Now that I finally have all of my 3,700 lifetime blog posts here on one site, from time to time I want to look back on some of the ones that drew the most commentary/discussion, or ones that I just think are interesting to reflect on.
In December of 2009, I wrote a post titled I Don’t Need Your Network (or Your Computer, or Your Tech Plan, or Your…), and over a couple of weeks, it attracted 152 comments. And let me just say, the comment thread is better than the post itself. (Seriously, if you have the time…)
So what’s changed in the 6.5 years since that post went live?
Short answer: Not as much as I think I expected. I mean, aren’t we still pretty much asking these questions?
- If at some point in the fairly near future just about every high school kid is going to have a device that connects to the Internet, how much longer can we ask them to stuff it in their lockers at the beginning of the day?
- How are we going to have to rethink the idea that we have to provide our kids a connection? Can we even somewhat get our brains around the idea of letting them use their own?
- At what point do we get out of the business of troubleshooting and fixing technology? Isn’t “fixing your own stuff” a 21st Century skill?
- How are we helping our teachers understand the potentials of phones and all of these shifts in general?
The ubiquity of phone access, even for kids who come from the lower end of the economic spectrum, has arrived. In developing countries, smart phones are becoming essential tools for learning, education, business, community and almost everything else. By the end of this decade, 5 billion people in the world will own a smartphone. Does that in-our-pocket access serve as an important context for the decisions we make in our schools and classrooms?
Let me just say (once again) that I’m struck by the level of respect and civility in what at times becomes a fairly heated discussion that takes many different directions and offers many different examples on both sides of the debate. That’s getting harder to find.
And on a personal note, I think this post comes from the period when I was at my pinnacle as a blogger. The Twitter effect was just about to take root. I was starting to blog less and Tweet more, a trend that I’ve been trying to reverse in the last few months. Either way, it’s definitely interesting having an archive to look back on.
Would love to hear your thoughts.
(Image credit: Seth Doyle)
1113 Dawes
Hello Will, sorry for the misposted comment. I’ve recently learned digital fluency describes when to use specific digital tools and for what purpose. Today’s kids have a degree of literacy (how) with their own devices. We can add relevancy to school-based learning by helping kids develop their fluency with the devices they use daily.
Bob
For the most part I believe school systems are doing a great job in regards to internet and technology policy. The tech system at my school monitors student use and blocks inappropriate websites, which I appreciate. I do agree that educators need to teach technology and internet ethics. If we choose to implement more and more technology in our curriculum, there needs to be a balance and expose our students to the responsibility of using the internet.
Most of the students I teach go to a high school after leaving our establishment where they have a limited BYOD. It is interesting because the only reason there are limits is due to the network. To me the irony is that now students not only carry a device in their pocket, but the Internet as well. Most plans have so much data now that students don’t necessarily have to depend on other people’s networks, now they can do what they like. Definitely interesting times, especially regards to schools and setting policy.
My only issue with allowing digital tools in the classroom is the distraction factor. As an educator, the technology that is accessible to us can really enhance the curriculum, however I have found it extremely difficult to implement research projects when students can be distracted. I tend to switch up the technology use to keep things exciting and new, which I found helpful. What are some other strategies that have been successful in keeping students engaged in the curriculum while using technology devices?