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John Hendron

Director of Innovation and Strategy

John Hendron

The Hum of Scrum

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Scrum is a method by which software developers work together on efficient teams to rapidly collaborate on application development. Focused around the idea that the effort of many can trump the efficiency of just one person, Scrum, or the process as it is called– scrumming–helps companies that employ the technique to maximize the potential of its team members.

So why did the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) choose to feature an article highlighting the work of educators Joe Beasley (GES) and James Frago (GMS) in its quarterly publication, entrsekt? Beasley and Frago began using Scrum this past school year (first at GES in Beasley’s classroom, and later at GMS, when Frago became a long-term substitute teacher) and really noticed that the process or method for working together was helping their students.

Scrumming with MInecraft

In the picture above, Beasley’s students at GES are using the Scrum technique, using a shared file folder and sticky notes (called a Scrum board) to organize their efforts at a building project in Minecraft EDU as part of a unit on literature they’re reading in language arts.

The magazine is distributed to ISTE’s members all over the world. The publication of the article highlighting their experience using Scrum in the classroom debuted at this year’s ISTE conference in Denver. I am so proud of Joe and Jim for trying this in our schools and finding success in showing kids how to work together effectively towards common goals. Watching kids using Scrum in the classroom is exciting, because amid peaks of chaos that can result from a number of simultaneous discussions taking place among each team, we see students truly engaged with their tasks, communicating effectively, and developing their skills and knowledge in a very learner-centered modality. It is especially exciting to see our students featured in this article, and to have Goochland County Public Schools represented on the world stage with educational technology.

My thanks go out to Bea Leiderman, our secondary ITRT, who has taken a special interest in Scrum and helped make possible the opportunity at ISTE for Joe, Bea, and Jim to present the technique and the outcomes of the method with a captive audience. We are hoping a free version of the magazine becomes published soon for all of our local stakeholders to read.

Entrsekt

Past Blast 1

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In the first of several blog posts, I want to highlight some of our “history” with technology by looking back at old podcasts, newsletters, and examples of artifacts and tie these back to the current day. From 26 March, 2009, is a podcast episode (#128) about Learning Hacks.

The county-wide PD session focused on some of the idea from the book, Brain Rules. I think they are as valid then as they are now, and certainly more research is growing now about the connections with neuroscience and learning. How do the these ideas resonate with you, today, with our mission of maximizing the potential of every learner?

Play

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Thinking in #Hashtags

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Some of the things I do from day to day are intentional, meaning, I guess, that I go out of my way to do them for a purpose beyond the act itself. One example is using the pseudo-word automagic instead of automatic. There’s a certain cache to the word that commands especial attention, but beyond that, it signifies something special about the experience. I don’t just slip when I say automagical, but instead I purposefully choose it.

I also have recently gotten into the habit of summarizing thoughts and ideas. The practice of summarization was one of Robert Marzano’s techniques for learning that he found was effective across classrooms. In essence, students know material when they can summarize it. Whether it is for me, or for the benefit of students, I believe the practice of summarization is generally a good thing to do.

So, I’ve been thinking, what is the ultimate summary? It’s a single or even a series of hashtags. Hashtags are words or phrases used in online social spaces to label a concept in a simple way. They first came to light in social bookmarking sites like del.icio.us. Socially creating hashtags or keywords is actually called folksonomy and there is some study around this and its benefits for organizing information.

So here’s my big idea for a Friday: Consider a movement towards hashtagging with students. Show them first, then ask them to follow. You can even camp it up by creating the hashtag symbol/movement with two sets of fingers. It will feel silly. The students will certainly roll some eyes. But in the end, you’re pushing them to think about concepts through summary.

#howeasyisthat

And by the way, for our Tweeting teachers. If you think something you’re doing in school is well-aligned with our strategic plan, consider adding our hashtag to your tweet: #inspire2020

Goochland’s 1:1 Program Recognized

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I’m proud to announce that our 1:1 program with iPads has been recognized as an Apple Distinguished Program for 2015-2017. Roughly 300 schools and districts have been recognized around the world; beyond the U.S. in places as diverse as Singapore, Mexico, Canada, Great Britain, Malaysia, Thailand, and Brazil.

Goochland’s program began in 2013-14 as a pilot program in grades 3-5 at Goochland Elementary School before expanding to additional schools. This school year the program provides iPads for students to take home across the division in grades 4-7, in addition to the third grade at GES. Next year, the division plans on expanding the iPad program to grades 3-8. Creativity, personalization, individualization, and student passion are at the heart of Goochland’s approach to learning with individual technology. With iPad, teachers and students are working together to redefine learning, as it supports achieving the division’s mission of maximizing the potential of every learner.

The Apple Distinguished Program designation is reserved for programs that meet criteria for innovation, leadership, and educational excellence, and demonstrate a clear vision of exemplary learning environments.

This designation will place us in contact with other schools implementing 1:1 programs so that we may continue to grow and learn in this evolving process. It also opens up the opportunity to host other educators from across the region to visit Goochland and see our environment and work towards deeper learning.

At the start of November, we will publishing an interactive ebook in iBooks format that communicates our vision for the program and highlights the components that we believe make a strong 1:1 program. Stay tuned to our homepage for the publication of this book.

Thanks go to our teachers, school board, and technology staff for making the dream of a 1:1 possible!

For examples of other superlative programs, visit Apple’s iTunes portal for other iBooks-compatible resources that share stories from other schools and programs.