Moving at the Speed of Creativity by Wesley Fryer

Opening Remarks by Janet Barresi: Oklahoma Digital Learning Summit

These are my notes from Janet Barresi‘s opening comments at the April 19, 2012, Oklahoma Digital Learning Summit in Oklahoma City. MY THOUGHTS AND COMMENTS ARE IN ALL CAPS. SEE ALL MY POSTS TAGGED “DLsummit2012” AS WELL AS MY TWEETS TAGGED “DLsummit2012.”

This event is about Oklahoma’s solutions and Oklahoma’s innovations
– what we are getting right
– how we can replicate our own stories of success across the state

I want to recognize the excellence already being demonstrated in our state first
– Howe PS: Kindergarteners blogging, and HS seniors engaged in PBL
– Clinton OK: Innovative book reports on iPads
— all classrooms: students completely engaged
— no one looking bored in those classrooms!
– Groves school: visited with young man you’ll meet tomorrow
— learned to make Shakespeare engaging with a CAD device

Challenges in our state
– Hayward Schools on Friday: Supt talking about things he had to do for students to take online tests (going the extra mile)

Important we have a framework as we discuss digital learning

Concept of Anywhere, Anytime learning
– want to demonstrate SDE’s commitment to this idea
– I’m unveiling the Oklahoma SDE’s iTunesU Portal officially today
– another innovative step forward to leverage digital media and take advantage of a free platform
– can access an entire semester of content and download it to your device
– diverse content
– we now have an official presence in iTunesU: REAC3H network, official superintendent’s video messages

Oklahoma SDE on iTunesU

New developments in technology happening at blinding speed
CNET: Mobile Apps Reshape Toys and Learning

Having just returned from PARCC Board meeting, talking about ‘delivering state assessments in a gaming environment’
– exciting

Playful learning with technology using apps

Recent articles:
WSJ MarketWatch: UC Berkeley Launches Online Health Degree
FairFax High School Considers Going Virtual

When I can carry a small library on a small device that costs about a $100 and runs all day on a single charge, you know a fundamental paradigm shift has occurred
– it is time for these changes to move into the classroom gracefully and assuredly

Learning should expand beyond the traditional classroom
– I am very encouraged by many Oklahoma districts

We are seeing Fast Company’s “Great Tech War of 2012” played out in our communities
– Amazon in a price war with competitors like B&N
– B&N launched new Nook device last week
– New Kindle rumored to be coming
– Facebook going public
– Apple launched iBooks Author

Consumers of these are becoming active participants, learning how to winnow down and use tech for our benefit
– this is good news for you and me

This means disruptive tech is going exponential
– what used to take years now takes months
– my 1st gen iPad is now considered ‘old news’ and it’s just 2 years old

Those beginning to teach in schools now went to kindergarten in 1994 just when the Internet was arriving
– new teachers have not known a time when the Internet didn’t exist

You’ve all been provided with Tom Vander Ark’s book, “Getting Smart
– now anyone can learn anything for free, or cheap
– “our calcified system of learning is being enveloped by free
– “…rendering the old system obsolete….”

We are arrived at an ‘inflection point’ (to quote Sal Khan)
– we must make sure these exciting changes don’t pass Oklahoma by

We are embarking on a journey to that future together

Introducing now Richard Culatta, our luncheon keynote speaker…

MY COMMENTS: HOW WONDERFUL TO HEAR SUPERINTENDENT BARRESI PRAISE SOME OF OUR INNOVATIVE OKLAHOMA SCHOOLS! LET THERE BE NO DOUBT, THE INNOVATIVE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND SCHEDULE CHANGES WHICH HOWE PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAS IMPLEMENTED TO SUPPORT PROJECT BASED LEARNING IS EXEMPLARY! SO GLAD TO HEAR OUR SUPERINTENDENT EXTOLLING INNOVATIVE OKLAHOMA EDUCATORS AND SCHOOLS! WE DO HAVE MANY, AND WE NEED TO PUBLICLY AMPLIFY AND SHARE THESE SUCCESS STORIES EVEN MORE. 🙂

 

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