Topic: Transforming Teaching and Learning with Technology

 

 

Some educational leaders have indicated that technology is to be used to "enhance" teaching and learning. A growing number of leaders are taking the more radical view, that technology is a catalyst for transforming the way we teach and the way we learn.  The National Educational Technology Plan makes the following statement:

 

“For public education to benefit from the rapidly evolving development of information and communication technology, leaders at every level; must not only supervise, but provide informed, creative, and ultimately transformative leadership for systemic change“

 

Here is another quote to prime the pump:

 

“The institution we call school is what it is because we made it that way. If it is irrelevant as Marshall McLuhan says; if it shields children from reality as Norbert Weiner says; if it educates for obsolescence as John Gardner says; if it does not develop intelligence as Jerome Bruner says; if it is based on fear, as John Holt says; if it avoids the promotion of significant learning, as Carl Rogers says; if it induces alienation as Paul Goodman says; if it punishes creativity and independence, as Edgar Friedenberg says; if in short, it is not doing what needs to be done, it can be changed; it must be changed.” - From “Teaching as a Subversive Activity”, Neil Postman & Charles Weingartner

 

"Education Today and Tomorow" uses multimedia to offer us a different perspective on the role of technology:

 

 

 

 

Karl Fisch and Scott McLeod provide statistics to make their case in "Did You Know? Shift Happens":

 

 

 

Marco Torres - When I'm a Teacher

 

Click Here for Information on the School 2.0 Initiative

 

 

Here are some suggested Blog readings on the topic of Transformation:

 

Education's Hidden Messages - Pete Reilly

Shut It Down - Miguel Guhlin

Future School - Alvin Toffler

Engagement v Ownership - Pete Reilly

 

 

Here are some transformative resources for you to consider: (Feel free to add to the list.)

 

1. The role of online learning both for teachers and students.

2. The ability to provide home access to school resources, 24x7x7.

3. The need to provide a structured plan for the acquisition of software and digital content.

4. The emerging role of web-based software allowing web access to resources and lower hardware and support costs.

5. The emerging role of data in decision making.(warehousing & SIF)

6. Unified desktops (portals) that aggregate appropriate resources and allow single log ons to multiple applications.

7. Lower computer costs making \"one to one\" more feasible.

8. WiMax and meshed WiFi making the school network accessible from home.

9. A new emphasis on innovative Leadership to inspire change in teaching and learning.

10. New networking strategies including \"virtualization\" and \"remote support\" that lower support costs and allow re-allocation of resources to \"one to one\" initiatives.

11. Inclusion of students in the planning process and as a resource in implementing the plan.

12. Identifying whether you are a candidate to move to Open Source software.

13. Converging data, voice, and video into one network. This can save substantial resources over the years.

14. Upgrades to Security (both data and network), asset tagging (inlcuding software license checks), Back up and Disaster Recovery plans.

15. Web 2.0 resources to change the model from using web resources to creating web resources.

16. Video conferencing to connect students and teachers.

17. Technology can be used to provide access to experts. Writer's in Electronic Residence connects students to authors.

18. Simulations and visualizations help promote deeper understanding of abstract concepts. Example: Gizmos.

19. Probes and data collectors allow students to explore the world around them in real-time.

20. Technology can open the world of hands-on learning in Robotics and Programming including Games.

21. Technolgy can be a key ingredient in the arts: Movies, Podcasts, Music, Graphic Arts, and more.

22. Virtual worlds allow students to create environments, experience learning in new ways, and connect to others outside their classrooms.

 

 

Key Leadership and Planning Questions:

 

Question #1: What do you see as the purpose of technology?

 

 

Question #2: What does transforming teaching and learning mean to you?

 

 

Question #3: Given no limits, what would be different if technology was fully utilized in your school?

 

 

Question #4: What are the technologies you feel can transform the way we teach and learn?

 

 

Question #5 What are the 3 greatest obstacles that leaders must engage in order to bring about transformational change with technology?

 

 

Question #6: What are the 3 most important elements for leaders in creating transformational change?