Presentation given on the opening day of the 2013-2014 school year

1. Modernizing Education
The State of Teaching and Learning in the 21st Century
Lucy Gray
Mannheim School District 83
August 12, 2013
1
Thank you for the invitation to speak to this audience today. My primary goal today will be to
share some thoughts and ideas inspired by my work with a variety of institutions. Each one of
you is or has the power to be an influencer or leader in your own buildings, and I hope you
will think about how your school can incorporate some of these ideas and share innovations
that perhaps you’ve already developed as a school community.

2. Blog
http://www.lucygray.org
(links
are
clickable)
@elemenous
on
Twitter
2
All slides are available through these links. Please ask questions and share ideas and
resources in our Edmodo group and on Twitter using the hashtag #innov8ED.

3. Welcome Back!
3

4. What did you do for fun?
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<title>What did you do for fun this summer?</title>
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5. What did you learn?
5
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<title>What did you learn this summer?</title>
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6. Not Everyone is Excited
How can we personalize
and differentiate learning
for not only kids, but
adults as well?
6

7. Technology is changing
everything.
7
So let’s talk technology and its effect on our society...

8. Fourth Presbyterian Church
Chicago, IL
8
This is my church where technology is abundant in a new building.

9. 9
This is where Sunday school youth groups meet and play wii games in order to build
community.

10. 10
The teen youth pastor uses technology to engage kids in discussions about real world events.

11. 11
He even uses Facebook to conduct outreach. Our pastor understand that he needs to go
where the kids are and keep them connected to the church through multiple means.

12. 12

13. Comer Childrens Hospital
University of Chicago
13
I’ve also seen technology used by child life experts in hospitals recently.

14. 14
In order to alleviate anxiety before an MRI, my son was soothed by this machine that used a
Simon like interface to change the colors of this lava lamp machine. It also projected images
on the ceiling.

15. 15

16. 16
The child life expert also gave him an iPad to use.

17. 17
Children’s Pediatric Dental Health, Chicago IL

18. Delta Terminal
LGA, NYC
18
In your own backyard, technology is abundant. How many of you have gone through this
terminal?

19. 19
You can order your food and sundries to be delivered to you in this lounge.

20. 20
You can check your flight’s status and play games while you pass time in the Delta terminal.

21. 21
There are also many tables with outlets for re-charging devices.

22. 22
Even the NFL is getting rid of paper and leveraging the portability of iPads.

23. #pencilchat
http://goo.gl/rqGxpJ
23

24. Ode to #Pencilchat
http://goo.gl/9G3Ra
24

25. Technology is also
connecting us.
25
Because of technology, we are all becoming increasingly connected, for better or for worse.

26. What is a PLN?
26

27. Parent Soup on AOL
27
In my case, it has enhanced my life.

28. 2006
28

29. Tim Lauer
Lewis Elementary, Portland Oregon
29

30. Serendipity happens!
30
People and places I’ve met along the way have enhanced my work in ways that I never
expected.

31. Advisor
Content
Developer
Curator
TrainerTeacher
Connector
31
I wear many hats in my work with the Consortium for School Networking, Illinois Computing
Educators, Edmodo, the Global Education Conference, the STEMx Global Education
Conference etc.

32. Observer
32
More importantly, I am am an observer, visiting schools and interacting with educators from
all over the world.

33. 33
I’ve traveled to a few countries and throughout the United States to work with educators and
companies.

34. Experiences
• Chicago Public Schools
• University of Chicago
• Apple Distinguished Educator
• Google Certified Teacher
• Founder, The Global Education Collaborative
• Co-chair, The Global Education Conference
• Co-chair, The Global STEMx Education
Conference
• Project Director, The Consortium For School
Networking, Leadership For Mobile Learning
• Multiple opportunities to visit and work with
schools
• Advising corporate entities
34
Here’s a list of some of the experiences that I bring to the table. While most educators are
silo’d in their school buildings, I’ve been very fortunate to visit a wide variety of institutions.
My favorite thing to do is to tell stories of the work and initiatives that I find inspiring.

35. Julia and Henry
35
My biggest inspirations, however, are my two children. I often think about how I (and their
schools) are preparing them for a brave world. How can I nurture them to grow up to be
innovators? I think here at the Avenues that question has been addressed very
comprehensively.

36. Our perspectives need to
E x p a n d
36
Because of my experiences, I feel that our perspectives need to expand. Continuous
improvement is a worthy goal as we try to navigate educational change. I would argue that we
need to get in front of the bus rather than be stuck coughing exhaust fumes.

37. Education is changing.
37

38. Are parents and educators asking for more
high stakes testing, standardized curriculum,
and seat time?
I think not.
38
There seems to be a societal disconnect between the national narrative for educational
improvement and what we know and desire based on our work with children.

39. This I Believe
•Visionary Leadership
•Empowered Faculty
•Authentically Engaged Students
•Progressive teaching and learning practices
•Authentic school communities
39
Based on my travels and conversations, these are the things I believe in and want to see more
of in our schools.

40. Schools where continuous improvement using a wide variety
of criteria is the bottom line.
Schools that see their role is to educate, enlighten, and
support kids and their families.
Schools where intellectual curiosity and variety is valued,
where educating for compliance is not the norm.
Visionary Leadership
40

41. Empowered Faculty
Schools where teachers have strong backgrounds in
pedagogy, child development and in meeting the needs of
diverse learners.
Schools faculty have ample opportunities to observe each
other, visit other institutions, and to engage in activities to
benefit their own learning.
Schools where professional development is personalized
and supportive of teachers.
41

42. Engaged Students
Schools where student voice is taken into consideration
throughout the school culture.
Schools where students are encouraged to identify and
pursue their passions.
Schools that show evidence that their faculty really knows
and understands their students.
42

43. Progressive Teaching and
Learning Practices
Schools that look beyond Common Core standards to
prepare kids for a new world.
Schools that provide ample opportunities for hands-on,
project and passion-based learning during and after school.
Schools that view technology as essential to the learning
process and thoughtfully plan for integration.
43

44. Authentic Communities
Schools where parents and students are authentically engaged in
the community.
Schools that provide a multitude of means for parents to get
involved.
Schools who encourage honest community dialogue by
acknowledging their strengths and areas targeted for improvement.
Schools that educate their parents and community members about
what it means to be a 21st century learner.
44

45. “The Highly Connected Teacher”
The National Educational Technology Plan
45
Highly connected teachers are connected to data, to resources, and to each other.

46. Connected Educator Month
46
Out of this interest in connections, CEM was born. It will take place this year in October. Free
activities are available to educators from around the world.

47. ConnectED
47
This is the most recent initiative put forth by the Obama administration. Obama recently
traveled to Mooresville NC to announce new efforts to upgrade connectivity, train teachers,
and build on private-sector innovations.

48. New Roles for
Students & Educators
•Content consumers
•Content Creators
•Content Evaluators
•Connected and Networked
48
Many of my peers in education are doing these things. I would argue that to be successful in
our rapidly changing world, adults and kids must be proficient in creating and analyzing
digital media in addition to learning to leverage learning networks.

49. The Power of Social Media
Flickr
YouTubeTwitter Facebook
LinkedIn Google+
Diigo
SlideShare
49
I’ve also added Pinterest to the mix: http://pinterest.com/lucygray2/.

50. EdSurge
50
EdSurge is an start up co-founded by a friend and their goal is to present information about
the current ed tech bubble that is growing.

51. The New Media Consortium
K-12 Horizon Report 2013
• 1 year or less
• Cloud Computing
• Mobile Learning
• 2 to 3 years
• Learning Analytics
• Open Content
• 4 to 5 years
• 3D Printing
• Virtual and Remote
Laboratories
51
For additional verification on trends that are emerging in adoption horizons, please take a
look at the 2013 K-12 Horizon Report. These recommendations come with concrete
examples of how these technologies are manifested in education.

52. NMC Megatrends
Business
models
across
the
education
ecosystem
are
changing.
52
Everyone is re-thinking their missions. Look to libraries, colleges, and the publishing
industry.

53. Why change?
53

54. Why evolve?
54

55. Project Tomorrow Speak Up
Survey
55

56. Project Tomorrow
Recommendations
• Un-tether learning and leverage mobile devices to extend learning beyond the school
day and meet all learners in their own world
• Create new interactive, participatory learning spaces using tools such as online classes,
gaming and simulations, online tutors, and virtual reality environments
• Incorporate Web 2.0 tools into daily instruction especially those that develop
collaborative or social-based learning and provide unique opportunities for students to
be content developers
• Expand digital resources in the classroom to add context and relevancy to learning
experiences through new media tools
• Get beyond the classroom walls and make learning truly experiential such as using high
tech science instrumentation and creating podcasts with content experts
56

57. Via John Pfluger
57

58. U.S Public Schools
• Increased pressure via
Race to the Top, AYP, RTI
• Less funding
• Less Time
• Emphasis on standards and
high stakes testing
• Teacher proof curricula
• Less instruction in the arts,
world languages, etc.
• Longer school days
• Technology seen as a
content delivery mechanism
• Constant seeking of silver
bullets
58

59. Independent Schools
• Time
• Resources
• Streamlined bureaucracy
• Organizational vision
• Community Consensus
• Administrative and collegial
support
• Authentic curriculum
• Recognition of the Importance of
21st century skills
• Professional development
• Teacher autonomy
• Prepared students
• Commitment to developing the
whole child
• Parental support
59

60. What do effective schools seem to
have in common?
• A wide range of effort towards cultivating 21st century skills
and implementing robust technology programs
• Success depends on:
• Visionary leadership
• Strategic planning
• Commitment to continuous improvement
• The degree to which a school or district feels pressure to change by
external factors
60

61. 2010 - The Key School
Annapolis MD
61
So, let’s think about how your institution is going about grappling with educational change...

62. What do effective teachers do
differently?
62

63. Examples of
Innovative and
Connected Schools
63

64. Mooresville Graded School District
Mooresville, NC
64

65. The School at Columbia
New York, NY
• K-8
• Columbia University faculty and local kids
• Innovation driven
• 1 to 1 laptop program
• 3 technologists plus tech staff
• Extensive Google Apps for Education and new media use
• Other: field trip guides, computer programming, robotics, conference
65

66. Known as “THE”
66

67. 67

68. 68
The School uses social media extensively throughout its school, providing real life digital
citizenship experience for kids. They develop their own profiles and avatars in a school-run
social network. These profiles are archived each year, so that everyone has a fresh start and
numerous opportunities to practice the skill of establishing a digital footprint.

69. 69
They even create profiles for historical figures, and tag clouds allow them to see connections
between real and historical figures in terms of interests.

70. 70
They use Google Sites for reviewing books and commenting on the reviews of others. It is
organized by class so that you can see the reading habits of kids throughout their time at the
School at Columbia.

71. 71

72. Tools
at
School
72

73. Don Buckley
(former) DIRECTOR OF INNOVATION
73

74. 74

75. 75

76. 76

77. Spencer Technology Academy
Chicago, IL
• New Classrooms (School of One)
• IPads
• Gaming in PE Classes
• Classes for Parents
77

78. 78

79. 79

80. 80

81. 81

82. 82

83. 83

84. 84

85. Science Leadership Academy
Philadelphia, PA
85

86. 86

87. Educon 2.5
87

88. Burley School
Chicago, IL
88

89. Jennie Magiera
89

90. http://www.hippasus.com/rrpweblog/
90

91. SAMR + Apps
91

92. #playdate13
92

93. EdCamps
93

94. New Tech High
Napa, CA
94

95. 95

96. 96

97. 97

98. 98

99. 99

100. Mercy High School
Farmington Hills, MI
100

101. 101

102. 102

103. YOUMedia
Chicago, IL
103

104. Maker
• Make Magazine
• Maker Faire
• Maker Education
104

105. CoderDojo
105

106. Further Explorations
106

107. ISTE NETS
Students, Teachers, and Administrators
107

108. Twitter
Chats
Future
of
Education
Classroom
2.0
Classroom
2.0 Live
Google
in
Education
EdmodoCon
108

109. Moving Ideas Forward
School and District Level
• Work as a school to set goals and to develop a multi-year innovation plan that
includes pilot programs.
• Administrators can encourage experimentation by awarding small innovation
grants.
• Consider adding a Year of Innovation theme to your PD efforts (H/T to Don
Buckley).
• Attend and host EdCamps, Playdates and other informal unconference events.
• Leverage informal learning opportunities.
• Consider using after school time to experiment with Maker Spaces, Coderdojos, etc.
109

110. Moving Ideas Forward
Classroom Level
• Create and cultivate a classroom hub (Edmodo)
• Pick one tool or resource for professional learning (Twitter
chats)
• Provide a window into your classroom for your parents (web
page)
110

111. From my PLN to You
From Jeanne Reed @jeannereed1
Try one new thing, get comfortable, and then try another.
Always ask a friend/techie for help, rather than get
frustrated.
111

112. From my PLN to You
From Heather Barnard @chickadeeprints
Do not be overwhelmed and shut down. Take it one step at a
time. Make it a fun journey for you and your kids.
112

113. From my PLN to You
From Katheryn Allen @KathrynELAllen
Know your objective and select the tool that best fits your
need.
113

114. From my PLN to You
From Jeff Charbonneau (National Teacher of the Year!)
@JeffCharbonneau
Select tools after you have set the goal, then select the best
tool, digital or non, for the job. Never choose the tool first!
114

115. From my PLN to You
From Jose Popoff @JosePopoff
Consider all you can, keep the good, discard the bad. We are
all here to help.
115

116. We are all here to help!
116

117. lucy@lucygrayconsulting.com
@elemenous
on
Twitter
117