Learning through Technology

I just finished reading “Oversold and Underused” by Larry Cuban. Although I understand the point Cuban is making, I did not see solutions to the problem. Yes, schools are purchasing more and more computer equipment with only periodic training (and one shot at that) for teachers. I agree that teachers are relying on incorporating current technology into their teaching paradigm without full integration and because of the lack of training, typically are not successful.

I think Cuban misses the opportunity to bring out the important aspects of utilizing technology in the classroom. My professor stated in class that teachers are at the heart of teaching and rightly so. Technology is not here to replace the role of the teacher nor can it. Cuban rightly states that some are waiting for the tipping point of computers in the classroom which means when a certain number of computers are introduced into the classroom, then teachers will integrate technology (read embrace) in the their teaching. This will not happen.

The extent technology will be accepted in the classroom is the extent schools go to in educating the faculty in how technology can be used to enhance the teacher’s philosophy. There is no one way to integrate but many. It also is not a matter of either/or thinking. Computers are the latest technology to be introduced but not the first. Blackboards, overheads, video, etc. were all new technologies at some point.

No matter what technology is chosen, it must relate to the content being taught. You cannot nor should separate technology from content or philosophy. Koehler and Mishra at Michigan State University are doing some great work in this area but that is a matter for a future post. It is enough to say that schools cannot divorce one segment (technology, philosophy or content) in professional development.

To the point, Cuban stated the truth, we have been inudated with computers for years and there is little evidence the technology is enhancing education. Cuban did not finish the argument, however, because the reason this is true goes back to professional development not including all the necessary components. Up to this point, professional development has focused on the technology (training about a software or hardware) not how to integrate it into the teaching. To be fair, not all trainers have done this but most are guilty. Simply having the technology is not enough. We must help our teachers integrate the technology in a meaningful way that enhances the content using the teacher’s philosophy. It can be done and must be done if we are to see a return on our investment.

technorati tags:K12, development, education, technology, teaching

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If you read Christian literature, then you are probably familiar with the book by the same title as this post by Barbara Brown Taylor. It is an incredible book that I would recommend for those struggling with their place in the world.

In particular, she focuses on the busyness of life. We hurry here and there like we are very important people with very important business to take care of, only to discover that we have missed something on our way. Why is this important for a blog on technology? For two reasons, I am an ordained minister and I love technology.

You see, Taylor is an ordained minister in the Episcopal church. In the book, she says how busy she was serving God in her ministry that she forgot to worship God. For her, the work became more important than God. She felt God couldn’t do it without her. I believe she is not alone. Too often we feel the work would not happen if we did not do it. We obtain a martyr complex and feel our service is equal to our worship.

The truth is, we need the cheers and encouragement from the crowd. We need people to tell us we are doing the right thing. We need to know that when it is all said and done that we worked hard. But for what and for whom?

The technology game makes it easy to live a fast-paced life. There is always a new something to learn about or create. The next best thing is only a few minutes from now. The opposite to a hurried life is one that takes stock. A life that chooses a particular sizeable chunk of the puzzle and says, “I’ll do this.”

Now if you are reading this and think, “He must have it figured out.” Please think again. I struggle with this every day. When I wake up, it seems the world moves into high gear and doesn’t slow down until my son says, “Dad, you aren’t listening to me.” I want more for my children. I want more for me. And, I want more for you.

We are not the saviors of this world. That is not our job. We are no more than mirrors upon which society reflects. My mirror is a little tarnished. I have given the world a blurred view. I tried to reflect too much, too quickly and too soon. That leads to burnout. Now I am in a season of reflection on who I am and what I am here to do. I am looking at career choice and lots of other items in my life.

The other day, I blogged about Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple computers. At the age of 50, he took stock of his life. Was he where he wanted to be? If he could have done something else with his life, what would it have been? Maybe we need to vision more earlier on and then we will end up in a more positive place. You and I can’t make this ball spin any slower or faster. In fact, when we die it will continue on without us. People will say nice things but what will that be? “He worked hard.” “She really knew a lot about…”, “The company will never be the same again.” How much is our mark worth? Our families? Our pleasure? Our humanity? Once you sell your prized possessions, it takes a lot more to get them back and some never can be purchased again.

Take stock. Reflect. Sit by the stream of life and breathe it in. Once it is over, there is no coming back. I write this for me as I am not widely read but I offer it as a gift to you. Don’t get so involved in the now and in saving the world that you lose what you value the most.

Check out Taylor’s book at Amazon.

Being a student allows one to read books and articles not normally on the radar or at least not high on the priority scale. Such is the case for this semester. I am taking a leadership course in education and part of the syllabus is to read the autobiography of any leader. Now keep in mind that I have not started the course yet but that is really secondary to this post.

I started browsing around at Barnes and Noble (a real store not on line) to see what books were available and to see what caught my attention. in the middle of a table in the middle of the section was a book titled “iWoz” by Stephen Wozniak and Gina Smith. I quickly read the back cover and thought this would make a good study.

I highly recommend the book! The great Woz is down-to-Earth in his style of writing and what he has to say. Not being familiar with history books on Apple, he says he is trying to say some things for the record that have been incorrect in the histories. What comes across is someone who made and makes a great leader. He is not as sure as I am since he feels he makes a great engineer but a lousy manager. Woz knows how to treat people with respect and how to be an ethical business person when others around him are not.

Coupled with reading this book was Herman Hesse “Journey to the East” and “The Leadership Challenge“. I also have tried to keep up with my blog reading and was intrigued by a post from Sheryl Nussbaum-Beach about an interview she did on her work in K-12. In my opinion, Sheryl is an incredible leader when it comes to technology in education. She has desire, know-how and a solid educational philosophy from which to work.

What does all this reading have in common?

1. A passion about their subject area
2. Whatever you do, do your BEST!
3. When something doesn’t work, learn from it!
4. There is always room for improvement
5. It can always be done a different way
6. The leader is never better than anyone else (they are simply steering the process)
7. They share their story with others

This is a simple list. Nothing great or earth shattering but it reminds us how we can all lead. For those who have the pleasure of knowing Sheryl, she is a very humble person. She doesn’t toot her own horn and tell you how great she is in her field. She also would tell you that anyone can lead. I will be thinking a lot about leadership this semester. I will have the opportunity to re-read iWoz and several other resources so I have not said my final thing about leadership. Just starting the dialogue.

If you were to write a list about what makes a leader great, what would it look like?

technorati tags:Leadership, Wozniak, K12

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