"I think the reason my stories have been so successful is that I have a strong sense of metaphor."
~Ray Bradbury
How it all came together
I knew before taking ETEC 590, The Graduation Project, that I was looking for a creative way to display my learning throughout the past 2-1/2 years. I had stumbled across lots of examples over that time and was quite impressed with what former MET students had come up with.
My metaphor parallel's my need to be creative in motivating more educators to use technology with their students. The research article by Zhao & Frank (2003), Factors Affecting Technology Uses in Schools: An Ecological Perspective made me think of the learner in a different way. For the past few years it's been a student centred approach to delivering education. With computers in schools, however, the authors demonstrate that it's the teachers that are the main influences of whether technology gets into the hands of the students. Governments and school districts are the forces that put the funds in place, but it's up to the teachers as to the degree computers get used in the classroom. This leaves the potential job up to either a teacher leader or school administrator (me) to demonstrate/model how technology can be used effectively in the classroom in order to prepare students for the future.
The book, If I Built a Car, by Chris Van Dusen was brought home one day by my son. I was inspired by the simplicity and passion of a young boy wanting to redesign something as already complex as a car. The creativity of the young boy and the words I found amongst the pages also drew me to this metaphor.
On the dedication page, the author, Chris Van Dusen, wrote:
"This book is dedicated to my mom and dad, who
*jump-started my curiosity
*fueled my creativity, and
*changed my crayons every 3,000 miles"
The back sleeve of the book, about the author, also had these words written:
"In designing the futuristic car that appears in the book, Mr. Van Dusen's wife and two sons served as important "technical advisors",...
Three theme question areas stand out the most for me in using this as a metaphor:
1. Curiosity - What are others using in terms of technology in primary, intermediate, secondary and adult learners with 21st Century education?
2. Personal Investment - How will my own children benefit from using technology in schools on a regular basis? Will they be prepared for what lies ahead with regard to keeping up with the changes in educational pedagogy?
3. Creativity - What can I do as a teacher leader/school administrator to motivate others to allow their students to experiment with technology and embrace it's engagement factor?
To help align my coursework and thinking with the actual book, I've broken this e-Portfolio into five sections:
My metaphor parallel's my need to be creative in motivating more educators to use technology with their students. The research article by Zhao & Frank (2003), Factors Affecting Technology Uses in Schools: An Ecological Perspective made me think of the learner in a different way. For the past few years it's been a student centred approach to delivering education. With computers in schools, however, the authors demonstrate that it's the teachers that are the main influences of whether technology gets into the hands of the students. Governments and school districts are the forces that put the funds in place, but it's up to the teachers as to the degree computers get used in the classroom. This leaves the potential job up to either a teacher leader or school administrator (me) to demonstrate/model how technology can be used effectively in the classroom in order to prepare students for the future.
The book, If I Built a Car, by Chris Van Dusen was brought home one day by my son. I was inspired by the simplicity and passion of a young boy wanting to redesign something as already complex as a car. The creativity of the young boy and the words I found amongst the pages also drew me to this metaphor.
On the dedication page, the author, Chris Van Dusen, wrote:
"This book is dedicated to my mom and dad, who
*jump-started my curiosity
*fueled my creativity, and
*changed my crayons every 3,000 miles"
The back sleeve of the book, about the author, also had these words written:
"In designing the futuristic car that appears in the book, Mr. Van Dusen's wife and two sons served as important "technical advisors",...
Three theme question areas stand out the most for me in using this as a metaphor:
1. Curiosity - What are others using in terms of technology in primary, intermediate, secondary and adult learners with 21st Century education?
2. Personal Investment - How will my own children benefit from using technology in schools on a regular basis? Will they be prepared for what lies ahead with regard to keeping up with the changes in educational pedagogy?
3. Creativity - What can I do as a teacher leader/school administrator to motivate others to allow their students to experiment with technology and embrace it's engagement factor?
To help align my coursework and thinking with the actual book, I've broken this e-Portfolio into five sections:
- Planning it Out
- Exterior Features
- Interior Features
- Special Features
- Final Product
Listen to the book...
Reference:
Van Dusen, C. (2005). If I Built a Car. New York: Dutton Children's Books.
Van Dusen, C. (2005). If I Built a Car. New York: Dutton Children's Books.