The Top Three Most Important Issues Facing K-12 Educational Technology for 2011-12
Please read the article
In the Comment section, state two items. 1) Which of the 3 is most important and why and 2) Is your school (or schools in general) doing a good job of addressing these three issues?
I think the most important issue addressed in this article was about BYOD. While I teach early elementary students and BYOD is not realistic, if the middle and high schools were doing this it could free up funds to do one on one programs with the elementary age kids. I think access is so important for all ages to be true 21st century learners. Access allows them to communicate, collaborate and learn beyond our four walls and teaches that learning isn't just at school.
ReplyDeleteRight now I do not feel that schools are doing a good job of addressing these issues. I am aware of only one local district that allows and encourages BYOD. While more schools have one to one programs the funds that can be freed up by going to BYOD could provide other programs and access for more students to take place. To be true 21st century learners our students need to be learning outside the classroom. Whether it's through collaboration with another student across the country, communication with an expert in the field or by sharing and commenting on a blog, students are required to function in the real world, with real problems and find real solutions. We need to be doing more to show them how to do this.
1. Anytime, anywhere learning. Too often, students only equate learning with the classroom. School districts need to make resources available to students beyond the classroom and encourage learning beyond the school building. Hopefully, such steps will provide a foundation for establishing learning as an integral and continuous part of students’ lives.
ReplyDelete2. I do not feel schools are addressing the issues in the article. Most schools still discourage the use of cell phones and other devices in the classroom. More professional development and collaboration with experts and other schools is necessary in order to properly infuse 21st century skills into the curriculum. Anytime, anywhere learning will not exist as long as students (and many schools) only associate education with a classroom or school building.
Cloud computing along with BYOB devices sounds like a great idea. But like the article discussed, there is a long way to go in order to make this work. Beyond developing policies for districts, not every student has access to devices that can do the job. While it seems that everyone has a mobile device, it's simply not the case. And for many that do, the phones they have are not ready to support cloud computing. I would also like to see some great examples across many different subject areas on how this can be implemented. It it certainly the case that we as teachers would need a lot more training.
ReplyDeleteI was pleasantly surprised to see empathy cited by a businessman as a must to teach students in the 21st century. As we become increasingly globalized, students must know how to communicate with people from different backgrounds and values. This need to teach students how to communicate with and relate to others really hasn't changed in education, but the world with which students in the 21st century will relate has grown.
ReplyDeleteI don't perceive that schools are doing a very good job with any of the three proposed trends. Largely I think this lack of innovation is due to what we discussed in class several weeks ago--schools in general are large and "stodgy" which makes change and adaptation slow. Considering that aspect of education, perhaps the most important change for educational technology in general would be to encourage school to adopt a more flat administrative structure, as suggested in class. This change which seems perhaps unrelated to education technology would actually open the door for greater progress in the technology realm.
I think that Anytime, Anywhere learning is the most important. In this age of fast-paced, on the move families, it is essential that kids are able to continue studies wherever they might be. Some families have put education behind family vacations, days off, etc. Being able to interface with the classroom and the teacher would be a positive move in many respects.
ReplyDeleteMy school addresses these areas to a point. We do not allow outside devices for students, except for the occasional special needs child. On the second point, 21st century skills are incorporated at all levels of my school. Preparing kids for the future, and all the diverse people they may encounter are two areas my school stresses. The third point of anywhere, anytime learning not used frequently at my school at the present time.
I think the most important was "BYOD" because without that, the other two issues were practically obsolete. At my school, I would say we do a decent job of numbers 2 and 3, but not number one. When students bring a cell phone in our school it is to be turned off and not seen, or it goes into the teacher's desk.
ReplyDeleteSide rant: It should not be expected that emotional tendencies be taught only in a school setting- parents and family life have a huge impact whether a student will respond with empathy or another emotion!
I think the most important thing about the article is about the BYOD. I think it is good ideas to have the students use their own technology in classroom. A big percentage of my students have I Phones or laptops. What our school does not have is enough technology to support all of the students, but I believe there is way to get it. A good analogy would be the free and reduce lunch that some of the students participate in. The school makes sure that each student who does not have the means to pay for a breakfast or lunch gets the help. The school provides nutritional meals because it is important for a student to be able to perform well in school. BYOD to school is a good concept because that is the way learning is going. Schools would benefit because most students already own some type of mobile device and that would lessen the cost to the school. Schools can also provided the devices based on the same criteria used for free and reduce lunch. As technology continues to increase, I do not think students will be using textbooks, thus saving the schools more money.
ReplyDelete1. Anytime, anywhere learning
ReplyDeleteI believe this is the most important of the three issues that the author focuses on, although it really is an outgrowth of "Understanding 21st Century Learning." I truly believe that virtual and remote classrooms are will be the norm in 10 years rather than the exception.
2. The business community and post-secondary learning institutions have seemed to grasp this notion much more readily that secondary schools which, for the most part, remain very traditional. To really grasp 21st Century Learning, schools need to have seamless integration of the in-person and cloud environments. Blackboard, ANGEL, and Infinite Campus are getting much better, but many still complain that access is an issue. That problem will diminish as tech prices decrease.
Comment: I thought the Alan November commentary was interesting, especially the bank exec who feels that empathy is the ability to listen to points of view from individuals in "other countries." I may be old school, but it seems to me that families have the primary obligation to teach manners, empathy and compassion--not schools. Schools should be a reflection of a society's norms and should fall in line with culture rather than the other way around. Oh, and it shouldn't matter what country a person is from! All people deserve empathy and compassion.
Truly defining what is meant by 21st century teaching and learning is, I believe, the true hurdle educators face as they look at teaching kids to handle the future. With the marketplace turning more global by the minute, students and teachers need a clear picture of what they need to learn and teach. Social networking and round-the-clock media have changed the way our world works.
ReplyDeleteSocial networking has decreased the amount of time it takes for an idea to spread. Likewise, 24 hour news means ideas and changes get around fast. What’s more, a pundit’s opinion or perception can become society’s reality simply by virtue of it being publicized. When rogue governments are moving their people to rebellion, those changes make our world instantly different. Countries and people all over the world can act and react to changes immediately, especially with social media.
Therefore, November’s reporting of the executive saying empathy needs to be taught, is a key 21st century skill. When I hear the phrase 21st century skills, I think high-tech. But, the skills teachers and students need to learn and grow with has a global mindset, one that understands each community is different and perception needs to be qualified. Educators need to demonstrate skills, like empathy, so that students see they don’t live in a bubble and that their own opinion and views are suspect to definition.
Our school does a decent job of teaching values because we are a Catholic school and are required to teach Catholic Social Teachings, such as human dignity. The students get limited exposure to low-income citizens through required service hours. But, that isn’t enough. Students (and teachers) today need to explore what’s going on all over the world in order to introduce young people to the world beyond our borders. Teaching students to have empathy with fellow humans around the world will equip them to handle their global jobs of the future.
Anytime, anywhere learning. Having access to school resources outside of the building walls is a powerful tool to put into the hands of young learners. Many of our learners are connected constantly to some form of digital media. Allowing them access to learning tools that they may not otherwise have access to would inevitably produce more inquiry by the students.
ReplyDeleteI know that many programs that we allow students to access at home via username and password are frequently used. Not all students take advantage but many do; those students do make more connections and ask more questions in class.
The district that I teach in is very cautious of the technology used and accessed by students and staff. There is a lot of lost potential in the paths that we could potentially take our students. I have seen and continue to see progress but compared to other schools we are severely lacking in our instruction and use of mobile devices.
I think the second is the most important, incorporating 21st Century Skills. Although, this is a tough one to lay a finger on because ITBS doesn't include it in the test! I've even found myself needing to know less facts now that I can look them up on the internet, but what comes in handy on the job is creativity, leadership, being able to collaborate, etc. I think our school is trying to incorporate these skills, but we're still on watch according to No Child Left Behind so we tend to get caught in the reading and math rut with what teachers are focusing on. The cool thing about 21st century skills is they can usually be incorporated w/any lesson easily. I don't think our school is putting much effort into the anytime anywhere learning. They talk the talk but they don't walk the walk, so the teachers that want to incorporate this into their curriculum work long hard hrs w/o much support. It'd be nice if PD focused around this! The BYOD has recently been addressed. Our MS is trying it out during YET (after school study hours.) There's so much worry about what bad situations "could happen" that administrators forget about the learning that could be happening.
ReplyDeleteI think that the most important is anytime anywhere learning. This skill is essential for developing life long learners. Showing students that the things they use every day are valuable for learning is really important and giving them the resources to learn on their own makes this very effective.
ReplyDeleteI think my school does a pretty good job at working with this concept. While it is an elementary school, and technology isn't used at the same level as upper grades, students are still exposed to using IPADS and IPOD touches. They are shown different web 2.0 tools and how they are useful for recreation as well as learning.
I think the most important of the three is 'Getting people to really understand what is meant by 21st century teaching and learning." I teach at an elementary school, so BYOD programs are not really applicable. However my school has a huge focus on diversity and being accepting of others. I teach at an International Baccalaureate PYP school when aims to create internationally minded students. There are profiles and attitudes that are taught in all classes that further reinforce what it means to be internationally minded, empathetic, and a life long learner. I think it is especially important that students learn these skills while they are young so that they grow up with an open mind, ready to learn about others and their cultures.
ReplyDeleteAs I said above, I believe my school is doing an excellent job of creating empathetic students - however I do not think this holds true for all schools. I think, as a whole, American schools are not focusing on these 3 very important aspects of technology in education. I hate to say it, but so much pressure is put on teachers to get students ready for an endless amount of testing that technology and real 21st century skills are sometimes ignored. The students aren't tested on how empathetic they are, or how able they are to use technology. Unfortunately, it is on the back burner for now.
Of the three rules I believe that the most important was rule number two. “ 2. Getting people to really understand what is meant by 21st century teaching and learning.” The primary reason that this rule should be elevated above the others is because it is a fact based rule not one based on policy. Rules number one and three are policy because they rely on contestable decisions that are approaching the issue of how best to use technology available. Rule number two is simply looking at the need for understanding which is by definition the need for education. Education teaches young people what they need for the rest of their lives. Rule number two focuses that statement by having young people look at specific skills and information that they need.
ReplyDeleteI agree with rule number two in principle, however, I believe that the explanation of that rule is flawed. The explanation states that the skills needed in the 21st century include, “Communication, Collaboration, and Creativity and Innovation” and lastly “empathy.” These lessons however are vague and do not address what makes the 21st century different from any other. The explanation could have come from any point in time throughout the course of human history (minus the dark ages) and still be considered relevant and applicable. What makes the 21st century different from the 20th century is the speed our students need to be able to maintain in order to adapt to innovation. Technology is in a constant state of acceleration. In order to teach our students 21st century skills we have to teach them not how to solve specific problems today but how to solve problems we do not even know exist tomorrow. Many students and adults from the past generation share the idea that if they have a problem the teacher needs to know the answer. That is no longer true. A good teacher does not have to know the answer to every contingency of possible questions. A teacher needs to be able to find answers to problems and students need to learn to do likewise. A good student is not one that knows the answer to a question but a student who can identify a problem and guide themselves to the answer. Technology is expanding faster than any one person can keep up with. The 21st century is about nurturing a student’s abilities to keep up with progress. In a world were any question can be answered by a search engine knowing the answer is not at stake, keeping up with innovation and finding the best means to stay ahead of the next wave of technology is at stake.
Schools in general have difficulty implementing rule number two. For centuries educational institutions have relied on students memorizing facts. It is not enough for students to be able to answer a question if they cannot do it without resources. Because of this line of thought education is at a standstill. Educators have a quandary, how do we teach our students if we can’t assess their understanding by testing their retention of knowledge? I cannot pertain to have all of the answers but I feel that identifying the problem is the first step to understanding the solution. The school I worked at was an archetype of schools across the nation. Addressing the problem of teaching 21st century skills is a problem that I have not met a school yet that has solved.
I forgot to mention how my school is addressing these items. My school in the past few years has become very relaxed in their policies with mobile phones in the classroom. It has essentially become teacher discretion as far as how they are utilized or allowed. Our school does offer a dedicated wifi for the students to use as well. As far as the last two pieces, we are all put through some training, but sometimes it's all too little and not often enough.
ReplyDeletei feel that the 2nd concern of getting people to understand what is meant by 21st century teaching and learning is the most important. The other ideas listed in my mind are part of the implementation. I feel that many educators and parents still focus on outcomes and behavior that is preparing our students for 1980 something as you fondly say in class. If we can not grasp the true concept of 21st century education then it won't matter how many devices we bring into the classroom. Students need to learn not only the technology but how to use it to learn and grow in an ever changing global economy. I even agree with the focus in their explanation on empathy, because I constantly see disagreements happening over a basic misunderstanding and disinterest in others cultures. It no longer matters only who is smart but who can communicate ideas across cultural boundaries.
ReplyDeleteI would have to say that most of the schools I have worked in are still stuck in the 20th century. It is hard to adapt to a new kind of education when those in charge are reluctant to change. I see many teachers in their classrooms doing their best to make changes and it is slowly having a ripple effect. The fact is the major changes come when the people at the top begin to sit up and listen to the cry for change.
I believe that #1 and #2 are both important so that is why I like #3 becasue it mentions both of these issues together. I beleive that having a BYOD system set up as well as teaching 21st century concepts compliment each other. I believe that with the way budgeting works in both public and private schools, both issues will be difficult to achieve. I believe that #2 needs to be taught in school first before you see more #1 taking place.
ReplyDeleteFrom my experience and as a younger educator, I see students using new and different technologies, but they might not be used educationaly. If we can teach our future students how to use these tools maturally, I think we would see an increase in students getting more access to these tools.
For students who can not afford these tools, maybe the state government/district would have a fund to help students in financial need to own these tools.
The only problem I see is how you can control what your students use these tools for inside and outside of the classroom and school. I'm sure some ideas can come about to solve this problem.