Point A to Point B

Category: Conferences

  • Video is Hot

    Reflecting back on one of my predictions for this year, video IS hot. As NYSCATE continued, I heard from many different people about how excellent projects involved video. In a session I attended presented by Apple Distinguished Educator Carol LaRow titled Exemplary Student Technology Projects, ALL of the projects had video as the product.

    Video is a powerful medium – and the reason it is a great learning tool is because it forcesvideostudio.jpg the creators to perform their knowledge, not just recall it. It is harder to manage video projects, the learning is messy, but it is so worthwhile. The tools for great video production arrived a few years ago, and we are finally starting to see the possibilities come to life.

    Image: “Attic studio: Enough Computing Power?” by moriza, via Flickr

  • Why I Come (revisited)

    In my post from yesterday, I talked about why I come to conferences – to hopefully see and hear from the leaders and visionaries I would not normally get the opprotunity to see. Today I had the opportunity to be in with Will Richardson for 3 different presentations.

    One of the great things about blogging is that you get to know people you have never met face-to-face. I’ve been reading Will’s blog for a couple of years now, following his path and listening to what he has to say. Today was the first time I ever saw him live, but since I’ve been reading/listening to him for a while, it was like seeing an old friend again, rather than a new face. Thanks, Will, for some great conversation and ideas.

    Of the sessions he did today, the one I enjoyed most was titled “From Information Literacy to Information Leadership.” He spent time sharing how he tackles the information/learning landscape on a daily basis. He made his daily routine transparent so we could see how he learns and utilizes web 2.0 tools to locate, assess, manage, and share information. It affirmed some of the practices I have gotten into as well. One of the points he made is that in this new information landscape, it takes time to do all this reading/writing. Something has to go to make the time – for him he said reading books is one thing that is happening much less. For me at first I could not figure out what I gave up, because I do spend time reading/writing on the web now, and see its importance. But it just hit me what it was – TV. A couple of years ago my wife and I made a conscious decision to give up cable TV (but kept the cable modem…), mainly because of the ridiculous price we were paying when all we really watched was 1 or 2 channels. I totally missed that we gave it up, because the web 2.0 tools snuck right in and took the time. Much less vegging, but more rewarding use of time as far as I’m concerned.

    The other thing that was great about that last session is that it helped me to clarify what I believe is the best way to approach web 2.0 with people who are new to the concept…but that’s for the next post.

  • School 2.0

    Tim Magner, Director of the Office of Educational Technology at the US Department of Education spoke today about the recenlty released vision for ed tech, titled School 2.0. It is a fascinating, detailed map about the direction that schools should take to meet the needs of society in this time of rapid technology change. This was my first exposure to the map – there is a large one in the lobby on the floor to look at and walk around on, and one on display, with post-its available where anyone can provide feedback on its content. Check it out at school2-0.org. I’m wondering how we might incorporate this map into the planning we do in Technology Committee when we review/revise our 5 year technology plan.

    School20.jpg

  • Why I Come

    ifeel1.gifGoing to conferences can be a challenge from the standpoint of there being so much to do or learn. I have always tried to focus on going to sessions or workshops that are run by national leaders or visionaries – the types of people you don’t get to interact with everyday. Peter Reynolds is just such a person, and having the opportunity to spend a day with him Sunday was fabuluous. His message is unbelievably simple, and unbelievably opposite of what our education system is today – focus on the people and foster their creativity. All the rest will come from that.

    I attended this session looking to help re-focus what should be important in our work, and that is just what happened. We spent some of the day making different items in order to explore our own creativity. It was a nurturing, relaxing, warm environment. So much of what happens in school is hard, fast, and stressed. Too little time to study for too many tests – forget about the needs of the people in the school – no time for that.

    Peter was an inspiring, motivating person to work with (along with Bill and Katie). I believe we could benefit a lot from bringing his message to our school. For character development, creativity, and focus on the people, the mission of Fablevision fits directly into our work at school.

    teamwork.gif

    Images courtesy of Peter Reynolds/Fablevision (www.fablevision.com)

  • A School is People Learning

    Having just finished the morning portion of a full day with Peter Reynolds (www.fablevision.com), the title above summarizes the inspiring morning I had. Albeit simple and basic, it sums up why we are here, in priority order. The fist priority in school is (should be) people. People (students, staff) need to be cared about first – then the door is opened to learning. All of us have stories about their favorite teacher – and invariably the connection starts with how that teacher connected with us as a person, then helped us to grow.

    Peter is an author / illustrator with an incredible creative flair. By his own descritption he is unrealistically optimistic – something we really need in education. He shared many of his own works (more on that later) and works of those that inspire him. The bottom line is that his vision for any person (not just kids in school) is to unlock what their strength is and capitalize on it. His own story is his 7th grade math teacher saw his constant need to doodle during class as an opportunity to help him find his calling – media and filmmaking and technology. What an eye-opener that the subject (math – something he is not so good at to this day) had very little to do with the connection the teacher made to helping him find himself. The math teacher asked him to draw the mathematical concepts they were learning and teach it to other students. His world opened up from there.

    In this crazy, silly, constrained world of standards, tests, and more tests, how are we going to find the time to do what matters?

    Looking forward to the afternoon session!

  • NYSCATE 2006

    NYSCATE LogoThe annual state computer technology conference begins today in Rochester. Sponsored by NYSCATE (New York State Association for Computers and Technologies in Education), this years theme is Learning & Leading – Enhanced Through Technology. Tomorrow (Sunday) I am spending the day with the creator of Fablevision.com, Peter Reynolds. The title of his workshop is The Creative Journey. I know of his work just a little bit – I’m looking forward to some rejuvenation and new thinking. The main part of the conference is Sunday night, Monday and Tuesday. I’ve already started to choose what I want to go to. I plan to post thoughts/reviews/comments here as the conference progresses.

  • Summer Haiku

    Welcome back, everyone! I’d love to hear how your summer was – so let’s try it in the form of ahaiku haiku. I’ve read up on haiku a little, and the “rules” for them are not set in stone – but typically one is set with 5 syllables, 7 syllables, and then 5 syllables in 3 lines, along with a reference to the season. Here are some from me:

    Teachers get the time to be learners in the summer – I had a great opportunity to go to Calgary, Alberta to learn in-depth about SMART Boards:

    Learning is so sweet
    Water the brain with knowledge
    Sunny Calgary

    It is also a time for teaching – I taught two workshops with Mrs. Calandra on Internet Safety, and one on SMART Boards:

    Time to surf and play
    Keep those predators away
    Use your brain always

    But the best part of summer was with my family – my kids are 3 and 1 – time with them is awesome:

    Warm sunny hazy
    Children laughing on the swing
    Lazy summer days

    So, I’d like to hear from you! How was your summer – leave a summer haiku here in the comments.

    Image citation:
    Elijah. �haiku.� Flickr.� 4 Sept. 2006 http://flickr.com/photos/evdg/973981/.

  • eThemes

    Looking for quality web resources for your classroom? I was introduced to another free online resource called eThemes. It is teacher-reviewed, kid-appropriate web content based around over 900 different themes, or topics. The site, and themes, are maintained by an outstanding program called eMINTS, based in Missouri.

    This is a site for teachers to go to and find resources for their students.

    Check it out at www.emints.org/ethemes/index.shtml

  • Day 4 Theme

    This one was easier to come up with as I spent my last half day at the Technology Leadership Forum sponsored by ISTE. The theme for day 4 was:

    Vision

    There are 11 essential conditions a district must have for successful technology implementation. Those 11 conditions are:
    -Shared Vision
    -Equitable Access
    -Skilled Personnel
    -Professional Development
    -Technical Assistance
    -Content Standars and Curriculum Resources
    -Student-Centered Learning
    -Assessment and Accountability
    -Community Support
    -Support Policies
    -External Conditions

    The focus of this forum was on developing a shared vision. Without a shared vision of technology, shared by ALL stakeholders, it is impossible to move forward with a technology plan that will succeed.

  • Day 3 Theme

    A lot went on for me in day 3, but if I have to boil it down into a theme, it would be:

    The Future

    The day started with a keynote by futurist & author Joel Baker, who spoke on his book (and theory) Five Regions of the Future. I then spent some time looking at the state of Internet2 (see other entry on this), and also time at a great forum on what districts and technology directors need to do to support & drive education technology. Toss in a bit of time on graduate programs and what’s new in art and music technology, and what you have is a great day looking at the future.

    The future looks bright for educational technology, and I’m excited!