A Field Trip to the Garbage Dump
Imagine if your child came home from school with a permission slip to go on a field trip...
... to the garbage dump.
"Um..." you say since you don't really understand "modern" education.
So you read further.
"We will be dropping your kids off at the front gate of the dump, with the objective of finding something of value buried in all the trash. There will be no adult supervision on this field trip".
Would you sign?
If you answered yes, then I will be contacting the local Children's Services agency in your area.
You would be foolish to agree to this kind of field trip.
But when we put computers in the hands of our students and give them access to the Internet with no guidelines, objectives, or training, we are essentially agreeing to do this very thing.
Are computers a bad thing?
Computers can be an incredible distraction that diverts great amounts of resources away from the core reasons our schools exist.
Computers grow old faster than a fruit fly and need to be replaced regularly.
They are disruptive.
All of this is true, but technology in the classroom is also one of the best things you can provide for your students... if it's done properly.
- The choice of technology will be be based on the curriculum, expected outcomes and desired competencies. Don't aim for iPads because they are cool and cheaper than other computers. Buy iPads because they are the best tool. On the other hand, they may not be.
- The curriculum and learning spaces are designed to leverage the advantages technology can bring.
- You don't assume that kids are 'Tech savvy". You develop digital literacy skills in them, or better yet, use the people trained in curating information - your librarians, to develop curation skills in your students.
- You manage behaviour on the Internet, you don't control it. You teach students about the "sharp edges" of the Internet (including lack of anonymity, cyber-bullying, identity theft, and MUCH more)
- You don't jettison what is currently working. Why would you get rid of an $8 paperback for English class and replace it with a $150 eReader and $10 ebook version of the same thing?
- You provide time for your faculty to learn and develop skills in using the technology.
- You have built a solid infrastructure for your technology to run on. There is no advantage to providing computers if the school's network crashes whenever the class tries to all log on at the same time.
- You have created the skill sets in your IT department that bridges the gap between learning and technology. (Hint: It's not a teacher who likes to play with gadgets).
If you follow my posts, you will see that I'm certainly not against technology in the classroom. As a matter of fact it's my job to work with the academic leadership to develop a better model.
What is your experience? Have you seen a few "field trips to the garbage dump" get implemented in the name of technology adoption?
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Images: Licensed under Creative Commons
Note: A version of this article has been previously published on LinkedIn
About the Author:
I'm the Chief Information Officer for Appleby College, in Oakville, Ontario Canada, where my team is transforming the delivery of education through innovative application of technology.
I'm convinced that IT leadership needs to dramatically change how IT is delivered rather than being relegated to a costly overhead department.
In addition to transforming IT in my role as CIO, I look for every opportunity to talk about this... writing, speaking and now blogging on BeBee (https://www.bebee.com/@kevin-pashuk) , LinkedIn, ITWorld Canada, or at TurningTechInvisible.com.
I also shoot things... with my camera. Check out my photostream at www.flickr.com/photos/kwpashuk
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Comments
Kevin Pashuk
6 years ago #9
Kevin Pashuk
7 years ago #8
Thanks Tony Rossi, I think I'll explore the other facet of a garbage dump trip for students... Only this time not unescorted, but as a leaning experience.
Dean Owen
7 years ago #7
I had no idea that Milwaukee and Cleveland charged a fee to enter! On a serious note, dumps in N.A are probably full of good stuff that would be appreciated in a poverty stricken country.
Kevin Pashuk
7 years ago #6
Sorry Dean Owen (hit Enter too soon)... In North America, dumps have become sanitized 'waste disposal' sites, charging a fee to enter, with no scavanging allowed. I am aware that in many parts of the world, the dump is 'home' to many.... providing the only means of sustenance to people. It does break my heart and certainly motivates me in my involvement in both local and international charity to empower those in less fortunate situations.
Kevin Pashuk
7 years ago #5
I think you have just summarized my post Dean Owen. It's the unescorted visit, without context that creates the problem.
Dean Owen
7 years ago #4
Kevin Pashuk
7 years ago #3
I'm sure I fell and hit my head as a youngster Susan Rooks... I find myself making strange connections between totally unrelated concepts... I even named one of my companies 'Synectics', which is bringing together diverse ideas to find a solution. Thanks for commenting.
Kevin Pashuk
7 years ago #2
I share your joy of junkyards Brian McKenzie... as a teenager, my friend's brother had a junkyard. When we could muster up a bit of cash, we'd buy one of the barely running junkers, get it somewhat operational, then take it out on the logging roads near our town in Northern Ontario. (No license required) Sometimes we didn't have to walk back... but we learned a lot about mechanics which has helped me to this day.
Susan 🐝 Rooks, The Grammar Goddess
7 years ago #1