In working with Social Studies, Science, and Mathematics teachers this school year we have been able to share information about 21st Century Learning and Web 2.0 skills. Although the interest in these topics has been pretty high, the level of involvement is still quite low. There are only a handful of teachers that have created single blog entries, and there has been basically zero participation in discussion forums within Moodle.

These tools have great potential to enhance the teaching and learning process for teachers, students, and administrators. As with many new technology tools, without the acceptance and support of administrators there is little chance of success. Wesley Fryer recenctly created a skype podcast with Scott McLeod talking about the role administrators can play in the advancement of Web 2.0 tools in their schools. This blog post also includes numerous links to other valuable resourses for administrators.

A recent study conducted by eSchool News had a majority of teachers state that computer technology has changed the way they teach.

"At least three-fourths of teachers surveyed recognized the importance of computer technology in teacher-related functions such as attendance-taking and record-keeping (86 percent), communication (83 percent), research and planning (79 percent), and classroom instruction (77 percent)."

Although this looks to be positive information, there is no reference to student learning. Isn't this the goal? Teachers have acquired the technology skills required to complete tasks (grades, attendance, planning, and instruction) they have always done. They are using technology to do the same things they have always done, and are expecting new/better student results.
If we are to expect the use of technology to improve student achievement, the technology must be integrated into new learning models. This will continue to be elusive unless teachers begin to focus on learning with technology, not what they are doing with technology. It is difficult to create new learning models for students, if teachers are not actively learning with technology. Stop asking teachers what they are doing with technology, and start asking them how they are learning with technology.

The destruction of students' creativity has traditionally been an unwanted outcome of our educational system. There are numerous technology tools available today that will allow students to reinvent their creativity. The use of digital pictures, video, and music can be incorporated into existing activities, and students can use these media to communicate in a new creative format. There are also a variety of accessible web tools that students can use to share their creation with a much broader audience than just their classroom teacher. In a great keynote presentation, Sir Ken Robinson makes an entertaining (and profoundly moving) case for creating an education system that nurtures creativity, rather than undermining it. (Recorded February, 2006 in Monterey, CA)