Connectivism

George Siemens (2004) developed a theory on an approach to learning that he called Connectivism. "Including technology and connection making as learning begins to move learning theories into a digital age." Siemens points out that using technology and making connections are linked. Combining connectivism and constructivist methods in the classroom offers students an opportunity to gain 21st century skills, he sees trends including:

• Many learners will have many different jobs spanning a variety of fields over their lifetime

• Learning now occurs in a variety of ways through communities of practice, personal networks, and through completion of work-related tasks

• Learning is a continual process, lasting for a lifetime

• Technology is altering (rewiring) our brains. The tools we use define and shape our thinking

• The organization and individual are both learning organisms

• Many of the processes previously handled by learning theories (especially in cognitive information processing) can now be off-loaded to, or supported by, technology

• Know-how and know-what are being supplemented with know-where (the understanding of where to find knowledge needed).

--excerpt from Web 2.0 New Tools, New Schools by Solomon & Schrum (2007)

Characteristics of School Culture Ready to Change

David Jakes, a school district technology coordinator during a conference keynote address described the following characteristics of a school culture that are required for an innovation to become seamless and transparent:

1. There must be a high degree of organizational readiness for the innovation.

2. The innovation must have multiple entry points for a spectrum of usership; each of these entry points must support effective use by teachers and students.

3. The innovation must clearly address an instructional need, with benefits for both teachers and students.

4. The innovation must add value to an instructional practice.

5. There must be visible and tangible results indicating that the innovation improves student learning.

6. The technology has been taken out of the technology or innovation.

7. the teacher has become a confident, active, and visible user; use becomes seamless and tranparent.

--excerpt from the book Web 2.0, New Tools New Schools (Solomon & Schrum, 2007)

Reporting to Parents

Interesting to note that the K-5 teachers meet last week to discuss the report cards. In this discussion there was the overwhelming assumption that what we are doing, have been doing, will be doing is assessing student growth and development as a set of acquired skills.

The group NEVER contemplated the idea of reporting to parents skills that represent new sets of skills. At one point I even asked a group if they were going to add ITL (Information Technology Literacy) skills into their report card. I was told flat out NO.

If we are to lead in a new direction, these are the forums for these discussions.