Fixing technology over breakfast

Since there is 22 chapters in the book I am going to condense a few of them in each blog.  Today we met as a group (book circle) to discuss the book.  We met at Cracker Barrel for breakfast to disucss the book.  We recored our conversation so I will post it on my blog later tonight.  It was interesting in that we had a lot of the same viewpoints about the book.  I will share some of them as I blog more about the book. 

Longworth High School-Chap 3

I found some interesting things in this chapter.  First, their administrator believed in the students and technology.  Their leadership was very dynamic and their technology infrastructure was outstanding.  This school had a lot of software that was not being used because teachers lacked the time to truly evaluate it.  The most profound statement I found in this chapter was their realization that the computer is no longer a teaching machine but rather an informational source and a productivity tool. 

Harriet Tubman Elementary School-Chap 2

Harriett Tubman Elementary is low-income school located in the South.  From the very beginning the principal states that READING is their number one priority.  They purchased a $25,000 per classroom reading program.  Students take turns on the computers spend the rest of the time in small groups with their teacher.  One thing I learned from this chapter that I hadn’t given a lot of thought to is that two virtues of the computer is that is it patient and precise.  Two attribute teachers often have a hard time keeping up on 100% of the time.  This chapter gave me the vision of how we need both computers and teacher and that if they can work hand in hand, success will follow. 

St. Mary’s Elementary School-Chap 1

St. Mary’s Elementary School is located between a College and a manufacturing plant.  They have a ratio of 3.6 children to every computer.  Every teacher has a laptop and Internet access at home.  The University set the school up with wireless access to help out the elementary students.  The principal was nervous to set up a technology program in the school because she was afraid it may isolate the students, that teachers may feel uncomfortable not being the experts anymore and last where would the money come from to sustain it.  In spite of these apprehensions, they developed a technology plan in 1996.  The observations from this school were that they had strong leadership, which led to their success.  They only hire people, who share their vision, who want to make critical thinkers of their students, and who believe in coordinating curriculum.  The most important attribute is that their teachers have ownership over their technology program.  This has made all the difference.    

Introduction

“Technology Fix” is one man’s journey looking at technology in schools.  He wanted to look at the use, misuse, and nonuse of computers in the classroom.  He organizes his book in four main parts:

• Schools where there was strong leadership with well defined outcomes
• Schools with strong leadership but the outcomes were less clear
• Schools whose efforts seemed dissipated by a lack of focus
• Schools that had severe problems with no focus

He shows us the conditions that need to be present in order for technology to work and to make a difference. 

The Technololgy Fix

I am currently reading The Technology Fix “The promise and reality of computers in our schools” by William D. Pflaum for my leadership class.  Stayed tuned as I plan to blog about the book.

Jib Jab

I made a little video on Jib Jab using my dogs face.  I am currently trying to upload it here.  Stay tuned to see if I can figure it out.  I figured it out.  Check out the Disco Dogs video located on the side bar

LapSchticks

I ran across the LapSchticks website had fun looking at all the different laptop covers you could choose from.  One more time to think “why didn’t I think of those”.  They are pretty cool.  Just thought I would share

A simple dream of mine.

One night I had a dream that I had a built in LCD projector in my classroom with a wireless laptop and speakers that work.  I know most people dream about winning the lottery or maybe traveling the world….not me….I have a simple dream. 

I have been checking out a multimedia cart (laptop, speakers, LCD projector) on a weekly basis.  I know a lot of you probably have one set up in your classroom at all times…..lucky you.  We however have to check one out from the library. (We have about 7 total for our high school).    Last year we couldn’t get them on line so you had to everything on a flash drive (which isn’t the end of the world).  But this year they can get online and I can’t believe how wonderful it has been.  I have been using it at the beginning of each class as kind of a question of the day.  I have a short video 2-5 minutes to introduce the lesson.  I have had such a problem with tardies I thought if I showed a video right when the bells rings and close the door keeping the tardies out,  it would help the tardies want to be to class on time.  I will say it has worked a little bit.  I also play news videos during the passing period, so those kids who come in early can get a little news in their life.  There is so much great information out their I can’t see not using this simple technology to stream it in my class.  One day maybe every class will have the complete set up.  A girl can dream can’t she?

21st Century Learning

I really liked this diagram because it made sense.  The rainbow part of the model represents the the outcomes while the pools at the bottom represent the support systems that are necessary in order to reach the desired outcomes. I found this on  21st Century Skills website.  I really liked a lot of their philosophies and the main content areas they focus on.   

• Global awareness
• Financial,economic,business and entrepreneurial literacy
• Civic Literacy
• Health and wellness awareness

One other focus that I found interesting, was tthat hey stress incorporating life skills in their pedagogy.  Some of these life skills include leadership, ethics, accountability, personal responsibility, people skills, self-direction, and social responsibility. 

 One question I have…..can we incorporate the above life skills into an e-learning course?  It seems to me that these skills need to be taught in a face to face social setting.  I could be wrong and please let me know if I am.  These skills are so critical for survival in today’s society, I feel it is a disservice to our students to deny them of these skills.  These life skills are taught in a variety of ways over a long period of time not from a course.  They are not acquired by reading a book and taking a test, rather by live long interactions.  I think of my students….and how much help they need with these life skills. I can’t imagine them skipping a few years to take elearning classes.  I feel very strongly they are learning these life skills on a day to day basis.   Just a thought…..I would love to hear what you all think!