McKenzie

= James McKenzie = FNO Website

James, or Jamie McKenzie is a former teacher and author who publishes the online journal “From Now On: The Educational Technology Journal.” From Now On (FNO) is a monthly journal that publishes articles and reviews as well as offering tools, tips and ideas related to education and educational technology. Jamie also offers presentations, speeches and hands-on workshops on topics such as Change, Curriculum, Libraries and Staff Development among others.

The September issue featured an excerpt of Jamie McKenzie’s new book //Beyond Cut-and-Paste//, entitled “Play, Experimentation and Improvisation”. In this excerpt Mr. McKenzie emphasizes the importance and sad decline of children’s’ opportunities for “free play”. I found this very interesting, because I feel that this is a serious issue among today’s youth. Students are so focused on the “right answer” that they are afraid to be creative. Jamie encourages both parents and teachers to make play an essential part of children’s lives. Also in this issue were “Placemats: They’re Not Just for Dining” by Cindy Burke and “Review: Media Literacy Resources from New Mexico” by Jamie McKenzie. The article by Burke detailed how placemats on student’s desks can help guide their learning, which I felt would be useful in the classroom. Subscription to FNO is free to anyone who is interested.

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Also featured on FNO are links to Jamie McKenzie’s Speeches, Workshops, Conferences and the FNO Bookstore, as well as other interesting links. I chose to peruse the topic of Libraries to see what was offered. This section included a Keynote Speech entitled “Beyond Plagiarism” in which McKenzie strives to inspire teachers to encourage creativity in research to dissuade students’ urge to “cut and paste”. I felt that “The New Library and New Librarian” was also especially pertinent in these times of great change in libraries.

Of all the things offered, I felt the Hands-on Workshops would be most useful based on my school experience. Every educator loves when they are able to take away a product or skill from their professional development workshops. One Hands-on Workshop that I found especially interesting was called “Power Learning 3.0: Biographies and Character Studies that Stir Thinking”. This workshop was offered at the June 2007 FNO Atlanta Mini-Conference. Persons attending this workshop were introduced to mind-mapping software and other methods that require students to do “more than cut-and-paste”. Other workshop titles include “NoTime Slam Dunk Digital Lessons” and “Writing from Start to Finish” among others. Some titles, such as “Other Worldly Research”, included links to the workshop activities.

In addition to the articles, speeches and workshops on FNO, James McKenzie has authored a number of books. All of these, as well as books by other prominent figures in education, can be found online at the FNO Press Bookstore.

FNO Press

Some of McKenzie’s other titles include “Planning Good Change” and “Just in Time Technology: Doing Better with Fewer”.

Overall I was impressed with the content of McKenzie’s site as well as his articles. He not only offers information on “hot topics” but tools that can be applied to the classroom as well.

CNR

McKenzie has ventured into humor with his cartoons on various educational opinions. He has a good cartoon using the 3 monkeys about the state of education.He does a good job of placing education in true light of our failure to be up with the times.st

Jamie McKenzie has brought to light an interesting opinion that our children are so foused on the right answer that they have forgotten how to play. Parents are becoming aware of how important free time for play is in a child's life. Children learn from free play and need to be less overscheduled to enjoy it. I would enjoy listening to one of Mr. McKenzie's speeches. BG

This simple 64 p. guide presents information geared for superintendents and principals in one-page morsels consisting of one idea per page. Topics covered include collaboration, reading, enhancing learning through technology, information literacy, and building a sound infrastructure for the library media program. The guide contains many graphics, checklists, and references to other informational sources. This would be a great tool for me starting out as a library media specialist. JD

I found an article in which Jamie McKenzie makes some great points. @http://www.4teachers.org/keynotes/mckenzie/index.shtml  //I think the main thing is that they need to keep remembering that this is about children and it's about learning and questions. . . . The reason we invest in a network is to bring rich information into the classroom, but it only makes sense to have rich information in the classroom if you're going to let kids ask questions and explore questions. If that isn't part of your classroom you could save a whole lot of money.// --Jamie McKenzie

This quote reminds us what the technology is for - to help students learn. If students are merely looking for "the right answer", they aren't learning anything, or if students can't get to the information because of overprotective filters, they aren't learning anything. Then the computer is just a piece of equipment instead of a tool for learning. McKenzie encourages the investment in staff development so that teachers know how to use the computers to help teach. George Lucas (//Edutopia//) has the same point of view. If teachers don't know how to use the computer as a tool for teaching rather than a teacher itself, a lot of money could have been saved. CMS

In his book, //Learning to question, to wander, to learn//, Jamie McKenzie writes, "This book is dedicated to the proposition that wondering without questioning is a form of surrender, a kind of acquiescence in the face of powerful forces far from benign." I was impressed not only that McKenzie made the distinction between "wandering" and "questioning" but that he made it so strongly. We need to teach our students that questions are not only okay, they are expected and welcomed. We need to teach our students not only to wander about something but to truly question it and to seek out the answer to their question. Now *that's* how we need to engage students in a 21st century learning environment. EH

I agree with Mr. McKenzie that children are not given enough "free play" to help foster their creativity. As an early childhood teacher I see so many parents and teachers who say students are at school they can play when they get home. I think more people need to understand play is a very important part of learning and students can gain so much form being given that time no matter how old they are. KG

There are some "slam dunk lessons" under the link "Power Learning-NZ". There are five lessons a teacher can create rather quickly that incorporate digital learning tools for students. In one lesson a digital image can be used to answer questions or create questions. Another lesson uses a rich website to ask and answer questions. These lessons seem like they could be very useful for teachers and also incorporate media literacy and other standards. DM

A subscription to //From Now On// would be well worth it for someone like me who is a bit technology challenged. McKenzie's poetry is a delight. CW