Ed tech 7-23-13

"Teacher" or "Learning Coach?"

How do you use technology to empower teachers and learners? I so enjoyed being able to get to the heart of technology today. Using tech as a way to do things differently rather than the same. Not just a tool, but a way to change the experience. Ideas ranged from shared PLT/PLC using google drive for sharing to using almost a blog idea to share comments on writing. Taking photos at concerts/night programs to email an event to all so that everyone sees students in other places and using Doodle to reduce the number of emails to plan meetings and events.

• I am anxious to add the idea of photos at events to keep connections and build community. I hope to add texting to my parent communication bag of tricks as well to begin additional capacity. A Vision of K-12 students today: Embarking on the new digital curriculum we are looking at this coming year in my district, this would be a great video to show to set the stage for the year.

• I was not familiar with Edmodo and am anxious to see how it might be useful for my school.

Beginning to see what our students know and love and how to break into their world to empower students AND staff...Text protocol: Agree, Argue, Apply - Use technology to allow students to have a different way to approach things and learn rather than just as a vehicle to do the same old job.

• App recommendations: Is it for profit, or is it for kids. NCTE has a good list. Emerging middle camp - for benefit company. Technology that supports and benefits kids, but still will and can make a profit.
• Diigo.com create a Diigolet - activate to allow highlighting in text online and allows you to save and bookmark web articles or things that you want to find again. Create a library. WOW!
• Use Quiktime to develop training tools and movies quickly.

A laptop can cost more than a person can make in a year... This brings us back to Amy. Allow and teach people to use the technology in all parts of life. OPEN the walls! ENGAGE ME!

Links for today: 
Here is a link to Doodle in case anyone needs it: http://doodle.com/?locale=en
Edmodo: https://www.edmodo.com/
Diigo: https://www.diigo.com
Teamwork video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qzzYrCTKuk

Stolen from Amy!

Amy had some wonderful questions which I hope I was lucky enough to be able to steal...Thanks for the thoughts!

Q:  Why do we close the real world out of our schools?

Q:  How can we diversify our teaching teams and schedules so that students are receiving instruction from the most highly skilled technology teachers?  How to we capitalize on innate talents (in staff) for the benefit of our students?

Q:  Is collaboration about "learning" from one another, or rather is it about working, building, brainstorming, arguing/challenging (respectfully) and discovering with one another?

A related TED Talk I like, and which got me thinking:

Margaret Heffernan:  Dare to Disagree 

http://www.ted.com/talks/margaret_heffernan_dare_to_disagree.html

Q:  How do we share our resources with our communities in a way that helps our students and families build technological (or other) skills? 

Q:  Is there a way to purposefully and consistently bring real-world professionals into our schools on, for example, exchange, stipend or on a volunteer basis? Are there business partnerships yet to be developed? 

Q:  How do we help teachers participate in local events, such as the upcoming NCTE conference in March of 2014?

Q:  In what ways can building level staff collaborate in a meaningful, personal way with District leaders to make the changes needed?

Q:  How do we help teachers continue to focus on what's going well and build on those successes?

Q:  Does everyone need to go to college? 

Another related TED Talk I like:

Mike Rowe:  Learning from Dirty Jobs

http://www.ted.com/talks/mike_rowe_celebrates_dirty_jobs.html

Q:  If students and parents knew the "Real Truth" about the student's current level of achievement (because we've told them and made certain they understood), and if they understood or had access to information related to Common Core Standards, could the use/application of technology at home enable and empower families to take more responsibility for achievement and/or advancement?  How can we promote that?

Just experimenting

So enjoyed the class today. Great group of folks and wonderful information. I am struggling with what to present as a final project. TOO MANY CHOICES. I am looking forward to these discussions and possibilities. Thanks for the progressive outlook!  I am trying a photo now for a personal touch. This was taken last summer during a trip to the Napa Valley for my 30th wedding anniversary. See everyone tomorrow.

Humbled

There is so much t learn, but there is a way to get there. DO NOT BE AFRAID. I enjoyed the article about starting. I think it is sometimes easier to make an excuse than to begin, so here goes...Everyone starts somewhere. IF you make and investment and trust yourself, you can learn as well.

I hope to keep rambling away here is cyberspace and not be afraid!

TED: Sir Ken

2nd Climate Crisis: Deal with the urgency. What is your talent? Just getting on with it versus letting what you do be who you are.

Education dislocates people from their natural talents. Go looking for them so that they may be encouraged. Transform education into something else. Challenge what we take for granted.

Life is not linear, it is organic, yet we view education this way. "We must get to college." Diversity of talent. Humans depend on it.

College does NOT begin in Kindergarten. 3 is not half of 6... We have sold ourselves to the "fast food," of education. Passion is the key. If you are doing something that resonates with you, hours are like minutes. Human flourishing is organic. We must develop the system to encourage the passions and our students.

Link: Abraham Lincoln Quote:http://quotationsbook.com/quote/44576/#sthash.VSyBVqy2.dpbs

Link: Yeats quote: http://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/1472827-the-wind-among-the-reeds-1899-decadents-symbolists-anti-decadents

Link: 10 TED talks - Ken Robinson
http://www.ted.com/playlists/124/ken_robinson_10_talks_on_educ.html

Lit review for class: possibilities for class project
John Dewey : School and Society: Free for ipad?
Tony Wagner: Creating Innovators
Clay Shirky: Here comes everybody - The Power of organizing without organizations - social media
Clayton Christensen : Disrupting Class - Harvard business professor - Disruptive innovation - disrupt the normal status quo.
Yong Zhao: Catching up or leading the way - see linked website

Check class website for online resources

Move it forward!

How do we move technology forward? Go next door and freely share with each other! Educators can be professionals. Move it forward for the benefit of all. System is slow to move it forward. Digital equity can be an issue, but don't make it an excuse. OPEN your school!! Making schools the center can make a difference. School beyond school hours. Why do we keep the doors open only when students can attend? We must develop a COMMUNITY of learners. We need to promote access for families.

Reflections about education: Out of the industry and into life. Technology is no longer a choice. Be connected, "nearly now." Reflect and research. Students are the center and learn through community. Best quality, but learn beyond the school room. Connect students to academic shift.  Around the world, around the country.

Understanding, not a memorization vending machine!!!
BRAVE CHILDREN who are collaborative and are learners...