The Old Professor

This summer I will turn sixty.  How odd that my professional career would have taken such twists and turns at a time of life when most of the folks at my last high school reunion had either talking about retirement or had already done so.

Two years ago I became an administrator at Mercy, and now I've decided to do a little moonlighting.  On Friday, I signed a contract as Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Teacher Education Department at Madonna University.  I'll be instructor for a small section of Masters Degree students in Leadership in Technology.

"Classical Scholar" CC photo by lisby1

I'm very excited to teach the course, and I feel like I do have some experiences to share in this area.  Nevertheless, it has been about thirty years since I attended a university class.  And though I logged lots of college classroom time as a student, those traditional academic qualifications have little to do with my new role.

I think that it is very telling that I find myself in this position due to factors like this blog, being an Apple Distinguished Educator, and my professional learning network.  

Ironically, many moons ago I entered (but eventually abandoned) a doctoral program in Instructional Technology-- a field so new at the time that my advisor pretty much had to create my program as we went along. I do not regret some of that coursework but of course it has little bearing on the course I will be taking.  What I view as my strong areas for Leadership in Technology have largely come through collaborations with folks like Lucy Gray, Katie Morrow, Tom James, Susan Smith, and so many others.

Well, this will be another fun challenge and I expect that I will learn more than I teach.

Toolkit for Challenge Based Learning

It was fun discovering, recently, that four of my Challenge Based Learning movies have been grouped together in iTunes under "Toolkit for Challenge Based Learning".  I made these in 2010 after working on this project with fellow Apple Distinguished Educators at Full Sail University in Florida.  The marvelous Katie Morrow spear-headed this project.

The Power of Reflection

With 1-1 technology a "surprise" student reflection can produce a plethora of benefits.  Ironically, I was feeling some despair over one of my CBL team's group dynamic.  They were brainstorming guiding activities, but I was getting a bad vibe from the group.  These were seniors and and they were working on a difficult health care challenge.  I spent most of the period with this team and felt as those I was getting a "whatever" kind of attitude from a couple of the kids.

Anyway, a planned "reflection" with surprise prompts took place couple of days later.  First question: "What have you contributed to your team so far" (Kids reassured they would not be 'graded' on answer).  Second question: "Which guiding question has served your team best so far". 

Kids were then dispersed to private locations to their responses with admonition not to consult each other about what they might say.  They were told to email their files and be back within 20 minutes.  (Mission accomplished with time to spare).

Carolyn's reflection floored me.  Unbeknownst to any of us she had missed school and shadowed a hospital social worker as she made her rounds with breast cancer patients.  This included a support group session with stage 3/4 patients.  

I had no idea this plan was in her head when I met with the group.  With her permission I asked her to share the experience with the whole class.  You could have heard a pin drop. Needless, to say, no "whatever" vibe.  It's changed the entire tone of our mission.

I give my ADE friend, Katie Morrow, the last word:


"We all know that hands-on, experiential learning results in a high return rate in learning... But had you assigned every student the task of shadowing someone, I would propose the results would not be as authentic or powerful as Carolyn's... The difference in my mind is that she directed her own research, asked her own questions, sought answers in a more personalized way. This is what happens in CBL that doesn't happen in traditional teaching and this connection makes all the difference."

Carolyn's Reflection

Challenge Based Learning Webinar

Tuesday, I'll be in Cupertino for a live broadcast of an Apple Education webinar on Challenge Based Learning.  I will join three of my CBL mentors, Katie Morrow, Don Henderson and Mark Nichols.  My piece of the presentation is "CBL in Action".  With 2700 registrants as of last week, this is pretty heady stuff.

I can't help but think that it was less than four years ago that I began to investigate educational technology seriously in my own classroom (It all started with podcasting).  Less than two years ago, I taught myself Keynote for making slides.  And only Fall '09, I did my first serious presentation outside of school at Mame36 in Traverse City.

The educational technology trip put me on a career arc I could never have anticipated.  And nothing has been more professionally transformative for me than CBL.

There is still time to register for the webinar (November 30, 10:00 A.M., PST).  However, I've been told that it will be archived after the event.  If I don't royally embarrass myself, this should be a great new experience.

Learning with Apple: Challenged Base Learning Webinar