The Airing of Grievances

“I’ve got a lot of problems with you people!”

Dean Shareski June 25, 2015

IPadPalooza Austin, TX

shareski.ca @shareski

http://ideasandthoughts.org

Not looking for a fight

But a conversation

Enthusiasm may vary

“…and another thing”

“I know a gal/guy/district”

“Wait a minute, I’m not so sure”

School Jargon and Culture

Rigor

http://www.flickr.com/photos/judybaxter/2333068171/

"Why are our schools not places of joy?"

Feel-Bad Education The Cult of Rigor and the Loss of Joy by: Alfie Kohn !

I’m appearing to accept an odious premise—namely, that joy must be justified as a means to the end of better academic performance. Not so: It’s an end in itself.

http://www.alfiekohn.org/teaching/edweek/feelbad.htm

Student Achievement

Why is “rigor” regarded so highly? !

What do we really want for our students? !

How might we better describe this?

“…and another thing” “I know a gal/guy/district” “Wait a minute, I’m not so sure”

College and Career Ready

April 25, 2014 !

Dear Kindergarten Parents and Guardians, !

We hope this letter serves to help you better understand how the demands of the 21st century are changing schools, and,

more specifically, to clarify, misperceptions about the Kindergarten show…. Although the movement toward more rigorous learning standards has been in the national news for more than a decade, the changing face of education is

beginning to feel unsettling for some people. What and how we teach is changing to meet the demands of a changing

world. !

The reason for eliminating the Kindergarten show is simple. We are responsible for preparing children for college and

career .…

Things will be better when…

“Never follow your passion…

But always bring it with you”

How can we intentionally balance planning for the future and appreciating

today? !

What messages are our students hearing and believing about passion?

“…and another thing” “I know a gal/guy/district” “Wait a minute, I’m not so sure”

Student Voice

The Problem with Digital

Digital Dualism

offline online

real virtual

If we can fix this false separation and view the digital and physical as enmeshed, we will understand that what we do while connected is inseparable from what we do when disconnected.

we have been taught to mistakenly view online as meaning not offline. The notion of the offline as real and authentic is a recent invention, corresponding with the rise of the online.

How are the attitudes of digital dualism impacting your innovation efforts?

“…and another thing” “I know a gal/guy/district” “Wait a minute, I’m not so sure”

When Twitter Stinks

What about the “social” part

http://www.flickr.com/photos/woscholar/2622117022

I do care what you ate for dinner

How important is “social” in learning? How do you build it into your

environment?

“…and another thing” “I know a gal/guy/district” “Wait a minute, I’m not so sure”

Not everything has to “edufied”