Agenda

 

 

 

There are two things that we do know that connect directly to our current vision of school.

1. The nature of information has changed (digital, networked, overwhelming, unconstrained)
2. We can not clearly describe the future we are preparing our children for.

From these ideas, two demands rise.

1. That we redefine literacy (one literacy) to reflect an increasingly digital, networked… information environment.
2. That we teach our children to be life long learners.

 

 

5:30 - 5:45

Introduction

Tech Mentor for ELearning Campus

Study on Survival of Small School lead to attempting online courses.

Virtual High Schools and Universities, online courses are becoming a viable choice for many students

My Blog

It is the way of the future, anytime learning at our fingertips.

 

Did You Know - 2.0

 

 

The Shift

 

Traditional classrooms and teaching trends have to adapt to a changing world. A world where knowledge and information are abundant, collaboration is the norm, and where students can build networks and communities outside of the classroom walls. It is often said that "the future is not what it use to be." In this information-driven, technology-rich world, where jobs are created and become obsolete in less than ten years, preparing our children for a future that we can not imagine has become one of our society's greatest challenges.

 

There are many barriers that prevent us from retooling our classrooms for 21st century teaching and learning. Most adults base their knowledge of schooling on their education experiences from 20, 30, or 40 years ago. It is a story that is etched almost indelibly by years of being taught in isolated, assembly-line fashioned classrooms.

 

How do we retell the story of education and develop a new image of the classroom as a rich and comprehensive environment where students learn by asking questions, experimenting with a rich and diverse information environments, and interact with people around the world -- in order to discover and build knowledge?

 

We are in the information Age

 

The Changes are Significant

Content is no longer scarce - MITOPENCOURSEWARE

Content is constantly changing - WIKIPEDIA

Our students understand social technology better than we do - BUSINESS WEEK

Technology is rapidly changing - IPHONE, Multi-Touch Computers

 

 

These are hugely challenging times

 

The Literacies that our students will need are complex.

 

 

Our students are entering a world where they will be expected to be:

 

Self-learners - by the time they reach 38, our kids will have changed jobs over a dozen time. Who will teach them? They need to be taught to be lifelong, continual learners.

Self-starters - This is a world where if you are not doing it, someone else will." --Friedman. We have to teach them to take control of their own learning

Self-selectors - In terms of building their own personal, perpetual learning network. Who are my teachers, What defines an expert, Who can I trust, What does community mean?

Self-editors - Most of what we consume has no traditional editor, Culture of the Amateur

Self-organizers - Tagging and RSS, modelling ways to make sense of your information, being able to recall it, and archive it.

Self-publishers - more students are blogging

Self-regulators - finding a balance

Self-protectors -  The nature of privacy is changing, students need to educated

 

So how can we begin to bring these changes and literacies to our students?

 

Students need to be participants, creating real work for real purposes for real audiences, even at the youngest levels.

 

Characteristics of this generation:

Planning is fluid and done on the cell phone

Multi-taskers

Don’t do anything without music

Gamers

Compulsive Communicators

Instant Generation – I need it yesterday

Bombarded with commercialism

Have a lot of stuff

Know a little about a lot

They learn by inductive discovery

Spontaneous communicators

 

 

5:45 - 6:00

Bridgit Demonstration

 

 

 

6:00 - 6:40

 

What is Moodle?

 

SHSD Elearning Campus

 

    Moodle demonstration

Economics

World Issues

Fine Arts

Hybrid Courses

Professional Development opportunity

 

Online Learning Trends

 

    Change in the way that teachers approach their role in course delivery – Sage on stage, guide on side

    Social, Constructivist Learning

 

What teachers have done

    Webcams, taping podcasts, videos, learning, changing the way we deliver our courses, you can’t copy from classroom delivery

 

What students think

 

Characteristics of successful students

· They are motivated, independent, self-directed

· They enjoy technology, have strong language skills, and are visual learners.

· They have consistent parent support and are involved in non-academic activities

· They have positive attitudes and are willing to ask for help

· Extroverted students should be encouraged to take interactive courses, while more introverted students succeed in self-paced courses. Teachers should identify those introverted students and draw them into the discussion. Online learning allows for forums, time to think!

 

 

To support Moodle

Bridgit – individual conferences, between teacher, student etc

Skype

 

Technology initiatives in SHSD:

Literacy with ICT – K-8

Supporting Principles

Continuum

          Soon to expand

          Reporting 2008

          ePearl

 

Senior Years technology courses

 

 

ELearning Campus

 

 

First Class Gradebook

 

Teacher should have a webpage or blog or wiki to communicate with parents and students.

 

 

K12 Online Conference

 

Marco Torres - Digital Students video

 

6:40 - 7:00

Hands on Bridgit