"Computer Labs" of the Future: What Should We do in Computer Time?

This week I was asked a question by a principal that really inspired me. His school has been 1:1 iPads for three years. This principal noted that his school doesn’t have a lab (and likely never will), nor will they have computers. This being the case, he wanted to know what technology classes look like for schools that have implemented iPads? What are the general standards that they should be implementing in their teaching? While this school does have tech classes for their students, it’s more iPad applications – but no keyboarding or other computer literacy/programming. What an interesting question. This principal wants to be sure that his students are gaining the computer skills they will need to be productive citizens in the 21st Century. How would you reply?

This is how I responded. My philosophy is that we need to teach students today to go beyond keyboarding. They need to know how to effectively search for information online (asking questions, finding answers, How to evaluate websites), how to be safe online (digital citizenship: CommonSenseMedia.org), to evaluate information, synthesize information from multiple print and digital sources, and communicate learning using multimedia. These are the New Literacies (Preparing Students for the 21st Century) that we need to teach students today.

We focus on Creation vs Consumption so having students take information they learn on their iPads and learn how to present it using multimedia tools such as Puppet EDU, Haiku Deck, Google Slides and so many more great tools. I love how student technology use can look in schools as shown in this video Learning and Creating with iPads in Kindergarten​:

This meets the ISTE standards for students  focusing computer time on (1) creativity and innovation, (2) communication and collaboration, (3) research and information fluency, (4) critical thinking, problem solving and decision making, (5) digital citizenship, and (6) technology operations and concepts. The last area is the only one that talks about how to use the device, with an iPad how to take a screen shot, save an image, use the camera, etc. And this is only done so students can create using these functions and be prepared for the next device they will use.

Now that many classroom teachers teach computer themselves, perhaps we have more time to integrate technology into the content areas so students use devices to learn and communicate learning. How does your school teach computer?

Achieving Goals with the help of an Accountability Partner

What is your New Year's resolution? It's that time when people are setting goals for the new year. The top six resolutions include losing weight, getting organized, spending less, enjoying life, staying fit, and learning something exciting. Research shows us that 8% of people are successful in achieving their resolution, while 24% never succeed on their resolution every year. What makes some people successful while others fail? One factor that helps people achieve goals is being held accountable for their actions. We are encouraged to find an accountability partner to support us along this journey. This is a concept I would like to explore a bit with implications that reach beyond New Year's resolutions.

When we work with teachers on technology integration, those who come with another teacher from their school tend to arrive together, work together, and support each other. A recent article that was shared with me by Guy Trainin looked at The Role of an Accountability Partner in Goal Achievement. We all need "an accountability partner who will challenge, motivate, mentor, encourage, and inspire you to achieve maximum results." This article pointed out the top three benefits of working with an accountability partner:

(1) Accountability and Responsibility. Let's face it, life happens. Even the most determined person can lose direction and begin to make excuses, get busy, lose focus. An accountability partner can act as a sounding board to help us refocus on the goal and not get sidetracked by other things.

(2) Idea sharing, Creativity and Brainstorming. Especially when it comes to integrating technology, two heads are often better than one. Between two people you can troubleshoot to figure out new devices and tools. Two teachers can collaborate to plan lessons where technology is integrated in creative ways.

(3) Motivational Support. While we are motivated when we set the goal, remaining committed for the long haul can be difficult. When we share our successes and failures with someone they can provide positive encouragement at just the right time. A good Accountability Partner challenges us to help us achieve the goals we set while supporting us as we try.

I look forward to meeting with many new teachers and preservice teachers this semester who want to grow in their ability to integrate technology in meaningful ways. To support them, we will provide an Accountability Partner to travel the road with them; challenging, motivating, mentoring, encouraging, and inspiring each other to learn something exciting themselves that benefits their students. Best wishes to you too as you implement New Year's resolutions. Get and be an Accountability Partner, and let me know how it goes! All the best in 2016!