Now what? Integration, no transformation!

As I was preparing to write this post at the kitchen table and nervously awaiting the start of the Bears and Texans game I get hit with a black bean from Alice.  This broke my train of thought where I had found myself thinking, now what?  Now that we have attended conferences, gone on site visits, presented to the board, got the devices, handed them out to the staff, handed them out to the students, had professional development, presented to others, hosted a couple visits, now what?  The answers that kept circulating were all about helping support integration. How do we give time to help support integration?  How do I help the staff and support their efforts? How do we get people talking to each other?  How do we give time for people to see each other teach?  How do we get answers to their tough questions?    

These are all important and necessary, and things we need to account for and accomplish.  The problem is that this does not go far enough and that is why I think I have trouble with the word and where I get frustrated.  It is a starting point, but if we simply integrate we do not reach the ultimate goal of transformation.  This week in our Organizational and Educational Leadership class we talked a lot about transformation versus reform.  Reform involves just adjusting current practice.  This may be where we begin with our instructional design process but it cannot be the end. The technology is a driver to help us transform our instruction.  "Technology has not added something to your plate as a teacher, it has transformed your plate." Benjamin Friesen via Twitter.  This goes for anything and everything, from classroom management to how we assess our students.  We want people to feel comfortable taking risks, but I also want the staff to know this is a process.  I think this is where sometimes teachers get frustrated too, because they want to transform but aren't sure how or what this looks like. True transformation is a huge process and does not happen overnight.  

The plate is different, which means how we work on it has to be different.  We need to continue to create times for conversation, support for new learning, and resources for help.  A quick reminder on some of the resources available in our building include; LeAnne Wagner and Eric McCoy in the library, these two have functioned as true all-stars throughout the roll-out. They have a ton of knowledge and ideas.  Colin Wikan, our Math teacher that has a open period committed to helping support teachers wanting to begin steps towards integration.  He has been hosting a conversation time after school on Thursdays as well.  The staff tech team, they have representation on every team in the building.  All of these folks have received advanced training on specific tech tools.  Finally, don't forget about each other.  Just because you haven't had a lot of experience in this area doesn't mean you can't be a resource.  What you are really trying to do is think about your classroom differently.  What do you want to try?  What do you want to change?  How can technology help support that?  I would encourage you to find an area of comfort or an area that you struggle with and start with a simple change there.  The more you use it the more the ideas will come.  The point is we want to reach transformation but there is nothing wrong with starting at reform our integration.  

Thank you for all you do for our children! It's a great day to be a Bulldog!