Comments on: Laptops should be disruptive of traditional education http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2006/08/21/laptops-should-be-disruptive-of-traditional-education/ Sun, 23 Nov 2008 12:50:11 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Moving at the Speed of Creativity » Blog Archive » School reform vision needed http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2006/08/21/laptops-should-be-disruptive-of-traditional-education/#comment-14467 Moving at the Speed of Creativity » Blog Archive » School reform vision needed Wed, 06 Sep 2006 20:41:21 +0000 http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2006/08/21/laptops-should-be-disruptive-of-traditional-education/#comment-14467 [...] We not only need our students to be engaging in safe digital social networking, we also need them appropriately instant messaging at school. We need kids to be blogging respectfully and safely at school, so they’ll be well-prepared for the digital communication challenges and opportunities they’ll face in life. Laptops should be disruptive of traditional education. This is why we desperately need to work on refining the VISION our educational leaders and other educational stakeholders have for what it means to be literate in the 21st century. Teaching and learning shouldn’t be what it used to be. Thanks to David Warlick for this article reference. [...] [...] We not only need our students to be engaging in safe digital social networking, we also need them appropriately instant messaging at school. We need kids to be blogging respectfully and safely at school, so they’ll be well-prepared for the digital communication challenges and opportunities they’ll face in life. Laptops should be disruptive of traditional education. This is why we desperately need to work on refining the VISION our educational leaders and other educational stakeholders have for what it means to be literate in the 21st century. Teaching and learning shouldn’t be what it used to be. Thanks to David Warlick for this article reference. [...]

]]> By: Lori Gracey http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2006/08/21/laptops-should-be-disruptive-of-traditional-education/#comment-11460 Lori Gracey Tue, 22 Aug 2006 13:11:14 +0000 http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2006/08/21/laptops-should-be-disruptive-of-traditional-education/#comment-11460 I agree with you completely, Wes. It's not about the technology; it's about the teaching! Over the past three years, we have piloted and then fully implemented giving every one of our 650 fourth grade students a handheld computer. But first, we worked with each teacher to make sure he/she understood that the teaching had to change. The program has been so successful (in both test scores and authentic learning that's taken place) that we're getting ready to provide a computer to every fifth and sixth grade student next school year. The technology works great as a tool for these digital natives, but only when we first help the digital immigrants change their roles in the classroom. I agree with you completely, Wes. It’s not about the technology; it’s about the teaching! Over the past three years, we have piloted and then fully implemented giving every one of our 650 fourth grade students a handheld computer. But first, we worked with each teacher to make sure he/she understood that the teaching had to change. The program has been so successful (in both test scores and authentic learning that’s taken place) that we’re getting ready to provide a computer to every fifth and sixth grade student next school year. The technology works great as a tool for these digital natives, but only when we first help the digital immigrants change their roles in the classroom.

]]> By: Musings from the Academy » Blog Archive » Well, At Least Somebody Understands… :) http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2006/08/21/laptops-should-be-disruptive-of-traditional-education/#comment-11330 Musings from the Academy » Blog Archive » Well, At Least Somebody Understands… :) Tue, 22 Aug 2006 00:48:05 +0000 http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2006/08/21/laptops-should-be-disruptive-of-traditional-education/#comment-11330 [...] Right after I published my last post on Laptop Initiatives and Standardized Testing, I came across Wesley Fryer’s post entitled Laptops should be disruptive of traditional education.  [...] [...] Right after I published my last post on Laptop Initiatives and Standardized Testing, I came across Wesley Fryer’s post entitled Laptops should be disruptive of traditional education.  [...]

]]> By: astephens http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2006/08/21/laptops-should-be-disruptive-of-traditional-education/#comment-11318 astephens Mon, 21 Aug 2006 23:00:33 +0000 http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2006/08/21/laptops-should-be-disruptive-of-traditional-education/#comment-11318 Wes, I just posted on this very article on my blog (although your post is much more in-depth than mine). https://musingsfromtheacademy.wordpress.com/2006/08/21/laptop-initiatives-and-standardized-testing/ As a former teacher in Irving ISD and now an Instructional Technology Specialist, I think I can offer some insight. Has the laptop initiative in Irving been perfect? Of course not, but I think you address one of the main roots of the problem in your post. The teachers who are using the laptops to teach differently - to differentiate, to solve real-world problems, as tools to communicate to those outside the walls of the classroom - have great success in their classrooms. Their students are less likely to be Instant Messaging instead of doing their assignment. These are the teachers who welcome change and innovation and who encourage students to be creative and think outside of the box. The students in their classes are engaged and are immersed in the learning process, unfortunately, however; many teachers just use the laptop as a digital version of a paper and pencil – to take notes, to complete worksheets, etc. These are the teachers who seem to have the most difficulty with the laptops and classroom management. I must admit that I may have a somewhat skewed view of the laptop initiative because I work on a campus where technology is embraced by the majority of the teachers and administrators which is not the case on some of the other campuses in the district. I have never had to worry about my students not bringing their laptops to class because they know it is an expectation and necessity in my class and the majority of their others. I am proud to be a teacher in Irving ISD because we do have leaders who aren't afraid to step out into the unknown and pioneer something they feel will benefit our students. I just hope our community will continue to support us in this journey. Thanks! Wes,

I just posted on this very article on my blog (although your post is much more in-depth than mine).

https://musingsfromtheacademy.wordpress.com/2006/08/21/laptop-initiatives-and-standardized-testing/

As a former teacher in Irving ISD and now an Instructional Technology Specialist, I think I can offer some insight. Has the laptop initiative in Irving been perfect? Of course not, but I think you address one of the main roots of the problem in your post. The teachers who are using the laptops to teach differently - to differentiate, to solve real-world problems, as tools to communicate to those outside the walls of the classroom - have great success in their classrooms. Their students are less likely to be Instant Messaging instead of doing their assignment. These are the teachers who welcome change and innovation and who encourage students to be creative and think outside of the box. The students in their classes are engaged and are immersed in the learning process, unfortunately, however; many teachers just use the laptop as a digital version of a paper and pencil – to take notes, to complete worksheets, etc. These are the teachers who seem to have the most difficulty with the laptops and classroom management.

I must admit that I may have a somewhat skewed view of the laptop initiative because I work on a campus where technology is embraced by the majority of the teachers and administrators which is not the case on some of the other campuses in the district. I have never had to worry about my students not bringing their laptops to class because they know it is an expectation and necessity in my class and the majority of their others.

I am proud to be a teacher in Irving ISD because we do have leaders who aren’t afraid to step out into the unknown and pioneer something they feel will benefit our students. I just hope our community will continue to support us in this journey.

Thanks!

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