Mind Set VS. Skill Set

[Susan Geiger]

This morning we had some visitors from another high school. They came to see what we were "doing with technology". The assistant principal for instruction and I met with them and we had a lively discussion about the laptop program we are initiating next year. They asked the usual questions about laptop theft, breakage, and battery charging as well as how we planned to provide technical support. Then they asked about what we are doing about technology resistant teachers. At this point my assistant principal said that it's a question of culture.
He said the first question a school needs to ask what direction to go to achieve optimum student leaning.

We have decided that we want our students to be producers and collaborators-- we want them to do and create and share. The student laptops and wireless network will facilitate those goals. The culture at our school, developed through several years has become focused on these goals. It's very true that some of our teachers don't have the skill set they need to take full advantage of these tools. They all have the mind set. That is what is allowing us to proceed, to take risks, and try something where we don't have all the answers. Faculty, administration, staff, we all have the mind set. Now our job is to continue to provide to provide training to ramp up skills, but the hard part, the culture part is in place. The journey so far has been exciting, sometimes scary, but never boring.

[Carolyn Foote]

I think you're right, that the focus and culture is the most important first step!