Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Powerful

Christa - day 2
Following the NHSTE educator of the year awards (post to follow), Dr Tim Tyson was introduced. Dr. Tyson the "Pied Piper of Technology" spoke on "From Personal Knowledge to Global Contribution"

Tim thinks differently and has a fantastic vision for education. "The Phantom Tollbooth" a children's book started his talk - this book is a good metaphor for life and perspectives. During early life things are constantly changing, but as we grow the sense of change and wonder change. We need to dust off our current perspectives and look at things in a different way.

Tim then gave a description of his history using some personal insight into change and perspective. Example: how now 200 people can run a paper plant where over 1000 were needed in the 1970s. Tim is a great storyteller

and you become a part of the story.

His question - What Happened to his town?
1 - it is now cheaper to make steel in India and ship it back to US than to make it in AL
2 - robotics now do the labor for the paper plant
1/3 of American works as independent contractors! What does that mean to educators? We aren't even training the Dilberts of the world. 24% of the labor force is the working-poor.
Right brain skills are essential. The BIG question: In our classrooms, who owns the learning? In your classroom who is working - the teacher or the students? Our entire lives have been transformed, but school is pretty much the same. According to Daniel Pink, there is anew bad word: routine. Anything that can is routine, can be outsourced.
read Daniel H. Pink,, A Whole New Mind, Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future

School 2.0 according to Tim:

  • authentically engaged learners
  • self-directed learning
  • project-driven instruction
  • independet problem-solvers
  • empowered by Technology innovation
  • collaborative learning community
  • relevant

What do thses points mean to you?

Words to discuss about curriculum and school: Connectedness; Meaningfulness; Significance; Contribution

"If you produce a digital media object this year that is the "best of the best", I will put it into global distribution" a promise that Dr. Tyson gives to his students every year. Wy do we continue to put things on the bulletin board when we can share it with the world?

ask your students: What do you have to say that is so important that everyone on earth needs to see it?
Change teaching from "taking in" to "giving out". Note: the students at Mabry MS have been contacted by people around the world about their projects.

When does meaningfulness start? at graduation from HS? at graduation from college? when a family or job starts? When???

What does a day at Mabry look like?
He ended with several of the movies!

Do go to http://MabryOnline.org


1 comment:

Ann Oro said...

Thank you for sharing the link to MabryOnline.org. I started watching the best film previews. They are really well done. I can see an application at my school. Can't wait to see them all and show my students. There is nothing like a real product to engage the imagination for a project.