The Reach of Technology

We've discussed in previous posts of the power of technology and how schools can use various mediums to assist with student engagement and student learning. While most schools/classes take advantage of accessing information on the web, schools are reluctant to "broadcast" on the internet for a number of reasons-many legitimate.

"You don't know what you don't know" is a common phrase used to describe the inability to assimilate a new experience with past experiences. I use this often to frame how we make our instruction at the school relevant to a teenager based on their own past experiences. This same phrase can be used for teachers as well and our approach towards technology. We don't know the impact of collaboration and production on the web until we actually experience it. Here's an example of what I mean.

Last Friday, CATEC sponsored its first annual Business Partnership Luncheon. Part of the event included the induction of four members into our newly created CATEC Wall of Fame. Family members of the inductees were invited to attend. Using a Flipvideo, we filmed each of the introductions to the presentations and posted them on our web site www.catec.org while linking the video to YouTube. One of our recipients was Lance Van de Castle, a longtime teacher and supporter of CATEC who passed away last March in an automobile accident. While his wife was there to accept the recognition on his behalf, his immediate family members were not and , in fact, weren't even aware of the award being presented. (our own fault). That was until the YouTube posting. Two days after the original posting of the presentation, Lance's father, who is currently in Australia, gets an email indicating that someone had come across the video and wanted to share it with him. How the person came across the video is one thing, but the sheer power of the medium, in this case YouTube, to communicate to someone half across the globe is another.

While the instantaneous communication of this type of communication isn't surprising, it still opens our eyes to the impact that a medium, in this case YouTube, has on bringing people and ideas together. I believe that this is but another example of how educators must continue the pursuits of using resources beyond the classroom walls, in a safe, protective manner, to open up more opportunities for our students with the ability to learn, share and collaborate.