Jared’s Module 1 Response

 I think great teacher leaders lead by example.  My favorite examples come from those teachers who make their classroom a workplace of sorts.  Now that I think about it, I can see that these teachers accomplished this through meaningful technology integration.  For example, a mentor of mine, who teaches Journalism, operates what appears to be a small newsroom in the heart of the school building.  In one corner, a group of students are selecting photos from a weekend event, and editing them on Photoshop.  In another, two students are working on a caption for a yearbook image.  In another, a student is adding a new article to the school’s online news page.  Every student is using technology to complete some real-world task.  To me, this is meaningful technology integration.  I don’t think that every teacher and every principal quite understands this yet, so I think it is up to leaders in technology to spread the word (through example, of course).  The benefit of this is that, ultimately, both students and teachers will be more satisfied with education, because both will be using the tools they have to create something significant and accessible to the public.

Chapter One “The Evolving Educational Landscape”:

“Digital Learners prefer to learn ‘just in time’ but many educators prefer to teach ‘just in case” (Sheninger, 2014).  I believe the author is correct about this.  I have long thought that people, in general do what they have to, when they have to, and usually not before.  This includes learning. Certainly, the internet enables this behavior.  When you have access to almost any source at any time, it’s easy to feel that you can look it up when exigency arises.  However, I think both the “just in time” and the “just in case” attitudes miss the point of education.  Both seem to suggest that education can only be a form of training- as if everything we learn is prepare us for job… and that’s it.  I have always encouraged my students to approach their learning as if they are not merely playing the game of school, but as if they are pursuing their interests and curiosities in order become better people with a greater understanding of the world and how it works.  Freely learning all the time- It’s the original meaning of “liberal” in “Liberal Arts Education.”

“Digital Learners prefer to network simultaneously with others, but many educators prefer students to work independently before they network and interact” (Sheninger, 2014).  I selected this characteristic, because out of all of those identified by Jukes, Mccain, and Crockett, this was the only one that I was skeptical about.   I would like to see some evidence that students prefer to network and interact while attempting to learn something or create a product.  Most of my students fight against the idea working together.  Usually group projects begin with me calming their anxieties or giving them some version of a “it’s for your own good” speech.

Chapter Two “Why Schools Must Change”:

My favorite NASSP guidelines are as follows:

“Principals must support early adopters and risk takers” (Sheninger, 2014).  I feel this is key to encouraging the use of technology in schools.  If principals are willing to defend teachers when they try to implement a new idea, they are likely to see much more innovation from the staff.  Also, as a teacher, nothing makes me feel more encouraged than when the administration is supportive of a new approach to reaching the students.

“The principal must set and support the expectation that student work will be done and stored using technology” (Sheninger, 2014).  After two years of requiring that students submit their English coursework electronically, I can see the advantages of this.  Both the student and the teacher are more organized, the students receive feedback more quickly making them more likely to revise and submit multiple improvements, and the student gains experience using electronic documents which are common in college and work.  However, I do not think many principals have quite reached the point of thinking of this as the standard.  I would like to see that change happen soon.