Here is the presentation and back channel link for today's session hosted by Garth and I at BLC11 (10am)

Back Channel: http://todaysmeet.com/BLC11Studentlegacy   

BLC11 Collaborative GoogleDoc

Alan November gave a TED talk about students creating a legacy.  In the NYED talk he referenced our work with the Online Textbook. 

He asked the following three questions on his blog

1. What are the opportunities for authentic work for students within the current structure of school?
2. Can we really expect all students to make a contribution to the learning community?
3. How do we help teachers manage the shift of control to the students making much more of a contribution to their own learning and to the community?

Please comment here or visit Alan's Blog.  Our comments in his blog are below.

Alan,
Mike and I are using skype and google docs right now to talk about this video and the ideas you presented in the talk.  At different districts our students developed the online textbook you referenced in the talk.  We have a few thoughts and comments for your readers.  But lets start with a quote from a 12 year old:  “A student cannot master what is in the darkness, if there is not someone to light the way”  

Within the current structure of schools, authentic learning is an uphill battle. The true opportunities for authentic learning exist in the determination of  teachers willing to take calculated risks and change education back to teaching.  Authentic learning exist only through the hearts, minds and classrooms of teachers willing to create a partnership with their students. You referenced Dan Pink’s book Drive.  Garth and I are driven in our work.  We want students to leave a digital legacy, take ownership of their learning, and create knowledge not just for us and the front of their refrigerators at home, but for all people.  To us, teaching is about heart and passion, our drive.  Learning is not about teachers, it is about students.  We facilitate opportunities for students to follow their passions and learn the way that is best for them.  The classroom is a partnership.  That partnership extends outside of the classroom, across districts and reaches around the globe via technology.  

We believe all students have the ability to contribute to the learning community.  Teachers must help students discover ways to create their legacy.  In the online textbook students are leaving their legacy through podcasting, cartooning, text, etc.  We laid the foundation and allow students to create the structure using their strengths.  

In order to help manage the shift of control students must become active members in the process.  During a recent conference, we took six seventh grade students with us to document the day.  These students interviewed teachers, attend sessions and then produced and edited three videos (links below) in five hours.  The students then presented their work to the 400+ teachers attending the workshop.  It was complete role-reversal; students documented our day, instead of us collecting data concerning their day.  We must also afford teachers an environment that encourages calculated risk taking, trying new methodology and stepping back to allow students to lead their learning.  It’s scary to give control to students; can kids talk, laugh, type on a computer, gaze out the window while learning? YES.  Teachers need to realize that if we look at how we learn research shows that the more difficultly the task, the more social it should be.  We need to open our minds to a more social education.  The time has come.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-f1ffiicEpzOjyY  Student overview of the conference
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NuliXltnfXE  Keynote mash-up
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wo77UZ17lwI  Response to Vision for k-12 Education Today

Mike and Garth
www.teachersfortomorrow.net
“Be the change you want to see in the world” -Gandhi

Yesterday was a very special day for Garth and myself.  Yes, it was a snow day, but more importantly, we had the opportunity to sit down and talk with Alan November.  We met Alan several months ago at an Ohio technology conference where Garth and I presented and Alan was the keynote.  For those that have never read, listened to or heard of Alan November; he is a very inspiring man with great ideas about technology in education.  While Garth and I are usually interviewing people for this site, Alan interviewed us for his podcast series.

The scope of our conversation revolved around three big topics: The online textbook created by our (Garth and mine) students, helping students leave a positive legacy through technology and education, and collaboration/self-reflection of Garth and myself.

The online textbook is a (going on) five year project in which students have been creating digital content based on the world history standards in Ohio.  The idea of the legacy students leave, fascinated me.  It was the first time that I had heard someone refer to students' work as their legacy.  It struck me and really put into perspective what we, teachers, do everyday.  Garth and I have written several blogs about the connections we create with students, the skills we teach them that are beyond any government regulated standards and the impact teachers have on the world.  But hearing the word legacy gave me a new perspective on how I teach.  As a teacher, I want to leave my legacy both on my students and on the institution of education.  Allowing students to understand that they too are leaving a legacy helps connect me with my students.  Tomorrow, when we  finally return from our two snow days, I plan on starting class talking about this idea.  I want students to understand that we share the same goals, that my class is a journey that I am taking with them; sometimes as the leader, sometimes just as a passenger.

The third point that we discussed with Alan, reflection and long-term planning is something that I took for granted.  Garth has always been a long-range thinker.  He understands the scope of what we do and sees the need to be prepared for the future.  Both of us have always been very reflective about every aspect of our lives.  Almost to the point of depression.  Teachers that are not reflective do not change.  They do not advance themselves, they do not take risks and they do a dis-service to their students by being complacent.  Reflective teachers are never happy with what they do, they are constantly questioning their methodology, philosophical beliefs and choices.  Even when what they are doing may be great...there is always a better way!

Speaking with inspirational people like Alan helps me keep in perspective just how much growing I still have to do.  there is always some new technology, new methodology or new way to approach the issue of teaching.  Always change, always grow and always take risks.  Sometimes you will fail, sometimes you will succeed; but all the time students will respect your honesty, courage and empathy.  At after standardized tests are taken, diplomas are handed out and students go out into the "real world", they won't remember the capital of Djibouti, Newton's 3 laws, or Pi.  They will remember the connections you made with them, what you taught them about digital footprints, how you showed them what empathy really is and how you never judged them based on spelling ability or background.  Be the best you can be...if not for you, then for them.

-Mike