Thoughts on Will Richardson...and a few confessions

I have a confession to make – I can’t watch television or movies without multi-tasking.  I can read for hours on end, oblivious to the world around me, but when it comes to relaxing and watching a show after the kids go to bed?  Well, I might as well forget about it unless I have my phone, iPad and school work with me.  On a typical night, my husband (who is entirely too perceptive) will have to rewind at least 3 times during a show because I’ve missed a snippet, joke or something that should have garnered a reaction from me but failed to do so…because I was too busy doing something other than watching tv.  Perhaps it is a part of my personality or perhaps it comes with the territory of a working parent of 3 kids.  Maybe it is combination of both.

So, when I sat down to begin my Journey coursework (of course, after the children were in bed, dishes were cleaned and I had a cup of tea next to me), I dutifully followed the directions of “Start from the top and work your way down.”  Fair enough.  Step one: Introduction.  Check.  Step two:  Watch Will Richardson video.  I opened the video and began to panic – 1 hour, 1 minute and 43 seconds.  If I have a difficult time putting all of my focus into a 30 minute television show, how would I make it through an hour long video?!  I launched the video and within 5 minutes, I had multiple windows open – I was editing photos, checking e-mail and pinning on Pinterest, all while “listening” to Will Richardson.  Occasionally, I would jot down a word or phrase that struck me as interesting but for the most part, I went about my various activities.  I finished watching the video and looked at the next step – create a blog.  Check.  And then, when I read Challenge One for Day One, I had one of those “Oh man!” moments.  For when I “listened” to the Will Richardson video while busying myself in other “to do” tasks on my list, I failed to process 99% of the video.  At that time, I threw in the towel for another night.  And, yes, when I found another hour of free time in my crazy schedule, I watched the video for a second time and kept my hands busy by taking notes.  It worked!

What I found interesting about Richardson’s presentation is that it is from his perspective of a parent.  I found myself agreeing with him on many aspects of his speech.  What is the point of learning in schools if it is for the assessment of knowledge?  Unless one is planning on a career in game show trivia, then schools are failing our students in preparation for now – the future.  As a parent, I want my own children to be passionate about learning.  They are still so young and have that enthusiasm for school.  But will it remain?  With the pressures of high stake testing and the intense focus on content driven instruction, which has put creativity and social development aside, I question if schools are doing the right thing for my children, our children, all children.  As Richardson states, “We need to prepare our kids for the world in which THEY live…”

The question is how?  How do we balance the demands of high stakes testing or student performance/teacher evaluations with systematic changes of delivering technology rich content to schools?  What does that look like?  I read an article today that likened schools to a business.  We need to be in the market to change our product to meet the needs of our clients.  Otherwise our clients will take their business elsewhere. Learning is anytime – anyone – anywhere.

Richardson made another comment that resonated with me – Children need to use technology to create and collaborate, not play with it.  Guilty as charged (confession two - I thought I was making only one this evening).   My students play on the iPad during stations or centers.  Are they learning and practicing literacy and math skills?  Absolutely!  But I am failing them in finding ways to be creative and work together on projects.  This is where I see change beginning at my grade level – kindergarten.  At the elementary level, I think children will still need schools for those foundational skills.  But in addition to this, as teachers, we need to be innovative in providing access to technology that inspires creativity while balancing the demands of high stakes testing.

And so, I need to put my multi-tasking skills to better use.  I feel compelled to use that time in the evenings to explore ways to provide creative learning.  And luckily, I have three guinea pigs at home to test these findings before I present it to my students (confession three – I am not one who embraces failure).  I am excited to start this journey.  I’m not sure where it will lead and what it’s going to look like but I know it will be definitely an adventure.