Do No Harm! I think that is my big takeaway from my summer learning thus far. I have been focusing on how best to support teachers after the great influx of devices and tools over the last 2 years. Schools went from computer labs, carts, and shared devices, particularly at the elementary level to 1:1 in a matter of months. All the new tools: web conferencing, screen casting, LMS, digital curriculum, etc. The great shift happened, now what? I participated…
In June of 2016 Massachusetts approved a new curriculum Digital Literacy and Computer Science, and shortly the new 5-12 teaching license in DL & CS will be available. I am not sure if I have wrapped my head around the real implications of these new standards. Schools have not added a new discipline to the K-12 curriculum in centuries. People tend to focus on the computer science aspect of the curriculum but it is Digital Literacy and Computer Science in…
A couple of weeks ago the New York Times had article Where the STEM jobs Are (and Where They Aren’t). As a former science teacher and now a technology specialist I am acutely aware the difference between the S in STEM and the T. Even the T takes on multiple meanings. Engineering technology and Computer Science related technology. I have noticed as many grants come out to support STEM and schools announce their renewed focus on STEM there is not…
As many of you know Pokemon Go was all the rage the last few weeks. I don’t normally play games but thought I would give it a try and was enjoying playing with my young adult children. It got us out of the house and doing something together, it was more a side note to our family outings. Steve Dembo has a good post summing up initial thoughts on Pokemon go. It was fun. Today as a result of the…
For those of you who have been regular readers you know I struggle with traditional schooling and how it confines and limits learning. I have raised two children who were interested in computers, gaming, digital art, ancient languages, ancient arts and mythologies, topics not part of most school curriculum. A good deal of their learning took place outside of traditional schooling, some times instead of it. I know schools can’t be all things to all people, nor should they. But…
Repeatedly we hear the call to base everything on data driven research, not a bad idea in itself but when you live in the world of technology and innovation then it possess quite a stumbling block. How can you collect data on the future? It takes years to develop a good research plan, carry it out and draw any conclusion. Somebody has to go first. Districts that will only make decisions based on what has gone on before will forever be…
The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) had just release new draft standards for Digital Literacy and Computer Science. These, if adopted, will replace the current standards adopted in 2008. ISTE is also undergoing a refresh in the standards draft standards should be released in Jan 2016. It will be interesting to see what changes will be made. I am excited to see the addition of computational thinking and computer science. I strongly believe these are necessary for success in our…