Leaders and Theorists

"School should be less about preparation
for life and more like life itself." ~ John Dewey

Alan November - The revolution is not about technology, but about information and communication. We should get rid of the “technology director/coordinator” titles. The key is communication, not technology.

Jamie McKenzie - In his article, Pedagogy Does Matter! published at his online educational technology journal, "From Now On," Dr. McKenzie presents a cogent analysis of why good teaching is so important to educational outcomes for technology integration.

John Abbott - His speech, Battery Hens or Free Range Chickens asks, "Are our schools places that encourage reflection? Do young minds formulate hypotheses that link a study of history with the issues of global warming or economic instability? Because that is what the world will need. Powerful, connected thinking. If not, we will have failed disastrously. That's why I entitled my speech "Battery Hens, or Free Range Chickens?" Cleverness will never be enough - our world needs creativity, and the ability to think holistically and ethically."

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi - He describes flow states as "being completely involved in an activity for its own sake. The ego falls away. Time flies. Every action, movement, and thought follows inevitably from the previous one, like playing jazz. Your whole being is involved, and you're using your skills to the utmost." Video

Todd Oppenheimer - His book, The Flickering Mind (2003) is an excellent critique of educational technology in the classroom. You can also read his 1997 article The Computer Delusion, online at The Atlantic Monthly. At his blog for his new book, Mr. Oppenheimer writes: "What are the 'enlightened basics?' The first is the foundation of thought. For young children, it starts with the fundamentals of play and creativity. As students grow older, this grows into what can be best described as the art of inquiry-the ability to investigate a complex question your own way, drawing on a broad base of knowledge."

John Dewey - Dewey's philosophy imbued the school where I worked from 1995-2000 - North Country School in Lake Placid, NY. This small boarding school was founded by Walter & Leo Clark, two more of my heroes.

Articles & Sites on Educational Technology

Myths and Realities About Technology in K-12 Schools - This article from 2000 discusses the implementation of technology in schools and common pitfalls.

Caught in the Net: Navigating the Turbulent Waters of Technology - Allan Bain's 1998 NAIS article on technology in schools.
 

Technology's greatest gift has been our enhanced ability to generate, process, and disseminate ideas swiftly and efficiently. ~ Peter Gow