Dr. Missy Brooks, Curriculum Director, recently attended a session facilitated by Bernajean Porter during the 2012 CoSN conference. When we met for dinner at the end of the day, she couldn't wait to share her find! They had been given as a handout during the session called "Grappling's Technology and Learning Spectrum." After reviewing the handout, I too was excited to finally hold a piece of paper in my hand that I thought simplified what we all know...It is time to move beyond merely teaching technology literacy and adapting what we already do to just "doing it" with technology, to actually using technology tools to transform learning. In other words, to use technology to enable new learning tasks not possible without technology.
The Process
While Missy was attending her workshop, I too was involved in a workshop that was an eye opener. It did not center around technology but instead conversations. In attempt to summarize...
1. The participants were asked to find a seat around one of the 5 or 6 tables. We were also asked not to sit with another member from our school district. (When we used the process at a meeting this week, we had to improvise to say that members from each school should be represented at each table.)
2. We were asked to select a member at our table to be the facilitator and another to be the note taker.
3. We were then presented with a question. We were instructed to "go around" the table and say..."Have you considered..." and then your idea for a solution. The only response allowed after you stated your idea from the group was "Thank you." Now for anyone reading this blog that knows me, I have a difficult time, not stating my opinion so I wasn't sure how I was going to like this concept!
4. As we went around the table and participants began to realize that no one was going to "find flaws" in his/her response and since there could be no discussion of the thought given; the ideas started flowing and elevating in merit with each statement made. I was wow'd! By the time we were asked to report back to the group, we were getting somewhat silly with the "Have you considered...." and the numerous "Thank You" responses but the quality and quantity of the information listed was awesome.
The Benefit
Tuesday of this week, using the guide Missy had gotten from her workshop, the process I had gotten from my workshop, and a collaborative tool our superintendent, Mr. Barlow had recently discovered for notetaking...http://www.typewith.me/, Missy and I facilitated a meeting to plan summer staff development. The results included a very productive and enlightening brainstorming session with school principals, assistant principals, technology leaders, a professional development specialist, and classroom teachers and a list of workshop ideas for our week long Learning Conference (formerly named Technology Conference) scheduled for July 2012.
This summer, we will still offer a limited number of literacy sessions to introduce teachers to new tools then move up the spectrum to several workshops that are considered "adaptive uses." However, the real impact will come from the GREAT ideas we collected for workshops that will involve the Transforming Uses where...
- Student roles expand to include explorers, producers of knowledge, communicators, and self-directed learners;
- Teacher roles expand to include facilitators, designers, learners, and researchers;
- Learning and assessment practices are changed;
- Students initiate technology uses as they create their own learning experiences;
- Research is sustained inquiry for original thinking and conclusions useful to others; and
- Teachers view technology as essential for development of higher-order thinking skills.
Additional Reading from Sharon Mumm: Redefining Instruction With Technology: Five Essential Steps
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