I have only read through ch. 2 and perhaps this will be discussed later. I am very interested to know what these NextSchools look like. Is every minute spent working on computers and other technology? Do students interact with one another, the teacher, students around the world? The idea of a personalized education for each student sounds wonderful, but I worry that it is oxymoronic if it is being delivered by a computer. Are any skills being forfeited (handwriting, social skills, public speaking, etc.)? The finding that students in NextSchools read twice as much as other students sounds great, but what are they reading and how are they interacting with literature? I want to make sure collaboration and discussion are still an important part of the learning, we can't discount the importance of discourse (intellectually or socially).
Amy, I want to know what NextSchool looks like too because when I read about NextSchools, the first thing that popped into my head was Quadrant D. The section talks about students working at their own pace and being self-directed. Thinking about Quadrant D we aren’t losing any skills, but I believe increasing the skills that they need in the future. The question I have is how do we have Quadrant D lessons all day and all year were student are in charge of their learning and make sure they are covering all the P.O.’s to pass the AIMS test? NextSchools is a vision based on Project Red findings, and I think it is good that we are questioning the vision in order to better understand NextSchools.
I agree with everything you said. I'm just wondering if maybe this is a paradigm shift that I'm just not ready to undertake. The data is impressive to me, but my role as a teacher would look way different than it does now.
I like this idea and I really think the students would enjoy it even more!
Amy,
I have the question also of students losing the skills that we all learned and feel the need to have, such as handwriting, social skills, and public speaking. Even simple things such as picking up a book, holding it in your hands, smelling the ink or staleness of the pages, and using your imagination to develop the story in your mind. I fully agree with the red project in the full integration of technology, because that is where our world has brought us. So, I believe the key is in finding the balance of fulling embracing technology and the world, yet still learning the basic skills of learning academics and social skills that we desperately need.
I to would be interested in knowing more about how the Next Schools work as far as social interaction in the classrooms or lack of. I think that "texting" instead of holding live conversations with people has already lessened abilities to talk and interact through reading of faces and tones.
I agree that we are reaching a point where we are losing some of the skills of reading body language as we rely on email and texting. However, it is a technology rich society that we are preparing students for. In all things there should be a balance between the face to face with the teacher and the specific individualized skill development that technology can provide. I would be interested in seeing more about the NextSchools curriculum to see what it looks like in the elementary school.
I also have to agree with you that we need to see what these school look like. Perhaps show teachers videos that model effective computer integration into a classroom. I know that our district is unique as far as culture and population, and our students and teachers are also unique; but I personally would like to see a video or an example of what computer integration looks like in NextSchools. I also worry how much time students spend in front of the computer and how they learn reading skills and state standards. We also need to remember that we are moving into national stadardars and we need to make sure our students meet those standards.
I agree that it would be helpful to see classrooms from a school that has successfully implemented 1:1 on all levels. I would also really like to know if they just woke up one day and handed out the computers and muddled their way through until things started working, or if they had a plan that addressed technology K-12. Specifically for me, I'd like to know what happens in 5th grade that can be built upon in middle school. How do they balance the skills/concepts/PO's with projects,etc.?
Hello Brenda and others,
Go to AZ K-12 center website. www.azk12.org. Under their Technology tab, they have a Technology Integration Matrix with videos showing teacher implementation at each level. It is a great resource to share with teachers. As stated on their website, the Matrix associates five interdependent characteristics of meaningful learning environment with five levels of technology integration. The five by five matrix yields 25 cells, each containing two lesson plans accompanied by brief videos of each lesson.
Huge fan of technology here - I once said if I could be Sandra Bullock from "The Net", that would be awesome. So, needless to say, I am loving the technology integration in the classrooms...but are we maybe going to far? I was behind a couple college girls at the store the other day, and neither them, nor the cashier, could halve their bill total without using the cash register. Doing interactive projects on the web is great, but will the computer give you an alternate point of view about the piece of literature you just read? A discussion forum is nice, but I often find myself wondering if anyone is really reading it, or is my tone coming across ok, or there's...Survival of the fittest - what happens when we can no longer support all the technology we've created?
Good points, Maggie. I also worry that students interact with content and each other in more superficial ways. They may be reading and writing more while tweeting and texting, but it's (literally!) abbreviated and brief. I don't see as much quadrant D as dipping toes in lots of ponds. Interesting, but will they have the stamina to tackle weighty ideas? On the other hand, more excitement, more engagement may take us where we need to go.
Amy has a great point, but the truth is we are a changing world. The kids nowadays are lacking the social skills we grew up with.For instance, going outside with the other kids on the block and playing tag, bike riding, etc. Our new generation goes home to a computer, PS3, XBOX, WII, you name it.
I have asked my fifth graders what are their values and morals. They don't know. New generation of parents aren't teaching their kids to respect their teachers and all adults, to be honest, to have manners, to share with others who don't have, to take responsibility for your actions, etc.
The kids are lacking social skills as we speak. Another quick example, is that the majority of the new population prefers to text than make a call. WHat does that tell you?
So something has to give, academic education or social skills? I could see how in the future years, schools might have a new subject called Social Skills.
I agree that kids are lacking social skills. Our society is much different now compared to how it was when I was a kid. I think the lack of social skills is due to some parents and kids being too busy. The parents are so worn out from working all day that instead of interacting with their children, the TV or video games are what some kids interact with. I witness that all the time when I'm out at stores or restaurants. You even see that when kids are being driven in the car. Instead of parents interacting with their kids in the car, they have a DVD playing or the kids are playing their Gameboy. Michelle, you mentioned how people would rather text someone than make a phone call. I think that goes back to how busy we are nowadays. It is much easier to text someone and get straight to the point, instead of having to make all the "small talk" leading up to why you called in the first place.
I believe that maybe a proper balance needs to be found. Books are something that need to be a mainstay in the classroom, but daily reading on the computer has become something so standard in life that it would be a crime to keep the kids from being able to do so.
So, what is the balance? Peer-to-peer interaction is needed to help develop skills that would be needed for online interactions, including video chatting with students from other countries. To shorten it down, there needs to be a balance between old school methods and the new tech-age approach. What that balance is, I can't pretend to know.
2 things occurred to me as I read through this thread. First, that the report admits (in an appendix, as an "area for future study") that they don't know exactly what is happening in these classrooms. 2nd, the report also states that students interviewed preferred a mix of face-to-face and technology - and this seems to be the common-sense place we need to be. Don't get rid of books just because it is possible to read on a kindle! Another point the report makes is that one of things that happens in a tech-enriched classroom is that while some students are using technology for individualized or self-paced learning, the teacher is able to spend more time with small groups and individual students. It is important not to create a scenario where everything we have ever done is relegated to the dust heap just because it is not high-tech.
Nicely put Anne. I think we are nervous about what we don't know. I think where our society currently resides is in a state of mixture. A mixture of technology and non-tech. This mixture makes us accept things that once were thought of as impossible. I think we need to find a balance in this mixture. Preparing our students for where I world seems to be going but making sure they are receiving all of the learning they can possible be given in the classroom.
I recently visited a "nextschool" and one particular classroom was scary. Oh the technology portion was impressive and outstanding, student engagement was high, classrooms were extremely quiet and students seemed to be learning. Yet there were no social contact other than blogging your classmate across the room if you didn't understand a question.
There were classrooms where the teacher seem to have a balance on incorporating the tech part into the classroom instead of the class into the tech.
Reflecting on what I say, I knew that it would take me another ten years to perfect my craft as a 21st century teacher where I would be able to balance all the needs for my students in a learning environment except this time technology would be replace method of delivery.
I believe that technology is a plus and it is where our world is heading. However, I believe it has a down side as well. Jeanet's experience in one of nextschool classrooms is what I am afraid of. The students having very little social interaction. There are definite pluses to technology but also a down side. There needs to be a balance so students are getting the skills they need to function in society.