Edutech conference models toys, not teaching

I left the Kamehameha education-technology conference last week both disheartened and unaffected. There were sessions on all the latest technology toys (twitter, blogs, del.icio.us, skype, etc.) that might have wowed a newbie, but most teachers there had at least tinkered with them. In fact, I think many teachers there could have given the talks they paid to see. The reality is that once you tap into the edutech world, conceptualize student-directed learning, and become fluent in moodle and blog navigation, it takes little upkeep to stay abreast of the multiplying resources. Presenters and conference organizers hear me: we know about the toys.

What we need are models of classroom environments that use technologies to empower students and promote self-directed learning.

On of the presenters showed the image below as an example of slapping technology onto the current model of education. Note how the teacher is at the front of the room, still presumed to have all the control and correct answers stashed away behind her desk. Notice the glazed stares, the distracted looks at the laptop screens, and the fact that the students are seated (dormant) while the teacher stands (active).

This photo summarizes my experience at this conference.

If the conference hoped to promote teacher-collaboration, why didn't we tackle a problem, make a lesson plan, or create a resource with our fellow conference attendees? Instead we sat awkwardly at lunch tables, attempted "what have you learned so far?" conversations.

If web 2.0 technology makes everyone a publisher, presenter, and photographer, why weren't participants asked to document something from their own classrooms and present them to our colleagues?

If these tools' strength is that they empower the learner, why (as a "student" at this conference) wasn't I asked to move around, say something, present, create, draw, list, summarize, record, write, brainstorm, collaborate, or even draw a doodle? Why didn't the presenters model the usage of new technologies in a classroom setting rather than simply click through their del.icio.us folders hunting for eyecatchers?

I'm sorry to play the naysayer on an event that conference organizers would love to declare a success; I'm sure for many the fusillade of tag-able websites was a thrill. Presenter David Warlick blogged that the conference was full of teachers who were "excited, enthused, attentive, and asking a lot of spot-on questions...and I think that the reason why, is that we’re giving them toys. " Well, those that already had the toys wanted more. I would like to experience a classroom setting where these technologies are implemented so I have a model to strive for. (Alan November does some of this beautifully in his talks by the way). No one wants to send the students back to the same old metal desks with new toys to distract them, but that was (sadly) the take-away message of this conference for me.

Great classroom tips

Finishing up my first year of teaching high school felt like a massive train coming to a halt. I start teaching summer school next Tuesday (one week away!) and I didn't feel ready to start the train rolling again…until now.

I just burned through Annette L Breaux's "101 'Answers' for new teachers and their mentors: effective teaching tips for daily classroom use." OMG this book breaks down so many difficult scenarios (student is late, doesn't turn in homework, says sassy things about your carefully crafted lesson plan, mocks other students, crumples your worksheets etc.) and provides realistic solutions. Some of my favorite tips were:

1. Smile (it's contagious)
2. Take pictures of students working and post them on the walls
3. Dignify wrong answers "Thank you so much for making that mistake because we can all learn from it."
4. Say thank you often "thank you for understanding we don't chew gum in class" (to the student who is chewing gum.)
5.Write thank you notes for gives from students
6. Notice new haircuts
7. Relate your lessons to student interests with metaphors (if Jun loves cars, then the verb becomes the "driver" of the sentence.)
8. Time student transitions between activities (they love to race to beat their time)
9. Encourage improvement, not perfection
10. Make a teacher report card when you are writing student report cards: you will get amazing feedback.
11. Give constant positive feedback ("I really appreciate the cooperation I'm observing in this group," "Thanks for raising your hand").
12. Treat you students the way you hope they will behave ("You look like someone I can trust, could you take this note to the principal?).

The list goes on. The tip I plan to implement first is "set teacher goals" for each semester. The idea is that this will help track the sense of development as a teacher rather than always feeling like you couldn't cover everything and moving on. My goals for summer school are:
1. Create a new classroom management plan and implement it consistently.
2. Make every student my favorite student
3. Connect my students with technologies and information that will put them in charge of their own learning.