The Bulls-Eye Is Not Tech

A few days ago I read this post http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/LeaderTalk/2010/08/21st_century_excellence.html

and really was bothered by the emphasis that was going to be placed on the determination of what excellence would be.   And I still am bothered.

I commented on my feelings on twitter and a response back was “you get what you aim for”…..and THAT is what is prompting this post.

When I was younger, I was lucky enough to live near a very good recreational center – called Bodger Park.  This park offered a lot of great summer activities for children and one year, I took a class on Archery.  (one of my favorite memories of childhood.)

We all lined up — were given the same instructions, the same equipment, the same task (try to hit the target).  We all stood in a line, on the same day, at the same time, with the same weather conditions and when instructed — we all aimed toward the target.

And none of us hit it exactly in the same place.

Some people’s arrows flew high, some flew low, some hit the target, other’s hit the bulls-eye.

Now, in a perfect world, with us all provided with the same equipment, the same instructions, the same goal — should we not all hit at the same place at the same time??

No — because there are a zillion other factors that go into this scenario.  The pull on the bow, the weight of the arrow, the path of the arrow, the breeze, the stance of the archer, the angle of the target….all which factor into the final outcome.

And is that not the same with teaching?

We are NOT carbon copies of each other.  We all have our strengths, our weaknesses.  Hopefully, we have all gotten good training.  Hopefully, our schools provide us with adequate equipment to be successful.  Hopefully, we all share the same goal.

But that goal cannot be TECH.

I do not know the principal that wrote that blog post…..and I do have to say that I admire that he wants his teachers to be their best because this overlaps to the students.  But to put the bulls-eye on the usage of tech, well to me, that misses the mark.  I applaud that he will be providing support and encouragement to the teachers.  But that should be subject-wide and not just tech-specific.

Each of his teachers, each day, walk up to their mark (the classroom), and pull out their bow (education, past-experience, personality, wisdom, etc), place their arrow (lesson plans, curriculum, ideas) and aim towards the target (the students).  And there will be a zillion factors that will determine where that arrow will go….and the next arrow, and the next….and the next.

I do not think it is wrong for the principal to have a target set for his teachers.  And I do not think it is wrong for the principal to urge his teacher’s daily to hit the bulls-eye or come as close as they can each day.   But to make the bulls-eye “tech” places an importance on something that has so many factors that can  impact the outcome.

Encourage your teachers to be the best they can be…….not labeling them as “21st century teachers who demonstrate an effective use of technology“ but applauding them for being teachers who use every and any opportunity they can every day in every way.  And please never use “tech usage” to be your bulls-eye for determining excellence.

Just my thoughts
Jen

Perhaps I am overthinking — it would not be the first, nor probably the last time I do so.

Perhaps I am being skeptical, which is really a new part of my life that did not emerge until the internet.

But I curious as to the reaction of my PLN and Google Voice Google’s phone service.

And I am more curious as to how quickly it was accepted, tweeted about, and shared as the new “best thing.”

Yet, these are the same people who continually share about the necessity of protecting not only their OWN digital footprint but also the digital footprint of others.

Now, I don’t know Google’s complete policy — and if you do, please direct me to the posted information….but I have to believe that they will be doing something with all those phone #’s you are so willing typing in to make a phone call.

Whether it is marketing, whether it is analyzing, whether it is data collecting — I have no idea.

But it amazes me how quickly many of my friends eagerly punched in friend’s phone #’s without even a thought of the impact on their “digital footprint.”

Now many I am over-reacting and I could be dead wrong on this…..

But — I have given google my email, my documents, my videos, my calendar…….

for now, I am going to hang onto my phone.  And the phone #’s of my friends as well.

Just my thoughts.
Jen

Growing up — I was Jennifer — never Jenny (ugh).  Occasionally I was JW or FerFer but mostly I was Jennifer.

3 years ago, I became Jen.  Not sure how, not sure why, not sure when….but I became Jen.  Wasn’t what I was used to — but it felt okay….so I accepted it.

In 1999, I started my projects and chose the catchy name “Technospud”.  Mostly because I had become an overnight couch potato of my computer and it fit.

In 2007, I started questioning Technospud.  First of all, it was not professional – though I struggle with professionalism versus personal-ism all the time.   But also, it just wasn’t what I wanted to be equated with……so I changed to Jenuinetech.  Yeah — that’s it……Genuine Tech (whatever that is) with a cute twist on the spelling.  And, it fit…….or did it?

As you know, those of you who read my thoughts, I have been struggling — severely struggling — with the emphasis on tech and my desire for that emphasis to be diminished.  The emphasis needs to be on Teaching and not on Teching.  (My profile on Twitter states this as well!)

So — as I wrote out my posts about taking the emphasis off Tech — I realized I did so on a blog who’s website address was Jenuinetech.  And I cringed – hoped no one would notice — and continued on.

But — if I am going to practice what I preach – if I am going to walk my talk (with education in mind) — I had to make some changes.

So as of today — August 27th — Jenuinetech.com will be moving to ProjectsByJen.com.

It is what I do — I host projects.  Projects By Jen.  Yep, it fits.

You will not need to do a thing……the old site will redirect you and the only thing you will notice is a new logo up on the left.

Residues of Jenuinetech.com will still creep up — as residues of Technospud still do.  But I think this move makes sense and helps me stay in tandem with my thoughts of NOT putting the emphasis on tech.

The move will take a few days — but ProjectsByJen.com will be where I will now call my home on the web.

If you mention Jenuinetech.com or Technospud.com on your site — please consider changing it to Projects By Jen.  Thank you!

In the last few days, there have been a lot of “new school year resolutions.”

I am going to start a blog.
I am going to start a wiki.
I am going to use skype.
I am going to …………(insert ideas here)

And I look at that list – and have to honestly shake my head.  Because as long as we emphasize the Tool – as long as we put the importance on the tool – as long as we accentuate tech – our learning objective becomes blurred and undefined.

I challenge you this year to NOT share the tool – but share what is being accomplished.

If you are an elementary class that is blogging – share about your students writing, their correspondences, their vocabulary use, their spelling…..
If you are an elementary class that is using a wiki – share about their collaboration, their teamwork, their editing skills…..
If you are an elementary class that is inviting others in via skype – share about you breaking down traditional walls in the classroom, opening your students’ ears to new voices, learning daily from “experts” in their field…….

And as an example, I will do that myself.
I create daily word puzzles and invite students and teachers to use any available resources (prior knowledge, conversations, and internet) to find the answer by using daily clues provided.   You are invited to view each day’s image at http://www.jenuinetech.com/GTW
Learning Objective:  Students Will:
Use critical thinking skills, Apply existing knowledge, Interact and collaborate with peers and teacher (and others), Process data and share results

I encourage you – I challenge you – to start looking beyond the tool and instead look to the learning objective – the WHAT instead of the HOW – and then start sharing that.
I encourage you – I challenge you – to start asking back, when people mention “great tools” on twitter or at conferences to ask “really, what is the learning objective?”
I encourage you – I challenge you – to hold those of us who speak at conferences accountable when we start “tool challenges” to also ask us to showcase more than just the ooohhh and ahhhs of the tool.

…..in 2010, I am going to emphasize the learning objective.

What about you??

For the past 3 months, I drive each day by a construction site…..

and I am fascinated each day to see the development.
The framing, the watering of the ground, the landscaping, the widening of the road, the replacement of a light instead of a stop sign….etc etc etc.

Today, they were outlining the area for the flowers to wind around the cement sidewalk.  Two men working together to achieve an outcome necessary for the next person to do their job.

And I started thinking about school.

We are a group of people working together for a common purpose…some of our jobs will be very visible and others might go unnoticed but still very very important.

But we are a work in progress — as are your students.

Building takes time and sometimes cannot be rushed.   Sometimes missing a step can impair the entire outcome.  Yet, things need to stay on track and it is important to get your job done well so that the next person can do theirs too.

In my opinion, the words “IN PROGRESS” are the most important words to remember.  For ourselves, for fellow teachers, for our students.

Those days when we get frustrated because they just are NOT where we think they should be.  Those days when we get frustrated because we are NOT where we think we should be.

In this world of “everything is instantaneous” and “get it now” mentality — I think we are forgetting that things do take time.  And that we are not the only piece of the puzzle to get the job done.

For me, the in progress time is the most exciting time.

Are you a work in progress and are you encouraging the other works in progress on your campus?

Jen

These past few weeks, I have been SOOOO frustrated with Word Press.

You see — when I would type a blog post out — sometimes I was unable to see all that I typed because it was hidden under the columns.

and when I tried to edit the text — it was a pain.

And because of my frustration, I placed the blame on the software and not the user.

Because — and I am sure you already know this — I just found out that all I had to do was collapse the columns on the right and suddenly I could see all my text.

This was a “DUH” moment, but also an “AHA” moment.

How often do we  (teachers, admin, students, myself) place the blame on the software rather than looking at the user??

At the beginning of the school year, I do a project with my students.  I provide them with bread, peanut butter, jelly, a knife, a plate, and a napkin and have them write directions on “HOW TO MAKE A PEANUT BUTTER/JELLY SANDWICH” and then I follow the directions precisely…..to the howls of laughter at times when certain steps are forgotten and I have to do exactly what was written in the directions.

I do this — because I want my students to see that computers are very literal — and because they are machines, they follow the directions they are given……. and are not independently out to get us.

Yet, I forget that at times….and get frustrated and pass the blame to the software….when in actuality, I need to remember to step back and realize the problem just might be me.

Smiles
Jen

Yesterday was a BIG day on my campus.   HUGE.

When I began my job here — January 15, 2007 — one of the teachers blatantly told me that she believed technology was from the devil.    Inside I cringed, outside I just smiled.

Yesterday, we installed a projector for this teacher – at her request –

and as I was helping her set it up and to use  — both with a screen and on the white board — she mentioned to me that she really missed that video program we had had a few years back.  (Discovery Streaming)

And I had to smile again.

I am in the minority of MANY of the people I associate with online in my tactics and techniques with working with teachers.  Slow and steady goes the course, baby steps, encourage not push is my motto.  And so far it has worked — both on my campus and with many I work with online.

Embarrassing, humiliating, pushing, chastising, comparing, harassing, manipulating……well, you understand my thoughts — does not lead to change.  Many times it leads to even more resistance.

Maybe I could have forced the projector onto this teacher.  I could have had administration DEMAND that she use it.  I could have embarrassed her by using her as an example in staff meetings of “non-user”.

By allowing her to set the pace….of course, continually offering support, ideas, encouragement…..and sometimes remaining silent when I wanted to scream…..led to the outcome yesterday of a teacher WILLINGLY taking steps to move herself into using using new options in her classroom.

~~~~~~~~
As I write this, my Teacher Not A Techer blog post comes to mine, and I realize I am on a teeter-toter of thoughts right now.   I don’t want TECH to be so important…but I do want the options of tech to be available and used.

Still sorting my thoughts — perhaps always will be sorting my thoughts.

But none-the-less…..yesterday was a VERY BIG DAY on my campus.

It is an interesting thing to watch as people blast out links via twitter and it is interesting to see what tweets are RTed as well on twitter.

In the last few days, we have seen twits shared out that have turned out to be hoaxes or turned out to be spams.  And this continually surprises me.

We tell our students “YOU MUST VERIFY YOUR SOURCES”.
We tell our teachers “YOU MUST BE CAUTIOUS OF ADS”.
We tell everyone “THINK SMART”.

Yet, examples are continually shown on twitter that we are NOT practicing what we preach.

I stopped yesterday from tweeting out about the “white erase board quitter” mainly because the word she was called was very crass.   I really try to keep my twits and blogs g-rating as much as I can.   But I almost did.

So this blog post is for me as much for you.

What “danger Will Robinson” sign do we need that will stop our fingers from hitting submit BEFORE we check and verify?

If we don’t model good tracking resources for validity, how can we expect our students to?

We truly need to know better and model EXCELLENT resource validation skills or we truly will be no better than the average internet user.

Just my thoughts today
Jen