Springfield Schools - 5/11/10

Well, it was amazing, but just lead to more uncertainty.  Will our school stand up to this??????  The school building itself is not much to look at, old, but clean.  The learning inside was really the focus and emphasis.  It was interesting to see the difference in priorities.  Just like people...some are concerned with the glitz and glamour of the outer shell, while others focus on their inner self.  There has to be some type of balance and this school was all about the inner self.

It was inspiring to see kids in the hallway working on laptops, every student engaged, working, and learning.  The Director of Technology, Principal and Superintendent were so hospitable, welcoming, and helpful!!!  (Thanks!!)  Their words of wisdom were scary, but not in the way you would think.  The biggest thing that I took away from today was trust.  If you don't have trust between administrators-staff, staff-students, students-staff, etc., it won't work.  Yes, boys will look at inappropriate material, girls will cyberbully, but it is the MINORITY, not the majority.  What happens???  Same thing that happens to the kid who writes abusive language on the desk, disciplinary action.

Second to truth was to have a paradigm shift.  Students are encouraged through character education to take responsibility for the laptops and produce programs to support anti-cyberbullying.  It is ingrained in their culture.  Best of all, kids in one Civics class were actually making presentations based on laws they are recommending to their city, county, and state governments.  It was problem-based learning in action, and isn't that the goal???  We want to make kids ready for the workplace, they need to be problem solvers, not problem creators. (Like when the cash register doesn't work and tell them the exact change :o) Problems are changing and kids need to be able to use multimedia and other methods to show their talents. (If only state testing would allow that!) 

Our last concern was money and PD that allows for teacher application in the classroom.  I am going to push for time in our own rooms to make things work for us, not in a computer lab at a workshop.  Springfield said that their teachers translated what they had learned best when they learned at home and hands on.  Also, note to self: changing computer lab rooms into presentation rooms????  --they had some rooms that weren't being used, I thought it would be a great idea, like a conference room / multimedia room where kids could present their work or projects. 

I hope to start posting some sites that I find helpful soon!!!

School Visit

Tomorrow should prove to be an exciting day.  Visting a school in Union County, NJ that has used a 1-to-1 laptop program for 6 years!  It's overwhelming all the things administrators, teachers, tech coordinators, and curriculum supervisors have to think of to prepare for this grant.  Professional development days have also been coming together.  Teachers will be taught basic feed and care, interactive whiteboards, video conferencing, and all the Web 2.0 tools to succeed with 21st century learners. 

The taxing part is preparing for disaster, what if camera's are used at inappropriate times, what if illegal file sharing programs are downloaded, etc. What if...what if...what if.  Hopefully the school we visit tomorrow will have some answers.

And so it begins...

I wanted a way to track my journey over the next year or so through the triumphs and defeats of trying to become a 21st century minded educator. I want to remember the highs and the lows and have a way for people to comment as well as share suggestions or ideas. Thus, in the spirit of being dare I say "techy", I decided on a blog.

I am an educator in a diverse New Jersey public school, who with some luck in this state crisis of budget was lucky enough to be part of a team of people who won a grant to provide our students with a 1-to-1 laptop program. We are beginning the stages of implementation and I noticed quickly the backlash rising against technology and changing the way we educate students today.

I will share any cool resources, along with stories of how the process is going. Hopefully, this will inspire people to join the cause and face the challenge before us. A pencil and book will not be the only way we can prepare our students for success in the world. I am just as guilty of using the old methods and the scary part is I recently graduated from an accredited teaching program, but my hope is to come out a better technologically advanced educator, able to provide real resources and implementation. That's the goal and the dream on the journey through all this technology daze.