10 ways technology transforms student learning:

1). Technology elevates the depth and scope of learning that can occur in the classroom.

2). Technology brings relevance and a certain level of ‘freshness’ to the content.

3). Technology shifts the role of the educator and empowers students to take control of their learning.

4). Technology provides opportunities to amplify student voices and expand overall reach.

5). Technology connects experts and those ‘in the know’ to students and their learning. 

6). Technology increases the speed and accuracy of students getting feedback to further guide their learning.

7). Technology provides opportunities for students to get a more personalized learning experience.

8). Technology builds independence and capacity to be a self-learner.

9). Technology creates a platform for students to raise awareness about a cause and/or initiate change toward a cause.

10). Technology becomes a bridge between what kids hope for and what is currently possible.

6 ways to ensure technology enhances learning

The six questions below come from Alan November's work on technology rich vs. innovation poor. 

So, the next time you are planning an activity or a lesson that involves technology, ask yourself these six questions. If you aren't able to answer 'yes' to them, then you may want to reconsider the structure and/or format of the activity you are doing.

Also, if you ever get the opportunity to hear Alan speak, please do so. Alan is engaging and will surely get you thinking and calling into question what you've always believed to be true about student learning.

Is technology the silver bullet to all of our problems in #education...?

If you know me or follow me on Twitter, you know I am a big advocate of increasing technology in schools. I have said numerous times that we not only need more technology in schools, but also we need more training for educators on how to effectively and appropriately integrate technology into the learning environment. Here is something you probably have not heard me say, technology is not the answer and technology will not solve all of our problems in education...

In my opinion, there are plenty of bright spots in education all across the globe. Is our education system completely broken and in need of replacement, some would say so, but I say no, at least not yet... I think we have a solid foundation in education, albeit with several false premises, but a solid foundation nevertheless.

Think of a house... the foundation is the first part of the construction process. The foundation ultimately ends up supporting and holding everything else together. A weak and damaged foundation will spell certain doom for any structure that relies upon a strong and supporting foundation. In education we have a cracked foundation. We have a few leaks in our foundation, and we are noticing that our foundation is getting close to no longer being able to fully support the weight of the house...

As I previously mentioned, I believe we have a lot of positive in education. At this time, will our education house crumble and completely collapse, absolutely not. I do however think the cracks and leaks we have in our education foundation will continue to grow, and in no certain time this damage may just become irreversible. Irreversible to the point that we will no longer be able to repair the damage, and when taking about a foundation that can't be repaired, we are left with only one option... tear it down and start over.

Though technology is amazing and can do wonders in the classroom (when used properly), we must first tend to our cracking and leaking foundation if we really want to see the added benefits. Throw every piece of technology in the world into every classroom in the world and we will still have a damaged and leaky foundation. It would make no sense to make lots of repairs to a house that is being supported by a cracked and leaking foundation without first making plans to address the damaged foundation itself. Unfortunately, in education I think we are focusing on the house more than the foundation...

I love technology and I love how it can be used, but let's focus more on the instructional side of things. Let's focus more on the teaching side of things. Let's focus more on the student learning side of things. If we continue to use our cracked and leaking foundation to support new initiatives and approaches, we might just be sorely disappointed. Maybe we should consider getting back to the basics and strengthen our core beliefs in regard to student learning before adding more weight to our already damaged foundation...

20 thoughts from #iste2014

Is Twitter losing its 'pizzazz?'

So, recently I've seen quite a few blog posts about the negativity occurring in the Twitterverse.

The educator on educator crime has seemed to increase and professional and collaborative discourse seems to be fading.

I'm also reading how several folks whom I greatly respect as educators are disengaging from Twitter and stepping back for a while.

Lastly, I'm hearing that the Twitterverse is becoming polluted with self promoters and folks who aren't really interested in learning from others, rather instead solely interested in self-promotion.

Having said all that, I'm not completely oblivious to these thoughts and beliefs. In fact, I've noticed some of these trends and have noticed a shift in how folks are using Twitter.

Now, I honestly don't believe anyone is in a position to tell another person how they should or shouldn't use Twitter, but the change is real and the effects are being noticed.

But... doesn't this shift (whether good or bad) represent what makes this tool so great?

Didn't Twitter become what it is because it provided a fluid and flexible medium that could adapt and change as the market so desired?

I guess what I'm saying is, do others feel that Twitter has become 'expendable' and is losing its pizzazz as one of (if not the) best tools for connection and collaboration?

Has Twitter become the latest victim of the social media craze that propels you to the top overnight and back down just as quickly...?

For the record, I still haven't given up on you Twitterverse...

10 tips to avoid technology integration frustration

You’ve heard it before, you’ve seen it before, and you’ve most likely experienced it yourself before: technology integration frustration. Change is not easy. When we talk about change, especially technology changes that take us into the wide world of the unknown, things can quickly become even more complicated.

Technology integration in schools is particularly important because kids are really branching out and utilizing technology at a much higher rate than ever before. Part of teaching and helping students to safely and appropriately use technology is recognizing that it’s happening all around us. 

Here are 10 tips to help you and your colleagues avoid technology integration frustration.

1. Establish a focus and a purpose. One of the biggest issues plaguing education is the overabundance of initiatives in which participants don’t see a clear and obvious connection. Before moving ahead with a technology integration plan, help paint the full picture by presenting teachers with the purpose and the overall justification of the movement.

2. Bring the goods. There is nothing more frustrating than discussing the need for increased, integrated technology if there’s no technology available. Despite ever-shrinking budgets and more and more financial demands, ensure that technology is available for educators and students to use before you begin the discussion. To account for limited budgets, many districts are utilizing a hybrid model which provides a limited number of devices while also encouraging students to bring their own personal devices (BYOD). If you are encouraging students to bring their own devices, be sure to set some ground rules and guidelines for students, staff and parents.

http://goo.gl/Llmxpa

3. Make sure your infrastructure is in place and has demonstrated, sustained reliability. It’s absolutely critical that schools have the proper networking capabilities and infrastructure in place prior to moving ahead with any kind of major technology integration initiative. When educators and students are looking to access the Internet, they need a reliable and robust system that makes access second-nature and easy.

4. Have a serious conversation about Internet filtering and technology access. Teaching digital citizenship and proper internet safety are crucial pieces when it comes to the technology access conversation. Too often though, districts and schools have a divide between those who safeguard the network and overall system and those who are most often using the network and system. Collaboratively with colleagues, students, and community members, establish a set of guidelines and expectations that involve integrating digital literacy and  citizenship into your curricula. Involve your technology department in this process, ensuring alignment between the overall integrity of the network while also allowing for trust, openness, and effective utilization of the network by educators and students.

5. Differentiate, customize, and personalize the process for staff. In order for this technology revolution to start and be effective, you must have an idea of your staff members’ technology knowledge and background. Take time to both formally and informally ask questions. This will help you when it comes to knowing where to start, as well as what information could be skipped over and/or re-emphasized.  

6. Help make technology and social media applicable to content. When someone asks, “How does this work for me in my class?,” you need to have an answer. Put yourself in the educator’s shoes and consider how these new tools can have a positive effect on the classroom. Provide your colleagues with lists of other people both in and out of the district who may be teaching the same or similar classes. Your fellow educators will only take part in the revolution if they see how technology and social media integration can help them or their students.

7. Do not drown your staff members with too much, too quickly. Don’t forget that our colleagues are learning, just as our students are. You can’t, and shouldn’t, give them too much to bite off at one time. Take it slowly by presenting one or two concepts at a time, allowing your fellow educators a better chance to fully grasp the topics before moving on to new ones. Make sure you don’t create a room full of brains that have shut down due to stress and confusion.

8. Support and encourage your shining stars. As the year progresses, a few “shining stars” will begin to emerge. These educators need to be encouraged and supported, because they are taking a risk by trying something new. Allow them to discover and explore, but also keep them in close contact. Be there to help if they start to struggle and want help. It is essential that they have your support and guidance.

9. Don’t make it just about the technology. This point needs to be made clear from the very beginning:  Technology is just another tool in the educator’s tool belt. Technology is a means to provide additional opportunities to enhance the overall impact of the lesson and/or activity. Using the SAMR (Substitution, Augmentation, Modification and Redefinition) model is an excellent strategy to get the point across that technology can redefine and completely change the types of activities you can do with students.

10. Prepare and acknowledge the implementation dip. Growth will be fast at first, but then there will be a collapse. There will be disappointment that something didn’t work out as planned, and there will be frustration when the students don’t respond how we thought they would. This is all a natural part of the change process. Be sure to remind folks frequently that there will be bumps and setbacks. However, a strategic approach to technology integration will enable us to better prepare students for success in the future, and that’s what it’s all about.  

The changing face of classroom instruction

Josh Hall, the instructional technology specialist in my district, will be doing a presentation with me at the Fall MSBA/MASA conference.

Our topic is the changing face of classroom instruction. No matter where you, your school, or your district is, we are challenged as educators to create an engaging, relevant, and purposeful learning environment for our students. This is no easy task... but please do enjoy our presentation and hopefully you will get a couple ideas!

Stop telling people how to use social media...

There's something happening in social media lately. Perhaps you've noticed it... perhaps not. Perhaps it's even bothering you too... perhaps not.

I don't think it was ever intended to happen, but nevertheless it's happening.

More and more I am hearing, seeing, and reading about how we should be using social media. There seems to be a growing consensus that there is one specific way to use social media and if you aren't using it that specific way, you are doing it wrong.

I'll be honest, there have been times when I have thought someone is not doing it right and said to myself that they aren't using the tool properly. Perhaps there are those who feel I'm not using social media properly...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rhysasplundh/

As I see from others and reflect on what I have done, it has become blatantly clear to me that nobody is in any position to tell anybody else how they should or shouldn't be using social media.

Isn't one of the beauties of social media the fact that it is being utilized in ways that nobody could have ever imagined? Isn't it remarkable to see what has grown from something considered to be a fad is now commonplace and frankly an every day staple in our society?

Are there people who have absolutely zero netiquette and are frankly obnoxious... yes, absolutely there are. But hey, guess what, there are people outside of social media that don't have a considerate bone in their body and obnoxious wouldn't be a strong enough word to describe them.

Are there those using social media for reasons other than connecting and networking... yes, absolutely there are. Is it really a problem that they are using a tool (remember, social media is just a tool) for purposes other than connecting and networking?

My point here is simple, and maybe I'm wrong and way off base, but I just feel that we all have a choice on how we choose to use social media. I also think we should embrace social media for what it is... a tool that is customizable and personalized for all of our use, which means everyone is going to use it a little differently.

As I said, maybe I'm way wrong and not using social media properly by writing this blog post, but then again, maybe I'm not...

Why every kid needs a Chromebook

My district has steadily been purchasing more and more Chromebooks for our students. I've been using my Chromebook for several months now, and from what I've read and conversations I've had with those who are also using them, I feel confident advocating for the use of Chromebooks.

Here are the reasons why I believe Chromebooks are a game changer for education and why every student needs one:

~ It boots in less than 10 seconds and is ready for use before you even know it.

~ The battery life will last an entire day at school and will fully charge in less than 2 hours.

~ If your district is using GAFE then Chromebooks are a no-brainer due to the seamless transition between a technology device and the Google platform.

~ Google Drive... need I say more?

~ When you log on, all of your personal apps and customizations come with you. This matters because a student can use one device one day and then another device the next day and it won't matter because all their apps and customizations are linked with the account, not the device.

~ The device is light and small which makes storage, usage, and mobility very easy and convenient.

~  PD resources are plentiful which means there are lots of opportunities for teachers to get comfortable with the Chromebook and GAFE.

~ Google has shown it is willing to make and continue making substantial commitments to education, which means even more features and options in the years to come.

~ The management system is pretty easy and straight forward from the networking and managing side of things.

~ From the financial standpoint, the Chromebook can't be beat. At around $300 per unit, you can put a set of 30 on a cart for around $10,000. That makes 1:1 a much more viable option in cash strapped school districts.

For the record, nobody asked me to write this post and I have not received anything from anyone as a result of writing this post.

Also, for those of you who are already using Chromebooks, what are your reasons for using them? Why would you recommend and/or advocate for more of their use in education?

5 tips for starting BYOD in your district

In my district we embarked upon a journey at the beginning of the 2012/2013 school year. Our goal was to enhance our current instructional practices by finding new ways of infusing technology into the educational setting with the hope of preparing our students for the ever-changing world. Additionally, we wanted our graduates to have the skills necessary to compete on a global scale while providing them a relevant, purposeful, and meaningful K-12 learning environment.

About 11 months later we have decided that Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) was going to be a big part of our journey. Here are 5 tips if you are interested or considering a BYOD environment in your school or district:

1) - Focus on what your main goal and objectives are with this type of initiative. There is nothing more important than determining the end result or main goal. We spent a significant amount of time with our technology committee (teachers), with our technology department, members of our community, and our administrative team discussing the purpose of a possible BYOD initiative. Once we determined that BYOD would be an integral part of us accomplishing our learning goals for our students, we felt comfortable moving forward.

2) - Spend time doing your homework and learning as much as you can from those who are already doing BYOD. This was probably the best part of the entire process. We sent teams of teachers to neighboring districts who had already implemented BYOD programs in their schools. This not only gave our teachers and administrators the opportunity to see what other schools and districts were experiencing, but we were able to learn about their roll-out and the logistics of the implementation process.

3) - Ensure you have the necessary technology infrastructure in place in advance. Our technology department deserves major kudos for ensuring we have the necessary bandwidth and the appropriate structures in place to fully implement a BYOD plan. This required a lot of foresight on the side of our technology department, and fortunately it has paid huge dividends considering where we are now. More technology in schools won't be of any value if the system can't handle it.

4) - Realize that not all will agree or fully understand the value of more technology in schools. This was not exactly something we were surprised about, but nevertheless it's important to share and help make sure everyone is aware of what BYOD really means. Of course this is officially opening up things for personal devices in our schools, but let's face it, our kids and teachers are already using their personal devices anyway. With a BYOD program we can structure our curriculum and instruction to help students AND staff develop a better understanding of digital citizenship and proper technology usage.

5) - Support, encouragement, and more support. We are quite fortunate to have recently hired a district technology specialist to help with training and assisting teachers with technology integration. Many districts already have this type of position in place, but many others don't. Also, we are planning to host several informal learning sessions for those who are interested in embracing technology integration. At this time we aren't planning on forcing anyone to use BYOD in their classroom. We are hoping that through informal learning and by having conversations with those who are experiencing success, more and more will jump on board.

Below is the presentation I gave to our Board of Education once we finalized adjustments and changes to both our policies and instructional practices. Please also note that we used our legal counsel in helping to refine our policies and minimize district liability.

10 reasons we need social media in education

I recently had the opportunity to be a part of a four person panel discussing social media in education with central office administrators. Our audience was made up of superintendents and assistant superintendents from all over the state of Missouri. Most importantly, I was joined by three awesome educators: Kyle Pace (@kylepace), Chris McGee (@cmcgee200), & Scott Dill (houstonsuper). All four of us come from different backgrounds and have a wide variety of educational experiences, and I would highly recommend following all of these gentlemen on Twitter if you are not already.

Jason A. Howie

I'm writing this post to help educators start the social media conversation in their district. Regardless of your position, if you are looking for some talking points for future conversations with your building and/or central office administration on the benefits of social media, look no further:

1) - Social media enables an instructional shift to take place. Social media helps move students from simply consuming information to creating and then sharing their work with the world. Districts looking to embed and embrace 21st century skills into their curricula will find the transition much easier with the aid of social media.

2) - Social media is a tool, and tools don't make bad decisions. It sounds crazy, but just like when we started to allow students to use pencils in school, there were concerns that the students would misuse them. Technology devices are no different, and it's crucial we don't paint all technology tools with the same brush assuming that they are all evil. Remember, tools don't made bad decisions; the people using those tools inappropriately do.

3) - In terms of educator growth and development, social media connects educators with the experts in the educational field. If you have recently read a book or an educational article, you can almost guarantee that the author is using social media as tool to strengthen their brand. Social media makes it so easy to contact and work alongside these experts.

4) - Social media will help you meet your students, their parents, and your community where they already are. Make it easier for communication and transparency by using the platforms that your students and community are already using and are comfortable with. Right now we call it social media as if it's some completely isolated thing, but in a few years it's just going to be called 'teaching and learning' in school.

5) - Social media is a powerful search engine that allows both students and educators to find timely and relevant information. Sure, social media can be a waste of time if it's used just to search for videos of cats, but the reality is, social media is changing the world second by second. Major events around the world aren't reported first by the news, they are first reported by people who are actually there via social media. If that's not real education, then I don't know what is.

Scott McLeod

6) - If your school and district wish to remain relevant, they need to be a part of the social media movement. +Christopher McGee envisions a world where schools are the learning hubs and centers of connection in our communities. Too often our schools try and separate themselves from the community when they need to be more closely aligned and working together to provide the most purposeful and relevant environment as possible.

7) - Social media will help you pass a bond issue. +Scott Dill was able to pass a bond issue in his district after not having one pass in over 12 years. He credits this remarkable accomplishment to using social media and connecting with the community on how these funds will be used, and why it's so important this initiative passes.

8) - If you believe in telling your own story and not having someone else do it for you, you need to be using social media. +Kyle Pace said it best, "if you don't tell your story, then someone else will, and you probably won't like the story they are telling." Social media provides several platforms that help you be proactive about the image of your classroom, building or district. Don't react to what you read, be proactive and share the message you want your community to read.

9) - #Sharknado

10) - If you say you are preparing students to be successful in the future regardless of the path they choose, you have to include digital citizenship and digital branding into your curricula. The banning and blocking of social media because students will misuse it in the educational setting is pretty hypocritical. Most school districts have a website, a Facebook page, and perhaps even a Twitter account. If the district sees value in utilizing these social media platforms, then why would that same district block them and not take advantage of that wonderful opportunity and potential with the students...?

What reasons would you add for including social media in education?

Not using social media should no longer be an option...

Recently I had the opportunity to speak with Tom Whitby (@tomwhitby) and Nancy Blair (@nancyblair) via the BAM Radio Network about social media and how it is affecting education. I've been a big advocate of social media as a tool not only for professional growth for educators, but also for students and the huge implications for their digital footprint and overall digital presence.

I think @dwight_carter may have said it best when we talk about why BOTH kids and adults are drawn toward social media and technology.

Here are some of the main reasons for using social media as a tool AND vehicle for growth and development:

1) - Social media creates an environment where I am inspired and energized every single day. We all know those days that suck us dry and leave us feeling completely drained and depleted. Social media, whether it be blogs, Twitter or posts read on a Facebook wall, I can very easily and very quickly find inspiration that gives me a boost of energy and positivity. This is probably the most unrealized potential of social media and establishing connections with others.

2) - Social media creates the perfect medium and vehicle for BOTH educators and students to showcase the great many things that are happening in classrooms around the world. If we as educators and students within education can't be our own biggest cheerleaders, then who will be? We need the positive and awesome things we are doing in education spread all over the place, and social media makes this so easy and meets people where they already are spending an increasingly more amount of their time.

3) - Social media and being connected is all about possibility, and with social media the amount of possibility is frankly limitless. The classroom is no longer limited to four walls and the school is no longer the only place kids can learn and educators can teach. The world is now the classroom of the future and being connected via social media opens every single door and window in the house. We are now only limited by our willingness to explore, discover and most importantly, our willingness to take a chance.

4) - Lastly, due to my use of social media, both my wife and I were saved on our way home from a recent trip to Chicago due to this tip via Foursquare.

Just think how bad this could have been if we didn't have this information in advance! #crisisaverted

On a more serious note, I know there are great educators who are not connected and who are not using social media, and frankly that is quite a shame. The great things they are doing need to be shared with others, and I can say without hesitation that social media and being connected would make them even better educators.

The future is bright and we need leaders in education who are an integral part of this bright future. We don't need educators sitting on the sidelines hoping this will pass and become just another fad. We need brave, courageous and inspirational leaders who can and will embrace the evolution of constant change in our society...

The networked educator...

What if you could bounce ideas off educators not just in your hallway... school... district... state... or even your country...? What if you could open up learning for your students... what if the great many opportunities of the world were at your and your students' fingertips? The truth is, you can, and it's happening all the time!

Welcome to the Networked Teacher:

Have up to 10 educators or students in a "Google Hangout" discussing and working collaboratively via Google Plus:

Amplify your voice and broaden your pool of knowledge by asking questions and sharing ideas while getting instant feedback via Twitter. At the secondary level, create a hashtag (#mathMrsmith) for your classroom so kids can communicate and share information about the class.


Bonus, check out Hootsuite to set up a schedule of your tweets which will allow you to write your tweets in advance and have them sent out later automatically!

Start a blog to share your educational learning experiences; create a platform for discussion via the comment section on your blog. Have your students start a blog so they can share their work with an audience of more than just you, their teacher:

Skype with another classroom on the other side of the United States; Skype with other educators to discuss best instructional practices:



Start pinning with Pinterest:


























Have your students use their iPods, iPads, or iPhones to create their own videos via iMovie. Bonus, as a teacher, create your own short videos to archive important concepts or lessons and share with kids who were absent... explore flipped teaching!


Being a networked educator is all about not working alone. It's all about tapping into the vast world that is quickly becoming smaller and smaller.

Leave a comment below to share how you are or could become a "networked educator."

Social media and how it's affecting education

I recently did a presentation on Social Media and the role it's playing in education to the local SHRCSA (School Human Resources & Career Services Association). I enjoyed my time and we were able to discuss and cover quite a few topics very pertinent to all educators. Below you can find my presentation. Enjoy!

Technology is not the answer...

If you know me or follow me on Twitter, you know I am a big advocate of increasing technology in schools. I have said numerous times that we not only need more technology in schools, but also we need more training for educators on how to effectively and appropriately integrate technology into the learning environment. Here is something you probably have not heard me say, technology is not the answer and technology will not solve all of our problems in education...

In my opinion, there are plenty of bright spots in education all across the globe. Is our education system completely broken and in need of replacement, some would say so, but I say no, at least not yet. I think we have a solid foundation in education, albeit with several false premises, but a solid foundation nevertheless.

Think of a house... the foundation is the first part of the construction, and then everything else is put up around the house thus being supported and held together by the foundation. A weak and damaged foundation will spell certain doom for any structure that relies upon a strong and supporting foundation. In education we have a cracked foundation. We have a few leaks in our foundation, and we are noticing that our foundation is getting close to no longer being able to fully support the weight of the house...

As I previously mentioned, I believe we have a solid foundation in education. Will our education house crumble and completely collapse, absolutely not. I do however think the cracks and leaks we have in our education foundation will continue to grow, and in no certain time this damage will be irreversible. We will no longer be able to repair the damages, and when you are taking about a foundation that can't be repaired, you are left with only one option... tear it down and start over.

Though technology is amazing and can do wonders in the classroom (when used properly), we must first tend to our cracking and leaking foundation if we really want to see the added benefits. Throw every piece of technology in the world into every classroom in the world and you will still have an unbalanced and in need of repair foundation. It would make no sense to make lots of repairs to a house that is being supported by a cracked and leaking foundation without making plans to address the damaged foundation itself. Unfortunately, in education I think we are focusing on the house more than the foundation...

I love technology and I love how it can be used, but let's focus more on the instructional side of things. Let's focus more on the teaching side of things. Let's focus more on the student side of things. If we continue to use our cracked and leaking foundation to support new initiatives and approaches, we are going to be sorely disappointed. Let's get back to the basics and strengthen our core before adding more weight on our already damaged foundation...

Disruptive Innovation in Education...

For the last two days I had the opportunity to attend a Pearson's conference in Baltimore. Regardless of your opinion of Pearson and the role they play in education, they put on a pretty nice conference. Though I was not in the market to purchase any of their products, they did offer several sessions with great speakers and presentations. In particular, I had the opportunity to hear Lee Crockett's presentation on "Disruptive Innovation." This is the second time I have had the opportunity to hear Lee speak, and he most definitely did not disappoint. Lee also has a great blog you should follow called, "The Committed Sardine."

The following 10 images are of tweets I sent out during Lee's presentation. I am confident these tweets will surely get you and any educator thinking and reflecting... enjoy!

 

Thoughts... comments... concerns?