What's easier: Breaking into Fort Knox or Logging onto your Facebook account at school? (Firewalls and why we don't need them in schools)

During an administrative Elluminate session on Wednesday the topic came up regarding the firewall that prevents some schools to not have access to specific sites.  Personally I taught in two different schools (one Catholic, one Charter) both of which DID NOT have a firewall.

I did teach middle grades in both schools, I had 2 classroom computers in my one and six in the other.  Over the course of seven years, I had only ONE incident where a student used the computer inappropriately, and, in reality, it wasn't even a major issue.

Did kids go on sites they shouldn't have been in ever?  I can honestly say I doubt it.  Why and how?

1. GROUND RULES WERE SET... "Free" time (if there ever was any) students were allowed to go on one of five sites that were bookmarked already for them under "Fun".  They included sites that were deemed fun by the students, but also APPROPRIATE.
 
2. When the technology was being used, IT WAS MONITORED...  Too often I believe the "problems" associated with an open network stems from a lack of teacher involvement and monitoring...  The teacher needs to make the norms of the classroom by both modeling and setting the expectations from Day One.
 
3. THEY WERE EDUCATED...  From parental handouts, to a separate "web safety" section of the monthly newsletter, to the technology and classroom teacher STRESSING "netiquette", to the D.A.'s office coming in warning of the dangers, to a bunch of other events...

IT EVENTUALLY BECAME THE "NORM" OF THE SCHOOL....

The web should not be treated like Fort Knox, it should be treated as a resource that is invaluable for both student and teacher use, but there needs to be an education piece that goes along with the use of it.  Recently I was in a school that had You Tube blocked.  A resource as valuable as this should never be blocked.  At this same school, web 2.0 tools such as wallwisher.com, edmodo.com, and wordle.net were also blocked.  How can we expect our teachers to explore and learn when everywhere they look there is a big

Homework? My Dog Ate It...

Homework.  Kids hate it and Parents (at least of elementary students) aren't big fans either.  The problem that I continue to see though is not that homework is necessarily a bad, evil, thing...

The problem is the lack of understanding of what MEANINGFUL homework looks like.  The lack of student ownership on many homework assignments is a start as to looking what is wrong.  The old paradigm or pointless, rote, worthless homework is now shifting to the new Homework Paradigm that includes the designing of quality homework tasks that include:

• Academic Purpose - tasks should have a clear academic purpose
• Competence - tasks should have a positive effect on a student's sense of competence
• Ownership - tasks should be personally relevant and customized to promote ownership
• Aesthetics - tasks should be aesthetically pleasing (Vatterott, 2009)

This leads to student ownership of homework.  The groundwork for all teachers homework assignments should include:

• Allow for choice
• Offer students an opportunity to personalize their work
• Allow students to share information about themselves and their lives
• Tap emotions, feelings, or opinions about a subject
• Allow students to create products or presentations (Vatterott, 2009)

 Examples that look like:

• Students design their own method for learning multiplication tables that they then share with others - making cards, writing, reading, drawing pictures, or creating a song, rap, or poem.
• Students write a story or newspaper article showing that they know the meaning of the 15 vocabulary words for the week
• Students create a Jeopardy! game that covers the main ideas at the end of the unit
• Students write directions that can be used by other students for how to use a balance beam
• Students create a board game that signifies events of the middle ages (Vatterott, 2007)

What are your thoughts and your school's philosophy on homework?  Is everyone on the same page?  What has worked for your schools?

The Leadership of Early America...

I began watching the History Channel Series, America: The Story of Us Sunday night and I highly recommend it to every educator, or history buff. As I watched the episode though, I found numerous principles of leadership reoccurring throughout the show. George Washington named Baron Von Steuben, an elite soldier from the Prussian Army who's career was supposedly over due to his homosexuality makes him a top commander. Washington placed people in positions to be successful and they were. An effective leader places people in positions to be successful and, when given the support, encouragement, and training needed, good things generally happen and in turn facilitative leadership occurs. Without strong leadership and training, the American Revolution would never have occurred.

John Rolfe (Pure Genius & America's Original Entrepreneur)

1. Obtain some tobacco seeds from South America
2. Marry the Powhatan Chief's hot daughter to gain friendships with the Native Americans
3. Plant your seeds and work with the Powhatan to learn about farming
4. A year later you are a millionaire and thousands come to the New World seeing that prosperity can be had there

Communication

The communications system throughout the colonies during this time was more effective than I ever realized. Without it, there would have been no independence of Great Britain. This was done thanks in large part because of the first Postmaster General, Mr. Benjamin Franklin and his organizational leadership skills. One of the first things I dedicated myself to as principal was to make sure that effective communication lines were open between the students, teachers, and parents. During my internship as an aspiring principal I saw




Collaboration

During the first continental congress, the idea of a United Colonies, came forth. "An attack on one of the colonies, is an attack on us all." The leadership of each of the colonies saw the importance of coming together as one and this was the only way something can be accomplished. Collaboration in education, now more than ever is vital for the prosperity of our children. As educators we must come together and ensure that our students are recieiving a 21st century education  grounded in collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity.  

Quotes from first Episode REBELS... (Various celebrities and academia alike comment throughout the show, definitely enjoyable to hear their take)

When someone is really successful it is rarely luck.  It's talent, it's brainpower, etc... - Donald Trump

The defining strength in America is it's people. - Colin Powell