It’s (still) not OK for teachers to remain digitally illiterate. Here’s why…
Drape's Takes – Openness ∩ Education ∩ Technology
by D Draper
2M ago
Just over ten years ago, Karl Fisch wrote a blog post that has stuck with me through the years. In it, he asked if it was OK to be a technologically illiterate teacher. Even though we’ve learned greatly in the last decade about the merits of using technology to replace teachers, I think Karl’s arguments back then are even more relevant today. In this post, I’ll explain why. To begin, Reid Wilson created a graphic that has seen the rounds on Twitter and other networked learning channels. The graphic depicts the “profile of a modern teacher” and identifies sixteen ideal behaviors of teachers tod ..read more
Visit website
What I Did During Summer Break
Drape's Takes – Openness ∩ Education ∩ Technology
by D Draper
2M ago
Last July I made a personally difficult, professional decision and chose to resign from my position as Canyons School District’s Director of Education Technology. After nearly twenty years working in the communities of others, I felt it was important for me to begin working with the schools that my own children attend, to try to make a positive difference, and to better understand why they do the things they do. After eight years with Canyons, the time felt right for a change; not only for my family and my own personal growth, but for the good of the department, school, and district I had help ..read more
Visit website
Social Media in 2017
Drape's Takes – Openness ∩ Education ∩ Technology
by D Draper
2M ago
I had the wonderful opportunity today to participate in two conference sessions that were led by George Couros. George is a very dynamic speaker with an exciting message and energy that is highly contagious. I had seen his first session before, “The Innovator’s Mindset,” and was very impressed with how polished the presentation has become. During his second session, “Things Students Should Have Before They Leave High School,” George quickly dug in with one of the participants who questioned why he would suggest that every teen should be participating in social media today. It was if he had pla ..read more
Visit website
2015: The Good, the Bad, and the Crazy
Drape's Takes – Openness ∩ Education ∩ Technology
by D Draper
2M ago
Within the dimension of education technology, 2015 has brought with it an array of new-but-not-particularly-tickling technologies and pedagogical practices, while also celebrating a continued questioning of technology’s value in classrooms across the globe. From where I sit as an Ed Tech Director in a public school district with more than 34,000 students, these are the top five trends that stick out in my mind – from good, to bad, to a little bit crazy: Nudging iPads, netbooks, and even traditional laptops aside, inexpensive Chromebooks clearly became the student device of choice – as school ..read more
Visit website
The Teacher’s Guide to Data Security
Drape's Takes – Openness ∩ Education ∩ Technology
by D Draper
2M ago
Not long ago, a common scene in many classrooms included a teacher’s computer with an important password – for entry into the computer, teacher gradebook, or even bank account – stickied neatly to its monitor. Password Protection of YesteryearIn 2015, however, gone are the days that teachers and students may safely remain so relaxed about data security and privacy. There are several reasons for this change. First, online fraud continues to skyrocket. Last year, for example, annual fraud costs to retailers reached $32 billion, with mobile commerce fraud g ..read more
Visit website
Maker: #ISTE15’s Session Title Keyword Du Jour
Drape's Takes – Openness ∩ Education ∩ Technology
by D Draper
2M ago
Whereas flipped was the keyword of choice during last year’s ISTE conference, participants this year demanded that maker, making, or make – ahem – make it into session titles in order to best capture their attention. Here are photos I snapped of a few of the favorite “maker”-related poster sessions I perused. I love the poster and playground session formats, by the way, because of how engaged the audience gets to be! Lectures often mean that the audience gets preached AT. Why would anyone want to be preached AT, when speaking WITH the presenter is accepted and encouraged during poster ses ..read more
Visit website
When Convenience Trumps Tradition
Drape's Takes – Openness ∩ Education ∩ Technology
by D Draper
2M ago
In the classic Seinfeld episode “The Comeback,” Elaine Benes feels stifled because her favorite video store undergoes change.1 During the episode, she grows to appreciate the perspective and services provided by Vincent, a video store employee with whom she shares the same taste in movies. When Elaine learns that Vincent has decided to “stop making picks,” she naturally struggles emotionally upon losing the connection once felt. I think Elaine’s relationship with Vincent and the video store is fascinating, and parallels the relationship many school patrons create with us and th ..read more
Visit website
I (still) feel bad for schools that celebrate “digital learning” only one day per year!
Drape's Takes – Openness ∩ Education ∩ Technology
by D Draper
2M ago
I wrote this about Digital Learning Day last year, and still feel the same way today. Honestly, there’s no such thing as “digital learning.” Learning is just learning, whether the learner requires electricity or not. Digital tools can make learning easier, but they can also complicate the process at times, as well. Even so, learning with digital tools should be a constant presence, every day, in (nearly?) every classroom, in every school. And while we’re on the subject, what’s the deal with #futureready? Shouldn’t learning with digital tools be a requirement in all schools today? It ..read more
Visit website
The Present and Future of Pedagogical Breakthroughs
Drape's Takes – Openness ∩ Education ∩ Technology
by D Draper
2M ago
Robert Slavin, in 2012: While [computer-assisted instruction] will surely continue to play a role, I believe that real breakthroughs in teaching methods will come from classroom (as opposed to individualized) technologies that help teachers orchestrate diverse technological as well as non-technological resources. He continues: In theory, every lesson might contain some appropriate mix of all of these technology and non-technology resources, but an unaided teacher would have difficulty organizing all of this and adapting it in light of children’s responses on the fly. The future of instruction ..read more
Visit website
Poster Session 101: Presentation Titles Matter
Drape's Takes – Openness ∩ Education ∩ Technology
by D Draper
2M ago
..read more
Visit website

Follow Drape's Takes – Openness ∩ Education ∩ Technology on FeedSpot

Continue with Google
Continue with Apple
OR