Scott Garrian's Comments
Rosemary Goodman
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Now that Scott has taken the plunge to be part of this discussion, I thought I
would join in with a few of my own comments about the future of technology in
education.
I graduated from Lehigh University last May with a Masters Degree in Educational
Technology.
Scott was one of my professors and a definite inspiration!
Thanks to Scott and a few others, I believe that I have developed a passion for
technology that I now try to instill in my students.
I am still a classroom teacher for the first half of the day, but my afternoon
is spent as technology coordinator for Blairstown Elementary School.
Thanks to progressive administrators and a board of education who have had the
insight to recognize the important role that technology will play in the future
of education, our rather small (K-6) district of 700+ students not only has an
educational technology coordinator, but it also a technical support person.
Our staff is offered on-going training and support every day of the week.
Our teachers are enthusiastic learners and eager to apply what they have learned
in their classrooms!
I think we are on the right track and probably could be considered a "good
model."
I 'd like to tell all of you from experience that Scott's comment about kids not
wanting to learn what we traditionally have wanted to teach them and the way we
have wanted to teach them, is right on target.
Education needs an overhaul!
Students need to take on more responsibility for their own learning in a
student-centered learning environment.
Teachers need to facilitate the learning process and guide students toward
mastering objectives and/or standards, but not control learning.
I'm sure Lev Vygotsky would agree!
I work with students every day on special technology projects.
The enthusiasm and dedication these kids exhibit is amazing!
It's not that the content of what I'm teaching them is new, but the use of
technology is, and their excitement about learning in a new way is obvious!!
Last, but not least, I'd like to give credit to the parents in our community who
support our efforts to keep current with the advances in technology.
Our six week computer camp this summer was full, volunteer parents serve on our
technology committee, parents help to staff our media center, and the last
project I started with my students (Think Quest Junior Web Page Design Contest)
was suggested by a parent.
I have a vision about the future of technology integration in our school that I
know will become a reality.
Thanks, Scott, for being an inspiration!
Rose Goodman
Scott Garrigan wrote:
> Hi all from a 5-or-6 year lurker,
>
> It's very easy to find bad models for schools (or anything). We need good
> models to show what can be done rather than bad to excuse why things aren't
> working.
>
> In schools, a good model is the work of Deborah Meier, "The Power of Their
> Ideas, Lessons for America From a Small School in Harlem," and other titles.
>
> Citing all the gloomy statistics isn't as illuminating as a single model
> that works year-after-year.
>
> The issue isn't that a discussion of parental involvement and educational
> ideals is out of place in this list, but rather that technology and
> networks are powerless without passionate, dedicated teachers and parents.
> The baloney about kids not "wanting to learn" is a copout -- they just
> don't want to learn what they think we want to teach them. In many cases, I
> don't blame them.
>
> Barry's idea's about what we know about how the brain learns are incredibly
> important, but it doesn't replace the caring parent, teacher, and
> community, which will still be needed after we have learned all there is to
> know about the brain.
>
> Cheers,
>
> --Scott
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Scott Garrigan Coordinator of District Networking
> Bethlehem Area School District email: sgar...@beth.k12.pa.us
> Bethlehem, PA 18017 voice: 610-807-5571 fax: 610-807-5526
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Now that Scott has taken the plunge to be part of this discussion, I thought
I would join in with a few of my own comments about the future of technology
in education.
<br>I graduated from Lehigh University last May with a Masters Degree in
Educational Technology.
<br>Scott was one of my professors and a definite inspiration!
<br>Thanks to Scott and a few others, I believe that I have developed a
passion for technology that I now try to instill in my students.
<br>I am still a classroom teacher for the first half of the day, but my
afternoon is spent as technology coordinator for Blairstown Elementary
School.
<br>Thanks to progressive administrators and a board of education who have
had the insight to recognize the important role that technology will play
in the future of education, our rather small (K-6) district of 700+ students
not only has an educational technology coordinator, but it also a technical
support person.
<br>Our staff is offered on-going training and support every day of the
week.
<br>Our teachers are enthusiastic learners and eager to apply what they
have learned in their classrooms!
<br>I think we are on the right track and probably could be considered
a "good model."
<br>I 'd like to tell all of you from experience that Scott's comment about
kids not wanting to learn <b>what</b> we traditionally have wanted to teach
them and <b>the way</b> we have wanted to teach them, is right on target.
<br>Education needs an overhaul!
<br>Students need to take on more responsibility for their own learning
in a student-centered learning environment.
<br>Teachers need to facilitate the learning process and guide students
toward mastering objectives and/or standards, but not control learning.
<br>I'm sure Lev Vygotsky would agree!
<br>I work with students every day on special technology projects.
<br>The enthusiasm and dedication these kids exhibit is amazing!
<br>It's not that the content of what I'm teaching them is new, but the
use of technology is, and their excitement about learning in a new way
is obvious!!
<br>Last, but not least, I'd like to give credit to the parents in our
community who support our efforts to keep current with the advances in
technology.
<br>Our six week computer camp this summer was full, volunteer parents
serve on our technology committee, parents help to staff our media center,
and the last project I started with my students (Think Quest Junior Web
Page Design Contest) was suggested by a parent.
<br>I have a vision about the future of technology integration in
our school that I know will become a reality.
<br>Thanks, Scott, for being an inspiration!
<br>Rose Goodman
<p>Scott Garrigan wrote:
<blockquote TYPE=CITE>Hi all from a 5-or-6 year lurker,
<p>It's very easy to find bad models for schools (or anything). We need
good
<br>models to show what can be done rather than bad to excuse why things
aren't
<br>working.
<p>In schools, a good model is the work of Deborah Meier, "The Power of
Their
<br>Ideas, Lessons for America From a Small School in Harlem," and other
titles.
<p>Citing all the gloomy statistics isn't as illuminating as a single model
<br>that works year-after-year.
<p>The issue isn't that a discussion of parental involvement and educational
<br>ideals is out of place in this list, but rather that technology and
<br>networks are powerless without passionate, dedicated teachers and parents.
<br>The baloney about kids not "wanting to learn" is a copout -- they just
<br>don't want to learn what they think we want to teach them. In many
cases, I
<br>don't blame them.
<p>Barry's idea's about what we know about how the brain learns are incredibly
<br>important, but it doesn't replace the caring parent, teacher, and
<br>community, which will still be needed after we have learned all there
is to
<br>know about the brain.
<p>Cheers,
<p>--Scott
<p>------------------------------------------------------------------------
<br>Scott Garrigan
Coordinator of District Networking
<br>Bethlehem Area School District email: sgar...@beth.k12.pa.us
<br>Bethlehem, PA 18017
voice: 610-807-5571 fax: 610-807-5526</blockquote>
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