1:1 Implementation: Take Your Time

As the school year comes to a close, I've been reflecting on the progress we've made with our 1:1 initiative. One piece of advice that I would give to anyone contemplating a 1:1 initiative is "take your time." My favorite performer at Mallory Square in Key West, Cat Man, loves to say "hurry up, take your time" as audience participants are called up front. But don't hurry up. Take your time.

I began the school year talking about a journey, but I had no idea what the journey would be like. I believe that we've been thoughtful and purposeful in phase one of our roll out. We've made mistakes, but we've constantly evaluated our project and made corrections as needed.

Remember the old saying, "Rome wasn't built in a day" when you begin working with teachers. Scaffold your instruction so that teachers can begin to see how to move up the SAMR ladder from substitution to redefinition in the use of technology. Don't expect one device to magically change everything. As I've said before, we need lots of tools and instructional strategies in our toolbox and students need choice in projects.

In addition to taking your time with the implementation, you will need vision, leadership, team work, professional development, and a reflective evaluation process in place. Take out any one of those ingredients, and your project is likely to fail.

I'm looking forward to phase two of our implementation in August and will post soon about the professional learning that is taking place this summer as we continue on the journey. Enjoy the summer, take time for professional learning, and take time out to spend with your family and friends.

Summertime and the Learning is Easy

As the school year comes to a close, I'm excited about the upcoming summer learning opportunities.

My district is partnering with a neighboring district for the first annual SC Midlands Summit. The Summit  is a two day conference focused on the use of Google Apps for Education, research tools, Web 2.0 tools, and technology integration in the classroom. The lineup of presenters is fantastic, and I can't wait for the event to begin.

Another great summer event is the Upstate Technology Conference hosted by Greenville County School District. This conference grows every year, and the teachers who present have some wonderful ideas for integrating technology into the curriculum.

Last but not least, is the ISTE 2012 conference in San Diego. Over the past two years I have become more involved with ISTE as a presenter and participant. The conference is a great opportunity to network with other educators from around the country and build relationships that will last a  lifetime.

There are many more professional learning opportunities available this summer, and I look forward to taking some time for learning and professional growth. Look around your area for opportunities to get involved this summer!