Changes in schools

[Reggie Ryan]

Most people want schools to be better, but few want them to be really different. Do you think this is true and what role does digital literacy have in this change?

[Kathy Heyl]

People don't like to change. They want the best, but don't want to do the effort to "be " the best. Digital literacy helps widens people's world, but also creates "one more thing" to be a part of and do. When you join Facebook, it is a lot of fun, but then you get hooked on checking and sending messages which creates the problem of adding one more thing to your plate.

[Krissy Goebbert]

Many times as educators in our fast pace lives we can shy away from technology. A lot of times I think that educators feel constraints in materials, time, and availability to learn and access the technology that they want to use. Because of continued frustrations, it is often easier to choose a different mode of instruction, than struggle with using technology.

[Zoe Novak]

I agree with the statement that people want schools to be better, I'm not sure whether or not they want schools to be different. In order to make schools 'better' changes are a must. More of the same doesn't lead to change. Digital literacy can play a huge role in a change movement. Enforcing people to use technology may make them feel as though they have an additional responsibility. Trainings would have to occur to use technology in replacement of other teaching methods, data analysis methods, and communication methods.

[N A K A I]

Change always takes time. A majority of people (not just teachers) exist in a 'wait and see'. Malcolm Gladwell talks about a 'tipping point' in that exists in the world...that when a certain amount of people believe in an idea or philosophy, the tipping point is reached and change occurs.

The future of digital literacy is greater understood by a smaller population of educators. When a larger percentage of staff members catch the vision, change can occur.

One problem that arises is the differences in vision people share of the future. Though we all want to rush in to the technological era - we may jump into the wrong end of the pool and spend wasteful energy and resources swimming aimlessly.

Technology changes so quickly, today it's ipod carts...two years from now, those will be outdated. It is difficult to evaluate such emerging technologies and their relevance for our schools.

When the 'tipping point' is reached...we can see real change occur in our schools. But it takes a lot of work and effort to get to that tipping point. One awesome trait about Mount Prospect is that we are further along than most school districts.

ok...Don is talking now and probably thinks I am rude that I am typing why he is talking.

Zoe also wrote a comment but couldn't post...

[Dina Bovis]

I think most people would agree that we should "better" our schools. However, how can you make anything better without really changing it? I think the real issue is that people can be afraid of change.

Changing our schools to become better means that we have to collaboratively work together towards that common goal. That would mean learning some new things, implementing new and up-to-date practices, and making technology an integral part of the classroom.

Digital literacy is curriculum that would help our students master computer concepts and skills. For many of us, this is a huge change in thinking. So in order for us to really change our schools for the better, and create 21st century classrooms, we all must understand that change is inevitable, our students are living in a global world in which digital literacy is so much a part of, and that educators need to facilitate that type of learning for our students.

[Jean Morris]

I think people like the word better, are a little bit nervous about the word change, and don't always understand the path to better is through change. They want their school to support their child and they want their child to do as well as his/her peers. Mt Prospect, as a town, is celebrating its selection as the best place to live in America - that's a positive reflection on the schools, too. Parents want to live in a nice community with good schools, but by middle school it seems that many parents want their students to do well independently.

Digital literacy can be used as a tool to help foster student independence while not isolating or eliminating the assistance students need to learn. For example, working as part of a team on a digital-based project would get students together (virtually) away from school to collaborate and complete work or receive homework help.

Students today are very comfortable with electronics, we need to use these "innate" skills to challenge them and get them to learn in new ways, in the end making the school better because of its student's abilities.