k12 conference

Just watched some of the k12 conference presentations: Trying to keep all my comments in one place!

Kim Cofino’s “Going Global” Keynote

I just finished watching Kim Cofino’s “Going Global” Keynote, and many thoughts come to mind. To comment I will stick with the structure that Kim’s keynote follows. I do not dare to do anything else considering it is only Wednesday night, and I can honestly say that this week has perhaps been the most challenging, both professionally and personally, that I can recall. I will spare all of you the details.

Culture shock: I totally agree with Kim (I think I can use her first name) that mobility, customization, adaptability, blending, always being on, collaboration, responsiveness, global awareness, and flexibility are not only important skills that students and teachers should have/ obtain, but these should also be part of our new approach to education in general. Being a realist, I also look at the implications and how much change would need to take place. Possible yes, I suggest small steps. Time, training, attitude, and money will all be needed to make change occur. For example, I tried to copy a set of quizzes today and the copier needed toner. I looked around for toner and there was none available. I went to a second copier and there was no copy paper. I went to the supply room to get paper and copied the quiz. That said I needed to hand staple 92 quizzes because the stapler in the copier was not working. Forty minutes later I was done!

Convergence: In this section I listened to numerous “Third Culture Kids” discuss the mostly positive aspects of living in cultures in which they were not born. The TCK’s convinced me that they were more global, and better able to “walk” into unknown situations than students who are more insulated. I see great value in these programs and admire families who are able to commit to these endeavors. However, I do not for one moment see the connection between living and learning in a different culture (International Schooling) and using technology to bring a student into that culture. Kim said that our students “don’t need to move around the world” to experience and obtain the same skills behaviors, and attitudes as the Third

Culture Kids. I have had the privilege of studying abroad for about a year’s time. During this time I lived in Geneva, Switzerland, but traveled to about 15 different countries. I was immersed in cultures and systems that were foreign and at times scary. This experience was very life altering, ranking only behind the birth of my daughter and meeting my wife. For example, I saw the Matterhorn while having the freshest and cleanest air strike my face as I skied down to Zermatt. I sipped French wine out of a fifty-year-old oak barrel while in Dijon. I floated in the Ionian Sea and felt how buoyant I was because of the increased salinity. I do not mention these experiences to relive old memories but to illustrate the point that seeing the Matterhorn on Google Earth, Skyping with a French sommelier, and reading a blog about how cool it is to float higher up in the water, does not come close to the actual experience. Yes, having our kids become more global is important. Yes, technology is allowing this to occur. Yes, teachers need to meet this challenge. I just don’t see the connection that Kim has made.

Future of Education: Kim’s suggestions are important for anyone willing to “go global” and further flatten our world. She advocates that the teacher must be “connected” first before “connecting” the classroom. Comfort is an important thing in teaching, but so is growth! Personally, I am to busy right now to judge the merits of spending more time away from my personal relationships versus spending more time creating relationships that are processed through tiny bits of data.

Google SketchUp Unleashed by Joe Bires

I just watched a video /screen cast on the powers of Google SketchUp. In brief, Google SketchUp is a 3 dimensional rendering program that is free and able to run on many different platforms. Just like the game of Othello, it takes a minute to learn and a lifetime to master. During this video, the presenter mentions that having students solve problems using a 3-dimensional approach empowers students much more than the typical 2-dimensional approach.

Many years ago I tried using Google SketchUp and failed. At that time the program was very convoluted and filled with countless bugs. Watching Joe Bires navigate through the updated version, I see that Google has simplified the learning process. Any teacher that uses design, build, or engineering within their curriculum should investigate this program. Joe Bires recommends allowing lots of play time so as to not overwhelm the students. Make sure they find success early on, if not they will not delve deeper into the program. Trust me, I know!

The iPod Touch in the Classroom By: Kern Kelley

Mr. Kelley provides a simple overview of how to get started using an ITouch or IPhone in the classroom. He then previews some basic settings and applications that may be useful in a classroom setting. Having an Iphone, I have already used the IPhone in the classroom. I now take attendance with the phone, and I keep track of my school email through the phone. In addition I have many applications that help students see and understand science content. I downloaded a seismometer app on the phone that is extremely sensitive and can be used with a projection unit. It was really neat to see kids tapping their feet 30 feet away from the phone, and watching the seismic waves get graphed through the projection system. The power that these devices offer is amazing. They are cheap, reliable, and have great potential. The number of applications that are available can be overwhelming and they are growing by the hour. Mr. Kelley suggested a website called http://www.iear.org. This site provides a solid review of applications that one might consider using in the classroom setting.

There are limits to these devices. With tight school budgets, I would still rather laptop computers for each student. Yes, they are more expensive, but they provide a larger screen and a far more productive typing mechanism (a full keyboard). That said, I do look forward to the possibility of having a set of ITouch/ IPhones to use within the classroom..

Digiteens: Digital Citizenship by Digital Teenagers

Presented by Vicki Davis and Westwood Schools Students

In this short video, students are taught about what digital citizenship means. The students then select an area of interest to further research. Some of these areas include internet safety, security, cyber bullying, digital health and wellness, and digital addiction. The students then create self-directed projects that communicate a researched message related to digital citizenship through collaborative efforts. These students then share and communicate their message to a larger world audience. These messages/projects seem to engage the students and are authentic.

This is such an extremely effective method of teaching and learning in the 21^st century.