Challenging the Whole Child E-Book – See this ASCD blog post explaining the free limited time offer (August 3-16, 2009).
That means it ends today!
Sylvia
The Gift
A few weeks ago at the Constructing Modern Knowledge 2009 institute in Manchester, NH, I needed to make some copies. I walked down the quaint main street of this lovely New England town and found the local copy store.
Inside, the machine wasn’t working so the owner came over to help. We started talking and he asked me what I was doing in Manchester. I told him I was at a workshop with teachers learning about how to use computers in school. He immediately said something to the effect of, “That’s funny! Why don’t you have students teach the teachers, the kids know everything about technology already!”
We both laughed, sorted out the copying mess, and I walked back to the hotel meeting room where teachers were intently building robots, making movies, programing, creating art, building webpages, and more. Suddenly, it struck me. How wonderful is it that society actually believes that children are competent at something. Here in Everytown, USA, a random guy in a random moment confirmed a commonly held societal belief that children are competent human beings, in fact, MORE competent than adults. And better yet, competent at something important.
We see it in commercials where the exasperated parents hand the new, incomprehensible cell phone to their five year old to figure out. We hear ordinary people joke about getting their grandchild to set the blinking 12:00 on any appliance. And we all know that TV commercials and marketing professionals are very adept at mirroring the “norms” of society. Mention some problem using technology and more likely than not, someone will say, “Ha! You need to find a ten year old!” It’s always good for a chuckle when you tap into commonly held beliefs.
Of course this isn’t a sophisticated or deeply thought-out conclusion. There are underlying contradictions, simplifications and outright myths. The “digital native vs digital immigrant” slogan is a symptom of buying too deeply into this belief.
But what irony and what opportunity this is! What a gift that society actually thinks that children are competent at something, anything, especially something that is so vital for the future. When does this ever happen?
How can advocates for using technology to enhance learning leverage this gift to advance the cause?
I don’t think the answer is to lean on this myth or use it to justify NOT teaching students about technology. My main criticism of the digital native/immigrant metaphor is that it is used in just this way. (See my post Digital natives/immigrants – how much do we love this slogan?)
I DO think we need to find ways to build on this gift, to acknowledge that yes, indeed, kids do know a lot about technology, and that school must take that natural talent and nurture it into something MORE valuable for the student and for society.
So thank you, Madison Avenue, for helping portray children as competent individuals. Now, what can we do with this gift?
Sylvia
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Every day is leadership day
Scott McLeod of the Dangerously Irrelevant blog has declared July 12, 2009 as Leadership Day 2009. He’s been doing this for two years now, and each year I’ve participated with a post.
- 2007 – Leaders of the Future where I focused in developing the leader in every learner.
- 2008 – Just Do It where I urged administrators to stop waiting for the district reorg or the next version of Windows or that bandwidth you were promised 3 years ago and get moving. Listen to kids, don’t listen the teachers who can’t seem to manage an email account, damn the torpedos and full steam ahead.
So what to do for 2009? I still believe that leadership has to be nurtured at every level. I still believe that we can’t wait for some perfect storm to implement our perfect plan. So what’s new?
What’s new in my mind is that it’s all linked together with choice, and more specifically agency. I’ve become increasingly aware that there is no leadership without choice at every level. I’m not talking about the now politicized “school choice” nor a meaningless choice between two barely distinguishable options. This isn’t about picking a red or blue cover for your 5 page essay. Students must have choices and true agency over their own learning.
To accomplish this, you must also have teachers who have choices and true agency over their own classroom and a say in their own school. Administrators who are leaders must have agency, choice, and a vision that others can follow – if they choose. If they are leaders, people will follow. But only if there is a real option to not follow. You aren’t a leader if everything is decided in advance. You aren’t be a leader if your followers are just there for the paycheck, or if they are students, graduation credit.
Leadership is inextricably bound to free will, in the same way democracy is.
And to insist on choice and agency, you must believe that learning is natural and that most children want to learn. You must believe that most teachers really do want to reach children and nurture that amazing natural spark; you must believe that most parents love their children and want what’s best for them. To believe otherwise is to crush that delicate flower with the iron glove of control. That’s not leadership.
“Unless the people who live in schools day in and day out, principally the kids and staff, are entrusted to use their intelligence on behalf of the task at hand, we’ll not get change for the better. Anything else is inefficient, a waste of our precious time and resources.” Deborah Meier, The Power of Their Ideas 1995
I like Scott’s graphic for Leadership Day 2009 – but if it were up to me, every light bulb would be lit. That’s leadership.
Sylvia
How I ended up in the New York Times
OK, right. (My kids always seem to start their crazy stories this way.)
The other day I was working and glanced at Twitter. I swear, just a little. I saw a tweet that said something like, “Do you play games on your iphone”. I answered the tweet and pretty soon an email showed up saying I had a message on Facebook. It’s from a New York Times reporter asking if would I mind answering a few questions about playing games on my iphone.
Seriously, the New York Times wants to talk to me.
The reporter calls me the next day and we talk for 20 minutes about games and if I was a gamer (no) and why I play games on the iphone now. Then she asks if would be OK if she sent a photographer over to take some photos of me playing games. I’m thinking, how crazy is this? (and what should I wear!) But sure, why not.
The next morning a freelance photographer calls. She’s in Pasadena, a good hour drive from where I am. But she shows up and spends another hour taking photos of me playing games. She especially likes one game, Jelly Car, because it’s simple and has large graphics that show up well on camera. I play a beginner level for 10 minutes, starting over and over again while holding it in different ways.
And yes, it comes out. And I’m quoted for one line, and of course she managed to work in my age. Was that necessary? But best of all, I don’t hate the photo!
Here’s the link to the article, Yet Another Vogue for iPhones (you’ll need to register (free) for the New York Times.) It’s about how casual game players are a new market for games. No, it’s not about ME, but hey, I got the big photo.
That’s what you get for answering a tweet in the middle of the day!
Sylvia
Climbing up the charts!
Here’s a video of my NECC 2009 session: 30 Years Later: The Best Technology Professional Development
It’s rocketing up the charts of “most popular “videotaped sessions from NECC 2009 with a huge 96 views!!! I can’t wait for my NECCY award 😉
See other popular videos at www.istevision.org
Sylvia
Join us online – student participation in building the learning environment
TONIGHT! Join us Wednesday, June 3rd, at 5pm Pacific / 8pm Eastern / 12am GMT for a panel discussion with both educators and students on the topic of Student Participation in Building the Learning Environment.
Moderator Susie Boss will lead a panel discussion with Connie Weber, Sylvia Martinez, Marcie Hull, Jane Krauss, and their students. The discussion will include:
- How does more active participation change how students see themselves–and the wider world?
- How can we shape learning spaces so that kids are able to take more of the lead of their own learning?
- How can we change the culture of school so that student participation is the norm?
Date: Wednesday, June 3rd, 2009
Time: 5pm Pacific / 8pm Eastern / 12am GMT (next day) (international times here)
Location: In Elluminate. Log in here. The Elluminate room will be open up to 30 minutes before the event if you want to come in early. To make sure that your computer is configured for Elluminate, please visit the support page.
Recordings of the session will be posted within a day of the event.
Thanks to Steve Hargadon for organizing this event – see you online!
Sylvia
Library power to the user – video contest
From: Cengage Learning
Who: Gale, part of Cengage Learning, third annual YouTube video contest
What: $5,000 for You and Your Library
Library fans (students too!) are invited to create a video segment to promote their library and explain how it brings “power to the users” in their community or school.
The winning entry will be awarded $2,500 and an additional $2,500 will be presented to the winner’s favorite library. The videos will be featured on www.gale.com/librareo. Video entries should be no shorter than 30 seconds and no longer than 60 seconds in length.
This year’s contest, “Power to the User” Ad Madness, runs to June 1, 2009.
All entries must comply with the complete contest rules which can be viewed, along with video samples, at www.gale.com/librareo.
For more information, please contact Linda Busse at linda.busse@cengage.com.
Bookmark This!
A few months ago I got an email from an editor at Cable in the Classroom magazine asking me for a few recommendations for “must read” educational blogs and a one-line review. I figured that these shouldn’t be the obvious ones, but the ones that I go to first in my blog reader. Well, right after Dilbert, anyway.
Here’s the final article PDF: Bookmark This! Who’s on the leading edge of ed-tech blogging? Our panel of educators shares their must-read lists.
They didn’t use every recommendation on my list, so here are my original suggestions in no particular order:
Bridging Differences Diane Ravitch and Deborah Meier This blog is a treasure. These two experts disagree about much in education. But they have a cogent, civilized conversation about it in their posts. It’s what every conversation online or off should aspire to.
Blue Skunk Blog Doug Johnson – funny and real, authentic librarian/technologist voice from the trenches
Artichoke – A deep, deep thinker
Dangerously Irrelevant Scott McLeod – straddles academia, K-12 technology and leadership
Dy/dan Dan Meyer – A math teacher who walks the talk
Learning is Messy Brian Crosby – reat stories that illustrate the ups and downs of the classroom.
Practical Theory Chris Lehmann – Principal of the Science Leadership Academy, Chris grounds his innovative leadership and ed tech ideas in a deep understanding of pedagogy, progressive teaching, and ethics.
The Fischbowl Karl Fisch – This blog is both the staff development blog for a Colorado high school team of teachers and tech coordinators, but also a great source of information
Tuttle SVC Tom Hoffman – Sharp, biting commentary about the history and politics of progressive education, ed tech and open source software use in schools.
Classroom 2.0 – Actually, this is a Ning social network, but contains blogs, and has many teachers new to ed tech blogging, chatting, and discussing.
Stager-to-Go Gary Stager – opinionated, outspoken advocate for children and authentic technology use. Says things that need to be said, but are typically only whispered to your closest friends.
ASCD Newsblast – a thoughtful selection and commentary on education headlines.
Eduwonkette – Really good analysis of education policy and statistics (Unfortunately she stopped blogging in January 2009)
Advancing the Teaching Profession Barnett Barry – Focus on what teacher quality really means and how to get there.
List of all articles available online from the Cable-in-the-Classroom May 2009 issue.
I love all these blogs for very different reasons. Some because of the quality of writing and thought, some for the adventure of never knowing what they will say, some because their voices pierce through the glut of information found online. All of them make me happy that blogs exist and optimistic about the future of online collaboration and communication.
Sylvia
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Only a few seats left for Northwest Constructivist Celebration
If you are located in the Seattle area and want to spend a day learning about creativity, constructivism, and technology, be sure to check out The Pacific Northwest Constructivist Celebration.
Pacific Northwest Constructivist Celebration
Saturday May 16, 2009
Puget Sound ESD (Renton, WA – Seattle area)
Participants will enjoy the day’s activities, complimentary creativity software and a hearty lunch all for just $55. This event is a joint effort between the Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), the Northwest Council for Computer Education (NCCE), and the Constructivist Consortium.
Dr. Dennis Harper, founder of Generation YES will be there too!
Go to www.constructivistconsortium.org for more information and to register. There are only a few seats left so don’t delay!
Sylvia
Tinkering as a mode of knowledge production in a Digital Age
From the “Carnegie Commons” – Tinkering as a Mode of Knowledge Production in a Digital Age.
The MacArthur Foundation brought together educators, “tinkerers,” curators, artists, performers and “makers” to grapple with questions around ensuring that all students benefit from learning in ways that allow them to participate fully and creatively in public, community, and economic life.
These interviews from five of the participants were produced to provide some insights into the thoughtful and passionate conversations from that convening.
These videos make connections between tinkering, innovative ideas, the idea of making work public as in a studio, creativity and collaboration, the ability to incorporate criticism, and more. Well worth watching!
I posted my own thoughts about students having “tinkering time” with technology a few weeks ago and it’s quickly risen to be one of the most looked at articles on this blog. It’s especially important as educators work hard to figure out how to make education more relevant to students and to connect to the real world.
Seymour Papert, the father of educational computing, often used the French word bricolage to describe the kind of playful attitude both children and scientists use to tinker, build, test, and rebuild their way to solving problems. Bricolage has the additional advantage (besides being cool sounding) of implying that you are using materials that you find around you – a very eco-green idea!
Problem-solving in schools is typically taught as an analytical process with clear plans and steps, like the “scientific method.” But bricolage is clearly closer to the way real scientists, mathematicians and engineers solve problems. Sure, they make plans. But they also follow hunches, iterate, make mistakes, re-think, start over, argue, sleep on it, collaborate, and have a cup of tea. Bricolage encourages making connections, whereas School tends to like “clean” disconnected problems with clear, unambiguous step-by-step solutions.
“For planners, mistakes are steps in the wrong direction; bricoleurs navigate through midcourse corrections. Bricoleurs approach problem-solving by entering into a conversation with their work materials that has more the flavor of a conversation than a monologue. ” – Papert & Turkle
For more on the concept of bricolage and computers, Papert’s book, The Children’s Machine: Rethinking School in the Age of the Computer is the one to read. If you want to get a taste, the Math Forum has a nice synopsis of it on their website.
Sylvia
* Note: the Papert & Turkle quote is from their seminal paper, Epistemological pluralism and the revaluation of the concrete. I found this on the Edutech Wiki, hosted by the University of Geneva.