Marc Prensky spoke at the ICP conference yesterday. His message was 'get the students involved in EVERYTHING you do'.
He spoke about getting a balance in our schools - not top down, or bottom up,- but a true balance where the students are involved at all levels including working with BOT, Principal, Teachers and Parents.
He gave some great ideas for using internet and technology tools in the classroom, and how to embrace technology like mobile phones instead of banning them.
He also talked about using gaming rules for engaging students. These included the rules of goals, decisions, connectivity, co-operation and competition. In February I attended a workshop with David Warlick where he also spoke about the engagement of gaming and how to use these rules and concepts in the classroom.
Very interesting stuff.
Today I was lucky enough to attend the ICP conference held at the Aotea Centre in Auckland. The highlight was listening to Ken Robinson. He really is an entertaining speaker and his message was to foster and cherish creativity in our students. He spoke of change in our schools happening at the economic and cultural levels. We have to not only think differently about how we use our human resources but we have to do things differently. He said that creativity and intelligence are linked and that currently we are only educating our children from the waist upwards, with the focus on the head! Some of his key ideas on creativity fit in nicely with my thoughts on inquiry, and I must re-examine our school vision in this area later next term.
All in all a thought provoking and very enjoyable session.
I was heartened to listen to Steve Maharey, the Minister of Education, reinforce Ken Robinson's points and refer to him during his speech. I thought education may at last be in good hands.
A very stimulating day, and travelling into the city and back by ferry on the spectacular Auckland Harbour is always a bonus.
