Passaic Lights!

How can this image not make you smile!?!  This is a peek into an extremely dedicated and inspirational group of approximately 30 teachers, administrators and technicians at school this morning -working to transform education!  Wait!!  Did I mention this is a Saturday morning??  This is the enthusiasm education needs!  

Here at Passaic Public Schools, we have been working diligently to plan and prepare for our Chromebook roll out.  To echo my fellow blogger +Jason Smith, our Pilot Teacher team has completed Professional Development training covering various pedagogical shifts, digital citizenship discussions and deployment policies and procedures.  This morning we distributed the Chromebooks for the first time! As you can imagine this was a lot of fun!! As we all began to explore the devices the room was buzzing with excitement. Floating around and discovering the nuances, “Wait there is no right click? There has to be a right click?!?! Google That!" This type of challenge and accomplishment experience happened multiple times and will continue to happen. This exploration time re-energizes and reconnects us with the love of learning. I know this is the excitement that inspired me to become a teacher. As educators, we are challenged with the task of inspiring and encouraging life-long learning.

In the words of our fearless leader +Joshua Koen , “We are a part of a transformation. This is not a project, it is not an initiative." This is a transformation!

“A culture of change consists of great rapidity and non-linearity on the one hand and equally great potential for creative breakthroughs on the other. The paradox is that transformation would not be possible without accompanying messiness.”  

This is an excerpt from Michael Fullan’s Leading in a Culture of Change, an inspiring book that I turn to for a recharge.  The "messiness" as Fullan refers to it, is something we can all grow from as educators and professionals. Without it -we would never improve. So true in this process in which we continue to have trial, error, reflection and solution.  

 
We are creating a digital learning environment where the possibilities are endless. I keep looking forward to when our students are given the opportunity to explore and produce with their devices.  

To discover. To hope. To dream. To achieve.  

We are providing them with a window to the world that they may otherwise not have the opportunity to experience. Ultimately, we are encouraging students to publish globally, collaborate with their peers, find solutions to current issues and gain perspectives from people around the world! By providing students with tools that allow them to take ownership of how content is understood, transferred and re-distributed. The end vision of an empowered student working to reach his or her potential makes dealing with a little "messiness" totally worth it!  

Happy Transforming, everyone!