Today was our last day
in Australia, and we are exhausted. Our feet and legs are tired from
walking, and our brains are tired from taking in and processing so much
information. We're tired but we're satisfied with how we've spent
this time -- giving lots of people in lots of schools lots ideas for
how to utilize the features of our site and bring 21st century concepts
into the classroom.
We spent the morning at CEO Sydney*,
a wonderful facility and an organization with lofty goals and every
intention of meeting them. Over morning tea (which means coffee and
snacks, either “sweet” or “savory”), they shared with us their iLearn
program and some of the projects teachers are developing.
Built on philosophies and ideas similar to ISTE’s
21st Century Concepts, the iLearn program is a PD program available to
all teachers in the diocese. Teachers work with partners to develop a
class unit rich in big-picture concepts like collaboration, global
citizenship, and creativity. During all stages of their work (from
brainstorming through student assessment) they reflect on their work
and their learning. In the spring of the year, projects are showcased
and shared with all participants. The Best Of projects are used as
examples for the next year’s group. Helen, birth-mother of the project,
indicated that the quality of the projects continues to improve as
people see what their colleagues are doing, and that teachers who
complete the project are loathe to return to their former teaching
methods (and are not allowed to by their students!).
Did you
notice that nowhere in this discussion of iLearn is “technology” or
“technology integration” mentioned? The reason for this is that the
projects aren’t about technology. The projects are about getting kids
to work in the big-picture concepts and learn deeply about themselves
and their world; the belief is that this can’t be done in today’s world
without technology. Technology is so ingrained in our lives and the
lives of our students we do a disservice by talking about it in an
isolated manner, as though it's a separate add-on or something we don’t
have to use but it would be cool if we did. How can we expect kids to
communicate and collaborate in school the way people do in “the real
world” when we don’t use “real world” tools? Will students really grasp
digital citizenship when they don’t have to make any decisions because
our policies have already made them? Can students be truly creative and
innovative when we tell them what product they need to create and what
it needs to look like?
I think the greatest power of the iLearn
model is in its modeling. Teachers are taught within big concepts and
take that with them to their classroom. They understand the importance
of reflection in learning because they have experienced it, and they in
turn expect it of their students. They gained valuable insights by
collaborating with their peers in other geographical regions through a
wiki and are keen to have their students experience the same richness.
They have discovered the value of social networking and are open to
their students using these tools in their learning.
CEO Sydney truly embodies the belief of Atomic Learning: If we want 21st Century students we must start with the teacher.
*CEO
stands for Catholic Education Office and is the governing body of
Catholic schools within a diocese. There are many CEO’s in Australia,
including CEO Brisbane, where we started our trip. Some are now
referred to as CSOs, Catholic Schools Office.
Source: Atomic Learning blogspot: "When learning is done well, the technology becomes transparent"
