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…
It has been one heck of a roller coaster start to the school year. Lots of new tech to deploy, PD to develop not to mention new state standards to integrate and the likely hood of licensing changes. It is a lot to take in. But October is here and things tend to get into a rhythm and it is time to connect with others and indulge in some personal learning. I look forward to attending MassCUE our stated premier…
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…
This June the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education formally adopted new Digital Literacy and Computer Science Curriculum Frameworks. A good portion of the digital literacy frameworks overlap with the literacy standards regarding research, analysis of information, collaboration and presentations. These standards place added emphasis on these skills and the tech tools needed to meet them. What is significantly different is the much needed addition of computer science; computing and society, digital tools and collaboration, computing systems and, computational…
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…
School is out for the summer and now it is time to play. For me it is time to finally give this blog an overhaul. I will be switching themes to Divi and creating from the ground up. Change is never smooth for me so the site might go back and forth in styles and up and down in service as I play around. I appreciated your patience. I hope this playing around with the blog will inspire me to…