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Techies are from Mars…

(Teachies are from Venus)

NEA PR Council - 2005

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2 themes:

1) Teachies from Venus, techies from Mars, but we all gotta’ talk…

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2 themes:

1) Teachies from Venus, techies from Mars, but we all gotta’ talk…

2) Ed tech leader’s lot in life: to have a lot to do in life…

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Education equationLearningGoals

Learning Facilitation

EffectiveLearning/or not?

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Education equation- v 2.0

YOU

Technology Inclusion

LearningGoals

Learning Facilitation

EffectiveLearning/or not?

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We gotta talk...

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To stand in-between the teachies and techies and translate, mediate, facilitate…

An ed tech director’s lot...

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What’s the #1 communication problem in high

tech/networked schools & organizations?

Communication Revolution

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What’s the #1 communication problem in high

tech/networked schools & organizations?

People communicating with people

…a problem tech amplifies...

Communication Revolution

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Experiment -

Who were you talking to?

Communication Revolution

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Experiment -

Who were you talking to?

Communication Revolution

When you read email you are reading

yourself!

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• Techies are from Mars...

• Teachies are from Venus…

Communication RevolutionIt’s not just for machines anymore ..

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• Techies are from Mars...

• Teachies are from Venus…

• Communication probs? You bet!

• (without the romantic makeup dinner)

Communication RevolutionIt’s not just for machines anymore ..

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Teachie: I need more file space...

What did you say?Subtextometer: Same conversation, different levels...

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Teachie: I need more file space...

Techie: I don’t have file space to give you...

What did you say?Subtextometer: Same conversation, different levels...

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Teachie: I need more file space...

Techie: I don’t have file space to give you...

Teachie: You don’t feel my pain…

Techie: Where’s my pizza?

What did you say?Subtextometer: Same conversation, different levels...

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What did you say?Same thing, different languages...

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What did you say?

Teachie: Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears!

Same thing, different languages...

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What did you say?

Teachie: Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears!

Techie: Non-hostile users, Italian-urban networkers, USA-domain-based ID holders, lend me your carbon-based aural input devices!

Same thing, different languages...

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What did you say?

Teachie: Halp! Halp! The network’s down!

Same thing, different perspectives...

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What did you say?Same thing, different perspectives...

Teachie: Halp! Halp! The network’s down!

Teachie: Halp! Halp! The network’s down!

Techie: Spell checker probably doesn’t recognize his last name...

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What did you say?Same sounds, different words...

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Teachie: Can we put the entire band on the bus?

What did you say?Same sounds, different words...

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Teachie: Can we put the entire band on the bus?

Techie: Depends on your bandwidth...

What did you say?Same sounds, different words...

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Teachie: Go ditch it all!

What did you say?Same sounds, different words...

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Teachie: Go ditch it all!

Techie: Exactly! Go digital!!

What did you say?Same sounds, different words...

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Teachie: Go ditch it all!

Techie: Exactly! Go digital!!

Teachie: Finally we agree on something!!

What did you say?Same sounds, different words...

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Teachie: Go ditch it all!

Techie: Exactly! Go digital!!

Teachie: Finally we agree on something!!

What did you say?Same sounds, different words...

Assumicide:

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Teachie: Go ditch it all!

Techie: Exactly! Go digital!!

Teachie: Finally we agree on something!!

What did you say?Same sounds, different words...

Assumicide: people assume they’re communicating when they’re not

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Communication Revolution

Anthropology 101 in a sentence: All communication is tribal, and

everyone’s insecure… the rest are details…

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Communication Revolution

Bad communication: • Can paralyze an organization…

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Communication Revolution

Bad communication: • Can paralyze an organization…

In absence of good communication: • Conspiracy theories

abound…

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Communication Revolution

Bad communication: • Can paralyze an organization…

In absence of good communication: • Conspiracy theories

abound…Good communication makes members: •Valued, invested, happier

better problem solvers

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Communication RevolutionMars/Venus is a cross cultural situation -- go for the win-win...

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• Don’t change each other, understand each other as different

Communication RevolutionMars/Venus is a cross cultural situation -- go for the win-win...

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• Don’t change each other, understand each other as different

• Techies are happiest when they solve the teachies’ problems

Communication RevolutionMars/Venus is a cross cultural situation -- go for the win-win...

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• Don’t change each other, understand each other as different

• Techies are happiest when they solve the teachies’ problems

• Techies want appreciation

Communication RevolutionMars/Venus is a cross cultural situation -- go for the win-win...

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• Don’t change each other, understand each other as different

• Techies are happiest when they solve the teachies’ problems

• Techies want appreciation

• Teachies want empathy

Communication RevolutionMars/Venus is a cross cultural situation -- go for the win-win...

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• Don’t change each other, understand each other as different

• Techies are happiest when they solve the teachies’ problems

• Techies want appreciation

• Teachies want empathy

• “Help me grieve, and fix my printer!”

Communication RevolutionMars/Venus is a cross cultural situation -- go for the win-win...

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We gotta talk...

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To wear many hats as you manage rapid change…

An ed tech director’s lot...

“So, Jim, where do you see yourself in

ten minutes?”

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Change management biz...Balancing many hats as a change manager...

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Change management biz...

• Leader/policy maker by default, not design…

Balancing many hats as a change manager...

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Change management biz...

• Leader/policy maker by default, not design…

• Government/God/Parents - ignored during good times, blamed during bad…

Balancing many hats as a change manager...

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Change management biz...

• Leader/policy maker by default, not design…

• Government/God/Parents - ignored during good times, blamed during bad…

• Change counselor: everyone takes their next step...

Balancing many hats as a change manager...

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Change management biz...Balancing many hats as a change manager...

• Therapist...

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Change management biz...

• Therapist...

• Translater teacheze into techeze, vice versa

Balancing many hats as a change manager...

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Change management biz...

• Therapist...

• Translater teacheze into techeze, vice versa

• Cultivator of new worker: soft + hard skills

(a la SCANS Report…)

Balancing many hats as a change manager...

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Change management biz...

•Cheerleader - What does it take?

•Guts, vision, clarity, purpose, sensitivity:

Balancing many hats as a change manager...

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Change management biz...

•Cheerleader - What does it take?

•Guts, vision, clarity, purpose, sensitivity:

GVCPS

Balancing many hats as a change manager...

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We gotta talk...

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IT people are currently left out of ISTE’s standards movement. It’s your job to include them.

An ed tech director’s lot...

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Soft skills for IT...EQ by Goleman

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SOFT SKILLS ARE:

The ability to manage yourself and relate to other

people. (Shari Caudron, Monster.com)

Soft skills for IT...EQ by Goleman

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Soft skills for IT...EQ …another view

SOFT SKILLS:

The attitude is the aptitude. (Me)

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Soft skills for IT...

• be customer oriented

Alaska High Tech Council

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Soft skills for IT...

• be customer oriented• see project through user’s eyes

Alaska High Tech Council

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Soft skills for IT...

• be customer oriented• see project through user’s eyes• respond to customer’s

fears/concerns

Alaska High Tech Council

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Soft skills for IT...

• be customer oriented• see project through user’s eyes• respond to customer’s

fears/concerns• sensitivity to all stakeholders

Alaska High Tech Council

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Soft skills for IT...

• be customer oriented• see project through user’s eyes• respond to customer’s

fears/concerns• sensitivity to all stakeholders• flexible, adaptable to change

Alaska High Tech Council

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Soft skills for IT...

• be customer oriented• see project through user’s eyes• respond to customer’s

fears/concerns• sensitivity to all stakeholders• flexible, adaptable to change• manage resources/set priorities

within context of service agreements

Alaska High Tech Council

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Soft skills for IT...

• communicate with diverse groups

Alaska High Tech Council

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Soft skills for IT...

• communicate with diverse groups

• use clear, concise language

Alaska High Tech Council

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Soft skills for IT...

• communicate with diverse groups

• use clear, concise language• break down technical language

barriers

Alaska High Tech Council

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Soft skills for IT...

• communicate with diverse groups

• use clear, concise language• break down technical language

barriers• speak and write clearly and

succinctly

Alaska High Tech Council

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Soft skills for IT...

• communicate with diverse groups

• use clear, concise language• break down technical language

barriers• speak and write clearly and

succinctly• share information, collaborate

with team members

Alaska High Tech Council

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Soft skills for IT...

• teamwork• communication skills• presentation skills• selling• running meetings• problem-solving• customer service

Certification Magazine

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Soft skills for IT...

• self-awareness• analytical thinking• leadership, team-building skills• effective communication, listening• change readiness, diplomacy• problem-solving, flexibility• creativity

Human Resources Development Canada

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Soft skills for IT...

• 181 jobs at 121 companies worldwide- 2 of 3 abilities for success were EQ...

EQ by Goleman

(Shari Caudron, Monster.com)

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Soft skills for IT...

• 181 jobs at 121 companies worldwide- 2 of 3 abilities for success were EQ...

• study of many corporations, 3 top qualities: comm. skills, interpersonal skills, initiative...

EQ by Goleman

(Shari Caudron, Monster.com)

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Soft skills for IT...

• 181 jobs at 121 companies worldwide- 2 of 3 abilities for success were EQ...

• study of many corporations, 3 top qualities: comm. skills, interpersonal skills, initiative...

• studies of 500 organizations worldwide, those with highest EQ scores rise to highest positions...

EQ by Goleman

(Shari Caudron, Monster.com)

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Soft skills for IT...

Great advice for IT folks:

Walk among the people.

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We gotta talk...

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Manage change on three levels- personal, policy, & organizational.

An ed tech director’s lot...

“Never, ever think outside

the box.”

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What to do…Change happens on three levels...

•Personal: change a habit

•Policy: change a standard or rule (ISTE standards)

•Organizational: change a system through restructuring

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What to do...Reacquaint self w difficulty/fear change

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What to do...Reacquaint self w difficulty/fear change

Personal: change a habit

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What to do...Reacquaint self w difficulty/fear change

Personal: change a habit

• Know your belief system...rerun average day to find out who you are...

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What to do...Reacquaint self w difficulty/fear change

Personal: change a habit

• Know your belief system...rerun average day to find out who you are...

• Change 1 thing about self--ask spouse...

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What to do...Reacquaint self w difficulty/fear change

Personal: change a habit

• Know your belief system...rerun average day to find out who you are...

• Change 1 thing about self--ask spouse...

• Personal changes institutional change

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What to do...

• How about ISTE communication standards? For techies? For teachies?

Policy: change a standard or rule

Change a policy

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What to do...

• How about ISTE communication standards? For techies? For teachies?

• How about general ISTE standards for tech support staff?

Policy: change a standard or rule

Change a policy

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Zoom way out…involve the community...

What to do...

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• Restructuring decision making, policy development...

Zoom way out…involve the community...

Organizational: change a system

What to do...

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• Restructuring decision making, policy development...

• Restructuring/creating jobs...

Zoom way out…involve the community...

Organizational: change a system

What to do...

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• Restructuring decision making, policy development...

• Restructuring/creating jobs...

• Restructuring buildings, environments...

Zoom way out…involve the community...

Organizational: change a system

What to do...

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ACTIVITY

BUZZ...

TOPICS:

• Develop communication standard for 1) IT workers, 2) teachies…

• Develop process to resolve communication issues between teachies & techies…

• Develop assessment strategies...

You: discuss topic/take notes We: collect/distribute notes

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We gotta talk...

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You are in the best position to implement change…

An ed tech director’s lot...

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Making ed tech work...

Great advice for ed tech folks:

Be part of the curriculum team.

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The Tradition Box Taboo

Fast change thru revolution… Slow change thru leaky border…

TraditionCultural Interface Border

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Taboo

TraditionCultural Interface

Moderate change thru “cultural insider” who opens portal between the two

The Tradition Box

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Adapted from "Conflict and Conflict Management" by Kenneth Thomas in The Handbook of Industrial and Organizational Psychology edited by Marvin Dunnette (Chicago: Rand McNally, 1976).

Value of Relationship

LO HI

ImportanceOf

Issue

LO

HI

IGNORE CONCEDE

COMPETE COLLABORATE

Is It Worth It?You can’t fight every fight...

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Clothes make the ed tech coordinator-

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Clothes Clothes make the make the ed tech ed tech coordinator-coordinator-

So dress well…

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Traditional storytelling planning process:

1. Get a story idea

2. Develop storyboard

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1. Get a story idea

2. Develop storyboard

NO!

Traditional storytelling planning process:

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1. Get a story idea

3. THEN develop storyboard

2. Develop VPS

Traditional storytelling planning process:

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Problem (tension)

Solution (resolution)

Beginning End

(Dillingham, 2001)

The psychology of “story” - of life as a creative problem solving experience

Middle

Visual Portrait of Story (VPS)

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Problem (tension)

Solution (resolution)

Beginning End

Middle

(Dillingham, Ohler 2003)

What kinds of transformation?

Visual Portrait of Story + transformation

Transformation?

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Transformation

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8 Levels of character transformation…1. Physical/kinesthetic - strength,

dexterity

2. Inner strength - courage

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8 Levels of character transformation…1. Physical/kinesthetic - strength,

dexterity

2. Inner strength - courage

3. Emotional - maturity

4. Moral - conscience

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8 Levels of character transformation…1. Physical/kinesthetic - strength,

dexterity

2. Inner strength - courage

3. Emotional - maturity

4. Moral - conscience

5. Psychological - insight, self-awareness

6. Social - responsibility

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8 Levels of character transformation…1. Physical/kinesthetic - strength,

dexterity

2. Inner strength - courage

3. Emotional - maturity

4. Moral - conscience

5. Psychological - insight, self-awareness

6. Social - responsibility

7. Intellectual/creative - learning, problem solving, critical thinking

8. Spiritual - awakening

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The story spine by Kenn Adams

The platform: • Once upon a time…• Every day…

The catalyst: • But one day…The consequences: • Because of that…

• Because of that…• Because of that…

The climax: • Until fi nally…The resolution: • Ever since then…

• The moral of thisstory is…

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NEA 2005

The Communication RevolutionIt’s not just for machines anymore...