You're Teaching With Digital Immigrants. It's OKAY.

You just helped someone down the hall find that link they bookmarked in Internet Explorer last week. Now, take a second to breathe... let out your frustration for now... good. Ready to do that again tomorrow? ;)

Most of the teachers in our schools are digital immigrants. Own that. Appreciate that diversity.

My sister, @jenbearden, made a post on her teaching blog Sunday about her struggle with being defined as a digital immigrant, but wanting to feel like a digital native because of her teaching practice and (positive) attitudes toward change and innovations.

"So like I said, I am somewhat of an Immigrant just because of my age, but that definition doesn’t ring true at all with how I think/believe/feel about myself, my students or learning in general.  I do think learning can and should be fun, I did spend my formative years learning with Sesame Street, Mr. Rogers and the Electric Company, and I am a MASTER at multi-tasking (i.e. learning while watching TV and/or listening to music–I’m doing it right now, actually).  Perhaps its like with any definition or rule, there’s always an exception.  And in this case, an exception is what I long to be.  "

She ended with this question: "So what do you think about the digital natives, digital immigrants and Web 2.0? Which are you? How does knowing about digital natives impact the way you teach and the way your students learn?"

Here was my comment re: digital natives:

As far as immigrants and natives – they are diametrically opposite; you cannot put the words together!  That’s cheating. You’re obviously a naturalized citizen of the digital world at this point (I think I skipped in as a digital native at like, the, you-were-born-in-a-US-embassy level, LOL), but you’re still an immigrant because of your ed experiences growing up. There was a period where you had to train yourself that it was “normal” to do all of your work and learning on a computer. I mean, I know your prior knowledge was above the level of the class, but I was in the living room when you were doing college homework learning the parts of a computer and how to use a mouse. 
You’re an immigrant, own it. It’s what makes this [digital] country so great.

The article that sparked her post was published by +Marc Prensky in 2001: "Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants".  The definition comes down to this for me  - a digital native is one who grew up with digital technologies have a vein in every aspect of their socialization and learning; a digital immigrant is one who at some point had to adopt and assimilate something they had previously learned to digital mediums or methods.

If you weren't (at least) emailing, myspacing, or facebooking friends in high school, I don't think you're a digital native. AND THAT'S OKAY. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2008, there were 4.8 million K-12 teachers in US schools. So, there are least least A COUPLE MILLION teachers who are NOT digital natives.

What does that have to do with your colleague down the hall that can't attach a file to an email?

If you're a "naturalized" digital citizen, I'm sure you relate to this.

Just as there are varying identities that immigrants wear in the US (fully "Americanized," naturalized citizen vs maintaining all native language, culture, and customs), there are different identities of digital immigrants teaching in our schools. Here's what I've found - Once you expect that teachers in your building are at different degrees of tech integration and allow for them to develop appropriately, you and those you're helping will both feel more success.

Here are the principles I try to follow when designing and leading PD sessions for technology:

1. NEVER put all of the staff in one, one-size-fits-all session. The people in the middle of the curve will probably learn something, but at least a 1/3 of the group at the bottom and top of the curve will be bored/lost. Whenever possible break into developmental groups.
2. Celebrate (any) successes and new skills learned/new tool adopted. I have a teacher in my department who announced to me with a lot of pride last December that she had attached a file to an email without any help. Knowing how far she'd come, I was thrilled for her (and me.) :)
3. Pre-train a handfull of the early-adopters in your building so they can peer-tutor and maximize your training results during the larger session.
4. Provide mastery goals for implementation of the instructional strategy or technology tool. When we switched over to Google Apps in July 2012, for some of our staff in the district, learning how to rebuild the contact list in their new email from the old mail system was a huge undertaking. And truthfully, mastery of email really was the BASIC level of implementation required. For others, however, we've tried to model implementation levels for using Google Docs for classroom instruction, and even to the extent of students using Google Docs. 

Until people born in the early 80s begin retiring, we're going to have digital immigrants teaching digital natives in our schools. As long as they're making some kind of effort toward naturalization, its important to offer grace and patience in our efforts to train.

What My Toilet Says About My Teaching

"Can you tell us briefly how you use technology outside of the classroom?"

This was one of the first questions posed by the panel in the interview I had today for our new Instructional Technology Specialist in the district. The job of an ITS was pretty well broken down by +MaryBeth Hertz in Edutopia, so I'll direct you there if you want details. (Mentoring and Coaching for Effective Tech Integration)

I really wanted to answer this question with a simple response like, "For everything." I mentioned the media center PC we have for DVR and streaming, app use, and social media, but I concluded with this:

"I basically have my iPad with me at all times, which means there's rarely a scenario in which I don't use it (especially since I don't have a smartphone). It even went to prom with me last year. My friends give me a hard time about it, but if you know me, you also get it."

(I was even using it at that very moment to record audio with my favorite note-taking app, Notability)

The response still didn't feel done. Then, I thought about my toilet.

About a month ago, the rod that connects our flapper chain to the handle snapped. Off to Home Depot I trudged, hoping only to fix it in the least time possible. Because of the setup of my toilet, most of the "universal" handle assemblies did not fit (which I found out after attempt #1), so I was going to have to pay more than average for my part. Enter the DuoFlush.

The DuoFlush works mechanically to control the amount of water used in a flush to save water. We'd been eyeing a DuoFlush toilet at Sam's Club for about a year, but it seemed impractical to replace our entire toilet for the sake of the environment (water conservation isn't so much an issue here). We took home this adapter that replaces the conventional flapper in your tank and now have a super (green) toilet. 

---

What does plumbing have to do with teaching and education technology?

I am the only one I know that has a a dual flush, water saving toilet. It's not a sexy, digital technology or an app, but its certainly an innovation. When the extent of your early adoption habits stretches to the bathroom, you're probably willing to try anything (and everything) in the name of enhancing student achievement.

What my toilet means for leading the integration of technology in your school is that everyone has a starting point and a comfort level with technology. Our work lives and characteristics (usually) mirror many traits of our personal lives. When I think about getting teachers to buy in to a new tool or instructional method in their classroom, I think everyone has a "what's in it for me" point at which they'll adopt. When the personal benefit outweighs the cost (time, risk, change), an individual will be open to the innovation.

I think just about every one of my formal evaluations and summative evaluations on file mention that I'm creative and good with tech integration, and I've been building the reputation among my peers as well, but I'm more than happy to point to my toilet.

Return on Investment: What Messages Are Your Classroom Tech Policies Sending?

I had a new student in class today; he transferred from a different high school in the area. His old district is very similar to ours demographically and economically, but I think our leadership has made courageous, difficult decisions on where to invest budgets, and it has paid off in higher academic success for our students.

We got the iPads out first thing, and this is how it went.

Really big left arm unintentional... LOL

I don't know much about this student than his name and a vague description of what he was doing in Algebra 2 at his old school, but I know he knows that our district values equity in opportunity for our students. I'm unsure how he feels about his past, but I hope tonight he feels optimistic about his educational future.