Make Your Mark!

Originally posted in the Know New Ideas Community - September 12, 2012 - In Celebration of Dot Day!

It’s that time of year again, when kids across the nation head back to school, full of hope and anticipation. Shiny hallways, uncluttered classrooms, anxious smiles - a perfect time for International Dot Day – a reminder that each and every day we have an opportunity to expand students’ horizons and encourage them to make their own unique mark on the world.

Reading The Dot always takes me back to my undergrad years as an elementary education major. With fear and trepidation, many of us faced our first art class since elementary school days.  As all great teachers do, our professor set high expectations and then gently led us down the path of re-awakening our inner artist.  A clay otter, paper sculpture Dopey, and wildflower sketch later, I rediscovered the power of translating what I could see in my mind’s eye into art, created through my own hands.

Fast forward to 2007, the Constructivist Celebration in Atlanta’s Botanical Garden, and I face my fears once again as Peter Reynolds challenges us to find our inner artist and join him at the “teacup” art table. As I moved from station to station that day, constructing creative technology projects, and avoiding the teacup station, I realized that time and art supplies were running out at the popular teacup table. Facing my fears and remembering that once before, as a young adult, I had found great satisfaction in making the mind, eye and hand connection, I mustered my courage, approached the table, gathered supplies, sketched and painted.  Unsure, feeling inadequate to the task, I took the leap and put forth my best effort. Much to my surprise, Peter took ahold of my teacup as the paint was drying and showed it to my fellow artists at the table. After several oohs and ahs, I relaxed, feeling supported and quite proud of my little teacup. I had just experienced The Dot in real life!

Peter reminded me that day that as educators we have the amazing opportunity to awaken inside of our students their inner talents and skills, gently nudging, encouraging and celebrating with them small successes along the way. What an honor and responsibility!


Peter left his mark on me that sunny day in June ~ who will you leave your mark on this school year?

Lessons from the Past

Imagine you are waiting on your first shipment of brand new microcomputers! The year is 1983 and yes, those microcomputers are Bell and Howell Apple II’s with marvelous green monochrome monitors, or was it gold? I carefully unpack and set up our first Title I funded computer lab and unwrap our 5¼” floppy disks from MECC. With no NCLB requirements nipping at our heels, we step boldly into the future with our students… confident that we are preparing them for the world they will enter upon college graduation.

Little did I know that when our kindergarten students graduated in 1995 the Internet would just be gaining steam, revolutionizing the way we access information, communicate and do business around the world. By the time these students fully launched their careers, they were carrying more computing power in their pockets than the sum total of all our computers in that little Apple II lab in Houston, Texas.

From Basic programming and MECC Number Munchers to sophisticated digital learning content and tools, technology’s potential to impact learning has grown in leaps and bounds. As I traverse the country, visiting school districts from Michigan to Florida, I am struck by an odd contrast. During the past 28 years, while technology continues to grow in sophistication, we are still struggling to realize it’s true potential in our classrooms.

But wait – this year something feels different. Across the country a new movement is gaining steam, perhaps as a result of budget cuts, community pressure or a push to provide our students with 21^st Century tools and curriculum. 'Bring Your Own Device and Technology' (BYOD, BYOT) programs and one-to-one initiatives are providing students with unprecedented access to technology.

Let’s take a lesson from the past. Will we fail to capitalize on major technological advances, or this time will we make the most of this opportunity and find a way to harness technology’s full potential to transform learning. This time our students are leading the way… Will we follow their lead or be left behind?

Originally posted at: http://www.knownewideas.com