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.

Scott McLeod asks “What would it take to get from our current system of schooling to a
robust, province – or statewide system of 21st century learning?”

Scott Mcleod poses questions/actions with detail in his post, 21st Century Learning System:

1. What Needs to Be Done
2. Who Needs to Be Involved
3. What it Will Cost to Do

It’s Mission: Possible – and I’m all in.

Fact of the matter is, for something like this to happen, we all need to be all in: Legislators; Administrators; Business; Media; Teachers; Parents. I don’t think there can be a half-way in. It’s all in or get out (of the way).

I have conversations every day on these topics. Getting a computing device in every student’s hands is a must! It is the pencil and paper of this and future graduating classes.

Here’s a video to help ignite even more fire in your belly, from the golden gut of Chris Lehman:

Scott is asking for your help in designing this ‘not-so-theoretical’ assignment. Due date: November 5th.

Spread this conversation. Engage others in it. Whiteboard ideas. Offline and online. Comment or Blog about it on your site.

Struggle sits at the doorstep of breakthrough…and (who’s there?) – grappling is the knock on that door.

If you’re a coach, a salesman, a parent, a teacher  – if your audience is struggling with your ideas – it’s okay. Struggling and grappling happen at the doorway of breakthrough.

Many times, we avoid the struggle and grapple (and therefore miss out on the breakthrough). Instead, we push them through the door (no breakthrough). Or we start to backpedal — and they follow suit, backing away from the door (no breakthrough).

Want your folks to breakthrough? Don’t sweat the struggle. Don’t gripe about the grappling.

I’m at the ICTE conference Thursday and Friday and was pleased to see several tech-friendly breakouts with great attendance numbers.

Unsurprisingly, the look on the faces of many were a mashup of fear and confusion. I asked a few who attended the tech-breakouts what they thought, and here are a few responses:

• I’m not a tech-type but all my students are
• My students have so much of a head start
• I don’t have time to learn the stuff my students already know
• These kids get this stuff — but I don’t

Oh teachers – these kids still need you. THEY STILL NEED YOU!

I get the opportunity of "hanging" with students daily. Are they tech-comfy?  You bet. Tech-savvy? Not even close in many cases.

Just because our students and kids are digital natives (or digital resident?), it doesn’t mean they are tech-literate.

• Do they know how to refine a search result to find qualified, relevant answers?
• Do they know when it’s appropriate to T9-style text and when it’s not?
• Do they understand when and how they can mashup something or what Creative Commons means?
• Do they know what pictures are appropriate to share online?
• Do they understand the differences between online and offline behavior (if there are any)?

They still need you!  And they don’t need you to be tech-savvy…they need you to be tech-comfy.  If that.