Mr Bass Online

I know it’s been out for awhile, but over the last few months it seems that I’m inundated with references to Marzano and his Interactive Whiteboard research (sponsored by Promethean).  I have many misgivings about that research project but that’s an entirely different issue.  However, one of highlights that I found in that study is that student achievement can be enhanced through the use of an IWB when used effectively by a well trained teacher (not the exact wording, but what I took from it).

Today, I was perusing the March issue of eSchool News and found an article citing new research from Boston College suggesting that “1 to 1 laptop programs are only effective as the teachers who apply them”.  My response?  Obviously!!

I don’t know when it happened that we thought that laptops and IWB’s were going to magically educate all of our children, but it seems as though that’s the attitude by many.  I’m glad that there’s research out there to support this (I guess), but we have to realize that technology is still just a tool.  It’s kind of exciting and I, personally, love to play with the toys as much as the next person, but we must remember the most important piece of this puzzle, the teachers. Giving them a tool and walking away expecting them to use it will never be the answer. The first time I received a laptop from a school district was many years ago.  I remember going into a little room with boxes stacked everywhere and checking my laptop out. I was given a computer, a case and a cord and sent on my merry way.  There was no training, no instruction, nothing to show me how to use it effectively with my students.  I checked it out and was on my own. Luckily, I already knew my way around a computer and had been using them with students in my classroom for a number of years.  This was not the case for many of my colleagues who struggled, became frustrated and walked away from it only indulging in the frustration to take attendance.  While the district successfully checked out laptops, I considered the launch a failure because of a lack of support.

I have the privilege of spending every day supporting teachers in their endeavors.  We work through problems and find solutions. We collaborate and explore. Most importantly, they have someone who they know will support them.  I readily admit that I don’t have all the answers, but I also refuse to leave them alone to “figure it out”. There is a certain point at which professional responsibility kicks in, but for the most part, when new equipment comes in, I know that I need to make an appointment to walk through some things.

Marzano and Boston College say that teachers are the single most important factor in student achievement yet budget cuts, new initiatives and time constraints continue to impede on professional learning.  Maybe these studies will bring new light to teacher needs. But in the meantime, it’s important to remember that there is support out there by way of Nings, twitter and other online professional development groups.  Find a podcast in iTunes, read a blog, find an article that speaks to you and run with it. We don’t have time to wait for research studies to prove that teachers are important for student achievement, we know that. We don’t have time for federal, state and districts to see the need for professional learning, we need to act with a sense of urgency and take that learning upon ourselves and utilize these tools in spite of the obstacles, too much is at stake.

21st Century Education, Education, Professional Development, Technology, Tools, teaching 1 to 1 computing, marzano, research, whiteboard

As I was perusing my Google Reader, I ran across Seth Godin’s talk at 99% called “Quieting the Lizard Brain”. The question is poses is “why do human beings sabotage their work so often?”  As I watched his talk, I began to wonder h0w we can help students to avoid self-sabotage in the classroom and in their work.  As more students create their own experiences and begin to publish, how can we give them (and teachers as well) the freedom to put their work out there and get beyond the excuses as to why they can’t or shouldn’t.  I don’t have answers, but I did want to share.

As seen at Vimeo.

Education, Reflections, teaching

One week ago I started working as an adjunct professor at Missouri Baptist University in St. Louis.  I’m teaching a graduate level class entitled “Applications of Technology as and Effective Tool in Teaching and Learning”.  In essence, it’s a class which is based on ISTE’s NETS-T standards.  As I understand it, the class is a requirement for all educational master’s degrees and is offered in both face to face and online formats.  This is the first time I’ve taught the class so I’m unsure as to how the course has been run in the past, but I have to say that I’m really glad that I’m teaching again.  For the last three years I’ve taught a few classes as development for teachers in my district.  In fact, I teach somebody something every single day, but it’s different when you’re actually responsible for the class and the students therein.  One of the things that I’ve missed in my current position is that interaction with students.  So, here are some observations I have concerning my new class.

1. I’ve missed having my own students.
2. Face to face classes are fun to teach
3. I really love what I do
4. Practicing all this 21st Century Skills is hard work

For the last three years, I’ve been talking a lot more about teaching practices than I have been actually practicing them mainly because I haven’t really had or taken the opportunity to do so.  Classes that I have taught up to this point have been a three to six hour stint in which teachers come, we talk, do a project and off they go.  There’s always follow up and future conversations, but it’s not the same as having your own class and being responsible for the learning that goes on in that class.

So now that I’m teaching again, I’m trying to practice what I preach and expand the knowledge base and experience of my students in the area of technology and learning.  So far, I feel as though it’s gone well.  My class is small, but because of that, I feel as though I’ll be more effective and be able to really talk about the practice and art of teaching rather than focus on the tools.  We’re blogging, using Delicious, and have created a website already after only one week.

Over the next 8 weeks I’ll be writing about this class and experience a lot.  One of the class assignments is to do a weekly reflection blog entry so I’ll be participating by writing my own reflection.

Education, Mobap, Reflections, Technology, teaching