Doing My Homework

The State of New Jersey Has An Updated Educational Technology Plan? (please see update at bottom of page)

Where have I been? 

The document, “Preparing Today for Tomorrow” was approved by the State Board in December, 2007.   The history of the document states that there have been several versions written before, and that the state has reached the previous goals which warranted this new educational technology document.  Honestly, it was more exciting to read than I thought it would be. 

The document is comprised of a vision statement, 4 goals and indicators on state an local levels that “enhance the achievement” of the goals.  I was pleased to read this:  (I changed key words to red font)

Vision Statement
All students will be prepared to meet the challenge of a dynamic global society in which they participate, contribute, achieve, and flourish through universal access to people, information and ideas. 

Goal 1: All students will be prepared to excel in the community, work place and in our global society using 21st century skills.

GOAL 2: All educators, including administrators, will attain the 21st century skills and knowledge necessary to effectively integrate educational technology in order to enable students to achieve the goals of the core curriculum content standards and experience success in a global society.

GOAL 3: Educational technology will be accessible by students, teachers and administrators and utilized for instructional and administrative purposes in all learning environments, including classrooms, library media centers, and other educational settings such as community centers and libraries.

GOAL 4: New Jersey school districts will establish and maintain the technology infrastructure necessary for all students, administrators and staff to safely access digital information on demand and to communicate virtually.

It sounds like NJ is on the right track.  I was a little disappointed as I read further.  There was emphasis put on assessment of students and local districts concerning how well these goals were being met.  However, there was no plan on how to reach these goals.  I did not find elaboration of ideas such as, participating and contributing as a member of a global society.   Professional development is mentioned, but without details of how the in-service should take place, and what tools/equipment should be highlighted. 

I understand the benefits of creating a document that says, “Hey, this is a list of goals that will help students.  We’re not going to dictate how you reach them..but we expect you to meet the goals.”  Our other Core Curriculum Content Standards  are written basically the same way.  When a district is updating their math curriculum, this poses less of a problem.  The text book company can create a scope and sequence based on the state’s standards.  Better yet, some text books are written to specifically meet a certain state’s standards.  Technology is so different.  There is no text book company to help.  Technology is a collection of tools, not a subject area.  The tools should be used to enhance learning, but administrators, educators and students first need to learn how to select an appropriate tool for the task.   I believe districts need guidance on how to create and implement a comprehensive and effective technology plan.

Without a feasible and executable technology plan, districts (like mine) may not progress further towards the goals in the New Jersey Educational Technology Plan.  Technology is a complicated tool and we should approach it in a comprehensive manner.

Is technology seen as a tool:                                                                                       

Photo by: sypix

 

    When it should be a TOOL:  

Photo By: Shirley Two Feathers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

UPDATE:  Three cheers for New Jersey!  Not only has the DOE released new and improved Core Curriculum Content Standards (including technology), but they’re also launching a three phrase collaboration with districts to bring our schools into the 21st century.  Check out:  Creating 21st Century New Jersey Schools.  This plan completely answers the concerns I posed in this post.  I’m looking forward to moving forward!

When Will They Learn?

I had a great discussion with Fiance’ over breakfast about current technology issues we’re dealing with at our places of employment.  He is an IT guy for a university, so although he isn’t an educator himself, he supports technology in his department.  He explained that the IT department is investigating the use of (edupunks, cover your ears) Microsoft’s SharePoint.  I’m not familiar with the software, so he sweetly explained how the tools would allow for collaboration between staff members and eventually students. 

My mind jumped from one “ah-ha!” to another:

1. I may not know this software, but I know what it does.  I’m familiar with sharing documents and collaborating on web-based platforms.
2. # 1 is exactly what I want my students to learn!  I can’t possibly teach them every program or tool, but with enough exposure, they’ll develop networking common sense.  They may not know exactly how to use a new tool, but they’ll tap prior knowledge of similar tools to figure it out.
3. OMG.  I’m not exposing my students to these tools.  My district does not currently allow it.  Who will teach them how to use these educational networking tools appropriately and effectively? 

Educational networking tools are blocked in my district, so if the current 8th graders are using them at all, it’s probably for pure entertainment.  Not a bad place to start, but what will they do in 5 years when their college professor asks them to respond to/create a blog or create a multi-media presentation rather than write a paper?   Will the college professors teach the freshmen how to use the tools?  If not, when will they learn?

 Question:  Does your K-12 district have a systemic technology curriculum plan?  Does the K-5 curriculum properly prepare your students for the next step?  If you work in higher education, do you feel students are entering college with “educational networking common sense”?

Baby Steps

Keeping an Eye on the Prize

I’ve spent the last month gathering as much information as possible about Web2.0 and educational networking.  I’m on Twitter practically everyday, usually just to “listen” and check out the great links that people post.  I read approximately 15-20 blog posts a day.  I came to a stark realization last night while watching a video from Susan Young on Dean Shareski’s site. 

I haven’t taken much time to organize and synthesize my newly found information.  I’m crazy about the possibilities Web2.0 tools have for me and my students but I haven’t taken the time to create very much.  As I’ve mentioned before, I’m trying stir up excitement in the 5th grade students about the possibilties, but unfortunately, it’s unusable enthusiasm.  Educational networking tools are prohibited for student use in my district.  Just because I can’t use the tools with my students doesn’t mean I can’t create samples of what I would/will do with the tools. 

 Thanks to Larry Ferlazzo’s suggestions, I checked out Bookr, an online slideshow site.   Users can pull images from Flickr and create a simple slideshow.  I think it would be perfect for young students…especially as an introduction to online collaboration.  Thanks…more trials to come!

Absolutely Necessary for Newbies

You’ve Got A Friend…

The great news is there’s another teacher in my district who is interested in breaking open the Pandora’s Box of collaborative technology for elementary students and teachers.  She’s completing a program for Media Specialists and hopes to switch from a classroom position to a Media Center position next year.  (I’ve noticed that media specialists and ed. tech. teachers can become the Wonder Twins for finding/organizing information if given the opportunity to work together.)  The wonderful news is that she’s also Here for the Revolution (check out the button contest for NECC) and is a newbie just like me!  I convinced her to join me at  the Students and Electronic Media:  Teaching in the Technological Age seminar at Princeton University on May 2nd.  She already follows Kathy Schrock, who is presenting at that the seminar, and we’ve promised to share the cool “stuff” we find along the way with each other. 

After I spoke with my new Media Specialist friend, I realized it was difficult to decide which tools are good, important or useful for my students (and me).  I’ve spent the last few weeks gathering information, but left myself little time to weed through it.  My del.icio.us is pretty unorganized…I don’t even know what I’ve saved so far!

You Can’t Live Without…

So I’m asking you to think back to when you started out in the social networking world…back when the possiblities practially caused an explosion in your mind…what tools did you need?  Where should we start?  Please suggest tools/sites/blogs you can’t live without.   Thanks!

My List (under construction):
Twitter
Del.icio.us
Google Reader
People who support this journey!