So Will Richardson and I are going to run a session together at the EdubloggerCon… it grows out of conversations we’ve had together, but also out of a lot of the conversations going on around the blogs lately about trying to really define what is and what should be going on in the world of edu-tech these days:

Getting Our Blogs in a Row: Crafting a Compelling, Cogent Message for Change…ok…terrible title, I know. But is there anyone interested in taking an hour to discuss the creation of a short list of talking points regarding the uses of the Read/Write Web in education? What key points should we be making? What key points CAN we be making? To whom should we be making them? What questions do we need to have answers for? How can we best package all of that? I know this sounds like the beginnings of a marketing campaign, but it might be worth a try…or not. Maybe we can start a wiki to dump ideas in beforehand? Will Richardson and Chris Lehmann.

(Incidentally, I think this dovetails nicely with the other session I’ll be running: Administration and School 2.0 – What changes do we need to make structurally in our schools to achieve this dream?)

But I’ll play my hand a bit here and say this — The message for change is that the technology must be supported and enhanced by a progressive pedagogy. It’s not enough to give laptops or tell kids about del.icio.us. We have to construct schools — not just classrooms — where inquiry-driven, project-based learning is the standard and the tools then serve that mission. We need to understand that ICT allows us to research, create, collaborate and communicate like never before, and that changes things, because the ease with which all people can now be both consumer and producer of information must affect change in our schools.

It’s funny, but when I go out and talk about SLA, the fact that we’re a 1:1 laptop school is often the last thing I remember to talk about. I always remember, because I get to a point where I talk about how we enable the learning we do, but the progressive, constructivist / connectivist ideas come first. These ideas aren’t new, we just finally have the tools to actually do it.

O.k. — so what’s my concise message?
The new technology tools at our disposal allow us to fundamentally alter our schools that we can build inquiry-driven, project-based schools that foster a student-centered, collaborative environments that extend far beyond the physical walls of the school.

Come to the session, help create the full message, debate our ideas and otherwise just say hello.