I always appreciate it when teachers and administrators ask me "what should we buy" when it comes to instructional technologies. It's flattering to feel that your opinion matters, but it's almost always the wrong question.
Here's an example. I'm presenting to a staff on interactive whiteboards per the principal's request. At the end the principal asks, "we have X dollars, should we be buying these boards?" My response was "what are your goals? How can the boards help meet those goals?" He didn't appreciate my response, even though it was the right question to ask. I feel like over my career a lot of money has been tossed around based on what's latest/greatest or there's money burning a hole in our pocket.
Over the last few years there's finally been a change in a focus toward training to go along with major purchases, but that's only part of the problem. Even if you know all the ins and outs of an iPad, it isn't much use if it's used as a reward instead of a learning tool.
In graduate school we learned all about the importance of being visible in the classroom, evaluating instruction on a consistent basis and having clear goals. Tony Wagner writes a great deal about the power of learning walks to get an idea of what's going on in your building. In the Marzano/DuFour collaboration I'm reading they reiterate the importance of having essential learnings and SMART Goals. These two things need to work together to guide future purchases. What are your big learning goals? What resources will be of best use to help with these goals? What are we doing well or not well with the current resources we have?
While shrinking budgets stink, I believe we're coming to a tipping point where asking these questions will/should become the rule and not the exception. Hopefully we won't be seeing any more principal's advertising that "we have SMART Boards" in a parade as a reason why you should enroll in their school. The sign should say "we individualize education for all with small class size/team teaching/technology/insert your idea here..."
Here's an example. I'm presenting to a staff on interactive whiteboards per the principal's request. At the end the principal asks, "we have X dollars, should we be buying these boards?" My response was "what are your goals? How can the boards help meet those goals?" He didn't appreciate my response, even though it was the right question to ask. I feel like over my career a lot of money has been tossed around based on what's latest/greatest or there's money burning a hole in our pocket.
Over the last few years there's finally been a change in a focus toward training to go along with major purchases, but that's only part of the problem. Even if you know all the ins and outs of an iPad, it isn't much use if it's used as a reward instead of a learning tool.
In graduate school we learned all about the importance of being visible in the classroom, evaluating instruction on a consistent basis and having clear goals. Tony Wagner writes a great deal about the power of learning walks to get an idea of what's going on in your building. In the Marzano/DuFour collaboration I'm reading they reiterate the importance of having essential learnings and SMART Goals. These two things need to work together to guide future purchases. What are your big learning goals? What resources will be of best use to help with these goals? What are we doing well or not well with the current resources we have?
While shrinking budgets stink, I believe we're coming to a tipping point where asking these questions will/should become the rule and not the exception. Hopefully we won't be seeing any more principal's advertising that "we have SMART Boards" in a parade as a reason why you should enroll in their school. The sign should say "we individualize education for all with small class size/team teaching/technology/insert your idea here..."
Hi Nathan,
ReplyDeleteStart with the problem, not the technology has always been my motto. Something about shiny new toys that bring out the irrational side of educators. I wish I knew the solution to this dilemma, but it's been this way for the 30 years I've been dealing with technology in schools. Fix this and let me know how you did it!
Good to see the blog!
Doug