Classical Innovation

Reblogged from my Tumblr, "Leading to Learn."

Traditional focus doesn't have to be boring or archaic. In reading Mike Schmoker's, Focus, I cannot help but to come to the conclusion that he is not calling for a rejection of modern technology and its integration in our schools, but rather the commitment to use of these technologies to foster the necessary characteristics of good teaching and good citizenry that have stood for over 2,000 years.  The fact that the mediums are more flashy doesn't change the fact that people with superior reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills are far more equipped to be successful and active citizens than those without.  While much has been made of Focus equating to a shunning of much of the modern technology that exists in classrooms, I do not think it has to be one or the other.  Our most effective use of 21st century technology happens when its used to strengthen our instruction of the four pillars of language mastery that Schmoker insists we must focus on. For reading skills, we can use Livebinder, Diigo, Dropbox, Colornote, etc to enhance and organize the bookmarking and notetaking process for students.  We can use Google Docs, Blogging, MrThread, and other online chat forums to allow students to articulate themselves exclusively in writing during class with immediate feedback from peers and the instructor.  We have Flip cameras and Voice Thread to allow students to self assess their own speaking and presenting skills, and Skype presents incredible opportunities for students to academically and professionally interact with other students in sister classes.  Teachers can use textthemob and Twitter to enhance that critical interaction between student and teacher good classes have had since the days of Socrates.  Focusing on literacy the way Schmoker suggests does not mean abandoning the integration of technology in the classroom. It means using it in the best possible way to achieve our objectives.