Education Technology

Who’s on Facebook?

Is your school on Facebook?

Why not?

Eric Sheninger thinks you should think again. He went from a strong no social media policy two years ago to fully embracing it. He speaks eloquently (at last week’s #140edu conference) about why your school should also be there.

  • Communications: makes it far easier to communicate with stakeholders, such as parents, community, students
  • Public Relations: way easier to toot your horn on Facebook than to get an article in the paper. There might be negative comments? Well, of course. Those conversations are already happening. Wouldn’t you rather they happened where you can address rumor and misinformation or explain the situation?
  • Student Engagement: he tells of significantly increased student engagement and performance in classes where social media and technology are being used. Don’t worry, everything being done MUST be based on sound pedagogy – it doesn’t mean just bells and whistles.
Check out The Nerdy Teacher’s blog post about Eric’s talk at the #140edu conference. Do what he says – watch Eric starting at 1:14:30. It’s worth your time.

#140edu

Interesting conference August 2-3 in New York — “#140edu: Exploring the State of Education Now.” The purpose of the conference is to “look at the underlying effects the real-time web is having on Education.”

I’m watching the livestream  now — conversations with teachers, administrators and others about moving education forward.  At first, I was a little bored because I’m hearing the same things I’ve been hearing about moving education forward: the factory model is outdated, we need to integrate technology, teach the 4cs (Collaboration, Critical Thinking, Creativity, Communication), etc.

Then, I realized I should be thrilled! This means the conversation is broadening and is becoming more common – this is good. I found out another high school in our area is going to a 1:1 with iPads. Another district is experimenting with iPads for special education.

Communication Tool

Just listened to a disturbing, but essential talk from a man who is a New Jersey school board leader, and a former first responder. His point about the schools and students using now common communication tools was poignant. He discussed what happens with a shooter in the schools – very difficult to listen to, but important, and definitely applicable to less dire situations. How would the school let a parent know? How would the students get information out? What if students are required to leave their phones in their lockers?

Hopefully we never encounter a situation like this, but the lessons and concepts are the same.

Through a Different Lens

Clover

Photo taken and edited by my daughter

An article in today’s St. Paul Pioneer Press talks about the author’s success in getting her son to go on hikes by giving him a digital camera. In the article, Maja Beckstrom talks about a program run by the State Parks which teaches kids about digital photography, as well as her experience taking her son out hiking.

Key quote:

Adults read manuals. Kids treat a camera like a toy and try different things until they like what they see.

We’ve had the exact same experience with our kids. It’s fascinating to see what they’ll photograph, and how they see the hike much differently than you do. Where do they see art? What do they find interesting to document? How do they organize the images? How would they present them, if asked? Give them an online photo tool, like Picasa or Picnic, and they’ll spend hours with the images after we’re back, and they end up with a gorgeous, visual interpretation of the hike.

Yet, like much of the digital world, this is all done outside of school. What would happen if we encouraged kids to take pictures of things in school? On a field trip? As a school assignment? Yet, kids aren’t allowed to have devices that would empower them to take pictures. There are all sorts of rules about privacy, etc., that keep schools from using these tools.

Isn’t it time to move beyond these short-sighted, limiting policies? Sure, kids shouldn’t be taking/making pictures that would hurt another child. Sure, it’s easier to distribute these online. BUT – how are kids going to learn responsible use of these tools if they’re never allowed to use them in a school setting? Let’s see what the kids can do with these tools – it’ll surprise us all.

Organizing

I’ve been watching various talks from leaders in the 21st Century Learning/education reform /education technology field over the last few months.  They are fascinating, motivating, and very thought provoking. Not being a teacher (anymore) or involved in education on a day-to-day basis makes it easy for me to think that we can make these reforms and changes. Do I really have the authority to ask for change from schools, in particular the schools that my kids attend?

One finally pushed me “to the other side.” Chris Lehmann, principal of the Science Leadership Academy in Philadelphia, is a leader in the educational reform and technology communities. In his TEDxNYED talk from March 2010, Lehmann closes by asking,  “How do we change the world?” A big question. How do we start?

“It’s time to organize.  I mean all of us together – administrators, teachers, parents, students. If not me, then who. If not now, then when.”  —Chris Lehmann

So, that’s what I’m doing. I’ll blog. I’ll talk. I’ll push. Watch this video and join me.