Technology

Kieleidoscope
July 14, 2011

The key to sustaining a 21st century district is for the adults to become efficient 21st century learners. Once we pair high-quality teaching with a meaningful understanding of today's tools for networked learning, we will be prepared to support our networked kids.

I often hear about the issues with Facebook or other technology related tools. I believe that there is nothing to fear regarding social media and education if students have been taught how to use it appropriately. In fact, social media is changing the way students and parents connect. With the use of technology we as parents can view grades, assignments, and attendance on a daily basis. In the past, the face to face parent teacher conference was the only means of communication outside of telephoning the teacher or principal. But in today's social media world students and their parents can connect directly with the school, meet students and faculty, learn about the issues affecting the campus, do homework assignments and create a one-to-one connection to the school.

Consider these statistics about students ages 12–17 from a 2007 report by the Pew Internet and American Life project:

• 59 percent share artistic creations online by creating videos, making Web pages, maintaining blogs, or remixing online content.


• 55 percent have created profiles on social networking sites like Facebook, and 47 percent have posted images on interactive photo-sharing sites.

In my opinion, these are the kinds of skills our students must develop? Don't today's 12-year-olds need to recognize that future co-workers are just as likely to live on the other side of the world as on the other side of town? The young adults who are truly prepared for the 21st century will have experience using computers to learn with—rather than simply about—the world? Ironically, even our youngest students often have more knowledge about the logistics of electronic networking than we as adults do.

Despite what they will tell you, we know that there is not a lot of thoughtful learning going on among teenagers blasting their way through their iPods, or skimming through a sample of typical Facebook pages, but think of the power of using these tools educationally. To put it simply, our students have no trouble connecting, but no one has taught them about the power of these connections. Although tweens and teens may be comfortable using digital tools to build networks, few are using those networks to pursue meaningful personal growth. Our challenge as educators is to learn about the benefits of technology as a communication tool and to teach our youth the appropriate means to learn about and with others.

I would like to expand my use of electronic communication this year by developing a Blog for the community to provide feedback about my articles or any information regarding the Kiel School District. Readers can access my Blog in two ways: You can go directly to the link by typing in kielschoolnews.blogspot.com or going to the district website at www.kiel.k12.wi.us click and on community connection.

I would be happy to hear from you on any other topics of information you would like to see written in the Kieleidoscope articles. I want to hear from you so that I can respond to your input, improve communication and learn about the needs of the community. I believe technology is a powerful tool for learning. I want to lead the way and model. Please help me by logging in and providing me your comments.

If you have any questions or are having difficulty posting to the Blog, please call us at 894-2266.

I look forward to hearing from you.