"Don't walk behind me, I may not lead. Don't walk in front of me, I may not follow. Just walk beside me and be my friend."
Albert Camus
Is it too early to start seeing a payoff for the investment in the 1-to-1 MTLI? Perhaps. But I'm sensing that huge transformations are about to take place. Nope, I don't have a shred of scientific evidence, only an ear to the ground in the various schools I visit. I tell you, this old digital immigrant can feel the vibrations. A take-off point is about to occur!
The most significant indication is that we all now know that it ain't going away. I am hearing from even the most skeptical educators now that they're getting on board. There is no question in our minds that the train has left the station, is slowly picking up speed, is not going to reverse direction, and that we'd better run fast to catch up and jump aboard.
Many of us who have had many years in education have seen more than our share of bandwagons in which everyone gets swept up in the enthusiam, only to see a swing of the pendulum, with everyone then running in the opposite direction.
This is different. This is deep. This is revolutionary. This is a time to find our colleagues where they are and gently bring them along.
Our major issues now are ethical. How are we to treat one another? What is important?
2 comments:
I would agree with you that the impact of the MLTI project has been significant.
However, I also think this project has occurred at precisely the right time - just as "Earth is Flattening," so to speak. The MLTI tools and professional development was there when these profound changes were really emerging.
Most importantly, I think that Maine educators at the 7 & 8 Grade levels deserve a lot of credit for making the program the success it certainly is.
MLTI has greatly changed Maine education. I was a skeptic at first but have seen the impact of it in my school and at events around the state. Maine was first as a state with one to one but we still need to get all teachers on board. 7th and 8th graders have handled their laptops well and have been very reponsible with them overall despite some problems.
The laptops have gotten Maine students ahead of the game with technology and hopefully this shows in the future. We need to help our students use these skills and stay in Mainewhwn they grow up. We need to have Maine jobs that these new skills can be used in and keep our students here when they graduate high school and college.
Hopefully Angus King's old motto "Maine is on the Move1" stays in effect for the economy and we aren't raising students so that, "Maine is on the Move to New Hampshire!";)!
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