Steve Spengler :: Blog :: 2008 Administrative Conference - Joe Kondisko

As I continue reporting from the conference that I'm attending, I reiterate the fact that this is an administrative (education...K12) conference. The focus, again, is on technology and how it supports what our kids want/do. Joe Kondisko, a long-time friend and colleague, is presenting on Web 2.0 technologies and ultimately, the instructional impact. Joe is an assistant principal and, much like myself, believes that technology is nothing more than a tool. So as I sit here in his presentation, let me highlight some of the things that he talks about:

• kids want to create and share...something we do in the real world but we don't currently allow kids to do
• kids want to use technology...it's getting better...but teachers still don't see it as an impact in today's learner's life
• today's tuned-in leaner...is tuned-out in the classroom
• whatever, whenever, wherever...it's all about access to content
• kids want to be engaged...is technology the key to engagement? Ask them!
• how does technology affect professional development
• Web 2.0 promote student engagement
• it promotes a purpose...they want a purpose
• kids want to publish to a world-wide publish
• demonstrated student-published podcasts...via the King Tut exhibit from the Philly Museum
• Top 10 Podcasting Ideas:
  1. Press releases (6th grade L.A. curriculum to writing press releases) - went to actual papers, too
  2. Interviews
  3. Audio books
  4. Radio advertisements
  5. Alternate endings to stories
  6. Online debate
  7. Book review
  8. Digital history
  9. Field trips
  10. Math tutorials

• cited a Vodcast for Haircuts for Cancer
• cited the " ____ in Plain English" series
• talked about voicethreads (student audio and interactive responses)
  • Digging for Dinosaurs
  • Book Report Colleagues
  • Wind Power Editorial
• the change that professional development might see as a result...blogs directly to teachers, social networking tools, RSS, iPod for PD, etc.

So as Joe is still talking, let me take a minute to reflect a little. This 'stuff' is here to stay. It has an effect on our students. I don't have any school-age children yet...only a 16 month old...but I have learned something from her...she HAS NO FEAR OF THE COMPUTER/TECHNOLOGY. Imagine what today's school-age children are doing. I want educators to think about that above...this 'stuff' promotes collaboration and skills that kids need to have in order to participate in the worksforce beyond...

Steve