Notes and thoughts from Edutech Conference Brisbane

Reflections on Edutech
 
I am always grateful for a couple of days of professional learning. In between giving a couple of talks and preparing for these, I managed to attend some great sessions at this week’s Edutech Conference in Brisbane. I had the opportunity to attend a couple of talks and workshops, from the hundreds of talks that were on offer.
 
Here are some notes that I took regarding what inspired and challenged me, particularly in relation to current issues and future trends in education, both here in Australia and around the world.
 
‘How the digital world will change the way we think and Learn’
Baroness Susan Greenfield (neuroscientist, author and broadcaster UK)
 
A scary fact that Australian teens spend on average close to 18 hours behind a screen each day.

• The increase in screen and on-line behaviours impacts brain plasticity, resulting in less ability to reason and be cognisant of long-term consequences, also impacting the wiring of the brain and memory. Sensation and ‘feel good’ computer and social media actions, trump cognition. This has been proven by research.
• A balanced education is needed with an emphasis on story telling, physical exercise, aerobic capacity, and experiences of nature.

 
‘Beyond XYZ’
(Google Education)

• Education has moved beyond ‘fact finding’ to assisting kids to be the best that they can be – how to fully grasp and embrace their individual identity.
• Who are the child prodigies, and how many of them are there? There is no limit to the number of young children and teens, who with technology, can embrace their talents and be innovative and solves incredibly complex problems.
• There are 100 million “libraries of old” accessible from a smart phone in our pocket.
• What are the skills of the future needed for our kids’ success? Skills to adapt, evolve, be flexible, critical thinking, “collaboration is the new normal”.
• Check out Google Expeditions – an amazing teaching tool.

 
‘Why Libraries need to make some noise’
Kate Torney (CEO State Library of Victoria)
 Libraries are more relevant than ever before in our community. We learn from the traditions of the past and hold on to its very best. Libraries need strong leaders who understand their community. Libraries must change with society and the needs of the community. Libraries cane be community hubs, serving others.
The more digitally connected we are to social menid, the more disconnected we are in other ways.
Today’s library has increasingly become a place for those who need access to community resources (equality), help, support and who are distressed and looking for answers. The disadvantaged in our community come for answers in a world were it is difficult to find authentic connection.

Terms of Engagement
Andy Hargreaves @harvreavesBC, Thomas More Chair Lynch School of Education, Boston College
 
2000 to 2015 – an age of ‘achievement’ where we had to ‘prove’ and ‘measure’ eg NAPLAN. There was a sense of urgency, for good reason for schools to improve and do better.
2015 to 2025 – predict this will be an age of ‘engagement and well-being”. The workforce in USA is statisticall ‘not engaged’ or ‘actively disengaged’. 43% of US high school students currently ‘somewhat disengaged in their learning’.
 
Consider the current refuge crisis
- 50% of Syrians out of school, 2 million refugee children, 79% grieving a death, 50% PTSD, Somali refugees have experienced an average of 7 traumatic events
- “Refugee parents have hopes for who their children will become.”
 
6 ways for achieving engagement

• Architecture, the design of the school
• Curriculum with student voice driving learning opportunities and choices
• Student voice, leadership and identity
• Pedagogy, the role of teacher being wise story-teller, coach and guide
• Technology
• We must stop the disengagement that occurs because of assessment. The role of examinations must be questioned

 
In the age of engagement, we must meet the kids where they are at, and move them forward. We must also meet the teachers where they are at, and engage them too.
 
‘STEM Education and the need to equip students with the skills to become innovators in our digital economy and prepare them for the future’ David Thodey (Chair of the Board CSIRO)
 What are the big trends of the IT world impacting education?

• The cost of computers is declining
• Connectivity (globally)
• Coding
• Robotics and automation
• Artificial intelligence
• The nature of work is changing
• No retirement at all

 
Traits and skills for future employment

• We must all be leaders, not followers
• Constant yearning for knowledge
• Branding yourself
• Reinventing yourself
•  Ability to collaborate (Australia is the worst in all OECD countries in this measure)

 
Our nation must respect teachers more.
STEM provides a necessary pathway for creativity and innovation.
​
‘Inspiring School Culture through Entrepreneurship’
Creel Price (Entrepreneur)  
The Australian Curriculum mandates entrepreneurial skills.
All kids are capable of great success, especially those who are less affluent and who have less resource – they are more hungry for success in an opportunity.
7 entreprenerial traits

• lean (small and limble) vs gluttony
• visionary vs pride
• resourceful (less is more) vs greed
• innovation vs lust social entrepreneurialism rather than raffle tickets, spend some, save some, send some
• collaborate vs envy, learn to partner with those who are further ahead than you.
• Passion vs sloth
• Celebrate learnings vs anger, resilience found in making mistakes

 
‘Endless Possibilities; Liberating mindsets to effect change’
Dr Anthony Muhammad (Academic and CEO New Frontier 21 USA)  

• Check out the book “Tinkering Towards Utopia” Cuban and Tyack (1995)
• All children have a right to discover and use their gifts and talents, not just some. Traditional G&T programs are unequal.
• Technological and structural change (skills) vs Cultural change
• Skills are like seeds, culture is like soil…you need good soil first.
• Growth Mindset – Dweck
• Egalitarianism – Education must be about equality

 
Nelson Mandela quote – “The world’s problems begin with the belief that some human lives are more valuable than others”
 
‘How I become a Global Educator’
Julie Lindsay (education consultant and author)  
It’s imperative that the contemporary educator becomes a global educator, extending influence and learning from educators around the world. Creating opportunities for student learning way beyond the boundaries of the classroom and even the school.
 
Learn to tweet and follow education hashtags eg #satchatoz, #nzschools, #edchat, #globaledchat, www.globaleducationconference.com
 
Level 1 (Online interactions) –aim to share classroom activities and expand learning local to global
eg www.travellingteddybear.com , www.quadblogging.com , www.smithclass.org (the Monster project
Level 2 (real encounters) – aim to connect in real time to external learners and experts
Eg. www.fizzicseducation.com.au/ educationskype, www.theschoolinthecloud
Level 3 (online learning) – aim to encourage learning through online interaction and shared artefacts  eg www.globalschoolsnet.org, penpalschools.com, globalyouthdebates.com
Level 4 (Community of Practice) –aim for specific learning objectives to foster global collaborative practices  eg iearn.org/circles, theglobalreadaloud.com, learn.outofedenwalk.com, www.flatconnections.com
Level 5 (Learning Collaboratives) – aim to foster learning autonomy in global collaboration and co-creation. This is student leadership at its best
Eg. Flatconnectionsglobalproject.net, www.onlineconnectchinacollaborative.com