Techlearning blog

Sheryl,
I couldn't agree more with the information you are including in your article. I have felt this way since I started teaching in the school system. I have taught banjo, art, and now computer technology and you better believe I have everything my imagination can think of in my classroom for kids to create a space they enjoy for learning. Guitars and banjos with "how to play" videos, clay for claymation, toys for backdrops, recorders, video cameras, a DAW with Cakewalk's multi-track software ProAudio 9, and offers for my students to take the reins, reinvent my curriculum, gather in groups for brainstorming, and always giving my time to writing grants to buy cool software for them to play. After all, it should seem like that show they saw as kids called the "Magic Bus". They come into my room, shut the door and become themselves. In growing up, one may need a safe Haven, a creative outlet, a supportive adult, a woman teaching girls that it is cool to be a geek, and someone to talk to or write their future references for that job in the sky that epitomizes their dreams come true.
I know that now you may ask how one can teach required standards in that chaos. An interactive CMS, screenshot video tutorials, audio instructions, books, handouts, wikis, blogs, youth networks, slideshare, viddler, divshare, personal learning communities (like mine at Worldbridges' EdTechTalk), and global collaborative projects to name just a few of the hundreds of choices we have to make it possible. I live my dream myself so I find it easy to teach what I do in a creative way. In the meantime, I address the various learning styles offering a way to knowledge that suits each individual student. Sure, there is always one who prefers out of school suspension but with my curriculum all on line, I can even offer him/her a link or life line to my classroom and hopefully a ray of hope and encouragement that they "can do it" too! Sorry to be so long winded but this got my attention. ~Lee Baber

Terrific Post - there is a tangible fear of the "George's" out there from so many. There's always been an older generation looking at the younger askance at music, hair, etc. But now there's this technological layer where they know more than we do and in many cases it's frightening. Instead of promoting the curiosity and drive of these kids, they are usually shut down. Sad.
If you've haven't been to this essay on his site, check it out. http://www.lpahome.com/essays/livevideo.html

Lee,

I want to be in your classroom. I know I could thrive in an environment like that. Thank you for all you are giving to children.
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Kern,
Yeah I had read that piece. I didn't link to it for obvious reasons but it sure is telling isn't it? Reminded me of the book The Art Lesson by Tomie dePaola.

Thanks for stopping by-- come back again!

Sheryl,
This was part of the discussion with the SEEDLINGS this weekend. How do we go about promoting the instruction that allows students to create. I think by promoting the scientific method at an early age, kindergarten, since young children are naturally curious, and letting these young learners, and teachers, know that mistakes are meant to happen, that is how you shape the truth, the answer, the options and eventually the creativity to solve problems. Let mistakes happen, let mistakes be teachable moments, let our youngest learners begin looking for many alternative answers, not just the fill in the blank. Check out our discussion at bobsprankle.com/bitbybit

Great article to read as we get ready to start school here in Texas tomorrow. Our local newspaper ran an article about George day before yesterday. What will he accomplish in the future. I glad that he actually found a way to push forward thru his obstacles.
I think that educators keep doing what we have been doing because we have these standardized tests and norms we must meet. Many are not willing to be the one who breaks the mold in fear of the negative fallout that others might perceive. We need more teachers who are willing to stand up and push the envelope and challenge the system. We get mandates from higher administrative levels of what is expected including more content. Put more in but when do we take something out. Education and technology are on a course that will create something new, vibrant and engaging. We need teachers who are willing to move in that direction. The students will play a major part in this process.
Students are willing to learn by trying even it does not work the first time. We as teachers and administrators need to allow students to succeed but we also need to allow them to learn from their shortcomings as well. Learn by doing and evaluating what was good and how do we make the bad better.

Cheryl,

I learn something each time you post. Thanks so much for sharing the link to SEEDLINGS. Awesome stuff!

Getting kids to think creatively, if it is in elementary school, usually is as easy as getting out of the way. Teachers are a different matter entirely because they are typically those who have bought into the educational system as we know it now 100%. They like school, played school etc.

When I use to teach creative methods to preservice grad and under grad teachers at Valdosta State University in Georgia, the one consistent characteristic I ran into over and over was at the beginning of the course teachers did not think of themselves as creative. However, by the end of the semester they did. The secret is that they really were creative all along, I just gave them permission (and a grade) to release it.

Just like with participatory media (Web 2.0), we will not see widespread change until we see teacher adoption. "You cannot give away what you do not own." Teachers will need to first see themselves as creative before they will teach creatively.

Norman said, "I think that educators keep doing what we have been doing because we have these standardized tests and norms we must meet. Many are not willing to be the one who breaks the mold in fear of the negative fallout that others might perceive. We need more teachers who are willing to stand up and push the envelope and challenge the system."

Well said Norman! You hit on something near and dear to my heart. Teacher leadership. And when I say teacher leadership I am not talking about department chairs or other leadership through roles in the school. I mean teacher leadership through advocacy, research, having a voice at the policy table, and through writing. Teachers using electronic communications to do as you suggest,"...to stand up and push the envelope and challenge the system." Not as a troublemaker, but as an agent of change advocating for what is in the best interest of children.

I am a senior Teacher Leader fellow and consultant to the Center for Teaching Quality, an organization that supports and guides the Teacher Leaders Network. The primary purpose of TLN is to give teachers voice around these important issues. They are having some amazing conversations around NCLB lately that I know you would find interesting. If you get time, check TLN out.

Harvard social psychologist Ellen Langer has become a favorite reference of mine when it comes to “mindfulness” and “creativity.” Her 2005 book, “On Becoming an Artist: Reinventing Yourself Through Mindful Creativity,” is indicative. I’m trying to incorporate her social science findings and personal insights into a permanent part of the “message” of my professional work. I encourage you to contact your library or bookseller to get a copy on your own to read.

Here’s a taste of the book’s Chapter 7, titled “The Myth of Talent,” in the form of an epigraph Langer has attached to it. The quote is attributed to Howard Ikemoto: “When my daughter was about seven years old, she asked me one day what I did at work. I told her I worked at the college—that my job was to teach people how to draw. She stared back at me, incredulous, and said, You mean they forget?”

I’ll end this message with a question that we all should address (personally and civically) in some way: Who taught us to think “inside the box?”

(This was a message I sent to a dear friend two years ago which I pulled out of an email archive to use as a reply to your post, Sheryl. It seemed appropriate.)

Thanks Skip for sharing that message. I agree, it is appropriate. And I give your question to the group-- Who taught us to think "inside the box?"

My vote-
1. Parents who because of their educational experience aren't quite sure how to nurture, legitimize, and value the creative thoughts, ideas and expressions of their children. They choose to control them within tight parameters rather than helping them understand it is ok to not conform.

2. Teachers, while they are very creative themselves, often struggle with too much curriculum to cover in the time allowed. They feel at-risk of losing their value as educators if students aren't prepared and successful at answering timed multiple choice items they know will be tested.

3. Students who because of the structure and culture of school adapt and learn to play the game- a game which has set rules and constraints that all occur within the box.

4. Schools because of the nature of educating/indoctrinating the masses have to be about control and conformity to survive.

If we are to encourage 'out of the box' thinking we will have to reculture, rethink the way we assess learning, rethink what learning is, and redesign our classrooms and learning spaces to include those not confined by bricks and mortar.

So-- how would you answer Skip's question?

Who taught us to think "inside the box?"

Sheryl:

Thanks for this great article. I had seen the news about George, and being a high school tech integrator in a 1:1 high school, I continually worry about these kinds of students. I have been doing some planning sessions this summer with teachers and find it interesting that they do so much up front work FOR their students. I have been trying to encourage some changes in thinking about delivery such as "what would the students think?" or "could the students design the rubric?" What if we put more of the learning process in the hands of the students?
After our discussion at SEEDLings http://bobsprankle.com/bitbybiton Saturday I was thrilled to read your article. I am planning on using this as a reading for a staff development day. I agree that we are at a crossroads. Education MUST change for the Georges in our classrooms. Here's to creativity, risk taking, mistake making and inventiveness. May we see them shine through this school year.

Alice said, "Here's to creativity, risk taking, mistake making and inventiveness. May we see them shine through this school year."

I'll toast to that! Thanks Alice, this will be my new mantra.