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SKIE: In your opinion, whose role in public education is it to integrate technology into the curriculum? I mean, is this the responsibility of specialized personnel, or should teachers be held accountable for this integration?
CHARLIE: That's a loaded question,
Skie. I believe that everyone has a responsibility to see that technology is integrated. I'm talking about parents, students, teachers, campus administrators, district administrators, curriculum personnel, state and national leaders, and the district's technology department. Come on, you're bound to have noticed the shift in economic development that's happened across the globe,
haven't you,
Skie?
SKIE: Of course. Go on, please.
CHARLIE: What I'm saying is that technology is an integral part of this shift and, therefore, we in the spectrum of education need to respond for the sake of our children and grandchildren.
SKIE: Grandchildren? You have grandchildren?
CHARLIE: I have one, a grandson, Aden, and he is a beautiful human being. He is the reason that I say we need a 100% collaborative effort to get technology transparently integrated into every level of our educational curriculum.
SKIE: Wow! Allow me to change gears here a bit, Charlie. For teachers who have had success with
videoconferencing, what do you think their next step should be?
CHARLIE: Collaboration. Plain and simple, collaboration. Whether it's done through videoconferencing, blogs, wikis, voicethread (c), or any of a number of available
software, collaborate with others. Teach your children to work with others, especially when they are not in the same physical locale. It's the new economy. Prepare them well.
SKIE: This may seem like an anticlimactic question, but you have talked about the passion quotient,
relating to learning. How does one go from enthusiastic to passionate?
CHARLIE: You are merciless, Skie. How does one grow to be passionate.......well, it's all about doing what it is important to you. Personally (like the vast majority of all educators), I
love the kids. They are the future, the ones who will be taking care of me when I cannot take care of myself. I'd like for them to remember me kindly. That is how you get to be passionate. You love what you do, and you love those for whom you do it. You buy into it all the way. You breathe it. You crave it. You are not defined by it, but you are driven to make the most of it.
SKIE: Talk about passionate.........thanks for that diatribe.
CHARLIE: You're welcome,
Skie.
SKIE: So, tell me something about one of your favorite distance learning moments.
CHARLIE: That'd have to be the videoconference between a 6th grade class and a group of refugees from Darfur. When one of the refugees asked our students what they were going to do about the crisis in Darfur, the quietest child stood up, walked to the microphone, and said, "We're going to stop it. I don't know how, but we're going to stop it." There wasn't a dry eye in the room.
SKIE: Sorry for this moment of reflection, but that just reaffirms the power of distance for me. Thank you.
CHARLIE: You're welcome, Skie. What's next?
SKIE: Put on your prognosticator's cap, Charlie, and answer this: during the next five years, what technologies do you predict will impact the classroom?
CHARLIE: Skie, you irascible rogue. That's an impossible question to answer.
SKIE: Why is that?
CHARLIE: Well, I believe that whatever comes out in the commercial world of technology within the next five years will directly effect classrooms across the globe. You see Skie, our students are the first generation of people who know more about the creations of its preceeding generation than they do. Imagine that every kid who walks into your classroom will already know every technology that you want to share with them! What needs to happen is this: we need to make sure that we change with the changes. Let's not leave the kids behind because we don't want to rewrite lesson plans.
SKIE: Okay, so what's up with this Second Life stuff?
CHARLIE: Sorry Skie, you're going to have to see it to believe it. Think of it this way: you can have an alter-ego in a 3-D virtual world, and you can have him attend classes, buy and sell goods, and fly, all without leaving your chair. Do you see how that could assist with some educational conundrums?
SKIE: I'm not sure what that means, but I do see that education needs to keep pace with the real world. Now, let me take you down a little different path. Tell us about blogs and wikis in the classroom.
CHARLIE: Well, those are two of the easiest collaborative tools to use. As I mentioned earlier, collaboration is a primary objective in this 2.0 world. These two tools provide for synchronous and asynchronous collaboration, frequently for free. Now, I recommend those sites whose free offerings allow for control of postings. I also advise users to protect the identity of their students. Nevertheless, these tools are exceptional at providing collaborative opportunities. To find a partner, I suggest checking out the Center for Interactive Learning and Collaboration (www.cilc.org). I have had huge success with this service when looking for partners.
SKIE: Okay then. You sure are full of.........opinions.
CHARLIE: Well, that's from being old and having 26 years of public ed under my belt. Sorry about that.
SKIE: No problem. So, that's one side of the coin. I'd like to delve into the real Charlie Brown.....the man.
CHARLIE: Okay, if that's what you want.
SKIE: Tell us about your education and family.
CHARLIE: Alright. I received my BAT from Sam Houston in Physical Education with a minor in English. I returned to get my Masters in English three years later. I have been married for 26 years to the same woman, bless her! We have two children, 25 and 19, and one grandson. We have one elderly dog, Maggie, and two cats -- one psycho kitty and one regular cat.
SKIE: Sounds like you have your hands full. When you're not with
your family, what do you do to occupy your time?
CHARLIE: Skie, some of us have to work. I am the Distance Learning Facilitator for Magnolia ISD in
Magnolia. Of course, I have other responsibilities, but that is my major focus. I have been in Magnolia for 7 years.
SKIE: Alright, then let me ask you this: when you're not with the family and you're not at work and you have time to yourself, what do you like to do? Do you have any hobbies?
CHARLIE: I enjoy
yard work and gardening. There's something to be said for dirt, sweat, and visible results.
SKIE: If you say so.
CHARLIE: I guess the other thing that I like to do is write poetry.
SKIE:
Hmmmmmmm........
CHARLIE: But most of all, I love to spend time with my grandson. He is the beat of my heart.
SKIE: Though I don't have children or grandchildren, I think that your feelings for students are closely related to those that you have for your grandson.
CHARLIE: Good call,
Skie.
SKIE: Well Charlie, I want to thank you for your time and candor. I hope that things continue to go well for you.
CHARLIE: Thanks Skie. It's been a pleasure.
SKIE: So, until next time, this is Skie VanderKampf with Charlie Brown, signing off.
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