The future is comprised of "aha" moments

A Blue Skunk reader named Josh commented on this post*:

Doug,

 After reading and reflecting on your post I've realized (I should say re-realized) several things.

1.  Educational Technology is a constantly evolving field.
2.  Education is a constantly evolving field.
3.  Educators are not always constantly evolving.

Me included. Over the past several months I have been forced to immerse myself in the field of Educational Technology. It's been hard and saddening. I'm realizing just how much of an ancient curmudgeon I am. And I've only been teaching for 10 years. How can this be? Just a few years ago I thought I was on the cutting edge. I recently read one of Doug Johnson's (the author of The Blue Skunk Blog) old posts from May 2010. The blog was titled "Top Ten Social Media Competencies for Teachers." With my recent "expertise" in Educational Technology, I've modified this list to 5 ideas (or questions) that all educators, regardless of their experience or level of expertise with technology, need to think about NOW!

1. In most districts, students have internet access and a school-based e-mail address. Should they also have a twitter, slideshare, and youtube account for school use? Should they also have a school blog?
2. Is it the schools job (think major school-wide initiative) to get students to use Web 2.0 technology applications, or should it be up to the individual classroom teacher?
3. Alll students should have a PLN (period)! They should use this as frequently as they use their e-mail.
4. Should we teach students the intricacies of having an on-line identity and the long term aspects of reputation management? What course do we do this in?
5. Should all teachers and students be responsible for creating and following a personal learning plan to stay up-to-date on emerging technologies?

These ideas (questions) could transform the K-12 school experience. How do we, as educators and administrators, make this happen?

I loved Josh's riff on the post. Once again, the comments prove to be better than the original post.

Sci-fi author William Gibson wrote, "The future is here. It's just not evenly distributed." To me the "future" is comprised of new understandings, new realizations, new acceptances. The future happens one person, one epiphany at a time. Welcome to the future, Josh. 

Oh, and there is nothing wrong with being a curmudgeon - even an ancient one.

 * I got a lot of Twitter action on this old post recently. My guess is that some poor souls taking a class have it as an assigned reading.

Comments

[Gwen Martin]

I don't know about Josh, but I am now in a 5 course program, thankfully spread over a year, that will give an ed-tech type certificate. I am almost to the end of class one. Yes, it involves reading lots of blogs, commenting on blogs, creating my own (and actually writing on it), and other things. You, of course, are one of my must reads. Your pearls of wisdom continue to inspire me. The comments that your followers contribute are also invaluable. Keep up the good work, I need a good grade.
;)

[Nathan Mielke]

Its less about age and more about personal engagement. I'm 32 and I've seen plenty of 20-somethings who are fairly clueless about technology integration. Most teacher prep programs have one 3-credit class on technology, so we're still teaching new educators that tech is isolated, not integrated in curriculum. Plus the one UW school I'm thinking of focuses on SMART Board software (cripes...). Your average teacher and student, for that matter, needs direction on how to use technology to aide learning - Twitter is a learning tool of you don't follow only the Kardashians, blogs aren't just a place where people complain about your benefits package. I'm happy to hear about so many administrators embracing the importance of doing this rights. What we need are supports to help move teachers forward so Gwen doesn't have to use her hard earned money on a 5-class certificate.

[Floyd Pentlin]

I thought the statement students using their PLN as frequently as their e-mail was indicative of how quickly technology changes its users. Getting students to use e-mail is a struggle. They don't want to use e-mail -- they want texting. Hopefully they will use their PLN far more than they are using their e-mail.

[Doug Johnson]

Hi Gwen,

Thanks for the kind words. Good luck with your program. Anything I can do to get you an A!

Doug

Hi Nathan,

I agree there is little correlation between age and educational tech use and understandings. Not sure what Gwen's program entails, but I've never seen money spent on an educational opportunity as a waste. Of course some experiences have been better values than others!

Thanks for the note,

Doug

Hi Floyd,

I wonder if it is just our generation that has to give social learning situation a name - PLN? Do kids do this automatically, whether it is on Facebook or elsewhere. Oh, I agree about kids not wanting to use email. How slow and cumbersome!

Doug

[Nathan Mielke]

I don't think Gwen is wasting her time, I just think districts should have people in place, be it library media people or tech integrators/coaches. Real integration happens when someone can help you at school, as compared to once a week for 14 weeks.