… just presented again a workshop as part of the Beyond Digital Workshop series today with a group of parents. The focus Digital Citizenship and the variables and technologies associated with both, and how this can and does play out in families. I have in the last couple years really taken an interest in this topic, and spent a lot of time researching and reading on the topic. Mike Ribble’s work, blog and site have been a resource and inspiration. More importantly through my own two children and their interests in social networks and how they develop, manage and participate in socializing with these technology I have been pushed to reflect on the whole issue.
The one aspect that jumps out, is the issue of privacy, and how my concept of privacy and sharing information is based on complete different assumptions than my own children and many teenagers. What fascinates me is the concept of “friend” in the context of social networks. You might be like me of a generation where a “friend” is someone you have a long common experience together, someone who is comfortable witnessing your worst and best moments. It is a human relationship that gets better with time, and something that you have to work at. You tend to have a few but we are talking between maybe 5-10 at most. Then you have acquaintances people you know, you spend time with, socialize with in the context of work, or school, but in the long run maybe have no vested interest, and then maybe more guarded about sharing all aspects of yourself with them.
So let us look at today. Maybe you are 13. You hang on a social network, let us pick Facebook, and you are active and social.
This is what I find interesting the term “friend” in the context of Facebook in many ways has changed the physiology of the word. Now friend is actually a confirmation that yes you can come into my facebook, and sit there looking at my own private life with the label friend. I do this exercise with kids I teach Digital Citizenship, and ask them if we put all their Facebook “friends” in a room could they name them, and share one common experience they have had. The thing is often many of these kids have from 200- 500 friends and some even more, I have seen a case of over 1,000. Kids will claim they can, but actually the reality I think would be a little different.
When you post a lot of your private thoughts, reflections and musings, and open this to a few hundred folks there is so much potential for mis-interpretation, and potential abuse or sharing of information to a wider scope of people you quickly loose control of. The important thing to realize, is that many of the social networks and social web 2.0 tools default to public so often without your own knowledge. You are immediately in a very public setting with your information. Kids getting onto these social networks do not have a point of reference often, coach or mentor, or aware of the specific dynamics of their privacy settings, which is understandable. It is not like this is advertised or pushed as a key component of the joys of joining Facebook or many other social networks.
The shift, I think is as educators and parents we need to be that mentor, point of reference to high light the unique variables of social networks, and act as a resource to frame what lies ahead when kids begin their journey with Web 2.0 tools and social networks . Not a resource on social networks but a resource and mentor on the dynamics of privacy in social settings be it online or off line. Easier said than done… I will come back to this in another post, the issue of trust and children in the age of social networks and Web 2.0.
I enclose this excellent link which for me is something anyone and everyone on Facebook needs to go through and understand, as a parent, spending time on this was a wonderful way to connect and engage in conversations about what is a “friend” what is privacy, what do I want the world to know and what do I want to keep myself. 10 Privacy Settings Every Facebook User Should Know
We are doing our children, students and young generation a huge dis-service if we do not share and frame to them concretely the importance of private profile or public profile in a social network and/or the online/offline world, and what it means and implications it has long term in their digital context.
There is a vibe, aura about the whole MacWorld Expo and Conference. Previously my experience had been watching snippets on the web, and then filling in the gaps through blog readings. This year my son and I got to go see the live show. My family was holidaying in San Francisco, and Gordon a friend from Apple invited us for the pre-keynote breakfast and to watch the keynote. A good friend Jan who works for http://www.targus.com/ got us tickets to the exhibitors areas. We where smiling!
The day seemed immersed in the lack of Steve Jobs presence at the keynote. As we took the BART (metro), the local papers had pictures of Steve Jobs on the cover with an open letter stating he was experiencing a hormone imbalance, and at this time his focus was on getting his health back. Naturally that morning rumors floated about that he might make a cameo appearance which kept the conversation going in the hallways. No show! ~For me the whole enhancement of iPhoto was quite amazing, and to go into details would be silly but do check this link out for a overview, impressive. http://www.apple.com/ilife/
Walking around the stalls, and bumping into attendees and chatting there was a clear perspective shared, that future we are waiting for is actually here. The whole convergence of ubiquitous technology available at a lower and lower cost, and the interface and learning curve needed to embrace it being simplified to the benefit of the user was so apparent in many of the new tools, software and hardware we got to see and play around with. This coupled by the reality that a wireless connection now is an expectation a bit like when you turn your lights on electricity automatically delivers the light. This is something I noticed was just a given in this setting. The key was a large percentage of the tools, gadgets, and hardware available made the assumption connectivity is a given.
We where somewhat surprised by the large amount of small companies who are piggy backing on the iPod, iTouch and iPhone success. Accessories, add ons, plug ins, integrated solutions, a plelifery of headphone options and even a set of glasses that plug into your iPhone or iTouch which lets you have a full screen experience with surround sound….the future has come to us 
.
We got to see Steve Wozniak (inventor of the first Apple) and his new collaboration the modbook. This a tablet Mac developed by Axiotron. The presentation and conversations of both Steve and the Axiotron CEO Andreas, was a lovely glimpse into IT ingenuity, customization and venture capitol money all blending together to bring an interesting product. You got the sense from many of the stalls that inventiveness, ingenuity, and the comfort and capability to unlearn, learn and relearn was the nectar which made many of these developers and IT folks tick.
A perfect place for my 13 year old son, to get a taste of the learning and collaboration which he will face in the real world. A setting with humor, marvel and a lovely edge to ideas. ~a reminder that throughout history change has always been embraced by men and women not scared to be a little crazy, out of sink and comfortable forgetting a box exists ……a good way to transition back to work on Monday.
Nice show!
In my role of an IT Director, and someone who often is an instigator, facilitator and generate of change in a school setting……a reflection is due after another year
~Change, something new, moving in a different direction, adding something, enhancing, streamlining, consolidating, creating, starting a new, embellishing, undoing, redoing, unlearning, and relearning. All cause a tension, a stress, generate questions, suspicion, curiosity, fear, disagreement, dispute, anxiety, animosity, and a feeling of loss of control at some level.
Whatever part of the process, the stage you are involved with the change, the implementation………it is a matter of balance, timing, patience, and persistence with a soft glove………….and bridging from one understanding to another…..balancing perceptions and lenses, and trying to find the middle ground.
The crazy thing, in the global perspective …….the feelings that school change brings about is a pin drop of change compared to the horrors, pain, suffering, and sheer inhumanity that unfortunately populates so many of our media stories. Yes an obvious observation, but if maybe next time when one of us is experiencing change, or perception of…..we stopped and switched our lens to the reality outside. In that moment we took the time to stop and just allow ourselves to breath, feel, and think. The fraction of time for us to do this providing us maybe with the missing balance and perspective we so often forget in the emotion of our bubble.
So as 2008 bumps out, looking for a moment of global calm and balance for all.
Peace
John @ISTES
Cyber Bullying it is the laptops fault, technology is causing this…….I think is a common misunderstanding of many issues related to cyberspace behavior. Somehow because the venue is so different from the past venues, that of the land line, stuffed anonymous envelop in the lockers, the wild rumor shared around the lockers….there is an ease by many to point the finger at the tools. The reality is that it is still about appropriate behavior, collective norms, and empathy and the juggle of confusing emotions and how this mix interacts in a social setting of a child between the ages of 11-17. I feel often schools are quick to point to the IT Department to come up with the solution, and expertise on such dynamics. Wrong. This is something that schools need to have their counselors and teachers engage with as part of the pastoral care that takes place in the school day. It is another level of behavior and interaction that is part of the whole school experience, however negative or positive. The Web 2.0 tools that become the venue for this socialization should not veil the important fact that the behavior is what is causing the emotion, conflict and often pain to the students interacting with each other. To address these in a school setting is an agreed investment in dialogue, trust, and support. The trick is to facilitate this in a context with a connection that will engage the kids to share and trust to open up, when things go a little off. It is in many ways a cultural shift, where the focus turns to face to face dialogue, support and interactions in the class environment which high light the challenges, the dynamics, and pitfalls of social interaction going nasty on the web.
Jeff U. http://www.thethinkingstick.com/ has got me to participate in a podcast this week with David C. http://lessonslearned.edublogs.org the question is How to shift when administrators are not on board? For me if the administrators are not on board, then engaging in a shift is going to be an upward battle, and unfortunately too often frustrating, and the impact of the shift dissipated. If you are going to make a shift in implementing, initiating, or developing a new IT pedagogy in an international school, I feel you have to start with the Administrators first. It is a non negotiable for making the shift “happen“, Why? School Administrators in International Schools are the decision makers, and the stakeholder group that has the ability to implement and generate clear accountability for implementation. They have the capacity to create systems, procedures, and process that will engage different stakeholder groups with the shift, and provide the financial, and institutional support for this to take place and become part of the culture of the school.
BUT what most often happens is that many IT initiatives start at a grass roots level, with a teacher or two piloting an idea, and then through a system of osmosis more people get interested. Then a needs develops where people feel they want this department wide or section wide. This is then most often pushed up to the Administration. This then competes with a whole load of other initiatives, and often is then pushed back, or gets lost in the shuffle. I believe that if you are going to start any IT initiative the first group to work with is your administration.
A case study: In my current school we wanted to start a laptop program, the first group we targeted was the Administration. We all got them laptops and made the school wireless. We had a 4 month period for them to start working with the laptops and wireless, and also developed an understanding that these laptops would be used at all Admin meetings and that each administrator would model the use of these within their respective section of the school in staff meetings. The process allowed each administrator to quickly appreciate the flexibility of the laptop for planning , collaboration, and giving them creative ways to share and present. This quickly become indispensable tools. The conversation now switched to how each of the administrators started seeing how this could benefit the teachers. So we got a group of volunteers from the teaching staff to pilot the use of the laptops plus a projector. This group of faculty quickly adopted these, and there was within a few weeks a marked difference was evident with the way they delivered the lessons and engaged the kids in a learning process. From there we then expanded this to include all faculty, and in tandem introduced wireless laptop carts. Within months the laptop cart had such a high demand, and with the teachers integrating these within their curriculum, saw a transition where technology tools became a critical resources in the learning process of the students. The demand outstripped the supply, this was a perfect time then to transition to a 1 to 1 model where we are today with our Middle School and now going to our High School.
So what happened? As the administrators were the ones who first hand dealt and used the new tools they developed an understanding within their culture of the potential impact on learning. They as a group quickly through experience and integrating the laptops in their own day, realized in a very concrete manner the potential for these in a classroom setting. Their understanding and buy-in framed the next steps of the process with a clear strategic decision to move forward. They as a stakeholder group came to understand the importance of the use of laptops, and were then able to support, facilitate and buy into setting up time, monies, and a procedure for this to be implemented school wide. In the process building both social and political capital with the faculty and IT Department. The conversations that occurred with the different groups became more meaningful.
If you are going to put an effort and time with an IT initiative the first stakeholder group to get on board not just with the idea, but actually have them “do it” “use it” “implement it” ! This process alone will expose them to issues, understandings, and experiences that will have them better equipped to move forward in any decision. They point for me, is the bumps, frustrations, and problems they will experience will give them clear talking points to include in the system, process and procedure they will adopt for further buy in by other stakeholder groups.
okay it is top down, but for a good reason
John @ISETS
It has been a crazy month, weeks, launched the 1 to 1 laptop in the Middle School, then followed up with the transition to letting the students take them home….. juggling the options and needs of a new Student Information System…. and making sure the process and procedure allows us to make a good choice, with a clear understanding that nothing is perfect and everything has a learning curve……
sprinkled in between this, was a trip to Beijing China. It had been 8 years, and the change, and face lift the city has had with the push of the Olympics was mind boggling… I did not recognize it. It was evident, that there is a shift in the world and the Chinese are the new big players. The days actually where spent doing an IT Audit for an International School there…the visit, conversations, observations, and collective discussions brought about a lot of points of reflection on my own role as an IT Director. It is always so much easier going into a school and looking from the outside inside, and then coming up with talking points, frameworks and observations for improvement, or enhancements. It is interesting how this whole area of having IT Audit done by other International School IT folks is still new. I think the exchange and collaboration bring a lot to both parties. I left after a busy busy three days, with greater clarity on my own goals, and direction, strategy and belief about the school I work in, and the people I collaborate with. In return I from the outside was able to restate, re-frame many understanding about the IT systems, process and procedures which where in place that need to be looked at, and enhanced AND that the staff and faculty themselves already had highlighted. As Jamie McKenzie always says ” there are no prophets in your own back yard.”
Next today I head out to Jakarta to help out with the http://www.learningdigital.org/ conference, which I will be facilitating workshops and co-presenting the Sunday Keynote….
it is often amazing how as an IT Director and part of a collaborative group of people in my school how often we get eaten up by the day, and almost are blinded by the day to day grudge of our responsibilities, variables and tasks, that there is little time to reflect, sit back, and get into the academic aspects of our work, and the impact and connections with the world outside. For me these trips are a unique opportunity to sit back, and connect and start remembering why I love this field and work… and how important that we understand we all are facilitators of an understanding of the Digital World out there around us. The pace, tempo and stress of International Schools tends to prevent us too often from reflecting and digging deeper into the meaning of our work, ideas, actions and plans. So as I head out, and get to spend a few days with other educators, and Jeff Utecht: http://www.thethinkingstick.com/ and David Elliot as co-faciliators of the keynotes…. my mind is ready for the academic juggle, exchange and sharing. This allowing again to frame my own day, and busyness with critical moments of refleciton on what this is all about…. Information Technology in International Schools.
John @ISTES
Presenting to a group of parents about an upcoming 1 to 1 Laptop Program we are about to launch this fall with our Middle school. On one mid week evening we had invited students to come and share their work they had produced in integration with various projects and tasks they had been involved with throughout the year. One piece of work was a very powerful multimedia piece incorporating movie, music, and keynote (Apples answer to PowerPoint with more mmmff). It was a short 5 minute piece of work which focused on child labor in India and the impact and injustice associated with this situation. This was done for a Social Studies project on Slavery. The combination of timing, music, content, images and the students really understanding the power of the different mediums, there relationship, and how to integrate each applications was extremely powerful. The effect on the audience was emotional and strong. To me it was a delightful confirmation that these students clearly understood their topic, and had the creative power to deliver it in a way that left an impact on the audience. More importantly it was evidence of their deep understanding of not only the applications but how to combine an intense topic and deliver it within a clear and consice medium that they interact and live with in their day to day lives. Standing up on the stage reading the similar topic and concept outload from an essay would have left us all indifferent. The students tapped into their comfort zone, that of multimedia using todays digital mediums which they are exposed to on a daily basis in multiple venues. Nice one!
John@ISTES
Growing up Online!
…there a bit of fuss, stress and at times surprise…..that is fine and hopefully the fuss dynamic will reconnect us, with conversations ….parents and kids. It is not about the digital generation and us, it is about how we might have all (parent, and kids) not taken the time to sit and listen, watch, participate without throwing in an opinion, remark and perspective from our lense only. I hear, they are always online, not connecting. Kids on MSN, Facebook, and others……so instead of always trying to control and dictate their time span through your parameters… why not walk over to the kids hanging on the screen and ask, watch and listen. Okay there also is the whole dynamic of trust…but will not go there……. I am fortunate and have had a great coach that framed the issue, about spending time together. ~So I had a lovely evening with my son, he showed me his Facebook, I showed mine, we spent and hour together, poking around, me listening, hearing, and then sharing …..
So maybe if you cannot hang face to face, get online, get a Facebook, chat etc…. and go to them have them mentor you, and in the moments when you are both sitting next to each other let yourself listen, hear, nothing more, let them share their world, let them bring you in….from there it is still the same, it is about hanging out together, spending time…. in maybe a new paradigm but the basics are the same… human interaction.
John@ISETS
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_A-ZVCjfWf8
NO the Sex Pistols are not part of the digital generation. The picture and the above youtube link to Vision of K-12 Students, are each a statement about an age, a time, a generation and an expression. I get to watch and observe quite a few classes, and see students in the context of their lesson, unit and/or course.
And still today, many of these kids, sit, listen, take notes, and passively (as best they can) take it in. But that is not what they want……why sit there at a desk, when around you is this whole world of interaction, social networking, collaboration, creation, opportunities to step in analyze, responded, and most importantly create.
I believe that the disconnect for some kids with the way information and learning is set up in the context of the classroom, motivates them to sign off.
Why? that would be a long story. I think for me, who was one of those kids not being able to sit through long endless monologues, and then in isolation have to deliver my memory of facts, the ability for passive intake is over for most of our students. They are surrounded with a world which begs for creativity, critical thinking, multitasking, and is actually saying send me people that can unlearn learn and relearn. These critical attributes are what I believe will give our kids the edge in a world where creativity and innovation have become a global commodity.
To be honest I think most teachers who still feel obliged to sit their students through endless monologues, with reams of vocabulary lists, quotes, definitions etc…are maybe involuntarily…. afraid, not sure or hesitant to open their teaching style to a collaborative interchange, where everyone creates some concrete learning hands on!
If you are surrounded by a world that begs to multi task, which becomes the norm for your own social interaction, is the measure by how you exist with your peers…..how one stays connected, informed and in tune… would you not expect this to be harnessed and integrated in the learning process for every child.
Somehow it isn’t in many schools. True there are so many variables, and constraints on facilitating a learning which enrages, engages and effects kids in a way which allows them to experience: analyze it, manipulate it and then use it in a kaleidescope of mediums, each time tweaking, and altering this knowledge to fit new variables.
I think sometimes where the real cutting edge learning is going on, is out of the classroom, at night in the afternoons, with Web 2.0 tools that our kids have embraced in a way that it is not an add on, but part of their fabric as humans eager to learn and grow.
John @ISTES
thought of safety, the concept of a zone where one has one’s own unique space, easy to kind of kick back, day dream, muse and ponder.
http://www.socialsafety.org/teens_cyberbullying.html http://www.socialsafety.org/teens_quick_tips.html
http://www.socialsafety.org/teens_tmi.html
guess what the journal tucked in your cabinet, under your bed, the whispers you share that do not leave the room, suddenly have gone for a paradigm shift,
………….. online for you, me , them, us, they and over there to read, react, hear, listen, talk, and somehow before you now it they, he, she, them, us are there in that zone, unique space and corner of the world where secrets where for only the chosen few.
bla bla bla, I will never be a poet, or a writer. But today I was caught in a series of interviews, meetings, heavy, with heart and kept the day on its toes…. then I walk the corridors bump a couple shoulders and a hello realizing the kids around me and privacy somehow has transcended to a new level or has the craze of Web 2.0, internet and technology fooled them into a false sense of safety…. how much is naivety, how much is innocence, and how much maybe is just a new understanding, reality and change.
I like the above three links, thanks to Karenthelibrarian who shared them… nothing amazing, but hit a chord with me and got me thinking.
John @ISETS
