My thoughts on . . .

"Turning on the Lights" by Marc Prensky
http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational_leadership/mar08/vol65/num06/Turning_On_the_Lights.aspx

▪ Do you agree with Prensky's notion that requiring students to "power down" in school actually impedes their learning?

I agree that powering down and disconnecting is not what kids are used to and I understand why students see a traditional classroom as "boring." I am concerned that what our kids have been immersed in (all media) - advertising, violence, sex, and just plain 24-hour-a-day junk has not been healthy for their development and it influences what they want to do (even in class) online (game, texting, etc). We/I can't change that history but I do think we can still teach digital citizenship and help students take full advantage of these tools for learning and collaboration. But we have to start before high school!!

▪ How might allowing students to use technological devices in class help or hinder their learning? What place do you see in the classroom for laptops, cell phones, mp3 players, social networking sites, Wikipedia, and other technologies?
At my high school, I certainly see the hindering part - the constant texting. Students are willing to risk losing their cell phones for 24 hours just to text during class. Now that we have allowed cell phone use during lunch and between classes- many students spend that time texting. I am particularly concerned about the students who seem completely disconnected from anyone in our school (ear buds in all the time ignoring everything or texting outside the school) -- these kids are using the techonlogy to disengage.
Right now, I don't see much use for cell phones in the classroom.
I do see great potential for devices that connect to the Internet - computers, laptops, netbooks or hand-held devices (iPod touch, blackberry). I have been "talking to" Bill Ferriter via my blog - why can't kids talk to experts on subjects they are interested in and are learning about? So many resources (books, lectures etc) can be downloaded onto a computer, iPod, or mp3 player. I see Wikipedia as a great resource - a first place to check and then a jumping off point to other Internet-based resources. I see social networking sites, blogs, and skype as having incredible potential to connect students to other students and experts around the world. These tools are especially powerful for activists.
▪ What is your school's policy regarding technology in school? Do you believe your policy meets the needs of your students? If so, why? If not, what changes would you make?
As a federally funded institution, we filter our Internet. I don't think this is an issue - it is easy for staff or students to request that a site be unblocked. Our policies are fluid - we have an ongoing dialog about what we allow. We just opened up YouTube because on balance we feel it is a great resource. Our high school tried to go one-to-one but due to budget issues, we were not able to. We have laptop carts which teachers use infrequently. Distributing and collecting laptops takes too much class time. Teachers are more likely to reserve the library because 1. they know everything will work and 2. they will lose less class time. The problem with this is access to the library is limited so most class periods are spent with out the use of the Internet.
I think until each student has some sort of device that connects to the Internet, the way we provide education in my school will not change significantly (this is my biggest take-away from this article).
▪ How can teachers and administrators balance the desire to stay up-to-date with the need to always make sure that teachers can use the techniques and technologies that best suit their students?
Teachers need professional development to learn technology (we don't do enough of this) and more importantly to see how innovative educators are using technology to facilitate student learning (we do almost none of this). Teachers also need technology support from technology integrators or tech-savvy colleagues in order to be able to use technology effectively. We (educators) have to give up the notion that the teacher will be the technology expert in the classroom. We don't have time to wait for that plus the kids are probably always going to know more about technology! Teachers have to have a basic knowledge of technology but we need to realize that the teacher and students are learning together. If a student figures something that's okay, in fact that is empowering.

I absolutely loved "Prensky's Principles for Principals" -- that would change the culture and climate of learning in a school. I am going to share that article with my principal.

Found this on Marc's blog - very interesting. 21st Century Skills are not just about techonology.
http://www.marcprensky.com/writing/Prensky-Essential_21stCenturySkills.pdf