The Fuse is Lit...It’s Time to Change.

From whatever it’s called that we have now (a mish-mash of 150 years of school education)

To Interactive Classrooms.

Stuart Hasic March 2008

Shift Happens…

Isn’t this just Information Overload?

The two-way Internet is growing exponentially

How is it possible for us to keep up? How do teachers survive in this

ocean of information that their students seem to swim through easily?

We may be afraid to enter that world, but we MUST – for our students often swim in uncharted waters without the benefit of adult guidance

Today’s teachers must help to build the new teaching playbook

Digest this Statement:

“The Answer to Information Overload is to Produce MORE Information”

...because it is in the act of our becoming a creator that our relationship with content changes

When we create content, we become more engaged and more technologically capable at the same time

In a world of overwhelming content, we must swim with the current or tide

Help Build the New Playbook:

How do you teach to a generation of students who are so tech-savvy?

The reality is they NEED you. For centuries we have taught students

how to seek out information Now we teach them how to sort relevance

from an over-abundance of information

For the last 10 years we’ve taught students how to protect themselves from inappropriate content Now we have to teach them to CREATE

appropriate content

Help Build the New Playbook:

Our students may be “Digital Natives”, but their knowledge is actually surface level

They have no Fear They have not developed Patterns They desperately need training in real thinking skills

Teachers MUST enter “their” world because “their” world is fast becoming the “Real” world

What our Governments are Doing

NSW Government and NSW DET:Connected Classrooms ProjectDigital Learning ResourcesTechnology 4 Learning

Federal Government:Digital Education Revolution

Or in other words, “here is a whole lot of stuff coming very soon – you make it work.”

And They are Right!

Real Change NEVER Occurs Top-Down

The more governments and educational authorities try to “force” teachers to change, the more they will resist (remember what happened with teacher’s e-mail?)

If School Education is going to remain relevant in this ever-changing world, the change MUST be Bottom-Up. Individuals must change.

Shattering the Paradigms – We Need to Move

From Consuming...

ToProducing

From Authority...

ToTransparency

FromThe Expert...

ToThe Facilitator

From The Classroom...

ToAny O/W/T

From Access to Information...

To Access to People

John Seely Brown

Shattering the Paradigms – We Need to Move

From Learning About...

ToLearning to Be

From Passive Learning...

To Passionate Learning

FromPresentation...

ToParticipation

From Publication...

ToConversation

From Supply - Push

To Demand - Pull

John Seely Brown

Now Let’s Take a Step Back…

The Move to Interactive Classrooms

How can you move to them if you don’t know what they are?

What is an Interactive Classroom?

In general terms, an Interactive Classroom is:Student-Centric rather than Teacher-Centric

Collaborative rather than IndividualInvolves Active Learning rather than Passive Learning

Involves one or multiple forms of Interactive Technology

What are Interactive Technologies?

In general terms, Interactive Technologies:Allow for users to produce input rather than just consume output

Can be either software or hardware or a combination of both

Can be locally accessed or available on-line

“Interactive Technology” refers to interaction between HUMANS through technology

What Isn’t an Interactive Technology?

Interactive Technology is NOT interaction between a User and a Computer or Device (as most people think)

Online and Offline searching and browsing (surfing the Net)

Using EncartaOnline Banking and paying billsTyping up and printing out an assignment

What is Psuedo-Interactive Technology?

Some technologies call themselves “Interactive”, but their interactivity is “canned”:Learning Federation DLRs (Learning Objects)Playing educational games like “Reader Rabbit” and “Math Blaster”

Completing “Hot Potatoes” online quizzesInteractive Whiteboards – these just let an individual control a computer while others watch – it’s engaging, but it’s not interactive

So, What is an Interactive Technology?

Creating videos or podcasts for others Creating docs/presentations for others Creating blogs, wikis, websites and

EduWeb pages for others Contributing to other people’s blogs or

wikis Connecting to other students/teachers

via email, video conferencing or telephones

Moodle – where a teacher is the audience Creating and presenting lessons/games

for others

It’s All About the Social

Students use mobile phones to connect with others

Students share their iPod Playlists to connect with others

Students use computers to connect with others

Students use MySpace and Bebo to connect with others

Students create videos for others to watch

Since 2005, most students have produced more “work” independently than at school by the time they graduate.

Your Challenge

We have seen and heard many things in the past two years of ICT Days that are directly having an impact on our schools. We need changes to many educational and even administrative activities, and that’s sooner rather that later.

How will you, as a leader of school ICT, help to bring your school, teachers, administrative staff, students and community into the world of 21st Century Learning?