Notes from May 11, 2010...

In continuing with the "open invitation" to foster tech talks, and as a direct result of Wednesday's "crucial conversations" that took place May 12 at the tech building....A question was raised after it was evident that all 16 of us in attendance at the meeting, all diverse in our experiences and expectations, had voice. As we went around the table, there developed an agreement among us, that the lack of custodianship is a behavior running rampant... technically costing us lost time and financing.... but what is the solution?

Granting that accidents do happen and everyone is human, the disrespectful abuse, in regards to district-owned technology, is becoming more visible across the entire district, clearly demonstrating individuals lack of "taking" ownership in "that" which does not belong to us. This is something the community has to own in order to help us with the solution.

This question, among others, arose from the crowd...

Has "custodianship" been better represented in the 21C Class(es)* compared to what we see across classrooms, labs, and other district-owned mobile devices?

*21C - a course designed/created four years ago in our district in an effort to engage teachers and students in a 1-2-1 learning environment for Seniors

Aren't we always in search of answers?

I am hopeful for all, during the tornadic times we are living in, that each of us will find new inspiration in "The Unfolding" of what we can be hopeful to attain/gain in next year's promises.

Karla

We have shared our notes from that meeting a google doc with you here!

Forgetting My Camera!

It was an interesting day in the office as I feel we have tried to build a good reputation for good technical service... so when Roxie phoned the office this morning, by the time Brad was off the phone it was just another learning experience in the grand story or helping others. I don't mean to boost or be proud, but I believe schools will weather the storm. What needs remembering is we are all in the same fleet that sails the ship.

So on Friday I told Brad I was headed to the board meeting on Monday. It was going to be a short week but busy. Of course I didn't foresee myself catching a nasty cold and suffering Sunday, at work half-baked on Monday and yet productive.

I was delighted and confused tonight. The presentations to the board, there were three, were intriguing, as the night started with the public forum presented by Paul Chaffin. I wish I had his speaking skills.

We were then kicked out of the admin office to stroll across the street for the presentation from Central Elementary teachers. I was disappointed that the PLC room was not set up for the audience to more fully enjoy the lenghty barrage of educational know-how as we all stood for what seemed a 40+ minute session. The ladies who spoke during the presentation did an excellent job of describing what they do and how the pieces are to fit together in such a way that those who are ignorant might mistake their efforts as easy and uncomplicated. This multi-disciplinary project [I am thankful...] came out of one of our TRC classrooms. What an excellent model of students creating relevance in the tools from creating their avatar, to writing their story, to recording their best audio voice all wrapped up for a feast-full Thanksgiving season.

We have much to be thankful for.

p.s. I was so upset to have left my camera across the street in my computer bag. Tonight should have been filmed! :)

Deep thinkers......

We are deep thinkers.... at 8:03 a.m. today, I had another excellent response to my e-mail from district staff - not just teachers, mind you, but everyone on staff in our organization with an email account including cooks, custodians, and paras got this e-mail.

Dear Karla,

Thank you for this article. It is a small view of the world gone mad in my opinion.

I heard on TV that the biological limit of food production of the earth is about 9 billion people and we would be eating everything is site. We are at 6 billion plus and we are heading to 12 billion. Some place between here and there a lot of this article will happen. I am beyond sad. Mathus was right.

Here is an article my nephew sent to me about government. You might like it. I did.

http://www.wimp.com/thegovernment/

Thanks for the article again.

It's imperative we are touching all our senses in educating for tomorrow. [karla's words]

Thanks for sharing. It is appreciated.

Passionate Teachers.....

I sent this out to our staff @ 7:30 p.m. and at 8:52 p.m. I had this message from a teacher. How wonderful and refreshing......

That was one of the most poignant stories I have had the pleasure of reading in a long time. I often try to explain this type of world to my students and they look at me with the same blank eyes. I am going to have my juniors read this tomorrow in class, and maybe somewhere later in their lives they will be richer for their exposure to such a moving and provocative story.
--Jonathan
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Dorris Lessing - On not winning the Nobel Prize

I am standing in a doorway looking through clouds of blowing dust to where I am told there is still uncut forest. Yesterday I drove through miles of stumps, and charred remains of fires where, in '56, there was the most wonderful forest I have ever seen, all now destroyed. People have to eat. They have to get fuel for fires.

I'm reminded of my own political science teachers in my rural community high school days. Knowing I turn the half-century mark this month, that is saying...I'm old.

Planning Meeting....

We're getting excited to get started with our new teachers in Laptop Initiative. Last night was our first time to really focus on the task at hand, our September 28th workshop. In the past, we have tried to push as much information as possible to our teachers during these monthly sessions creating overload and frustration. The discussion last night was about slowing down the amount of information and hovering longer over the applications in the iLife creative suite and our subscription based Web 2.0 apps. There is just so much to learn and explore, it's hard to know sometimes what to leave behind.

We reminisced about the 2004 & 2005 school years, when the district implemented "Focus Groups", and how it provided our Laptop teachers an extra day a month, most months, with time to work on creating new content for their classrooms as they were learning themselves. Focus Groups went away last year as NCLB reared it's ugly head and we've struggled with the time constraints ever since.

Nonetheless, our pioneering spirit propels us forward. Looking forward to leading and learning with technology!

A Sunday Event

This year, we started off the year jump-starting new teachers with two-half days of tech training with new MacBooks as we enter our fifth year of Teacher Laptop Initiative. Our yearlong p.d. initiative is always a learning adventure and a cause worthy of change.

I'm never sure how much this district initiative is talked about during the interview process, and I always wonder if communicating the vision is not always talked about. I think in that case its a communication breakdown.

I seem to have felt a little resistance in the reactions of some of our new teachers when we explained our programs guidelines during the training. A training program which in my mind has lead the charge for teachers in our district to use technology in their classroom in ways that connect with kids' learning. I've been thinking about the resistance, and finally today can explain why we meet once a month on a Sunday afternoon's and why it's worth all the sacrifice.

I think we looked at the time we gave up as three hours for ourselves. It was our personal learning time. It became an issue of when could I learn at higher levels, participate in conversations about education and change using technology, creating professional learning communities, and now reaping the benefits of professional social networks. It wasn't about being a bad Christian on one Sunday a month.

I won't lie, yes it was a sacrifice of our time but I think everyone will say they sacrificed the time for themselves and for the opportunity to participate and find growth and support in a professional learning community during the year.

I certainly hope my story is a true picture of what we try to accomplish out of the tech department with teaching and learning with technology.

2008 Teacher Laptop Initiative

We are excited to be welcoming 11 new teachers joining our professional learning community across our district! I know my lead tech team joins me in wanting to share with you, our passion for learning, studying, and questioning how we build sustainable community. Welcome!

Teachers have to answer the question, "What will I do to establish and communicate learning goals, track students progress, and celebrate success?" This is the path you walk on a daily basis.

Our hope is to give you the inspiration and tools to help you hook kids into learning.

Welcome to one of USD 352's professional learning communities! This list of resources I share here is the short list. Bookmarking and organization might come in handy this year.

• USD 352 Technology Vision Statement
• NETS for Teachers 2008
• Partnership for 21st Century Learning
• NETS for Students