Embrace Technology: Come on, I dare ya!

Here is what we DON'T want to happen at Waukee Middle School:

It's 8:00 a.m. Students are entering the building. As a staff, we smile and say, "Welcome to Waukee Middle School! Although you are being raised with technology fully integrated into your life, we expect you to have a non-technology education and be someone you're NOT from 8:00 to 3:00 every day. Enjoy your 8- hour stay in our sterile, stifling environment."

Would you want this for your child? I'm guessing that's a big, fat NO.

Now, watch this:
http://bit.ly/dDtkyQ

THIS is what we want for our students at Waukee Middle School!

Thankfully, I work with amazing teachers who recognize that we must embrace technology. As we hire teachers newer to the profession, they "get it." Why? Because they are technology natives just like our students. As veteran teachers, we recognize that we have an obligation to embrace technology; our learning curve is just a bit steeper than the younger teachers! I'm grateful to be working with brave people who are willing to take risks and transform the learning environment so that our students can be themselves. If we are preparing our students for the "real world," shouldn't we be trying to replicate it? Their (and our) "real world" demands them (and us) to be global citizens. It's pretty hard to make this happen when we don't allow access to technology! Furthermore, it's a heck of a lot easier, and more meaningful, if we value students' technology skills and allow them to teach us what they know! It's completely okay, and expected, for us to be the "facilitators of learning" instead of the "know-it-all experts." Let's value our kids and the world they're in. We can't afford NOT to.

As for us at WMS, we're getting there. It's taking one step at a time, one day at a time. Our mantra of, "Just try one thing," is paving the way!