Success breeds success

Watching my scholars work this summer, reminds me about how useful technology is. This is our fourth day of summer school and we are still getting new admits. I've got scholars at all levels of development. They all have different degrees of the number of days in attendance and the amount of work completed. The scholars who have been here and have blogs, logged in and continued working on existing blog posts or started a new one. The new scholars had to set up their blogs. I worked with those five new scholars to get them started. The scholars were collaborating in a productive way on their existing posts or new one. They were helping each other with layout tips, how to add an image, sound, and more.

A very important aspect to this class is that it is growing and maintaining its attendance, rather than losing scholars. This is a humid summer in NYC. They are all engaged on a project and it is theirs. This has always been the most important aspect of using technology, the level of commitment by the scholars as opposed to non tech classes I have taught. Their learning increases, their attention increases, their retention increases, their skills increase, their confidence increases. They are doing this on their own terms and at their own pace. Rarely do I ever see a scholar give up when working with technology. Success is the most common outcome. Success breeds success.


In my earlier class, the scholars are using some old CAI software that I created in the 80's. In is old DOS. In this class the scholars are reading a short story, then do a study guide application, followed by a quiz. The final step is to write an essay. Again, the scholars are at all levels. Some take more time to read and do the study guide work. Others do this faster and complete their essay before the class is over. I have the opportunity then of conferencing scholars as they read, do the study guide questions, do the quiz, and write the essay. While they are working at their pace and on their terms, I can move around, observe, inject, and encourage. Tomorrow when all are finished, we will have a useful and comprehensive class discussion about the story and about the essays. Once each and every scholar has invested some time in a project, they are more likely to engage in a conversation in class, because they have worked through their ideas. I also have seen what they have written and can now encourage the reluctant speakers to speak, because I know from their work they have something to offer. By having the discussion after they have worked makes for a more productive conversation.

Once again I am seeing the value of technology and how it levels the playing field. The scholars are succeeding and success breeds success.