(Almost) all our content from 2006 to 2017 is archived and available online under a Creative Commons license. Please read this post from June 2018 for more background and updates about our conference and current status.
K12 Online Conference » Blog Archives

Author Archives: Lani

2006- Pers Prof Development

Personal Professional Development”The 21st Century Educator’s toolbox: Developing a Professional Learning Environment”

Published by:

Julie Lindsay
Dhaka, Bangladesh
lindsay.julie@gmail.com
Blog: http://123elearning.blogspot.com/

Presentation Title
“The 21st Century Educator’s toolbox: Developing a Professional Learning Environment”

Bio
Julie Lindsay is Head of Technology and Director of E-Learning of International School Dhaka, Bangladesh. In 25 years of education her experience and qualifications have spanned four countries (including Australia, Zambia, and Kuwait) and two main curriculum areas (Music, ICT). She recently completed a MA in Educational Technology Leadership and is currently a member of the ISTE International Committee and the ICT curriculum specialist for ISTE’s Learning and Leading magazine. As an international educator Julie has a vision and a commitment to educational technology that includes fostering global citizenship and life long learning. She has presented at international conferences on digital literacy and Web2.0 objectives including blogging and podcasting, and is an exponent of online and one-to-one learning ideals in the classroom. Her personal blogs can be found at http://123elearning.blogspot.com/ and http://elgg.net/julielindsay/weblog
and online portfolio at http://julielindsay.wikispaces.com/

 

Description
A Professional Learning Environment (PLE) is a place or places on the Internet where learning and interaction with others takes place using available online tools. It is a collection of resources and tools specifically chosen by the individual to be used during the average working day and for recording or documenting the journey of learning professionally and also personally if desired.

Why set up a PLE?

  • Store pertinent information
  • Show professional development
  • Share personal experiences
  • Share resources: socialbookmarking, online images and multimedia files
  • Blog and interact
  • Collaborate with educators around the world

Every professional educator needs online spaces for portfolio development and fostering interaction and collaboration. This presentation will look at online tools that can be used to collate and present resources, to invite community interaction and contributions and to use as a platform for personal expression. It will take the perspective of the educator who has needs for storage of ideas and tools, self-promotion, collaboration and access to other educators online. Using freely available Web 2.0 tools every educator can develop a Professional Learning Environment to complement their educational objectives.

Visit the wiki link below and discover many Web 2.0 resources for developing a PLE and a chance to offer your opinion and thoughts about this topic.

Presentation
http://k12online.wm.edu/K12ToolBox_Lindsay_06.wmv

Supporting Link
http://julielindsay.wikispaces.com/k12online2006

2006- Pers Prof Development

Personal Professional Development”Home Grown: Within/Without the district”

Published by:

Mark Ahlness
Seattle, Washington, USA
Blog: http://ahlness.com/
http://roomtwelve.com/
http://arborheights.com/
http://earthdaybags.org/

Presentation Title
“Home Grown: Within/Without the district”

Bio
Mark is a third grade teacher at Arbor Heights Elementary School in Seattle, Washington, USA. In August of 1994 he started up his school’s web site, www.arborheights.com, one of the very first elementary schools to appear on the Internet. Also in 1994, he started The Earth Day Groceries Project, www.earthdaybags.org, one of the oldest and largest educational projects on the Internet. Mark is a strong advocate for safe student blogging at the elementary school level. His third graders at http://www.roomtwelve.com/ continue to set a standard for quality student writing in the web 2.0 world.

Description
This is a documentation of and a model for staff development in web 2.0 tools done by a classroom teacher. What makes this presentation unique is that it tracks an ongoing effort in staff training – taught within a school district, but without school district support. On his own, Mark is offering workshops monthly throughout the school year for his colleagues in his school and for anyone else in his school district. The sessions occur in the computer lab or in his third grade classroom. Also in the works are online workshops in the evenings, in real time. This presentation documents the first three offerings, from October of 2006, two in person and one online. The presentation is a wiki, with links to podcasts recorded during the actual workshops. Mark will continue to add his new presentations throughout the school year, and he encourages anyone doing similar work to add theirs as well.

Presentation
http://withinwithout.wikispaces.com/

Supporting Links
Overview – Navigation
http://withinwithout.wikispaces.com/Overview

Wiki Work
http://withinwithout.wikispaces.com/Wiki+Work

Using Classblogmeister
http://withinwithout.wikispaces.com/Using+Classblogmeister

SSD 2.0 Skypecast
http://withinwithout.wikispaces.com/SSD+2.0+Skypecast

Conclusion
http://withinwithout.wikispaces.com/Conclusion

Share
http://withinwithout.wikispaces.com/Share

Materials – Credits
http://withinwithout.wikispaces.com/Materials

2006- Pers Prof Development

Personal Professional Development”Around the World in 80 Minutes”

Published by:

Joseph Papaleo
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Blog: http://papajo.edublogs.org/
http://papajo.podomatic.com/

Presentation Title
“Around the World in 80 Minutes”

Bio
Joseph is a secondary Information Technology and Mathematics teacher, currently teaching at an independent school in Melbourne, Australia. He has been exploring the uses of blogs, wikis and blokis in his classes and plans to create screencasts for his students and make them available through podOmatic to upload via student’s iPods. Joseph has “explored” the concept of taking classes on International excursions through the use of Google Earth and Videoconferencing. While still in its infancy, the use of these technologies has already complemented his classes. Joseph is keen to “explore” new uses of GPS and mobile phone technology in education.

Description
Jules Verne’s “Around the World in 80 Days” was inspired by 19th century technological breakthroughs. In this presentation,Joseph takes a look at 20th/21st century technological breakthroughs and how they can be used to complement teaching practices in the 21st century.

Using Google Earth, the Google Earth community forums and Videoconference technology, this presentation will take you “Around the World in 80 Minutes” (NB presentation is approx 30 minutes).

Pack your toothbrush and join in the adventure.

Presentation
http://k12online.wm.edu/K12OC-AroundtheWorld/AroundtheWorld.html


Supporting Links

Reef Ed, Great Barrier Reef
Cairns, Queensland, Australia
Educational facility catering for k-12 and cross-curricular programs
Videoconference facility available
http://www.reefed.edu.au/reefhq/index.html

National Space Centre Education On-Line
Leicester, UK
Educational Space Program
Videoconference facility available
http://spacecentre.co.uk/education/outreach/videoconferencing.htm

Google Earth community forum
http://bbs.keyhole.com/

ICT in my Classroom – Tom Barrett’s blog
http://tbarrett.edublogs.org/

Tom Barrett’s Google Earth forum – UK Primary Curriculum
http://bbs.keyhole.com/ubb/showthreaded.php/Cat/0/Number/58519/page/1

Diverse 2006
http://elisu.gcal.ac.uk/diverse2006/

Read Around the Planet
http://www.twice.cc/read/

iEarn projects
http://www.iearn.org/projects/index.html

CILC: Center for Interactive Learning and Collaboration
http://www.cilc.org/

Videoconferencing for Learning
http://www.kn.att.com/wired/vidconf/vidconf.html

World Clock
http://www.qlock.com/

The World Clock – Time Zone Converter
http://timeanddate.com/worldclock/converter.html

Videoconferencing Out on a Lim
http://bcisdvcs.wordpress.com/

2006- Overcoming Obstacles

Overcoming Obstacles”Cultivating Digital Educators”

Published by:

Frieda Foxworth
Lexington, South Carolina, USA
Blog: http://friedafoxworth.edublogs.org/ 

Ron Bosch 
Lexington, South Carolina, USA
http://www.lexington1.net/rbe/21cc/index.html

John Geanangel
Lexington, South Carolina, USA
https://www.edline.net/pages/Red_Bank_Elementary_School/Instructional_Coaches/Technology_Coach_-_John_Geanan 

Presentation Title
“Cultivating Digital Educators”

Bio
Frieda Foxworth and Ron Bosch are fifth grade teachers at Red Bank Elementary School. They are partner teachers in a technology-enriched classroom. Their class, the 21st Century Classroom, was begun as a pilot program in their district in 2003. John Geanangel has been their Technology Integration Specialist since 2002. Their school now has 5 similar 2 to 1 computing classrooms in a program called Global Horizons. They have overcome many challenges and continue to work through new ones as they have worked to create a culture of digital educators. They have given presentations about our program at district, state, and national levels.

Description
How do you transform a traditional school environment into one where teachers effectively use technology for collaboration, curriculum development, instructional delivery, and student engagement? It doesn’t happen overnight, and many challenges must be overcome. Changes must be made in the pedagogical attitudes of both administrators and teachers. Necessary equipment must be secured within the realm of limited budgets. Educators must be transformed from lone workers on an island into contributing members of a collaborative community. Instructional practices must shift to keep pace with the daily changes occurring in the global digital world. This presentation will share how these obstacles have been overcome, and how transformation is taking place at one elementary school. Vision and leadership have paved the way for teachers to embrace radical change that is occurring through the taking of many ‘baby steps.’ Web 2.0 tools have played an important role in this process. A wiki was used to develop the Global Horizons Technology Initiative, a plan for creating classrooms committed to technology-integrated instructional practices. Wikis have also been used by teachers for grade-level collaborative planning and by students for writing stories online with a partner. Blogs are beginning to be used for staff development, as a parent communication tool, and for the delivery of some instructional activities. Students are learning to use a blog as a way to reflect on learning. A podcast will be used to make this presentation and will include samples of the solutions listed above.


Presentation

http://k12online.wm.edu/cde.m4v

2006- Overcoming Obstacles

Overcoming Obstacles”Internet Access with Minimal Filtering”

Published by:

Shawn Nutting
Trussville, Alabama, USA
Blog: http://vwnutt.blogspot.com/

Presentation Title
“Internet Access with Minimal Filtering”

Bio
Shawn has been involved with IT for over 16 years. Most of his expericnce comes from emerging software development companies. For almost two years now Shawn has been the Director of Technology for Trussville City Schools. He enjoys applying current technology in his schools. Shawn believes that Web 2.0 tools are essential in todays classroom.

Description
Parental and district concerns for internet safety is something that his school system invests a lot of time in. Internet filtering is an obvious key to this. Their basic level of internet safety was to install a filtering piece that maintains state and federal standards for K-12 internet safety. Their current product is very limiting. It blocks a lot of sites they would like to have open for teachers. They encourage and push teachers to use the 21st Century and Web 2.0 tools. This year they are changing products to allow them to be more customer service oriented. Teachers will have more freedom than ever with internet use in the classroom. A huge concern of their technical department is this freedom. Open internet access in the hands of a non-tech savvy teacher could do catastrophic political damage within their community. They invest a lot of time on professional development for their faculty and staff. They  also spend a lot of time with the Board of Education and City Council. In addition they have open forums with parents and bombard parents with information about their technology use within the classroom. After conversations with them, they walk away understanding the need for Web 2.0 in the classroom. They also have an open communication with teachers. Blocking or unblocking sites should only take a few hours, but no more than 24.

Presentation
http://k12online.wm.edu/K12Online_sn.mp4

2006- Pers Prof Development

Personal Professional Development”Social Bookmarking, Using Del.icio.us”

Published by:

Jeff Utecht
Shanghai, China
Blog: http://www.thethinkingstick.com/

Presentation Title
“Social Bookmarking, Using Del.icio.us”

Bio
Jeff Utecht is an international educator currently working in Shanghai, China. Prior to Shanghai, Jeff worked in Saudi Arabia and Washington State. Jeff received a Teacher Leadership Project grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in 2001 and his MS in Curriculum and Instruction with a focus on Technology in 2004. Jeff has presented at the Near East South Asia teacher’s conference and has been involved in staff development trainings for the past 6 years. Living and working within the international community has given Jeff first hand experience of the “flattening of our world.” From the wireless deserts of the Arabian Peninsula to the fast paced changes in mainland China, Jeff provides a global perspective on technology and education. At present, Jeff maintains several sites including saschinaonline.org, pudongnervecentral.com, and oversees the operation of teentek.com .

Description
Why save web sites to your computer where they can not be accessed by your students? Using a social bookmarking site such as del.icio.us teachers can bookmark web pages to be used in the classroom or for student to reference at home for homework. A screencast of using del.icio.us.

Presentation
http://k12online.wm.edu/delicious/delicious.html

Supporting Links
http://del.icio.us/
http://www.google.com/literacy/
http://www.netvibes.com/
http://www.bloglines.com/

2006- Pers Prof Development

Personal Professional Development”Not Just for Kids: Using Social Software to Create Community among Teachers and Provide Sustained Professional Development”

Published by:

Jeff Moore
Englishtown, New Jersey, USA

Presentation Title
“Not Just for Kids: Using Social Software to Create Community among Teachers and Provide Sustained Professional Development”

Bio
Jeff Moore is the Manager for Technology for the Freehold Regional High School District, a district of six high schools serving nearly twelve thousand students in Monmouth County, New Jersey, USA. He has facilitated professional development in his district and at regional conferences on social software and the integration of technology into lesson planning. Jeff also hosted ‘One Big Head’, one of the earliest educational technology podcasts, from the driver’s seat of his Toyota Matrix as he commuted on the New Jersey Turnpike.

Description
We assume that social software will be important to students as they wade into their post-secondary careers and education. In our discussions on how best to train students on the ethics and responsibilities of using social software, we sometimes forget that object lessons are often the best lessons. Schools can get a lot of mileage toward achieving organizational goals from social software tools, as well as provide an object lesson for students on the ethical and repsonsible use of such software.

In this presentation, Jeff Moore discusses his district’s efforts to offer sustained and individualized professional development to its staff. Speaking from the driver’s seat of his car, he describes:

  1. the use of local experts–innovative teachers who became a corps of Technology Facilitators
  2. the use of open source, social software tools in the Drupal (http://www.drupal.org/) content management system to create community among these experts and provide a resource for staff
  3. a new role for the educational technologist, that of software developer, arising from the development of a homegrown application to provide interactive professional development calendar, enrollment and tracking tools

Presentation
Http://k12online.wm.edu/Not_Just_for_Kids.mp3

Supporting Links
Drupal CMS
http://www.drupal.org/

Drupal’s Vote Up/Down Package
http://drupal.org/project/vote_up_down

Digg
http://www.digg.com/

the Freehold Regional High School District
http://www.frhsd.com/

the FRHSD Technology Integration Clearinghouse
http://www.frhsd.com/tic/

a Video Demonstration of the PD Tracker
http://intranet.frhsd.com/videos/PDTracker%20-%20Using.swf

Feel free to contact Jeff Moore at jmoore@frhsd.com.

2006- Pers Prof Development

Personal Professional Development”It’s a Small World After All!”

Published by:

Judy O’Connell
Sydney, Australia
Blog: http://heyjude.wordpress.com/

Presentation Title
“It’s a Small World After All!”

Bio
As an educator and information professional Judy is fascinated by emerging technologies, the development of Web 2.0, and what this all means for schools and school libraries. Currently, Judy serves as an Education Officer with Catholic Education working with 55 primary and 22 secondary schools in the Western region of Sydney.She is also Vice-President (Association Relations) of IASL, the International Association of School Librarianship.

Description
Judy shares her story and the story of her schools who are embarking on a new way of working with Web 2.0, to create a community of learners. It all began with blogging! She knew that blogs could have many uses in education as a way of sharing or managing information and promoting literacy and learning. She tells the story of how on one single “˜professional’ day her world turned right around. She knew she had to start blogging, and when Judy did it was the beginning of personal journey of innovation and leadership…and fun! Come discover how blogs really can be a highly effective medium for fostering a professional learning community and a personal learning environment. You too can go from no blog and no ideas, to working with a whole school system strategy for integration of Web 2.0 and blogging as an official tool for dialogue and communication.

Presentation

http://k12online.wm.edu/K12OnlineConferenceJudyOConnell.m4a
http://k12online.wm.edu/K12OnlineConferenceJudyOConnell.mov

2006- Overcoming Obstacles

Overcoming Obstacles”No Teacher Left Behind – The Urgency Of Web 2.0″

Published by:

Graham Wegner
Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
Blog: http://gwegner.edublogs.org/

Presentation Title
“No Teacher Left Behind – The Urgency Of Web 2.0”

Bio
Graham is an ICT Coordinator in a primary school in suburban Adelaide with a focus on inquiry based learning and interactive whiteboards. He sees that information literacy and Web 2.0 technologies go hand in hand and will have a significant impact on his role. As well as working with students who are comfortable in the digital world, his role also involves helping his colleagues come on board with the effective use of technology for learning in the classroom.

Description
The changing information landscape of the 21st Century demands that our students develop new skills of information literacy and become knowledge producers as an integral component of their learning. But what of the professionals charged with these students’ education? Can they be convinced of the need for personal change to keep pace with their students’ world? Are they even aware of the exponential changes taking place? How would they get started in their classrooms? This online presentation will explore some of the barriers faced by educators seeking to improve and influence their colleagues’ perceptions of the internet, and Web 2.0 in particular, as a vehicle for learning. It will pull together various resources that could be useful as starting points for discussion and explore some of the concerns and trepidations of average teachers struggling already with a heavy workload. This presentation will use a wiki as its base and seek to leverage the online Conference participants to help create some possible answers and resources for those of us who recognize the need for our colleagues to be at our sides, providing best practice for our digital age students.

Presentation
http://k12online.wm.edu/k12wegner.WMV
http://k12online.wm.edu/wegnerk12.mp4

Supporting Links
http://k12ntlb.wikispaces.com/

2006- Overcoming Obstacles

Overcoming Obstacles”Glow: Lighting Up Learning in Scotland”

Published by:

John Connell
Scotland, United Kingdom
Blog: http://www.johnconnell.co.uk/blog/

Presentation Title
“Glow: Lighting Up Learning in Scotland”

Bio
John was until recently Director of the Scottish Schools Digital Network, an ambitious programme of ICT and telecommunications developments for education in Scotland. The national schools’ intranet, known as Glow, will go live for every teacher and student in Scotland by Summer 07. He has now taken on the role of Learning Futures Strategist with the national education agency in this country, Learning and Teaching Scotland, to shape policy and strategy nationally on the use of ICT in education over the next few years.

Description
Some key interests in Scottish education recognized in 2002 that the Web would eventually become the primary platform for learning. The resulting Scottish Schools Digital Network is a national programme combining broadband infrastructure, content delivery network and a web-based learning platform, the aim of which is to integrate a comprehensive package of learning and collaborative tools for delivery through the browser.

Renamed Glow in anticipation of its imminent arrival in every school in the country, the programme will offer a virtual teaching and learning environment and a range of collaborative applications (video and audio conferencing, email, chat rooms, sms, virtual whiteboards, application sharing, threaded discussions, online interest groups) across the Web. This enables the service to be offered to every student and every teacher in the country no matter whether they use a PC, a Mac or a Linux computer, and no matter the particular network topology their school or local authority deploys.

With a national authentication system and national user directory at the core of the system, users will be able to build and manage their own interest groups, from a bunch of kids in a class to any sub-group across the country. It is a large nationally-driven programme, but one that devolves the power of the Web to the individual. The management of learning and collaboration will most definitely happen at the level of the individual teacher and learner. Glow is “˜the web as learning platform’ in action!

The presentation will be delivered by means of a podcast with slides.

Presentation
http://k12online.wm.edu/JConnell_Glow.mov