Friday, October 17, 2008

Film Festival as a Springboard to Systemic Instructional Change

Dr. Tim Tyson

What is your point?

Where is the emotional connection?

Do today's students write? Book report vs. screenplay

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Digital Portfolios with Barbara Greenstone

Digital Portfolios

K-12 if server is available.
student can add to portfolios throughout his/her education

Progress portfolios- how have I grown over time

Exhibition portfolios- best work

Assessment portfolios- can be used to provide proof of mastery (MLR)

Professional portfolios for teachers
include audio and video, images, documents

No need to print...save a tree or thousands of dollars in a tight economic climate.

What is a 21st Century student?

What does the business community have to say? Will they say it to district leadership? Will they say it to the school board? What skills do students need to succeed in work or continuing education?

What is the vision? Is it clear? Does the leadership support it in tangible ways?

Is there community support? What does the PTA say? What does the Chamber of Commerce say? How do students use technology outside of the classroom?

55 industry sectors using technology: K-12 education is #55.

5 Essential Skills for Tech Leaders or Nine

Leadership and Vision: big-picture tied to mission
Planning and Budgeting:
Team Building and Staffing
Systems Management
Information Management
Business Leadership
Education and Training
Ethics and Policies
Communication Systems



Vision
Influence
Execution

Crisis Preparedness

What is the plan?

Worst case scenario is no plan...

Don't be smug; it can happen to you.

Backup, redundancy, data recovery

Alternate email address for each staff member...what if fivetowns.net goes down?

If an insurance claim is needed...what is needed for documentation? What do insurance companies require? Who are critical personnel and who backs them up?

Identity theft, protection of privacy, changing passwords regularly.

Shift Happens

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljbI-363A2Q

www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMcfrLYDm2U

CoSN Changing to Learn, Learning to Change- PSA video

Action Steps for Leaders and Financial Analysis Tools

Use tech yourself
Get professional development



Taking Total Cost of Ownership to the classroom
www.classroomtco.org

Value of Investment
www.edtechvoi.org

K-12 Open Technologies
www.k12opentech.org

Data-driven decision making
www.3d2know.org

Cyber Security for Digital District
www.securedistrict.org

Small District Technology Leadership
www.cosn.org/wiki

Green Computing

Leadership, Policy, & Innovation
www.k12schoolnetworking.org

Workforce Readiness

Oct 2006

Most important skills (business leader survey)

Work Ethic
Collaboration
Good Communication
Social Responsibility
Critical Thinking/ Problem Solving

Why Raise the Bar with 21st Century Skills

Are US students keeping up with Int'l peers?

Concern that US grads are not ready for work or higher ed

Need to improve rigor and relevance for all students

Support for new knowledge/skills not covered by core subjects/high stakes tests/ NCLB

Opening

CoSN presentation

9:15 am Research supporting use of technology in education. UK four-year study: Personalized learning through tech is the goal and key to educational improvement.

Cisco study in US: With appropriate vision and adequate prof development, tech can be a powerful, transformative tool.
www.cisco.com/web/strategy/docs/education/technologyinschoolsreport.pdf

9:20 63% of teachers say their tech skills are somewhat advanced or higher.
Most use tech for email and research not changing teaching. CDW-G Teachers Talk Tech survey 2006.

Macro trends in education...

US student survey: schools not keeping up with rich technology being used outside of school
www.tomorrow.org/speakup/speakup_reports.html

Often technology is blocked in schools...cell phones, IM, school email, youTube.

9:25 Nordic Countries survey

ICT postive impact 30% teachers confident in use, use often, collaborative, experimental and project based. Supports content and pedagogy.

Macro level: in most classrooms ICT is not integral and is used around the margins.

Economist Robert solow: tech in business had no or negative impact in the 80's

In 90's business reengineered processes and used tech for transformation. Productivity increased. Wal-Mart as an example...purchasing models, data from customers, tracking, shipping. Amazon.com can now sell virtually all books in print without having to stock.

9:30 Conclusions:
Leadership and Vision matters
Rethinking pedagogoy is essential.

Technlogy waves:
1st: Infrastructure...networking, computers, software, bandwidth: essential, but starting point
2nd: Supportive and Enabling Applications: automate processes; make education efficient and effective; improve access to content; essential but don't change traditional paradigms
3rd: Transformative Applications: fully integrating technology into every aspect of education - standards, curriculum, pedagogy, professional development leadership, administration, etc ICT is not a stand alone

Federal EETT Funding for technology downward trend...

9:40 Emphasis on 21st century skills: collaboration, creativity, critical thinking

Dear Next President PSA
Print and radio campaign
www.onegiantleapforkids.org

Educators "Essential Skills"
Wallace foundation: Leadership provides critical bridge between most ed reform initiatives. Leadership is second only to classroom instruction in making a tangible difference for students.

What to do if the 'boss' doesn't get it? www.superintendentempower.org
How has the world changes? How should education and our district change? What is the sup't role?
Themes: raise the bar with 21st century skills
transform pedagogy with compelling learning environments
support prof development and communities of practice
strengthen district leadership and communications
create balanced assessments

9:45 How do teachers become less isolated? Schedule?