The Venn diagram on pg 73 is a great visual that offers me a great way to start this post. There are so many different questions and issues that must be addressed prior to initiating new technology as well as the questions that arise out its implementation. Yet, the first step must be taken, the courageous first step, toward implementing new technologies starts with the desire to increase student achievement. The Venn diagram offers the three main areas of focus: Collaborative Leadership (CL), Personalizing your School Environment (PER), and Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment (CIA), which all directly focus on the center Improved Student Performance. Throughout the history of education the goal has always been student performance (or at least trying to enhance or strengthen achievement) by introducing new methods or technologies designed to meet that purpose. Many times integrating new technologies wasn't that hard because the advancement was very obvious like from quill and ink to pencil or ditto machine to copier... in these cases (and many more) the integration of these technologies was almost instant because everyone could see that they would make a dramatic impact on student achievement. When the calculator was introduced in mathematics it was used only as a way to check your work, not a tool to do work faster or more accurately... even today the calculator is met with mixed opinions. Yet if you are truly focused on student achievement then implementing new technology tools is an essential component to achieving this task. I like the Venn diagram because it visually offers the fact that success is dependent and interdependent on more than just one factor; because a teacher alone cannot be successful nor can the principal or the system itself without a cooperative arrangement whereby all parties have a vested interest in that success. When it comes to answering the Module 2 question of my philosophy on "social media," I would be remiss if I didn't mention that my philosophy is and always will be a work in progress. My educational philosophy follows some core principles, but is evolving as I grow as a professional educator. I have learned some things along the way which I believe to be the right way to do things... I have also learned the converse... I have even changed my mind about some things because of a new understanding learned from others or self reflection. Like how many schools have a ban on mobile devices (cell phones, you have to say mobile devices because the cell phone has literally come out of the bag), which has in my opinion been like the federal government's passing of the XVIIIth Amendment (repealed with the XXIst Amendment). While it may not be appropriate to have and use your mobile device anytime you want an outright ban creates an environment of oppression and rebellion. Systems have all students and employees sign an appropriate use contract and then not trusting them to engage appropriately, block what could be useful websites or content...???? Appropriate use means just that and if a student/ employee cannot conduct them self appropriately then that student / employee loses privileges Not everyone... just enforce the rules don't keep making more rules.
So, now to the social media question, I think when used appropriately different types of social media can be powerful assessment tools (back to the Venn diagram CIA assessment to Inform Instruction and Technology to Improve Instruction). If a goal of education is to better prepare students for "real life" it will be a difficult goal to achieve as long as so many schools (educational systems) have an outright ban on mobile devices and blocked websites. Teaching students how use technology appropriately is best done through modeling, not telling!
My philosophy is... if you are truly concerned about student achievement then open the gates and embrace the change... this generation loves gaming...so learn how to use that to teach and assess student learning... this generation loves to be connected socially... so teach them responsible connecting and content posting. Social media is more than Facebook... it could be a VoiceThread (watch all 3 short intro clips) or Padlet (Padlet Backpack created just for school privacy) or even uploading a video to YouTube (watch this) or ReelWorks (watch this), which can be and are useful tools that promote student creativity and assess a student's DOK on a greater scale. My philosophy is at present... there are wonderful ways to use social media... help administrators and others realize their power to enhance student achievement. If a system's perspective about social media (mobile devices) is bad or un-valued then you need to change that perspective and I happen to believe that change can occur... leading by example.
My leadership score was a 77, which is labeled in the "Excellent" category, but what that really means is you still need $1.29 to buy a coffee at Sheetz. While I do agree some lead better than others and some qualities or traits are better suited for leaders; I'm just not sure a short survey can really define the leader that exists in everyone (The Leader in Me). Case in point... I'll never forget my first day in my 30 hr clinical placement... I walked in just minutes before the bell rang... introduced myself and started situating my things where the host teacher told me to place them... the bell rang and the classroom quickly filled up with 27 sixth graders just back from lunch and full of energy and rearing to go (not sit down and learn but run and play some more outside) yet the task at hand was social studies and today was a test day... she liked to do a quick review before handing out the tests... I could see that she couldn't do both... so I merely stepped in and helped... that was the first class of four ... the next class had students that needed the test read to them (modification)... the next class was behind and needed to finish thier review sheet... the last class went smooth as silk because the wrinkles in the first three had all been sorted out... (no directions were needed, no prior planning... just seeing what needed to be done and doing it) ...was that excellent leadership? I think in many cases the capacity to lead is defined by the situation ... I like the acronym TEAM (Taskmaster, Enthusiast, Accountant, and Mainstay) which defines primary roles, but recognizes that within each defined role there are various types of leaders. Taskmasters lead but also follow other leaders, Enthusiasts dream what can be done and even among this group there are lead dreamers, everyone knows there are lead "beancounters" amongst the Accountants, and entertwined in the Mainstays you'll find the foremen, supervisors, project managers, and even the lead laborers of the world, which renforces my definition and understanding of what true leadership really is... someone who is courageous enough to take the first step (not foolishly or ill-advised) toward doing what needs to be done for the benefit of others... seeing what needs done and doing it Not watching or waiting for others to do it... the host teacher needed help, the students needed help, and all I did was help, I didn't jump in a lead. The technology integration issue we are discussing in this modules needs individuals to take those courageous steps toward getting the job done... and the job is equipping the next generations with the tools they'll need to live successful productive lives.
ReplyDeleteAnd here is the second part of your post I see. I like that you said your philosophy is and always will be a work in progress. I think this is a persons philosophy on anything always is, it is hard not to change your philosophy when new information is always being thrown at it. You have a great leadership score and I do agree with you on the survey. It is a short survey and the scoring gaps between levels are small at the start, but to get to excellent there is a huge range. No offense to anyone, but almost anyone can be an excellent leader after taking this survey. It is more about the actions and steps a person makes for the team and how they motivate others to do the same.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you that your philosophy is changing everyday. I think that as we become stronger teachers and finding new ways and different ways to teach the same concept that we are changing our philosophy. I received the same score on the leadership assessment.
ReplyDeleteThis is my favorite line out of your whole post-- "Yet if you are truly focused on student achievement then implementing new technology tools is an essential component to achieving this task". This is 100% accurate. It is no secret that technology is talking over our lives; social media being one for the main aspects. Students are learning more and more about technology/ with technology outside of the classroom. How can we expect them to leave those skills at the door when the walk into school? We should be building on them and helping our students develop and better understanding of life with technology by allowing them to showcase some of these skills in the classroom setting.
ReplyDelete"Systems have all students and employees sign an appropriate use contract and then not trusting them to engage appropriately, block what could be useful websites or content...???? Appropriate use means just that and if a student/ employee cannot conduct them self appropriately then that student / employee loses privileges."
ReplyDeleteThank you for mentioning this! I LOVE Youtube as a resource, because for the art enthusiast it is full of useful and informative tutorials that guide you through artmaking processes. I HATE that youtube is blocked and I am only allowed to funnel our use from it through my webtop password that is monitored by the technology department. I use tutorials for my art classes and sign language introduction clips to help students learn and become exposed to deaf culture and various types of signing styles. Youtube is a huge resource wasted by this scrutinizing system. I know how to teach my students how to use it correctly. I should be trusted enough to follow through with that. Nice post. Thanks for the input!
Excellent post, Rafe! Thanks for sharing additional resources that promote student collaboration and definitely higher levels of engagement. This type of collaboration establishes a context where students must co-construct knowledge with others; understand multiple perspectives; and learn to respect diversity.
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