Top LYS Tweets from the Week of August 21, 2011

In response to the Top LYS Tweets post from 8/14/11, a reader tweeted:

LYS Nation,

Nice post, and you are right about school technology. But how do you address network security if students bring their own e-devices?

SC Answer

My assumption is that a "guest access" feature, similar to what is available in a hotel would work. You can still limit who is a “guest,” and you still can provide some filtering. Hopefully, your technology department can provide some more specific direction.

On a somewhat related note, I was recently visiting with a LYS principal. She has some teachers that are fired up to embed a little bootleg technology usage in their classrooms so they requested increased Wi-Fi speed and coverage. She told me that the cost to do so was around $1,500.00. Her campus would be considered above average in size and it is old, meaning fallout bunker-style construction. So for the cost of purchasing two to three laptops – Wi-Fi enabled phones, laptops, tablets and e-readers now work everywhere in the building. The time is now to embrace the power, flexibility and engagement of bootleg technology.

A number of you in the LYS Nation are now using your own bootleg technology devices to follow Twitter. If you haven’t done so yet, we want you to join us. To let you see what you are missing, here are the Top 10 LYS Tweets from the week of August 21, 2011, as tabulated by the accountants at Price Waterhouse.

1. Observing a student sneak texting in class. The technology and tools are there, we just have to allow our students to use them in the open.

2. If your campus does not allow students you use their cell phones, answering yours in the middle of class is exceptionally bad form.

3. If you are chastising your students for not tucking in their shirts while your shirt is untucked - You are being a hypocrite.

4. Just observed a herd of hypocrites discussing students not tucking in their shirts. How about using modeling as a teaching strategy?

5. Tonight’s Run Thought: The principalship is to school leadership as combat is to military leadership. Avoid it and your credibility is suspect.

6. Principals are effective when they observe and engage with staff. Improvement initiatives that ignore this are a waste of time and energy.

7. In an environment absent of feedback, people invent their own.

8. Instead of simulations to help principals improve their people skills, why not just spend more time observing and talking to your people?

9. Tonight’s Run Thought: A lot of adult learning occurs while you are sorting through the messy details of "process."

10. A compilation of what I observed across the state during the first week of school. I want to give a big thanks to Governor Perry and the Republican Legislators. Without you, the following observations would not have been possible.

A. Just observed 35 students in a 3rd grade reading class.

B. Just observed 46 students in a HS science class.

C. Just observed 30 students in a 5th grade math class.

D. Just observed 30 students in an 8th grade history class.

E. Just observed 31 students in a 6th grade math class.

F. Just observed 37 students in a 7th grade science class.

G. Just observed a 7th grade math class with 36 students.

H. Just observed 39 students in a 7th grade history class.

Think. Work. Achieve.

Your turn...

Call Jo at (832) 477-LEAD to order your campus set of “The Fundamental 5: The Formula for Quality Instruction.” Individual copies available on Amazon.com! http://tinyurl.com/4ydqd4t

Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation