Before tractors and combines, more than 60% of the population in North America was involved in farming. Today that number is less than 2%. Farm children made vital contributions to the family with real chores. While technology eventually eroded the meaningful work of children, we can now focus its use to restore the dignity of real work in school. All of our students can use collaborative online tools and research and global communications skills to add value to the learning community.

These contributions include:

Tutorial Designers
Official Scribes
Research Coordinators
Tool Developers
Collaboration Coordinators
Curriculum Reviewers
Contributions to Society

"In essence, it is a “return to the farm” - children contributing and collaborating. I grew up on a farm/ranch and I had meaningful work everyday of my life. Our livelihood depended on each person doing his or her job well, and it was vital work indeed. If I was asked to ride a horse through blizzard conditions to pick up a newborn calf it was important that I did so; otherwise, a calf that would eventually be worth as much as $2000 or more dollars would die frozen in the night. Many do not have that kind of responsibility today and that is okay, but without something to be responsible for a child is missing the opportunity to be valued. This should happen at home, but it can be reinforced at school as we help students, young and old, to accept jobs that have value and substance and are meaningful in a young person’s life in today’s busy world. The jobs Alan mentions are simple, but they are important, and we should provide opportunities for students to serve as they learn and learn as they serve."

Neil Hokanson, Educational Technology Specialist, North Platte Public Schools, Nebraska.

By the end of this session participants will:
- understand the importance of bringing meaningful jobs into the classroom
- see an overview and an example of 7 jobs that can be introduced into the classroom
- learn about free, easy to use tools that match up with each job

Outline

1. Overview of the importance of providing students with meaningful jobs at school
2. Coverage of each job w/ examples and demonstrations of tools that match up with each
3. Success stories from the field

Supporting Research

The World is Flat - Thomas Friedman
Wikinomics - Don Tapscott and Anthony D. Williams
A Whole New Mind - Dan Pink

Presenter Background

Alan November is an international leader in education technology. He began his career as an oceanography teacher and dorm counselor at an island reform school for boys in Boston Harbor. He has been director of an alternative high school, computer coordinator, technology consultant, and university lecturer. He has helped schools, governments and industry leaders improve the quality of education through technology.

Audiences enjoy Alan's humor and wit as he pushes the boundaries of how to improve teaching and learning. His areas of expertise include planning across curriculum, staff development, new school design, community building and leadership development. He has delivered keynotes and workshops in all fifty states, across Canada, and throughout the UK, Europe, Asia and Central America.

Alan was named one of the nation’s fifteen most influential thinkers of the decade by Classroom Computer Learning Magazine. In 2001, he was listed one of eight educators to provide leadership into the future by the Eisenhower National Clearinghouse. His writing includes numerous articles and best-selling book, Empowering Students with Technology. Alan is a former ISTE board member, was co-founder of the Stanford Institute for Educational Leadership Through Technology and is most proud of being selected as one of the original five national Christa McAuliffe Educators.

Building Learning Communities Summer Conference
Each summer Alan leads a summer conference with world-class presenters and participants from all over the world. Visit novemberlearning.com for more details.