Little and Personal

I like what Marc Prensky says in this short video clip of him talking with Stephen Heppell.  I have long thought we need to embrace what the kids already have!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cy1X-_CbFM&feature=player_embedded

Enjoy this clip and think about what it means for our classrooms.  Prensky is always ahead of the curve.....we need to listen!!

Hamlet's Blackberry: Reflections

(How can I become a successful blogger if I don't post, I am asking myself this morning as I notice my last post was January 10!!)

I seem to have a lot on my mind about education, even though I am now "retired" from the rat race of public education administration. Somehow, looking back and having the time to reflect and read some things I WANT to read, has been especially fulfilling, much to my surprise!

So, I just finished reading Hamlet's Blackberry: A Practical Philosophy for Building a Good Life in the Digital Age, by William Powers. That title caught my eye but I wasn't sure what to expect. Powers talks a lot about other periods in history when new "technologies" caused a lot of commotion such as the evolution of paper, the printing press, etc. With each innovation came lots of stress caused by the inevitable changes taking place.  Surely the evolution of the book was to be the fall of civilization, at least in some eyes.  


So it goes with technology innovation today.  A lot of folks, including lots of educators, do not embrace 21st century tools for teaching in the digital age.  Do we even want to admit we are in the digital age??  Power's reflections back on previous times actually helped me feel a little more patient with the human tendency to buck innovation.  And certainly it makes me realize the absolute need for adequate professional development before launching innovation.  The role of teaching is changing but students really need more than ever, the wisdom of adults, as they always have, to help them find their way in a rapidly changing world.


Powers spends a lot of time in the book challenging all of us to figure out ways we can actually disengage from the screen and make time for self as well as personal and meaningful human interactions.  That is surely always valuable for our sanity.  With the stress that comes from being connected 24/7 with the world at our fingertips, time for reflection is essential.  Our kids are going to need us to help them with that balance as well!!