Gary Stager is the Man…

I’m starting off today’s activities at Gary Stager’s presentation Ten things to Do With a Laptop. I’ve listening to Gary a number of times at various conferences…never the headliner, but as a quiet featured speaker. Some of the time I don’t agree with him, but I continue to listen to what he says because after the show is over and I’m sitting quietly by myself I can hear my brain changing, shifting, and growing. Gary Stager pushes…he kicks you out of your box.

So what are 10 Things to Do with a Laptop? Well, here are two questions…What will the world be like for your students 20 years from now? Perhaps even more importantly, what is the world like for the children who have not yet entered your school?

There are three types of laptop schools:

1. Pioneers…they want to shake things up.
2. Marketeers…they want their school in the newspaper.
3. Their neighbors…the school up the street is doing it so…

Top Ten List

1. Write a Novel
   When students have laptops they write more and better. In addition, they can write for other forms of media like podcasts.
2. What Your Knowledge
   Use sites such as Wikipedia because the information is current/instant.
3. Answer Tough Questions
   For example, “Who should I vote for?“
4. Make Sense Data
   Use software like Google Earth, GIS, Inspire Data, Tinkerplots, and Fathom
5. Design a Video Game
   Use Microworlds…Gary is very into student programming.
6. Build a Killer Robot
   Gary likes to use Legos to build and invent.
7. Lose Weight
   Keeping track of exercise…that’s not the point, but using the tools kids have to solve problems.
8. Direct a Blockbuster
   Make a movie…writing, editing, shortening is the process that matters.
9. Compose a Symphony
   Using Finale Notepad or GarageBand.
10. Change the World
    Can we aim any higher?

Thanks, Gary, for setting the bar high for using the tech that’s in our schools!