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Ray Kurzweil, 2008 **
 * A Gemini's Dream and the Double-Edged Sword of Technology ****"Technology has always been a double-edged sword, hasn't it?"





**What's Your Sign? ** []

**Long time no see, Short time for you and me... **

Two years with the TLITE Program and a final opportunity to let you all know what I have learned about myself as a person and as a teacher.

The challenge is to creatively present my last two years. For the record, I have enjoyed this challenge the most of all the experiences that we have undertaken in the TLITE course. Every year of my life has been filled with a great deal of learning but it's been rare that I've had to present it to others in a formal environment. This is my opportunity to do so...

So this is what have I learned, where have I been and where I think I'm headed...

I've titled my presentation **"A Gemini's Dream & The Double-Edged Sword of Technology".**

**We're on the road Like you knew we would...** 
 * Personal**

I have always known my astrological sign, Gemini and a little bit of information about it. The Twins, two people in one, opposite ends of the spectrum... but it was so revealing to find descriptions that so accurately describe the way that my mind works. The reading that I found says that people like me, ie Geminis are changeable, have a muddled mind, are unable to make a choice and are full of doubts and certainties... Geminis have a lively intelligence diverted unfortunately in many directions. If you had the opportunity to be inside my mind, I can tell you this is probably the best description of how I think. But the beauty of education, be it self-directed or formally delivered; is the power of metacognition, the ability to observe how my mind works and processes my experience. By being able to study and accurately analyze myself, the more I make sense of the of the world around me and the part I play. I definitely consider this a breakthrough moment for me.

Even the way that I prepared this Final Demonstration was straight out of the Gemini playbook! I actually have completed three projects trying to come up with the perfect way to demonstrate my TLITE experience.

I first started off with a **Buzan Web**:

Then I flipped to creating a video where I tried to have my students explain what I'd learned:

Then I was somehow going to combine the two... how I don't recall!

But all that indecision led me to my final creation. Using discoveries about myself to create my final project. Because it is who I am. While I totally understand any skepticism about using astrology to describe one's thought process, it was a major revelation for me... and thus helped me to create something I'm very proud to present to you today.

The theme of my presentation is the **Gemini Dream** ... a song I have always loved but without really knowing the title or what the song was about... it is upon deeper analysis that it exposes all of it's beauty to the one that looks upon it. The Gemini is what I am and it IS how I feel about Technology and the use of it in education. In many senses, **Technology is a Gemini... it's intelligent but with a short memory span... it's muddled and forever changing... but it's never boring**. **There's a place a Gemini Dream There's no escaping from the love we have seen So come with me, turn night to day You gonna wake up You know you gonna wake up in a Gemini Dream ** <span style="display: block; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 0); text-align: center;">** "The religion of the future will be a cosmic religion... If there is any religion that could cope with modern scientific needs it would be Buddhism." ** <span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">**Humanity will be more needed than ever in this new age** ... With out it we become soulless and robotic... so in order to describe my learning I must explain what I've discovered about myself over the last two years...

The personal power that we behold as teachers is incredible! And that personal interest is what will always be way more important than the newest technology. The ability to fine tune the way that a teacher interacts with her students is maybe the most important discovery of all. The last two years has seen me jump from the Secret (just before TLITE) to Tolles's "The Power of Now" and <span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">**"The New Earth"** and then ending up with my belief in the possibilities of **<span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Buddhism **. This has been without a doubt my most important discovery and I cannot thank my wife Lisa enough for always being the one that leads me to these special places. It has given me perspective and a hope for the future that no form of technology has been able to match in terms of its depth and truth. In no way, shape, or form do I preach this to others through my words. But I am trying every day to model my belief through positive and compassionate actions. I have a patience and understanding and belief in my students that continues to improve as I study and practice more... <span style="background-color: rgb(255, 0, 194);">** I love you, Lisa! ** All of my personal development had a drastic impact on my TLITE experience and definitely on my teaching... For the better and I feel very good about the direction in which I'm headed.

<span style="display: block; font-size: 150%; background-color: rgb(192, 192, 192); text-align: center;">**<span style="display: block; font-size: 120%; background-color: rgb(192, 192, 192); text-align: center;">Make it work out Make it work Make it work out Make it work out **


 * <span style="font-size: 120%; color: rgb(0, 0, 255); background-color: rgb(192, 192, 192);">TLITE **

I'll be honest with you, I had a great deal of reservations about starting the TLITE program. Once again, my Gemini traits were well on display at the start. I flipped and flopped in and out of the course more times than Vancouver Canuck hockey fans during the playoffs. I even had to call Bridget Fox, the registrar at SFU after the deadline and positively guarantee her than I wasn't going to change my mind again. It wasn't that I was overly concerned about the course and definitely the people that had signed up were first class. The problem in my mind was the money (another strong influence on me is my Scottish nature) but more importantly the time that I would need to devote to completing the program to the best of my abilities. Coming into the program, I felt that my time was already beyond max and I knew I would be sacrificing a passion in order to open up the time. But thankfully Bridget allowed me to join the program after the deadline and my TLITE journey began.

The first part of the program that came to mind about the program was my cohort group. It was relatively an easy integration as the majority of the people in my cohort group were people that I work with everyday. However, the opportunity to go through an experience with others came through as something that I really enjoy. The capacity of being a Supportive Colleague was on display throughout the entire experience. Be it a reminder about a due date or money owed, a friendly sounding board or someone to explain what they were doing. It wasn't a competition but I was inspired to bring my A game to the table by seeing what others had done. I loved the dinners after big nights and the fact that it was a pleasure seeing my cohorts each and every time we were scheduled to meet. A special thanks to Bill an amazing mentor and to Betty for always showing passion and providing great opportunities to learn.

The Focused Inquiries bring back a lot of memories as I harken back to almost two years ago. It's been a very productive two years and it feels good to be able to have so much documentation of the ventures that I have undertaken during this time. It's been so busy in fact, that I would have been hard pressed to tell you exactly what all six inquiries were. But there was everything in print and online through **<span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Live Journal, KeepToolKit, iPod, Picassa and Google Docs **. A wonderful upside of technology indeed, <span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">**this ability to recreate the past**.

<span style="font-size: 120%; color: rgb(0, 0, 255);">**//__Visual Recap with Gemini Dream__// :)**

<span style="display: block; font-size: 150%; background-color: rgb(192, 192, 192); text-align: center;">**<span style="display: block; font-size: 120%; background-color: rgb(192, 192, 192); text-align: center;">Stage fright, candle light You can let go Tonight's the night ** <span style="font-size: 120%; color: rgb(0, 0, 255); background-color: rgb(192, 192, 192);">
 * Technology**

When I've been asked about what TLITE is I've usually responded by saying that the course is about trying to successfully incorporate modern technology into today's classrooms. Obviously the documentation of a two year transformation as a person and teacher is the other major component but I didn't get into that part very often as the question asker would have probably never come out of the conversation quite the same ever again!

So the Gemini nature of education is apparent to me... the past, the present and the future trying to get along successfully... And I do believe it is possible with an educational philosophy that keeps two feet on the ground and doesn't get overly enamoured with Technology's beguiling wiles.


 * <span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Technology is an overwhelming force **. It is being pushed hard and will be pushed even harder in the future. Technology is fast, exciting and new. But is it in our best interests? Well, that depends. Let's not ever forget as educators by default should make us socialists... let's not forget that Technology is backed by big money and corporations. Now, I'm not saying that that means technology is bad, I love technology... but let's not forget to look back behind the curtains and make sure that we aren't being blinded by the glitz and the sizzle. **<span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">We need to be backing technology that is sustainable and being utilized for the common good **, not just the benefit of the richest 2% especially if it means losing our touch with the elements that make us human.

That humanity is something that I will hold on to and cherish... it's the reason why I love being a teacher so much... sure the kids are loud, moody and challenging... sure the job is draining, overwhelming and chaotic... but we're attempting to make a positive difference working with kids that are having to adapt more quickly than at any time in history! I learn so much through **<span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">personal interaction **... a facial expression, an intonation, a smile... how can you ever recreate that with a blog or a Facebook account. Those seem so detached to me at times. Not to say that there is anything wrong with those forms of technology but I never ever want to see a wholesale commitment to technology. The Gemini in me allows me to enjoy the split. To enjoy the technology but to keep a firm grip on the human component. **<span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">If we don't value the natural, we will be consumed by the technological **.

The Gemini trait of being able to easily accept change might come in handy for me as I learn more and more about the predictions of a famous inventor and futurist named **<span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Ray Kurzweil **:

"The Singularity of Ray Kurzweil" (Part 1) []

"The Singularity of Ray Kurzweil" (Parts 2 - 4) http://www.vbs.tv/video.php?id=19261515001

Ray Kurzweil Interview Part 1 []

Ray Kurzweil Interview Part 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjflJCaLi_Q&feature=related

The Singularity Summit @ Stanford University http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PWXrnsSrf0

The TLITE program has really been a fantastic opportunity for me to explore the subject of technology in depth. I am so pleased that I chose a program with such intriguing and relevant subject matter. I have been consistently challenged and amazed again and again. And that has definitely exceeded my expectations.

<span style="display: block; font-size: 120%; color: rgb(0, 0, 255); background-color: rgb(192, 192, 192); text-align: left;">
 * Impact**

So did TLITE impact my professional practice? Drastically! Both personally and professionally.

As described in the Technology section, I have had a great deal of debate, internally and externally, about the value of Technology. This has helped me to mold my practice into a learning experience that I hope incorporates both the traditional and the new. The program has helped me to realize that technology isn't the answer but the effective implementation of it is. That middle school aged students love what I call <span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">**"Structured Variety".** The idea that there is structure within the classroom but delivered with a variety of approaches. I have found that students love new technology but also love projects and assignments that are more traditional in nature, as well. I've discovered new technological tools that allow my students variety with a professional teacher's experience to help keep them challenged and supported.

TLITE really gave me the opportunity to search for the newest technology, learn and review the uses that I could imagine. TLITE has also allowed me to reflect and document the impacts that I observed upon my students. I can say that the opportunities to help students engage and absorb is unquestioned. But the technology is useless if it isn't delivered in a manner that is planned, tested, tweaked and solidified.

I believe I have incorporated technology and soul together in my classroom this year...ePortfolios, Online Math, iPod clips, webquests, wikispaces, digital photography, Google Docs, Excel, Youtube, MovieMaker... this with meeting the behaviour and emotional needs of a group of 30, each uniquely different. It has been a pleasure to see how my education has positively impacted theirs.

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<span style="display: block; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-align: left;">"No, not really just in a class where we play sometimes like if we play games all the time you would be sick and tired and even bored of playing games because it is just like getting lectures all the time. **//<span style="background-color: rgb(243, 255, 0);"><span style="background-color: rgb(243, 255, 0);">It is good to try new things and learn in all different styles . //**I love being in a class like this with a teacher there to guide you with what games you should be playing and how to play them." =====

<span style="display: block; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-align: left;">**<span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">That kid MUST be a Gemini! **
Where we've been And what we believe In life, love Take a chance See it through You'll be glad That you came too **
 * <span style="display: block; font-size: 170%; background-color: rgb(192, 192, 192); text-align: center;">Turned round to see

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<span style="display: block; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-align: left;">So thus ends a two year journey for this Gemini... so it might really have been four years if you follow my astrological math. It's been an experience that was so worthwhile but was a major time commitment that almost pushed me over the edge... it was two years that I will remember fondly and I am a better teacher and person because of TLITE. And for that, we thank you! =====



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