T+L 2009 Reflection

Despite the October blizzard, I had the fortunate ability of attending the T+L 2009, a sub-conference of the NSBA. Dave, Joe, Emily, John, and I presented on the dynamics of the Global Learner program--both what it looks like in our district (policy) and in our classrooms (pedagogy). More importantly...we ventured throughout the other presentations to hear how and why educators are using technology. Regarding the information I gained, I would like to bounce through the halls of reflection in this blog; please join me.

• Education 2015: Given Technology, Demographics, Economic, and Social Trends, What May Be Our Worlds of US Education in 2015?

What I found fascinating about this session was the statistic that Colorado will have a student population increase by over 15%. Not that the funds will be there, as the trend indicates the funding per student will decrease over that same time period. Education will have to adapt, in that greater demands will be required with fewer resources.

One of the specific concerns I have regarding this is standards (yes, I'm going there...again). Several times at the conference it was mentioned that we are preparing students for jobs, along with the supporting skill sets, that don't even exist yet. I sincerely worry about this. How can archaic, rigid, and it-takes-years-and-committees-to-change standards TRULY prepare our students for such a mobile society? It is unfortunate--and scary-- to me that in the 21st century we teach with 20th century (ok let's keep it real, 19th century) pedagogy and ideology. I find it my responsibility then as a global learner to interpret the standards in a way that ensures my students not only can survive in this fleeting information society, but flourish.

• How a Virtual Learning Environment Can — And Should — Help Learners

Wow. How I wish I could have taped this session. Amazing! Jeff Borden addressed so many issues with our 21st century world.

I appreciated most his point about multi-modality learners. We teach in an era where very rarely are students single-style learners. They are bombarded daily with sights, sounds, and textures--at once! But then when they go to a classroom, they are fed a linear instructional style that--yawn--bores them. I hate that I have to compete in this kind of world...but it is a reality. One of the specific strategies I want to begin is using more images--pictures and videos. Yesterday in class, before discussing Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, I showed a Chinese foot binding information video to my students, which engaged them and deepened an interesting classroom conversation.

In addition, he also addressed the new receptive technology, like Natal and Milo. I worry...will I as a teacher be replaced by a robot? What can I offer to my students that computers cannot? What can I be allowed to offer?

Which begs an even more pressing question...what SHOULD education look like in this world? I am reminded of a biblical proverb: "You can't pour new wine into an old wineskin." It seems to me this is the perfect advice for the field of education. We have not really reformed education; we have added cumbersome details to it. And the standards keep growing--but not adapting--to a new world. And the expectations do not change to reflect TODAY's needs...but the needs of our isolated, factory working parents and grandparents. True change will not come through addition...but innovation.

We need a paradigm shift.

Let it begin with the Global Learners.