Disrupting Class: How Disruptive Innovation Will Change the Way the World Learns

This is the title of a new book I'm reading that speaks to the promise of technology in helping us teach in new ways.

This is what one expert had to say about the book.

"Provocatively titled, Disrupting Class is just what America's K-12 education system needs--a well thought-through proposal for using technology to better serve students and bring our schools into the 21st Century. Unlike so many education 'reforms,' this is not small-bore stuff. For that reason alone, it's likely to be resisted by defenders of the status quo, even though it's necessary and right for our kids. We owe it to them to make sure this book isn't merely a terrific read; it must become a blueprint for educational transformation." --Joel Klein, Chancellor of the New York City Department of Education

A couple of parts that I noted:
Definition of intelligence: 1. The ability to solve problems that one encounters in real life. 2. The ability to generate new problems to solve. 3. The ability to make something or offer a service that is valued within one's culture.

Are we teaching students to do these three things?

Technology enables us to offer education "any time, any place, any path, any pace"

What can we do to maximize learning using technology to match student learning styles and engaging students?

Uncle Mark's Almanac http://unclemark.org/ was mentioned in Bit Literacy. I encourage you to check it out. Not much that applies directly to teaching, but it's an interesting collection of techie stuff and some other odds and ends.

Monday morning and post #2. Over the weekend I have been reading a little book called Bit Literacy. The basic thesis of the book is that all the bits of information that we now receive are causing us stress and loss of productivity because we have not learned the technology and discipline to assist us in managing all this information. The author is Phil Terry and his company's website is www.creativegood.com

A couple of things that I am going to explore are the use of a Dvorak keyboard (supposedly more efficient and easier) and a few of the organizational suggestions he makes. For instance he advocates clearing your email to ZERO each day by filing and deleting. He also advocates a specific filing system and that we begin to think of the information coming in as our "media diet" and that we need to consciously decide what we consume.

Did you know that you can type some math into the google search bar and get a calculation and calculator?

The beginning

OK, I have taken the first step. I hope that this blog will become a collaboration among learners as we strive to integrate technology and meet the learning styles of our students.

Let me begin by directing you to two sites of interest. First a blog by Karl Fisch the creator of "Shift Happens" a popular YouTube video about technology and the future. If you like "Shift Happens" then I suggest viewing "20/20" also. His blog site is: http://thefischbowl.blogspot.com/

Karl Fisch is the Tech Coordinator at Arapahoe HS in Colorado.

There is also a Wartburg Connection at Arapahoe this semester. Randon Ruggles is student teaching in the English department. Randon was a student tech ass't at Wartburg. He is blogging about his student teaching experience. His blog is http://fiftynineminutes.blogspot.com/