Getting It Right

by Ian Jukes, Matt McClure, and Randolph MacLean

Published 1 September 2011
A fresh look at technology planning for schoolsThis book is designed to help educational leaders, decision makers, and teachers wade through the complexities of aligning technology planning with learning goals. Organized around a problem-solving model based on solution fluency, the authors outline how to* Address state, regional, or provincial standards + Improve test scores + Meet curricular requirements + Foster relevant staff development + Provide measurable accountability for technology expenditures Included are sidebars with advice and comments from educators who have successfully integrated technology initiatives with learning goals. Their experiences help light the path through the journey toward ogetting it rightoe for 21st-century learners.

This is a book for primary and secondary educators (leaders and teachers) about change-change that is a result of using new technology; change in how we get information, entertain ourselves, communicate with others, do our work, teach, and learn. This book is also about the power of paradigm to shape our thinking, the pressure that technological development is putting on our paradigm for teaching and learning, six exponential trends in technological development that we cannot ignore, what these trends mean for education, new skills for students, new roles for teachers, and scenarios of education in the future.

The first half of the book explores this world of technology and the 6 exponential trends in technological development that govern it while the second half of the book examines its impact on education, learning, and teaching, and forecasts a vision for the future. At the end of each chapter are discussion questions useful for jumpstarting conversations and thinking about change both personally and professionally.

6 Exponential Trends:

1. Moore's Law - technological processing power and speed doubling exponentially at least every 12 months.

2. Photonics-exponentially increasing bandwidth speeds

3. The Internet revolution

4. The age of Infowhelm

5. Disruptive technology that eventually diminishes or replaces the previous generation of technology.


The Digital Diet

by Andrew Churches, Lee Crockett, and Ian Jukes

Published 15 February 2010

Enjoy exploring today's new digital tools with this no-fuss guide!

Presented in a user-friendly format, this concise diet of digital tools allows beginning and experienced users to investigate a variety of tools in any order and at an individual pace. The book covers the principles of digital citizenship, provides email basics, and presents step-by-step guidance for:

Completing searches and using Del.iciou.us to bookmark favorite sites Preparing documents anytime and anywhere Communicating with friends and colleagues around the world through Skype Developing networks and providing updates through Facebook, Twitter, and blogs Sharing and discussing pictures, presentations, or videos through VoiceThread and Flickr

Inspiring thoughtful discussion that leads to change, this provocative resource for teachers and administrators examines how the new digital landscape is transforming learners and learning. It makes the case for rethinking teaching processes in the face of these emerging developments within an environment of standards, accountability, and high stakes testing, and for providing informed leadership that supports 21st-century learning.

The book provides strategies, ideas, and compelling viewpoints to help leaders deepen their understanding of how educational thinking and instructional approaches must translate into relevant classroom experiences for today's learners. Understanding the Digital Generation describes implementing educational approaches that build critical thinking skills, and discusses the role of digital media and technology used by students and how that fosters the crucial development of new 21st-century fluency skills. In reader-friendly terms, the authors provide:

- A comprehensive profile of digital learners' attributes

- An exploration of the concepts of "neuroplasticity" and the "hyperlinked mind"

- An approach to educational models that support traditional literacy skills alongside essential 21st-century fluencies

- An examination of appropriate methods of evaluation that encompass how digital generation students process new information

For staff developers leading study groups, this text provides powerful chapter-opening quotes, built-in questions, and additional tools to generate reflective dialogue and an open exchange of ideas.


How to upgrade literacy instruction for digital learnersEducating students to traditional literacy standards is no longer enough. If students are to thrive in their academic and 21st-century careers, then independent and creative thinking hold the highest currency. The authors explain in detail how to add these new components of literacy:* Solution Fluency + Information Fluency + Creativity Fluency + Collaboration FluencyStudents must master a completely different set of skills to succeed in a culture of technology-driven automation, abundance, and access to global labor markets. The authors present an effective framework for integrating comprehensive literacy or fluency into the traditional curriculum.

In the 21st century classroom, the power of mobility has begun to play a significant role in the learning experiences of students. The digital devices students use so frequently and unconsciously can be harnessed as powerful tools for learning, creativity, and discovery. As part of the 21st Century Fluency series, a reverse co-publishing arrangement between Corwin and the 21st Century Fluency Project, this high school book shows how both teachers and students can get the most out of these technologies to cultivate 21st Century Fluencies while addressing curricular objectives in a creative, engaging, relevant, real-world environment. The text identifies 40 of the most effective apps for the iPad, iPod Touch, and iPhone for K-12 classrooms; shows how to use them for learning, teaching, and productivity; and provides examples of classroom use.