iAccess Day 1: Exploration & Discovery

Well, just as expected the iPods are a hit with the students. Today we worked on getting familiar with the devices. It was an "Exploration Day" so to speak. I was surprised with the little exposure some students have had with iPods. Some seemed to hold it as if it would break while others dove right in. To sum up our first day, there were definitely a few satisfying and exciting moments.

Here are few-

This student (above) was excited about every single aspect. He wanted to use the "twitter" app to share what he was learning. In fact I think he asked at least 5-6 times today. Sounds like validation to me.

A couple students immediately went to the "Maps" app to search for their house. They found them pretty quickly too.

One student began taking pictures & video of white board drawings in an attempt do some stop motion animation.

Another student wrote a note to wish her older brother a happy birthday via twitter.

For what it's worth it was a GREAT first day. I'm looking forward to more, I think the kids are too.

On Education Reform...

Anyone familiar with the work of Dr. W. Edwards Deming? Well, what he was saying back in the World War II era seems earily similar to the need for changing perceptions of public education. Yes, his philosophy is rooted in business, but good ideas are just that, it doesn't matter where they come from.

Deming’s 14 Points
1. Create constancy of purpose for improvement of product and service.
2. Adopt the new philosophy.
3. Cease dependence on mass inspection.
4. End the practice of doing business on price tag alone.
5. Improve constantly and forever the system of production and service.
6. Institute programs of training.
7. Institute leadership.
8. Drive out fear.
9. Break down barriers.
10. Eliminate slogans, exhortations, and targets for theworkplace.
11. Eliminate numerical quotas.
12. Remove barriers to pride and joy of workmanship.
13. Institute a vigorous program of education and retraining.
14. Take action to accomplish the transformation.

Another approach to change & the development of capacity in regard to professional development which has some similarities (in my view) to Deming is the Concerns Based Adoption Model (CBAM). This model came out of research done in the 1980's, nearly 40 years after Deming's work in Japan. Check out more about the CBAM here.

References:

Dr. W. Edwards Deming, Out of the Crisis (Deming, 1986)

CBAM, (Hall & Hord, 1987; Hord, Rutherford, Huling-Austin, & Hall, 1987; Loucks-Horsley & Stiegelbauer, 1991).