Download - The Fuse is Lit... It’s Time to Change
The Fuse is Lit...It’s Time to Change.
From whatever it’s called that we have now (a mish-mash of 150 years of school education)
To Interactive Classrooms.
Stuart Hasic March 2008
Shift Happens…
Isn’t this just Information Overload?
The two-way Internet is growing exponentially
How is it possible for us to keep up? How do teachers survive in this
ocean of information that their students seem to swim through easily?
We may be afraid to enter that world, but we MUST – for our students often swim in uncharted waters without the benefit of adult guidance
Today’s teachers must help to build the new teaching playbook
Digest this Statement:
“The Answer to Information Overload is to Produce MORE Information”
...because it is in the act of our becoming a creator that our relationship with content changes
When we create content, we become more engaged and more technologically capable at the same time
In a world of overwhelming content, we must swim with the current or tide
Help Build the New Playbook:
How do you teach to a generation of students who are so tech-savvy?
The reality is they NEED you. For centuries we have taught students
how to seek out information Now we teach them how to sort relevance
from an over-abundance of information
For the last 10 years we’ve taught students how to protect themselves from inappropriate content Now we have to teach them to CREATE
appropriate content
Help Build the New Playbook:
Our students may be “Digital Natives”, but their knowledge is actually surface level
They have no Fear They have not developed Patterns They desperately need training in real thinking skills
Teachers MUST enter “their” world because “their” world is fast becoming the “Real” world
What our Governments are Doing
NSW Government and NSW DET:Connected Classrooms ProjectDigital Learning ResourcesTechnology 4 Learning
Federal Government:Digital Education Revolution
Or in other words, “here is a whole lot of stuff coming very soon – you make it work.”
And They are Right!
Real Change NEVER Occurs Top-Down
The more governments and educational authorities try to “force” teachers to change, the more they will resist (remember what happened with teacher’s e-mail?)
If School Education is going to remain relevant in this ever-changing world, the change MUST be Bottom-Up. Individuals must change.
Shattering the Paradigms – We Need to Move
From Consuming...
ToProducing
From Authority...
ToTransparency
FromThe Expert...
ToThe Facilitator
From The Classroom...
ToAny O/W/T
From Access to Information...
To Access to People
John Seely Brown
Shattering the Paradigms – We Need to Move
From Learning About...
ToLearning to Be
From Passive Learning...
To Passionate Learning
FromPresentation...
ToParticipation
From Publication...
ToConversation
From Supply - Push
To Demand - Pull
John Seely Brown
Now Let’s Take a Step Back…
The Move to Interactive Classrooms
How can you move to them if you don’t know what they are?
What is an Interactive Classroom?
In general terms, an Interactive Classroom is:Student-Centric rather than Teacher-Centric
Collaborative rather than IndividualInvolves Active Learning rather than Passive Learning
Involves one or multiple forms of Interactive Technology
What are Interactive Technologies?
In general terms, Interactive Technologies:Allow for users to produce input rather than just consume output
Can be either software or hardware or a combination of both
Can be locally accessed or available on-line
“Interactive Technology” refers to interaction between HUMANS through technology
What Isn’t an Interactive Technology?
Interactive Technology is NOT interaction between a User and a Computer or Device (as most people think)
Online and Offline searching and browsing (surfing the Net)
Using EncartaOnline Banking and paying billsTyping up and printing out an assignment
What is Psuedo-Interactive Technology?
Some technologies call themselves “Interactive”, but their interactivity is “canned”:Learning Federation DLRs (Learning Objects)Playing educational games like “Reader Rabbit” and “Math Blaster”
Completing “Hot Potatoes” online quizzesInteractive Whiteboards – these just let an individual control a computer while others watch – it’s engaging, but it’s not interactive
So, What is an Interactive Technology?
Creating videos or podcasts for others Creating docs/presentations for others Creating blogs, wikis, websites and
EduWeb pages for others Contributing to other people’s blogs or
wikis Connecting to other students/teachers
via email, video conferencing or telephones
Moodle – where a teacher is the audience Creating and presenting lessons/games
for others
It’s All About the Social
Students use mobile phones to connect with others
Students share their iPod Playlists to connect with others
Students use computers to connect with others
Students use MySpace and Bebo to connect with others
Students create videos for others to watch
Since 2005, most students have produced more “work” independently than at school by the time they graduate.
Your Challenge
We have seen and heard many things in the past two years of ICT Days that are directly having an impact on our schools. We need changes to many educational and even administrative activities, and that’s sooner rather that later.
How will you, as a leader of school ICT, help to bring your school, teachers, administrative staff, students and community into the world of 21st Century Learning?