Wearable Technology - my reflections

For the past couple of years, wearable technology has become increasingly more popular.  I bought a Fitbit Flex two years ago and became obsessed.  It was fun to observe how many steps I was taking every day and to compete with my friends within Fitbit's app on my iPhone.  I went on Amazon.com and ordered various color bands to "accessorize" and felt myself over-focused.  Shortly after I started with the Fitbit, I started using the My Fitness Pal app to track my diet and ensure that I was drinking at least eight cups of water a day.

Did I see results?  Well, sort of; I was already in the habit of eating better, controlling my portions, eliminating sodas and sweets, and getting to the gym regularly.  The days that I didn't go to the gym, I walked to work and ensured that I walked the dogs every night.  Shortly after I got my iPhone 6, I abandoned my Fitbit Flex and relied on Apple's health app.  I liked the features but missed the ability to see what my friends were doing.  Then a friend loaned my his Fitbit Force - very cool because it had a watch and I could see my steps without accessing the app on my phone.  What I decided I didn't like with the Fitbit products was the need to charge another device - I already have to charge my phone regularly, my MacBook, and my iPad.  Arghhhh!  (I also read articles that wearable technology (in terms of the fitness part) is inaccurate and can cause poor habits.... hmmm if ANYTHING can get people to exercise more regularly, it's got to be worth something!)

Then for some strange reason, I got mesmerized by the Apple watch.  Still not sure why.  I got one in November and liked that I could use my phone less.  It's amazing technology, but also limited though it has a very high price tag.  And another device to charge!  What was I thinking?  My wife bought me a beautiful Fossil watch a year or so ago.....

So, I sold my Apple Watch.  I decided that I need to not be so connected all the time.  I know that if I go to the gym regularly, eat healthy portions, and drink water and other drinks that are free of high-fructose corn syrup (and other products) I should be fine.  This morning I went to the gym - no Apple Watch, no Fitbit, and no iPhone - I left it in my locker.  35 minutes of cardio and mild weights.  Protein shake for breakfast.  Feeling good - and it felt good not to be connected to anything for the hour I was there.  I was clear minded and remained focused.  I know wearable technology is here to stay, but not sure it's for me.

2016 - What's the Next Big Thing?

A new year has arrived yet again - as they always do.  The gym was pretty full this morning, as it usually is during January.  As I attempted to put in my 30 minutes on the elliptical after lifting some mild weights, I thought to myself, "What's the next big thing that's going to come out this year?"

I wonder this for many reasons, but mostly due to a piece I heard on the radio a week or so ago regarding Twitter losing its value.  The reporter claimed that one of Twitter's challenges is that with its new releases / updates, it needs to add features that its competitors don't have yet.  At first I thought to myself, "whatever, I love Twitter the way it is." But then I was logged into Facebook and noticed how they've continue to enhance things.  For example, when I log in now from my iPhone, my camera roll appears so I can post items with newer pictures quicker than before and eliminates the need to browse to my camera roll.  Also, when I add multiple pictures, I can create a collage.  Pretty cool stuff.  Not earth-shattering, but enhancements that the others do not have.

Pondering this, I thought about the evolution of iTunes.  And what an evolution it has been.  iTunes and the iPod has effectively changed the way we consume music.  I remember being a kid and buying an entire cassette or CD for ONE song!  Not really a challenge for today's generation, huh?  iTunes releases some sort of update nearly every six weeks.  That just boggles my mind.

So 2016 is here.  What will the next big thing be? What will that next Apple Watch look like and how will it perform?  What will the iPhone 7, Samsung Galaxy 7, and other new technologies have that we don't have now but decide (once seeing the new stuff) that we can't live without them?  Time will tell.  We are living in an exciting time - almost impossible to keep up with it all.  More importantly, what technologies will evolve that improve our education?

Culture

I just read a fabulous (and short) post from George Couros - The Culture You Create.   I typically read posts, but rarely reply - this one I had no choice but to respond, and it read:

Thank you for this post. I have seen signs throughout my district and they are similar to the image you posted. I agree with your statements regarding trust and perception. I think the bigger question is how do we educate the “ignorant?” How does the culture shift if many are not taking the time to realize the power of mobile / personal devices have and how the devices can level the playing field? I have found that it is often the leadership that is resistant to the change more than the teaching staff. The fixed mindsets kill me! I once saw a quote that read, “The biggest risk is the one you don’t take.” We learn by doing – by succeeding AND by FAILING. There is no perfect lesson. But technology is a game changer and helps level the playing field – used correctly, it transforms teaching and learning in ways once inconceivable.

Why are educators (generally) so afraid to take risks?  I do understand that the thresholds of NCLB are challenging to reach, but if what is taking place at schools is so effective, why are we still in Program Improvement?  Why have we not met and exceeded federal (and our own) expectations?

I remember attending a California League of Schools conference a few years ago.  The keynote speaker cited how the gaming company Nintendo spends more money on Research and Development than the entire US Department of Education.  Crazy.  Where is the money going?  (I know, we can all answer that one.)

We have the ability to create a culture that is receptive of device use, yet doesn't lose the space for collaboration and communication.  The concepts behind the 4 C's of the common core make sense - I fear that the implementation doesn't.  Remember the "Don't smile until Christmas" concept?  I have never agreed with it, but think about the power an effective teacher has to create an environment of trust and respect, where new ideas are shared, learning is reciprocal, and everybody (students and teacher) is engaged.

Not Sure If I Agree...

I just read this article from NPR Education titled Mark Zuckerberg is Betting Tech Can Address Educational Equity.  Is it that Simple?  

The author asserts that "Personalized learning is a buzzword for software programs that act like automatic tutors:  giving feedback, allowing students to go at their own pace, and recommending lessons based on student's previous work."   What a terribly incorrect statement.  Personalized learning can (and should) point students to resources that spark their interest based on their past work, but aren't necessarily automated or self-paced.

What the author is missing, as well as the folks her contributed comments based on their own studies, is that it is NOT about the technology.  It is about how the tool is used to enhance the teaching and learning environment.  Technology can break down walls and open opportunities that were not possible before.  Take a look at Google's app "Street View" or Google Earth.  Students can virtually go to places they are studying about - almost equivalent to a primary source.

Within the article I do agree with Michael Feldstein who argues that "successfully pulling off personalized learning in schools requires major changes, like grouping students by ability and making class schedules more flexible."

So what is the key ingredient?  Thinking outside the box!  Is the status quo really working?  With the resources now available in most schools, the sky is truly the limit.  School boards and leadership teams need to understand the power that can be leveraged now, be willing to take risks, model best practices, and provide sound and meaningful (and ongoing) professional development.  It is not easy, but some schools have been successful.  There are still a lot of humps to get over.

I Like John's Viewpoint

Today marks the 35th anniversary of the death of John Lennon.  I was only nine when he was murdered and at the time, did not understand the impact his music, his views, and his overall character had on our world.

I remember my mom was really upset.  I also remember thinking to myself, "Who is John Lennon?  A beatle?  Insect?  What?"

The more I've learned about John Lennon, the more I realize that he just "got it."  Yeah, plenty of people thought he was a weird hippy, but he had a down to earth point of view; he was a pacifist who truly wanted to "Give Peace a Chance."

John knew what it meant to express yourself without regret; live each day to its fullest and impact the world through positive action and contributions to the arts.  I think back to Apple's "Think Different" campaign and the individuals that Steve Jobs chose as "the crazy ones, the misfits, the outcasts."  John was one of them - his ideas were big enough to change the world and he did just that.

There will never be another John Lennon.  There will never be another band (in my opinion) that has an impact on the world like the Beatles.  But in our attempt to understand life, we have to take peace in knowing that John died a happy man, he made an impact, and above all, he understood life.  In the crazy madness of our everyday lives, we need to take the time to find happiness and our own understandings.

Don't be afraid to think different.  More often than not, the status quo SUCKS.

Do We Ever Find Balance?

I often find myself struggling - struggling to find "balance" in my life.  How do I balance out my life?  I feel slammed - overwhelmed quite often.  Drilling down, I do my best to juggle married life, raising children, doing well at work, finding time for myself, etc.

The Balanced Man

When I was an undergraduate at San Francisco State University, I joined the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity.  It was a tremendous experience - one of the best of my life.  In addition to promoting Virtue, Diligence, and Brotherly Love, Sig Ep focused on being "The Balanced Man."  We always bragged about this - "We are balanced men."  In retrospect, I was anything but balanced.  I didn't make the Dean's List until my final semester at SFSU and quite frankly, could have been a far better friend to many, son to my parents, and brother to my siblings.  Not trying to sound hard on myself, but I didn't live up to the motto of my fraternity.

Here I am now, 44 years old, engulfed in "real life," and still feel unbalanced.  How do I find time to go to the gym without feeling guilty that I am not spending time with my wife and kids?  How do I get all of the work done that I need to accomplish without cutting off friends and family?  How do I make sense of all of the immense information available to us and share with others as a way to move things forward?

I guess I will always struggle to find balance.  I am human.  Humans are creatures of habit.  I need to form better habits and be a better example for those around me.  New Year's resolution?  Yeah, right.  Mind over matter.  Stay consistent.  Stay focused.  I think I can do this.  Are you balanced?

Do We "Lose our Touch?"

Here's some food for thought:  Does it come a time in our careers, that if we enter the administration ranks or take a position outside of the classroom, we forget what it was like in the classroom?  Think about that for a moment.  I had this discussion with my wife, who I feel is one of the most solid teachers I have ever seen.  She has not lost her passion and does not compromise her standards or beliefs.

Our district had a staff development day October 12, whereas site administrators lead morning sessions for teachers.  I love that model!  Walk the walk, talk the talk.  However, in the session my wife attended the administrator recorded himself ahead of time and simply showed the film.  Was he trying to model a flipped classroom?  There wasn't any follow-up or checks for understanding. So, the question is, do we lose our touch?

I taught for 12 years before entering administration.  However, I have continued to teach at the college level and when I was a site administrator, did my best to get in classrooms as often as possible.  But is that the same thing as doing it every day?  Do administrators get so far removed from the classroom (as we get caught up in the day-to-day running of the school or district) that we forget what it was like managing a classroom and every possible thing that comes with it?

Some have suggested that administrators should have to teach one class every "x" years.  How would we be alleviated of our other duties?  What is the answer?  Attend conferences and professional development more often?  But is that really putting things to practice?  I don't know the answer here, but I do understand that the day-to-day dynamic of a classroom is meaningful and very hard work.  It is easy to lose sight of things if we don't keep everything in perspective, listen to others, stay focused, and above all, remember why we got into this profession.  It's about the students.