PLCs for Kids AND Teachers

Marc Prensky's article, "Turning On the Lights" connects nicely with an article on Professional Learning Communities that our staff was asked to read during early release time yesterday. In a nutshell, PLCs offer teachers a chance to stop planning alone at home and in their classrooms. A PLC is given a common meeting time WITHIN THE SCHOOL DAY for like-minded professionals to collaborate around student needs through discussions on any part of a child's school day. I believe that if we agree with Prensky's premise that we must turn on the lights for our students in school, then we'll need a powerful first step in which to offer time for students and teachers to meet in PLCs to structure the overhaul that is indeed needed.

Prepping in isolation is similar to powering up at home alone. Both teachers and students benefit when they are able to "teach one another to actively participate as often as possible in the world--locally and around the globe." In a group, misconceptions become transparent and therefore easy to challenge and correct. Laptops, cell phones, mp3 players, social networking sites, Wikipedia and other technologies are merely tools. In his book, "Outliers", Malcolm Gladwell presents a powerful case history of Bill Gates. There is no way to read it and not think that we (as teachers and parents) need to support our students in pursuing their passions.

I teach in a K-2 building and we do not have a technology policy. The closest we come to a policy is that we do not allow electronic games to be brought to school. Obviously, the lack of a policy meets no needs. I am intrigued by Prensky's suggestion of "developing after-school time for game and other computer programming classes that kids either sign up for or teach themselves." His principle of "keeping the computer lab open late and on weekends" would go far in our little Maine town.

It would appear that technology now changes by the hour and thus said, the desire for teachers and administrators to stay up-to-date is actually out-of-date. Perhaps a healthier attitude to adopt is one where teachers and administrators work hand-in-hand with their students so that all can use the techniques and technologies that best suit everyone.