Introduction

Welcome! We started this blog to document some of the instructional/technological shifts we have embarked on at GHS. This is such a huge year for us here...well of course every year is huge but this year seems different. In just over a month, we are going to deploy MacBook Airs to almost 1100 students. We've been anxiously (nervously) awaiting this day now for over a year (and secretly I'm afraid we are going to be more nervous when they actually arrive in student's hands!). Anyway - our fearless Instructional Tech leader (Scott) has been telling parents "It's kind of like learning to ride a bike without the bike." This statement seems to really settle with me each time he says it because it's so true in this situation. You see - it doesn't really matter that teachers have had their devices since October 2012. And that we have a VanGuard team who went through numerous specialized trainings last year in order to begin creating a cohort of teachers who other staff members could lean on as they worked to familiarize themselves with the Mac. This team is FANTASTIC. They jumped in when we weren't sure everyone else was quite ready. We asked them to "spread their wings" across the staff and share their knowledge and training with others. I would say that overall - this was a very good decision to move forward with this team and they became integral in the planning stages of the 1:1 deployment to students. Like I was saying before...we've been trying to ride the bike without the bike. Of course, all we have been doing is well and good and necessary. But the real work is looming just over the horizon.

As we began reflecting on this experience last year and projecting needs for this school year, it became apparent that we were really missing the instructional hook. The hook for the tool. Because really - if you think about it - the laptop is really just a tool. A tool that can enhance all the things we currently do...but if not done correctly...and without a clear vision and purpose - will become just another glorified worksheet with a fancy whistle attached. Thus, the Challenge Based Learning (CBL) Pilot Project was born. Now - could we move to Project/Problem/Challenge based learning without the devices? Of course. But these become a mighty tool to enhance our students' abilities to truly showcase their tech savvy-ness through communication, collaboration, and other 21st century skills.

SO - 5 teachers (Cooper, Everett, Dixon, Leech, and Sutcliffe) all jumped on board. We met last Friday to kick off the project and I was blown away by what occurred. I probably shouldn't admit this...but what the heck I will anyway - I went in with absolutely no agenda. I had been thinking and thinking about the day and how I really needed to give these guys some guidance on the project but I couldn't ever seem to wrap my brain around exactly what steps we needed to take to get there. Well - I needn't have worried. Believe it or not - within about 10 seconds - a challenge was born. Everyone rallied around a topic and started immediately talking end result. What was it they wanted students to produce to showcase their knowledge of the topic. Now...I don't want to give away too much because I think it's important for the project to speak for itself. Herein lies the purpose of the blog. The team agreed to document their thoughts, worries, excitement, fears, trials, etc. as we move through the project.

Happy Reading...

Katie