5 Ideas Essential to #1to1Tech Learning Success

This article originally appeared at Partners in Learning - 1:1 Hot Topics.

It’s no secret that successful 1:1 learning goes beyond simply getting devices into the hands of students and teachers. Many schools have had 1:1 programs long enough that challenges have been identified. However, valuable solutions exist that can be put into place to help ensure such challenges don't get in the way of a successful 1:1 learning implementation.

Here are five ideas essential to 1:1 learning success

1) Student, not device, driven

• Start with students and learning, Put them front and center. Then determine what devices and resources will best meet the need. By doing this we alleviate challenges that teachers may encounter later on around not having the proper tools for learning goals. For example, a math teacher may find it important to have a tablet and Geometer's Sketchpad for her class, while an English teacher who supports students in creating videos and PSAs might want a device and software that have heavy movie-making functionality.

2) Plan with (not for) educators

• Teachers are an essential part of the deployment and implementation of 1:1 laptop programs. They should be part of the conversation from the start. Rather than having a one-to-one environment imposed upon them, have teachers apply for your technology budget dollars, share their plan, align it to goals and/or standards, and explain how they will measure success. When you do this you are empowering teachers to design instruction and use the tools and resources they feel will best meet the needs of their students.

3) Provide clear measurements and support for success

• Often when technology is deployed in schools, success is measured simply by seeing that the devices are used. In some cases, the devices do not even enrich teaching and learning. Use an existing framework for optimal technology use, such as Technology, Pedagogy, and Content Knowledge (TPACK), The Tech Integration Matrix, or come up with your own.

4) Focus on teachers who want to soar

• Provide devices for all teachers, but don’t force a teacher to use technology with their students. They’ll resent it. Instead, start with the teachers who are enthusiastic about using technology, provide them with opportunities to conduct and attend professional development, and give them a platform and opportunities to celebrate and shine.

5) See students as partners

• Teachers often fear using technology because their students know more about its use than they do. That is a feature, not a bug! Educators are masters of pedagogy and we need to accept and embrace that we have students who are experts in using technology. Have an expert chart in your room indicating which students are expert in using various apps, software, and technology. Bring them into the conversation about ways students can meet learning goals in life, at school, and at home. Learning is always improved when students see that teachers respect their knowledge.

What has your experience been? Have you had to confront such challenges? Would these ideas be useful in your place of work? Do you have additional ideas for addressing challenges?

3 people & 3 ideas for using Twitter to share, discover, & connect with students

Twitter (www.Twitter.com) is a great tool for sharing, discovering, and connecting with others who care about the same ideas and information. You can use Twitter right on your phone without downloading any software and even with just one teacher cell phone per class, contributions can be made and modeled anywhere, anytime. Twitter has become such a popular tool because it asks one question, "What's happening?" Answers must be under 140 characters in length and can be sent via mobile texting, instant message, or the web.

Like texting, the beauty of Twitter's is that its core technology is a device agnostic system that lets the masses participate.  Because of this, with just a cell phone in hand, Twitter makes it easy for folks to stay connected...even if all they have at their fingertips is sms. For example, anyone (in the US) can receive Tweets on their phone even if they haven’t signed up for Twitter. This is a simple way for people to get information they care about in real-time. For example, let’s say you want to get Tweets from the authors of this chapter. Just text ‘follow InnovativeEdu’ or “follow WillynWebb” to 40404.

The hottest posts everyone's reading

Here’s the roundup of what's been popular on The Innovative Educator blog. Below you’ll see the top posts along with the number of page views. I hope there's something that looks of interest to you.  If it does, check it out. If you’re inspired use one of those icons below the post to share it with others and/or leave a comment.

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From BadAss to Batty. Activist teachers lose progressive focus.

You may have heard of the Badass Teachers group. Back in June they started a recruiting campaign and used questionable practices to put 25,000 members in their group very quickly. The group had promising beginnings.  It was started by Mark Naison a progressive college professor and a homeschooling mom who connected in a group that explores alternatives to traditional public school education.

It was formed for reasons that resonated with many teachers, students, and parents.

• "This is for every teacher who refuses to be blamed for the failure of our society to erase poverty and inequality, and refuses to accept assessments, tests and evaluations imposed by those who have contempt for real teaching and learning"

And, they seemed open to supporting all those who had the best interests of children at heart.  

• “We are a rich and diverse group of education professionals and concerned citizens/families. We encourage dialogue about many hot-button issues. Page administrators reserve the right to DELETE comments, threads, and (if necessary) individuals from the group that do not engage in respectful civil discourse”

They supported home educators too.  

• Badass Teachers Association supports the choice that homeschool parents make, and commends those who are savvy enough to realize that our fight is their fight.

However, not long after their badass beginnings, things started getting a little batty and their rapid growth, quickly plateaued. It’s no surprise their numbers remain stagnant nearly three months later as a result of the baiting and switching of  the group’s initial focus to one with some extremely batty ideas.

The transformation from badass to batty

Find more time to educate innovatively with this junkmail elimination tool

I get more than a dozen requests every week from folks who want me to post about their great new product that will revolutionize education at no cost. They always start out with something specific about my blog to show me they have read it and they are a fan, but the truth is, my blog is not about the latest and greatest free education products.  For that you can go to Richard Byrne's fantastic Free Technology for Teachers blog.

But, sometimes a product comes my way that I love. A product I don't know how I lived without. A product that lets educators and parents have more time to focus on real and relevant learning. When that happens, which is an infrequent occurrence, I, of course, must share here.

So what is this product?

10 Innovative Ideas To Provide Time for Professional Development and Collaborative Learning

Finding time for teachers to meet and learn together is often very difficult, but a resourceful school team can utilize creative ideas that have worked well in other schools.  It is important to put these structures in place early in the year.

Here are some ideas for providing time for educators to learn together.

1. Provide teachers on a particular grade level or who teach a common subject with a shared prep so they can plan and study together.
2. Invite teachers to determine how their shared preps can be used for any study group they can imagine.
3. Organize some regular large group activities for children.  Some schools have a weekly K-2 sing-along run by the music teacher on Friday mornings, allowing K-2 teachers to meet in a weekly study group.  On Friday afternoons, an activity for the upper grades could be planned.  Other schools organize large group gym activities, like Olympics or Field Days, run by the gym teachers and educational assistants.