May the Force be with You

All the science nerds out there will get my title-as push and pull are the forces that act upon everything :)  My favorite part of the Joi Ito lecture was the Pull over Push segment where he emphasized the fact that we need to teach students how to get the information they need instead of burying them under a mountain of information they don't.  I would add that we also need to teach students how to identify what information they are going to need.  Markoff alludes to that also when she says we can't expect a student to educate themselves with a device any more than if we handed them a textbook.  We need to guide them in what information that textbook contains, how to use it, and what to do if that particular book doesn't contain what they are looking for.  

In response to the 'commitment' question: I think last year I would have said no.  The pandemic has forced so many reluctant technology users to finally take the plunge that now may answer would be yes.  I'm convinced that many of the blended learning techniques that have been adopted by my campus will continue to evolve even as we return to pre-covid learning models. It has been so exciting for me to see them try new strategies and embrace the possibilities that using technology intentionally brings.  And if I may circle back to Mr. Ito, in my position I need to remember that it is not necessary for teachers to learn how to use EVERY new program, app, and platform out there.  They are better served if I make the choices available and teach them how to find the ones that will serve them best.  

As far as COVA goes, my proposal is all about Project Based Learning, so stay tuned!