I’ve commented on this before, that working with teachers in Maine is different. I keep trying to put my finger on what it is, fundamentally, and I still can’t do it, but I came one step closer this week at the Summer Teacher Leader Institute in Castine. One of the themes that seemed to emerge from start to finish was projects where students are conducting research on their local communities. I’ve already written about Ernie Easter and Michael Cushman and their students’ work in New Sweden.
There were many other conversations about the history of Maine and students’ engagement in discovering that history. One that struck me and compelled me to pull out my Olympus WS-100 recorder was with Laura Richter. Her students have been researching the history of their community for a number of years as well as broader aspects of Maine’s history, and using the ICT that is readily accessible to them to find meaning in what they are learning and then communicating that meaning.
Students at Laura’s school also contribute what they learn to Maine Memory Network, a state of Maine version of the American Memory project of the Library of Congress. One example of the students’ contribution is this page, Medicine in Times Past.
Then there was the conversation that I had with Kern Kelley (of The Tech Curve) and two of his students, who’d accompanied him to the conference. I’d met Kern before, at the ACTEM conference in Augusta, and I mean this in no way as a criticism, but this is an exhausting fellow to try to keep up with. I’m sure that 16 and 17 year olds have no trouble at all. One of the students interviewed me after my short keynote, but, unfortunately, the recording didn’t take. It’s probably just as well.
Then the other fellow walked me over to his computer, a MacBook Pro, and proceeded to take me on a tour of Leopard, Apples new OS software. Some of you are, no doubt, aware that Leopard is not even out yet. But this sixteen year old kid is taking me on a tour, because he’s a beta tester — or something like that he’s a Mac Developer. Yet two more examples of students who are reaching out into their world.
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| The guys also let my try out the Myvu |
Certainly, these innovative uses of technology are not happening in every classroom or school in Maine, and they may not even be the norm. Yet, they and other applications are becoming a clear standard of how these increasingly available information and communication technologies can be used to make learning more personally meaningful, more relevant to our children’s future, and more effective in helping them to learn basic and contemporary literacy skills.
Clearly, these are classrooms whose walls have become incredibly transparent, and, at times, absolutely gone.
This is our goal, to use contemporary technologies, and inventive and caring teachers, to make all barriers to learning disappear.
I just came from Maine a few days ago. After talking to a few people on my trip, I realized what is different in Maine. The people are more OPEN to educational changes. They also do not have a problem affording these technologies. I recently blogged about the socio-economic differences I noticed in Maine. High property taxes = better schools. The wealthy have summer houses that dot the entire Maine coast. Along with the low population in the state, they can afford just about any tool that is avialable in the realm of educating. Just a thought.
You suggest that, “people [in Maine] are more OPEN to educational changes.”
“…they can afford just about any tool that is available in the realm of educating. ”
But that that were true, Woody!
1. Change is hard no matter where, don’t let a few opinions and brief perceptions fool you.
2. A brief drive a couple of blocks from the coast would have revealed the other side of Maine. Our state is struggling to maintain jobs that pay a living wage. Resource-based industries like paper making are moving to other areas where labor is cheap, raw materials expendable, worker safety irrelevant and environmental regulations non-existent. Property taxes drive farmers from the land and fishermen from the harbors.
Per capita income low, jobs are scarce, but we are choosing to invest in teaching and tools that we hope will prepare Maine students to compete in and contribute to a successful future in our rapidly changing world.
Thank you, Bob, for that clarification. Knowing that your state’s achievements come much more from vision than from an excess of funding is even more distinguishing.
I agree with Woody, there are many educators OPEN to change in Maine, and I know there are a few still testing the waters of change.I agree with Bob that there are many challenges financially and employment wise in our state. However, just as our landscape is tenacious, and holds fast to our rocky hills and coast; so too are our people. We hold onto our independence in our communities while at the same time reach out and collaborate with the world for understanding. This worldwide understanding will be the underpinning of our future economy. Many of our workers and voters understand this first hand after losing so many jobs in our mills and our forests. Many of our workers and families support our education budgets because they are looking towards the future. Our students using technology is our future.
While an OPEN attitude is crucial, the support from top down has to be there. We are lucky to me in a state where leaders like Angus King got and support the vision. For anyone that hasn’t heard it, here is a terrific podcast of Former Maine Governor King’s reaction to The World is Flat. I try to get as many of my staff to listen to it as I can.
http://web.mac.com/northeastleadership/iWeb/Angus_King/Podcast/Podcast.html
Dave, I like this post–you mentioned students’ work. So many time technology talk focuses on the technology and teachers–not students.
I agree, Nancy. There is too much technology talk about the ‘Wow!’ factor and not enough about the ‘Work’ factor. Laura Richter and her students are creating a quality project that is worthy and is going to be of value for a long time. And Doran? Wow! You go! Nice job, kid. Keep up the good work.
The thing I think that has made Maine different and that has made the Maine Learning Technology Initiative known as MLTI with its 1:1 Apple iBook computers work in our middle schools is the attention from the very beginning that Bette Manchester and the group of visionaries placed on professional development. In Maine it has never been about the technology, it has been about classroom practice and how the technology can be use to enhance that as we bring our students into the 21st Century.
Real work surely is the key. When we think about technology as the tool to facilitate real learning we are on the right path. This link goes to a community revitalization priject that is currently underway with out students. We hope to really develop great projects that will have and economic impact on our stuggling ex-mill town. Empowerment of students is the KEY!