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| image from: www.google.com/intl/en/chrome/ education/webstore/app-packs.html |
Why collect Ed Tech Tools? I have always viewed technology as a means for improving productivity and impact; that is, how can this help me do what I need to do, faster, better, and quicker than before? I collect..but now as a result of my most recent learning, I am only truly realizing the critical importance of technology integration to learning and collaboration. I now think that we must "disrupt" education as we know it and not only "get with the times" but become leaders and innovators in this critical change process.
Last year I was lucky enough as part of the Learning Partnership, Canada's Outstanding Principals Program to attend the Executive Leadership program through the Rotman School of Management. During this program, we heard from a senior executive at Deloitte who spoke to us about digital disruption. What is digital disruption? It is the change that occurs when new digital technologies and business models affect the benefits of a "traditional" service.
Why Worry About Digital Disruption in Education?
Various businesses have been assessed to determine the extent to which they might be affected by digital disruption. Deloitte (Australia) has created a digital disruption map (see image & video by clicking here) that provides some idea of how different sectors might be affected and to what extent. They qualify the impact by categorizing business sectors according the "fuse" and the "bang". For instance, travel agencies and real estate have a "Short Fuse" and a "Big Bang"; while health care and education have "Long Fuse" and a "Big Bang". While this might ostensibly give those of us in the education sector time to prepare our response....it also in my mind creates a sense of urgency; educational change is notoriously slow to happen. Hence the reason that many classrooms continue to look, sound and feel like the same place my parents and likely their parents spent 13 years of their lives! Don't get me wrong, many classrooms are very different, but those classrooms continue to be in the minority.
Our industry is already experiencing digital disruption; think about the "Massive Open Online Courses", MOOCs, that are now available for free. Some examples include:
Why Is Change So Slow?
Teachers, given the structure of schools, especially in Secondary Schools, are often so isolated from each other. In the past, teachers really had little or no choice but to work in isolation. I believe that this isolation contributed to very slow change in our educational environment. Today, however, there is no excuse for teachers to remain isolated. Classroom doors should be open; we should be learning with and from each other. Also, teachers have the opportunity to connect, collaborate and grow through professional learning networks (PLNs) online through social media.
What Now?
I am passionate about public education. I believe that teachers are the most important part of the educational puzzle. I believe that face-to-face education provides much richer learning opportunities for our students. However, if we "stay the course" and "stick to old, traditional methods of instruction", then I know that we will be DISRUPTED! Our students and/or their parents will "vote with their feet" and will choose alternative digital delivery methods. We no longer hold the "monopoly" on education; students can and do learn whatever they want whenever they want.
HOW WILL YOU BE PART OF PRESERVING PUBLIC EDUCATION?
WHAT WILL YOUR RESPONSE BE TO DIGITAL DISRUPTION?
