AISG is still following the 90’s model of stand alone MS and HS classes. However, it is in the formative stages of planning the implementation of a 1-2-1 laptop program. At the moment, there are over 70 kids in the MS/HS that have registered their own laptops in the school’s wireless system.

This year the school committed to upgrade the wireless system to handle hared-core wireless use. We have had a few glitches but overall it has gone well. The “plan” now has to move from tech classes to integrating the tech into the classes. A major roadblock seems to be the logistics of what do we do with students if we don’t have the tech classes to teach? How do we fill the time? Can we afford to hire more part or full time teachers.

The elementary school seems to be much further ahead than the MS/HS. As part of the PYP unit of study students will now complete an “ICT Passport”. It’s an information and communication technology booklet that students complete as they integrate information technology into the unit of study. As a students uses a photostory, researches a topic, develops a presentation using tech skills, they are are also logging what tech is being used. Pretty cool stuff.

But now … what about the MS/HS? How do we build on the program? How do we keep moving? A plan needs to be developed. If any of you out there have suggestions, I would appreciate hearing from you. Next year we hope to put a laptop on every teacher’s desk. More of my time will be dedicated to collaborating with teacher’s to integrate meaningful tech into the lesson plans. The idea is to give the teacher’s a year’s head start before the kids arrive and spend their time with something more than a $1000 pencil.

I bought the camera through Amazon.com for $118, cheaper than the $149 I found around town and other stores.

Her task was to count the number of blood cells under a microscope … a tedious task that could last all too long. Imagine if you had to take a necessary break, I guess you would need to start over. In her words, the old school way of counting didn’t make sence. She thought outside the box and clicked the ‘PrntScrn’ button. What happened? She had a print out of her cells, broke them down into smaller squares and counted away.

However, she was caught counting cells while at lunch one day. When her colleague asked what she was doing, she explained. Surprising enough to her, no one had ever thought of  using the ‘PrntScrn’ function. Sappho has started a new revolution. Now, a new buzz word can be heard at NIH … “Just ‘PrntScrn’ it.” A simple solution even if you’re not a Generation Y.

Perhaps we should look more to ‘Gen Y’ as a resource. They are the link between the past – present – future internet users. After all, thhose who have grown up with the internet their whole lives are todays 11 year olds. The ‘Gen Y’ kids really can be a bridge for the future.

Thanks Sappho for your insights.

The mission statement of Holland’s ‘Library Concept Center’ says they want “to become and remain the most advanced library in the world. Using creativity, technical innovation, and advancing scientific understanding, DOK endeavors to be an indispensable source of inspiration for its members, visitors, and partners in the city of Delft, in the Netherlands, and in the world.”

So what does all these words mean and look like? How about a library filled with music, film, literature, art, publication and games in the library. Bookcases in the youth department mounted on casters so they can be portable. What a great way to make use of limited space. Roll ‘em where you need ‘em. Don’t forget to include a ‘Coffee Corner’ where one can buy a good lunch and coffee and tea?

What kind of programs are offered? “There are lectures, readings, and musical performances almost every week, and people like to spend a few hours in the library. Wi-Fi also makes DOK appealing to students to come and study. The art department holds regular exhibitions.”

The librarians of today are the media guides of tomorrow writes Erik Boekesteijn. His view … They will help people navigate through the

abundance of information and tell them about the new technology that is coming on the market and how to use it. It is obvious that the job of the librarian is one that involves lifelong learning. To keep a clear view, DOK deploys a number of account managers … project managers, content managers, and in-store marketing managers. iPod chairs, with speakers all around and a seat that moves on its base, provide an entirely new music experience while it is also possible to watch a movie on the big screens. Staff members can update the Macs whenever they want, so there are always new music and films to discover.

As I was reading the blog, I began to wonder what our school libraries would look like if they were to become more interactive.

• Would we see kids with mp3 players (mobile phones?) downloading stories from a central or multiple location(s)?
• Would the local library become a publisher for their constituency?
• Are story-tellers in the mix for the local community and world community?
• How will the interaction of the internet change libraries? Do we allow gaming?
• Will the library be a center for exchanging ideas or a quiet place to read and reflect? Or could it be both?
• How will the future physical design change?
• How will the library connect to the local community? What will they do to involve the community and will they (should they) heighten the awareness of the community to the world?

In the words of Erik Boekesteijn,

“When the people, the most important collection of the library, are happy, the library has a future.”

Last year I had the privilege to be part of an international team of educators to visit the Kennedy Space Center. I was selected to be members of the NASA/UCF Aeronautics Space Institute. Being given VIP passes,

we were able to visit the launch and landing sites as well as visit numerous buildings where few are allowed to visit. It was during this time tha

t I was awe stuck by Orbiter Discovery. Today STS-124 took off to the International Space Station. On board was the Japanese payload named Kibo. I was able to have lunch one day with the Japanese scientists who worked with Kibo.

During our two week stay I kept a blog of our daily itinerary. So

me of our studies included

• The Space Shuttle Program
• The International Space Station Program
• Strategies/plans for lunar and Mars exploration
• Aeronautics principles
• Orbital mechanics principlesRocketrySpace Environments
• Space Materials, including their selection and testing
• Living and working in space, including the effects of microgravity on the human physiology, design of crew modules for space living, space food, space suits and space tools.
• Astronaut training techniques
• Life support systems, including the growth of plants in space for long-duration flights
• Solar energy principals

This was by far the best professional development I have ever had. Perhaps one day you will be able to go yourself.

The Learners: Kids and Communication
Integrating technology with education in a Web 2.0 world is all about people. People communicating, collaborating, stimulating and and learning from each other. Actually, that’s what teaching should be all about. Social networks, such as Facebook and MySpace are the preferred means of communication for kids today. Today’s generation of students loves to multi-task, perhaps that is why these social network places allow them to do a multitude of tasks all on one website. If anything the social networks have proved that people are important to today’s generations, they just communicate in a forum most teachers are not used to.

So who should NOT use technology?
The Extremes
Technology, when placed in the wrong hands, is very dangerous. There are two ends of the spectrum that this statement can refer to. One end is the beginning user, the other the techie who knows it all. Both of these individuals should be considered armed and dangerous and handled with care. Our job is to guide students in their (and our) learning. If the use of technology inhibits or prohibits learning, then were faced with trouble. The WOW! factor often distracts the audience from real learning. It can lead to bird walking when it comes to learning and understanding.

We must emphasize good teaching, not good technology. The use of technology should not and cannot be abused. It cannot be the ‘dog and pony show’ which substitute for real learning. Promote and teach “pedagogy-based” technology workshops, which focus on good teaching practices and on the design and implementation of technology-mediated courses. If done correctly, a technology department needs to put “student engagement” and “professional development for teachers” at the top of their priorities.

People to People (p2p), Face to Face (f2f)
We are encouraging a society of parallel relationships. Kids are chatting with each other, texting each other, and communicating without ever facing each other.We must be careful they do not become isolated and socially inept. Last week a middle school decided not to sponsor a dance, kids wanted to play computer games. They said they were too afraid of rejection at the dance. Wow, what’s happening?

The history of the book paradigm for learning began in the late 1400’s with the start of the printing press. Suddenly books became the fountain of youth for learning rather than oral traditions handed down from generation to generation. Learning consisted of remembering and knowing. Throughout this era, information was richly managed but poor with information. 500 years of limited knowledge.

Recently, in the mid-1980’s, a new internet based paradigm started. Learning became more than knowledge, it is now understanding. Assessments have become formative and summative. We are now information rich, but poorly managed.

Most recently we now are beginning to see the end of the internet based paradigm. by 2020 this shift will be complete. Internet will be available to everyone.

Publishers make a lot of money from fiction books. The likelihood of them disappearing anytime soon is unlikely. However, non-fiction information, such as textbooks and encyclopedias, will disappear from print. They will be accessed via the internet and wi-fi. One of the newest developing technologies is the flexiscreen book. A prototype is being developed now by Plastic Logic. The 21 second video is a great example.

Multimedia projectors will be in the covers of laptops.What is the role of the librarian? Libraries came about due to a limited resource landscape. That landscape is changing drastically right now. The role of the librarian today is
(1) to manage information … a lot of information. There are two ways to go about doing this. First is on a case to case basis with each teacher. Second, to grow the area of of research. Find books that are needed and create semantic fields. This will be the boom in the next 5-7 years.
(2) Today a library can be anywhere, anytime. Google aims to become the super-librarians of the future. In the next 2-3 years we will see Google come out with a research tool of pull down menus that will target a student country > type of schooling (American, British, AP, IB, IGCSE, etc.) > year in school > subject > topic > available books or media.
(3) The librarian needs to help synthesize information. Howard Gardner in his book, Five Minds for the Future, states that here are five kinds of mind sets we need for the future:

• a disciplined mind
• a synthesizing mind
• a creative mind
• a respectful mind
• an ethical mind

Finally, presentation will become the skill most needed in the future. The skill of being able to present and communicate one’s understanding of learning.