I’ve read Jason’s paper on the topic of technological gravity, and I’ve heard him guest lecture in Stephen Yanchar’s learning theories course at BYU, so I thought I knew what to expect from Jason’s TTIX 2010 session. Jason’s pres was both pleasantly divergent and more expansive, and both his slides and his presentation style–which paced his own personal experiences between anecdotes and examples–complemented the content. Here are some rough notes from his session:
Jason McDonald’s “Resisting Tech. Gravity” begins with Pixar anecdote: redefining one’s self with a singular committment to quality. #ttix10
Film (story) needs real risk. Woodie’s dilemma in Toy Story 2 is complicated and made real by introduction of Jessie.
Resisting Technological Gravity
“I became an ID because I wanted to find the depth, robustness, and will … necessary to create educational magic.”
Jason tells how his early experiences as an ID reflect educational activities as ends in themselves rather than a means to an end. Posting notes online, uploading powerpoints, fitting content into a template, etc.
How do we get beneath the surface? How do we innovate? How do we resist pressures that lead to mediocrity? “You still can change the world!”
The ideal ID isn’t one who follows the rules, but who breaks them.
Wishing all my staff were in this session…
1. What instruction is.
Instruction as story telling. (JMS: For greater authenticity, with learners as actors.)
Instruction as conversation. If you were asked to explain something to a friend, what would you do? Would you establish objectives? Would you employ a standardized tool? How would you asses? Would you play to their strengths? How much do you care about that person learning? (JMS: Implies power of 1-1, which, as Bloom lamented, is untenable in Education.
2. How instruction is made.
(JMS: Can I do this vs I can do this)
Instruction as chess; “everything depends on the situation and the skill available” embrace innovation and risk more than step-by-step decisions.
Engage the “Creative Spirit of Design”
Do we fall victim to instructinal design processes & formulae (JMS: rather than maintain our proper role of master of our tools)?
(JMS: Great looking slides–simple, visual, avg 1 word per slide as I like it, solid pacing with narratives. This is no paper pres [which I sort of expected, and would have been enough]!)
3. What instruction is for.
Jason’s principles:
How can I help people discover joy and wonder in the world?
How can I help people express passion re. discoveries?
Don’t see ourselves as technologists just as doctors don’t. Tools, tools, tools.
Lecture is most maligned form of instruction, and yet Randy Posh has reached more than 70 million viewers re YouTube with 76 minute lecture. This “instructional experience” was a life-changing experience; “instructor” gave “students” a new way of seeing the world in 76 minutes.
(JMS: How long until Steve Jobs is recognized as the new Bill Gates? To me he’s all too similar in the end.) Jobs to Pepsi guy: “Do you want to sell sugar water? Or do you want to change the world?”
