1. “Own It, Activate It, EngageWith It”
Innovation in Public Education
May 3, 2013
CHRIS KENNEDY
Superintendent of
Schools,West
Vancouver School
District
BCCPAC 2013 Spring
Conference and AGM
Richmond, BC
2. With thanks to Bill Selak: http://www.billselak.com/2012/thingsthatsuck
AWESOME OR NOT!?
27. “Students today depend too
much upon ink.They don’t know
how to use a pen knife to
sharpen a pencil. Pen and ink will
never replace the pencil.”
National Association ofTeachers, 1907
81. Teachers
Schools
Districts
Governments
• Will make it easier
for students...
• Will make it easier
for teachers...
• Will make it easier
for schools...
• Will make it easier
for districts...
To be
FLEXIBLE
158. I make them criticize.
I make them apologize and mean it.
159. I make them write.
I make them read, read, read.
160. I make them spell definitely beautiful,
definitely beautiful, definitely beautiful
over and over and over again until they will
never misspell
either one of those words again.
161. . . .
and if someone ever tries to judge you
by what you by what you make, you give them this.
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266. . . .
Here, let me break it down for you, so you
know what I say is true:
269. Where you can find me:
ckennedy@sd45.bc.ca
604-202-4379
@chrkennedy
Chris Kennedy
cultureofyes.ca
www.sd45.bc.ca
Notes de l'éditeur
To better prepare students for the future there will be more emphasis on key competencies like:
. . . With the world outside of school
We can’t wait for the decisions of others – it is go time . . . now
Your budget is one-third of what you would require to do all that you feel would be effective
All the necessary infrastructure is in place
Do old things better
If I'd have asked my customers what they wanted, they would have told me "A faster horse.” – Henry Ford
Expense, effort, risk
Result:Everyone benefitsThe “state-of-the-art” progresses and changesIncrease in [number] and diversity of learners (also financial goal of SD . . .)
It is access to the benefits of a digitized world that is the greater goal. For our students to thrive in this world, they need to have ACCESS and DIRECTION.
To be clear, one-to-one computing is not the solution to any challenge – it may, though, be part of the answer to going forward.
If we think by placing an Internet appliance in a student’s hands alone will create a more creative, innovative, or more intelligent student, we are missing the point. Like the paper and pen of the last generation, it is the “oxygen” to breathe in a digital world.
Won’t this further divide our students (and teachers) into haves and have-nots?Given that it is unlikely any grand plan will come together to support all students and staff with technology, implementation will be incremental.
If we believe technology is crucial for students moving forward, we need to find a way for all students to have a base level of access.
Teachers and schools are not going anywhere (sense of community/social-emotional learning)
All efforts need to be learning efforts. The goal is to increase personalized learning that improves engagement, relevancy and achievement. The technology is there to SUPPORT this goal.
Complex problems often have a simple solution
External inventions will continue to dramatically impact what we do, and we have no control over it!
Start at Grades 4–7 (maybe 6-8 if a middle model) – spill both ways over time – the “sweet spot” extends from 4 – 10 depending on your school organization
Teachers need to have the technology in their hands early on to become comfortable with it BEFORE students are using it on a regular basis. There is also a lot of work to be done to support teachers in adopting pedagogy in this “new” classroom environment.
There will be teachers who continue to push the boundaries, who will do amazing and edgy stuff – teachers always have and always will. This should be encouraged, but it is not the base expectation.
Develop a personally owned devices strategy that addresses equity. Simply encouraging students to bring their own devices is not enough, or an effective strategy. The strategy must be purposeful, supported and unified for both TEACHERS and STUDENTS.
Focus on a web environment / space for learning / personalization that allows a common structure that changes the norm of how we do business
Have high expectations for leadership with your administrators and librarians
Make our learning leaders our digital learning leaders
Find your “simple thing” that changes the norm – it could be:1. Digital writing2. Digital content3. PortfolioNote all 3 fit into the content, learning, assessment triangle. Need to find the one sticky piece to expand learning.
Link technology to physical activity and the arts – it is not just about language arts – integrate, integrate, integrate! (High Tech High examples)
Distributive learning – we want all classes to be blended classes / others are experts – get out of competing – let a few do it well for the students who need it - focus on what we will do for all students
Not allow technology to solely report to the business side of the organization
Slate crazy (iPads) – doesn’t lend itself to creation and participation – more (at least so far) about consuming information – we want to create creators
Something for everyone – focus on some students, in some schools – nice to say you have an IWB in every class – but to what end?
More staff (and not just students) will be bringing their own devices to workDistricts will own and store lessTension between formal and informal learning will increase; what matters most is what happens in informal settings – the true learning!Digital content will increase / devices will get cheaper
Tension between formal and informal learning will increase; what matters most is what happens in informal settings – the true learning!
Digital content will increase / devices will get cheaper
More staff (and not just students) will be bringing their own devices to workDistricts will own and store lessTension between formal and informal learning will increase; what matters most is what happens in informal settings – the true learning!Digital content will increase / devices will get cheaper
Moving from a space to a plan – how will we manage personalized learning in the digital space?Use the Khan Academy map of an individual plan – layered into assessment and demonstrations
Link technology to physical activity and the arts – it is not just about language arts – integrate, integrate, integrate! (High Tech High examples)
Start at Grades 4–7 (maybe 6-8 if a middle model) – spill both ways over time – the “sweet spot” extends from 4 – 10 depending on your school organization
Tension between formal and informal learning will increase; what matters most is what happens in informal settings – the true learning!