After 4 full days at ISTE 2015, I left Philadelphia grateful for the learning experience as I connected with other educators and had the opportunity to learn from others in my PLN (personal/professional learning network). While I left with many reminders and challenges on my/our “to do” list, I also left with numerous affirmations that we are doing many great things in Grand Forks related to students learning with technology. Here are my reflections.
Affirmations, Reminders and Challenges
Staying focused on the right 1 in 1:1; the STUDENT.
Participants at ISTE were often reminded that our work is about the students. Relationships are still the most important thing in education followed by the importance of relevant, authentic, student-centered learning environments in which the learning process is more important than the end result. We must allow students to seek out answers to their own questions and pursue their passions. While a few teachers are implementing some form of genius hour/20% Time within their current curriculum, the practice of an increase in student voice and choice should become more of the norm rather than the exception. Student agency can always be improved as we should continually seek the opinions and guidance from our number one customers, our students. Student agency, along with a culture of trust, will be an important components in the transition to a BYOD environment on our high school campuses.
"Positive relationship between teachers and students are among the most commonly cited variables associated with effective instruction." - Robert Marzano
It’s about student learning, not the device.
While an increase in student accessibility to devices continues to be a goal, all conversations start with how student learning will be positively impacted through the addition of technology devices. Grand Forks Curriculum Technology Partners plan and facilitate professional learning opportunities for teachers with student learning, common core, curriculum, and the 4 C’s at the forefront.
"Give the pupils something to do, not something to learn; and the doing is of such a nature as to demand thinking; learning naturally results." - John Dewey
Professional Learning
Providing teachers professional learning opportunities continues to be important in the pedagogical understanding of how students learn with technology. While voice and choice is important in students’ learning, it should be equally important in teacher learning. Professional learning highlights the importance of our Curriculum Technology Partners working in schools with teachers and students. Compared to many other districts, we are fortunate to have Curriculum Technology Partners serving our teachers and students, but we need to continually remind ourselves...
"Technology will never replace great teachers, but technology in the hands of great teachers can be transformational." - George Couros
BYOD (Bring Your Own Device)
As our Grand Forks high schools move toward officially embracing a BYOD learning environment (along with supplemental Chromebooks) in the Fall of 2015, the recently released Horizon Report lists BYOD one of the six key technology trends happening in education with the expected timeline as one year or less. While we have done much work to prepare for our high school BYOD initiative, there will be challenges and much to learn through our journey.
“BYOD enables students and educators to leverage the tools that make them most efficient and productive.” - Horizon Report
Connected Educators
As highlighted at ISTE, being a connected educator is more important than ever. An increasing number of Grand Forks teachers are embracing being a connected educator. As a subtle means of encouragement, teachers can earn PRISM hours (continuing education credit) by participating in our local #gfedchat on Twitter on Monday evenings during the school year at 8:30 pm. We have conversations on a variety of educational topics and some educators have since expanded their horizons into other edchats on Twitter.
"Alone we are smart. Together we are brilliant." - Steven Anderson
Edcamp Movement
The EdCamp movement is becoming a more popular means of professional learning. Edcamp is built on principles of connected and participatory learning and strives to bring teachers together to talk about the things that matter most to them: their interests, passions, and questions. Grand Forks hosted 2 mini Edcamps during the 2014-2015 school year with plans in place for Edcamp Grand Forks on Thursday, August 6th from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm at Community High School.
"The Edcamp model provides educators with a sustainable model for learning, growing, connecting, and sharing. When professional development is created "for teachers by teachers," everyone wins." - Kristen Swanson
Maker Space Movement and Coding
While these seemed to be buzzwords at ISTE, Grand Forks is taking some steps to embed critical thinking, creativity, communication, and collaboration through some initial work with maker spaces and coding. For example, MaKey MaKey, Little Bits, Scratch, Sphero, Code.org, and 3-D printers are being integrated into some curriculum areas and through the establishment of some before and after school clubs. This is an area which Grand Forks has started, but has much room to grow.
While Grand Forks has been a Google Apps district for more than 5 years, I was surprised at how many districts are just getting started. Google Apps is a game changer for education. There are so many tools incorporated in and integrated with Google Apps that allows engaged learning to take place. Because Google Apps continues to evolve (i.e. Google Classroom), Grand Forks has hosted a Google Summit the past 2 years. Google Apps is becoming a more natural part of “how we do things around here,” but we will continue to strive for an even better Google Apps experience for all users.
Teaching Digital Citizenship should continue to be part of what we do in our schools. It does not always have to be a stand alone lesson, but more often as an integrated component of students’ everyday learning. While we have made strides in systematically teaching Digital Citizenship, paralleled with Character Education, in Grand Forks elementary and middle schools, we need to continue and improve upon our Digital Citizenship efforts in our high schools. It is imperative that students understand the impact of their digital footprint.
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