My experience with Kenan has been a fantastic journey… just like the one that Dorothy had…beginning with a little fear and uncertainty… full of excitement and learning… both about herself and others… new ideas and concepts… lots of time to try things for the very first time… meeting wonderful people with unique skills and perceptions… sharing in common goals… and upon returning back home… A NEW, MORE COLORFUL OUTLOOK ON LIFE!

Thanks to all of the Kenan crew and partner fellows…

One Last WOZ collage… this is a humorous one 🙂

When it comes to social media in schools, our county has the policy that everything should be “crystal clear!” Because of all of the negative implications that social networking can have… inappropriate student / teacher engagement, sharing of photos and video without consent, bullying or harassment… I completely understand why some school systems have adopted a zero tolerance / application policy.  Unfortunately we need to also weigh the benefits of such a powerful tool… after all, parents and students are actively involved in these networks and they interact with them frequently.

For me personally, edmodo has been a great asset as a “learning network.”  My students and parents have accounts and we utilize this as our network to communicate with each other.  Because there is a smartphone app for Edmodo, the students and parents have access to the site 24/7.  Messages and questions, as well as assignment submissions post to my smart devices as well… allowing for access even when I am not in the physical school building.  On a poll (conducted on Edmodo) about the use of the platform for assignments, schedules, mini conferences, submissions, etc., the majority of students thought that A – it helped them to stay more aware, B- it gave them more opportunities for one on one interaction with me (the teacher) and C- it helped them know more about the schedule of upcoming events and they were more likely to check Edmodo than the school website, or their assignment planners (paper copy).  However, I must confess that even a magic “crystal ball” has its disadvantages… for those who do not have assess at home, they frequently are out of the loop so to speak… they are not part of the posted discussion on the class “board” and they must find time during “smart period” to turn access notes, etc. if they want the interactive copy.

If anyone had asked me before my great journey to IR and Kenan what my expectations were, I certainly would NOT have said that I hoped to learn more about data and how to utilize it more in my instruction.  However, after the session in Raleigh about data, I would have to say that has been the biggest change I have made in my teaching this year!

Before I would be guessing about what motivated my students, or the challenges they faced on a daily basis.  By putting into place several of the ideas presented, I now have a better understanding of the students and am better equipped to meet them where they are and take them where they need to go in a manner best fitting.  I am also more empowered as a professional to encounter the DREADED teacher evaluation without dread… because I am fully equipped for battle 🙂 I found it so fitting that one of the most famous lines in the Wizard of OZ (movie) deals with just my topic…”Professor Marvel never guesses, he knows!” With data, I don’t have to guess anymore!

There’s a famous last line :”Well, I… I think that it… that it wasn’t enough to just want to see Uncle Henry and Auntie Em… and it’s that if I ever go looking for my heart’s desire again, I won’t look any further than my own backyard; because if it isn’t there, I never really lost it to begin with.” I too have been on a journey to find something…something related to STEM that kids in a small, rural community can relate to.  I too will share this message with them that there are opportunities in our own backyard… and that if we are to keep the manufacturing businesses in our backyards, we must invest in STEM education for kids… with real world connections. We must also change the mindset that “KANSAS” is boring and that “somewhere over the rainbow is much better, brighter, etc.”  After all, I don’t want a “twister” to come and take it all away for us to realize the powerful opportunities we have to keep manufacturing in NC both alive and competitive!  

photo credit: <a href=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/scottchene/6900898226/”>TRF_Mr_Hyde</a> via <a href=”http://photopin.com”>photopin</a> <a href=”http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/”>cc</a>

It’s easy to see in this first picture that the cowardly lion is scared of his own shadow… we don’t know why he’s that way… maybe fear of failure, maybe negative words that he’s encountered as he tried new things, maybe just a personality that makes it more difficult for him to step out in faith… whatever the cause, Dorothy as well as the wizard recognize that he has the potential to overcome his fears! 

My greatest AH-HA moment didn’t involve any lions, it did however, involve several machine operators who, although they were definitely the most knowledgeable and had the most expertise, were afraid to share their opinions.  The best part about this whole situation was seeing the LEAN MANUFACTURING concepts work miracles.  Just as seeing the “Courage” already alive in the cowardly lion empowered him to be brave… seeking advice from the operators in the Total Productive Maintenance process empowered them to feel engaged and created an attitude of buy in.   As they spoke, they talked about, “my machine” which really lets you know that they do have ownership and a sense of pride.  Thanks to LEAN those hidden traits are exposed by granting a simple medal bearing the term “TEAM.”

photo credit: <a href=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/tom-margie/3088753226/”>twm1340</a> via <a href=”http://photopin.com”>photopin</a> <a href=”http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/”>cc</a>

While considering the question, I had to first of all examine technology practices prior to common core.  What were the best and worst practices? How were practices related to the NCSCOS? (OR were they might be a better question??) I think that often technology for the hype of technology gets the better of even some of the best teachers.  They feel threatened by those who use technology (in the form of new hardware and software… not the true definition of technology) and fear that their lack of experience and implementation could prove detrimental on evaluations and opportunities.  In the same way that Dorothy might choose Iron man over Tin man (for obvious reasons… even besides the fact that Tony Starke is a real person not made of tin)… many times we chose the use of technology for pure glamor.  Because there are so many tools that are actually designed to make work easier/ more efficient (the true definition of technology) … tools like classdojo, haikudeck, animoto, edmodo… just to name a few…tools that allow teachers to be more efficient and allow for sharing of information in more applicable ways… I think that technology will be more positively influenced ONLY if the technology is tailored to a need! The new essential standards and common core have used up a lot of time for teachers, as they rethink rigor and curriculum…Maybe we’ll miss Tin man for his experiences that he shared, and want to visit him because we know what to expect from him, but Ironman can surely move us forward because with proper interaction he can offer so much more than Tin man can 🙂

photo credit: <a href=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/jdhancock/6871290760/”>JD Hancock</a> via <a href=”http://photopin.com”>photopin</a> <a href=”http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/”>cc</a>

The key term for the connection with my time in IR would be COMMUNICATION!  I was so surprised at the level of communication necessary for manufacturing operations to run smoothly.  Not only oral communicaiton but written as well.  For example if the Tinman needs oil each day and doesn’t communicate that in writing to the scarecrow, then when the Tinman misses his oil and becomes rusted… then WHAT?  He can’t tell the scarecrow what he needs… it’s too late.  Also, the Scarecrow is greatly affected by heat and fire… what happens if that is not written down in a manner that is clear.  Someone might invite Scarecrow to a bondfire or Luau and BOY OH BOY would he be in Kansas without a hotair balloon!!! 

Effective communication is a deficiency in Middle School children! (And lots of adults too!) So I pondered, how can I use this as a key concept in my unit????? Then epiphany (hot air ballon from the sky)… I remembered part of the activity that one of the Castle of Glinda the Good ( AKA :NCCAT) presenters did… while trying as a team to create the highest tower with pipecleaners, we were forced to not communicate.  After a little more pondering and clicking of the slippers… what if each team of students was a part of a global manufacturing company trying to create a “product” (ie. lego shape, origami item, etc) and they had lost the ability to communicate by anything but “TEXT” (not to be confused with “texting”)… they each would have a set of instructions for part of the building process, but only ONE part… they would have all the materials for the completed item…they could be forced to interact using a backchannel and that would hit home the concept of why writing skills and effective communication are so important!

What a powerful lesson from the Tinman and the Scarecrow!!!

photo credit: <a href=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/playingwithpsp/545093926/”>’Playingwithbrushes'</a> via <a href=”http://photopin.com”>photopin</a> <a href=”http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/”>cc</a>

As I pondered the question, “what are the greatest challenges for leveraging technology to empower learning in your classroom and school?”… I thought first of the obvious… FUNDS!  However, that is an issue with everything surrounding education, so I took a different angle.  Some educators/ administrators/ curriculum specialists believe that utilizing technology in the classroom can engage students in authentic learning.  They believe that in turn, students will be more self motivated and learning will reach higher levels on Blooms’ Revised Taxonomy. Eventually technology use becomes the “Ruby Slippers” magically transporting education to a new dimension…

http://logintoliteracy.wordpress.com/

Others see technology as “Flying Monkeys”, there to take us away from what is really important in education; leading us down pathways that are confusing and unclear… the theatrics may be impressive, but eventually we have to find a new way to be successful.

I find myself sitting in the fence of indecision… and as I often do when faced with a quandary, I consult my own “Crystal Ball” of information… eduTopia…after doing a thorough search and reading loads of information, I decided that the best information I found was

Tech2Learn: Success Stories of Technology Integration in the Classroom

which provided an incredible amount of information as well as insight on the ” How to make it work.”                              I also happened upon a post about finding funds for technology ; listing many opportunities for teachers to write grants and/or apply for funding for classroom technology.  So, I guess “Dorothy” has decided that one of the biggest challenges in leveraging technology in education is education itself in the form of relevant professional development… after all wouldn’t it be fabulous if everyone could have the experience we had at NCCAT??

The very best part of being in the RED PALACE OF Glinda the GOOD (AKA… NCCAT) were the great connections I made!!  Not only was it incredible to be in the company of so many like-minded people, but the small group shown in the photo became even more!!!  Each one of us made a personal connection with each other on our hikes across WCU (they didn’t even abandon me when the WCU Catamounts weren’t too happy about my ASU shirt 🙂

Not only did we share ideas and situations,but we also hashed out our concerns and helped each other troubleshoot some possible pitfalls!