Change Has Come...the First Technology President!

What Are President Obama's Plans for Schools and the Use of Technology?

At 12:01 P.M. on Jan. 21st, the White House website got a brand new look...
http://www.whitehouse.gov/

As you can see, the Obama administration is planning to use blogs, slideshows, and weekly video addresses to communicate with the American people. This is yet another reason why our students should be exposed to and participate in these types of mediums in school.

One page that I found particularly interesting is President Obama's technology agenda. In addition to appointing a Chief Technology Officer, Obama has some very clear goals for technology in this country as well as the use of technology in education. If even a few of these goals are reached there are huge implications for students, teachers and administrators.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/agenda/technology/

How can you begin to prepare yourself & your students to communicate in this environment of CHANGE?

A few ideas for beginning tech users:

1. Make sure that you have a website that you update daily or weekly.
2. Find a blog that is of interest to you (there are thousands out there) and begin reading it everyday. Leave a comment every now and then.
3. Make sure you are requiring students to cite their work anytime it is not their own. Even if the citation isn't 100% accurate every time, it is important that students are in the habit of citing work.

A few ideas for intermediate tech users:

1. Look at your own website. Does it communicate the messages you want to send to your students and their parents? Revisit the site's purpose.
2. Make sure you cite work that isn't your own. Model best practices for the students and point it out to them so they understand when & why you cite work.
3. When teaching opportunities arise, talk to your students about using technology privately and safely. As technology becomes more pervasive, our students will need to hear messages about safety & privacy over and over again, not just once in a while.

A few ideas for advanced tech users:

1. Start to post student work on your website. You can make almost anything digital through scanning and photographs.
2. Start a blog for your class or for yourself. As you use blogs in class, make sure to model appropriateness and teach students how to comment constructively.
3. Make a short video (like the weekly address) introducing yourself to your students & parents. Post it on your website.

Thanks to my friend Geordie Paulus for sending me this information!