ASB Unplugged-Mumbai-Final Thoughts

[Sam Liberto]

After 4 days and many workshops at ASB Unplugged, one inescapable direction emerges. Movement toward a one to one computing environment is inevitable and it’s only a question of "how long" and not "if"it should happen. To quote the keynote speaker, Scott McLeod, “Taking a pencil away from a child will soon be the equivalent to not allowing laptops in the classroom.”

We have a golden opportunity at QA to distinguish ourselves as the premiere technical literacyschool in the region by moving to a one to one environment. The advantages would be immense. Teaching opportunities in all disciplines would open up. Students would be more motivated. We could greatly reduce our dependence on IT support. We could become a true international partner with other schools.

We are moving on this path already. We have a functioning wireless network. We have students who are used to working with laptops. We have students who can afford to purchase laptops. We have expertise in the classroom to make technology work.

What we really need to do is trust ourselves and each other to make it work. Teachers and students need to utilize the very simple free utilities of:

1) Blogs (Blogger) to post work
2) Internet readers (Igoogle) to organize work
3) Wikis (Wikispaces) to list syllabus and expand communication
4) Social Bookmarks (Delici.ous) to share sources


This will free us from paper and open up collaborative learning. It will also improve
student, parent, and teacher cooperation.

Quite frankly, we can either lead or be led. It’s a lot more fun to be in front. It also will provide our students with the skills that society now demands. It will place our teachers in great demand in the educational community as educational leaders.

"It's time to get on the bus."

[Beverley Stubbs]

Sam, This is such a calm, rational response to the ASB Unplugged experience. Not only is QA moving along the path already, we have to acknowledge that the whole country is racing down that road.

Just as Kim Cofino talked to the Primary Teachers about the necessary mindshift that is required, the administrators at ASB (Mumbai) emphasised that the laptops/tablets are the tools. Andrew Hoover (MS Principal) reiterated that "it is not about the technology, it is about fundamental understandings." As part of a teacher's professional growth and development plan, a teacher needs to examine their own practice, identify areas of success and needed growth and, as a result modify their instruction. (Ana, the bus has pulled out from the curb...)

[Ana Santos]

Well written. Let me know when the bus is leaving... I want to make sure I am on it!