I spent the last 2 days at KIPP DC: Will Academy helping Mr. Tiengtum (a very good friend of mine) teach the 6th graders how to use PowerPoint. It was a great experience, not just because I used to teach 6th grade computer classes years ago and missed being in that space, but because the students were great and it was rewarding watching them learn. We all (2 instructors and a total of ~90 students) spent a total of 1 hour and 40 minutes together exploring Microsoft PowerPoint. But it was more than that, I saw exploration, adventure, hesitation, yearning, creativity, enjoyment, bonding, and about 100 ah-ha moments. It was awesome. Here's to what may happen with those 6th graders and their laptops over the next year or so, once I am allowed to contribute to their learning...and they to … [Read more...]