“Knowing the parts of a neuron isn’t really that important”

by | Jan 15, 2010 | 21st Century Skills, Learning and Teaching | 29 comments

I recently had the conversation below with a high school science teacher (and, yes, I did it respectfully for those of you who are wondering)…

Teacher

I want my students to learn the parts of a neuron.

Me

In an era of near-instant Internet search, it’s possible that knowing the parts of a neuron isn’t really that important. For example, if I don’t know what the parts of a neuron are, I probably can find a couple dozen images of neurons - with parts labeled - in about 5 seconds using an online image search engine. It seems to me that what’s more important is generally knowing what neurons are, how they work, why I should care about them, how they impact my health and well-being, how current cutting-edge neurological research may impact me in the future, and so on. 

Will I need to learn the parts of a neuron in the short term so that I can understand these bigger issues? Yes, most likely. Six weeks from now, will it be important if I still remember the parts of a neuron? Probably not, because I always can look it up again. But the bigger-picture understandings about neurons and how they impact me? That’s what I need to remember six weeks from now - and six years from now. That’s the stuff that’s important. Assess on what’s important.

Your turn

What do you think? Would you have responded differently than I did?

Creating the new schooling paradigm: Educational technology policy priorities, Part 1 [due date: Jan. 20]

by | Jan 14, 2010 | 21st Century Skills, Law, Policy, and Ethics, Learning and Teaching, Our Changing World, Planning and Funding, Pre-Service Preparation, Tech Integration | 11 comments

ISTE’s Top Ten in ‘10 list of educational technology priorities for this year is a worthwhile read (hat tip to THE Journal). Some of its items are more vague than others. For example:

2. Leverage education technology as a gateway for college and career readiness. Last year, President Obama established a national goal of producing the highest percentage of college graduates in the world by the year 2020. To achieve this goal in the next 10 years, we must embrace new instructional approaches that both increase the college-going rates and the high school graduation rates. By effectively engaging learning through technology, teachers can demonstrate the relevance of 21st century education, keeping more children in the pipeline as they pursue a rigorous, interesting and pertinent PK-12 public education.

6. Leverage technology to scale improvement. Through federal initiatives such as i3 grants, school districts across the nation are being asked to scale up current school improvement efforts to maximize reach and impact. School districts that have successfully led school turnaround and improvement efforts recognize that education technology is one of the best ways to accelerate reform, providing the immediate tools to ensure that all teachers and students have access to the latest innovative instructional pathways. If we are serious about school improvement, we must be serious about education technology.

10. Promote global digital citizenship. In recent years, we have seen the walls that divide nations and economies come down and, of necessity, we’ve become focused on an increasingly competitive and flat world. Education technology is the great equalizer in this environment, breaking down artificial barriers to effective teaching and learning, and providing new reasons and opportunities for collaboration. Our children are held to greater scrutiny when it comes to learning and achievement compared to their fellow students overseas. We in turn must ensure that all students have access to the best learning technologies.

Those all sound great to me, but I confess that I need to think further about what these would look like in terms of specific legislation or policy initiatives that would be implemented. In other words, for what would we ask legislators and policymakers in order to make these happen?

Ask your legislator

Here in Iowa we’ve been having our own conversations about legislative and policy initiatives for which educators, school board members, business leaders, and others should be advocating. We may not know what the future of schooling is going to look like, but I think we can already identify at least some of what the key building blocks and policy levers are going to be. Here’s a quick list, in no particular order, of some things that we’ve been discussing:

  1. Get every kid/home connected (universal broadband access, preferably wireless) [this also is an economic development priority, not just a schooling priority]
  2. A computing device (probably a laptop) for every teacher
  3. A computing device (probably a laptop) for every student (maybe start at the secondary level?)
  4. Statewide curricula that emphasize critical policy needs (e.g., STEM, global awareness) and higher-order thinking skills (e.g., critical thinking; problem solving; synthesis and analysis of complex data to make meaning; creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship; reading, writing, and multimedia creation in digital, online, hyperconnected information spaces) rather than factual recall and low-level procedural knowledge [the Iowa Core initiative is intended to do this for our state]
  5. Additional and/or different professional development initiatives that help educators (teachers AND administrators) implement the curricula described in Item 4
  6. More online coursework options for students (e.g., a statewide virtual high school; the ability of districts to provide courses for others’ students) [Iowa students’ options in this area are anemic right now]
  7. Different statewide assessments that better assess higher-order thinking skills rather than fact regurgitation
  8. The creation of and/or permission to use low-cost or no-cost electronic textbooks and other online learning materials instead of paper texts
  9. Greater flexibility for schools to repurpose existing funding streams (e.g., the ability to use textbook monies for computing equipment and learning software; removal of Iowa’s $500 minimum for equipment purchases)
  10. Repeal or revise Dillon’s Rule here in Iowa, which is getting in the way of school district innovation (by essentially saying that if you don’t have express authority to do it, you can’t)
  11. Ramp up the understanding of educators and citizens about needs and issues pertaining to 21st century teaching and learning, workforce development, and a globalized economy (e.g., a statewide publicity / visibility initiative aimed at educators, school board members, citizens and community members, business leaders, the press, and so on)
  12. Utilize professional development, funding, accreditation, and/or promotion and tenure policies to make preservice educator preparation (teachers AND administrators) more relevant to new curricular and instructional paradigms

Okay, your turn

You’ve seen our list and ISTE’s. What would you add / change / delete? Contribute your ideas by January 20 and I’ll make a new list that we can collectively rank order in Part 2 of this series. Thanks for participating!

What I said to the NEA

by | Dec 29, 2009 | 21st Century Skills, Learning and Teaching, News and Events, Our Changing World, Pre-Service Preparation, Professional Development, Tech Integration | 11 comments

Earlier this month I asked what you would say to the NEA Board of Directors if you had the chance. Thank you, everyone, who chimed in with thoughts and suggestions. Here’s what I ended up showing and saying to NEA’s Board. As you’ll hear, I pushed them a bit…

UPDATE: Art Wolinsky kindly synchronized the audio and the slides for me if you’d like to watch the presentation as an integrated whole rather than accessing the slides and audio separately. He’s also added the video to TeacherTube. Thanks, Art!

Interesting observation #1: The room was set up kind of like the United Nations. Here is the delegation from North Carolina. And over here is the delegation from Idaho…

Interesting observation #2: If you say the word ‘Walmart’ to NEA folks, they instinctively boo and hiss? Apparently they’re not big fans of Walmart…

Everyone at NEA was very kind to me and I appreciated the opportunity to speak with them. I’m not sure what they’ll do (if anything) with what I said but I guess we’ll see! For those of you who are interested, you can check out my NEA web page, which includes additional resources.

Related posts

A day with Will Richardson, Part 3

by | Dec 11, 2009 | 21st Century Skills, Law, Policy, and Ethics, Leadership and Vision, Learning and Teaching, News and Events, Online Learning, Our Changing World, Planning and Funding, Tech Integration | 1 comment

Here is Part 3 of my notes from our day with Will Richardson. You also can see the live chat and/or follow the Twitter conversation and/or participate in EtherPad.

  • We started with a visioning exercise (and accompanying discussion)
  • Are we suffering from information overload or information overchoice?
  • The nichification / ghettoization / balkanization of society
  • Communities of interest don’t look like communities of geography
  • The #1 characteristic of a healthy network is diversity of ideas. (Stephen Downes)
  • Adolescents are growing up in a much more transparent environment than previous generations; whatever they do is likely going to be public (whether they like it or not)
  • We are spending a lot more time interfacing through screens
  • We are failing to teach adolescents how to use these technological affordances in socially responsible and productive ways
    • This is because the vast majority of educators aren’t information literate themselves
  • If you can’t figure out who’s behind http://www.martinlutherking.org/, you’re illiterate these days
  • It’s not hard to make the case that the world is now 24/7/365 anyone anytime anywhere. But we need access to it.

(more…)

A day with Will Richardson, Part 2

by | Dec 11, 2009 | 21st Century Skills, Law, Policy, and Ethics, Leadership and Vision, Learning and Teaching, News and Events, Online Learning, Our Changing World, Planning and Funding, Tech Integration | 1 comment

Here is Part 2 of my notes from our day with Will Richardson. You also can see the live chat and/or follow the Twitter conversation and/or participate in EtherPad.

  • How are you personally taking advantage of these online / technological affordances?
    • If you’re not, can you participate in the conversation? ‘Cause you don’t have the context.
  • The business sector is behind this; they want specific policy initiatives (can ISEA / SAI / Iowa business leaders / etc. all get behind these?)
    1. Get every kid/home connected (broadband)
    2. A device for every teacher
    3. A device for every (secondary?) student
    4. Do you have a curriculum that supports the things that Will is talking about? (does the Iowa Core go far enough?)
    5. Community forums that educate the average Iowan / statewide visibility initiative
    6. More online coursework options (e.g., statewide virtual high school)
    7. Education of teachers / community members about workforce / 21st century skills / globallization needs/issues
    8. Greater flexibility for schools to use existing funding streams
    9. Repeal / revise Dillon’s Rule?
    10. Different / better assessments
    11. Allow schools to use/create free textbooks and use textbook money for student computers
  • We are the last generation that had a choice about technology (Sheryl Nussbaum-Beach)

(more…)

A day with Will Richardson, Part 1

by | Dec 11, 2009 | 21st Century Skills, Law, Policy, and Ethics, Leadership and Vision, Learning and Teaching, News and Events, Online Learning, Our Changing World, Planning and Funding, Tech Integration | 0 comments

Here is Part 1 of my notes from our day with Will Richardson. You also can see the live chat and/or follow the Twitter conversation and/or participate in EtherPad.

  • I’m going to make you uncomfortable; you should be uncomfortable
  • If you’re not uncomfortable right now in education, you’re not paying attention
  • Conversations are spreading far beyond physical space, in ways that previously were not possible
  • My learning today looks nothing like the learning that’s occurring my kids’ classrooms
  • There are no adults right now teaching kids how to LEARN, not just be social, in these networks
  • Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JuFsDN8dsJU
    • He assumes there’s an audience and that they’ll respond
    • He’s comfortable asking for help
    • He views YouTube as a learning tool (Elliott Smith)
    • This is inquiry- / problem-based learning
    • After 101 views, he had 10 comments (10% hit rate); all 10 had specific feedback/suggestions for him
    • This 12-year-old kid can throw out a question to 1.7 billion people
  • Shirky: We are experiencing a tectonic shift in how we form groups and self-organize
  • Wesch: This is not simply a technological revolution, this is a cultural revolution.
  • Outside of school ALL of our learning is inquiry- / passion-based
    • That’s the way that world looks for anyone with an Internet connection
  • Finland has legislated nationwide broadband access by 2012
  • Schools have a lot of tech, but nothing’s really different
    • Still memorizing a lot of stuff
    • Curriculum hasn’t changed
    • Instruction hasn’t changed
  • This group-forming ability is everywhere
    • Obama’s use of social media for Presidential election
    • Flickr tag: iranelection
  • Raw information is being released rather than it being edited / filtered first
  • We now can live stream video from our phones; imagine a world in 5 years where everyone’s phone is iPhonish
  • Justin Bieber became famous by uploading his talent show videos to the Web
  • Check out surfthechannel.com
  • Today, instead of writing a letter to the editor / Better Business Bureau / CEO, you make a video
    • Business is different today because people can form groups,
    • Allstate (and others) has hired people to monitor the Twittersphere; don’t call; tweet!
    • Best Buy has 1,200 people monitoring TwelpForce; don’t call, tweet!
  • Alvin Toffler: if you’re a cop with a speed gun, the car going by at 120 mph is business, the car going at 5 mph is education
  • This MacArthur Foundation report is a must-read
    • Kids are using social networks to connect with their friends / peers
    • They’re also connecting with adults around the world in interest-based networks
      • Educators need to teach kids how to do this responsibly and powerfully b/c this will be the majority of their online interactions in the future
  • Adults are uncomfortable with the idea of being hyperconnected and hypertransparent
    • They’re wary of being open and findable
  • How are we going to think differently in 3-5 years when every kid comes to school with ubiquitous access (via cell phones) and has the world’s sum of knowledge in their pockets? (see Will’s post on this, along with the 130+ comments)
  • Research shows that the online predation issue is not nearly as big as we think; the threat is overblown; we’ve been Datelined to death; and that most kids are pretty good at navigating the Web safely
    • It’s a basic risk-reward equation
    • Adults are not having these conversations with kids, they’re simply blocking and/or ignoring the issue
    • Just like we have driver’s ed, we need Internet ed (Dave Keane)
  • There’s nothing personalized or passion-based about what we’re asking kids to do in school
    • How can we square this with entrepeneurship, innovation, creativity, 21st century skills, etc.?

What would YOU say to the NEA?

by | Dec 6, 2009 | 21st Century Skills, Learning and Teaching, News and Events, Our Changing World, Pre-Service Preparation, Professional Development, Tech Integration | 31 comments

I have been invited to speak to the Board of Directors of the National Education Association (NEA), our nation's largest teacher union, about disruptive innovation. I'm scheduled for the morning of Saturday, December 12. I only have 20 minutes, plus another 10 minutes for questions and discussion. If you were in my shoes, what would you tell them (stick to the topic, please!)?

Dear Will

by | Nov 30, 2009 | 21st Century Skills, Leadership and Vision, Learning and Teaching, News and Events, Our Changing World, Planning and Funding, Tech Integration | 13 comments

Dear Will,

In less than two weeks you’ll be here in Iowa. We’re excited to have you visit. We’ve got an eager bunch of state leaders awaiting your insights.

Just to let you know, this probably isn’t your typical group of school leaders. This session with you is invitation-only and we deliberately kept it small to foster good discussion. We only have 40 attendees and, as you can imagine, we had to make some extremely difficult choices about whom to invite.

The group includes 18 of our state’s most forward-thinking superintendents. Many of them have initiated 1:1 laptop programs, have begun student virtual reality initiatives, and/or are otherwise on the forefront of technology-related school reform. In addition to the superintendents, we’ve also invited 4 building-level administrators who live on the cutting edge.

CASTLE has been working extensively with the School Administrators of Iowa (SAI) and Iowa’s Area Educational Agencies (AEAs) to provide technology leadership training across the state. Four of the attendees represent the AEAs; three attendees represent SAI. We also have the 3 individuals from the Iowa Department of Education (DE) who are in charge of P-12 technology, the new Iowa Core Curriculum’s 21st century skills component, and administrator quality.

We have good relationships with the business associations in Iowa. In attendance will be the executive directors of the Iowa Business Council, the Iowa Association of Business and Industry, and the Iowa Chamber Alliance. One of the education reporters from The Des Moines Register also will be there.

Finally, rounding out the group are 4 attendees from CASTLE: myself; my new faculty colleague, John Nash (who used to be the director of evaluation for the Stanford Center for Innovations in Learning); and two of our graduate assistants who have been helping us with our technology leadership initiatives.

You should be prepared for keen thinking and tough questions from this group. They’ve been mulling big ideas and ground-level implementation issues for a while now. They’re chomping at the bit to move forward but also are cognizant of current policy, funding, and staffing realities. It should be an excellent day of conversation.

Here’s what you need to know about us

There are a few things you should know about us. For example, Iowa has long had a commitment to and history of educational excellence, which has resulted in our students consistently scoring at or near the top of all states on standardized assessments. Unfortunately, as our citizens and educators are slowly coming to realize, our past success and current practices often don’t meet 21st century needs very well. Shifting our populace out of complacency and into a different understanding is an enormous undertaking for us. The whole state is struggling to shift from an agriculture and manufacturing mindset into a knowledge economy orientation.

We have other challenges. In a rapidly-globalizing world, we are one of the least ethnically diverse states in the nation, which means that most Iowans have had little substantive interaction with people of other cultures. Most Iowa communities are small; we only have two cities larger than 100,000 and another dozen that are larger than 30,000. Most Iowa school districts are small; nearly a sixth have fewer than 300 students, 70% have fewer than 1,000 students, and less than 9% have more than 2,500 students. A third of our students currently live in poverty. Our young adults leave the state, never to return, at the second-highest rate in the country. Our rural bandwidth and technology infrastructures are less than desirable. Our online learning opportunities for P-12 students are anemic.

We’ve also got some assets. Because Iowa’s communities are so small, they often are more closely connected to schools and students than in many other states. Our state government, local community, nonprofit, and corporate organizations all care about and have been working extensively with our schools for many years; there is a successful track record of engagement and conversation. The Wallace Foundation recently found that Iowa has the most cohesive school leadership system of any state in the country. Our state’s leading newspaper actually prints numerous positive stories about schools.

Here’s what we need from you

We need you to stretch our minds and our imaginations to the utmost limit. They’ve already heard me speak about digital revolutions, globalization, and changing workforce needs. They’ve already heard me challenge existing ways of thinking and doing at the school, district, and policy levels. Many of the educators in attendance have heard Alan November, David Warlick, Daniel Pink, Tony Wagner, Yong Zhao, Richard Longworth, and others.

We’re ready to take the next step. We’re ready for you to take our already-forward-thinking brains into 2015, 2025, or even 2050. We need to hear from you what the new information and technology landscapes are going to look like. We need to hear from you what school organizations could / should / MUST look like. And because you work with schools all over the world, we need to hear from you what innovative schools currently are doing to make the shift.

We can handle whatever you throw at us. Don’t be afraid to E-X-P-A-N-D our brains exponentially by asking us difficult questions and offering us enormous challenges. We need grounding in a future reality, but we also need concrete details about current and potential transformative practices. We need our mental models to be rearranged, reframed, and reconfigured. And, of course we want lots of opportunities for discussion and hands-on experiences. All that is not too much to ask, is it?!

So that’s our context. We appreciate your willingness to come to Ames. We’ll be sitting at tables in small groups. All of us likely will have laptops and Internet access. Rock our world, put us to work, move us forward. Thanks.