I
finally took the opportunity to watch the movie Jobs, and it
was fascinating to review highlights of the mogul's
history and key events. What made it interesting was the fact that I
followed much of that history and could identify with the idea of using a
personal computer to enhance our daily work. In my case, I was (and still
am) looking for ways I could leverage technology to improve my teaching and
student learning.
What
struck me and stayed with me most in the movie was Steve Job's unique ability
to see the uses of technology beyond the conventional wisdom of many of those
around him. Words like "possibilities," "no limits,"
"beyond," and "dream" seemed to stick in my mind after
watching the biography. What Steve Jobs seemed to be able to share with
like-minded colleagues and staff was a vision of what could be possible in
using what he called a "mental bicycle." He was able to
translate what could be? I had heard he would look at the countenance and
look into the eyes of prospective employees after he showed them a prototype,
and that would message him on whether or not he would hire that person.
I
could not help but draw parallels to what we do with technology in education. I
ask the question, what does an educational leader or teacher think when they
see an iPad or a laptop? What do they think when they know their students
have a technology device they can use 24/7? Is their reaction, "Oh,
that's nice, kids can be more organized," or do they question, "What
are these for?" or "What are they supposed to do with these?" Or,
do they begin to see the possibilities, the potential, the new skills, the new
opportunities, the new learning, and the new thinking and doing?
Once
again, we come to the understanding that without possibility thinking, without
innovation and without the foresight and vision to use technology to create
powerful learning experiences for students, technology is limited and can be
wasted. The technology tool has its power in people who see and believe
the tech tool possibilities to help students overcome their own limitations!
