Bit By Bit

(Not sure I’ll be able to take notes as the battery is running out). Podcast to follow!

Alan November intro: can we shift control to kids for their own learning? What do we need to do with the organizational structure to best use the technology. One issue is equity. Leadership makes or breaks the role of technology in schools…

Dr. Tyson is using the Promethian equipment to ask the audience questions… Way, way too cool. Instant assessment.

He started with a great analogy, using the Phantom Tollbooth. Asking: have things changed in our perspective? Reconnect with the “time of childhood wonder”.

Shake the dust off of our present perspectives.

Talking about going back to his hometown in Prichard, Alabama (after 25 yrs). The town is devastated. Worse crime, unemployment, crime in the state.

Reason: things changed… people’s skills didn’t.

Why aren’t we using project-based learning in school to prepare for the real world that students will be in?

The big question for teachers is: WHO IS DOING ALL OF THE THINKING WORK? It has to be the students.

Schools are staying pretty much the same.

“We can’t continue school as usual.”

This is a time of opportunity/potential/transformation!

Working on the Work (book)

School 2.0
Learners who are authentically engaged.
Self-directed
Project-driven based instruction
Independent Problem-solvers
Empowered by Technology
Collaborative Learning Community
Relevant
Make Contribution (highest on Bloom’s)

Tells the Conrad story.

MabryOnline.org & iTunes

Challenge to students at the beginning of the year: If you make something exemplary, he’ll put it in Global Distribution. What do you have to say?

Totally changes the nature of schoolwork. And this is authentic assessment. There is no grade. Not working for the teachers… getting it ready for the world.

The Concept of Childhood
This is a relatively new concept.
Question: WHEN DOES MEANINGFULNESS START? When do our lives assume a level of significance when our contribution matters? NOW… always… right now. Let’s make it a choice, rather than a default “we’re not making a difference”.

What’s on kids’ minds? BIG issues

Using technology to “do school” as we’ve always done it, is pointless.

It’s not about Technology & Connectivity.

All the films created by the students must be no longer than 2 minutes.

Our Students want to be ready for TODAY… not just for next year.

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