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!
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Sunday, August 17, 2008
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.
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.
Monday, August 11, 2008
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
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
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
The Pioneering Spirit & Chivalry
Pioneering Spirit & Chivalry....has it disappeared?
It seems these days, as my children grow older, I find myself once again in the midst of God's little wonders, a new grand baby and a new day care. It's become clear how important the development of our babies and toddlers brains and bodies are. They consume everything around them like little scientists and explorers and thrive on love. They are innocent, completely dependent, amazing creatures...exploring all faucets of their environment. Do we foster that kind of learning and passion in our students?
Love. Is it missing from the home?
It's alarming to me to recognize the social issues our communities are plagued with... and it threatens the most innocent.... our children.
We need only look around the corners of the paths we take to work and see the signs of neglect all around us.
I am not blaming ... just trying to uncover the answers to questions.
How do we bridge the gap that so clearly exists?
It seems these days, as my children grow older, I find myself once again in the midst of God's little wonders, a new grand baby and a new day care. It's become clear how important the development of our babies and toddlers brains and bodies are. They consume everything around them like little scientists and explorers and thrive on love. They are innocent, completely dependent, amazing creatures...exploring all faucets of their environment. Do we foster that kind of learning and passion in our students?
Love. Is it missing from the home?
It's alarming to me to recognize the social issues our communities are plagued with... and it threatens the most innocent.... our children.
We need only look around the corners of the paths we take to work and see the signs of neglect all around us.
- Cultural Poverty
- Apathy
- Debt
- Lottery Gambling
- Broken-down Neighborhoods
- Accountability Issues
I am not blaming ... just trying to uncover the answers to questions.
How do we bridge the gap that so clearly exists?
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Laptop Focus on Professional Development
This is one of those rough drafts I've been storing since 1/20/08. Figured I've said plenty of weird things by this time that I'll just let this one go out. For any blaring "English" issues please email me off list and I'll consider revising.
Today is July 13, 2008. I've been thinking deeply about my family, god, and the millions of Americans who do not know the cost of freedom! Oh, yes, I've been filling up on the Dave Ramsey podcast as well!
cheers!
-------------------------------
It's mid-year
Custom coloring pages for T-1 students. How does technology change the way you do a project? What is the added value, the higher-order thinking that you can't get without the technology?
CommunityWalk - 3rd grade (personal learning maps) might use it with the great mail race writing project.
PowerTyping.com - 5th grade (in place of MavisBeacon)
Quizlet - MusicTechTeacher.com from middle school band teacher.
ThatQuiz.com - new high school math teacher - will use to address students failure on state assessments in specific areas
iShow - new high school are teacher record his lecture to play back to students. CBModelPro - was impressed with this as a teaching tool to help them understand how to manipulate 3D objects for Jr. high/elementary students. Uses TubeTV a BUNCH. Something he uses ALL the time from Wesley Fryer's presentation! Big user of TeacherTube and YouTube for teaching his students in art classes.
GoogleBooks.com - Speech Pathologist finds it hard to use a lot of the tools we're been looking at. Didn't even realize it existed.
Skitch - didn't realize she could install the application on her computer (missed the .mov info) but she thought this might be something she could use with students
ZamZar.com - Our high school media specialist says she uses this online application on a daily basis primarily for converting word documents for students from home to school.
Cyberchase.org is also one she uses with her 2nd grader for math concepts...very cool idea place.
Today is July 13, 2008. I've been thinking deeply about my family, god, and the millions of Americans who do not know the cost of freedom! Oh, yes, I've been filling up on the Dave Ramsey podcast as well!
cheers!
-------------------------------
It's mid-year
Custom coloring pages for T-1 students. How does technology change the way you do a project? What is the added value, the higher-order thinking that you can't get without the technology?
CommunityWalk - 3rd grade (personal learning maps) might use it with the great mail race writing project.
PowerTyping.com - 5th grade (in place of MavisBeacon)
Quizlet - MusicTechTeacher.com from middle school band teacher.
ThatQuiz.com - new high school math teacher - will use to address students failure on state assessments in specific areas
iShow - new high school are teacher record his lecture to play back to students. CBModelPro - was impressed with this as a teaching tool to help them understand how to manipulate 3D objects for Jr. high/elementary students. Uses TubeTV a BUNCH. Something he uses ALL the time from Wesley Fryer's presentation! Big user of TeacherTube and YouTube for teaching his students in art classes.
GoogleBooks.com - Speech Pathologist finds it hard to use a lot of the tools we're been looking at. Didn't even realize it existed.
Skitch - didn't realize she could install the application on her computer (missed the .mov info) but she thought this might be something she could use with students
ZamZar.com - Our high school media specialist says she uses this online application on a daily basis primarily for converting word documents for students from home to school.
Cyberchase.org is also one she uses with her 2nd grader for math concepts...very cool idea place.
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Open Learning....
This is a copy of the email I sent to the participants of one of our Summer Institutes held in 2007, June. Please feel free to comment.
When can we bring together a collaborative group who wants to work on, learn about, and discuss the same tool(s), pedagogy, and educational philosophies in the world today? I'm looking for suggestions or comments from YOU, the user/learner/teacher.
Sunday afternoons for a 3 hour workshop, once a month works for me. I've kind of gotten used to that schedule over the past 3 years :) A Saturday afternoon might work as well but not my first choice.
If you would be interested in "being present", teaching, or just learning amongst others, I'm up for some extra-curricular activities at the Tech Building and I would be glad to help host this as a focus over the next 4 months. You all have your book. AND I have 9 extras and would open up 9 spots to those committed to the task.
Before I send out my note to the other Laptoppers, I wanted to solicit some feedback from you first. Thoughts??? Interest or no interest? Blog your thoughts here!
Topics (chapters) in Will's book include:
The Read/Write Web
Weblogs: Pedagogy and Practice
Weblogs: Get Started!
Wikis: Easy Collaboration for All
RSS: The New Killer App for Educators
The Social Web: Learning Together
Fun With Flickr: Creating, Publishing, and Using Images Online
Podcasting
What It all Means (New Literacies - The Big Shifts - Just the Beginning
When can we bring together a collaborative group who wants to work on, learn about, and discuss the same tool(s), pedagogy, and educational philosophies in the world today? I'm looking for suggestions or comments from YOU, the user/learner/teacher.
Sunday afternoons for a 3 hour workshop, once a month works for me. I've kind of gotten used to that schedule over the past 3 years :) A Saturday afternoon might work as well but not my first choice.
If you would be interested in "being present", teaching, or just learning amongst others, I'm up for some extra-curricular activities at the Tech Building and I would be glad to help host this as a focus over the next 4 months. You all have your book. AND I have 9 extras and would open up 9 spots to those committed to the task.
Before I send out my note to the other Laptoppers, I wanted to solicit some feedback from you first. Thoughts??? Interest or no interest? Blog your thoughts here!
Topics (chapters) in Will's book include:
The Read/Write Web
Weblogs: Pedagogy and Practice
Weblogs: Get Started!
Wikis: Easy Collaboration for All
RSS: The New Killer App for Educators
The Social Web: Learning Together
Fun With Flickr: Creating, Publishing, and Using Images Online
Podcasting
What It all Means (New Literacies - The Big Shifts - Just the Beginning
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Thinking more about P.D.
I'm at the end of listening to Wesley Fryer's "Moving at the Speed of Creativity", Podcast 200: Moving Beyond the Fear Factor With Internet Safety. A must listen for all educators, in my humble opinion. Wesley reiterates what I've learned through Kal-Tech, journal articles, and the books I continue to read ..... that we must "cultivate" the leaders we need ... the teacher-leaders we need! Here's a clip of what Wesley is speaking about:
"Can change happen from the bottom up?" I used to emphatically say YES! What has become clear to me is my answer today ... "only when it hits critical mass". How much farther is critical mass?
"Leadership has got to be inspired ... visionary. We need change agents. We need transformational leaders. Are these folks hard to come by? Yes they are, but we must "cultivate" them. We must cultivate the leaders we need, because THAT, more than anything else, makes or breaks any innovation that your going to try in schools."This paragraph describes how I have felt about our teacher laptop initiative from it's infancy. That it was/is about building relationships and cultivating leaders...creating change agents. We can't just do this by learning/teaching/showing the technology and it's tools. It's still more about pedagogy and shifting of paradigms. It's about learning to unlearn. It's hard work and it takes more effort than a 1/2 day Focus Group can provide 6 times a year.
"Can change happen from the bottom up?" I used to emphatically say YES! What has become clear to me is my answer today ... "only when it hits critical mass". How much farther is critical mass?
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