I recently finished a book by Ted McCain and Ian Jukes called Windows on the Future(Corwin Press) which supported my philosophy for the future of education. In chapter 11, A Need for Vision, they present an analogy which describes my frustration with technology. To paraphrase the story, the blue whale is like the current school model that takes 5-7 minutes to change its direction. A school of thousands of sardines only needs a small percentage(20%) to initiate massive change in seconds. While we are waiting for education to catch up to the business model of technology, what are we doing for the students of today? They don't have 5-7 minutes to wait for us as educators to turn our blue whale around. We need to embrace technology in our classrooms and model lifelong learning to our students. I know that the more I learn about technology the less I can predict what the future of education holds.
I would like to think that I am one of the 20% who initiates change today. I have received grants to purchase influential technology for my students. I try to encourage composition, recording, podcasting, research, and performance through technology. I invite you to visit my website at www.theradiohour.net where you can share my vision with your students.
I look forward to your feedback!
