How do we convince our faculties that educational transformation is a good
idea? Many of us have been making this argument for decades. This
approach also is not a silver bullet.
Perhaps our definition of technology needs to be rethought, as Kevin Kelly
proposes in this TED talk: http://www.ted.com/talks/view/id/770
Schools that have embarked on 1:1 programs discover that technology does
change teachers' thinking about pedagogy. It happens more slowly than many
of us expected but it is happening. The horses do eventually start drinking.
Especially if you have a nice horse whisperer on campus.
Robbie McClintock's work provides many interesting ideas related to this
discussion.
http://www.ilt.columbia.edu/publicAtions/mcclintock.html
McClintock developed this work in concert with Dalton's innovative efforts
to infuse a school with computer technology back in the early 1990s. More
about Dalton's experience can be found here:
http://www.nais.org/publications/ismagazinearticle.cfm?ItemNumber=144327
Dalton was unable to sustain the technology infrastructure they developed
because it was funded by a large one-time gift with a stipulation that it
all be spent over a few years. Now, 15 years on, Dalton is seriously
considering a 1:1 program. We are indeed slow to change. :-)
Fred
On Mon, Mar 1, 2010 at 8:39 PM, Backon, Joel <jbackon@choate.edu> wrote:
> Hi Jason,
>
> I think you, Bill, Fred, Pat, and others are all on the same team. We are
> all working for the same goal of educational transformation, knowing that
> each school has its own unique set of challenges as well as common
> challenges. What has been most fascinating about this thread is its
> evolution from a discussion of technology to a discussion of education. We
> began with questions such as "Why doesn't every school have a 1:1 program?"
> Now we are hearing questions about the quality of education, knowing that
> technology is an integral part of that quality and transformation, but not
> the silver bullet. I would suggest that if we can convince our faculties
> that educational transformation is a good idea, they will then buy into the
> real integration of technology. But the converse is not universally the case
> - the technology will not necessarily lead the horses to water - but once
> there, the technology will make them drink the Kool Aid. Let's keep the
> discussion going, even though the conference is over. Spring is all about
> renewal. The timing is right.
>
> Joel
>
>
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