The energy around the hotel was electric today, maybe even moreso than Day 1.  People were energized by David Warlick‘s keynote to open Day 1, and the afternoon of sharing and celebration of some amazing collaborative ideas revved up the engines.

David’s second keynote this morning was just as inspiring. His message centered on the changing nature of information and how that has affected all global systems, and then explored how schools needed to adapt to prepare students for that world.  Again, the audience was captive…taking it all in.  For most, this was a revelation!  Many had never had any exposure to this type of message, and it hit hard and fast.

After divided breakouts this afternoon, people left to drive home – tired but changed!  They came seeking, they left with a passion and charge to seek ways to change their classrooms.  The talk had changed.  A whole new vocabulary was being spoken.  The conversations to start change were started.  They will continue.

I am tired.  I get one last opportunity to thank David in the morning as I take him to the airport.  But first, we have one last special stop…the Boyce Farmer’s Market!  It’s a Saturday staple in our town…I know he’ll love it!

Technorati tags: Warlick, education, teaching, literacyandlearning, 

Saw this over on Karl Fisch‘s blog…once I stopped laughing, I realized it had a worthwhile message, especially for those of us who work with teachers on a daily basis.

I see this kind of uncertainty everyday. I admit that I sometimes lean towards frustration when teachers seem to be disinterested, even obstructionist, in utilizing technology. However, it is then, when I must step back and assess the true motives of teachers, that I realize that most want to succeed with technology.

Many teachers, just like our students, struggle with new ideas. They are comfortable with where they are at and see technology as a lot of effort. But most of all I think many teachers are embarassed (just like many of our students) about what they have missed and how they are left behind.

Comments?

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technorati tags: education, technology

I received this via email from Lorrie Jackson and the good folks at Lausanne Collegiate School who organize the Laptop Institute each year in Memphis. I was lucky enough to attend last summer and can attest to the quality of this gathering. David Warlick was the keynote – need I say more? This summer it’s Will Richardson…

If you are a veteran school or just thinking about 1:1, this is a great place to be in July!

MARCH UPDATE
Early Bird Deadline April 1st
Register by April 1st and save $50!

Dear Educator,

It’s the ripple effect: throw a pebble in a pond and watch the ripples expand across the surface. As the collaborative conference for 1:1 educators, the Laptop Institute has brought together schools from across the world, enabling each to build on the experience and success of others and expand anytime anywhere learning. The Laptop Institute runs July 15-17 and is hosted by Lausanne Collegiate School in Memphis, Tennessee (USA).

In four short years, the conference has grown from 50 attendees from 7 states to almost 500 from 36 states and 8 countries in 2006. As early bird registration grows to a close, it’s already clear that July’s event will continue to expand the reach of the Laptop Institute. There is now:

1. Greater geographic diversity
This year, most attendees are from outside the South, including 20% from the Midwest. And, one out of ten attendees comes from outside the U.S. including educators from Poland, India, Australia, Taiwan, and Canada!

2. Increased presence by independent schools
This year, almost ¾ of attendees come from independent schools, up from just over half in 2006. One of every five attendees comes from a public school or district.

3. Continued interest from both the 1:1 beginner…and veteran
This year as in years’ past, a third of all attendees have been in laptop/tablet programs for 4+ years. What has changed is the number just considering starting a program, up from 16% of total registrations in 2006 to 44% in 2007.

But, why exactly does the Laptop Institute continue to grow? By meeting the needs of anytime anywhere learning educators, regardless of locale, school, or level of experience. From its 80+ hands-on, classroom-based presentations by laptop/tablet teachers and technology integrationists to nationally recognized keynote speakers to the Exhibit Hall filled with industry-leading software/hardware companies to evening events for networking and collaboration, the Institute provides information and inspiration at an exceptional value. Be sure to see the Laptop Institute web site – www.laptopinstitute.com – for a current listing of sessions.

For additional information, contact Lorrie Jackson (ljackson@lausanneschool.com) or visit http://www.laptopinstitute.com. We hope to see you in July!

Oh yeah…did I mention that I was going back this July…and have even been invited to lead a couple of sessions…:)

technorati tags: education, technology, laptopinst

Saw this video link on a post on Jeff Utecht’s blog last week…and then a colleague sent me a different link today.  Interesting, provoking…pause to reflect.  Worth a few minutes of your time.

[youtube]6gmP4nk0EOE[/youtube]

I’ve been trying to peek in on the K12 Online Conference over the past couple of weeks, but haven’t found the time I had hoped.  However, I have watched David Warlick‘s pre-conference keynote a couple of times.

The first time I saw/met David Warlick was in a formal conference environment (we had a brief chance to talk on a bus drive). He was amazing, rekindling an enthusiasm for learning and the immense potential these instruments have in our classrooms (Just ask any of my colleagues – they hear it every day!!).

But his on-line keynote was even more special…even though he was there then and I was here now (and I watched half at school and the other half in the evening at home) his keynote had an innate sense of intimacy. The way he moved around to illustrate and convey ideas, it reminded me of how kids might send video clips to tell their stories to their Grannie who lives across the country. It was personal and a truly amazing learning experience. I only wish I could have particpated in the on-line discussion.

What a GREAT idea for a conference. Don’t get me wrong, there is still a valuable place for the traditional conference (where else can we share a laugh or two together??!!), but this experiment will surely take its place in the repertoire of learning essentials.

I have been peddling the conference to our staff. Despite their time crunch, I am hopeful that at least some of them might find some time to participate.  I’ll be interested to hear their thoughts.

 Technorati tags: warlick, conferences, k12online06

Yesterday was a wonderful day for me. To start I was privileged to attend the wedding of a wonderful young teacher-to-be. Last year Rebecca spent three months as a Teacher Intern with my teaching partner and myself in our dual 1:1 class.

Reared in a conservative British education system and having attended university in my alma mater (of which I have written previously), Rebecca had little exposure to the potential impact of technology in creating a student-centered learning environment. However, to her credit, she was open to learning and re-learning, and her impact on the community of learners in our classroom was amazing.

She is going to be an awesome teacher, and I am so happy that she is planning on staying in Canada with her husband (a young Christian minister) and contributing to our children’s education. Congrats Bec and Matt!

Last evening I had the pleasure of hanging with my wife and my former team-teaching partner and his wife as we enjoyed an amazing show by Juan de Marcos (of the Buena Vista Social Club) and his Afro Cuban All Stars. I am not a musician (although I was able to pass an Elementary Music Education course in university) but I was able to fully appreciate the quality of the performances.

I counted no fewer that 17 different performers on stage last night, ranging in age from 22 to 83! Unbelievable! But as the show continued and the wonderful waves of music washed over me, my mind kept revisiting the analogy that I had written about in my last blog entry.

Each and every one of the 17 performers had a chance to be the “headliner” during the show. You could tell how much they loved being given their chance to show their talents on whatever instrument they played and the others enjoyed playing a supporting role.

The most amazing part of the show was when the amazing 83 year old Ibrahim Ferrer took center stage and wowed the audience with his voice and showmanship. It was obvious that the younger group took much from him, a strong case for multi-age learning environments, but I digress…

There were so many analagous connections with the classroom that I lost track, but it was obvious that just like the band, every student in our classrooms deserves a chance to shine at whatever they are best at. For some their “instrument” might be performing, others it might be athletics. To say it again, it is NOT about the technology! Technology simply serves to provide many other instruments for students in our schools.

Technology allows everyone to join in the band (learning). Whether it be adaptive technologies that allow a struggling reader to harvest information or presentation software that allows a less-than-artistic youngster (we’ve all seen their poster displays) to have a presentation that looks just as professional (at least in his eyes) as the higher achievers in the class, technology serves as a great “leveler” in our learning community, allowing everyone to participate in making music in their own way.

As part of the Department of Education’s decision to outfit all 7000 teachers in New Brunswick with laptop computers and expand the 1:1 student laptop program  to almost 3000 students in 28 schools province-wide, they also committed to hiring two or three dozen technology mentors.  I am one of them (and the only one specifically dedicated to a 1:1 program). We get together once in a while to talk shop and share ideas.  

We were together a couple of weeks ago.  I happened to be engaged in a conversation with several of my colleagues when one of them (I can’t recall right now exactly who it was) made an astute observation which I have been chewing on since.

The 1962 movie The Music Man told the story of a con artist who went into a town and persuaded the locals to fork over their cash and he, in turn, would supply musical instruments and teach their children to play.  In the end he is exposed, reforms and does indeed teach the town to play by focusing their efforts on forming and playing in a band. In the end, it wasn’t about the mechanics of playing an instrument that made people successful as musicians, it was about their collective vision of making music together that made musicians out of individuals.

There is an analogy here with what we do as educators.  It is not about the technology.  We can teach the mechanics of the technology all we want, but learners (students and teachers alike) will never be truly successful without a reason to learn.  Technology has no real reward in and of itself, but is only valuable within the context of authentic communication.  This is especially true in our classrooms.

We need to place more focus on giving our students a reason and opportunity to use the technology.  They will figure out – like motivated learners always seem to do – how to use it! 

Our only question now should be what kind of music we want to play together – the instruments will take care of themselves, eh?

technorati tags: education, technology