21st Century Learning System – Start at the Top

Scott McLeod‘s post on a Statewide (bigger?) 21st Century Learning System is still cooking in my pot.

Let’s make a temporary assumption his diagram of What Needs to be Done is our starting framework for conversation (click on image below to enlarge), who needs to be involved in the discussion — and then who needs to “buy-in” for anything to work?

With Whom do We Begin the Conversation?

1. School Administration: Frankly, this is where it stops or starts.  For any new “system” to fly, this is the field of players that can either make it stick or keep it stuck. It’s here we’ll find the “sneezers” that can influence those above them and impact those that follow them.
   1. Training – Let’s get our educators trained. Buying a SmartBoard for every teacher isn’t the starting point. Neither is spending (you guys fill in the four figures) on a per head basis to train them on a piece of equipment that, at the end of the day, become whiteboards on wheels. We need our teachers to be tech-comfy, not tech-savvy
   2. Time – Find the time to let teachers train and experiment with these tools of teaching, learning, and living.  Without time, they’ll not even get to tech-comfy.
   3. Tools – Crutches such as “bandwidth” and “security” are …well, they are crutches.  There are dangerous drivers on the road during every commute to and fro. But guess what – we still get in our cars and buses every day. Let’s use the tools rather than ban them – and teach/learn how to use them safely and appropriately.
2. Teachers: No offense to my friends in “the field” who are reading this, but this group can be a hurdle here (one reason why we need evangelists at the level above). It’s amazing how many teachers still are uncomfortable with using email!
3. Legislative Leadership: With the help of School Administration, Legislative Leadership follows. Money, Time, and Support will be necessary. This can be where a lot of those things come from.
4. Media: Having one person caught and suspended for surfing on MySpace in school might be news (it happens on occasion). Having 100s of students using technology properly won’t get a 10-second spot at 11pm (it happens every day!). For this change to happen, the media must somehow be involved to help spread the news.
5. Parents: Yep. Parents need to be involved with this discussion. They aren’t as tech-savvy as we think.  Maybe even provide them training as well somehow.

Those are the five groups I’d start conversations with right now.  Hopefully, the opinions I share above are either right-on and we can get started — or they are so far off base you gotta say something. Either way, let’s talk about it.

What’s the best way?  You’re welcome to comment — but I’d prefer you post your thoughts on your blog.  Tag it or Title it 21st Century Learning System.

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