Where is Your Class Blog?

I can't remember the last time I looked in the physical phone book for a phone number, opened an encyclopedia, only got my news from TV/newspaper, or had a land line phone in a house I've lived in. 
...and I'm not complaining.

I now have several devices that allow me to do all these things and more no matter where I am.  Not only do I look up business information on Google to get a phone number...but I read what other people say, read detailed lists of their services, and click one button which will transfer me to my 'GPS' app and give me instant directions from wherever I happen to be. 

Like I would waste my time finding all of this out from a phone book...

In fact, I often feel I'm caught in the middle of generations. I grew up doing all my research for papers in the library, dug through card catalogs, wrote endless amounts of note cards, and had to have my parents drop my friends and I off at the public library just to complete homework for middle school.  But I also remember when the library at school first got a couple of Encarta CD's...and magically we could type in what we wanted and have our answers! (Naturally there were many library arguments over those CDs.) By high school...I don't really remember ever going to the library to do research.  It was necessary in college somewhat, but mostly because it was a quiet place with lots of outlets for laptops.  My point is...I was old enough to learn the "old ways", that my predecessors constantly remind me of, and yet young enough to be in with all the "new ways".  This gives me the choice as to how I will get information.  Will I be old fashioned and stay true to my roots or use the newest Internet and technology tools?  That's a rhetorical question of course.

Who says you can't have a "virtual" Friday Folder?

So how does this apply to the dissemination of information in schools and school districts?  As a student at any age in school today from kindergarten to high school I can tell you I would prefer you to have some sort of electronic/Internet based information system.  So why do we keep giving them paper?  Parents.  Some parents will naturally prefer something they can stick on their refrigerator (although I would argue most have a perfectly good printer), while others are more on my side as to how they get information.  For instance, I'm at the store and I just remembered I think it's my child's snack day at school tomorrow.  How do I check to make sure?  What if I just went to the teacher's blog/site and looked it up?  I will tell you one thing...when my future yet-to-exist children make it to school I better be able to check everything from my iPhone or I won't know what is going on.

I've always felt education as a whole system tends to be a couple steps behind on technological advances purely for reasons of the process for purchasing things in districts.  However, the Internet is here now, we all have it at school, and there really is no excuse not to be getting your classroom information online. 

Here are  my thoughts about the pros for an online classroom blog/newsletter versus the typical format:

• Save Paper
• Be more dynamic - instead of 2 pictures, a slideshow of hundreds
• Feedback/commenting instantly
• Customizable, creative, and fun!
• Parents can subscribe in many ways, like choosing to be e-mailed when updates are posted
• Something changes? No need to re-print, just re-post.
• I'm not aware of paper being made yet that can play videos...
• Add-ons are endless and growing: calendars, slideshows, "apps" for students (i.e. dictionary)
• Easier consistent access.

Just keep in mind, you can't make a classroom blog and expect all parents to instantly go there to get information.  While we've been teaching their students how to read and multiply fractions, we've been conditioning parents to go through those Friday folders with a fine tooth comb.  Do both for a period of time, always encouraging parents to check out the "online version".   Allow parents to opt-out of receiving the papers once they get used to other options.  We do know that not everyone has access at home to computers and/or Internet, but they are now in the minority.  As we start to shift how we get information in our lives, it's time to start shifting how we disseminate it for our classroom as well.

"Growing Up" with Technology

I often tell people that I didn’t always have technology growing up, and if I can get past the rolling eyes of my older colleagues I continue by saying that in fact I did “grow up” with technology in a particular way.  The milestones in my education growing up were punctuated with important technology advances that we had no option but to adjust to. 

A "visual timeline" of the most iconic
technology tools of all time.  Being born right
after the Nintendo (NES), I've experienced
a whole lot of technology changes in my life.
Original Link

When I started school we didn't use computers whatsoever.  By 3rd grade I remember going to a "computer class", and using that old Encarta CD to look up facts for class.  Through the years at home we began to acquire technology, going from a computer with only DOS through dial-up days and eventually having a fairly capable computer with cable Internet by the time I was in high school.  I continued using technology in school, although I never saw an interactive whiteboard until I was in college.  Fast forward to present day when I have more technology in my one classroom than ANY class I was ever in growing up, even though I'm only 24.


What "growing up" with technology did to my generation is something I think we're missing as an opportunity for with our students.  It taught us to troubleshoot, problem solve, and always be thinking of ways to make things  better.  These key qualities that employers clearly value are being lost on the children we're teaching today, so why is that?


I used to fix the computer at my house when it had issues, and even the computers at school.  But more than that, I used to come up with better ways to do things using the available technology...something I still do today.  Now though, kids are born with a cell phone camera aimed at their little face, iPad's used to practice motor skills, and by the time I get them in 4th grade they have gotten more technology for birthdays and Christmas than I ever have.


Bottom line...we're missing a big opportunity to let those students get their creative juices flowing and thinking of the next big thing.  We're either so overwhelmed with the current state of technology we have, or we just don't have time, that we have stopped thinking about what's next altogether unless Steve Jobs schedules another media event.


As teachers we not only need to model tech use, but more importantly get it in the students' hands by whatever means possible.  It's no longer an option not to utilize tech tools because you might think it's "good for them" or you don't want to learn.  Think about as teachers how we never STOP using technology to perform regular functions of our job: lesson plans, putting in grades, creating work for students, checking and writing e-mail, etc.  Those systems have only gotten more sophisticated through the years and they will continue to do so for those kids in our rooms today.  You don't have to steer kids towards  a particular field, prepare them ALL for college necessarily, but preparing them for the "future" is the biggest task we face.

Mostly because we're already behind in educating them for the present.