W.O.W.

Recently, Susan Watt agreed to answer a few interview questions for me as part of an assignment.  Here are her Words of Wisdom!

Hello Susan! Even though we’ve known each other a long time now, I’m happy you agreed to answer a few questions for me. I hope you find the experience to be a happy and reflective one.

1. When did we first start using technology to communicate?

Well, this challenges the memory. I believe it was in the later 90s that you and I began emailing on a regular basis and this mode of communication started to take over from phoning. Already at that time, it was the fact that it was a-synchronous that appealed. Flexible, personalized.

2. That’s when you were still teaching in the classroom, can you describe your journey to the role you have now as Technology Support teacher for the WRDSB?

Here’s the short version of the long story……or the long version of the short story.

I was a mathie in high school and didn’t really want to lose this when I settled on music for my undergrad area in university. So, as a first year music student at UWO, I chose as my only elective option - Computer Science! It was a gruelling course, with long hours in the lab ‘on the clock’, but there was something about those programming projects that really appealed to me.  I didn’t pursue this any further due to the conflicts with long hours in the practice studio, but the interest lay latent for many years.

When computers first came into the schools in the mid 90s, I was ‘that teacher’ who signed them out whenever I could. I loved the new opportunities and the engagement I saw in students. I found all kinds of ways to integrate their use into whatever I was teaching. My job at the Enrichment Centre, which came along in the late 90s, provided me with greater access to technology and endless opportunities for learning. McQuarrie became a bit of a hub of innovation and it was in those years that my leadership in the area of IT began to grow. I taught courses and workshops and started offering my first presentations on various aspects of IT integration. When the role of Technology Support Teacher was created in the spring of 2009, I was first in line to apply and was thrilled when the job became mine! I started in the fall of 2009 and am finishing my 6th year.

3. Can you give a brief job description?

Briefly, I support teachers and students in our 102 elementary schools in their use of technology to support learning. I work closely with our elementary consultant to support new initiatives (iPad deployment, GAFE, shift to mobile, etc.), plan teacher professional learning, and work with school leaders to promote system messaging. I work with teachers and students in classrooms as often as I can.

4. What are some of the big projects you have been a part of in WRDSB?

In my first year, I was directly involved in 4 projects: Digital Citizenship (it was a pretty new concept in 2009 - no one had heard the term!), an iPod project involving 4 schools, the new Dual Platform image on our computers, and the opening of Ryerson PS - a school with a ‘technology focus’. In my spare time, I visited schools by invitation and supported any number of other projects involving IT. There was a fair bit of interest in SmartBoards at the time - I upgraded my SB training and supported many teachers using their SBs as well.

Since that year, the conversations around Digital Citizenship have evolved but it has continued to be an area of need. The Dual Platform support continued for about 3 years, but has waned as mobile devices have become more common. The iPod project morphed into iPads and grew to be a system initiative which I have continued to support for the past 4 years. GAFE was new last year and has been a big focus this year as well, along with Chromebooks. For each of these initiatives, I have created websites and PD workshops and led ‘train the trainer’ workshops for staff leaders.

The big one now is the concept of ‘shift’ - the shift from desktop to mobile and the implications that this has for teachers and students. I’ve been spending quite a bit of time in schools this year helping people see the benefits of mobile devices and social media in the classroom,  and embracing the shift. It’s not easy - there is a fair bit of resistance to change.

5. I know you often get requests to ‘go to a school’, recently what is the most requested reason?

“We are having a problem with SnapChat. Can you come and do an assembly for our students to fix this problem?”

Seriously, Social Media is causing many issues in schools, particularly this year in our senior schools. Some teachers and admin are reluctant to embrace their roles in helping their students see that Digital Citizenship is really about demonstrating good character in the digital world. It’s been a huge frustration this year. They want a quick fix.

6. I also know you’ve worked with a lot of ‘new to technology’ teachers, what is the best advice you can give them?

Relax. You don’t need to be the technology expert. You need to be the pedagogical expert. Kids will figure out the apps. You figure out the learning goals, success criteria and assessment strategies.

7. Social media is a hot topic.  What is your message in this area?

Social media is here to stay. We are never going back to the way things were before SM. It is how we stay connected, learn and share. Embrace it! There is no better way to prevent the misuse of social media than the use of social media!

8. What do you think of BYOD?

Before BYOD is even considered in a school, the teachers and students should have explored many ways to use school-owned mobile technology in a variety of ways. BYOD works best when it is introduced after the NEED for more devices evolves out of use of school devices. I encourage teachers to introduce devices gradually - for a specific project or purpose, on a ‘device day’, for certain times in the day, etc. These gradual steps make all the difference. Introducing BYOD when teachers and students have not considered and explored purposeful use of the device is a recipe for disaster.

9. What technology would be in an ideal classroom?

In 2015 ….. a couple of maker kits, tinkering equipment, an iMac or 2, some Chromebooks, some iPads, BYOD and a variety of mobile, flexible comfy furniture in which to use it all. And of course, the ideal classroom would also have greenery, light, healthy food, kindness, social responsibility, no ‘front’, …...

10. I hear you are retiring this June, what will you miss, what won’t you miss?

Thanks to my wonderful job, I’ve already managed to give up many of the most disliked things in teaching - things like bells, strict timetables, report cards, duty, parent interviews, etc. I’m trying hard to take all the things I might miss and continue them into retirement - things like doing workshops with you, planning professional learning for teachers, promoting the positive use of technology and social media, etc.

11. Any last pieces of advice for teachers?

There is no going back to the days of ‘mind your own business learning’ (@gcouros) and our dependency on paper and pencil for sharing our learning. It’s a new world of teaching which includes innovation, risk-taking and change. So, my advice? Stop resisting! Sign up for workshops! Get a digital life! Embrace the change! Put away your pen!! Explore, tinker, play, try!

Thank you so much for your time and thoughts, we will certainly miss your professional, forward thinking presence in the Technology world of the WRDSB.  

Susan can be ‘followed’ @susan_watt   

Check out her website susanwatt.ca   

And her blog wattsupnext.blogspot.ca (her new retirement blog)