November

[Home] == =__**Alan November**__=

Ideas
====One of November's most recent educational ideas is that classrooms, along with everything inside them (teachers, students, materials) don't work in today's ever evolving society. He believes that students are losing their ability to think critically. In a video on his web site, November discusses ideas that could revolutionize education as we know it. He states that it's easy to teach a teacher how to use technology, but is difficult to teach a teacher to give up control over the classroom and let the students run it. The idea he's trying to prove is that since teachers aren't the main arbiter of knowledge in the classroom, the teacher needs to step aside and let students come up with what they want to learn and how they want to learn it.====

Background
Alan Novemeber has a very rich and diverse background including time spent as an oceanographer teacher, a dorm counselor for at-risk students, a director of an alternative high school, a computer coordinator, technology consultant and a university lecturer.

Alan has helped schools, governments and industry leaders with ideas to which to improve their educational practices.

Achievements
November has received many trophies, so to speak, throughout his career such as:
 * Named one of the nation's fifteen most influential thinkers of the decade by Classroom Computer Learning Magizine
 * One of eight educators to provide leadership into the future given by the Eisenhower National Clearinghouse.
 * Spoke at the Cisco Public Services Summit during the Nobel Prize Festivities.
 * Wrote many books some of which were best-selling.
 * Co-founder of the Standford Institute for Educational Leadership Through Technology
 * Selected as one of the original five Christina McAuliffe Educators.

Education
Alan November spent his earlier years learning at Harvard University in 1979, The University of Massachusetts in 1974 and at Edinburgh University initially.

Personal Thoughts
I think that Alan brings up very intriguing points about educational changes. I agree with him in that students need to be able to think critically and to think outside of the box. Students need to stop relying on technology as a means to finish their work quicker, but as a tool to increase productivity and to create something that matters. The major problem with his idea about classroom reform is getting the teachers to change with them. The students, on the other hand, will be on the eager to adapt this kind of change.

-started by Chris Gargasz

I really enjoyed reading about Alan November's ideas, and I think that we need more innovative and charismatic people like him in this day and age. I totally agree with what November has to say about technology in the classroom, especially that it's going to take teacher's actively stepping aside some to allow this change to take place. I feel like a lot of the older generation of teachers are afraid of technology, and perhaps even some of the upcoming generation as well, and that they aren't fully allowing technology in the classroom to be as educational and worthwhile as it could be. November's website is very visually appealing in my opinion, as it is easy to follow and not overly cluttered. I also liked skimming through November's blog and thought it was interesting that he references Daniel Pink, one of the other voices from this assignment, in his blog as well. -Christie

Chris, you bring up an excellent point which I believe is a huge hurdle with regards to technology in classrooms. Many teachers (within the last 10 years of their service) are stuck in their ways. The acceptance of technology included with their curriculum is very difficult for some. I believe there will be a big shift in the next 10-15 years with technology becoming a more useful part of facilitation. -Andy Luciano