Comments on: Our schools need passionate, caring, and visionary leaders – not JUST technology http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2008/06/21/our-schools-need-passionate-caring-and-visionary-leaders-not-just-technology/ Weblog of Wesley Fryer Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:55:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Maureen http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2008/06/21/our-schools-need-passionate-caring-and-visionary-leaders-not-just-technology/comment-page-1/#comment-54738 Maureen Sun, 22 Jun 2008 13:35:21 +0000 http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2008/06/21/our-schools-need-passionate-caring-and-visionary-leaders-not-just-technology/#comment-54738 I wish that I had seen the video to show my faculty when I did an intro to tech integration. They would have appreciated it. I, too, sometimes feel like a kid in a candy shop with all of the new tools. At times, I will actually take a step back and wonder why I want to learn so many new things. I feel like the new tools I explore and tell others about are just new strategies, new tools in my teacher toolbox. Sometimes they will replace my old standbys, other times, they won't. One thing that really stuck in my mind when I had teachers show the full faculty what they had tried using technology, was a 6th grade English teacher's statement about using LOC photos on a blog for her kids. They were reading Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry and she put together a blog with amazing photographs and music for the kids to see, comment on, relate back to their reading. As she said, if she could have done something like this in the past, it would have entailed finding the photos, writing for permission and buying copies, which would have been xeroxed for an assignment,etc... It wouldn't have happened. With the blog, she could put it all together, share it with the kids, and their families and bring new meaning to the reading and writing they were doing in her class. So, it's really not about the gee-whiz gizmos that are out there. It's not just a "cool factor". It's another way to get the kids and their teachers excited about learning, the ability to tie different media together to bring new, deeper meaning to their work. It also can involve the families at home, which is a plus in itself. Simply having "technology", be it a pencil, or a fancy web 2.0 application, doesn't make the learning happen. I wish that I had seen the video to show my faculty when I did an intro to tech integration. They would have appreciated it. I, too, sometimes feel like a kid in a candy shop with all of the new tools. At times, I will actually take a step back and wonder why I want to learn so many new things. I feel like the new tools I explore and tell others about are just new strategies, new tools in my teacher toolbox. Sometimes they will replace my old standbys, other times, they won’t.

One thing that really stuck in my mind when I had teachers show the full faculty what they had tried using technology, was a 6th grade English teacher’s statement about using LOC photos on a blog for her kids. They were reading Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry and she put together a blog with amazing photographs and music for the kids to see, comment on, relate back to their reading. As she said, if she could have done something like this in the past, it would have entailed finding the photos, writing for permission and buying copies, which would have been xeroxed for an assignment,etc… It wouldn’t have happened. With the blog, she could put it all together, share it with the kids, and their families and bring new meaning to the reading and writing they were doing in her class.

So, it’s really not about the gee-whiz gizmos that are out there. It’s not just a “cool factor”. It’s another way to get the kids and their teachers excited about learning, the ability to tie different media together to bring new, deeper meaning to their work. It also can involve the families at home, which is a plus in itself.

Simply having “technology”, be it a pencil, or a fancy web 2.0 application, doesn’t make the learning happen.

]]> By: Skip Zalneraitis http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2008/06/21/our-schools-need-passionate-caring-and-visionary-leaders-not-just-technology/comment-page-1/#comment-54733 Skip Zalneraitis Sun, 22 Jun 2008 11:40:22 +0000 http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2008/06/21/our-schools-need-passionate-caring-and-visionary-leaders-not-just-technology/#comment-54733 Thank you. I appreciate your effort to clarify the needs and uses of ICT skills. Lisa's comment is really insightful as well. Thank you. I appreciate your effort to clarify the needs and uses of ICT skills. Lisa’s comment is really insightful as well.

]]> By: blogggeer http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2008/06/21/our-schools-need-passionate-caring-and-visionary-leaders-not-just-technology/comment-page-1/#comment-54707 blogggeer Sun, 22 Jun 2008 00:05:41 +0000 http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2008/06/21/our-schools-need-passionate-caring-and-visionary-leaders-not-just-technology/#comment-54707 A web page, to at least show you how creative a child can be: http://www.freewebs.com/atrulyhumancreation/ A web page, to at least show you how creative a child can be: http://www.freewebs.com/atrulyhumancreation/

]]> By: Lisa Parisi http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2008/06/21/our-schools-need-passionate-caring-and-visionary-leaders-not-just-technology/comment-page-1/#comment-54700 Lisa Parisi Sat, 21 Jun 2008 20:53:18 +0000 http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2008/06/21/our-schools-need-passionate-caring-and-visionary-leaders-not-just-technology/#comment-54700 When I first started, a little over a year ago, on my Web 2.0 ride, I really did believe that technology would change my classroom. And it did. But I realize now, technology really had nothing to do with it. It was the excitement I felt toward this new learning that I was able to bring into the classroom. That's what got my students excited. More and more, I realize that technology is the means, not the end. It's a vital part of differentiating instruction that enables all students to be successful, but it is the learning environment - the projects, collaboration, and communication - that make the classroom an engaging, exciting place to be. And it's why I, too, am excited to go to NECC - to connect on a more personal basis with great educators who are just as excited as I am. When I first started, a little over a year ago, on my Web 2.0 ride, I really did believe that technology would change my classroom. And it did. But I realize now, technology really had nothing to do with it. It was the excitement I felt toward this new learning that I was able to bring into the classroom. That’s what got my students excited. More and more, I realize that technology is the means, not the end. It’s a vital part of differentiating instruction that enables all students to be successful, but it is the learning environment – the projects, collaboration, and communication – that make the classroom an engaging, exciting place to be. And it’s why I, too, am excited to go to NECC – to connect on a more personal basis with great educators who are just as excited as I am.

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