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The first instinct is thus to graft technology onto preexisting modes of behavior. Hence PowerPoint slides replace the overhead projector, and the learning or course management system attempts to simulate an in-person classroom

As technologists, however, we have to realize that incremental change is the best we can hope for in many cases

That pace is dictated in large measure by their response to the Three E’s. We have to make them aware of the benefits realized through the effective use of technology. We have to make sure that the platforms they are forced to use are relatively easy to manipulate and conform in some way to the reality in which they exist

Technology of the Week” posters. We actually advertise some of the useful and interesting things that faculty can do with a particular technology. They can then go to the Curriculum Innovation Center or attend a workshop to learn how to use that technology.

here is, at its very core, a problem with the LMS paradigm. The “M” in “LMS” stands for “management.” This is not insignificant. The word heavily implies that the provider of the LMS, the educational institution, is “managing” student learning. Since the dawn of public education and the praiseworthy societal undertaking “educate the masses,” management has become an integral part of the learning. And this is exactly what we have designed and used LMSs to do—to manage the flow of students through traditional, semester-based courses more efficiently than ever before. The LMS has done exactly what we hired it to do: it has reinforced, facilitated, and perpetuated the traditional classroom model, the same model that Bloom found woefully less effective than one-on-one learning.

We can extend, expand, enhance, magnify, and amplify the reach and effectiveness of human interaction with technology and communication tools, but the underlying reality is that real people must converse with each other in the process of “becoming.”

Because the LMS is primarily a traditional classroom support tool, it is ill-suited to bridge the 2-sigma gap between classroom instruction and personal tutoring.

undamentally human endeavor that requires personal interaction and communication, person to person.

n the post-LMS world, we need to worry less about “managing” learners and focus more on helping them connect with other like-minded learners both inside and outside of our institutions.

We need to foster in them greater personal accountability, responsibility and autonomy in their pursuit of learning in the broader community of learners. We need to use the communication tools available to us today and the tools that will be invented tomorrow to enable anytime, anywhere, any-scale learning conversations between our students and other learners

However, instead of that tutor appearing in the form of an individual human being or in the form of a virtual AI tutor, the tutor will be the crowd.

The paradigm—not the technology—is the problem.

Building a better, more feature-rich LMS won’t close the 2-sigma gap. We need to utilize technology to better connect people, content, and learning communities to facilitate authentic, personal, individualized learning. What are we waiting for?

we will get the same result if we introduce modern learning technologies in our schools but do not prepare teachers to work in this new learning environment.   If we want to take advantage of these new technologies and the billions we are investing in equipment for our schools, we have to prepare teachers very differently than we have in the past. We have to change our own model of teaching and instruction in higher education.

Any organization that adopts a new technology without significant organizational change is doomed to failure. You have to change the organization. You cannot just add the technology. You have to actively work on changing the roles of the teachers, the roles of the students, the roles of the parents, and the roles of the administrators, and start to work toward building new relationships and new structures

Trying to introduce new technologies into schools without these changes would be similar to efforts in the sailing industry during the 1800s, when steam engines were installed in wooden sailing ships.

We will not get out of our wooden ship schools until we use communication technologies for two-way interactivity that allows us to collaboratively construct the learning experience and new knowledge.

There are a number of ways in which technology can better facilitate the learning of adults: Email, iChat/IM, Twitter: connects learners as collaborators Blogs: provides a forum for reflection and discussion Wikis/Google Docs/Zoho: provides a place to co-learn and build shared knowledge. Shared server/network space: provides a place for learners to swap/store documents iPods/MP3 players: allows anytime/anywhere learning Moodle/Blackboard: a place to learn from instructor-assigned tasks and discussions Interactive technology: (student response systems and interactive boards) engages adult learners in much the same way as students Online survey tools: collect opinions and perceptions Social Bookmarking tools: helps to share the knowledge RSS: critical tool for managing information. Digital cameras (still and video): use to record learning for later playback/review. Online streaming (uStream): collaborate online during a presentation, revisit the archive later. Nings; places like this to brainstorm and share strategies. Web: unlimited possibilities!

I agree with your thinking that the tech presentations need to move to other conferences. Thanks for starting that shift.

This is something I have seen at many conferences and I am glad you are making it more obvious to others! One of my niches is using technologies with young children... when I spoke as a featured speaker at FETC (Florida) this year there were only 3 sessions for early learning... so when we add to ASCD, let's also remember to add content for elementary!! I can add an application or two myself. Do you have any specific pointers to help us add more technology, especially Web 2.0 to ASCD?

The field on Web 2.0 is wide open for ASCD 2009. See here. I can tell you that 2009 at the annual conference will be different if we "seize the day." ASCD is ready to embrace a new definition of literacy for the 21st Century at its annual convention in Orlando, but they need our help. It's now time for those whose pedagogies utilize web 2.0 tools to send the word out to their networks to submit proposals by May 1. I also agree on a stronger focus on elementary programming is also needed.

Hi Dennis, Are you on the committee or have some strong influence to be sure the proposals get accepted?

Hi Charlene, It's not that simple. In life nothing worth having ever is. Hope this helps. I'm also going to post more on my blog so I can explain the context, but I can start the conversation by saying a few things here. - I am president of the Massachusetts affiliate of ASCD, - I am on the ASCD Leadership Council. - I attended the Position Statement Committee discussion in New Orleans, ASCD 2008, last month on 21st Century education and was a strong advocate for ASCD beginning to help the staff, leadership and membership understand Web 2.0 pedagogies. - I advocated in the same fashion for Web 2.0 pedagogies with Valerie Truesdale, current President of ASCD. - Valerie pointed out that ASCD 2009 has a major theme on technology, **Imagine: Connecting Learners in an E-World**, and a major theme of engagement, **Imagine: Challenging Minds to Engage and Learn More Deeply**. Based on what I know, I am optimistic that ASCD is ready for our message. I still have work to do, but if I have the names of a network of presenters like you, Gail and others interested with solid proposals, I will approach ASCD to advocate for an understanding of how significant our contribution could be on ASCD 2009. It would obviously help if I had ten or more people so I could say, "Hey, look at us; we have something to offer ASCD that will move the educational technology strand from successful to significant! Not sure what will come of it, but it sure beats complaining that no one listens to us. Dennis

Dennis, Thanks for the encouraging information. I think that in the past some technology-rich presenters have felt discouraged by not having applications accepted. I will apply and also encourage others to do so!

Now if I'm going to advocate for you and others who apply, I think it would help for me to know who applies and what the proposals look like. It would also makes sense for people not to duplicate similar topics. How can we orchestrate that?

Well, let's see, we can use Twitter, this site, and others to gather information about people planning to apply OR perhaps a more proactive approach -- offer to ASCD some expertise in helping them fill a technology-infused or technology-rich strand by helping them select the sessions which will be hosted in a specific room or rooms throughout the conference (thus pooling the higher technology needs (high speed internet and projectors, sound, IWB or whatever) into a specific set of rooms. We could serve to help them make this a dynamic, meaningful and important part of their conference. We could help them balance grade levels, technologies, levels of experience required of participants, etc.... I wonder what others think...

Great ideas, almost create a "package" of well balanced presentations, balanced grade levels and interest. I like Gail's thinking about hosting in specific rooms using appropriate technology that helps spread the message. For example instead of going to an IWB session, actually see the board in action during a presentation. I would also like to extend the buzz by having "meet-ups" or a networking sessions on various topics. These could be informal sessions to promote conversations. I will be working on topic ideas this week.

I do like this idea - a bit like NECC's OpenSource Lab concept. A suite of Web 2.0 tools demonstrated and presented.

I think we need to LEAD with the content (curriculum, learning, etc) and USE the tools as much as possible and then intersperse that a bit with the tool "how tos" and "whiz bang"... this conference will draw people who want to learn about using technologies IN curriculum and not so much the techies, at least that would be my first take. We may have sessions that people come to to find out the basics (Like "What IS Web 2.0?") but perhaps MORE who wonder about having learners participate in global learning communities or who ponder making curriculum more differentiated through technology.... it will be important to not ONLY "preach to the choir" of the technology-lovers at ASCD, but to snag a few through the content... am I making any sense?