Navigating an Open Future

Keynote to CTEA (Colorado Tech Ed Association)

Brent G. Wilson

1 November 2007

How did you wind up a technology educator?

Technology can transform learning

Good blend of my technology and people skills

Advocate for the student

Like making things

Tech Ed has come a long way

But it’s still

about making things!

And always will be

Key concerns

Trends in education

Keeping up with technology

21st century learner - evolving needs

Best teaching practices

Finding and keeping support

Trends in education & society

NCLB - mandated accountability

Open source - open resources

Changing demographics

Technology everywhere

Information and service economy

21st Century Learner

More diversity, mobility

Less support from home

Open to technology

Sense of entitlement - why should I learn this?

Active users of technology

Global challenge - it’s a Flat World out there!

One report (2004) - China graduates 2-3 times as many engineering and technical degrees

College attrition for math/science majors: 50%

People will have 3-6 careers in their lifetime

Colorado paradox - strong IT, aerospace, biotech, energy - but homegrown grads

lacking

Technology Literacy

Another NCLB requirement - tech literacy by end of 8th grade

Colorado’s approach - better than mostState-wide definition and framework

District choice of measures (at least for now)

Standards include technology an engineering education

Another opportunity for school leadership

The Electives Squeeze

CSAP under-performing leads to…

Doubled efforts in literacy, math, leads to…

Reduced electives, including tech ed, leads to…

A narrowed curriculum is not the answer to NCLB requirements!

Dropouts and low test scores

Leaving out the learnerNo real voice

Lack of Input

No ownership

Meaningful participation

Unchallenged

Real life is more interesting!

Videogame Envy

Why can’t we make instruction as compelling as

Halo?

Heard this before? It’s partly a red herring, and partly true.

Making things - antidote to boredom

Technology Project-based pedagogy

DesignScience

Learner ExperienceCreativity

Real WorldMath

Materials

Career and Tech Ed - on the move

COMPETES Act - $43 billion

New emphases:- New media- Engineering- Communication- Collaboration- Online tools- Community links

School Leaders - New Prestige

Old days - ghettoized

Nowadays - others are envious

Potential for school-wide leadership

Technology in service to the whole school

Experience Mediates Learning

Experience LearningPlans

Lived experience

Pacing

Engagement

Compelling Invitation

Flow

Challenge

Heightened Awareness

Suggestive, evocative

Constructed experience - rising to the story level

What learning experience explains something about you?

These can be transforming - shaping your sense of self; community membership; vocation

The Living Dead

Our students are often in need of redemption!

Bringing the Dead Back to Life

Aesthetic qualities - heightened experience, drama, challenge

Mythic qualities - hero’s journey, ritual, symbols

Surrender to the situation - beyond teacher/learner control

Good vs Great Design

Everyone loves good design

But NOT everyone loves GREAT design

Don Norman, Emotional Design (2004)

Holistic Practice

Theory AND Practice

Research and Design

Engineering and Art

Psychology and Design Crafts

Efficiency, impact, and quality experience

Fin

Questions?

Thank you!