Futurist Update

Revisiting my organization to identify SWOT reveals the following;
Strengths: We have an excellent reputation in the San Diego Community. We are becoming known throughout the state of California because of the State grant we administer and our successful outreach. We have dedicate staff. We remain open to constructive criticism. We use technology in tracking and reporting our results to both the State and the school district.

Weaknesses: Because of budget constraints we cannot pay for all staff to have smart phones which could provide for detail capturing of information, pictures for activity reports and email at your fingertips. However for those who do not have smart phones the texting feature allows us all to receive immediate updates in the field. We have one or two staff members who seem to repel technology. Reporting information to each entity could be improved so that the big picture is always visible to the group.

Opportunity: Develop time-lines where all parties check in an evaluate progress in relation to the big picture. Tracking stats so that we highlight them for future grant opportunities.

Trends: Create a mechanism where we monitor the success and failures of other non-profits locally and nationally so that we are better prepared to capitalize on grants that fit our mission and vision. Considering vehicles for growing our organization.

San Ysidro/Casa Familiar

San Ysidro /Casa Familiar

It amazes me that such a wonderful program is working in the San Ysidro community, but students using the system, the hardware and software contributed for their benefit are finding the refurbished equipment is far superior to what they use in the classroom. If the goal is to train our students for 21^st century communities, why aren’t we better prepared to train them with up to date technology in the classroom? Its admirable that the County Office of Education has elected to provide free internet service ( with the help of partners) to families, not just students.

I have not been in a classroom in San Diego where I saw state of the art technology available to all students. At Nubia Leadership Academy, there are about 3 or 4 computers in each classroom and they are rarely used by the teachers for instructional purposes. What would a class of 15 to 20 kids do with 4 computers? It’s absurd. The program selected what it considered the brightest students, who most probably already have a passion for technology. I am disappointed that some of slower learners or “at risk” students weren’t given the opportunity. It may have opened a whole new world of opportunity for them. We talk about equity but when we have an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of students who are marginalized, we elect to choose the AVID students.

There is a computer lab on our campus; however it belongs to the church. There are 15 desktops recently donated by the Futures Foundation in the lab. The school has never asked to use it. We use it in our afterschool program because our students love it. We also use the lab during summer camp. I would like to see the charter school teacher embrace technology and stop placing our students at a global disadvantage by not using technology to enhance their teaching and learning.

            

Futurist

As Futurist, my organization currently is constantly searching all types of media to learn the direction that programs, social services, are moving, so that we can effectively respond to the needs of the community.We must constantly check our position. We can do that by working through a 1-2-or 3 year plan with milestones and then checking our milestones against the current climate to make sure the product we deliver is still relevant. Should we need to change course from our strategic design we, should build in the ability to be flexible without destroying our infrastructure.

We currently possess a young staff which is very technology savvy, easily able to adapt to change and eager to lead in  the non-profit community in San Diego.

We must make sure we possess the technology that keeps us current and  understand the driving forces in our industry.

Speak Up Findings: Mobile Technologies

You know your kids master the art of texting, but do you really understand the magnitude of possibilities that using a smart phone offers students. It appears the kids have a much better grasp than parents, teachers and administrators. Listen to the finding compiled by Project Tomorrow and you be the judge of what the future holds. http://www.tomorrow.org/Evans_survey.html

Speak Up: Learning to Change Changing to Learn

Are we really ready to shift the academic experience a complete 360? Is the teacher-student model in a typical classroom the best for your child or any student ? Well get ready or the children in this country might find themselves ill prepared to compete on a global scale. Please view this video from Project Tomorrow and you be the judge.

Theory of Disruption

The Theory of Disruption in education should be taking place now. If we analyze what NCLB and standardized testing are doing to students, there should be an innovator that steps in and makes a difference. Because there is very little competition in what happens in education, disruption is obviously minimized.

Education in America is at a crossroads. Something needs to happen to move it to a new, corrective action that benefits all children. I have been saying continuously that we claim to differentiate instruction in the classroom but we do not. We teach children the same thing at the exact same time and some get it and others, “oh well”.

If we know everyone has two or three ways they learn best, why not teach in the way the learn best? If teaching to each student is not cost effective in the classroom or in schools, innovative technology could make this type of instruction a reality. The example of the virtual chemistry class created at Brigham Young is ideal.

I am very interested in the advertisements recently for kids to complete school on-line. Innovative for sure and also amazing that we trust students is use technology to learn from home. Adults have been completing advanced degrees this way for years now.

Reflection on Pink

Design is creativity. It is necessary for both utility and importance. Symphony is the ability to connect the dots in relationship. Pink discussing these students in Art and Design school in Philadelphia public school who enter at below basic achievement level and graduate moving on to schools considered Ivy League or best in class.  The book briefly describes how teachers incorporate basic subjects into the art and design. There is an example of the Roman aqueducts and math. The example does not provide specifics. Well it does not provide enough specifics for me.

Learning environments that would support both design and symphony must allow for student creativity. There should be assignments tied to the learning that connect the learning to the real world using arts and culture, history, psychology and everything that we use to make decisions in our daily lives. There are so many gimmicks associated with student learning and school districts that spends huge amounts of money implementing these programs. 40 years ago in the New Orleans public schools system from 9^th grade until 12^th grade, we attended the entire season of the New Orleans Repertory Theater. We traveled by school bus. I have an appreciation for theater and literature today because of this experience and it spirited my love for learning. I traveled to far- away places in the theater and vowed someday to visit them.

We need environments that encourage students to dream, think outside the box and dare to explore whatever is next.  How did we know students were learning before we implemented the currently yearly test modules? What did we use to measure achievement before standardized tests? I really don’t remember.

What I do remember is learning economics with a game that complimented our studies and sparked competition call the “Prep Quiz Bowl”. We were excited to learn and compete to win and to win you had to know your stuff!

Reflections on my Story

As I read the cultural autobiographies in the book, I realized that my early life was sheltered in an all Black environment where my primary exposure to other races was from the media, radio or television or what I read in books, newspapers or other periodicals. In the 1950's, though New Orleans was racially segregated, it was also more than 50% Black. I attended all Black schools in all Black neighborhoods, with all Black teachers and Principals. Because my parents had choices, we kids never went to segregated movie theaters or purchased  food from the "colored only" window. We had many Black owned businesses. I attended Black owned movie theaters and we dined at Black owned restaurants, some that are today internationally famous- "Dookey Chase" a case in point.

Xavier University was six blocks from my house, so when it was time to go to college, I walked. I wasn't in a bubble so I knew racism was real and that there were places I was not allowed . I knew it was wrong and actively participated in sit-ins as a member of the NAACP Youth Council.

What I reflect on most is that with those southern whites who objected to the mixing of the races you knew exactly where you stood, which is why I was taken by surprise at the subtle forms of racism I encountered when I moved to California. Most people were very friendly but the racism was covert and hidden between the lines.