Because at least once a month I am trying to introduce some new technology or device to someone or a group of people, this chart is so fitting. My latest questions were about “the Seesaw app“. Now I know the answer. Although I would still ask a few more questions, given it presents excellent features and could be a game changer.
At the Nanjing International School, we use both the IBO curriculum and we are trying to adopt NoTosh’s ideas about Design Thinking.
I might argue that since we are trying to follow both the IB Design Curriculum AND Design Thinking we ask students to choose from at least one strand in each criterion. In my teaching career with MYP, I have noticed most times every item from the IBO’s level 7-8 criteria does not make sense for students to complete. They are not realistic and rather than student being informed by the process, they are bored out of their mind.
A case example:
If students would like to make a website, they might only choose:
Criterion A: Inquiring and analysing
The student:
i. explains and justifies the need for a solution to a problem for a client/ target audience
ii. constructs a detailed research plan, which identifies and prioritizes the primary and secondary research needed to develop a solution to the problem independently
iii. analyses a range of existing products that inspire a solution to the problem in detail
iv. develops a detailed design brief, which summarizes the analysis of relevant research.
Criterion B: Developing ideas
The student:
i. develops detailed design specifications, which explain the success criteria for the design of a solution based on the analysis of the research (in this case, a website layout)
ii. develops a range of feasible design ideas, using an appropriate medium(s) and detailed annotation, which can be correctly interpreted by others
iii. presents the chosen design and justifies fully and critically its selection with detailed reference to the design specification
iv. develops accurate and detailed planning drawings/diagrams and outlines requirements for the creation of the chosen solution.
Criterion C: Creating the solution
The student:
i. constructs a detailed and logical plan, which describes the efficient use of time and resources, sufficient for peers to be able to follow to create the solution
ii. demonstrates excellent technical skills when making the solution.
iii. follows the plan to create the solution, which functions as intended and is presented appropriately
iv. fully justifies changes made to the chosen design and plan when making the solution.
Criterion D: Evaluating
The student:
i. designs detailed and relevant testing methods, which generate data, to measure the success of the solution
ii. critically evaluates the success of the solution against the design specification based on authentic product testing
iii. explains how the solution could be improved
iv. explains the impact of the product on the client/target audience. (IBO, 2014)
Following this idea, teachers would still have something to mark for every criterion, but it would be more succinct and we could enable the FUN back into the learning. I would emphasize that we would want the students to choose and (verbally) justify why they have chosen those criteria. Along the lines of Design Thinking, we want the kids to: “be immersed, synthesize, ideate, prototype, and then display” (NoTosh, 2015).
I think it is important that we follow the rules, but as educators we need to realize when the rules should be broken if we are ensuring that our students are not enjoying the subject matter.
Thoughts?
As a new tech integration specialist, moving to a school where they were changing from the tech class to the tech integration model there were certain things that needed to be understood beforehand.
Some of these key ideas I posted in a post called Technology Integration: a six-pronged approach. Other ideas, however, had more to do with dealing with the emotions of colleagues and I will touch on this now. I would liken these Kübler-Ross’ “Five Stages of Grief” to the emotions that many of the teachers went through when learning they were dealing with a new strategy for technology:
Denial: Most home room teachers who have been at the school for sometime, upon hearing that their school will be moving to this model will be in shock, and do not really understand what this means. Some may decide that they do not have time to meet with or interact with the new ‘tech integrator’ assuming this stance as one where they can keep their heads in the sand as long as possible until they will have to deal with what has been given to them.
As a tech integrator it means you need to explain the process to teachers, knowing full-well that many of the words you say or write are falling on deaf ears. It is of utmost importance that you have patience knowing that they are dealing with change, and are there to offer reassurance, help and support when they are ready to receive it.
Anger: One of the biggest gripes from teachers is that they “have lost their prep. period”. They do not see the big picture yet and feel like they have gained nothing, but definitely lost what most teachers treasure most – time.
As a tech integrator, this means that you have to be ready to act as the messenger, fully realizing that some teachers will be ready to shoot you. Again, patience and understanding are key here. Note that I am not saying, “push for your right to integrate tech”. A tech integrators role, especially in the early stages, has more to do with empathizing and supporting than it does with integrating technology. Be kind, be patient, listen, and support.
Bargaining: At this stage many teachers are still not ready to accept the role of the tech integrator and may decide that they will ‘leave for a coffee for the entire period’ while you teach the class in their classroom. Although this may need to happen at first to ease into the transition there needs to be bargaining and compromise from both sides. For instance, the tech integrator eventually needs to explain that his role is to be working with the teachers to integrate technology into the classroom.
The tech integrator eventually wants to work his way out of the job. Essentially, he should be developing computer skills in all the teachers to such a degree that he can begin focussing his role more as a learning coach than a tech integrator.
Another worry from teachers is about how they will do the tech teaching themselves, how they are going to mark, who is going to mark, etc. These questions should all be explicitly focused upon over time with the tech integrator helping out along the way. Remember, this is not a journey that will take a year. In my experience and that of others, it takes between three and five years to fully move to tech integration.
Depression: There may be some hidden or some outright depression along the way. Teachers may say things like, “I don’t know how to teach technology; I just don’t have the skill set; or Please, can you come and teach my class.”
As a tech integrator, the initial stage will mean getting to know all the teachers needs through regular meetings and setting up classroom visits. However, upon you understanding the support necessary for different teachers, accommodation takes place at different levels. For example, some teachers may want a lesson to be taught completely by the tech integrator. Others, may want to team teach. Other still, may want you there only as moral support or support when something gets tricky. And finally, many may want you to teach them individually either for personal or professional purposes. This is where the acceptance stage has started kicking in.
Acceptance: Not only is there a light at the end of the tunnel, but it is a bright shiny light when everyone reaches the end of that tunnel. Here are some reasons:
While the stages are not the same for all teachers, a technology integrator stepping into these shoes in a school where they are changing from tech classes to integration is unwittingly going to stumble across some, if not all, of the teachers in one stage or another. He needs to mentally prepare himself for the situation and recognize that he won’t be liked by most upon arrival. He needs to remember to support, support, support. In two or three years he will be loved even more than the tech teacher who would take the kids off the teachers hands so they could have a break. Eventually, he will become the most loved teacher through all the school, even more than the gym teacher!!
One of the projects on the back of my mind for our school is to buddy different classes or grades with “sister school” throughout the world. Where this most often becomes is through technology, authentic needs and projects, and through meeting synchronously at the same time. To alleviate this last worry, I was examining the idea to limit the schools we would connect with to those within our own timezone (for now).
Time Zones
This would mean that we could still get a cross-cultural feel for how things are in different parts of the world, but never have mix-ups or hiccups because of timing. I can envision it now:
“Ok, great. We’ll Skype with your class at 2pm then.”
“Wait, 2pm your time or mine?”
“Oh, ours.”
“Oh, we will already be gone home.”
This preplanning could fix all of this hassle down the road. Because I am in Istanbul, this gives me a wide gamut of places and schools to consider, for example, Finland, Kiev, Bucharest, Cairo, Lubumbashi, Pretoria, Cape Town, and the list goes on.
Asynchronous conversations would end this worry and could be done through ideas like: Edmodo, Wikis, Blogging, Google Docs, Twitter, Twijector, and more. However, there is definitely something about connecting in real-time. I am excited about the idea and will comment further about the progress and the new problems we may face.
Mr. Jayzeer
education | technology | design 