Instructional Technology News: Redefine the Possible

Library Media & Technology News You Can Use

Blended Learning Grant

We have a Federal Title II D grant to introduce online learning to our secondary students. TICT Cadre members will have the first opportunity to learn how to use the open source content management system Moodle and more importantly, learn the pedagogy needed to be a successful online teacher. The grant specifies that only a small portion of the course content be taught online to insure that all students have the opportunity to participate in the online experience. The goal is to prepare our learners to be successful in multiple learning environments. Online learning is prevalent in higher education institutions and increasingly in work place training programs. Details and will be shared  as they unfold...

Mega Conference: A Success Story

Principal Gretchen Peel provided the following summary of the Mega Conference Jr. :

Members of Mary Moran's 6th grade class served as VJ's (video jockeys) and presenters for the 2008 Megaconference Junior, an international video conference for students. We are extremely proud of them and I want you to know what an incredible honor this was.

216 schools from around the world watched or participated via video conferencing.

Only 25 schools were presenters. Three schools from Minnesota were chosen to do presentations: Cambridge-Isanti High School, French Immersion in St. Paul, and Edgewood Elementary. The other presenting schools were from 7 other countries and 9 other states.

Only 10 schools were chosen to have students be Video Jockeys. Two schools from Minnesota were Video Jockeys: Apple Valley and Edgewood. Edgewood was the only school to be both Video Jockeys and presenters.

Here is a link to the picture of our Video Jockey's:

http://www2.edutech.nodak.edu/megaconf/

Way to go Edgewood students and staff!

From my perspective,

The EW students were prepared, professional and did a tremendous job representing our school district! They demonstrated many of the 21st century competencies we identified in our Result Team work:
- collaboration
- teamwork
- content knowledge
- inventiveness
- technology expertise
... just to name a few

23things on a stick?

More than half of our Library Media Specialists are participating in this state sponsored Web 2.0 project.
What will they learn? A little bit more about Flickr, RSS feeds, Social Media like tagging and del.icio.us, just to name a few of those "things on a stick".  Stay tuned to learn more...

Comments are Welcome!

Technology News You Can Use

Video Conferencing and Internet II

Schools are ramping up their use of our video conferencing and Internet II technology to reach out to educational opportunities within our state and throughout the world. The LMSs, IM&T staff and Tech Management are collaborating to streamline connectivity procedures and, in fact, have a PLC devoted to learning how to use video conferencing to increase student learning.

Schools that have funds to purchase their own Polycom should order the following model to maximize connectivity efficiency:

·         Polycom VSX54oo System VSX 5400 Presenter: Incl. VSX 5000, 1 microphone array, Visual Concert VSX, People + Content IP, English remote.
$4,755 ORDER NO: 7200-22780-001

·         T2 Total Coverage Premier, One Year, VSX500 Series: includes next day parts, 24/7 technical support, software upgrades and updates.
$599.00 ORDER NO: 4870-00125-156

·         To read about this product online: www.polycom.com/siren14

Upcoming Internet II events:

Mega Conference Jr.: An Event For and By Students of the World: February 21. http://www.megaconferencejr.org/

Edgewood will host Monarch Jeopardy  live from 10:55 to 11:15  Central Time for the entire world of meagconference attendees.  They were also chosen to be VJ's (Video Jockey's or Anchors) and will be live to introduce "Cafe 2" at 11:45!

Recent Event:

Check Out this article about Osseo Jr. High: http://www.pressnews.com/articles/2008/01/31/osseo-maple_grove_press/news/ojhvideoconf.txt

Student Response System (clickers) Bake- off March 11
Thinking about investing in a student response system? Please hold the requisition until after March 11! The TICTs are holding a bake-off to determine which products will best serve student needs and integrate with our technology infrastructure. More to come on this one…

Worried about your old TVs in 2009?
Thanks to the detective work of our own Rob Sturdy, we have uncovered the following: U.S.communications regulators approved a new FCC requirement. Cable Companies will have to carry the broadcast channels in digital form and also convert it to analog viewers with analog sets. http://www.reuters.com/article/mediaNews/idUSN1145167220070912

21st Century Learning

I thought I was going to Coffman Union at the U of M this week to attend a lecture and have lunch with Harvard Professor Christopher Dede. Scott McLeod was also lecturing and futurist Arthur Harkins was our host. McLeod and Harkins greeted me and I grabbed lunch to wait for Dede to appear. And appear he did - on the screen at the end of the table, sitting in his office at Harvard. It is no longer necessary to add, “Dede via teleconference” in a 21st Century Classroom!

Dede shared research findings about the power of learning through video gaming, which has become the quality world of many students. As a media specialist, I spent years reinforcing the vocabulary of my colleagues and students by stressing, “We do not PLAY on the computers, we WORK on them. We use computers for LEARNING!” After learning about the research Dede and others have done I am beginning to come around to the suggestion well built games can become powerful learning tools.

What I learned from Dede will be in the NEXT edition of this Blog. The point that Dede and McLeod were making this day was, that as educators, we need to bring what we teach, (content) and how we teach (methods) into the 21st century.
McLeod shared this week’s edition of TIME Magazine, How to Bring Our Schools Out of the 20th Century with us and I would like to invite you to read it as well:
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/printout/0,8816,1568480,00.html

NOTE: you will need to become a "visitor" to view the article - the Hitachi commercial is not bad - and we maintain copyright law.

Your comments are welcome!

What's In? What's Out?

Dear Principals,

I appreciate the phone calls from some of you asking me for ideas on how to invest your discretionary/grant funds on technology purchases. Your forward thinking prompts me to share some key points of our conversations with others.
The following is for your consideration:

What is OUT

TVs: With a mounted data video projector the cable/TV connection is wired in – students may view the TV on a “large-screen”. PLUS – we may have spare TV’s hanging around if you really need one!

Data drops: If you need a bunch - or you are requesting them where people gather– consider a wireless transmitter.

DVD players: New computers have DVD players built right in – consider purchasing a few data video projectors rather than a DVD player – teachers can hook up the data video projector to a computer and Voila! - Large screen viewing!

Buying a bunch of technology without a plan for training: The rule of thumb has not changed in 15 years. We should invest 30% of our dollars on technology on staff development. If you have the opportunity to buy a lot of stuff – use 30% of the funds to provide training to effectively use the technology.

What is IN: (something for every budget)

Smart Boards: A big chunk of change – but there are SO many interactive uses! - We are providing training and Smart Board has a trainer as well. Teachers who are using this are VERY impressed.

Document Cameras: With training and connection to a computer - the Doc Camera creates a lab setting for the entire class. It also promotes students engagement - students may share their work, their knowledge and their presentation skill, plus look at a real live bug in the process.

Data Video Projectors: Connected to a Computer – the large screen engages students. With a wireless keyboard, students become the teachers as well as the learners. Video is on a wide screen – the list goes on.

Inexpensive digital cameras: ($100/ea) – the Teen TV crew did a great project several years ago – they gave the kids cameras and a theme – the result was a documentary – produced using iMovie (or Movie Maker). What did the students learn? - Individual expression – each with their own camera – team building & cooperation– taking some of each of their pictures- In their world, life long learning skills: Video production: scripting, editing, etc.

The list could go on – Dale Carlstrom has the current district specifications for items of interest.
Please do not hesitate to call with your ideas.

The Learning Curve is a "J"

Hello everyone!

Susan sent principals an email from our friend Scott McLeod inviting them to join his “100 principal Blogs in 100 days” campaign. If you are a principal, you might want to take another look at his invitation:

CASTLE is looking for some principals who want to experiment with this new communication medium. Participants will be provided with a free Blog and will receive ongoing support as they integrate their blogs into existing communication strategies. If you know a principal who might be interested, please pass this message along. More information about the Principal Blogging Project is available here:

www.dangerouslyirrelevant.org/2006/10/100_principal_b.html

If not… KEEP reading! There is information for YOU as well!

This Blog entry was originally created on: http://www.blogger.com. --- and I am learning as I go! If you would like some help setting up your own Blog, remember, I am a beginner, but I will give you my best shot.

How am I going to use this?

For years I have been wanting to provide you with the “crème de la crème’ (where is my French speaking daughter when I need her!) of technology news. I needed a "newsletter" that I could do anytime - anyplace. Webpage’s are great – but they just “sit” there – waiting for a visitor to find them. A Blog is the same, unless you “push” it out – BUT the cool thing is that I can push this out, via email and create it without knowing HTML and I do not need complicated software or lengthly trainings.

My goal is to send you technology news you can use – and to stretch our collective imaginations. Please let me know what you think: finsnessl@district279.org

Lisa