School Counseling: An Analog or Digital Business?
As technology continues to impact our world and permeate the walls of schools, we are all seeing change in our students and cultures. However, those changes may not be as new as we think. School counselors are being asked to recapitulate problems of social dynamics which we have not seen in mass numbers before. After seven years as a 9-12 counselor, I am convinced that the change in the issues students present with, are not all that new, but rather just more prevalent given the communication patterns of today's world. Communication and interaction both happen 24/7/365. This has done little more than make us more aware of the underlying needs of our kids today, while illustrating to us the needs for more than what we have been providing in the traditional world of school counseling.Students today are more connected than ever. In fact, I will say that there are times when kids are aware of resources relevant to their needs before I am. Students today are masters at using the web to find resources at the instant they need them. Gone are the days when a student is at the mercy of a counselors schedule to find out about resources, information or opportunities. We live in a connected world where information and resources are available 24/7. Why then are we trying to work in an unconnected world where information, resources and lessons are delivered when we are face to face in the classroom?
As the New Year rolled around, I committed myself to the resolution of changing how I do my 'business' in this digital age. We are 1:1 iPad school, with a staff, who have for the most part embraced the change. Our students without a doubt have embraced this change. Here are two classrooms I stopped into this morning for a snapshot of what classrooms look like after this iPad implementation to illustrate the change.
 |
| A physics classroom with 100% student engagement |
 |
| A geometry classroom sans textbook |
We have changed the game of education now that we handed kids this extremely powerful tool. In the world today, we no longer have to be data center of knowledge, nor are students still dependent upon us to provide them with information about scholarships, college materials, leadership opportunities, career education, etc. The wealth of knowledge available to students online far exceeds any expertise I have in any area. To be functional in the world today, you must know where to access that information. Given that statement, why then have I been trying to hold onto the data center mindset for school counseling? Why I am attempting to stick with a model of character education, career education, and advising that is based on a face to face classroom model and only available when I am available?
The emerging body of research is showing that the traditional model of teacher centered classrooms do not provide the best environment for students. As Educators (teachers, counselors, & administrators), we should be reaching out to kids on their turf and on their time. We should engage them in ways that are meaningful to them and encourages higher level cognitive skills. We must begin to find new ways to ENGAGE ALL LEARNERS.
So, here I am, starting my journey into changing how I do the business of school counseling. Over the next few months I will use this blog to share with you the successes and failures of my new venture. I am going to utilize the myriad of web tools, apps, and Socratic lessons delivered to kids through virtual and digital experiences. This will include the use of Twitter & Facebook to disseminate information, finding tools to help students develop content rich digital portfolios that are more than just a resume, engaging students in creative projects to encourage character and citizenship, all while meeting them on their turf. I hope that you will choose to follow this blog as I chronicle my evolution to becoming a "Digital School Counselor".
Dustin Favinger
9-12 School Counselor
Cozad High School
Dustin,
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on the beginning of an interesting and exciting journey. I'm intrigued and look forward to learning about your findings. I hope you're able to find connections that are relevant to your mission and vision as a HS counselor.
The digital revolution has certainly changed the social dynamics for students, educators, and how relationships between student and educator are cultivated. I can only imagine that you'll find the answers to your questions contain a delicate balance between personal - one on one interaction and digital communication. The digital world hosts new opportunities to achieve our goals but are not substitutes for fundamental values, beliefs, and old-fashioned communication.
Best of luck on finding answers to a relevant topic. And I hope you discover that HS counselors are still a relevant and vital component for problem solving such a complex issue.
Travis Pflaster, MHA