Laura K Spencer, Ed.D.

Author: Laura Spencer

  • #STUVoice – 2015 East County TechFest Keynote

    #STUVoice – 2015 East County TechFest Keynote

    My daughter, a high school junior, recently keynoted an ed tech fest. Because I feel odd talking up my progeny, I’m going to copy/paste a write-up shared in her district Superintendent’s newsletter: “she shared her school experiences with technology and challenged the teachers in the theater to provide a wide array of technology-driven opportunities. She emphasized that students need to be prepared for a digital world and our schools are an essential part in that development.”
    There was a lot of great feedback from the teachers that participated, but in an effort to make the conversation global, I’d love to hear what you have to say as well.
  • Engaged Learning Does NOT Look Like This

    Engaged Learning Does NOT Look Like This

    I came across this posting on a school’s Facebook page the other day. Am I the only one who is sad by this photo, and the accompanying caption? I don’t see a single engaged student in this photo. On the contrary, I see a lot of body language that denotes the complete opposite of engagement.

    What message does this post send to students, parents, community members? What message does it send to you?

  • The Times They Are A-Changing, But Not in That Classroom

    The Times They Are A-Changing, But Not in That Classroom

    Come mothers and fathers, 

    Throughout the land

    And don’t criticize
    What you can’t understand
    Your sons and your daughters
    Are beyond your command
    Your old road is rapidly agin’
    Please get out of the new one if you can’t lend your hand
    For the times they are a-changin’
    – Bob Dylan

    My daughter is dual enrolled in high school and college. Today was her first day of the Spring term for her college class. I’m jealous, because she chose “History of Rock Music” for her history elective. To spend time learning about Jimmy Plant, Ringo Starr, and Janis Joplin instead of reading the Louisiana Purchase agreement? Heck yea, sign me up!

    In my mind, I pictured her walking in to an eclectic environment hosted by an aging wannabe rock star, or perhaps even Jack Black. I expected to walk home to a daughter spouting off about hidden messages in lyrics, or sharing about the seedy underworld of the British rock movement. Or perhaps we’d argue if the Beatles had a larger influence on American culture than Elvis or Jimmy Hendrix. I wanted to spend the evening dusting off my record player and sharing Led Zeppelin, relishing in the sound the needle makes as it swoosh, swoosh, swooshes across the record. But alas, that is not how the day transpired.

    Instead, this happened:

    I know I shouldn’t be surprised, but I still have to ask how long we are going to fight against technology. And in doing so, fight against the learning needs of today’s students? In the words of Bob Dylan, “The Times They Are A-Changing:”
    Come gather ’round people
    Wherever you roam


    And admit that the waters

    Around you have grown
    And accept it that soon
    You’ll be drenched to the bone
    If your time to you is worth savin’
    Then you better start swimmin’ or you’ll sink like a stone

    For the times they are a-changin’
  • Text to Speech Makes Reading a Snap

    Text to Speech Makes Reading a Snap

    Have students who struggle reading? The iPad can help with that.
    Text to speech is built in to iOS 8. Go to Settings > General > Accessibility > Speech
  • Failure + Learning = A+

    Failure + Learning = A+

    Photo from: http://eatingacademy.com/

    There is a saying amongst the Jet Propulsion Laboratory engineers:

    “If a test works you get an A, if it fails and you learn, you get an A+”

    Do we teach students that failure + learning equals an A+, or do they stop at failure?

  • NASA Embodies the 4Cs

    NASA Embodies the 4Cs

    I mentioned in my last post that I am at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena today as a kick off #NASASocial event for the Orion launch. The Orion launch marks the start of our journey to Mars; the next step for humans to explore the solar system.

    I had the privilege of asking a question live during the event, which was shared on NASA TV. My question was about how the different NASA satellite locations, like JPL, contributed to the Orion launch. I won’t go in to the answer, except to say that the different locations, with different expertise, provided some of the technological advances and component pieces for Orion.

    Why is this important? Because it stresses the importance for students to learn the 4Cs. Obviously, collaboration is critical for NASA to undertake this important mission. Not only are they collaborating with their own personnel, but they are also collaborating with commercial flight companies, like Boeing and SpaceX, and local, specialized businesses to create the parts that are fabricated for the mission. Without creativity, Orion would not exist. What started as a dream and a question is now a reality. That’s due to creative geniuses using their critical thinking skills to turn that dream in to an actual product launch. And communication? Well, I’m sure you can picture the amount of emails, phone calls, presentations, texts, webinars, etc that transpired between all of these entities to put this entire mission together. It’s incredible when you look at the big picture that created tomorrow’s Orion launch.

    Our students today will be the astronauts that travel to Mars. Are you preparing them with the 4Cs for that jouney?