Magnet Musings

Thoughts from Marco

Laurie has a great forum for ideas, and I thought I would a few more. Unfortunately, they are not my own; rather, they are the some notes I took from a couple of Marco Torres keynotes I attended. He’s a social studies teacher in the San Fernando Valley and a big thinker when it comes to explaining how teaching is changing to meet 21st century realities. Oh, yes, he was also named California Teacher of the Year by the state legislature. Enjoy! Paul Witzel (Tech Specialist, Shoreline, WA)

His current teaching situation:
• Social Studies teacher at San Fernando High School, near L.A.
o High teacher and administrator turnover
o Does not graduate 50% of its students

“The means is connecting machines, the ends is connecting people.”

We can learn from Southwest Airlines: “We hire for attitude; we train for skills.”

Three Kinds of Teachers
1. The “Yes, ands…”
2. The “Yes, buts…”
3. The “No ways!”

We have three choices in this new digital world:
1. Quit
2. Complain
3. Innovate

Distance is inversely proportional to Bandwidth: The higher the bandwidth the closer to distance.

Teachers are less in charge of the what and more in charge of the why. Never ask kids questions that they can look up.

If you can be replaced, you should be. “Be distinct or be extinct.” Edna Mole, The Incredibles

Teachers’ Credo: Every week what are we doing that is relevant, meaningful, and applicable?

Adults use the internet. Most teachers have students use computers to access information.
Kids do the internet. They create content. They have the unprecedented ability to receive, share, mix, and broadcast information.

Target audience can be outside of school. It’s important that you bring family and community into school—use them as the audience for projects. Do projects have alas (wings)? Do they have importance beyond the individual and the teacher?

Our kids need “channels” to express their interests and creativity.

Webpage: http://homepage.mac.com/torres21/