Fischbowl: Best of 2007: July Blog

NECC Reflection #1: Where were the students?

Karl Fisch's best blog for July was about a conference he went to with some other teachers from his at the NECC (National Educational Computer Conference). The purpose of the conference was improving the computer use in the schools. Karl Fisch wondered where the children were. There were a few high school students that spoke but the majority of the participants were adults. He thought a conference involving the education of children should include more children.

He then toyed with the idea of bringing some of his students with him to the conference the following year in San Antonio but there are some liability and cost factors to consider. It costs each of the teachers attending about $800 so it would be very difficult to justify paying that for some students to attend. he also considered bringing some of his students to the 2010 conference which is in their hometown of Denver but that is two years away.

The teachers of Dr. Fisch's school, Arapahoe High School in Littleton, CO, want to include the children more in the planning and implementing of activities and lesson plans at their school. I agree with this whole-heartily. I think if the children have some say in the actives and lessons presented (while still sticking to the curriculum) they may have more interest in their school work. His goal is to include the children but in order to do this he needs to know what they think.