Comments on: "Indiana Plan for Digital-Age Learning” fails on logic and pedagogy

By: Technology On Mission « bashing education

Technology On Mission « bashing education — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 23:39:18 +0000

[...] mentor other teachers in technology. I have a feeling this is what Jan Weir is currently doing and I have a feeling that this committee is using her work as a model of how best to teach teachers: with teachers. This [...]

By: A Close reading of the Indiana Plan (Preface) « bashing education

A Close reading of the Indiana Plan (Preface) « bashing education — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 00:19:23 +0000

[...] 12th, 2007 · No Comments Tonight, to make true to my promise after skimming the plan and writing about it and then making a few comments about businesses teaching education, I’m finding that most of [...]

By: Business educates schools « bashing education

Business educates schools « bashing education — Sat, 08 Sep 2007 18:17:48 +0000

[...] 8th, 2007 · No Comments I’m taking a look at my original post regarding the current technology plan for Indiana and I’m rereading the original ,pdf report. I’m [...]

By: vergil66

vergil66 — Mon, 14 May 2007 23:23:19 +0000

Jan,
I am very happy that you’ve found this post on this site and I am happy that you were a part of the process. I do not doubt your passion nor your belief that what you did was futile (how many committees have you had to endure a cause that you didn’t believe in?).
I do disagree with the current model of trying to play catch up with the technology, though. To ask teachers to get on board and create lessons that are technology-rich is a wonderful task, but this is certainly the minority of the schools in Indiana (I have absolutely no statistical proof of this, so I must appeal to my “gut feeling” on that claim). And I applaud your being a tech coach for your school…certainly this is by far the best model to sharing new ideas with teachers: teachers teaching teachers, instead of an outside consultant or the icky “staff development day” where someone teaches you how to use the technology via PowerPoint). But again, you are an exception to the norm: not many schools will take the time to embrace that model because of other issues at hand (e.g. NCLB, Budget concerns, School Safety).
What I would like to see more of, is less businesses getting into the decision-making business of schools and more educators represented in committees such as the one you served on. I don’t buy the “well, they are a part of the community” line. Who knows education and pedagogy? Folks outside of education want to fix education and schools and honestly, they have difficulty with their own areas of expertise.
Even more, I would like to see more discussion of the pedagogy of using technology for learning…that’s one that is commonly not discussed because teaching the skills of using technology is much easier to measure (e.g. Billy can create a database showing the info that he’s collected for his math project; or, and my favorite: Ashley uses a PowerPoint presentation to show her research). Each of those items doesn’t really address how educators use the technology for learning…those address products.
Lastly, I think it is a misnomer that teachers are going to somehow prepare the students for tomorrow by using the technology of today. It’s too dynamic of a world (e.g. how many teachers can use a Facebook or Virb or Twitter account for educational purposes?). Most of the technology that we speak of today–podcasts, social networks, YouTubes, and Wikipedia– are already morphing into newer, more social applications. By using these technologies in the classroom really won’t prepare the student for tomorrow’s workplace, because tomorrow’s workplace will be different. I like the idea of connections, and I think students generally appreciate a teacher who can pull of a technology-rich lesson or environment without wigging out. But beyond the novelty of the moment, what is left? And that will lead me back to my hobby horse of pedagogy.
Again, Jan, thanks for finding the post and taking the time in leaving a comment.

By: Jan Weir

Jan Weir — Fri, 04 May 2007 17:55:51 +0000

I would like to make a comment. I am Jan Weir and I am the teacher educator who participated in the development of the Indiana Plan for Digital Age Learning. Even those I was a representative for many and while I was the only active teacher on the council, I assure you that I had a very active and vocal role in terms of input for this plan. As an educator for the past 25 years, I’ve seen a tremendous change in the classroom over this span of time. I maintain that if we (as the educational system) do not completely embrace the digital age in our classrooms, we will continue to lose more and more students (both literally and figuratively). While I teach chemistry (and, I’ve taught the biologies and other physical sciences), I also serve as my high school’s “tech coach” – I assist teachers in the creation of high-quality, technology rich lesson plans and assist with classroom delivery. The technology coaching model offers on-going support, feedback and follow-up for teachers as they move through a continuum of activities. Teachers are given opportunities to share innovative ideas, lesson plans and success with their peers, fostering a spirit of collegiality and collaboration among participants. So many of today’s teachers did not grow up in a digital world – but, our students surely are! If we fail to help them “make connections” between the academics of the classroom and their real work place environment, are we really serving them well? I think not! What adult in the workforce today can do without their voice mail, blackberries, internet, email?……the list goes on and on. As educators, we must infuse DAILY similar technologies in the classroom to best prepare students for their future. I truly believe that the Digital Age Learning Plan will help create an academic environment that will do this…..otherwise, I wouldn’t have worked as hard as I did this past year in helping to design the plan in the first place!