What Do Teachers Need?
Posted by achayefsky on July 18, 2008
Where does one begin? Smaller classroom sizes, more money, more resources, more respect for those who are establishing the people of tomorrows future… the list is long, arduous, sometimes seemingly insurmountable. A friend and EdTech leader in AZ (and beyond), recently posed the following inquiry, and the answer to this question might be some we CAN get our hearts and minds around:
.. please list ” five technologies (more if you’d like) that every teacher should know how to use. They could be Web 2.0 or not.”
Well, I have been cogitating over this for a few days and am trying to be very critical and intentional with what I consider. Here’s what I have so far… though as you will see, it is not ALL technology. Some architecture is required.
Caveat: Every district, community, leadership and Board have different expectations of what technology can and should and does mean. I know from experience that the district, infrastructure and focus of my K-12 environment is not the same as the next – there is inconsistent (if any) real equity between communities, schools, leaders, funds… Decision tree’s are developed in relative vacuum’s – not with any larger state or national or international view – unless funding is involved. All this is said as I try to take a broad view, what can ALL teachers, in ANY kind of community NEED. My personal focus is, as always, 21st Century Skills for a Global Environment.
My sister-in-law recently discussed this phrase with me, ‘think globally, act locally’ as we applied this to 21st Century Skills – what helps THIS PLACE at THIS TIME, helping students feel connected at an authentic level to an authentic issue… that is absolutely the 21st Century model that I see aided and abetted through appropriate technology in the right place, at the right time, NOT for technology sake. She was talking about real-world and authentic issues at home, in the district, in the community and that is precisely what 21st Century education is all about.
At this moment in time (This list should actually apply to teachers, students and district leaders):
- Laptop with wireless access – to help educators own mobility, learn or improve’ taking their show on the road’, and how to robustly and FEARLESSLY access more than resources but access ideas, blog, podcast, vodcast, gps – in the field – NOT doomed to being tied to a little cable and a huge desktop machine at a stationary desk, in a corner of a classroom. This will enable them to begin visioning for their students, the already mobile set.
- Smart Phone - same as above, just smaller!!! Many students are already well-connected to their lives via their phones, teachers need to understand and apply the power in that little palm sized computer. Students value this electronic medium, so must the educators, finding relevant ways these TOOLS fit the demands of NCLB education.
- Social Network - Become involved with at least ONE EDUCATIONALLY focused social network, of the users choice (not district mandated – so they enjoy it and it doesn’t feel like WORK, cause it isn’t!) extending educator consciousness beyond school walls and school day. If we value this for our students, we must nurture it in our educators. Addendum (9:24pm), walking in union Square this evening, I realized it would have been proper to suggest some sites, there are many other meaningful educationally focused and purposed social networking sites. Each of us needs to find the content and ‘community’ most meaningful to our needs and best suited to our personalities.. But if you have no idea where to begin, might I suggest:
List of Ning Social Networks in Education
Special Education in the 21st Century - Educators, Parents and EdTech Leaders discuss and share resources for bringing Web 2.0 and 21st Century Skills to Special needs students http://21stcenturysped.ning.com/
Classroom 2.0; Web 2.0 and Collaborative Technologies for Education
http://www.classroom20.com
10,000 Members strong (as of 7-25-08)
PBS Teachers Connect -Launched July 2008
http://www.pbs.org/teachers/connect/
Using Ning for Educational Social Networks
http://education.ning.com/
2,000 Members strong (as of 7-25-08)
The Teacher Collaborative; Putting great minds together to create 21st Century Classrooms http://teachercollaborative.ning.com/
EduSpaces Social networking site dedicated to education and educational technology
http://eduspaces.net/
RezEd Educators Social Network for Second Life http://www.rezed.org/
- Safe Haven – Here I divert, but I think NOTHING can happen without ENVIRONMENT… This is for the Teachers, but teachers cannot achieve this state without support and encouragement from Principals, Superintendents, Board, Community members, Legislators and Parents. Teachers (and students and in fact all the groups listed above) MUST have a safe environment in which to share ideas, fears, successes and even FAILURES!!! Only then can an environment truly foster openness to change, innovation, creativity. Ask yourself this, Do you value openness, welcome debate, teaching how to resolve conflict (so that debate can proceed without anger, resentment…?), do you value creativity and innovation? I once read a quote: Don’t tell me what you value, show me how you spend your money and I will tell you what you value.
- Digital Camera & Digital Recorder – to record (or even better, for students ot record) and report on experiences that occur throughout the school year, capturing lectures, opinions, for publication, for photo essays, for DVD’s, podcasts, vodcasts…
- Bandwidth – This is a larger discussion than simply what teacher needs, this involves equity and community will (funding and priority) Track back to ATIC posting
- Internet - District and community expectation that educators and students have or develop strong internet skills & evolving skills – this involves an environment that values on-going learning for educators as well as students.
There is lots of rhetoric, students first, no child left behind, academics first. To rework that wonderful quote I mentioned earlier: Show me where you put your energy, money, your actions, what is the environment REALLY like and I can tell you what you REALLY value. And, although the above list was not in any order of importance, I think that SAFE HAVEN has to be first, before anything else will fall into place. I am still thinking about this ‘list’ regularly, but with these basics in place, I am confidant that 21st century literacies and appropriate Web 2.0 tools will rise to the surface, revealing their relevance and importance.
Wow! This was a far more interesting mental exercise than I had expected, when I read that brief email message. Want an opinion? Just ask! It is summer in NYC and the humidity is horrendous, it is stifling MY creativity, so off I go to stand next to the AC.
Off topic:
Whenever I hear NCLB, what really leaps to the forefront of my mind, is the students left behind. I began a social network – just a few weeks ago – on NING for some of our dearest students who are often invisible and left behind. If you would like to participate, or simply see what this group is beginning to do…please feel free to join us.
