1. "Rethinking the Role of Educator as Facilitator Amidst Tech Transformation" by MindShift
I am a big fan of both MindShift and the Atlantic! Though it was tempting to just post the Atlantic's article "The Deconstruction of the K-12 Teacher" the conversation between the two articles and the specific application to K-12 in MindShift was important to me. As educators we often face people who do not understand the intricacies of our job. Those who regard electronic resources and search engines as replacements for librarians and classroom teachers are an incredibly dangerous factor in the current evolution of education. I do not think a "guide on the side" or a "tech" who montiors behavior, describes 21st Century teachers. With the resources of the internet at our fingertips, we are curators, disseminators, maestros of information management and without us you would be buried. (Just watch a kindergartener going in blind and you may reconsider.) Differentiation, developmentally appropriate learning, and subject knowledge does not come in an 8-bit box. But some think so...
2. "The Battle for Education" by Steven Wheeler
The chart in Steven's post only builds upon the pressure cooker environment that education has become trying to interface between industry and children. It presents a dichotomy or evolution between the "traditional model" and the "progressive model". It is a great quick start guide for the familiar and "state of the union" for the well versed.
3. "Deconstructing Blackness" by Dr. Nicol Howard
Discussing race, gender, or socioeconomic status in the classroom can feel like a minefield you are ill equipped to deal with. This article lays out simple ways to frame conversation that protect and liberate your students. Clear and creative, it gives you concrete tools for your classroom.
4. "Spreading Positivity" by Toni Sinanis
We set expectation for page headings, line walking, and talking in our classrooms. In this article, Toni Sinanis suggests an activity, #PositivePostItDay, for setting expectations for positive talk and criticism in academic and personal arenas. Though we often are reminded of the example we set through classroom narration, it can be difficult to fit in peer interaction, reasons for respect, and creative phrasing into our curriculum. Meet the solution to all three!
5. "Schools Turn to Technology for Teaching's Sake" by Ryan Petersen
I am skeptical of this article. Technology is often hailed as the savior of education. The next big thing. The future. However, pour tech down the throats of students and educators without careful implementation and best practices is horribly destructive. So I was interested to read about the trend and the successful examples, but throughout I continue to look for those best practices. Why did it work? How can I mirror that success?
6. "Libraries and Librarians in the Internet Age" by Richard Byrne
This video is a great resource for the classroom and the media center. In simple terms, it hits home why we need to mediate technology use. It illustrates the use of consulting information experts to optimize educational experience. If it hasn't occurred to your faculty to consult you for project based learning, research projects, or creating new units, a viewing at a staff meeting may help matters.
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