Math, technology, education, and beyond

…buy into the whole idea of using technology in the classroom.  I came back from Christmas vacation, and I haven’t had a moment to catch up on old work.  I have a desk and cabinet-top (and part of the floor) full of work that I have no idea when I’ll get it done, and that’s ok.  If it’s not already been completed, it can’t possibly be THAT important, right?  It is so great to see these teachers taking these risks to use this new technology and new ideas in their classroom.

…buy into the whole idea of using technology as an educational tool, and not just as a way to socialize and be entertained.  Today’s high school students know a lot about technology, but mainly when used to socialize (Facebook, MySpace, IM, etc.) and for entertainment (games, music, movies, etc.).  That’s all well and good that they’re using the technology for a purpose.  What has me worried is what I saw when I visited my sister and saw how my 7 year old neighbor was surfing the internet.  He wasn’t playing games.  He wasn’t talking with his friends.  He was learning.  He was using this tool to expand his knowledge of the universe, and he was doing it unsupervised.  In other words, he is expanding his knowledge on his own.

This should scare today’s high school students.  My nephew is 10 years younger than them, but he’s using technology in a way that my high school students do not.   What’s going to happen when my nephew’s peer group enters the work force?  They will be more focused on using the technology in a productive way, and business leaders will see this.  And they will replace their workers who have been there for ten years whose productivity isn’t what it should be.  And these younger people will have no problem with forcing those others out.

That puts this current high school group in a precarious position.  They NEED to learn how to use the technology in a productive manner.  They NEED to learn how to work with others and to try new things and to take risks.  They NEED to be challenged in and out of the classroom.  They NEED to demand that technology become part of their education, because if they don’t do these things, they will be left behind.

It’s kind of scary to think that for the most part, this current crop of high school students is not ready to use this technology.  Many of us view them as “digital natives,” where they have had this technology in front of them their whole lives, and they have.  However, the digital culture and digital climate have changed, so they are no longer in their native world.  It’s now time for them to evolve and adapt, and we as educators NEED to make sure we are helping them to realize and accomplish this.

Below is an email that I have sent to my teachers and a few colleagues that I find very helpful when trying to help others understand their role with integrating technology.

I ran into this quote today in my research reading.  For those of you who don’t know, Karl Fisch is a leading expert in technology integration.  He interacts with educators around the world on how to include technology into education and what it actually means to today’s world.  His blog is widely read, and he has created videos and posts to help others understand the role of technology in today’s world.  I offer you this quote from him to help you release any pressure you may feel about technology and education.  We’re not trying to force technology into a lesson.  We want to do what’s best to make sure we get a lesson to be the best it can for our students.

“It [isn't] about the laptops. You should use them when you think they are appropriate and can enhance and extend your students’ learning. And you should leave them shut away in their comfy carts when they don’t….Please, release the pressure – we are certainly not intending to place it upon you. Do what’s best for your students – every day.” – Karl Fisch

The director of the office of educational technology for the US Department of Education Tim Magner recently released a list of books that should be read to help discuss how technology and education go hand in hand.   The list was published by the Wall Street Journal, and it’s a pretty good list.  From Will Richardson to David Warlick to Marc Prensky,  this list is definitely a good one.

However, it is somewhat disheartening that we only have a book list.   Aren’t we talking about educational technology?  Why can we not have a blog list as well?  True, there is a lot of great information out there in books (By the way, I think Daniel Pink’s A Whole New Mind should also be on this list), but where is the discussion held?  True, there are times where many of us will get together, be it PETE&C, NECC, or CFF Coach Boot Camp.  We have had many great discussions at these and learned many new things.  But this discussion is ongoing.  I can read Will Richardson’s blog, post a comment on it, and get a response from someone in Oregon.  Now, a new conversation has opened up.  I can see how someone does something in Oregon, and they can see how I do something in Pennsylvania.

Does this discussion occur after reading a book?  Well, there can be some discussion.  First, I must find another person who has read the same book.  Then, we have to find a time to hold the discussion.  With commenting on blogs, I can have the conversation at my discretion.

In the end, I have to sit back and reflect on this link that was sent to me by my colleague Jim Gates.  If the top dog in the Department of Education for the US is recommending a list of books, they have to be pretty good, and they are.  But why are we only seeing a list of books and a few links to  websites that most technology integrators have already seen?  Why are these links restricted to those that aim toward elementary students?  How far behind are we still?  We’re in the 21st Century, and we’re still trying to catch up to the 21st Century Skills that are needed yesterday.

I think slideShare is going to be my new favorite toy.  I love that I can have students go back and review the notes by going online.  It’s not really any extra work for me, as I only have to convert my Keynotes to .pdf’s and then upload!

[slideshare id=143268&doc=section-27-1193154269386898-1&w=425]

Today, many area schools have gotten together to obtain training on Polyvision whiteboards as well as to begin collaboration between CFF schools. We are meeting at Warwick High School in Lititz, PA. Thanks to Jeff and Fred for hosting!

As we are going through the Polyvision training, we are seeing many great things! One thing that is discouraging is that we are going through a lot really quick, so we don’t get a chance to really sit back and figure out how we might be able to use this. However, our trainer is willing to arrange a time to present a webinar for us, and she also offers other services as a virtual mentor, such as researching virtual labs, manipulatives, games, and activities, provide basic tech support, and help with lesson plans. She has mentioned that she does not get many emails asking for help, but I imagine that the CFF coaches and teachers may actually start sending some info.

I know there is a lot I will be able to do, I just wish there was a way that I could do more hands-on right now.

Time for a short break, so I will return…

We’re back from break and now we’re looking at Easiteach, which we can put on each teacher’s computer who has a Polyvision board.  One thing that I know I need to do when I return to school is to look at working and learning more about both Webster and Easiteach.  This means I have a bit of reading and playing to do, which will be taking up a lot of my time over the next week or so.  We might even want to take advantage of Carissa saying she is available for webinars, which could be helpful.

We have gotten to a point where we have slowed down now, and we all seem to do be doing much better with obtaining this information.  I wish we would have gotten this information when we obtained the whiteboards.  It is unfortunate that, at least in our situation, we were learning a lot of this on our own on the fly.  I had no training on the whiteboards other than walking into our new building with our tech director, plugging it in, and going from there.

This is interesting being on this end of a training.  Carissa is up in front of us going through everything like it is second nature to her, as I imagine it is.  While she is doing that, many of us are working with the programs for the first time, or we have very limited experience with it.  Is this how it is for some of our teachers as we offer professional development?  I think sitting through sessions like this offers insights other than just the training itself.  I have now realized that I need to make sure that, just because it comes naturally to me, it might take time for others.  I think I’ve said that before.

It sure has been some time since I have added to this blog. There were many things going on that have been taking up my time, and I hadn’t had this as a priority. I hope I can change that, as things should settle down a little more after the next two days, which are our last two days of Apple training. The biggest hurdle with this training is that I am still a half-day teacher, as well, so I lose time in the classroom with my students, and it is difficult to get a substitute in who can also teach the math. As a matter of fact, I had one in on Friday, and she was to cover how to apply length, area, and volume in real-world situations. She left me a note that she hasn’t seen the info since she was in Geometry…in 1965! So when I am out of the classroom, I often have to spend a day to catch the students up on the info they were supposed to have learned.

But such is life, and here I am again now. I have a list a mile long of sites I need to check out, along with being enrolled in two graduate courses over the summer (Flash and Management of Change in Instructional Technology) through Philadelphia University. It’s a great Master’s program in Instructional Technology. And I am attending NECC in Atlanta this summer, as well as doing trainings here at school, working a second job, hopefully visiting my sister in California, working on new curriculum for my courses I am teaching next year (redoing what I’ve taught in Math for Standards and working on materials for FST), moving, and who knows what else.

But I hope to continue looking at these various websites and continue doing research into what new ideas are rolling out in the EdTech world. I want to be able to continue coming up with new ideas that teachers in my school can use (including myself).

So we will see where things go from here for me as we approach the end of a school year.

It is now our 12th day in our new building, and people are definitely settling in. Our CFF teachers are working on creating and implementing materials for use in class. Unfortunately, we still do not have all of our equipment, although there are a few people still waiting for DVD/VCR combos (the last of which are being installed today) and dongles. There are also pieces of software that we would like, but you can’t have everything. Hopefully we can get the software in the budget for next year.

We had our out of the box training from Apple last week (I’m still trying to catch up from when I was “out” for that and the CFF Coaches training from Apple), and it was quite well received. It was nice to be able to get all of our CFF teachers together to talk about what we are now able to do as well as to have time to play/work with the software and create materials for our classes. I know that my students have been enjoying the fact that notes are presented in a very different way than what I used to do, and that’s just th beginning. I am also working on incorporating blogs and wikis into my lessons, although I am still trying to work on a good way to do that. Part of it will be just trying different things out and seeing what works and what doesn’t. The more risks that I am willing to take in class with the lessons, the more risks the students will take with creating quality projects…at least that’s my hope.

I created a podcast (newly updated audio) as practice in the CFF Coaches training. It seemed to impress many of the other coaches that were there as they saw it as a way that their math teachers could incorporate more technology into their curriculum. I saw it as just another way to make sure students get the information they need. I guess I’m still at the point where I don’t completely see this as ground-breaking stuff, but then again, I’ve worked with computers and technology for as long as I can remember. It’s amazing to see the differing views on technology, between those that are used to having it and those that are still learning it.

If you want the podcast, leave me a comment with an email I can send it to. I’m also hoping to get a blog page set up in the near future.

As more teachers incorporate blogs, wikis, and other Web 2.0 into the classroom, there will be situations that arise where someone will post something that probably shouldn’t be posted. These things do happen. It is important that as educators, we continue to educate both ourselves and our students about what the blog should be for. If a mistake is made and a student spouts off on something they really should keep out of the classroom, please remind that student why the blogs are being used. Be firm, be understanding, and try to make sure the student is aware of what was wrong. For the most part, blogs will be used in an appropriate manner. But when a problem arises, just like anywhere else in education, make sure that it is dealt with in a proper way. I have always felt that we need to learn from our mistakes. It is how I teach my math classes: when you make a mistake, figure out what you did wrong so you know not to make the same mistake again. This is also a great lesson for life, although sometimes there are bigger consequences. I always remind students that when they get in trouble, it’s not because we don’t like them (like many of them think), but because we want them to be able to make better decisions in the future.

I am now using classblogmeister.com in my classes. I am slowly incorporating it into my Integrated Math II and Math for Standards classes. I am looking at introducing it into my Advanced Algebra class next week. The students really like the fact that they can each give their opinions and views on concepts or things we are doing in class, and that they can have a conversation with each other through the comments. As a teacher, I like the fact that I have to approve comments and blog posts before they make it to the web. I try to allow the students to converse as they normally would in class. I’ve had to not approve a few comments here and there, but kids for the most part are completing their posts in an appropriate way.

Okay, here it is again: “We need to be doing such-and-such.” Right now, we are in a discussion about the 21st Century Skills (basically). I feel like we shouldn’t be discussing this anymore. We are in the position to be making the changes, and we need to start making these changes. Some of the articles we’re reading now, I’ve already read! Yes, I know that we need to change for the 21st century. I’ve heard all of this between the reading I do as part of my position, as readings I’ve had to do in my Master’s program, and in readings we’ve had in CFF “training.” I get it! When do we get together and not just say, “This is what this is. That is what that is,” but instead say, “Here is what we are doing to make this change.”

One of my colleagues in here brought up the fact that we can model these different skills, but if we take too big a step, the teachers just don’t use those skills! True, teachers do not have enough time to do all the things they already have to do. But education as it is will not survive! It needs to change! This is an idea that must be embraced among all parts of education: teachers, administration, students, parents, government…each and every part has to become a part of the revolution!

First, you should read Will Richardson’s post.

If you had this chance, what would you ask? What would you say? I don’t think that there would ever be enough time to get everything out about what we think about moving education to the 21st Century. I know that I would ask that we move away from all of the standardized tests so that we can actually aim at working on topics that embrace the 21st century skills. Let the math and science teachers instill a sense of wonderment into their classrooms again (and English teachers, as well). Too much time is spent getting ready for the PSSA’s and “remediating” students. I don’t like that word. It’s like there is something wrong with our students and we need to fix it. We don’t. We need to fix education.

I lost my train of thought there for a moment. I had to get some of my coaching done. I love my new position as CFF coach. I get to collaborate with other teachers and help them create lessons that allow the students to be creative in class. I wish more teachers would take advantage of what we have and are getting. It will come.

Back to the real discussion: What would I say to a US Senator if they wanted my input as to how to go about making changes in education? I would probably do what Will Richardson is doing and ask people for input. So, please offer your input to Will on his blog. Hopefully we can make the necessary changes.