld gadgets like cell phones or ipods and/or ipod touches. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;">So, many otherwise technologically illiterate students have the ability to open i-Tunes and use it to sync music to their players.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><b>When students do use technology, what do they use it for?</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;">The middle-schoolers I teach (as did middle-schoolers 20 years ago) have one over-powering objective: socialization and connection with fellow friends and classmates. So guess why they love their gadgets? SO. THEY. CAN.CONNECT. WITH. EACH. OTHER. Once connected, they can spread the rumor about the pool on the third floor or the story about how Mr. Jensen tripped over a dry erase marker 3rd period. Or make plans to play or ride bikes. In other words, the majority of tech use by the majority of students is decidedly low tech. They are simply using tech to do what they have always done offline: connect, cajole, connive, and <i>sometimes</i> create. (future blog post). Mostly, students text or talk into a device that could be considered a tech device. Texting, of course is just typed talking. (Tsup? Nthn. Gowin 2 the game? Na. K. Cya. l8ter).</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;">What’s the other thing students use technology for? MUSIC. Consuming (and making) music. Teens and music have always gone hand in hand. Thanks to technology, they can bring ‘their’ music with them wherever they go and 'share' with friends digitally (remember the mixtape?). There is an element of education and learning going on with all the music downloading and sharing which is encouraging and provides a good starting point for tech use in the classroom. We can examine how students find, download, consume and share music and use that as a model for how they can find, identify, examine, synthesize and share information related to our subject matter. Skilled i-Tunes use, however, does not qualify a student as a Digital Native. But, interestingly, the reason they have become skilled at i-Tunes use despite being decidedly technologically illiterate is that they want access to music and learning the basics of surfing, finding, downloading and syncing with i-Tunes had to be learned to get at it and then have it (music) as their own. Kids are fully and enthusiastically engaged in these processes. There is more to this which deserves another blog post but it illustrates the point that tech use is just a <i>tool</i> for achieving what students want. It's not about technology use for it's own sake. That is a good thing. We can learn from this. We adults DO get to caught up with the technology itself. In an education setting, tech use should rarely be about itself but about the subject matter at hand and increasing engagement and learning objectives through it's use.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;">So, how do you make the case for technology integration? I submit that one can justify technology use in the classroom for these reasons: </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><b>1-<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Cultural Competence </b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;">Technology <i>is</i> here to stay-both gadgets and software. It has become embedded in our social and cultural norms. Businesses are using technologies routinely and require tech. competency in a global climate. Individuals rely on personal computers and devices to absorb, synthesize and transmit information. As educational institutions we should be the ones teaching how to use technology for the highest possible purposes of investigating, researching, creating, thinking, reflecting, writing, documenting, connecting, collaborating, and remixing and synthesizing. In short: learning.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><b>2-<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Engagement. </b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;">It is becoming<a href="http://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&q=students+and+technology+and+engagement&as_sdt=0%2C22&as_ylo=2011&as_vis=0"> increasingly evident</a> without the need for the Digital Native argument that young people are truly engaged when they are using technology. Student engagement is the number one priority of any educational institution. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;">Sadly, of course, it is lacking in many classrooms which look and feel irrelevant and outdated to young people (whether or not they use technology). Well planned technology use appears to be a cure for disengaged, "bored" students since having a hands-on experience using technology suddenly feels like the "real world" to students.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><b>3.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Individuation and Differentiation</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;">I have written before that there is no such thing as a "class". And if a teacher actually utters those dreaded words, "Now class...." they immediately become Charlie Brown's teacher. No student sits in a classroom and identifies with the notion that they are part of this nebulous thing called a class. They are Julie, or Michael, Cesar or Alycia. And they want nothing more than to engage in activities that they can do as an individual...even if they might ultimately contribute to a larger group. Technology, makes this a reality for students-especially in <a href="http://www.patrickmlarkin.com/p/looking-back-at-year-one-of-11-with.html" target="_blank">1:1 environments</a> where students can complete tasks (learning objectives) using a computer, laptop or tablet PC. Once students are working on their own (individuation), we as teachers have the ability to differentiate learning activities as well depending on student capacity. The possibilities for differentiation using technologies are enormous and not limited to one mode (students can read, write, consume and create stories and media among other things). </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><b>FINAL WORD: Flip the Digital Native Paradigm</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;">Our curricula and learning objectives should always drive our efforts at tech integration. Not the other way around. But, as teachers, we need to know what is out there. What website, software or app would enhance/enrich a student’s experience with your subject? We must always be on the lookout. Always learning (<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0klgLsSxGsU">RSS feeds, anyone!</a>). </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><i>We</i> can <i>be</i> the Digital Natives for <i>Education</i>. We should stay ahead of the curve and know what’s out there and how it can best be used in our classrooms to support already existent educational aims, content and objectives. </span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06119217598369528623noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420026123327582747.post-5458796097533521212011-05-17T05:07:00.000-07:002011-05-17T08:30:03.322-07:00Technology Is Not the Problem<span style="font-family:verdana;">How much sense does this statement make?</span><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-style: italic;">I propose that we outlaw cars because of all the drunk driving.</span><br /></div><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">As unthinkable and absurd as that sounds, the exact same logic is often applied with regard to technology. This is something Nick Sauers </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://1to1schools.net/2011/05/did-they-really-say-that/">recently ranted</a><span style="font-family:verdana;"> about on the 1:1 schools blog.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">He writes:</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-family:verdana;" >My frustration is when the media, or other individuals, place blame on technology for things that truly aren’t new or unique situations.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">So true. There are many ways that technology gets a bad name especially when (more) technology is proposed in school settings. Suggesting that social media might improve learning for students sends shivers up some parent's spines because they have been- as <a href="http://web20classroom.blogspot.com/p/about-me.html">Steven Anderson</a> has pointed out-"Dateline-ized". Consumers of traditional media are often given incomplete and highly inaccurate views about technology use by and for teens. (<span style="font-style: italic;">Watch out for them predators!</span>). Without going into a million details, what is important to understand is that teen behavior precedes technology use.</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;">Human behavior is an independent factor that when combined with technology use can yield beneficial, creative results or can yield personally damaging results. The choice lies with each individual. As a mere tool, Technology is benign. </span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br />So. Technology Is Not the Problem. Inappropriate Use of Technology Is.</span><span style="font-family: verdana;font-family:verdana;" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br />When we talk about technology in education now, we are talking about paradigm-shifting, never-to-be-the-same-again kind of learning opportunities. So many emerging technologies, apps, programs that can truly transform teaching and learning already exist or are in development. It is a monumental task to stay on top of it all. It is harder still to take the time to learn what's new and how it can impact learning.<br /><br />NOT taking the time predisposes one to misconstrue the truth about technology use and it's myriad benefits in education because it's convenient to do so. Convenient but wrong.<br /><br />To return to the above statement- The car is not the problem. Drinking and then driving one is.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06119217598369528623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420026123327582747.post-5271217379577651322011-04-14T10:46:00.000-07:002011-04-14T10:48:28.617-07:00The Power of the Arts for StudentsAs a Music Teacher, I have been a long-time advocate for the Arts. The Arts make up a significant part of our history and culture. Opportunities to express, create, practice and work toward goals larger than Self are such key factors in nurturing whole human beings. I believe Arts Education has a place for every child in school.<br /><br />But where do the Arts fit in schools? What does the Federal and State Gov't have to say? I am pleased to be able to report that the arts-including art and music are considered CORE subjects in the Federal NCLB law as well as the MA Education Reform Law. Interestingly, research is being unveiled frequently about how the arts actually assist students to learn and think critically in arts classes as well as other academic classes. Additionally-and this is very compelling!-the field of Neuroscience is mapping HOW the brain processes as a result of immersion in the arts.<br /><br />THE ERA OF DIY and CONTENT CREATION<br />As is frequently noted on this blog, the paradigm has shifted in the world and Education must play a crucial role in adopting and exploiting new ways of doing, learning, leading and creating. Parallel to the shift to Standards-Based (Student-Centered) Education, a shift made possible by emerging technologies is the ability for individuals to create their own content (images, videos, music, etc..). This is the commonly called D.I.Y. (Do It Yourself). Education should embrace the DIY movement and allow students and teachers to create as learning process. (Note that creation here is not necessary the culminating activity--but an embedded WAY to learn).<br /><br />A great example of Combining the ARTS and the DIY Movement comes from students at Boyertown High School in Pennsylvania. Art programs were in danger of being cut, so the students made a video to show how they feel about their art classes. Great work for a great cause! Arts Education.<br /><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/tObY7i6qkLo" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" width="640"></iframe>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06119217598369528623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420026123327582747.post-38872181626569956022011-03-09T06:08:00.000-08:002011-03-09T07:17:25.899-08:00Misinterpretation of '21st Century Skills'<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-style: italic;">21st Century Skills</span></span><br /></span></div><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">It means </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;" >something</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">. But what? </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">For those that haven't had time to explore the phrase's meaning, t</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">he specifics are slippery. Even Harvard Scholars use the term tentatively (<a href="http://www.gse.harvard.edu/news_events/features/2011/Pathways_to_Prosperity_Feb2011.pdf">in quotes-see page 24</a>). </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Consider 21st Century Skills a 'flavor'. A flavor that spices up, updates and globalizes the Educational Landscape. However, I have heard some interesting takes on '21st Century Learning' lately. Interesting </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;" >and</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> disconcerting. I have heard a version of this more than once in recent months:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">"21st Century Skills! I do that! It's just a new name for what we've always done. Collaborate and Communicate. I communicate objectives all the time....." Then I think (but don't say) "Uh Oh". </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Yes, Collaboration and Communication are 2 of the '4 c's' identified as a part of 21st Century Skills. (The others are Critical Thinking and Creativity). 21st Century Skills demand more though. 21st Century Skills demands an expanded definition of <span style="font-weight: bold;">Literacy</span>. One that </span><em style="font-family: verdana;">'doesn’t merely refer to the ability to read and write but also the ability to evaluate and synthesize information, media, and other technology.</em><span style="font-family:verdana;">' (-</span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://twitter.com/podpiper">Ted Lai </a><span style="font-family:verdana;">)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Creating and Connecting to the real world outside of school is a big implication of 21st Century Skills as well. Underlying this, though, is the implication of 21st Century Skills that the creating and connecting is done </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;" >using</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> technological tools and apps.<br /><br />21st Century Skills is <span style="font-style: italic;">not</span> old wine in new bottles. 21st Century Skills is a whole new vineyard.<br /></span><br /><p style="font-family: verdana;"><em><strong><br /></strong></em></p>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06119217598369528623noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420026123327582747.post-40817270794513977102011-03-08T05:01:00.001-08:002011-03-08T12:02:56.037-08:00Whose Definition of (Educational) Technology?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TOZ7EnV9frw/TXaK0K9-MAI/AAAAAAAAAp4/3csEHxWYC3I/s1600/abc.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 230px; height: 219px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TOZ7EnV9frw/TXaK0K9-MAI/AAAAAAAAAp4/3csEHxWYC3I/s320/abc.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581801417074421762" border="0" /></a><br /><br />A challenge that I see emerging is that there are multiple definitions of the word <span style="font-style: italic;">technology</span> in the Education Community. These definitions are based entirely on and limited by an individual's experience with computers/computing devices and [proprietary] software . Here are some personal observations noted recently:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><ul><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">A curious dichotomy between 'great teaching' vs. 'technology' seems to creep in to many conversations. As if the two are mutually exclusive. </span> (They're not)</li></ul><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><ul><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Those with limited experience with current technologies tend to believe that those with successful experience using technology are biased because they "like" technology/computers.</span> (Actually, in many cases, education technology enthusiasts are only enthusiasts because they have seen remarkable results along the lines of engagement and learning with their students while learning with technology)</li></ul><br /><br /><ul><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Those with limited experience with current technologies believe all technology/technological applications are expensive.</span> (Wrong. Most web applications and many cloud-based programs are....FREE. Many of these rival proprietary programs like Microsoft Office).</li></ul><br /><br /><ul><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Those with limited experience with current technologies make no mention of web-based, networked online learning spaces. The conversation remains in the realm of hardware and internet access.</span> (Yes, you need to be able to access the Internet to use any cloud-based app but the hardware/device being used to access the web is beside the point. The learning moments happen in those networked spaces.)</li></ul><br /><br /><ul><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Those with limited experience with current technologies scoff at the idea of using Twitter or other social networking platforms as a Professional Development tool or Learning Resource.</span><span style="font-weight: normal;"> (Twitter is, to many education professionals a "Professional Development Superhighway".)</span></li></ul><br /><br /><ul><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Etc...</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">(Add your observations in the comments below)</span></li></ul><br />Here's one way of describing the problem:<br />Those with limited experience with current technologies are like people who stopped learning the alphabet at the letter "C". Knowing only 3 letters of the alphabet, they will argue that the alphabet is a <span style="font-style: italic;">limited</span> resource. After all, you can only craft so many words with three letters.<br /><br />They're right about that . (CAB) But guess what? There are 26 letters. And so it is with technology, except that the technological alphabet is ever-expanding. Which is why Lifelong Learning is imperative now. It's not just an option to stop learning and impose your limitation on those who know better. It's an indefensible position.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06119217598369528623noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420026123327582747.post-87736972894653424362011-02-17T07:54:00.000-08:002011-02-17T08:02:48.171-08:00Why Should an Administrator Use Twitter?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XsKIoexa5m8/TV1Gna74R7I/AAAAAAAAApI/TMAkdNUeC7M/s1600/twitter_question_mark.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 181px; height: 250px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XsKIoexa5m8/TV1Gna74R7I/AAAAAAAAApI/TMAkdNUeC7M/s320/twitter_question_mark.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574689556813858738" border="0" /></a><br />The Assistant Superintendent of our school district just joined Twitter. Like so many of us when we took the networking plunge, he knows that there are positive ways to use it but is clueless as to how to begin. I wrote him a quick email summarizing some ways to use Twitter but I left so much out. Here's what I wrote:<br /><br />Using Twitter makes more sense as you use it. What it is good for:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Starting a conversation..then linking to a page/post/info to continue it.</span><br />"We've redesigned our professional development page. Take a look and provide feedback using this form:...."<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Making announcements:<br /></span>"Today school is closed. Snow day! Have fun and be careful out there"<br />"We are seeking a new Superintendent. More info and a job posting is here..."<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sharing resources:</span><br />"Just found a wealth of information about 1:1 schools see the list here http://......"<br />"Great ipad music apps that have potential application in the classroom are listed here http://..."<br />"To learn more about 21st Century Skills and the 4'c's of 21stc Learning, see this website....."<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">To support and amplify information already shared by others (Educators, Superintendents, Principals)</span><br />"<span style="font-style: italic;">@AmazinglyAwesomeEducator </span>just wrote a thoughtful post about implementing technology in the 3rd grade classroom. Read it here...."<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">To solicit advice and feedback:</span><br />"I am an administrator of a large, rural school district. I have no clue how to use twitter. Help me learn #education"<br /><br />Please feel free to add your own advice and twitter handles in the comments below. Thank you so much!<br /><div style="text-align: right; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:78%;"><a href="http://www.cosida.com/news.aspx?id=3064">image credit</a><br /></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06119217598369528623noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420026123327582747.post-1606577174908145732011-02-08T17:16:00.000-08:002011-02-10T07:31:23.418-08:00EduCon, Collaboration and the Arts<span style="font-style: italic;">The following is a blog post created in collaboration with the following Educators on the subject of Arts Integration which was a conversation topic at the recent EduCon Conference in Philadelphia.</span><br /><a href="http://educon23.org/people/yoonsoolim"><br />Yoon Soo Lim</a><br /><br /><a href="http://educon23.org/people/michellek107">Michelle Baldwin</a><br /><br /><a href="http://educon23.org/people/eliza_peterson">Elizabeth Peterson</a> and<br /><br /><a href="http://educon23.org/people/kylepace">Kyle Pace</a><br /><br />(For those unfamiliar with Twitter, user names are preceded by an "@". This is one's Twitter "ID" or handle. I recommend Twitter to all Educators and I further recommend 'following' any of the fine Educator's listed above.)<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Cultivating Connected Learning Experiences through Arts Integration</span></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">by Yoon Soo Lim</span><br /><br />@eliza_peterson, @KylePace, @michellek107, and I decided to bring a vis-a-vis conversation to EduCon about learning through integrated arts curriculum. Why? It is believed that in our society art, dance, music and theater are considered nice, feel-good things, especially for kids. Take a look at our crowdsourced virtual bulletin board here with teachers answering the question, “Why Integrate with the Arts?”. After reading through these posts, one cannot help but ask a follow-up question, “If the arts are so important, why aren’t they integrated more into the curriculum?”. This is precisely why we wanted to have this conversation with our colleagues at EduCon.<br /><br />Interestingly, creativity and arts education had been mentioned many times during EduCon, starting with Friday night's panel. During the discussions of EduCon sessions and in my preparation for our conversation, these words kept popping up: "cultivating", "connected-learning", and "experiences".<br />These words also happen to be the first four words of our session title :-)<br />When it came to our session time on Sunday morning, these are the words we focused on.<br /><br />Why?<br /><br />Everyday, Elizabeth, Michelle and I are immersed in music while Kyle gives support to his arts teachers. We teach about music, we create music, we teach others how to teach music, and we learn new ways to learn about music. We live and breathe the joys as well as the pains of being “in” the arts field. To move our schools forward and to collaborate with teachers, we motion to cultivate a new c<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/q3Rn2phkc20UEnLGRt8F9EhGqh2l2To1XSshNl0NHuXYG1em3ILuHgy9T9x14d83IvgLx7xn4JGTPlJ4-RNFtu1AZGb74D1PRJ0So-35ZbXOH9lz_Js"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 272px; height: 181px;" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/q3Rn2phkc20UEnLGRt8F9EhGqh2l2To1XSshNl0NHuXYG1em3ILuHgy9T9x14d83IvgLx7xn4JGTPlJ4-RNFtu1AZGb74D1PRJ0So-35ZbXOH9lz_Js" alt="" border="0" /></a>ulture – to prepare the ground, and foster growth through refining of the mind – for all of our students’ learning. So why does it matter to connect?<br /><br />This screen shot is from RSA video we shared in our session. The video is RSA Animate – Changing Education Paradigms of Ken Robinson (05:41 and on). It’s a clear capturing of what a fully-engaged learning looks like. Senses, brain function, and passion all working together, so focused and fully alive!<br /><br />To the teachers who attended our session in person or virtually, making this kind of “aesthetic experience” mattered. Some teachers grew up being in the arts. For some, they were curious how to integrate the arts in the classroom. These teachers engaged in conversations fully and intentionally.<br /><br />Some of the examples we shared on our Google Sites were good starting places to delve into deeper conversations with teachers who were in attendance.<br /><br />Encouragement: If you want connected learning for your students, make it a priority. Take the first step to get in a consistent conversation about what students are learning and how you as teachers can give support to each other.<br /><br />This charge is for both classroom teachers as well as the arts teachers. WE ARE ALL TEACHERS. We no longer cannot monopolize our “subject” areas and consequently keep ourselves at an arm’s distance. Students will not connect their learning if it is not encouraged or modeled for them. It will be hard. It will be time consuming, but by creating this kind of learning environment, learning becomes real and interesting for students.<br /><br />Make Arts Your Priority, Admins!<br /><br />If you truly believe creativity is something that needs to encouraged, and cultivated, make arts education a high priority! I am tremendously blessed to work with administration who support the arts education at our school. I am going to quote one of the administrators at my school: “Creativity, critical thinking and innovation – all are important terms in today’s education. Integrating the arts is a great way to tap into all of these while making learning more meaningful to the students.” Follow Susan’s advice and make it an important priority for your school.<br /><br />Start with a Simple Conversation, Teachers!<br /><br />Routinely get into conversations with your students about what they are learning. You are good at asking specific questions to elicit information, teachers! Engage in conversations and learn about what they are learning. It shows not only that you are interested in who they are, but that you are curious about them as learners. Talking to other grade teachers in person is always good idea. Again, connecting with another teacher is something that is time consuming, but in teacher’s lounges, or even in passing, make an effort to start a conversation. If you need help integrating the arts in your discipline, ask an arts teacher you are interested in partnering with. There just might be an area where two classes can naturally work on a project that will bring deeper learning.<br /><br />I am humbled to have worked with Elizabeth, Kyle and Michelle. They are not only active in their own learning, they make connected learning come alive. I learn much from them and work harder to make connected learning a reality for my students.<br /><br />The EduCon conversation was a great beginning. I cannot wait to have more of these important conversations and see the changes in many classrooms. I believe there will be a time when more decision makers for schools will make arts a priority. Until then, our work continues.<br /><br />Before I end my thoughts for today, I want to ask you to think about a question based on @mrchase’s post titled, Things I know 36 of 365: We're really good at not teaching kids to sing. Why are kids afraid of singing?<br /><br />If you would like to think some more, check out Where Do the Arts Stand in Our Schools? by Dana Santomenna, PsyD.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"> <span style="font-weight: bold;">The EDUCON EXPERIENCE</span></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">by Michelle Baldwin</span><br /><br />Educon was a fast and furious experience for me, but one that I will value for a very long time. So many conversations, both scheduled and impromptu at lunch or dinner, have kept me thinking and questioning since I returned home.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.theinspiredclassroom.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/yoon-and-michelle-300x181.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 181px;" src="http://www.theinspiredclassroom.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/yoon-and-michelle-300x181.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />During our session, we talked about how arts education helps students to understand not only how everything is connected in our world (as an adult, you don’t just do math at 10:00 in the morning and then switch to science or reading), but also how arts education helps to understand how everyONE is connected. Through music, art, drama, and dance, students can view similarities and differences across cultures. Isn’t it interesting that every culture on our planet utilizes the arts to express what it means to be human?<br /><br />At one point during our session, we began discussing how the arts really help students learn about each other and work together. I said, “When you’re taking a math test it’s all about YOU. When you’re in a music class, it’s all about US. ” How often in school do students have an opportunity to truly work toward a common goal? Most of the time, that is going to occur in an area where the arts are involved. When I think about how important teamwork and collaboration are in our society, I wonder why students spend most of their academic careers competing with each other for class rank, grades, etc. It’s no wonder they have difficulty translating their learning in school to how to succeed in a connected, global society. By integrating arts lessons throughout the curriculum, students may have more opportunities to work together, to learn ensemble, and to feel the power of WE, instead of only ME.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.theinspiredclassroom.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/kyle-and-ELiza.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 236px; height: 140px;" src="http://www.theinspiredclassroom.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/kyle-and-ELiza.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Virtual Experience</span></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">by Elizabeth Peterson</span><br /><br />Attending a conversation virtually can be interesting. You are listening in, taking it all in, but your voice may not be heard. Let’s face it, one of the best parts about a conversation is the give and take. You can’t just take, you have to give!<br /><br />The platform used for the live streams at EduCon 2.3 was great because not only were you able to view and hear our session(once it got up and running), but you could participate with other virtual viewers in the chat room.<br /><br />Our team tried to make sure that other virtual attendees were part of the conversation. There was a give and take going on in the chat room that posed some interesting thoughts, resources and even built relationships. We echoed the important points made in Philly and added our own two cents, making for a full experience.<br /><br />There is something about listening in on a conversation that allows for great reflection, too. As you sit in the comfort of your home, slippers on, letting the sound of others talk together fill your headset, you have a relaxed feeling of being there. And when you are ready to respond, your thoughts, written out, not spoken, are thought out a little differently than if you are there. You are able to complete your thought, look it over and then send it out to the others in attendance.<br /><br />I, being Skyped in as part of the presentation team, had the other advantage of being able to speak at times when I thought appropriate. My wonderful teammates would make my talking head a little bigger on the screen and allow me to add my thoughts. (That was another interesting aspect of Skyping in – I was always being projected on the screen in the front of the room! :-) )<br /><br />At the end of the session, everyone in the chat room made sure we all knew each other’s Twitter handles so that we could keep in touch and keep the conversation going.<br /><br />The other venue we provided for our attendees was the #artsint backchannel. Here, both face to face and virtual participants could tweet and reply to one another. This backchannel is now in full swing as people are starting to use it more and more! Again, we are keeping the conversation about the ever important topic of Arts Integration alive!<br /><br />Sure, there are limitations to being virtually in attendance to a conversation among peers. But this is yet another wonderful example of what the virtual world can do for us as educators. We connect online, have opportunities to converse in person and continue the discussions for weeks and months into the future.<br /><br />See what happens when you allow teachers to connect? Go us!<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"> <span style="font-weight: bold;">ATTENDING EDUCON VIRTUALLY</span></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">by Andrew Garcia</span><br /><br />Despite the video feed glitch delaying my remote entry to the Arts Integration conversation, I found attending virtually to have several benefits (some of which I tweeted using the hashtag #noncon). First, the view of the presenters and what they were saying was clear (most of the time). From home there is no obstructed view or “overflow room”. Second, it is actually easier to ‘take notes’ during conversations by listening and writing and/or live-tweeting. This would quickly become annoying to a neighbor if I were actually present at Educon. (One great benefit of being an auditory learner is the ability to at once listen and type!) Question is, which is more important? Silent and still listening to preserve the peace of your proximal #educon attendee or to passionately listen, process, type and connect (w/ others on a backchannel)? Who is to say that the backchannel conversations aren’t the ones that will assure that the message lives beyond the moment?<br /><br />To me, at least with regard to conversations, I learn best by listening and processing. Right there, right then. With any good talk, keynote, session, workshop, ‘conversation’ NOW is the moment to key into. (And why so much Professional Development efforts fail- it’s too easy to lose that lovin’ feeling once tomorrow comes.) Attending virtually, I was 100% THERE and turned ON to the moment/topic at hand. I was simultaneously documenting the moment. As Connie Weber of Fireside Learning wrote to me after the keynote, “I definitely felt you there!” Being ‘there’ is all about the quality of attention and intention. I might argue that some folks “at” Educon, may, at times, have been physically there but mentally elsewhere. If I were at Educon, I would have been, at least to some extent, distracted by all the awesome Educators around me (‘OMG, there’s @willrich45!!’). And, if reading the tweets of some of my followers is any indication, this is definitely true for them, too.<br /><br />Third, attending Educon online actually allowed freedom to attend multiple conversations without being considered rude. I was interested in many conversations that were scheduled at the same time. I would time my exits accordingly (a lull in the conversation, a tech problem, but I always returned). Doing so also allowed me to be a minor asset to presenters. I took screenshots of conversations and posted them at BOX.net-free for the taking. Many presenters were grateful to have “evidence” of them in action for their professional portfolios. I was happy to be a minor but helpful resource.<br /><br />Finally, far from feeling alienated and excluded by those attending Educon, I would argue that relationships with #educon friends in my Twitter PLN, were kicked UP a notch. Circumstances (multiple snow days, committee obligations) kept me away from Philadelphia during Educon 2011 but I feel closer to those who attended than I did before as a result of the conference, and the multiple live and virtual conversations being had in those 2 thought-provoking days. Sure, I would have loved to see @NMHS_Principal’s karaoke skills. But (apparently) I am glad I missed the Applebee’s experience on Friday night. (Eh?) It also was a plus to be able to prepare a meal and/or go to the bathroom without missing a word that was said. Good perks, those! All this said, I can’t wait to be at ISTE2011. Live. In person.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">I feel a depth of gratitude for being invited to share and learn along with these fine colleagues. Please visit their blogs and follow them on Twitter (see above). This experience represents the best of what is possible through digital networking and streaming media.</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">Please also see my post: <a href="http://educationalparadigms.blogspot.com/2011/02/on-arts-education-changing-paradigm-in.html">On Arts Education-Changing the Paradigm in Schools</a> which provides a framework for schools seeking to adopt a '21st Century' model using the Arts as a lens.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06119217598369528623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420026123327582747.post-61527428641567221292011-02-08T11:49:00.000-08:002011-02-08T12:09:14.207-08:00On Arts Education: Changing the Paradigm in SchoolsPerception is a big stumbling block when we advocate for arts education in general and arts integration, specifically. If the arts are perceived as separate subjects and the domain of specialists a problematic situation arises in schools. This is where mental turf wars begin. I have been witness to the following (mis)perceptions: ‘Why are you pushing your subject on me?!’ ‘My subject is actually a CORE?!’.<br /><br />Schools, intended or not, teach this divisiveness. Children absorb it and learn it. Once in middle school, our students who are still very concrete thinkers, really begin to believe this is true. We reinforce the notion by having students physically leave one subject class and go to another. It is up to them to bridge the gaps, to find the commonalities among subjects. Worse, students learn to place these subjects in a hierarchy with the arts being, if not dead last, close to it. They may even articulate this without realizing what they are saying: “It’s only music class, why do we have to do this?”. Ironically, arts subjects are also where students are the most engaged, absorbed and ‘on’. It is precisely because of this ‘flow’- the ability to be engaged in learning without noticing that confuses students and teachers as well. It all just seems like "fun" as if fun and learning cannot be part of the same process.<br /><br />The arts are about doing. About crafting and creating. About building and dismantling and re-defining and refining according to what seems right, feels right, sounds right, looks right. That doesn’t mean critical thought is not part of the process. Critical thinking precedes the process of creating and doing that the arts represent. Changing entrenched perceptions means starting a whole new conversation around, not the arts as subjects, but the arts as a doorway to doing, perceiving, thinking and creating. Adopting an arts-based approach to learning would shift the focus of classroom learning from a product-result-right answer orientation to a process-fluid-multiple perspective orientation.<br /><br />How many of us have been disappointed when students ask a version of the following questions: How many words (paragraphs, pages, notes, measures) does it have to be? How much counts as an “A”? The problem isn’t that students are naturally superficial. They’ve just learned to play the ‘how much’ game. Simultaneously, they have also learned to play the ‘right answer’ game. As teachers we have collectively taught students that there is a ‘right answer’ and if you can figure it out (quickly!), you ‘win’. The more you can do this, the better student you are. The better the student you are, the higher your GPA. This right answer quickly approach is reinforced by timed standardized tests.<br /><br />Few students value the processes of thinking, creating, reflecting and refining-and thus the quality of what they are doing- partly because they are being asked to churn out a ridiculous amount of finished home ”works" (to paraphrase Ron Berger). Since they get this request of so many teachers, they are overwhelmed and need, by necessity, to know what the minimum requirement will be to do well. Is this what we want? If not, how do we go about encouraging a shift in student thinking (and teacher practice)? Part of the answer has to do with changing that question of theirs. Instead of ‘how much’ we need our students to be asking ‘how come’ then have them investigate the answer(s) collaboratively. Furthermore, these investigations need to take them into real world spaces-either physically or virtually: Places and spaces that look familiar when students are NOT in school. The arts help to marry the 'real world' and school; the real 'internal' and external worlds of the student-worlds where learning is natural not prescribed. Interestingly (and thankfully) the processes of thinking, creating, reflecting and refining are not restricted to the arts. For example, as Professor James Zull reminds us, there is art even in such a seemingly ‘artless’ field as neuroscience: “The neuroscientist is also an artist. The very process of seeking understanding has its own mysteries”. That bears repeating: the very process of SEEKING UNDERSTANDING has its own mysteries. Isn’t the process of seeking understating another way of saying learning? And isn’t learning at the core of this thing we call Education?<br /><br />If all subjects were approached with a process orientation (and, perhaps but not necessarily with art-product ends in mind) there would be more learning. Genuine learning involves trial, error, failure, critical thinking, and creating by doing. It is also best approached in groups since the learning of one is amplified and augmented within a collaborative group. What are classrooms if not spaces ripe for potential collaborative investigation? It is the arts-especially music performance, drama and dance where learning to work with and within a group is an intrinsic part of the process. As teachers shift to 'artistic' modes of inquiry and learning, they have built in consultants right in schools themselves-arts specialists!<br /><br />To summarize, beyond integrating art subjects themselves within other disciplines, I advocate for an adoption of artistic habits of mind to be infused within the culture of all schools/classrooms. The subject separation that we teach at school is an illusion and it is damaging because it limits the potential of our youngest members of society. It often takes real life well beyond school for students to begin thinking in connective, creative (artistic) ways. There exists support for moving in the direction of artistic modes of learning. In the words of Daniel Pink, author of A Whole New Mind: “The future belongs to a very different kind of person with a very different kind of mind - creators and empathizers, pattern recognizers and meaning makers.” Additionally, the Framework of 21st Century Learning as outlined by the Partnership for 21st Century Skills includes the now infamous 4 C's: Critical Thinking, Communication, Collaboration and Creativity. Sounds like the Arts to me. As districts adopt 21st Century protocols, they should look to the arts and arts teachers to help navigate the way forward. The time for Arts Education has come.<br /><br />References:<br /><br />Berger, Ron. (2003). <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003U3MW64?tag=pd01-20&camp=213381&creative=390973&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=B003U3MW64&adid=12FP5MDFZVGBAS3DG1NZ">An ethic of excellence: Building a culture of craftsmanship with students</a>. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann.<br /><br />Pink, D.H. (2005). <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/1594481717?tag=pd01-20&camp=213381&creative=390973&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=1594481717&adid=0TCEASTHZQ0YHKNS0SZ3">A Whole New Mind</a>. New York: Riverhead Books.<br /><br />Zull, J. (2002). <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/1579220541?tag=pd01-20&camp=213381&creative=390973&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=1579220541&adid=16VRDF40CKEAQ8V4YNN5">The Art of Changing the Brain</a>: Enriching Teaching by Exploring the Biology of Learning. Sterling: Stylus Publishing, LLC.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06119217598369528623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420026123327582747.post-44426854462718825332011-02-07T11:58:00.000-08:002011-02-11T05:47:46.524-08:00Superbowl Commercial 2011: Be That Teacher!I may or may not watch the Superbowl each year but I always watch the commercials because they tend to be a bit more creative and/or edgy than the usual commercial fare. This is possible on You Tube almost immediately after the commercials air.<br /><br />This year, 2011, the Volkswagon Passat commercial gets a two thumbs up vote. The Education takeaway for me is this:<br /><br />Teachers: BE the Dad in this commercial. Whatever that means to you. However you define it-BE that Dad. The one who effortlessly and invisibly empowers young people to BELIEVE in their own efficacy, power, beauty, creativity. The one who inspires a sense of AWE. The one who empowers students to believe in themselves.<br /><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" width="640" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/R55e-uHQna0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06119217598369528623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420026123327582747.post-58982926102561491082011-02-04T06:12:00.000-08:002011-02-04T07:49:05.908-08:00Unblocking Blocked Websites: Framing the ArgumentMuch to the frustration of many teachers, websites that could be used to engage learners are blocked at school. Many school districts, with good intentions of protecting students (and teachers) have taken a very heavy handed approach with regard to online access to websites-especially (social) networking sites. It is the rare school district that allows access to Facebook. Many others do not allow access to You Tube, Gmail accounts, Ning Networks or Twitter.<br /><br />But as many teachers know, all of the sites mentioned in the previous sentence can and do have educational value if used properly. It is also known that technology can be used to effectively engage learners and to differentiate learning. Knowing this, however, doesn't help convince those with the authority to unblock sites that have potential educational value. The argument for doing so has to include HOW these websites have educational value. And HOW other districts, schools, teachers and administrators are using these online sites/tools.<br /><br />Here are some resources that can help begin the conversation. If you use sites and tools in your classes, please share your blog/site and what you do. Did you have to convince anyone to unblock sites that you use regularly? If so, how did you do it? Your story is immensely valuable to others.<br /><ul><li>EDUCATIONAL USES of <a href="http://www.slideshare.net/maggiev/twitter-for-educational-purposes-a-tutorial-presentation">TWITTER</a></li><li>A PRINCIPAL'S USE OF <a href="http://esheninger.blogspot.com/search?q=facebook">FACEBOOK</a><br /></li><li>EDUCATIONAL USES of <a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0B15xsg9XzscbNWYzZTNjYWEtNzFmZC00Y2QwLWJlZTQtYmI4MTg3ZmYwNTJi&hl=en&pli=1">GOOGLE</a></li><li>EDUCATIONAL USES of <a href="http://web-based-video.blogspot.com/2009/08/educational-uses-for-youtube.html">YOU TUBE</a></li><li>47 <a href="http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2010/09/47-alternatives-to-using-youtube-in.html">ALTERNATIVES TO YOU TUBE</a></li></ul>Using Technology for the sole purpose of using technology is pointless. As we frame the argument about it's use, it is important to consider the words of Principal <a href="http://www.connectedprincipals.com/archives/1697">Jonathan Martin</a>:<br /><blockquote></blockquote><blockquote>What are we doing as educators<em><strong> to meaningfully engage</strong></em> our students, to give them the autonomy, purpose, and opportunity for mastery which they crave and to which they respond with focus, energy, enthusiasm, and diligence?</blockquote><br />How can technology help? Framing the argument with these credible, educational goals in mind helps to move us forward in the right direction-to a future of unrestricted access.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06119217598369528623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420026123327582747.post-89744858081909344342011-02-03T04:54:00.000-08:002011-02-03T06:08:53.600-08:00Notes from Educon 2011: On Professional Development<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-yRrzIgj3k4/TUq2lC7EURI/AAAAAAAAApA/CyWk1vYNklU/s1600/3148399613_e9c2d93748.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 109px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-yRrzIgj3k4/TUq2lC7EURI/AAAAAAAAApA/CyWk1vYNklU/s200/3148399613_e9c2d93748.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569464636753072402" border="0" /></a><br />Below are some of the notes that I took during the Educon Conference in Philadelphia which I 'attended' from my home in Massachusetts. In total, I spent 12 hours connecting, contributing, thinking, listening and learning. Processing continues and will continue to over the next several months as every conversation had relevance to either my specific teaching reality or our school district's current reality-namely attaining relevance in quickly changing (and digitally-driven) times.<br /><br />Notes in this blog post pertain to Professional Development and are in no particular order. Please comment, contribute, should you have the time or inclination. More notes to come<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT NOTES</span><br /><ul><li>Personalizing professional development means: 'I define those people and resources myself'. It's not given to me. Most professional development in schools is in a box. If it's in a box...It's hard to individualize it.</li></ul><ul><li>How about certificates of completion for attaining certain tech benchmarks? For example, learning how to use Google Forms.</li></ul><ul><li>Professional Development would be more relevant if there were a menu of options. What would that shift look like?</li></ul><ul><li>On the other hand, you can't just dump resources in teacher's laps (such as Classroom2.0). Teachers (who are used to boxed professional development) will get frustrated because they don't know where to start.</li></ul><ul><li>How do you build a professional learning environment? Helps to have weeded, culled and sorted the best of what's available. Need to bring something ('nutritious') to the table.</li></ul>Have you done any of the above? Are you having conversations about changing how professional development is delivered in your district? We are involved in the process right now. We're hoping to bring PD online and to offer more autonomy for teachers and to use teachers as leaders<br /><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size:78%;"><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://practicaltheory.org/serendipity/index.php?/archives/1100-What-EduCon-2.1-Is-About.html">image credit</a></span><br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06119217598369528623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7420026123327582747.post-82422000740163088362011-01-31T18:09:00.000-08:002011-02-02T09:18:09.780-08:00Changing Minds As Ed. ReformOne of the things I most admire about High School Principal /Twitterer <a href="http://ericsheninger.com/esheninger">Eric Sheninger</a> is that he wasn't always as open or as tech savvy as we now know him to be. He is proof positive that Educators/Administrators can, indeed, change. Once upon a time, he supported blocking sites that could be useful in the classroom. Until he was educated about the benefits that could be had there.<br /><br />It almost seems crazy. He's a <span style="font-style: italic;">very</span> regular Twitterer and Blogger and has a healthy Social Media presence. Every one of his tweets and blog posts have value (either philosophical or practical). He appears to be the icon of 21st Century Ed. Tech Leadership? Yet only 3 years ago he wasn't-and he admits this.<br /><br />That is the fact that matters. He admits that he <span style="font-style: italic;">changed.</span> He admits that he once held a worldview that potentially limited resources that could better student's education and lives. But he listened. He learned. He changed. And the best part is that now he's right out front singing the praises of instructional technology and tools that can assist, ignite and enhance the learning process.<br /><br />His story, because it is real, is that one that we can tell our local administrators. His story can change minds one at a time. 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