Sunday, March 20, 2011
I recently had the privilege of attending Columbia University for the Hechinger Institute Conference on Digital Media, Children’s Learning and Schools. I was the educator in a room full of education journalists from around the country who amazed with their depth of knowledge and their willingness to learn more. Experts from around the country spoke about how technology can be used in schools to help bring meaning, connection, and relevance to learning.
The first to speak was Donald Roberts from Stanford University who talked about how American children are using many media platforms at the same time and are capable of multitasking. His data showed that a typical teenager is using media more than 10 hours a day. What resonated with me the most was when he pointed out how distinctions between platforms are now moot. This led me to having a discussion with someone at my table from Education Week about his concern with children not being able to focus on one task the way that we want them to. My suggestion was that we rethink the way our school curricula are designed and converge platforms to speak to the multitasking abilities of our learners in a language they understand.
The next to speak was Mizuko Ito of the University of California Irvine's Humanities Research Institute and one of the authors of Hanging Out, Messing Around, and Geeking Out. Mimi provided an overview of young people’s new media practices and emphasized the importance of interest-driven learning and participation.
One of the most compelling presentations of the day was given by Elyse Eidman-Aadahl of the National Writing Project and Eric Sheninger, principal of New Milford High School in NJ who both spoke about the disconnect between schools and youth engagement and digital media. Elyse spoke about the power of digital media and its capacity to connect learners with content as well as the importance of a well crafted curriculum that is purposeful and relevant. Most important she spoke about the importance of balancing digital innovation and educational accountability. Eric Sheninger gave perhaps the most engaging talk of the day and emphasized that quality learning is not about the tools, but instead about having a solid pedagogical foundation. Eric pointed out that we see kids engaged with and excited about digital media outside of school, and then they go to school and are asked to unplug. Eric does not believe in this and instead uses the power of these tools to make learning meaningful and relevant by engaging his students, parents, and the community both inside and outside of school.
Next to speak was Professor David Cohen from the University of Michigan. He was quite a presence with a wealth of knowledge and I could have listened to him talk for hours. Professor Cohen spoke about digital media and school improvement. He suggested that there is a lot of room for innovation, but little guidance and support for quality and improvement. He is a big supporter of the Core Common standards, which allow the states to work in concert and no longer varying from state to state or even school to school.
The final presentation I saw for the day was perhaps most relevant to me in my role as a school library media specialist. Moderated by Greg Toppo of USA Today, the presenters spoke about how reading and writing have changed in the digital age. Amanda Lenhart of Pew Research shared data that included the fact that 93 percent of teens and young adults are online. Elisabeth Soep of Youth Radio was the first and only of the day to mention transmedia and its powerful applications. Once again, Elyse Eidman-Aadahl of the National Writing Project spoke and this time focused on digital media and tools creating a new ecology for reading and writing that allows our learners to participate with, create, and circulate content.
My time at this conference was well spent and I came away with many things, which include a respect for educational journalists and the lengths they go to educate themselves on the topics they are covering. I was thrilled to connect with some of them and of course to learn more myself about how young adults are using media and how schools can benefit from this. I think everyone in the room learned the value of connected learning that is inclusive, participatory, interest driven, and student-centered.
Laura Fleming blog
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