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A few concepts have longevity such as "how effective is technology enhanced learning when contrasted with traditional classrooms?". Questions like this are boring. And unanswerable given the tremendous number of variables involved in teaching online and in classrooms. I'm firmly convinced of the following: ... ...many of the previously "hot" questions about technology in education no longer interest me. Some of these include:...

The conventional wisdom in education is that any school reform--be it curriculum, instruction, assessment, or teacher professionalism--is most likely to take hold in schools that have strong leadership. The same holds true for technology.

I agree with Dave's observation. We have four elementary buildings in our district, each with a different principal and each with a distinctive leadership strength. It's just like when I was teaching, I tended to teach to my strengths and had to remind myself to be well-rounded, but my classrooms definitely had a technology slant to them. Now as a building principal, my staff professional development is also slanted to the technology side. That part comes easier to me. I just have to work harder at curriculum and instruction pieces when I "marry" them all together.

"...we need to keep reminding ourselves that ed reform is not technology reform and that embedded, transformative technology is not simply digitizing what we've already been doing."

"It was hard! As a teacher, I think sometimes we say that technology is going to make teaching easier. It's not. It's going to make it different."

I think we've all got to stop cranking out blog posts and Tweets that tout new tools and the "10 Best Ways…" and instead begin to make the case in our blogs and in person that technology or not, this is about what is best for our kids. That in this moment, 20th Century rules will not work for 21st Century schools.

Looking for that perfect gift for the leaders in your school or district? Not sure what to get that principal or superintendent that has everything? Search no more. Get them What School Leaders Need to Know About Digital Technologies and Social Media

It is my main critique with the emotional-feel-good message of Ken Robinson's focus on creativity. First, we need to get over the view that our generation is astonishingly unique. Hasn't every generation faced new technologies to solve problems not foreseen? The present moment arrogance that invades much of school reform thinking is frustrating. And, I might as well add, the pendulum-thinking mindset that is evident in Robinson's view is damaging in the long term. See also http://daily-ink.davidtruss.com/elearnspace-its-new-its-new-george-siemens

Setting the Stage: First Steps Toward 1:1 The first few months in a new school are always extra hectic, and this semester has been even more crazy than usual, because we have been working on several different facets of technology and learning here at YIS, in preparation for 1:1 next year. Here's what we've done so far:

Project-Based Learning grabs hold of this idea and fosters deep learning and autonomy by using technology to help students engage in issues and questions relevant to their lives. This resource will direct you to a variety of resources on this approach, the research behind it, and how you can use it in your class to transform your students into engaged and interested independent thinkers

1. ICT IS USED TO ENHANCE STUDENT LEARNING2. ICT IS AN INTEGRAL ASPECT OF TEACHING3. PROFESSIONAL SUPPORT IS ONGOING4. PLANNING, BUDGETING and EVALUATION ARE KEY ORGANISATIONAL ACTIVITIES5. ICT INFUSION IS SUPPORTED BY COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS