The first year is practice; the second is more practice!

Year two of CFF in FHS begins with more excitement, more volunteers, more support from the Board, new tools, new applications, and a desire to move foreward to the brink of that cliff called 21st century thinking and learning. This year, though, I know that the cliff has stairs, benches on which we can sit and enjoy the view, and a long line of fellow teachers, librarians, principals, superintendants, parents, students, and others on the same path who are passionate about moving forward with Governor Rendell's high school reform program.

One issue I consider often is adding new ideas, philosophies, practices, tools, and thinking to our teachers' classrooms. There is a concern, I think, that teachers are expected to do everything they have done before and add to their activities, planning, and preparation. What takes the most time, though, is reflecting on the activities, resources, and approaches that have worked best in the past; that reflection will direct and drive our instruction for our students today.

We should carefully select those strategies that best support our students' understanding of the most important concepts of our curriculum. We should use the best tools and resources that help our students reach our goals in ways that they best learn and apply their new knowledge. We really do need to put aside what works best for us or what we have done for the last twenty years and instead focus on what we must do to help today's students.

I think that past practices of revising curriculum every ten years is over. We may need to revise our curriculum and strategies every semester! These factors will change the structure of teachers' careers, schedules, and preparation more than any blog, wiki, or online test ever will! We really do need to change the way we teach, the way we think about teaching, and the way we prepare to teach. We're not making these changes alone, either. We are making them as a team, as a group of dedicated professionals, as a group of risk-takers. Pretty cool, huh!

We can decide to help make decisions about the reform, or we can sit back and let someone else make the decisions that affect our students, our classrooms, and our jobs. Wow. Imagine the possibilities!

Technology Reflection

Teaching in the 21st Century: The Need for Change

Since some of us have already taken the Classrooms for the Future professional development, some of us are taking the course now, and some will begin the course in a few weeks, I thought you might want to share your reflections from the readings and assignments.

Laurie, Sue, Reuben (Sue's student teacher), and I have been enjoying the face-to-face blended study version of the Act 48 course. We've had an opportunity to learn what our colleagues think of the new ways of thinking, learning, and teaching. We've been able to bounce ideas off each other and really consider how the 21st century skills affect our students and us.

Larry, Pam, and I are in the same study group for the Wilkes version of the course, and I have thoroughly enjoyed reading their postings. Pam and I met last Saturday morning at Fairview's Coffee Station and had an chance to talk to each other about these same concepts. I really enjoyed the company, the discussions, and the coffee! I know, however, how difficult it can be to schedule face-to-face meetings. It's nice that we have some digital options.

I created this blog as part of a training session back in November, but haven't posted anything new to it since then. I'd like to offer the blog to you again as a place to share with your colleagues the reflections that you have shared with your online peers for the CFF professional development. I'm finding those from my class quite intriguing. I'd love to read your postings and continue to meet informally to talk about how we're changing what we do in our classrooms.

I'm going to start with posting the Technology Reflection questions for the course. If you'd like to comment on the topic, scroll down to the comment link and add your entry. You could simply cut and paste from your course work, you could modify your postings, or you could generate something totally new. If you don't want to comment, but you'd like to view what the others have posted, read on.

Technology Reflection:

1. Are you a digital immigrant or a digital native?
2. How are you and your students using technology in similar ways? In what ways does your use differ?
3. Why do you think your students' use differs from your use?
4. What opportunities exist for you to use technology in order to better meet student needs?

What applications do you see for blogging in FHS?

Since a blog allows people to communicate and to collaborate by publishing their ideas and information online, classroom applications are endless! You could post an assignment, offer a book discussion, clarify information, explain a process, post drafts, brainstorm classroom activities, hold meetings....
Consider the lesson you are teaching today. Would you want students to take an opportunity to reflect on their activities? The day's agenda could include having the students log on to your classroom blog, reflect in writing for five minutes, and post their comments. Then, the class could view all of the postings to begin another activity! How cool is that?