hello Chicago this is an apple some of you may look at it and think that
you may look at it and think that
you may look at it and think that reminds me of the American public
reminds me of the American public
reminds me of the American public education system or any education system
education system or any education system
education system or any education system for that matter yet despite how red and
for that matter yet despite how red and
for that matter yet despite how red and juicy and plump it is it doesn’t
juicy and plump it is it doesn’t
juicy and plump it is it doesn’t necessarily correlate with the realities
necessarily correlate with the realities
necessarily correlate with the realities of how American students are performing
of how American students are performing
of how American students are performing when you look at them and their
when you look at them and their
when you look at them and their performances compared with seventy-one
performances compared with seventy-one
performances compared with seventy-one other countries worth of students across
other countries worth of students across
other countries worth of students across the world journalists are the first ones
the world journalists are the first ones
the world journalists are the first ones to jump on this and try to figure out
to jump on this and try to figure out
to jump on this and try to figure out exactly what the reason is for this sort
exactly what the reason is for this sort
exactly what the reason is for this sort of performance and typically they focus
of performance and typically they focus
of performance and typically they focus on teachers here are some examples
on teachers here are some examples
on teachers here are some examples rotten apples crackdown on lazy teachers
rotten apples crackdown on lazy teachers
rotten apples crackdown on lazy teachers what the heck is going on in these
what the heck is going on in these
what the heck is going on in these schools I can tell you from firsthand
schools I can tell you from firsthand
schools I can tell you from firsthand experience because I was a sixth and
experience because I was a sixth and
experience because I was a sixth and seventh grade math and science teacher
seventh grade math and science teacher
seventh grade math and science teacher at one point that there are some
at one point that there are some
at one point that there are some incredible examples of teaching out
incredible examples of teaching out
incredible examples of teaching out there they just don’t always make it to
there they just don’t always make it to
there they just don’t always make it to the forefront and so about four and a
the forefront and so about four and a
the forefront and so about four and a half years ago I decided to put my money
half years ago I decided to put my money
half years ago I decided to put my money where my mouth is figuratively and join
where my mouth is figuratively and join
where my mouth is figuratively and join the education journalism world but I
the education journalism world but I
the education journalism world but I chose to move somewhere very in
chose to move somewhere very in
chose to move somewhere very in particular the Silicon Valley whoo where
particular the Silicon Valley whoo where
particular the Silicon Valley whoo where all of a sudden an entirely new
all of a sudden an entirely new
all of a sudden an entirely new narrative was brought to my attention
narrative was brought to my attention
narrative was brought to my attention technology is going to solve all of our
technology is going to solve all of our
technology is going to solve all of our problems technology can fix education
problems technology can fix education
problems technology can fix education the Silicon Valley billionaires remake
the Silicon Valley billionaires remake
the Silicon Valley billionaires remake schools artificial intelligence is going
schools artificial intelligence is going
schools artificial intelligence is going to do everything we need it to do well
to do everything we need it to do well
to do everything we need it to do well when I first heard that I started to
when I first heard that I started to
when I first heard that I started to feel like Morgan Freeman and this meme
feel like Morgan Freeman and this meme
feel like Morgan Freeman and this meme which is one of my favorite memes and
which is one of my favorite memes and
which is one of my favorite memes and you’d be surprised how many powerpoints
you’d be surprised how many powerpoints
you’d be surprised how many powerpoints I put this in in my career including
I put this in in my career including
I put this in in my career including when I had powerpoints in my classroom
when I had powerpoints in my classroom
when I had powerpoints in my classroom and you know I thought to myself what is
and you know I thought to myself what is
and you know I thought to myself what is this pressure all of a sudden I feel to
this pressure all of a sudden I feel to
this pressure all of a sudden I feel to join this narrative to write about how
join this narrative to write about how
join this narrative to write about how incredible technology is for our
incredible technology is for our
incredible technology is for our students so over the next 4 and 1/2
students so over the next 4 and 1/2
students so over the next 4 and 1/2 years of being an education journalist I
years of being an education journalist I
years of being an education journalist I would endeavor to try to answer this
would endeavor to try to answer this
would endeavor to try to answer this question can technology really solve all
question can technology really solve all
question can technology really solve all of our problems I’m gonna take you back
of our problems I’m gonna take you back
of our problems I’m gonna take you back to one of the most popular article
to one of the most popular article
to one of the most popular article so I ever wrote for the education
so I ever wrote for the education
so I ever wrote for the education technology journalism organization I
technology journalism organization I
technology journalism organization I used to work for ED Serge it was about a
used to work for ED Serge it was about a
used to work for ED Serge it was about a charter system down in Southern
charter system down in Southern
charter system down in Southern California USC hybrid high college prep
California USC hybrid high college prep
California USC hybrid high college prep the University of Southern California
the University of Southern California
the University of Southern California has a large School of Education and they
has a large School of Education and they
has a large School of Education and they wanted to run a bit of an experiment
wanted to run a bit of an experiment
wanted to run a bit of an experiment they decided that at this new charter
they decided that at this new charter
they decided that at this new charter school they were going to put students
school they were going to put students
school they were going to put students on devices for 90 percent of the day the
on devices for 90 percent of the day the
on devices for 90 percent of the day the teacher was there but sort of put to the
teacher was there but sort of put to the
teacher was there but sort of put to the side and they had a lot to work with
side and they had a lot to work with
side and they had a lot to work with because a number of these students were
because a number of these students were
because a number of these students were coming in without proficiency in math
coming in without proficiency in math
coming in without proficiency in math science or language arts so there was a
science or language arts so there was a
science or language arts so there was a lot riding on this and yet by the end of
lot riding on this and yet by the end of
lot riding on this and yet by the end of freshman year 50 percent of that
freshman year 50 percent of that
freshman year 50 percent of that incoming freshman class was credit
incoming freshman class was credit
incoming freshman class was credit deficient meaning that they were worse
deficient meaning that they were worse
deficient meaning that they were worse than when they had first come in it’s
than when they had first come in it’s
than when they had first come in it’s almost as if the Charter system took a
almost as if the Charter system took a
almost as if the Charter system took a page out of the book that Los Angeles
page out of the book that Los Angeles
page out of the book that Los Angeles Unified School District wrote who around
Unified School District wrote who around
Unified School District wrote who around the same time had decided to reallocate
the same time had decided to reallocate
the same time had decided to reallocate a billion dollars in funding from the
a billion dollars in funding from the
a billion dollars in funding from the space in their budget that was supposed
space in their budget that was supposed
space in their budget that was supposed to go to remaking decrepit buildings in
to go to remaking decrepit buildings in
to go to remaking decrepit buildings in the district to iPads for all every
the district to iPads for all every
the district to iPads for all every single student in the district received
single student in the district received
single student in the district received an iPad but there was a bit of an issue
an iPad but there was a bit of an issue
an iPad but there was a bit of an issue with this very little teacher input went
with this very little teacher input went
with this very little teacher input went into this decision making and very
into this decision making and very
into this decision making and very little professional development was
little professional development was
little professional development was provided to the teachers to help them
provided to the teachers to help them
provided to the teachers to help them understand how to incorporate the
understand how to incorporate the
understand how to incorporate the devices into the classroom now some of
devices into the classroom now some of
devices into the classroom now some of you may have read about this and if you
you may have read about this and if you
you may have read about this and if you have then apologize for bringing up
have then apologize for bringing up
have then apologize for bringing up those negative memories once again but
those negative memories once again but
those negative memories once again but approximately two years ago the
approximately two years ago the
approximately two years ago the superintendent of LAUSD John Deasy
superintendent of LAUSD John Deasy
superintendent of LAUSD John Deasy actually resigned and a major reason for
actually resigned and a major reason for
actually resigned and a major reason for that was because of the ultimate failure
that was because of the ultimate failure
that was because of the ultimate failure that the iPad initiative had been oh
that the iPad initiative had been oh
that the iPad initiative had been oh don’t get me wrong I actually recently
don’t get me wrong I actually recently
don’t get me wrong I actually recently joined Google so I theoretically like
joined Google so I theoretically like
joined Google so I theoretically like technology but I don’t think it’s the
technology but I don’t think it’s the
technology but I don’t think it’s the main thing that we need to fix all of
main thing that we need to fix all of
main thing that we need to fix all of our problems I think it can be a tool
our problems I think it can be a tool
our problems I think it can be a tool but here’s the thing
but here’s the thing
but here’s the thing I saw lacking and a lot of the stories
I saw lacking and a lot of the stories
I saw lacking and a lot of the stories that I read about that I wrote that he
that I read about that I wrote that he
that I read about that I wrote that he interviewed people on and that was the
interviewed people on and that was the
interviewed people on and that was the teacher factor because oftentimes
teacher factor because oftentimes
teacher factor because oftentimes teachers are the ones that ask the best
teachers are the ones that ask the best
teachers are the ones that ask the best questions around tools that are used in
questions around tools that are used in
questions around tools that are used in the classroom around how a student is
the classroom around how a student is
the classroom around how a student is feeling they have those relationships
feeling they have those relationships
feeling they have those relationships that a piece of technology can’t
that a piece of technology can’t
that a piece of technology can’t simulate for example Ricardo elizalde is
simulate for example Ricardo elizalde is
simulate for example Ricardo elizalde is probably one of the best teachers I’ve
probably one of the best teachers I’ve
probably one of the best teachers I’ve ever met in my entire life he is a
ever met in my entire life he is a
ever met in my entire life he is a public school teacher and he spends his
public school teacher and he spends his
public school teacher and he spends his life teaching non-native speakers
life teaching non-native speakers
life teaching non-native speakers English now students in his class even
English now students in his class even
English now students in his class even when they become proficient sometimes
when they become proficient sometimes
when they become proficient sometimes lack something in particular he noticed
lack something in particular he noticed
lack something in particular he noticed this with one of his particular Honduran
this with one of his particular Honduran
this with one of his particular Honduran students who was doing very well but
students who was doing very well but
students who was doing very well but when she went home wasn’t really able to
when she went home wasn’t really able to
when she went home wasn’t really able to speak with her mother because she lacked
speak with her mother because she lacked
speak with her mother because she lacked one crucial thing confidence now Ricardo
one crucial thing confidence now Ricardo
one crucial thing confidence now Ricardo being the resourceful and innovative
being the resourceful and innovative
being the resourceful and innovative teacher that he is decided I think
teacher that he is decided I think
teacher that he is decided I think there’s a way that I can incorporate
there’s a way that I can incorporate
there’s a way that I can incorporate technology into the scenario to help her
technology into the scenario to help her
technology into the scenario to help her out so he created a student project that
out so he created a student project that
out so he created a student project that brought in Macs and iMovie and wrote
brought in Macs and iMovie and wrote
brought in Macs and iMovie and wrote this story actually for us after the
this story actually for us after the
this story actually for us after the whole thing happened the students
whole thing happened the students
whole thing happened the students created animated digital shorts over
created animated digital shorts over
created animated digital shorts over which they dubbed with the English that
which they dubbed with the English that
which they dubbed with the English that they had learned and the beautiful thing
they had learned and the beautiful thing
they had learned and the beautiful thing about it was that they were able to take
about it was that they were able to take
about it was that they were able to take those projects back home and demonstrate
those projects back home and demonstrate
those projects back home and demonstrate to their families just how much they had
to their families just how much they had
to their families just how much they had learned and I’m going to take you back
learned and I’m going to take you back
learned and I’m going to take you back to hybrid high because actually that
to hybrid high because actually that
to hybrid high because actually that story doesn’t end as bad as you might
story doesn’t end as bad as you might
story doesn’t end as bad as you might think it did I’ll be honest with you we
think it did I’ll be honest with you we
think it did I’ll be honest with you we the the charter school system did pluck
the the charter school system did pluck
the the charter school system did pluck a new leader actually from Chicago and
a new leader actually from Chicago and
a new leader actually from Chicago and dragged him out to Los Angeles but the
dragged him out to Los Angeles but the
dragged him out to Los Angeles but the second year the charter school system
second year the charter school system
second year the charter school system was around thank God he was there
was around thank God he was there
was around thank God he was there because he realized that the big missing
because he realized that the big missing
because he realized that the big missing element in what they had done up until
element in what they had done up until
element in what they had done up until that point was teachers in the classroom
that point was teachers in the classroom
that point was teachers in the classroom working with students more consistently
working with students more consistently
working with students more consistently instead of having kids on devices 90% of
instead of having kids on devices 90% of
instead of having kids on devices 90% of their time but that wasn’t all he did he
their time but that wasn’t all he did he
their time but that wasn’t all he did he also made it rain he
also made it rain he
also made it rain he every single teacher $3,000 at the
every single teacher $3,000 at the
every single teacher $3,000 at the beginning of every year and the teachers
beginning of every year and the teachers
beginning of every year and the teachers could spend that on whatever software
could spend that on whatever software
could spend that on whatever software technology they wanted in addition to
technology they wanted in addition to
technology they wanted in addition to that if they really like something and
that if they really like something and
that if they really like something and wanted licenses for the whole school if
wanted licenses for the whole school if
wanted licenses for the whole school if they got other teachers and students on
they got other teachers and students on
they got other teachers and students on board and the administrators saw that
board and the administrators saw that
board and the administrators saw that then they’d buy licenses for everybody
then they’d buy licenses for everybody
then they’d buy licenses for everybody and I am happy to report that last year
and I am happy to report that last year
and I am happy to report that last year that first freshman class made it to
that first freshman class made it to
that first freshman class made it to senior year and graduated 100% of them
senior year and graduated 100% of them
senior year and graduated 100% of them graduated and 100% of them were accepted
graduated and 100% of them were accepted
graduated and 100% of them were accepted to four-year colleges and universities
it’s funny to hear you clap because I
it’s funny to hear you clap because I certainly can’t take credit for that but
certainly can’t take credit for that but
certainly can’t take credit for that but I’m glad that I was able to share that
I’m glad that I was able to share that
I’m glad that I was able to share that information with you
information with you
information with you now as I’m up here you may be thinking
now as I’m up here you may be thinking
now as I’m up here you may be thinking to yourself okay Mary Jo these are a lot
to yourself okay Mary Jo these are a lot
to yourself okay Mary Jo these are a lot of California examples I don’t know if
of California examples I don’t know if
of California examples I don’t know if you know but you’re a TEDx Chicago we’re
you know but you’re a TEDx Chicago we’re
you know but you’re a TEDx Chicago we’re a different place we have other problems
a different place we have other problems
a different place we have other problems to deal with like when it’s negative 10
to deal with like when it’s negative 10
to deal with like when it’s negative 10 degrees outside and first off I totally
degrees outside and first off I totally
degrees outside and first off I totally get it
get it
get it I went to Northwestern go Wildcats I’m
I went to Northwestern go Wildcats I’m
I went to Northwestern go Wildcats I’m right there with you anybody at
right there with you anybody at
right there with you anybody at Northwestern yes this is why I didn’t
Northwestern yes this is why I didn’t
Northwestern yes this is why I didn’t want to do TEDx San Francisco but
want to do TEDx San Francisco but
want to do TEDx San Francisco but there’s actually a similar example that
there’s actually a similar example that
there’s actually a similar example that I want to share with you that’s
I want to share with you that’s
I want to share with you that’s something for you to be aware of because
something for you to be aware of because
something for you to be aware of because I imagine that many of you have students
I imagine that many of you have students
I imagine that many of you have students in CPS some of you may be funders some
in CPS some of you may be funders some
in CPS some of you may be funders some of you may be politicians that make
of you may be politicians that make
of you may be politicians that make choices that affect the district so in
choices that affect the district so in
choices that affect the district so in 2016 the Chicago sometimes that summer
2016 the Chicago sometimes that summer
2016 the Chicago sometimes that summer reported that more than a thousand
reported that more than a thousand
reported that more than a thousand positions were eliminated from Chicago
positions were eliminated from Chicago
positions were eliminated from Chicago Public Schools just gone some of which
Public Schools just gone some of which
Public Schools just gone some of which were teaching positions now
were teaching positions now
were teaching positions now interestingly enough simultaneously that
interestingly enough simultaneously that
interestingly enough simultaneously that same summer a position was posted on the
same summer a position was posted on the
same summer a position was posted on the jobs board for an executive director of
jobs board for an executive director of
jobs board for an executive director of personalized learning and this
personalized learning and this
personalized learning and this six-figure salary to individual was
six-figure salary to individual was
six-figure salary to individual was going to be amongst other things
going to be amongst other things
going to be amongst other things bringing technology into the system now
bringing technology into the system now
bringing technology into the system now it would be unfair of me to say that
it would be unfair of me to say that
it would be unfair of me to say that there’s a direct causation between these
there’s a direct causation between these
there’s a direct causation between these two things but I think it’s something to
two things but I think it’s something to
two things but I think it’s something to be aware of
be aware of
be aware of because in my line of work I hear a lot
because in my line of work I hear a lot
because in my line of work I hear a lot of people talk and complain about the
of people talk and complain about the
of people talk and complain about the 1950s vision that we have of the
1950s vision that we have of the
1950s vision that we have of the classroom one teacher up at the front
classroom one teacher up at the front
classroom one teacher up at the front students facing forward you know
students facing forward you know
students facing forward you know everything’s focused on that one teacher
everything’s focused on that one teacher
everything’s focused on that one teacher everything is right there but at the
everything is right there but at the
everything is right there but at the same time I don’t know if this situation
same time I don’t know if this situation
same time I don’t know if this situation is much better and I’ve seen this live
is much better and I’ve seen this live
is much better and I’ve seen this live where students are sitting in desks
where students are sitting in desks
where students are sitting in desks tapped in singular device no
tapped in singular device no
tapped in singular device no collaboration no project-based learning
collaboration no project-based learning
collaboration no project-based learning no communicating no soft skill
no communicating no soft skill
no communicating no soft skill development and where’s the teacher
that’s why I fundamentally support what
that’s why I fundamentally support what I consider to be the triangular
I consider to be the triangular
I consider to be the triangular relationship and that’s where you have
relationship and that’s where you have
relationship and that’s where you have to have three individual pieces working
to have three individual pieces working
to have three individual pieces working together the student the technology the
together the student the technology the
together the student the technology the teacher technology is a wonderful thing
teacher technology is a wonderful thing
teacher technology is a wonderful thing I’m not gonna lie to you I see it do
I’m not gonna lie to you I see it do
I’m not gonna lie to you I see it do wonderful things in schools all the time
wonderful things in schools all the time
wonderful things in schools all the time I’ve seen it offer access to students
I’ve seen it offer access to students
I’ve seen it offer access to students with disabilities I’ve seen students
with disabilities I’ve seen students
with disabilities I’ve seen students that aren’t able to travel abroad get
that aren’t able to travel abroad get
that aren’t able to travel abroad get access to incredible virtual reality
access to incredible virtual reality
access to incredible virtual reality experiences that open up new worlds for
experiences that open up new worlds for
experiences that open up new worlds for them but before I leave today I want to
them but before I leave today I want to
them but before I leave today I want to leave you with one last crucial question
leave you with one last crucial question
leave you with one last crucial question how do we as a collective figure out the
how do we as a collective figure out the
how do we as a collective figure out the best learning environments for our
best learning environments for our
best learning environments for our students that balance the utility of
students that balance the utility of
students that balance the utility of technology with the beauty of human
technology with the beauty of human
technology with the beauty of human nature because I’ll be honest with you
nature because I’ll be honest with you
nature because I’ll be honest with you my friends and I’ve seen it firsthand
my friends and I’ve seen it firsthand
my friends and I’ve seen it firsthand the relationships between teachers and
the relationships between teachers and
the relationships between teachers and students is sacred and that should never
students is sacred and that should never
students is sacred and that should never ever be eliminated thank you
”
Be First to Comment