Rethinking "Technology Class"

As the 21st Century Learning Coordinator, I have the great privilege of teaching the classes in our school that are entitled "Technology".  Part of my role (and one of my favorite parts) involves working with teachers and students to integrate technology into the classroom.  Now if you think about this role, it really is a conundrum.  I call it a conundrum because by the very nature of having a "Technology Class" we isolate the subject of "technology".  At the same time, we are working toward a culture of technology integration.  In fact, we are already there in so many ways.  Yet, I found myself working against my own goal.  Until recently.

It came to me in a flash.  Well, that's not exactly true.  I attended the ISTE conference and then it hit me.  I can't even tell you exactly what it was.  Perhaps I started to think about what I find interesting about the subject of technology.  I realized that what makes technology so interesting to me is not necessarily the devices and all of the cool things that they can do but rather the people behind the great inventions.  I mean who isn't fascinated by the anti-social behavior of some of the greatest tech start-up innovators?  Or, what about the fact that Steve Jobs saw beyond the functionality of a tool and placed just as much emphasis on the design of the tool?   Who isn't curious about the angel investors behind these prize inventors that risk so much money to support an idea?  It was during this aha moment that I decided to shake things up a bit.

I now knew that I was committed to completely reinventing what it meant to come to "Technology Class". At that moment of insight, a class of entrepreneurs were born.  They just didn't know it yet.  I decided to create a curriculum that revolves around being an entrepreneur and tapping into one's creative side (we all have one, even if it is buried deep within and doesn't see the light of day much).  Although daunting when I think about it, it has also proven to be super exciting.  The idea is this: we study the great innovators and the not so great innovators.  What do they have in common?  What makes one succeed and another flounder?  What makes some of them risk their life savings on something intangible? What is it that makes Silicon Valley so attractive?  Let's not forget about the venture capitalists.  What makes them take a risk on someone (often times a complete stranger) that has an idea?  What is it about that person's idea that speaks to them?  Is it an immediate connection to that person or is it as simple as a whimsical feeling?  We discover what it means to build a business from scratch: the marketing, the budgeting, the sales pitching.  How does it all come together?  How does technology leverage one's business idea?  What technology tools do entrepreneurs use to have the greatest impact and reach the widest audience?  None of the answers to these questions are simple.  In fact, many can't even be answered.  But, that's not the point.  The point is that it all starts with asking questions, which leads me to my next discovery.

There are no limits to what a student can create.  In fact, just today, one of my fifth graders said, "It's going to work. You just have to believe in it. Believe in the creation that you make". I couldn't have said it better myself. So, I didn't. Instead, I took her words and shared them with the world. I shared them via Twitter, via our class website, and now here with you. We have only had nine classes and in those nine 50 minute class periods, I have seen students create an animated animal safari to entertain and delight, a memorial for a deceased loved one to comfort and to console, a Lego candy machine to tempt the taste buds, and a motion sensor radio to make you want to dance (and sing as we discovered). Creativity. Freedom to Explore. Encouragement. Those are beautiful things. In nine short days of "Technology Class", I have felt reinvigorated, ecstatic, and most of all passionate about each and every invention that my students have decided to welcome into this world. So, that conundrum that I mentioned above turned out to be a gift that proved to inspire a new beginning. Here's to a great year of entrepreneurship.