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Jul
1
Written by:
Instructional Technology
7/1/2008 10:16 AM
Oops. Started the morning off by going to the wrong session, but sometimes detours lead to interesting destinations. I had hoped to go to a Web 2.0 and Marzano’s instructional strategies class, but it was booked up 25 minutes before the session even began. I was interested in the Marzano class, as that is the premise that Brent Wilson and I are using for our IT 6515 class at the University of Colorado, Denver. Feel free to see our class work (and think about making a contribution via the discussion tab if you feel so inclined) at http://it6515sharedresources.wikispaces.com/ .
So instead, I wound up at a digital editing for elementary students session. It’s a bit heavy on the tool process, and perhaps glosses over the curriculum connections, but reminds me of something I heard at the TIE conference. There, the keynote speaker, Dr. Jason Ohler, defined literacy in a profound manner: Literacy is the ability to “write” in the medium in which one “reads.” In other words, we know how much video students take in—can they produce and publish in that medium?
It’s clear from this session that even 3rd graders are capable of writing in digital video mediums.
Earlier, we went to a keynote in which two Canadian teachers shared their remarkable stories of their 5th graders connecting on a global level with peers from Australia, Japan, the United States and other places. One of the most powerful experiences, however, involved connecting and collaborating with students from Sierra Leone. Here, students became so involved with their epals that the extended it to video conferencing, fundraising efforts, and ultimately, exchange visits. Hearing two compelling educators describe the passion and energy of their students for these projects was energizing and validating. By the way, it distinctly reminded me of the MAD (Making a Difference) program at Heritage High School.
Some resource links for educators looking for global connections:
http://www.takingitglobal.org/
http://www.iearn.org/index.html
www.epals.com
Next up, the always provocative Ian Jukes...
5 comment(s) so far...
Re: NECC Day Three (A)
If you are a digital native, like me, you probably remember the TV-evangelist Jimmy Swaggert. Even though he "fell from grace"--publically, on a national level, he was a lightning rod predecessor of the kind of speaker I just saw at the NECC, Ian Jukes, who was "preaching" about why educators need to seriously, and quickly, assess the current window of opportunity they have to adjust many practices and expertise to meet the digital generation, which is currently growing up in our schools, where their experiences exist, right now! This is what is happening on a national, international, and more public way than ever before in human history.
Wow! Enthralling, and scarey. As speaker David Warlick said on day two, the difference between the perspectives and assumptions of "immagrants" and "natives" only multiplies the usual generational gap in very real ways such as when he/I left High School, he/I said goodbye, maybe forever, to people I had been around for years, whereas graduates today just keep on connecting, as a matter of course; they will "expect" to stay connected to many more K-12 friends than any previous generation.
And then, Cheryl Lemke, Metiri Group, presented a compelling case for this same set of realities in our students, and the need to leverage the "new" research about this generations brains and how they work differently than most experienced think.
All these "evangilists" would like to push us, push us toward creating a new and compelling type of school experience that mirrors the kind of digital tools and social connectedness that have become, whether we like it or not, the way that kids, young adults, colleges, and companies are racing one another to evolve fast enough to remain compelling places to be in the twenty-first century.
By Kent Sauls on
7/1/2008 12:46 PM
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Re: NECC Day Three (A)
Today I have been to a few sessions, two not so good, informative but did not give me any new insights or Ah ha moments. But when I went to Will Richardson and Sheryl Nussbaum Beach's presentation about Professional development, I saw something that was immediately applicable to the PLC model that we have adopted at LPS.
One of the big complaints that I hear from teachers is that there is not enough, or too much time face to face. The not enough time folks say this because they feel that they have to many things to look at, data to analyze or common assessments to make and not enough time to do it all and talk about how to change their teaching practice. The too much time folks say that they need time to process and having two hours becomes not as productive because of the lack of process time.
Richardson and Nussbaum Beach advocate a system that has some face to face time, but adds collaboration in virtual modes in between so that the conversations are continuous and the work done is continuous. This would satisfy both of the sets of folks and their complaints.
I think their model is worthwhile to look at closer as we continue to implement PLCs. Check out www.plpnetwork.
By Chris Marchetti on
7/1/2008 2:08 PM
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Re: NECC Day Three (A)
I hope I am not opening a "can of worms", but I attended a TIE session last Wednesday on Discussion Boards that would do what these two presenters you saw are talking about. In fact, the "forum" can be set up off our individual school websites. I got lucky--as I was sitting next to Dan Maas in my session and he and Sharlyn were nice enough to help set it up that day. I plan to use it among our staff to extend conversation on topics we just don't get a chance to really dialog and get input from staff. We have set it up and will start in August by introducing it to staff with a "joke of the day" just so they get used to logging on the website more often. Enjoy the rest of sessions and that lovely Texas humidity index!
By Greg Sumlin on
7/1/2008 9:45 PM
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Re: NECC Day Three (A)
It is great to read these posts and to see the web 2.0 lifestyle growing among LPS staff. Thanks for jumping in!
By Dan Maas on
7/2/2008 6:32 AM
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Re: NECC Day Three (A)
Greg, you opening a can of worms?! Never! ;-) Great idea and I look forward to watching, contributing and learning.
By Mike Porter on
7/2/2008 7:12 AM
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