Preparing students for their digital future Dr. Scott McLeod January 24, 2007

Get this presentation! www.scottmcleod.net/owatonna

www.scottmcleod.net/owatonna

The Times They Are A-Changin’

Societal trends Increased diversity Increased technology Aging population Globalization

Increased diversity

Increased technology

Aging population

Globalization

Technology is changing us This is about our way of life. An historical analog would be the Industrial Revolution, but compressed into 15 years - not played out over a century. Hang on - this will be quite a ride. - Joseph S. Kraemer

This is about our way of life. An historical analog would be the Industrial Revolution, but compressed into 15 years - not played out over a century. Hang on - this will be quite a ride.

- Joseph S. Kraemer

Globalization Economic and cultural The World is Flat , Thomas Friedman The Flight of the Creative Class , Richard Florida

Economic and cultural

The World is Flat , Thomas Friedman

The Flight of the Creative Class , Richard Florida

Aging population Most of the current folks in charge don’t really “get it” when it comes to technology By 2030, there will be twice as many retirees as now but only 18% more workers

Most of the current folks in charge don’t really “get it” when it comes to technology

By 2030, there will be twice as many retirees as now but only 18% more workers

Aging population Neither education nor technology is generally high on senior citizens’ list of interests Different views of work, education, and life

Neither education nor technology is generally high on senior citizens’ list of interests

Different views of work, education, and life

The Rise of the Creative Class

Importance of creativity Daniel Pink, A Whole New Mind Can someone overseas do it cheaper? Can a computer do it faster? Is what I’m offering in demand in an age of abundance? Relationships, collaboration, creativity, innovation, problem-solving, pattern detection, synthesizing, adding value

Daniel Pink, A Whole New Mind

Can someone overseas do it cheaper?

Can a computer do it faster?

Is what I’m offering in demand in an age of abundance?

Relationships, collaboration, creativity, innovation, problem-solving, pattern detection, synthesizing, adding value

Are schools focusing on the right things? No generation in history has ever been so thoroughly prepared for the industrial age. - David Warlick

No generation in history has ever been so thoroughly prepared for the industrial age.

- David Warlick

The Partnership for 21st Century Skills

The Not-So-Hidden Revolution

Revolution Web 1.0 v. Web 2.0 Putting the power in the hand of the users Collaboration Creativity Disintermediation Reach

Web 1.0 v. Web 2.0

Putting the power in the hand of the users

Collaboration

Creativity

Disintermediation

Reach

Web 2.0 A quick tour Wikis Blogs – me , the big guys Podcasts ( audio , video ) YouTube ( online video ) Flickr (online photo) Delicious (social bookmarking) Digg Google Maps mashups MySpace MMORPGs Video game mods

Wikis

Blogs – me , the big guys

Podcasts ( audio , video )

YouTube ( online video )

Flickr (online photo)

Delicious (social bookmarking)

Digg

Google Maps mashups

MySpace

MMORPGs

Video game mods

Web 2.0 Interconnected Collaborative Personalized Autonomous Freewheeling Empowering

Interconnected

Collaborative

Personalized

Autonomous

Freewheeling

Empowering

Are schools teaching the right things? While we teach whatever we teach at school, the kids go home and learn the skills they need to survive and prosper in an interconnected global economy. - Clarence Fisher

While we teach whatever we teach at school, the kids go home and learn the skills they need to survive and prosper in an interconnected global economy.

- Clarence Fisher

Video games Brain-rotting waste of time or high-octane learning environments? Kids who can’t sit still in class for five minutes can be mentally locked in for hours at home playing video games “ Engage or enrage me” (Prensky)

Brain-rotting waste of time or high-octane learning environments?

Kids who can’t sit still in class for five minutes can be mentally locked in for hours at home playing video games

“ Engage or enrage me” (Prensky)

Jump Start 2nd Grade

Millie’s Math House

Kid Phonics 2

Elder Scrolls: Oblivion

Stranglehold

Star Heritage: Ship of Ages

Digital natives, immigrants, & refugees http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2006/10/21/beyond-the-digital-native-immigrant-dichotomy/

http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2006/10/21/beyond-the-digital-native-immigrant-dichotomy/

Avoiding Irrelevance

14,383 school districts

14,383 school districts

95,726 public schools + 29,273 private schools = 125,000 schools

95,726 public schools

+ 29,273 private schools

=

125,000 schools

Irrelevance, part 1 Our intelligence tends to produce technological and social change at a rate faster than our institutions and emotions can cope with. . . . - Gwynne Dyer

Our intelligence tends to produce technological and social change at a rate faster than our institutions and emotions can cope with. . . .

- Gwynne Dyer

Irrelevance, part 2 When the rate of change outside exceeds the rate of change inside, the end is in sight. - Jack Welch

When the rate of change outside exceeds the rate of change inside, the end is in sight.

- Jack Welch

Irrelevance, part 3 They say, “We can’t handle this much change.” I say, “Your [relevance is] in jeopardy. What choice do you have?” They say I’m extreme. I say I’m a realist. - Seth Godin

They say, “We can’t handle this much change.” I say, “Your [relevance is] in jeopardy. What choice do you have?”

They say I’m extreme. I say I’m a realist.

- Seth Godin

We need to somehow change faster No one jumps a 20 foot chasm in two 10 foot jumps. – Miguel Guhlin

No one jumps a 20 foot chasm in two

10 foot jumps. – Miguel Guhlin

What schools can’t do

What we need leadership v. management

leadership

v.

management

What we need anticipatory v. reactionary

anticipatory

v.

reactionary

What we need future-oriented v. compliance-oriented

future-oriented

v.

compliance-oriented

Change is hard What does it mean when something changes how it’s always been? - Liz Phair

What does it mean when something changes how it’s always been?

- Liz Phair

Thank you! Dr. Scott McLeod Director, CASTLE University of Minnesota www.schooltechleadership.org www.dangerouslyirrelevant.org www.scottmcleod.net/contact

Dr. Scott McLeod

Director, CASTLE

University of Minnesota

www.schooltechleadership.org

www.dangerouslyirrelevant.org

www.scottmcleod.net/contact