Category Archives: 2006- Pers Prof Development

Rob Lucas
Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
Blog: http://teacherslounge.typepad.com/
http://teachforward.org/

Kevin Driscoll
Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
http://kevindriscoll.info/

Presentation Title
“Toward a System for Online Curriculum-Sharing ”

Bios
Rob Lucas taught 6th grade social studies for two years in North Carolina. While teaching, he created a lesson-sharing wiki called the Teachers’ Lounge. He spent last year earning a master’s in Technology, Innovation, and Education at Harvard’s Graduate School of Education. While there, he was an inaugural recipient of the Reynolds Fellowship in Social Entrepreneurship and developed a plan for a new nonprofit lesson sharing site called TeachForward.

Kevin Driscoll is a computer science teacher at Prospect Hill Academy Charter School in Cambridge, MA. In the classroom, he teaches an original curriculum for grades 6-12 with emphasis on identity, community-building, cut’n’paste cultural production, free software, literacy, and independent learning. Kevin has experimented with wiki-based curriculum sharing at his school and is the lead developer of TeachForward. Along with this work, he is a hip-hop DJ and intimate collaborator with Internet-based artist Claire Chanel.

Description
Each year, the world’s teachers plan millions of great lessons. But after they’re taught, nearly all of them end up in dusty filing cabinets, never to be seen by another soul. Teachers are currently unable to build upon the best work of colleagues around the globe. Social web technologies hold promise for addressing this need, but current systems of online lesson-sharing are inadequate. Teachers struggle to find resources that are of high quality and appropriate for their grade level, subject, topic, teaching style, and local context. This presentation reviews previous lesson-sharing efforts and then presents a few key difficulties of curriculum sharing, our own preliminary answers, and the ways we’re applying them in our new site, TeachForward.

This presentation includes a podcast and a PowerPoint slideshow. It’s best to download both, listen to the podcast, and advance the slideshow when you hear the beep. However, the podcast should make sense without the slides, and if you’d prefer just to read, there’s text in the ‘notes’ section of the PowerPoint to guide you through.

Presentation
http://k12online.wm.edu/SystemOnlineCurriculumSharing.ppt
http://k12online.wm.edu/lucasdriscoll_k12conf.mp3

Chris Lehmann
Philadelphia, PA
Blog: http://www.practicaltheory.org/serendipity

Marcie Hull
Philadelphia, PA
Blog: http://ecram3.blogspot.com/

Presentation Title
“Planning the 21st Century School”

Bio (Chris Lehman)
Chris Lehmann is the founding principal of the Science Leadership Academy, a progressive science and technology high school in Philadelphia, PA. Chris has returned to his native Philadelphia after nine years as the Technology Coordinator at the Beacon School in New York City, one of the leading urban public schools for technology integration. In 2001, Chris was honored by MOUSE (http://www.mouse.org)/ as a Champion of Technology and Education for his work on building the portal at the Beacon School. Chris has spoken at educational technology conferences all over the world, including the International Conference on Technology and Education in 1998 in Edinburgh, Scotland and at LinuxWorld 2000 in San Jose, California. Chris received his B.A. in English Literature from the University of Pennsylvania and his M.A. in English Education from Teachers College, Columbia University.

Bio (Marcie Hull)
Marcie is the Technology Coordinator, fine arts teacher and technology teacher for the Science Leadership Academy (SLA), in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She received her fine arts training along with obtaining her K-12 art teaching certificate and art history minor at Temple’s, Tyler School of Art. A year spent in Italy after college gained her more experience with paint and paining techniques. Marcie returned home and began working for the School District of Philadelphia in 2000. She quickly became a Technology Teacher Leader and developed a reputation as a proponent for technology development in her school for teachers and students. She was able to finish her masters for Technology in Education at Rosemont College in a year and a half. During this time Marcie also obtained a K-12 Pennsylvania Business Technology certification. She went on to become an adjunct professor for Rosemont College, in their Technology in Education Department. Last spring in 2006 Marcie was hired and became part of the founding staff of SLA. She currently writes a blog located at www.ecram3.blogspot.com, where she reflects upon the development of SLA and posts her thoughts and opinions about trends in education.

Description
In this presentation, Principal Chris Lehmann and Technology Coordinator Marcie Hull of the Science Leadership Academy talk with many of the founding members of the Science Leadership Academy, a new inquiry-driven, project-based science and technology high school in Philadelphia. The founding teachers spent seven months planning on and off-line to create curriculum that would take advantage of the progressive pedagogy and 1:1 laptop environment. Now in its first year, The SLA faculty is working to merge progressive, project-oriented pedagogy with 21st Century tools to create a unique opportunity for students in Philadelphia. The school uses moodle and elgg and other open source tools to create its web portal as well as borrowing many of the best teaching practices of the small schools movement, such as longer classes, essential questions and project-based learning to take the greatest advantage of the new technologies. One of the more unique pieces of the SLA planning process is that so much of it did happen online. The faculty spent all spring using a ‘course’ in moodle as its planning tool, meeting in weekly chat sessions, posting curriculum documents and collaborating in discussion forums to create a thirty-page curriculum guide that formed the backbone of the summer planning project. The faculty used the planning process as the conduit for learning how to use moodle, seeing first hand the power that it could have and therefore making it much easier to plan to use it in their own classrooms.

Presentation
http://k12online.wm.edu/School2.0.2.mov

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

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

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/

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/

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.

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