Well, like many teachers and administrators, the end of May and June are times when things get a bit hectic. It seems that each year, no matter how much I plan, I always seem to be crunched for time. So why am I writing this blog if I don’t have much time? Good question.
Since I began on this web2.0 journey in January, I’ve begun to rely on this blog as a place to discuss important ideas, sound off about things that are bugging me and ask for input on ideas that are bumping around inside my head. I sometimes develop an article based on the entry on another blog but most of the time I use this as a place for my own thoughts. And this is why I’m using my valuable time to blog.
As this year comes to a close and I reflect on what has happened over the year in regards to technological advancements, I wonder what and where I should go from here in relation to staff development. I’ve developed a staff wiki that has a calendar where staff are to post events that pertain to the school. At last look, it seems most staff are now using the calendar to post events so that everyone is in the know. We are still working on developing some grade 1/2 podcasts of reading. In fact, we have most of them recorded – it’s getting them posted that is causing me difficulty! We have access to one SMARTBoard but it is in the lab. I’ve requested that it be hooked up and the projector be ceiling mounted to avoid moving and I’ve asked for a second board to be installed in a classroom. We are fully operational when it comes to email and electronic paper transfer for the staff and we have the system ready for student use.
As I plan my opening day with the teachers, I wonder if it is now time to put forward the ideas that we need to begin using the tools that are available and begin planning with them. Do, we as a staff, take the step towards 21st Century teaching? Should we explore different pd opportunities as a staff, developing our understanding of technology and teaching? As leader, I know that we need to build the communal knowledge regarding technology, helping each other to develop strategies for using technology in the classroom. With the upgrade of our computer system and the availability of more computers in classrooms, we will be able to do much more without relying on the computer lab. So, if you were in my place, where would you start? What would you begin with and where would you go?
3 responses so far ↓
Sounds like you and I are in the same place with how to get our staff into the Web 2.0. I model technology at faculty meetings and send web links in my daily blog. (The one listed above is my PD blog for myself which is different from the one I use with my teachers. They are welcome to read either one. This is more of a newsletter type blog rather than a conversational blog. I may switch to a wiki now that you mention it. I have embedded a google calendar but like your idea of having everyone add to it. It would do away with the calendar on our office wall and everyone would have access from their classroom. I have also suggested that insted of paper newsletters my teachers will need a blog, wiki, or webpage. I think that just my excitement alone gets my teachers excited! I would love to hear more your ideas.
I think I was in a similar place last August. I had been blogging for about six months, had taken a few staff members to NECC but needed to find a way to make systemic change.
As you said it is important for everyone to construct meaning and understanding regarding teaching and learning with technology. I started the year with vision building. Our mission statement says we educate students to become productive citizens of the 21st century. Acknowledging that it sounded good when we wrote it I asked what it meant. Is teaching for the 21st century different than teaching for the 20th century? After our discussion I showed the video form MIT of Thoma’s Friedmans lecture on his book The World is Flat. Anyway the point is that I spent a lot of time on staff constructed vision…without it I was afraid inertia would kick in…
Anyway, these are just some ideas that worked for us…I will look forward to hearing what you plan.
Our campus too, has spent time exploring the idea of what 21st century skills are, though it was approached a little differently.
Our principal set up a vision committee, and invited any interested teachers/parents/students to join. After a couple of meetings the committee was divided into four subcommittees, and I’ve been mainly involved with the Technology subcommittee and the Site Visit subcommittee.
But we all met together for part of each meeting, and brainstormed and read about 21st century skills, and devised our “own” list of skills.
I helped the committee explore some by creating blogs for each subcommittee, which varied in their successfulness, but for most of the parents and students, that was a learning curve, so it at least created a place for some common reading. (you can see one of them at http://www.trends.edublogs.org).
I do like that you involved all the faculty, because I think it would be helpful to have everyone on the same page.
But this committee became very engaged, and we read a joint book together (Whole New Mind) and many articles as well, which was empowering for everyone. I highly recommend doing some “joint reading” like that as a way to help the faculty, and Whole New Mind is a great book for that.
We also worked on a more ‘grass roots’ staff development model using learning communities that teachers form, and that can change each grading period. So teachers will have more opportunities to work on their own learning, we hope.
I do think the administrative support can make a huge difference in moving the conversation forward. The tone and environment the principal can set is paramount.
We have a ways to go in our explorations and to getting everyone to “join” the conversation, but we have planted many seeds this year, I think.
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