Guest post on Tarrant Institute of Education

I contribute to a List-Serv called School-IT. It's a great mix of educators in Vermont actively discussing technology. As part of that discussion thread there, I received a note from the Tarrant Institute of Education that they'd like to post a response I wrote. 

The invitation does remind me that I do have to reserve time to write again. I have many articles in queue that need finishing... School lunch programs, school schedule innovations, professional development in schools, interviews with innovative educators, and leadership traits that foster and inhibit innovation in schools... to name a few.

It's been a busy few months. Lots of innovative projects in motion.

"Intelligence plus character--that is the goal of true education."

"We must remember that intelligence is not enough. Intelligence plus character--that is the goal of true education. The complete education gives one not only power of concentration, but worthy objectives upon which to concentrate. The broad education will, therefore, transmit to one not only the accumulated knowledge of the race but also the accumulated experience of social living." MLK

Potential in the Hour of Code

It's 'Hour of Code' week, and there's quite a buzz about it.

Some tout 'Hour of Code' as a 'publicity stunt for politicians,' some others that it's a waste of time, and some still as the best thing since, well, (computer) code was invented... or something like that.

Of course, it's what you do with it after 'the hour.' Getting some hype and introducing things to youth (or adults) is a bonus. The hope is it's not a 'one hour and done' deal.

Start somewhere... and then keep the conversations going.

Grab whatever device you have access to use and give it a try, especially if you've never 'coded.'

The hope is that the hour can get people interested in thinking differently toward more experiments, peer grouping... and even shifts in 'computer' / 'technology' curriculum in schools. 

Combine coding with making... games, apps, machine to computer interface (Arduino, LilyPad Arduino, Makey Makey, Rasberry Pi, etc)... creative student exploration and projects? Now that's interesting.

"Hard fun"... Seymour Papert said that 30 years ago. Get kids involved in making things and solving tough problems.

Bring people with you and dive in.

Tips for Crafting Presentations

Ever wonder how you can take better pictures?

Want to learn some visual design tips?

Need some ideas on how to conjure better presentations?

I've passed these tips on to many over the years... and here they are for you too.

Best way to view the presentation below? Click the icon to expand to 'Full screen' on the Google Drive toolbar below.

Keep Moving Forward...

It's been some time since I wrote here! Things have been pretty busy.

When my Spring sabbatical trip came to a close in mid-August, I did settle in for a bit (at Burr and Burton) to build curriculum in the scripted formats on the subject tracks that had been chosen (quite abruptly) just before I left in January.  I'd mentored so many student projects in those subjects over the last eight years and made incredible community connections therein... so it'd be pretty easy. 

But, it all wasn't sitting right for me. Nothing had really been built while I was gone on sabbatical over the Spring and Summer. The largest scope of development of this new curriculum was landing on me. Scripting things to that extent was a developing track I didn't have much belief in. Most importantly, I felt the need to continue lobbying for student topic choice in their education, expanding internships and the multidisciplinary work that can spin with it. I wanted to pursue even more discussions on shifts schools can make to open up individual and community learning opportunities... especially student capstone work.

So when a late offer came up to do just that, and after some soul searching, I decided it was officially time I moved on. I took a position at Burlington High School in Vermont in Technology Integration and to participate in the Partnership for Change Initiative.

Hey, I thought I'd do something with all that sabbatical research, right? ; )

I've been working on many great projects already in Burlington... designing new classes, creating opportunities for internships, promoting the school as a community learning center, reshaping approaches to web development, helping teachers explore the creative capacity of technology with students, and contributing ideas on the plans to build a new high school.

Looking back... my sincere thanks to the incredible students I worked with at Burr and Burton, so many peers, the project consultants - all the experts called on by the students in their project work, all the visitors to the Lab, the incredibly supportive communities that support the school, and to the school itself. I'm truly privileged to carry so many lasting friendships into the future.

The rLab (II) at Burr and Burton, 8/2005 - 8/2013

I like this picture of the rLab above... a little rough around the edges, minimalist, student designed diverse work spaces. It was truly a self-organizing system... as it's always said from day one on the top of the rLab blog, built on student and parent / guardian feedback. Students took on some great (and incredibly diverse) projects and made some forward thinking proposals that really opened up thoughts on how technology was used at the school. Promoting student inquiry into the process of education, I always felt at least, was a healthy goal... and still do.

It's tough to close up shop sometimes... but it's also exciting. 

I always did love the iconic signoff from the late CBS News Anchor Walter Cronkite. I always felt it was a fitting sign-off the day, and in this case the eight years I spent teaching students at Burr and Burton Academy...

"And that's the way it is," (the close of my role in the rLab at BBA, back on...) Friday August, 23rd, 2013.

There are many articles in queue for publications coming up... my travels to High Tech High, an innovative school lunch program, and traits in school Leadership that fosters innovation to name a few.

I'll be writing as a guest blogger, and requests are coming in for presentations on opening up innovation in schools. I'm looking forward to all of them.

It's good to be creating and collaborating again. Keep moving forward, indeed.

Adam

Dive Into the Maker Movement

Photo from http://www.arduino.cc

Here's a new article I wrote called Dive Into the Maker Movement for Edutopia. Love to hear what you think about it!

As I mention in the article, I think back often to that 'Fab Lab' conversation I had with my old friend Brian Gawlik back in the day. Merging disciplines into projects on a flexible schedule that allows immersion for students... just imagine what could be accomplished. Many schools have the space to do things like this already.

Thinking forward... I've been doing a ton of research on 3D printers of late, and also trying my hand at Arduino programming. Much more fun than watching TV (which I gave up two years ago now) ; )

I'd like to see many more schools take on a Maker style club, Fab Lab, class... and see where the experiment goes. It opens up new doors for cross-curricular activities and projects immediately.

It's fun stuff to explore. It's my hope to invest more time in conjuring more interest and resources on this for folks around the area and the State.

Off now to buy some gear!

#edchat

Student Inquiry Into the Complex Problems

Here's a project I'd do with students based on an article (that I read today)... an analyze this sort. 

Watch this video from Dan Pallota called 'The Way We Think About Charities is Dead Wrong':
http://www.ted.com/talks/dan_pallotta_the_way_we_think_about_charity_is_dead_wrong.html

We'd debate.

Then read this article from CNN called 'The Worst Charities':
http://www.cnn.com/2013/06/12/us/gallery/worst-charities/index.html?hpt=hp_c2

We'd debate, again.

I'd ask students to fact check the article. Could we find other sources? Contact the companies themselves? The IRS? All of the above? When would we have enough evidence to feel confident?

I'd ask students if they think we could contact Dan Pollata (from the video). Could we ask him to read the article from CNN, and enter into a discussion with us on his opinions and his opinions on the article citings? What are there thoughts on how this might go? What questions should we ask? What should (and shouldn't) we say?

How about contacting other non-profits to see how they spend money?

Then we'd debate, yet again. 

Then I'd ask them to show... Based on what we discovered, what charity would you give money to? Why? What's important in making that decision? What are your thoughts on raising awareness vs how much money is transferred? Is there a balance? Which charities in your opinion are you most comfortable with in how they allocate their money? Give examples... find them and tell us why.

Stage it well. Class debates, small groups, individual research, etc. Assess to build skills in: Un-biased research. Build communication, collaboration, and presentation skills... as part of exploring something much larger, and very important.

At least that's my thoughts on it after thinking this over for 15 minutes and writing it up here ; ) Before I worked on it with students, I'd also run it by some peers and listen to their opinions. Add, move, and subtract based on what I heard. 

Nothing like a good challenge.

It's a complex world we live in. We must promote inquiry in education to help people understand it.