It's Alright, We Will Help You!

Last week Okoboji officially launched into a 1:1 (a computer for every student) learning environment. It is an exciting time to be a learner in Okoboji and around our great state of Iowa. Last year their were 16 schools in Iowa that had a 1:1 learning environment and this year that number is over 40 (Click here to view the map of 1:1 Iowa Schools). While the number of students in a 1:1 learning environment is rapidly growing, the even more important change is happening in the minds of students, parents, and educators.

In our not so distant past, learning was often contained to what could be found in the book or what the teacher knew. Information was confined and our mindset was such that if we studied the information in the textbook and memorized the notes from the teacher, then we were learners. I will never forget when my grandparents, in 1984, purchased a set of World Book Encyclopedia for our family. I remember thinking, "If I will just read these books and commit the information to memory, I will have all the information I need to know."

Today, a learning mindset needs to be completely different. Technical information (similar to information found in an Encyclopedia) is doubling every two years. Information is being added more rapidly than any human mind can keep pace with (Click here to see how fast social information is being created). A learning mindset today needs to be adaptable. A learning mindset today has to know how to manage and leverage, not memorize, information. A learning mindset today needs to realize that creating, collaborating, contributing, communicating, critical thinking, and character are keys to knowledge in our new information landscape.

Yesterday, Erin Frerichs admitted to her 7th grade class that she was a bit fearful that students would know more than she would on certain technological issues. Erin is an amazing teacher with phenomenal technology skills and her comment reflects something all of us can resonate with at some level. It reflects a thought process from our past mindset where information and learning can be contained. The most amazing part of Erin's comment is how it sparked one of her students to react. He stated, "It's alright Mrs. Frerichs, we will help you!" This student's comment is a great example of the new learning mindset. Mrs. Frerichs, as well as teachers across our state and nation, are giving up the control of "knowing it all" and releasing control to a new information and learning process. A process where filtering, analyzing, applying, creating, synthesizing, and evaluating information is the key to knowledge. A process where we overcome our fears and enter into a new journey of co-learning. A process where teachers like Mrs. Frerichs are selflessly giving up control for the purpose of empowering their students. Erin's example is a microcosm of the wonderful change we are seeing in so many teachers in Okoboji. I also am seeing this same mindset change in teachers across school districts in Iowa and our nation. If you are a parent, student, or educator reading this and you are a bit fearful of giving up control, please know that everything is alright, because in this new learning environment, we will help you! You are not alone.