Tag Archives: 1:1 learning environment

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Back in the classroom – Instruction with digital resources

“An organization can only become the-best-version-of-itself to the extent that the people who drive that organization are striving to become better-versions-of-themselves.”
– Matthew Kelly, The Dream Manager

Back in March 2014 I was fortunate to have the chance to teach students at one of our elementary schools. Today I had the chance to teach students at one of our middle schools! I was a 7th grade math teacher today and it was awesome. Last year and this year (and next year too) we in the leadership team “raffle” ourselves off to the teachers as a holiday gift and an acknowledgement of their high value. Another rationale/reason for us to this is based upon our values and beliefs of the importance for us to get back into the classroom and experience a real day in the present time with real students “today” as opposed to looking at the lenses of teaching from the the time in the past when we were full time classroom teachers (for me that would be back in 1993-1997).

Another set of reasons for me to get back into the classroom is for leading learning on the macro and micro levels; and for modeling the way in terms of leadership and experiential learning as well as inspiring a shared vision with respect to (in today’s case) the 1:1 digital

The major findings - distilling from millions of studies on what works.

The major findings – distilling from millions of studies on what works.

transformation in our District. Today I experimented with Math Tech Book from Discovery Education, one of our District’s partners in our digital transformation. Earlier in the year I shared many resources our teachers have for this new era of learning and teaching in our District. The Math Tech Book is a tool we are piloting and with which we are experimenting, along with other tools, that will enhance our 6-8 Middle School math curriculum resource needs. Today at the end of each lesson we did a “whip around” where all students had the opportunity to share their reflections on the learning – what they liked, did not like, learned, experienced. The voice of the student is powerful and the voices of our students today reinforces my opinion, observations, and support for integrating student voice and choice into the overall learning environments.

Today’s experience was fantastic. The math teacher shared curriculum standards (aligned with the Common Core) for her four one hour CORE math classes. With the partnership and help with our partners at Discovery Education, I was prepared (thanks to them) and “my” students were loaded into the Discovery Education account and I was ready to “rock and roll”. I was taking the students on a journey into 1:1 Transformative Learning via the latest and most advanced instructional tools around! Discovery is one of many partners with whom we work and one of the leading supporters of digital content across the country (and world). I’m writing to celebrate the experience, highlight the power of digital tools, and to show real live engagement in learning with “real” 7th grade students in our District.

I was humbled by the ease with which the students navigated the technology – they mastered the “what” with ease and with no fear or apprehension. They seemed innately in tune with the “why” for the learning via technology. They automatically explored the tools prior to the formal investigations in the lessons. They easily communicated and collaborated as they went from problem solving to explanation to investigation to writing about their decision making. They got the “how” quite easily in terms of the all in one experience of using their lap top – in their case a Chromebook.

Even though this experience was new to them, they accepted the journey into algebraic expressions, equivalence, scale, proportion, ratios (lesson content throughout the day) as naturally as if this was their norm! I was grateful to them for the honor and respect with which they treated me and each other during all of the lessons.

Our motto is Engage, Inspire, Empower – this experience today was all three and more!

I was engaged from the moment I discovered Math Tech Book as an option for digital integration and one of our 7th grade math teachers selected me in the raffle! I was engaged by the student engagement – literally “bell to bell” all day in each of the four classes – the students were truly and completely engaged in the exploration and learning!

I was inspired by their willingness to explore and experience math in new and motivating ways with one another for the entire learning session. I was also inspired that one of the other math teachers is going to take the chance and experiment tomorrow with her students (8th grade math) using Math Tech Book (she took the time to observe one of the classes and interact with the students and our iCoaches).

I was empowered by the reality that the individualized learning pathways created naturally and by design actually worked to allow the students to work at their own paces – the first time they ever saw Tech Book or used this as a digital tool for learning!

As part of my “PLN” – personal / professional learning network via Twitter – I am a co-moderator of #suptchat the first Wednesday of every month at 7pm CT and as part of #suptchat, we are following the model and lead of our nation’s principals with a new Twitter experience called #ASuperDay where we superintendents can share the story of leadership in our nation’s (and our continent’s) schools! The first #ASuperDay (a practice run) is February 18 – I share this blog as an example of what one superintendent did today during the day – I had the good fortune to return to the classroom! Please follow on Twitter to see the amazing work of my colleagues – Feb. 18 is the first #ASuperDay and the “main event” or big roll out will be on March 18 – our aim is to share #ASuperDay on the 3rd Wednesday of every month!

We are Future Ready!

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Technology Tools – Change – Growth – Leadership – Accelerator

“A life isn’t significant except for its impact upon our lives.”
– Jackie Robinson

Connecting through technologies
From my extensive personal and professional learning networks (PLN) I have been exposed to countless applications and web-based offerings that teachers and other educational leaders can use to impact student learning and organizational culture. In addition, I believe it is essential for superintendents to model the usage of technology applications (apps) as a show of support and as a cultural symbol that it is “ok” to experiment.

Over the years I have worked directly and publicly with tools like Edmodo. Through a “Facebook” like interface, with a “moodle” like infrastructure, Edmodo was one of my first efforts at engaged, collaborative, “high tech” learning as the superintendent. In a previous district, I set up Edmodo as a “school” for teachers where we would share professional learning and host professional development. A practice that I support and share with leaders is to identify 3-5 Web 2.0/3.0 instructional tools to interested teachers through the voluntary/pilot like the Edmodo project in which I participated. In my current district Edmodo is used systemwide for parent and student engagement and communication.

In addition, I have also personally supported professional development modules with other tools like VoiceThread for educators. The message has far less to do with the specific application or technology, the message is that is is OK, supported, and encouraged in the organization for people to experiment and use tools professionally so that those that work may be used to support learning in the classroom. The ultimate aim of the connected leader is increased student learning and increased staff abilities. As the lead learner and lead leader, the superintendent needs to “model the way” as espoused by Kouzes and Posner so that others may feel comfortable trying, failing, and eventually succeeding with new technologies.

From time to time I seek out and attend technology for administrators workshops. The purpose of these workshops is to educate educational leaders (mostly school superintendents) on the what, how, etc. of and for today’s digital student learning. With inspired and motivated leaders, others in the school system are likely to have more confidence in trying new instructional methods with students. What strikes me during the many discussions and small group break-out sessions is the concept of “training” … have you ever seen a student seek out “professional development” to learn how to use apps? (a saying I have seen on Twitter) What kind of training do teachers need with respect to using technology applications? At times they simply need to use the apps … training is in doing – this is a new concept. This is a scary concept for many whose entire professional life has involved being trained before implementing.

I am often reminded of the “need for training” as an expectation and/or a barrier toward implementation and acceptance of new educational and instructional opportunities. What sets technology apart from traditional instructional applications, is that in most cases, the technology simply needs to be used … there is not a “sit and get” type of “training” that is going to yield the type of usage that the students today need, demand, and wpid-20140801_091422.jpgunderstand. I’m saying that “training” is a bad thing – I’m not saying that “training” is unnecessary, what I am saying is that one’s notion of training from an old school model, does not fit in today’s model of training. Today’s model of training looks more like Vygotsky and other constructivist theorists would describe … doing, scaffolding, sharing, discovering, users creating their own knowledge. Think about the instruction manual for the iPhone … oh wait – there isn’t one! The world has changed and it is incumbent for we leaders to change too … raise expectations and do it.

For schools to change – for school systems to change – for INSTRUCTION to change – so must our concept of training. To steal a catchy phrase from a big company … we simply need to “just do it” and the “training” might just become a learning experience! Over the past several years Twitter has opened up and created many new professional connections for me. Recently, my interactions with Twitter have opened up new professional connections and instructional opportunities and growth plans for the school district where I am the superintendent. Twitter is a professional learning network (PLN) for me – through the tweets of others, I am linked to the educational leadership world I am excited to be a part of. Through the lists/connected groups like #edchat, I can find resources- endless leaders, teachers, ‘techhies’, around the country and the world with whom I share professional interests.

Twitter is also connecting me with local news outlets for breaking news and information. I re-tweet (share others’ tweets) when I feel those who follow me might like the information. From time to time I share an original tweet with a link or information or a request for information or to promote a project at my school. The social media opportunities and networking and learning and growth I am realizing and enjoying through Twitter is/are something I want to share with you with the hope you can benefit from its power as I am. As part of our District’s strategic communications plan, or branding plan, we established a hashtag on Twitter; #Engage109 is the hashtag that we use for all tweets related to our school district. The hashtag is a unique identifier and it’s quite flattering that other neighboring districts have also established hashtags, following our lead. Through actions and deliberate methods, we are creating a culture of connectivity!

A colleague and friend of mine and I reinvigorated connected superintendents via a Twitter chat called #suptchat. I’m amazed at the amount of incredible bloggers and tweeters and leaders I have “interacted” with online and in person. I connect with and through Twitter for the amazing leaders who are sharing information and collaborating and demonstrating and illustrating leadership across state lines and international boundaries.

These past few years have been explosive in terms of instructional, educational, and operational advances in technology tools. Exciting and energizing and engaging are the many uses, connections, learning opportunities and growth opportunities that I and my colleagues and coworkers have enjoyed as a result of “technology” … an elusive term – an evolving term – technology is becoming more of a concept.

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Innovation through Change – Superintendent’s Back To School Welcome to Staff

“One of the great ironies in life is that you must be acquainted with reality while not allowing your dream to be shattered.”
– John C. Maxwell, Put Your Dream to the Test

Today is Back to School Day for teachers, support staff, administrators, and adult employees of the DPS109 family. Today we kicked off our official start to the new school year with a gathering at Shepard Middle School. I’m sharing the presentation I used to start the day and to kick off our Engage, Inspire, Empower mission and vision as we begin the District’s 168th year in the business of education. Our public schools are populated with amazing students, staff, and community. We have so much about which to be proud and we have so much for which we are grateful! This year’s theme is INNOVATION and with this innovation we have much change. While our Big 5 remain constant, how we implement these Big 5 umbrella areas differs from year’s past.

I is incumbent upon us to educate for the future world our students will lead and live – not for our past. I’m embedding the presentation I used and I encourage, questions, comments, etc. I am a very lucky superintendent of schools and I am proud to share the work of our teachers and staff with the world.

Please contact me and or use the comments feature here if you have any questions or comments about the presentation or any information contained in the slides!