It's not about the products--it's about the plan and the process

“Learning cannot be designed. Learning happens, design or no design. And yet there are few more urgent tasks than to design social infrastructures that foster learning. Those who can understand the informal, yet structured, experiential yet social, character of learning—and can translate their insight into designs in the service of learning—will be the architects of tomorrow.”

Etienne Wenger
Communities of Practice

I firmly believe that the integration of technology into the processes that support teaching and learning is critical to the future of our schools. Learner-centered classrooms, better engaged and more motivated students, differentiated instruction, increased home/school connections, closed achievement gaps and significantly improved learning outcomes by students at every level in virtually any school are all documented outcomes from technology-rich schools and school districts.

But...

But before we go too far, before we embrace technology as the next new panacea that will cure all of the real or perceived deficiencies with our schools, we must first remember one basic fact: technology is a tool and a tool is only valuable to the extent that a human being organizes its use in a productive way. What this means relative to the use of technology in our schools is this—technology, in and of itself, does not improve test scores, grade point averages or student achievement. Yes, the promise of technology is real—but this promise depends on three things. First, there must be a shared vision for why technology is being used in the classroom. Second, there must be a comprehensive plan for how technology will be integrated into the learning environment. Third, the use of technology must be tied to a clear educational purpose; to performance-based standards and the educational needs, objectives and goals of a school and its students.

So we do something different. We do not focus on the tools. We focus on the teaching. We will not push products. Instead, we are creating a process.

A Smart Solution.

The Smart Solution is not a program. It is a learning architecture. Our goal is to design and support the platforms that support the environments that foster better teaching and learning.

The following is a brief video introduction to what we do, or hope to do, for schools and school districts--design, educate, innovate. But this is an organic process. Like our students, we are continually learning. So your input, observations, comments and thoughts as we share our Smart Solution with you are welcome and truly appreciated.

An Investment in Education--The Ultimate Stimulus Plan (Part II)

They just don't get it!!

Leave it to our elected officials, elected ostensibly to do the will of the people, to then ignore the needs of the people, of John and Jane Q. Public, in the endless and utterly counterproductive debate about liberal vs. conservative fiscal policy and ideology. Last week, the House of Representatives passed a bold and brave economic recovery bill that allocated billions of much-needed dollars to improve and modernize our schools and foster "21st century learning environments." The bill then goes to the Senate, the political wrangling continues, and what gets cut? Much of the funding for education.

I guess an investment in education isn't "stimulating" enough.

Again, I am not an economist so I leave it to people smarter than me to determine where and how stimulus money should be spent. And I certainly acknowledge and respect our collective and individual right to agree and agree to disagree on political issues. But in one man's humble opinion, and I may be baying into the wind, I firmly believe that if we don't invest in schools and in our children, then no amount of money we spend now will save us from an economic and human catastrophe that will make the current crisis look fairly mild by comparison.

Don't the Senators who cut these education dollars understand that, by some estimates, almost 1 million children each year are dropping out of school? Don't they understand that right now less than 35% of our public school 12th grade students are proficient in reading, science and math? Don't they understand that those students who do graduate assess well behind students from other countries in virtually every statistical category? Don't they understand that in a recent study conducted by the Partnership for 21st Century Skills, high school graduates were deemed "deficient" in every one of the 21st century skills deemed necessary for 21st century success?"

If a company like Microsoft is laying off highly skilled employees, what chance does a high school drop out have? In an increasingly global economy where our children are no longer competing with each other but are competing with kids from Korea, China, India and Japan, what chance will they have in learning environments that are antiquated and outdated; where teachers and students are using essentially the same tools that I used when I graduated from high school over 25 years ago? I would challenge any one of the senators who cut the education funding to quit their jobs, forgo their senate salaries, and try and build a business--any business--using only the tools found in most inner city public school classrooms. I suspect most would look at me and think, "Are you insane? We won't have the tools."

Exactly.

Neither do they.

Bottom line, an investment in education is the ultimate stimulus package. It is an investment in our present and our future. It is an investment that can reap dividends for generations. It is an investment in our children that should not, that must not, be compromised.