I travel to the mainland north of Hong Kong almost every Saturday to visit a home for orphan kids. Most of these are special needs kids. In the last six months I have not been able to visit them due to politics where the flow of foreigners into the country has been controlled.

Yesterday we were allowed back to visit. It was extraordinary and exhilarating! What a neat opportunity to be loved. When I first started visiting I thought it was for me to love some of the kids. I soon found out, it was I who was loved. I was receiving their blessing more than they received mine. Yes, I am the one who is adopted by these little ones. I have become the lucky one who has been adopted.

It’s the best three hours of the week for me, even though the travel time is another 2.5 hours each way. I am the one who is blessed.

See you Saturday kids! 

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.”

In moving to the digital format, we have created some controversy among the students. In the past the cover was a piece of work completed by a student. It was always a surprise and celebrated event when the colorful hard copy was rolled out. There was great excitement and anticipation of whose a work would be chosen for the cover. A second part of the anticipation was wondering whose piece would be published. It was always a surprise.

With the new eZine, every student in Upper Primary was to select piece of writing and artwork showcased for the worldwide audience to enjoy. The element of surprise was absent, the joy of knowing one’s work would be published was exciting for each student.

I like the new look, it was created by high school students. There was a limited choice for art work this year since the roll out was only a few weeks ago. However, next year should be even greater and better.

So what’s better … celebrate everyone’s best [which might not be as good] or celebrate the best of the best?

• The runway at the Kennedy Space Center is 15,000 ft long and 300 feet wide!
• The Shuttle lands at 217 miles per hour – that’s 8 miles per second!
• The Shuttle orbits the Earth in 1.5 hours
• It takes 45 minutes for the Shuttle to land once entering the atmosphere
• For every pound of weight sent into space it takes an additional 100 pounds of fuel
• When astronauts take a shower, they vacuum the soap and water off their body
• The Shuttle travels at 17,500 miles per hour … that’s 10 times faster that a bullet.
• The names astronaut and cosmonaut are both translated as star voyager

NASA is extremely kid friendly. If you have time to check out the SPACE PLACE at NASA do so.

So what’s in the future for NASA? The Moon, Mars and Beyond (or as Buzz Lightyear would say, “To infinity and Beyond!”) The space shuttle missions end in 2010. The next project is under way, it will use the Orion rocket vehicle. In 2020 the first flights will be going back to the Moon. From the Moon a base will be set up to explore the Moon and then on to Mars and then … Beyond. I asked the question, “Why the moon? We’ve already been there?” I found out that if the volume of the space shuttle cargo bay (15’ x 15’ x 60’) were filled Helium 3, there would be enough stored energy in it to supply the United States for 200 years. Good idea! But NASA faces a huge problem … they need college students who major in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. Hey – that could be you!

For more info just head over to NASADave. It’s loaded with info from Space Camp.

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.

It seems that the theme of faculty training is the key of the positive technology experience … for faculty and students. A major goal of technology needs to be training. The training of faculty needs to be in a time and cost efficient manner. If training is solely in a technical manner we lead the teacher astray and they may miss the point of enhancing student learning.

Technology change is rapid and to expect faculty to keep up is unrealistic. So how can the upgrading of tech skills and increase without reducing time for teachers to focus on their discipline, teaching, and research activities?

1. Emphasize good teaching, not good technology. Promote and teach “pedagogy-based” technology workshops, which focus on good teaching practices and on the design and implementation of technology-mediated courses. Remember to keep the main thing, the main thing … good solid teaching. Develop a team of tech leaders to help solve the “tech problems” within the schools. It not only empowers the schools to take control of their technology, but also allows the Tech Department more time for Integration. A technology department needs to put “student engagement” and “professional development for teachers” at the top of their priorities.

2. Focus training on application not construction. Help the teacher to understand how a given program may help enhance their presentation.

3. Make product development a team effort. Develop a tech plan that is based on the needs of the teachers and students. Allow the teacher to focus on what they do best and have the technology facilitators do what they do best, help the teacher choose the appropriate technology to use for presentation.

4. Bring more training to the teacher, not the teacher to the training. We already personalize student learning by differentiating our teaching styles. If training is personalized and tailored for each teacher what will occur is more effective technology integration along with more meaningful learning by the student. Create teams of teachers that meet for professional development in technology on a regular basis.

5. Celebrate the success stories of teachers’ use of technology in the classroom. Spread the word and encourage more creativity and the sharing of ideas. I am hoping to document some neat tech integration on my new blog, iEduTek, Innovative Educators Using Technology. Another way is to sponsor a mini-conference highlighting teachers sharing their ideas and work with other teachers … your own mini tech conference.

6. Find some money to create “grants”. These can be given in a competitive manner to encourage growth (i.e., teachers “compete for the resources by providing evidence of their commitment and implementation of technology. Not many of us have unlimited resources to work with. Those who really want to push the envelope will be able to be rewarded. If there’s not enough money, go find more.

Many thanks to the many who contributed information for this blog. A special thanks to David Diaz of UNC and Shawn Nutting (K12Online07) in his podcast “Creating a Paradigm Shift in Technology”.