Disqus - Latest Comments for Patrick

Re: NCSL Primary SLICT

Patrick — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 20:01:09 -0000

Such great comments here, I am almost left without anything to say; however, the most crucial things in any educational situation are exactly what Kristian and David said above: focus on the teaching and learning first, make sure there are sound principles and practices, set up support for that, and then focus on the technology. Great tools in the hands of poor practitioners doesn't amount to much.

If you are looking for some additional resources to show your administrators (it seems as if that is who your audience is) feel free to use one I created for my administrators last summer: http://spartatechleaders.wikispaces.com

Re: When Technology Attacks…

Patrick — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 06:06:21 -0000

Well done, John. When I saw this article come across in your twitter post, I immediately tagged it for a workshop I am doing in late August for administrators in our district. The more I got into the article, the less I wanted them to see it. Who needs these talking points to refute in a room full of people who need any excuse not to take educational risks for fear of legal consequences? Not saying that administrators aren't innovative, but an article like this, without proper vetting, sets some of us back quite a ways.

Here is my new plan, thanks to your post: deconstruct it point by point without giving them the article to work off of. Instead use it to construct my argument for bringing intelligent use of these technologies into the classroom through modeling and cooperation.

Thanks Scholastic!

Re: One Laptop Per Child: Why We Do What We Do

Patrick — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 20:46:54 -0000

Jon,

Can you imagine the drastic shift that would have to take place in terms of professional development? Inasmuch as the possibility for providing an end to not only the cycle you speak about in your post, but also cycles of that often accompany lives affected by economic hardship really excites me.

Also, did I hear today that Dell has come out with a $399 machine? Even that is within the reach of most districts within the U.S. and abroad.