The Triple E Framework - Learning First, Technology Second.

Learning First - Technology Second - An Introduction.

I recently purchased a copy of "Learning First, Technology Second: The Educator's Guide to Designing Authentic Lessons" with the hopes of refocusing on why we buy technology for students in our district.  Liz Kolb, the author, works with about 150 beginning teachers per year on integrating technology into their lessons to have a meaningful impact on student achievement.  She is the guru on putting learning before technology in the classroom!


If you've been around technology and education for the past few years, I'm sure you've seen the large influx of digital technology for staff and students, and our district is no exception.  It's not hard to notice iPads, laptops and Chromebooks in the hands of students in class, and cellphones in their hands out of class.  All of this technology has people speaking about the fourth industrial revolution (see below).

Today, one could be forgiven for not realizing how technology and public education go hand in hand.  In fact, we own the existence of public education to what many call the first industrial revolution.  That revolution changed society forever, giving us free time, and yes, the need for an educated work force.

On a side note, chalk boards, as one of the first examples of educational technology didn't really take off in the classroom until teachers stopped individualizing education for students, and started teaching the class as a whole... see how that works??!  Now we talk of technology taking us back to individualizing... so we've come full circle!

Back to the triple E frame work, and putting educational technology in its place!  Over the next few months I'm going to illustrate Liz's technology framework, which consists of:

1) Engagement - engaging students in learning while using technology, and conversely not engaging students only in technology.

2) Enhancement - using technology to enhance the student learning.

3) Extension - creating deep learning experiences that transfer skills, competencies and knowledge beyond what students learn in the classroom to other learning experiences.

Thank you and have a great summer!

Clint