Present in the Moment: A BYOT Reflection

I think I can safely say that technology is part blessing and part curse.  Today for instance, it was a blessing.  I needed electronic copies of old receipts from closed fiscal years.  Simple as finding the transaction number on a spreadsheet and a search box… 10 years ago (heck, 5 years ago) I would still be sifting through shoeboxes looking for elusive slips of paper.

Sometimes though, technology is a curse.  The constant need to check email “just in case” has kept me from focusing on the joy in front of me.  My anxiety for control and order is fed by the burden of instant communications.  Feeling the need to answer every email - even if it’s Sunday afternoon. 

Being present in the moment. 

At Brebeuf, we remind ourselves that God is found in all things.  To recognize God in all things, one must be present in the moment.  The counter argument to BYOT is that kids will constantly be on devices.  The concern is in part a loss of control on the adult front.  But I think the deeper concern is one to consider – will students lose the moment because their nose is buried in a device? 

I argue that the benefit of BYOT is having this discussion.  By engaging students in the conversation that now is a time to use a device (say researching) and now is not the time to use the device (discussion of irony in a piece of fiction).  Part of our responsibility as educators is intentionally modeling when a device is appropriate and intentionally modeling when the device is on the desk or in a backpack.  Young people use technology inappropriately because they have never learned otherwise.  By modeling, discussing, practicing and reflecting using the device the student chose in school, we provide a safe and supportive learning environment for tomorrow’s adults.   

It’s really not about the device.  It’s about giving experiences in an authentic context.   And the side benefit is we develop men and women who recognize when it’s time to use the device and when the device should be left in the backpack.

***Now I am putting this blog away and going to Camarata … with my technology.  Modeling timing multimedia show to accompany the music… AND being present in the moment. 

The BYOT Boot Camp

As Brebeuf Jesuit moves forward in 1:1 Bring Your Own Technology (see other posts from @jdferries  blog on topic too), I thought I’d share with you all our next level of Professional Development:  The Boot Camp.

Those of you who have followed us on the 1:1 BYOT journey know one of our most successful BYOT professional development activities has been the tech petting zoo.  This is a time for individuals to stop by and try out new devices and play for a bit.  But as we get closer to 1:1 BYOT, we needed to get our hands a little dirty and thus the Boot Camp was developed.  We are working with departments as discreet learners for Boot Camps (last night was our Religion Department’s turn).  

BYOT Boot Camp Agenda

Introductory Strategies: 

• Context activity with Stages of Integration “Where Are You Now?”

• What can you expect students to bring to class and other details

Practice Maneuvers: 

• Tech Petting Zoo 

• Department Specific Applications, Web 2.0 resource, electronic environments etc…  

Special Ops:

• BYOT Reflection Graphic Organizer

• Round Table Brainstorming

The Crucible:

• Teamwork and Support

• Exit Ticket

• Graduation

We begin with a Context setting activity.  The focus here being for the individual and department to reflect on “Where are you now?” with regard to technology use in the classroom.  Right now, I am using this integration rubric created by the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory in 2004 as a jumping off place.   Campers are then asked to reflect on concerns and questions they may have regarding BYOT and jot them down on a piece of paper.  This context activity centers the group on the topic at hand… visualizing BYOT in their classroom learning environment.   We then move into logistics of what are the requirements of 1:1 BYOT that have been articulated to families.

Practical Maneuvers would be considered Experience in Jesuit terms.  Now we look at specific tools, resources, devices but frame them within current academic learning objectives.  This is when the conversation shifts.  I find the first 30-45 minutes of the Boot Camp is focused on the nouns of BYOT – expectations, devices, requirements, websites, supportive readings…. But when we turn the corner to the academic learning objective (I use a graph organizer like the one below) then the conversation shifts away from the nouns and on to the verbs.  

Now it gets fun!  The conversation last night shifted to the importance of factual memorization and timelines versus analysis of concepts.  We discussed question writing to promote critical thinking.  We discussed what would happen if we really reflected on the learning objective of the lesson rather than just assign some reading and hope it flushes out in the assessment.  We discussed essential concepts in light of curricular learning outcomes.  Most importantly, we discussed good teaching in a collaborative, supportive environment (that's the Teacher Resource Center below...teacher included).

I haven’t had to resort to an Exit Ticket yet … people do engage and pay attention.  As one of the teachers reflected yesterday (he was much more poetic than my woeful recreation here… but the sentiment is the same) – BYOT may push us beyond our comfort range but it’s in the best interest of the students to create learning experiences in the context of their time, skills and technologies. 

We call that point the way and get out of the way …