Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Virtual workshop- Touch the future: iPads in K-12 Classrooms

Quick post now as session is in progress...we have 10 minutes to explore the resources just introduced. The agenda and web links can be found at:

http://opportunitygroup.org/id72.html

wiki is available at:

http://itouchthefuture.pbworks.com/w/page/33970901/FrontPage

The webinar itself is a terrific example of a really well done virtual experience while the substance of the workshop is tremendous.

The New Tech Extreme School Makeover

NETS*S: 1-6; NETS*T: 1-5

Presentation notes here:

Their software, Echo integrates with Google Apps, does Edline allow this? Also has a ShareStuff interface which is just like Facebook

Wants of New Tech:
Student centered
Working in teams
Accountable to peers
Active learning
Dynamic information

Started by community and business leaders
Designed to mirror the workplace- real-world projects

Open spaces, moveable furniture, lots of glass,
Shared decision making with kids
Need trust-respect-responsibility

COLLEGE AND WORK READINESS ASSESSMENT (CWRA)
http://www.cae.org/content/pro_collegework.htm
-tests 21st century skills

We need more PD, and other myths about professional development


This session took a new look at how professional development should be run at school. According to the presentation, teachers learn better from technology PD when their learning experience takes place close to the classroom (as opposed to workshops held in removed environments). The main suggestion given was to incorporate GenYES, a program that trains students to help teachers with tech support. By training students to help teachers with technology, they are giving new learning opportunities to students. Since they are assisted in their classrooms, teachers become more familiar and comfortable with technology. Main message: students become agents of change and not objects of change. Let them learn along with the teachers.

http://www.genyes.org/

School Libraries and Cloud Computing: Roles and Possibilities

NETS*S: 2; NETS*T: 3
Doug Johnson
http://www.doug-johnson.com/

Notes from this presentation: http://dougjohnson.wikispaces.com

I also shared this resource with the room
Google Calendar now has customized appointment features, which might be useful for booking our labs and library media centers

http://gigaom.com/collaboration/wwd-screencast-how-to-use-google-calendar-appointment-slots/

Nick and I joined this presentation a bit late. I think we may want to reach out to this presenter as a resource. I also think we need to consider if we need an email retention policy for students and staff. The state has been mum on this as a requirement.

The scariest YouTube Ever

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8ofWFx525s&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Leading in 3D- Strategies for Effective Technology Leadership

* Look up I-School initiative
* leaders.wikispaces.com
* 5 Challenges to leaders for 2011 school year:
*Model technologies appropriately
*Reflect more deeply about technology use
*Prepare for tech (and other) staff development differently
*Rethink classroom-level digital equity
*Be an active member of a professional learning community enhanced by technology

*http://tinyurl.com/chrislead
* Have students paste a paper into Wordle to pull out main ideas
• People try to float by, by saying they are doing fine, have too much on their plate.
o It is the fault of the collective group for these attitudes.
o Age is not an issue- it’s attitude

• Bring stragglers to a conference (CECA?)
o Hold them accountable for when they come back
• Every child in the building needs to do __________. (Collaboratively write)

• Reflect More Deeply
o Not just I am excited about doing this, EXPLAIN WHY
o Don’t say “Yeah, but the problem is”

Alan November

Children go to YouTube rather than Google.
Assessment is the weakest part of PD on new tools.
Number the Stars videos book trailers...

What should we teach teachers about how to teach this book.
Root zone database gives country codes for searches DK is Denmark

Site:dk "number the stars"
Gives content from Denmark for Number the Stars
Ideally you talk with students in Copenhagen to get authentic

Alan asked the CEO of HSBC
What is the skill that top talent has? Empathy... The ability to respect cultural differences.
What is the quality of top talent? Passion

West Point needs to teach Islam- a Messy Problem... They like messy problems.
Pope gave a speech in Germany quote about Islam. What was the impact in Turkey?
Almost no Turkish sources.
This is a huge problem.


We need to Globalize all of our curriculum. Teach global empathy.

There is power in Twitter.
Teachers can use it to interact globally.
Twitter gives you news from the ground.
Contact someone and Skype with them.

Wow! I just got the chills from Alan's middle school story.

NETS in Action: Online Resources By and For Educators

NETS*S: 1-6; NETS*T: 1-5
www.readwritethink.org

Climbing the Interactive Whiteboard Mountain - Finding Your Base Camp

Bret J. Gensburg form Eagle Technology Integration
This guy is funny and a bit crazy. Started with a tip- orient the board with the pen tool to reduce shadows. Smartie toss... Pez dispensers...

Here are a few take-aways...

-Don't be a master of Notebook- be a learner.
-Stress content over presentation... Does not have to be pretty to be effective
-Dealers choice and we are the dealers... You do not have to do it the same way
-You are the mouse... Free yourself from Notebook when you need to
-Positioning is key for teachers... Set it up so you face the class at all times
-Pull the menu to you... Do not block content for 1/2 of your students
-Work enough to wear out your pen trays (I did not know this was possible!)
-Eraser tip- choose thin size and use the circle tap
-Teach to the absent child... Differentiate with color in such a way that an absent child can view and understand
-You do not have to build content beforehand... Build together during the lesson
-You do not need to add applause or other feedback to the presentation
-SMARTBoard for assessment... Easier than Word and copier

Here is his website: www.eagleti.com

Flip Your Classroom: Implementing a successful digital age classroom

NETS*S: 2, 4; NETS*T: 1-4
"Flip your classroom by using elements of Universal Design for Learning, blended learning, standards-based grading, and asynchronous mastery to make your classroom a student-centered lab of learning."

Love what these guys are doing!!!!! I know Westport has been doing some of this...

Too many kids missing classes for sports, other events, started recording lectures and telling kids to go watch it
Kids taking notes, but not processing
Kids getting stuck at home
Calling friends for help, but kids found it easier/faster to copy homework
They need our help during class, started pre-recording lessons

Presentation can be seen online
flippedclass.com

YouTube.com/learning4mastery

Showed clip from "ferris bueller"

Flipped-Mastery Model

Benefits of this model:
they become independent learners
Fewer misconceptions
No place to hide
Below is the link to the wiki for the workshop that I wanted to attend on setting up iPads for administrators. The workshop presenter, Chris was excellent and let me join the wiki. This allowed me access to the resources and sharing from the group.

http://ipadbackpack.wikispaces.com/space/changes

Google and SMARTBoard

I went to a workshop on SMARTBoard PD with Nick yesterday and was mildly disappointed. We plan to attend a better workshop today.

I went to a Google workshop that Alyssa also attended. After I went to the Google booth and got valuable feedback on launching Google Apps for Edu.

Steven R. Covey

I am watching the keynote. Nice content, despite being a bit pithy. I am surprised that I am a bit annoyed about it.

Below is a link to the video that I shot of the robots.
http://db.tt/g3f9CE0