Russ Crupnick, Senior VP of Industry Analysis gets it. What is this 1984? Technology is now taking over our need to parent? No longer do you as the parent have to tell your child his or her time is up on the Kindle. You can program the device so that mean old Kindle is the bad guy. Read his post below:
https://www.npdgroupblog.com/if-you-cant-tell-time-perhaps-you-shouldnt-be-allowed-to-have-children/
The commercial itself can be viewed here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpuRIJnya5E
Come on Moms and Dads - Mom up and Dad up. Being the bad guy isn't a bad thing. Be a parent, not a friend.
Monday, May 20, 2013
Sunday, May 19, 2013
Screen Time- Is Flex Too Much?
With the increasing use of computers in schools and the fact that too many of us (kids included) spend way too much time with our faces glued to small and large screens (oooh, shiny), the question that begs to be asked is, "How much time is too much screen time?"
I'm all about connecting kids with technology in schools, don't get me wrong. Besides believing in the power of technology to enhance our instruction, if we don't, we risk a whole generation of kids checking out of this thing we call school. However, I am concerned in our rush to increase the use of blended learning in schools that some of us may be taking things a little too far. Of particular concern to me are those folks across the country (e.g., Carpe Diem Schools) implementing the "flex model" of blended learning under the guise of being "innovative". Call me old school, old-fashioned, or whatever, but I don't think computer programs, digital content and the like, no not even Hal, can take the place of the interaction that takes place between a teacher and his or her students during that magical thing called learning. Let embrace the latest and greatest technology, but be mindful of using it to do what it does best, freeing up teachers to do what they do best.
I'm all about connecting kids with technology in schools, don't get me wrong. Besides believing in the power of technology to enhance our instruction, if we don't, we risk a whole generation of kids checking out of this thing we call school. However, I am concerned in our rush to increase the use of blended learning in schools that some of us may be taking things a little too far. Of particular concern to me are those folks across the country (e.g., Carpe Diem Schools) implementing the "flex model" of blended learning under the guise of being "innovative". Call me old school, old-fashioned, or whatever, but I don't think computer programs, digital content and the like, no not even Hal, can take the place of the interaction that takes place between a teacher and his or her students during that magical thing called learning. Let embrace the latest and greatest technology, but be mindful of using it to do what it does best, freeing up teachers to do what they do best.
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Working (or not) for a Technology Start Up Company....
Ah, the cost of wanting to push the edge of the envelope, being on the forefront of innovation, meeting kids where they are in terms of their technology use, increasing their level of engagement and excitement about the process of schooling, and changing the face of education as we know it - unemployment! After 7 months of helping schools implement blended learning classrooms across the country, I find myself unemployed for the first time in 40 years. On the second day of my new life I reflect on what went wrong.....
Education Elements, without a doubt the leading band of forward thinking technology consultants in the country, downsized the band by 50% last week. The "pivot" (corporate speak for "we better do something different 'cause we are running out of money quick") was in response to the market not responding as quickly as hoped, and for that matter as quickly as it should.
We have been talking about transforming schools for the past quarter of a century, but walk into most schools across the country and you'd swear you were back in my old school in the seventies, except of course that now there are laptops instead on Apple IIe's. Unfortunately, too much of the innovation out there in the educationsphere is being driven by grants, all too often all too short. While many education leaders are labeling themselves as "innovative" it is about time somebody stepped up and put their money where their mouths are.
You would be hard pressed to find anyone in the field who could present a case as to why schools should not increase the level of blended learning in today's classrooms. Even those old dogs who just figured out how to text are beginning to see the light. Here's the rub - until school systems, CMO's and boards start making blended learning a priority by funding it within their own budgets rather than relying on grants, schools will look pretty much the same another quarter of a century from now. I will mark my calendar for 25 years from today and make sure I update you on the state of our schools and blended learning, unless all of the kids have completely checked out by then....
Personal note - My apologies for not posting for the past 7 months. It was grueling trying to change the system. Time to figure out another approach?
Education Elements, without a doubt the leading band of forward thinking technology consultants in the country, downsized the band by 50% last week. The "pivot" (corporate speak for "we better do something different 'cause we are running out of money quick") was in response to the market not responding as quickly as hoped, and for that matter as quickly as it should.
We have been talking about transforming schools for the past quarter of a century, but walk into most schools across the country and you'd swear you were back in my old school in the seventies, except of course that now there are laptops instead on Apple IIe's. Unfortunately, too much of the innovation out there in the educationsphere is being driven by grants, all too often all too short. While many education leaders are labeling themselves as "innovative" it is about time somebody stepped up and put their money where their mouths are.
You would be hard pressed to find anyone in the field who could present a case as to why schools should not increase the level of blended learning in today's classrooms. Even those old dogs who just figured out how to text are beginning to see the light. Here's the rub - until school systems, CMO's and boards start making blended learning a priority by funding it within their own budgets rather than relying on grants, schools will look pretty much the same another quarter of a century from now. I will mark my calendar for 25 years from today and make sure I update you on the state of our schools and blended learning, unless all of the kids have completely checked out by then....
Personal note - My apologies for not posting for the past 7 months. It was grueling trying to change the system. Time to figure out another approach?
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Validated Evaluation Rubric for Mobile Applications (APPS)
As promised, the link below will connect you to the empirically validated evaluation rubric for mobile apps that was the result of my doctoral research at Johns Hopkins University. I appreciate everyone's support who contributed as subject matter experts in the study, as well as those who are currently using and adapting the rubric in their wok around the world. When my dissertation is completed, I will be certain to provide a link so that any interested may have easy access to my research.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/169iZMhNMB_ycJLRT2zSRbozAR_1TiGQ1-FmjfKzoppk/edit
And if you have been wondering where I've been..... 40 days and 40 nights without a post......
At the end of October, I resigned after 32.8 years in the public schools to take a senior consultant position with Education Elements. Our company is in the process of truly transforming education. And I thought I was changing the world before. We are doing amazing work all over the country designing and implementing personalized learning environments for kids. I'll have more about my work in an upcoming blog. Until then, you can check out my new company at-
http://educationelements.com/
If you have tried reaching out to me in the past month, your emails have likely gotten kicked back as I no longer work in BCPS system. You can reach me at harry.walker@comcast.net. I look forward to reconnecting with folks I have worked with in the past.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/169iZMhNMB_ycJLRT2zSRbozAR_1TiGQ1-FmjfKzoppk/edit
And if you have been wondering where I've been..... 40 days and 40 nights without a post......
At the end of October, I resigned after 32.8 years in the public schools to take a senior consultant position with Education Elements. Our company is in the process of truly transforming education. And I thought I was changing the world before. We are doing amazing work all over the country designing and implementing personalized learning environments for kids. I'll have more about my work in an upcoming blog. Until then, you can check out my new company at-
http://educationelements.com/
If you have tried reaching out to me in the past month, your emails have likely gotten kicked back as I no longer work in BCPS system. You can reach me at harry.walker@comcast.net. I look forward to reconnecting with folks I have worked with in the past.
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Do You Kuno?
What's this? A competitor for the iPad? Not so fast Josh and JR (CEO and Vice President). At a $500 price point, breakage issues, and ice cream sandwich (not a big fan, the platform this is, not the treat), I'm not convinced. Your timing was great, seeing a great opportunity to cash in on the tablet market, but your product? Not the "biggest competitor" to the iPad as Eric Lai suggests in this ZDNet posting. Me? I'm still hanging around what for the iPad Mini to be released. Come on Apple.....
Saturday, October 6, 2012
Capitalism - Alive and Well, But Really?
Okay, I'll admit it. I am proud to be an American, a dyed in the wool capitalist and proud of it, but really, $197 for a webinar to have some published, tech geek share his top apps? This guy, Harry Dickens, co-author of Apps for Learning: 40 Best iPad/iPad Touch/iPhone Apps for High School Classrooms tells you about his "prize bull" (his words) apps, sprinkles in some Common Core for good measure (why not, everyone else is) and charges you $197. Only in America. What happened to sharing docs and the promise of worldwide collaboration for the greater good? Maybe I should start charging $19.99 to use my app rubric? Just kidding. As educators, let's continue our focus on the children as our way of en"rich"ing our lives. Here's the link to his webinar if you've got a couple of Benjamins burning a hole in your pocket.
http://www.ernweb.com/public/Apps_apps_apps_Bring_iPad-classroom-6-12.cfm
http://www.ernweb.com/public/Apps_apps_apps_Bring_iPad-classroom-6-12.cfm
Thursday, October 4, 2012
App Rubric Research Update
I just completed the data analysis for the second round survey of my doctoral research utilizing the Delphi process to establish content and construct validity for the Evaluation Rubric for iPod/iPad apps. Overall, very few changes to the rubric are indicated by the data. One domain name will be changed and point descriptors in two of the domains will be revised as driven by the input from the subject matter experts who participated in my research. Based on the data, I am not going to need to do a third round survey. You can view the data summary from the second round by clicking on the link below. I will be making the final revisions and publishing the validated rubric in the coming weeks. I am hoping to have my dissertation completed sometime around the first of the year. Thanks for your interest in my work. Stay tuned for the final validated rubric later this month. Happy computing....
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1bo_nURJgwTmvwmmGCSDzbt8tTUzuHVmdIJ4K_6Burfc/edit
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1bo_nURJgwTmvwmmGCSDzbt8tTUzuHVmdIJ4K_6Burfc/edit
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