Today, in my school we rely on the internet in our daily operations, both instructional and managerial, to the degree that when access is interrupted there is an immediate and significant effect: while we do not grind to a complete halt, we absolutely find ourselves in "Plan B" mode--employing workarounds at best and postponing efforts at worst. That was not the case several years ago, but it is certainly the case now, as we have moved to take advantage of Internet based systems:
- Remotely hosted attendance, grades, discipline and health data in the student information management system.
- Online curricular resources used interactively with students.
- Google Docs for a wide variety of applications and collaborations.
- Presentations such as Prezis.
- Professional development and required trainings.
- Webinars.
- Government purchase card accounts and accountability processes.
- Shopping and ordering resources and materials.
- Collaborations with district support personnel and specialists, via email, Lync, (and the old fashioned telephone, as well).
For many of these functions, there is no longer a non-internet alternative. Thus, it is sobering to think about the degree wo which we are dependent on reliable, fast, uninterrupted internet access. With respect to the tools, some work better, some less well, than their (non-networked, disconnected, analog) predecessors. for example, the student management system is notoriously slow to respond and update input, compared with earlier locally based systems.
In addition to providing a tremendous bank of global resources, ubiquitous internet access provides students and staff alike a source of distraction. Instead of being more efficient, effective, and productive, students (and staff) can chat and socialize surreptitiously, play games, shop, pursue personal email correspondence, and spend more time off task.
Shirky (2009) pointed out, the transactional cost of connecting and organizing in groups has plummeted, and thus latent groups have formed and continue to form--and that is true for all groups, whether they present a positive, negative, or neutral force. Students, and teachers in the organization, can connect, communicate and organize, to support each other in teaching and learning; they can also organize in ways that are self serving to subgroups, or that are caustic and detrimental to the function of the organization as a whole.
Ultimately, internet technology presents a tool. Just as a pencil can be used to create art or to deface it, internet access can be used towards furthering or diminishing individual as well as the greater good.
Our challenge as leaders is to find the way to consistently channel that use towards the good....
Shirky, C. (2009). Here comes everybody: The power of organizing without organizations. New York: Penguin.
Hi Patrick,
ReplyDeleteAs always a great, well-stated post. Reading through your post, it was interesting to me how similar our work environments were - I could have potentially written that post in another reality where I was eloquent LOL.
I use my office phone too - but it's forwarded to my cell 100% of the time. It's interesting how many people assume when they call my office number that I am actually sitting at my desk picking up the phone. Easily 75% of the time, I am not sitting at my desk when I answer my 'desk' line.
I actually have had several - yes, more than one - people ask me "how I get any work done" when I am only sitting at my desk 25% of the time.
I actually get more done and work harder when I am away from the distractions of my office. When people know I am in my office, I have a constant parade of people who stop by to talk, to meet and to otherwise to fill up my day to where I get very little actual work accomplished.
There is one defining trait of mine that has led me to the jobs that I have had in the military and in law enforcement. I am not someone who likes to sit at a desk.
I did not take the detective exam in my law enforcement career despite being a cop for 20 years because I did not want to be behind a desk. I worked a special plainclothes victim support unit for a couple of years but as it required a lot of desk work - I was back on mobile and foot patrol within 2-3 years by choice.
I like to be mobile and I need the freedom to come and go...it is a trait I accepted years ago and it was likely the one reason I did not pursue my bachelor's and my master's degrees for years. I just could not be tied to going to a brick and mortar building every day for years. I did get my associates degree at a brick and mortar and working full days and then driving to school then home and doing homework was much more brutal than learning online - although the level of work and interaction online is much higher than the brick and mortar counterpart - in my experience.
That said, I am also somewhat a homebody and I like to be at home - sitting for hours at my desk in my office at home is not an issue for me; in fact, I prefer it most days. It's quiet, comfortable, I have my dog near and it's where I like to be.
The availability of online learning and the nature of being an online, adult learner just fits with my personality and my lifestyle and so here I am getting my doctorate. If my education, like my work, was not a networked and flexible environment - I would not have had the work and educational success or ability to be in this program right now.
The internet and the networked environment has truly allowed me to move beyond my former thin blue line mentality and when I look at what the internet and the networked environment has allowed me to do, to learn, to accomplish - I am amazed and grateful.
So a big thank you, US DOD and ARPANET (I think they actually created the internet, no?). But for the existence of the internet and the past 30 years - I would still likely be happily wearing my badge and patrolling my beat and I would not be in the reality of this moment right now.
Pat
Well, first, Pat, I find your posts both eloquent and engaging, and insightful as well. Internet access certainly opens possibilities and abilities to connect (which means work, learn, and socialize, among other things). I suppose I am illustrating an aspect of that right now. We are on spring break, and I am blogging from a hotel desk in Salzburg, before a planned trip to the Dom for Sunday Mass. My wife is reading Rick Steves' guidebook, my young son is taking a bath, and my older son--we just hope we can wake him before breakfast. Were it not for CAC card reader and access issues, I would check my work email as well.
ReplyDeleteMy point, to augment yours, is that the internet, and our devices that provide nearly constant access to the various compartments of our lives, blur the lines, both in space (as you emphasize) and time (as I am highlighting myself) between work, family life, learning, and leisure. In many ways, many of us find that to be a good thing. Like everything, though, it comes at a price.
So the questions: when am I "at" work? When am I "at" school? And maybe more vitally...when am I not?
Patrick,
ReplyDeleteIts funny that you mentioned about how slow your student management system is. My wife is a high school English teacher. She is currently updating a few grades in our online grade book and she is complaining how slow it is! How good is technology when it does not function appropriately or make our lives any easier? It is almost like eating ice cream, and it melts after the first bite! It's a waste and causes frustrations.
Yes. (My wife is a high school English teacher--currently staying home with our sons--as well). Further to the frustrations you name, sometimes the grade book program calculates the grade in a way different than the teacher intended. Sometimes it gives too much, or too little, or simply wrong information to parents--thus hampering instead of bolstering partnership.
ReplyDeleteI remember my early years as a teacher, when end of quarter brought students to class bearing blank report cards in carbon paper triplicate. I would carefully copy grades and comments from my hand-calculated gradebook; at the end of the day the school filed one copy, one was mailed home, and one kept by the student.
I'm not pining for a return to the old days, but, with all innovations adopted, there is something lost and something gained (I'm quoting Charles Dickens and Joni Mitchell this week, apparently).
Our lives are not easier--it's just that different things are harder. And, different things are possible.
Alas, (sings) I really don't know life, at all...
Channeling Charles Dickens and Joni Mitchell is not all bad....
DeleteThese are excellent examples of our networked working world in education as well as other disciplines. As you said, technology is a tool that can be productive or counterproductive.
ReplyDeleteIn my case, for two years I was teaching as an adjunct instructor. Since I worked for multiple colleges, both online and face-to-face, my working office was at home as a telecommuter. The motivation for me was that I needed more work. If I did my job well, I would be offered more contracts to teach. This actually worked well for me and I had to structure my working life at my desk.
This week we read about Yahoo's temporary ban to telecommuting. The issue was that employees were suppose to log in and work a set number of hours a day. This just didn't work out for part of the organization. I wonder if the contract jobs are more beneficial as a telecommuter. For me, it worked well in this fashion but I wonder about different professions and their effectiveness in telecommuting.
I am an educator as well. Your post resonates with me because when technology falters at my school things tend to grind to a halt as well. For many systems there are no non-technological alternatives for accomplishing them. It is extremely frustrating and a sober realization how dependent we are on technology these days. In this way, would you consider it a 'bad tool?'
ReplyDeleteRobert
I think the points you raise are applicable to almost every sector of the new information based economy. In my field of government based personal management our challenge is how to keep up with the pace of increased activities that our Soldiers, Civilian workforce members and their Families as well as our contractor personnel are engaged in. It is critical to provide career enhancing opportunities and offer career road maps for everyone in order to facilitate their professional development and advancement. Having said that, with the increased capabilities of technology, our workforce expect more which only increases the pressure cycle on management to provide human capital decision requirements for our workforce.
ReplyDeletethanks
guy
Nice post, Patrick. I particularly liked "Ultimately, internet technology presents a tool. Just as a pencil can be used to create art or to deface it, internet access can be used towards furthering or diminishing individual as well as the greater good..."
ReplyDeleteAnd in determining the use...leadership steps in...