Monthly Archives: April 2017

Presentation Resource, scaling change, student voice, Technology Enabled Learning, TEL

Synergy for Change

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I thoroughly enjoyed my time at the  ConnectEd 2017  conference this week, and certainly enjoyable to see so many wonderful people in my PLN face to face for conversations.

A personal highlight included the opportunity to present two different sessions with  Jamie Reaburn Weir.  In this post, I am sharing the resources we prepared for this Dell sponsored session which focused on setting a context  for tackling barriers for change.

Note:  This video was prepared from the  Livestream  archive.

~Mark

Leadership Perspective, Presentation Resource, student voice, Technology Enabled Learning, TEL, WRDSB

Going 1 to 1 Panel Discussion

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Last week I had the privilege of attending the 2017 Educational Technology Strategy Summit to share the WRDSB “going 1:1” journey in a panel discussion presentation.

The discussion was moderated by teacher  Andrew Bieronski.  I was joined on the panel by  Ed Doadt (Principal),  Jamie Reaburn (teacher), students Tara and Brooke.

The discussion was well received, noting that there were many positive comments about the journey, the sharing of research and observations and including student voices in the session.

Have a listen: 

Session sketchnote: 

Resources:

Conference Twitter Stream:  #edutech17

~Mark

Presentation Resource, Technology Enabled Learning, TEL

Resources from Floradale Parent Technology Session

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This blog post shares the resources from my presentation session at Floradale Public School on technology in learning.

~Mark

Growth Mindset, Next, ProfessionalLearning, reflection

ISBLbD reflection

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The Saturday panel at Learn by Design,  brought together panelists Colleen Broderic,  Simon Jack,  Gary Stager and Ewan McIntosh who tackled two key questions which face all education jurisdictions:

  1.  What are 3 things schools should stop doing now?

2.  What are three things schools should start doing now to disrupt schooling?

With a talented panel such as this, you would anticipate insightful answers and comments.   Conference participants were not disappointed.   Some of the perspectives that resonated with me are summarized below.

Part 1:  What are 3 things schools should stop doing now?

  • stop developing long term plans as it kills agility and iteration
  • stop expecting disruption if you are not going to cultivate the conditions to do so
  • always think about what to do next
  • stop teaching old style curriculum
  • school teaches about 1/billionth of the world knowledge, stop arguing about which 1/billionth
  • stop assuming we know how other people think
  • stop thinking you need to understand everything you are working on all the time, the price of not trying is greater
  • stop having too many meetings

Part 2: What are three things schools should start doing now to disrupt schooling?

  • ,think about partnerships differently – engage students and parents as research partners – solve/change something collectively
  • list everything you are doing, then  publicly remove things from the list
  • begin every decision with a child
  • don’t redesign schools by looking at schools,  start looking elsewhere
  • storytelling,  it is human, value who we are
  • embrace the joy of learning, happiness, laughter
  • plan a next

In my view,  the comments, counters and exchange were insightful, thoughtful and respectful.  Any one of these insights is a prompt to generate in depth probing and discussion.

Upon reflection, I would add self directed learning for staff and students into the mix.

My wondering is:   What would you add to the this list?  Anything missing?  What is on your educational mind these days? 

Please comment here or add to the  #ISBLBD twitter stream.

~Mark