My Reply to a Testing Organization's Request

A testing organization's representative asked me to consider having them cover the costs of my attending the SXSW EDU conference if I would specifically attend and write about the panel discussions featuring their representatives. I said I wouldn't be able to, and so they asked if I'd conduct a phone/online interview with a spokesperson from the organization on the topics that were going to be covered at SXSW EDU.

The correspondence has come from a thoughtful representative of what I'm assuming is a PR firm. I'm pretty sure my answer was way more than she bargained for.

I think you're going to find me too radical a thinker to accomplish what you might want... :) 

I like the comparison made in the second topic of assessment in education with medicine, because in medicine we understand that what is being measured is the effectiveness of particular treatments, whereas in education we're caught in the trap of largely believing (and acting upon the idea) that we are assessing the individual and not the teaching environment. As a result, we categorize our students, and have become comfortable that only a small percentage are actually going to be academically successful. To most students, that's actually the thing that schools teach best: that they are not good learners. The bulk of students leave unprepared for life and with the belief that they are broken or defective.

Perhaps that's overly dramatic. But perhaps it's not. I'm not a big fan of the general concepts of ed tech in learning, because most people I talk to don't actually have any real beliefs in how learning takes place. So they throw technology in the mix in a kind of "hail mary" attempt to stay busy and relevant. 

I now only conduct interviews that I think will get at the core issues of why our educational system is largely compliance, not learning, based. I've attached a report on ed tech in learning I did as for Acer as part of my modernlearning.com project. It's a pretty good representation of my thinking in this regard.

I'm imagining that this is way more information than you needed. But maybe it opens the door to something else.

The modernlearning.com report I sent her ("Modern​ ​Learning:​ ​Re-Discovering​ ​the Transformative​ ​Promise​ ​of Educational​ ​Technology") may just now hold the record for the least-read, least-interesting-to-people report on educational technology produced in the last five years. That may be because of flaws in my conclusions, or it might just be because after the little boy stated that the emperor wasn't wearing any clothes, the procession continued... as it must, since so many people depend financially on the current state of affairs.

March 8 "Design Thinking" Online Mini-Conference - Sign Up Now + Resource Packet

We're only days away from our Library 2.018 mini-conference: Design Thinking: How Librarians Are Incorporating It Into Their Practice, which will be held online (and for free) on Thursday, March 8th, from 12:00 - 3:00 pm US-Pacific Daylight Time (click for your own time zone). Sign up now and we'll send your our Design Thinking for Libraries resource packet.

This event is being organized in partnership with Steven J. Bell, who will serve as moderator for the opening panel and as the closing keynote speaker.

When IDEO, a globally recognized design firm, partnered with the Chicago Public Library to create the Design Thinking Toolkit for Libraries it greatly demystified the design thinking process and gave the library community a resource to more easily implement a design challenge in their own organization. Design thinking is a process designers use to thoughtfully identify problems and then, using a team-based approach, develop prototypes useful for implementing an elegant solution. In response to the growing interest in design thinking, this event will provide attendees with both insights into the process and examples of how librarians are integrating it into their practice. If you’ve been hearing about design thinking and want to learn more about how you can develop and lead a design challenge at your library, this is your opportunity.

We invite all library professionals, employers, LIS students, and educators to provide input and participate this event.

This is a free event, being held online.
REGISTER HERE
to attend live or to receive the recording links afterwards. Please also join this Library 2.0 network to be kept updated on this and future events.

Participants are encouraged to use #library2018 and #librarydesignthinking on their social media posts leading up to and during the event.

MORE INFORMATION:
The School of Information at San José State University is the founding conference sponsor. Please register as a member of the Library 2.0 network to be kept informed of future events. Recordings from previous years are available under the Archives tab at Library 2.0 and at the Library 2.0 YouTube channel.

KEYNOTES:

Steven J. Bell Associate University Librarian for Research and Instructional Services at Temple University blendedlib Steven J. Bell is the Associate University Librarian for Research and Instructional Services at Temple University. He writes and speaks about academic librarianship, learning technologies, library leadership, textbook affordability, higher education, design thinking and user experience. Steven is a past-president of ACRL. He currently writes at Designing Better Libraries, a blog about design thinking and library user experiences. He authors weekly columns for Library Journal Academic Newswire, "From the Bell Tower" and "Leading From the Library". He is co-author of the book “Academic Librarianship by Design” and editor of the book “Crucible Moments: Inspiring Library Leadership”. Steven is an adjunct instructor for San Jose State University's iSchool where he teaches the Design Thinking seminar. For additional information about Steven J. Bell or links to his projects, point your browser to http://stevenbell.info​ http://stevenbell.info​

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Sidsel Bech-Petersen Head of projects and co-creation, Aarhus Public Libraries, Dokk1 As a library transformer through 10 years my job was to support the process of transforming the Main Library in Aarhus into our new library: Dokk1. Dokk1 opened up to the public in 2015 and is the largest public library in Scandinavia. As head of projects and co-creation I now support our projects and the way we do user involvement across Aarhus Public Libraries. Since 2013 I have been working on a joined project with Chicago Public Library and IDEO – the end result has just been published as a toolkit: Design Thinking for Libraries. The toolkit gives you tools to design library services and make sure that your library constantly adapt to the needs of the local community by using human-centered design. https://www.aakb.dk/users/sidsel-bech-petersen

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Rachel Ivy Clarke Assistant Professor, School of Information Studies, Syracuse University archivy Formerly the cataloging librarian at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising, Rachel Ivy Clarke is currently an assistant professor at Syracuse University's School of Information Studies. Her research focuses on the application of design methodologies and epistemologies to librarianship to facilitate the systematic, purposeful design of library services. She holds a BA in creative writing from California State University Long Beach, an MLIS from San Jose State University, and a PhD from the University of Washington Information School. http://archivy.net/

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Gregory Diaz Children's Librarian, Chicago Public Library Greg Diaz is a Children's Librarian with the Chicago Public Library, where he has worked as part of the Design Thinking Cohort and Hispanic Services Committee. During his time with CPL, Greg has developed, prototyped, implemented, and supported DT projects, including the CPL Games on the Go initiative. Greg holds a BA in English from the University of Illinois at Chicago, and a MSLIS from the University of Illinois at Champaign Urbana.

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SCHEDULE:
(Detailed session descriptions are available HERE. Final schedule with specific session attendance links will be sent to registrants the week of the conference.)

12:00 pm US-Pacific 
Opening Keynote Panel (60 minutes)

• Steven J. Bell (moderator) | Associate University Librarian for Research and Instructional Services at Temple University
• Sidsel Bech-Petersen | Head of projects and co-creation, Aarhus Public Libraries, Dokk1
• Rachel Ivy Clarke | Assistant Professor, School of Information Studies, Syracuse University
• Gregory Diaz | Children's Librarian, Chicago Public Library

1:00 pm US-Pacific
Presentations  (30 minutes)

• David V. Loertscher and Marc Crompton --'Design Thinking in School Libraries: Theory and Practice as a Cousin of Traditional Inquiry'
• Patrick “Tod” Colegrove--'Embracing Change: Design Thinking, Technology, and the Library'
• Amy Vecchione--'Student Success + Design Thinking'

1:30 pm US-Pacific
Presentations  (30 minutes)

• Georgia Coleman--'Cupcakes, Not Wedding Cakes: Sparking Small Scale Innovation in Public Libraries'
• Dr. Christine Wilson, Marina Brodsky, and Michael Shappell --'Improving Research and Analytical Writing Skills using Design Thinking.'
• Claire Nickerson--'Using Design Thinking to Plan Library Courses'

2:00 pm US-Pacific

Presentations  (30 minutes)

• Shauna Callahan and Regina Rosi Mitchell--'Empowering Student Leaders with Design Thinking Challenges'
• Nelly Cancilla--'Using Design Thinking in Theory and Practice to Improve Upon and Sustain Library Communications'
• Kelsey Brown--“What is this?” Design thinking from an LIS student perspective

2:30 pm US-Pacific
Closing Keynote (30 minutes)

• Steven J. Bell | Associate University Librarian for Research and Instructional Services at Temple University

March 12th Global Symposium on Educating for Digital Citizenship (DigitalCitizenship.com)

We invite you to join us on Monday, March 12, 2018, in Washington, DC, for the 2018 Global Symposium on Digital Citizenship.

REGISTER HERE

$129. Select CoSN Member or Non-member, change the “0” next to the “Symposium on Educating for Digital Citizenship ONLY” to a “1”. Click “next” and complete your registration.

CoSN and UNESCO, in partnership with the Global Education Conference, HP, ClassLink, Participate, Qatar Foundation International, Partnership for 21st Century Learning, ISTE, iEARN-USA, The Stevens Initiative at the Aspen Institute, World Savvy, Wikimedia, TakingITGlobal, Smithsonian Institute, and Project Tomorrow, are hosting this event to bring together thought leaders from across the world to explore the role of education in ensuring students are responsible digital citizens.

Internet safety has been a concern for policymakers and educators since the moment technology, particularly the Internet, was introduced to classrooms. Increasingly many school systems are evolving that focus from simply minimizing risk and blocking access, to more responsible use policies and strategies that empower the student as a digital citizen. Digital citizenship initiatives also seek to prepare students to live in a world where online hate and radicalization are all too common.

Join us for a lively and engaging exploration of what are the essential digital citizenship skills that students need, including policies and practices in response to the following questions:

• How can technology be used to improve digital citizenship and to what extent is technology providing new challenges to digital citizenship?
• How should we access information effectively and form good evaluate its accuracy?
• How should we develop the skills to engage with others respectfully and in a sensitive and ethical manner?
• How should we develop an appropriate balance between instruction and nurturing student behaviors that ensure ICT is used safely and responsibly?

AGENDA

8:00 am – 8:15 am Opening Remarks and Setting the Context

• Donna Williamson, Technology Director, Mountain Brook City Board of Education, AL + CoSN Board Member/2018 Conference Co-Chair
• Keith Krueger, CEO, CoSN
• David Atchoarena, Director, UNESCO Division for Policies and Lifelong Learning 

8:15 am – 9:00 am The Importance of Educating Digital Citizens in Today’s World: A Conversation

• Fernando M. Reimers, Ford Foundation Professor of the Practice in International Education, Harvard Graduate School of Education
• Baroness Biben Kidron, Filmmaker and Founder of 5 Rights, Member of UNESCO Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development
• Moderator, Gus Schmedlen, Vice President, World Education, HP

9:00 am – 10:15 a.m. Town Hall:  Is Digital Citizenship Today Different?

• Mrs. Ying Liu, Director, Chinese Society of Education
• Anjlee Prakash, Founder and Chairperson, Learning Links Foundation, India
• David Young, CEO, Participate
• Moderator, Berj Akian, CEO, ClassLink

10:15 am – 10:30 a.m. Break

10:30 am – 10:45 a.m. Global Ed Ignite Sessions (1st Round)
Compelling and short, 5-min presentations by major thought leaders to ignite our imagination.

• Joseph South, Deputy CEO ISTE, former Director, U.S. Office of Education Technology
• Tonya Muro, Executive Director, iEARN-USA – Learning with the World
• Maysam Ali, Assistant Director, The Stevens Initiative, The Aspen Institute
• Rod Carnill, Supervisor of Instructional Technology Coaches, Frederick County Public Schools
• Mallory Tuominen, Director of Professional Learning, World Savvy
• Nichole Saad, Education Program, Manager Wikimedia
• Michael Furdyk, Co-founder + Director of Innovation, TakingITGlobal 

10:45 am – 12:00 noon  Passport to the World

Join in an interactive activity to hear about exemplary efforts in countries, states and districts to educate for digital citizenship. Every 12 minutes, move around the ballroom and visit a new example.

• Matt Scullly, Director of Digital Integration and Innovation, Providence Day School in Charlotte, NC
• Sarah Thomas, Regional Technology Coordinator, Prince George’s County Public Schools 
• Smithsonian’s Learning Lab in the Early Childhood Classroom (Dr. Jim Reese, Director, The Professional Development Collaborative at Washington International School and Cody Coltharp, Smithsonian Institution)
• Using OER Resources Appropriately in the Classroom: (Tracie Spinale and Stephanie Norby, Smithsonian Institution)

12:00 pm – 1:15 p.m.  Lunch

1:15 pm – 1:30 p.m. Global Ed Ignite (2nd Round)
Compelling and short, 5-min presentations by major thought leaders to ignite our imagination.
(Continued from 1st Round)

1:30 pm – 2:15 p.m. Time for Story Telling!  Camp Fire Discussion
Individuals prepare a 3 minute speech on why educating for digital citizenship is important to their organization and present to their small group. Each group selects the best speech to present to everyone.

2:15 pm – 2:45 p.m. Making the Best Case for Digital Citizenship
Each group selects one person to present their best speech to the group.  Speeches will be filmed for CoSN website.

• Moderator, Maggie Mitchell Salem, Executive Director, Qatar Foundation International

2:45 pm – 3:45 p.m. Closing Session: Student-Centered Digital Citizenship

• Eugénie Congi, Surintendante de l’éducation, Conseil des écoles catholiques du Centre-Est, Ottawa Canada
• Milton Chen, Senior Fellow/Executive Director Emeritus, George Lucas Educational Foundation
• Moderator, Gavin Dykes, Education World Forum

3:45 pm – 4:00 p.m. Wrap Up

REGISTER HERE

$129. Select CoSN Member or Non-member, change the “0” next to the “Symposium on Educating for Digital Citizenship ONLY” to a “1”. Click “next” and complete your registration.

You do not need to attend the CoSN Annual Conference to attend the Symposium. If attending the CoSN Annual Conference, you may select the Symposium as an add on to your conference registration. Registration pricing is the same for members and nonmembers.