Madison Oneida BOCES Leatherstocking conference in Vernon NY

1. Future of
Learning
Technologies:
Putting it in its
place
Stephen Abram
Leatherstocking Conference:
Vernon NY
Nov. 19, 2015

2. 2

3. These are
Millennials

4. My son: Zachary

12. Nota Bene
You’re dealing with post-
millennials and they’re very
different
And the same

13. Why Invest 60 minutes with Me?
 Librarian
 Technology and Digital Education Futurist
 Author, researcher, teacher, professor, board
member, start-ups, founder, etc.
 Learning object designer (MBA, Law, K-12,
Higher-Ed, corporate, etc.)
 SchoolRooms, eTextBooks, eBooks, Online
learning, MOOCs, Databases, Web, School&
Library Culture

14. The Big Picture
Change is just starting to increase
The education sector is a target (follow the money)

15. Student vs. Learner

16. Education vs. Learning

17. Credits vs. Lifelong Skills

18. School Librarians
 Faculty …Teachers
 Curriculum Leaders
 Administration
 Whole School
 High Impact

19. 21st Century Learning
Based on research, demographics and need
This isn’t a fad – whether politics renames it or not.

20. Critical Thinking

21. What is critical thinking?
 “Critical thinking is that mode of thinking — about any
subject, content, or problem — in which the thinker
improves the quality of his or her thinking by skillfully
analyzing, assessing, and reconstructing it. Critical
thinking is self-directed, self-disciplined, self-monitored,
and self-corrective thinking. It presupposes assent to
rigorous standards of excellence and mindful command of
their use. It entails effective communication and problem-
solving abilities, as well as a commitment to overcome our
native egocentrism and sociocentrism.”
 http://www.criticalthinking.org/pages/our-concept-of-
critical-thinking/411

22. What is creative thinking?
 A way of looking at problems or situations from a
fresh perspective that suggests
unorthodox solutions (which may look unsettling
at first). Creative thinking can be stimulated
both by an unstructured process such
as brainstorming, and by a structured process
such as lateral thinking.
 http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/crea
tive-thinking.html#ixzz2ZbaI9BaK

23. What is creative thinking?
 Creativity is a phenomenon whereby
something new and valuable is created (such
as an idea, a joke, a literary work, a painting
or musical composition, a solution, an
invention etc.). It is also the qualitative
impetus behind any given act of creation, and
it is generally perceived to be associated with
intelligence and cognition.
 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creativity

24. STEM, STEAM and the real
issue
National competitiveness
Silly focus on manufacturing and 20th Century
measurements (GDP)

25. Beyond 3R’s
3R’s are solidified by Grade 4 at the latest and then the
interventions happen
Beyond grade 4 we build thinkers, creators, and build on
their natural talents – to each his/her own

26. Real Issues
Technology
Scalability
Multiple intelligences / learning styles
Costs and impact
Training
Alignment
Equity

27. Real Issues
Students – boys and girls
Engagement – dropouts, fun, boredom.
Success
Employment and workplace or Higher-Ed readiness

28. Real Issues
Staff colleagues
Introduction of technology in a stressful workplace with multiple demands
Aging
Learning Curve
Tech readiness
Teamwork preparedness versus classroom sovereignty

29. Changing Learners
 Increased IQ
 Genetics and Learning Styles
 Gender issues and Developmental Differences
 Boys and Girls
 Reading is Up…
 Brain development –reasoning skills and frontal
lobe
 Demographics and diversity
 Games, gamification, lead . . .

30. Retail Sales Down?
Teen Reading Down?
Titles Down?
Circulation Down?
Reading Down?
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
Focus on the REAL Issues
Not BOOKS! The experience

31. Changing Education
 Flipped classroom
 E-Textbooks and coursepacks
 eLearning and digital learning environments are
proven successes
 Online high schools rising
 MOOCs
 Distance education
 Learning modules
 Blended learning

32. Impact Studies

33. 150+ studies
 Dr. Keith Curry-Lance (CO)
 Dr. Ken Haycock (USC, UBC, SJSU)
 Dr. Ross Todd (Rutgers)
 Dr. Steve Krashen (UCLA)
 Dr. David Loertscher (SJSU)
 Worldwide and repeatedly

34. Do school libraries make a
difference?
 Yes. Simply yes and a big one.
 Standardized testing scores
 Second only to a parent reading to you.
 Public Library partnerships
 Summer reading, story hours, etc.
 Top and bottom of class
 Equity
 Digital/hybrid Strategy Leadership

35. Special Skills and Tools
Addressing:
Learning differences
Disability spectrum is about different abilities not disabilities
Behavioural differences
Intelligence- especially top and challenged learners

36. At their fingertips
 Consortial access at great savings effectiveness –
quality, real life search, structured
 ReadSpeak
 Font size
 Lexiles and search
 Search and Find
 Quality resources – primary secondary and tertiary
sources, non fiction, active collection
 Specialized targeted programs
 Fluid formats (e.g. for reading and learning issues)

37. Research and Network Effects
 Digital agnosticism
 NYPL,BPL, QBPL, NYDOE
 Vendor agnosticism (vs. Apple or Google
Education partnerships)
 Research on apps, sites, tools, smartphones,
tablets, 3D printing, etc.
 Learning standards
 Curriculum resources
 Copyright compliance and risk reduction

39. The Virtual Handout
 The Value of Public Libraries
http://stephenslighthouse.com/2010/04/06/the-value-of-public-
libraries/
 The Value of School Libraries
http://stephenslighthouse.com/2010/04/06/the-value-of-school-
libraries/
 The Value of Academic and College Libraries
http://stephenslighthouse.com/2010/04/07/value-of-academic-
and-college-libraries/
 The Value of Special Libraries
http://stephenslighthouse.com/2010/04/07/value-of-special-
libraries/
 Library Advocacy: Save the Library Campaigns
http://stephenslighthouse.com/2010/04/01/save-the-library-
campaigns/

44. The Library as Sandbox
For leaners and Teachers

45. Stephen Abram, MLS, FSLA
Principal
Lighthouse Consulting
Cel: 416-669-4855
stephen.abram@gmail.com
Stephen’s Lighthouse Blog
http://stephenslighthouse.com