Week+4

 =Week 4: Getting There! = = = = = I know I keep saying this, but I more and more excited about helping teachers integrate technology every week. I am learning so much, it's almost overwhelming at times!

After watching the video "Harness Your Students' Digital Smarts" this week, I have decided I want to be more like Vicki Davis. That video inspired me to become more global in my own classes with our projects. Also, in the video "Taking the Lead: An Interview with Larry Rosenstock," Mr. Rosenstock mentions John Dewey's point about students being able to understand by "making and doing." I'm hoping that I can help other teachers understand that **this** is what engages our Web 2.0 students. I do believe that, especially here in a rural community at a small school, students are at a disadvantage compare with those at a larger school. The larger school students are being exposed to different nationalities, religions, beliefs, ideas, a more diverse curriculum, and the list goes on and on. We have the technological capabilities to provide the same exposure to our students here in the very heart of central Texas. Why wouldn't we, as teachers, want to take advantage of that?

I plan to use several ideas from this week's videos in my professional development workshops. I especially love the ideas of asking teachers to spend 5 - 10 minutes writing about 2 of their most memorable learning experiences. Then, simply allowing time to discuss and DISCOVER the significant characteristics of what made those 2 experiences the most memorable learning experiences for each individual teacher. Mr. Rosenstock mentioned that from his experience, those characteristics always include: project involved failure, recognition of success, and an involved mentor. Then, proposing this question to the teachers "how does this compare with the way you teach? If it doesn't match up, what can we do to make it more like those memorable experiences?" I believe that this might turn on the light for some teachers.

Finally, I would love, love, love to incorporate the educator collaboration happening at High Tech High School into our high school. I have tried working with other departments to create cross-curricular projects, but it always come back down to the usual excuse -- there is just no time to spare in the day for us to seem to get it all together. However, I imagine that there will come a day in which every subject is integrated and students are able to apply their learning to some project-based learning assessment where they will learn to become lifelong learners.