Skoolz Out!

I am over the stats. I don’t care how many kids are using the internet, uploading to YouTube or the number of email accounts the average primary student may have. We all know that technology is here in a big way, so lets get over it and move on!

The most important stat to remember is this -  the relationship between the student and teacher is the most influential factor in learning. Pretty simple, huh?

Maybe we should start refocusing on something more relevant as teachers – being human.

The alarm bells are starting to ring in the way technology is starting to take over the importance of relationships in some classrooms. While technology supports and extends learning in a meaningful way for our students, my fear is that many teachers are losing their connection with their students because of their focus on the technology. So no matter what amazing tool you are using, unless you are sharing your knowledge, skills and expertise in a way that is meaningful for your students, then you are having a minimal impact.

Consider these questions:

Are you becoming more accessible online than in person?

How much of your class time is being spent behind your computer?

Are your students interacting with each other in your class while using the technology?

Is the 1:1 laptop initiative taking away from your physical ‘connectedness?’

How much time are you spending seated behind a laptop in class, rather than ‘working the room?’

In such an influential moment in the history of education in terms of change due to the way technology impacts upon our students, and as access to new ideas and technologies becomes easier, faster and less expensive, let’s not forget the importance of being human. Sharing a joke, asking about their day, discussing their weekend…. all vital but sometimes overlooked. Only then can offering your support online be of true value.

We thrive on human interaction, so let’s make sure we are providing it in our classrooms. Let’s make sure we are using technology as just another tool in the ‘Swiss Army Knife’ of educational strategies – not the only one.

For me, there is nothing more exciting in education than an enthusiastic and dedicated teacher doing everything in their power to maximise the learning for their students. With the array of resources and ideas available on the internet through the collaborative nature of forums such as Twitter and other social networking sites, there has never been a more dynamic time in education.

Yet in our desire to be innovative and on the cutting edge in order to inspire and engage our students, I believe we often sacrifice the quality and overall impact on outcomes in our haste to jump onto something new. Let’s face it, in our desire to be ‘innovative’ all the time, surely there must be a negative offshoot which no doubt impacts on our students.

For the people who know me reading this post, they will probably find it hard to believe it is me saying this. I am always looking to try new things and love nothing more than seeing the students lap up a new challenge. But every time something new has been introduced, it has been carefully planned, thought through, debated, justified and integrated because it was going to support, not overtake, the learning focus.

A crucial element often overlooked is time. How much time are you giving your students to firstly become proficient with the technology before you are moving them on to something new? Are they being given the opportunity to master the concept and take it places you would never have imagined? With the crowded curriculum, time is often the first thing teachers will cut back on.

At my school, we have embarked on a number of programs that have taken years to develop, yet are never the same from year to year. For example, our digital storytelling program has been running since 2005, yet no two years have been identical. In our desire to continually improve the organisation, effectiveness, student outcomes and overall product, the program is continually revisited. Yet the overall structure of the program stays the same, allowing routine and a clear understanding of where we are heading to be established for the students and teachers.

This consistency has allowed the students to master skills which has ultimately lead to the incorporation of other technologies. Some of these include developing a podcast site to share their work with the world (iSchool), and the use of Blogs and Wikis to support the process of making their films. But all of these developments would not have come about if we did not have an engaging concept to start with that could be built upon. Every effective teacher uses the same principle – come up with an engaging topic or idea, then investigate the best tools for scaffolding student learning.

I still recall the discussion with our school leadership team where we debated whether the concept was becoming ‘tired.’ Yet with the introduction of new and more effective tools, the students are improving their quality of work, and as a result, their overall outcomes. So if you have a great concept, stick to it, but reinvent it as the need arises.

So, let’s stop handing the kids the ‘toolkits’ before we have created a challenging ‘worksite’ for them to be used and get back to focusing on ‘quality workmanship.’

A checklist of thoughts to consider before implementing a new program;

• Am I prepared to support and allow the time for the students to investigate these tools?
• Once the student has mastered the tool, where could they possibly take it next? (Hopefully somewhere we never expected!)
• Where is your school heading with ICT?
• Are you taking other teachers with you, or are you creating pockets of innovative use in your school?
• What does this mean for the students? That is, when they leave your exciting classroom, are they entering a time warp back to the 1970s in some of the other rooms?

Disagree, or have any points to add to the checklist? I would love to hear your thoughts.

**PLEASE NOTE: This conference is now to be rescheduled to September – Please stay posted for more information.

An exciting new PD opportunity for teachers in Melbourne is ‘Beyond The Basics’ which will be held at Coburg Senior Secondary College on August 1st. This event aims to provide teachers with practical ideas and hands on activities that can actually be taken back to their schools – a concept sometimes lost when these types of days inspire you, but don’t quite provide the know-how to get them going in your classroom.

Richard Lambert and myself will be providing two practical sessions for teachers;

Getting started with Web 2.0 (for beginners)

• What does it all mean?
• Why bother?
• What tools do I use?
• How do I get started?
• What does it mean for my class?

Digital Storytelling

• What is Digital Storytelling?
• Why bother?
• Where does it fit into the curriculum?
• Stories from our experiences
• Examples of our work
• Assessing student progress
• Managing students
• Setting up a program for your class or school.

A big congratulations to Connecting Point, and particularly Gary Bass, for getting this concept of the ground and his overall enthusiasm for providing relevant and practical PD for teachers.

For more information, follow this link:

Beyond The Basics Information

Over the last weeks, my school has been fortunate enough to gain funding which we have put towards getting interactive whiteboards installed throughout the whole school. However, since the beginning of the year, we have been heavily focusing on the needs of today’s students, and how we need to be making their learning relevant to their lives, and the world they are going to inherit.

It has been pleasing to see the positive approach the staff have taken. They have been playing with the software and becoming more aware of various Web 2.0 applications to suit their classrooms. Now that we have the boards, coupled with a new learning management system ‘Studywiz’ about to be introduced, the need to have organised and visual resources to support the staff is vital to their success.

This has been a massive challenge for me for quite a while – how can I create a digital resources library that is going to make it easy for teachers to not only access, but even contribute to, without me having to spend hours creating images and hyperlinking? Photos and even videos will be linked via the learning management system, but I needed something that could gather all the web based resources and links I have collected over the years.

Bookmarking sites like Diigo are excellent, but they were still not exactly what I was after. I want a visual interface where I can see what the bookmark is, making it easy for the teachers and students to quickly acces what they need.

Enter ‘SimplyBox.’ I absolutely love everything about this program. The ability to capture a snapshot of a page, drag into my box and then share it as a webpage has answered all of my needs. By sharing the page publicly, other people can now contribute to the page as well.

I have now set up a page within Studywiz which links to the relevant ‘box’ of visual resources. When the class clicks on the link, they are then presented with a visual library of resources – it is so simple and easy to find what they are after. After all, we are more likely to rememeber a visual cue than a bunch of text, aren’t we?

So a massive pat on the back to the guys at ‘SimplyBox.’ You have created an amazing product that is practical and easy to use. It also looks like the guys are keen to keep improving the product, as demonstrated by their integration with other sites such as ‘Twitter.’

Check out the introduction, and get ready to be ‘Simply’ Amazed!

Over the last few posts we have created our Google account and joined a bookmarking site such as Diigo. Hopefully you now have a few ‘friends’ and the concept of conversing and sharing resources with other educators all over the globe is not as daunting or creepy – because you are now about to take it to a whole other level!

So you have heard about Twitter, Facebook and MySpace, but who really cares what I, or any one else for that matter, had for breakfast? Well there is an element of this to these sites, but if you are smart and go about it the correct way, you can make some fantastic contacts and locate amazing resources over the Internet.

Getting Started

There is a wide range of social networking sites on the Internet, but I am only going to start you off with 2 sites that I think are an invaluable resource for teachers;

Twitter

Obviously the buzz at the moment, but there is a reason for it. Twitter is like ‘real-time’ email with more kick. The concise nature of the messaging (no more than 140 characters per message) suits a generation that wants to know all of the answers yesterday!  The ease of messaging via the Twitter website, applications such as Tweetdeck, or even your iPhone via Twitterfon means you can send an ‘update’ on what you are doing anytime, anywhere. But where Twitter really takes off is the ability to share weblinks, photos, ‘follow’ someone else or have ‘followers’ of your own.

When you ‘follow’ someone else, you receive their updates. Many people will share their resources and links that they think are useful. This is great if you can ‘find contacts’ that have similar interests to you. All of a sudden we sharing our resources. You will notice many people use http://www.tiny.cc/ to shorten their weblinks, due to only have 140 characters. I won’t go on forever about Twitter as there are many other pages where you can read all about the intricacies of it, but for educators it is an amazing way to share ideas, make contacts and even ask for help. Get on it! Let me know if you do. My details are http://twitter.com/adambrice

Ning

Ning is another type of social networking site. Here you can even setup your own social network if you are really keen! It alows you to make friends, create forums, share news, links and resources. This is a great way of making contact with other people that have a specific interest. By simply using your Google account information, sign up at Ning and start joining some groups that take your interest. You will soon find it is a great way to get some new ideas and a avenue to ask questions. Check out these Ning sites to get you started;

http://digistorytelling-actionstations.ning.com/ (The ‘Digital Storytelling’ Ning Site)

http://www.classroom20.com/

Hopefully you have found the last few posts interesting and informative in helping you get up and running. Only an informed teacher is able to ‘run’ with the lesson if it takes a turn in order to address the students queries or needs. Only an informed teacher is aware of the possible technological ‘tools’ at their disposal in order to promote engagement in their activities. We don’t need to know the ins and outs of every change in technology, but by being aware, and having the network and resources in place, we can track down the information we need, when the need arises. I hope you find this ‘ongoing’ professional development sparks an interest in the free resources available to support you in making exciting and relevant learning in your classroom.

Welcome to Part 3. My last few posts have been aimed at supporting teachers in making the transition from ‘tourist’ to ‘citizen’ – lookers-on to active participants in the use of technology. Before we become confident and proficient users of technology in the classroom, there is some work we need to do ourselves. If you have read my last few posts, you should have activated a Google Account and explored the variety of products available to you.

We are now going to put our Google account to work across the Internet. Our next step is to sign up for one of the amazing Web 2.0 applications available on the net.

What is Web 2.0?

We hear it all the time, but basically this term describes the next phase in the evolution of the Internet. The Internet started out as a way to share information. The next progression has been the advent of the immediate sharing of resources, the conversations relating to the information, and the creative use of it. As a result, we have seen everyday people become connected, sharing their own understandings and views through powerful mediums such as blogs, wikis, and social networking sites. We all have a voice – and now everyone can hear it.

In a way, after this post, you are going to have gone through your own Web 2.0 progression, as you move from consumer to collaborator of information.

So, let’s get started…

One of the most powerful, yet easiest ways to get started in Web 2.0 is to join a social bookmarking site such as Diigo or del.ici.ous. I am a massive fan of Diigo due to it’s features, ease of use and visual interface. Basically, these sites allow you to save the websites you find useful in a category or by ‘tagging’ them with relevant keywords, so that you can locate them again whenever you may need them.This information is stored in ‘the cloud’ and can be accessed via a login from any computer.

Why not just Bookmark in my Safari, Firefox or other Web Browser?

This is where the power of these applications really jump out. We don’t always have the time to look around for resources on the web. Sometimes, believe it or not, other people find or even create some really good stuff. By making ‘friends’ or joining specific ‘groups’ of interest, you will be able to share in the bookmarks other people (more specifically other educators) all over the world are making – and then bookmark them for yourself! Pretty simple – why reinvent the wheel all the time. If we are honest, we know deep down teachers are usually terrible when it comes to this.

Making ‘friends’ online

Not everyone on the net is a lunatic. Basically you are sharing resources, not private information about yourself. Diigo allows you to control the information that can be viewed by other people. Once you get past the fear of making a friend on Diigo, you may be surprised at how cool you think it is. You may be asked to be a friend, which you can accept or deny, or you can ‘request’ a friend. By making friends, you get to see the bookmarks that person is making. So, someone with similar interests to you becomes an amazing resource for you.

Join a ‘Group’

Another great way to gather resources and to make more friends is to join a ‘Group.’ For example, ‘Apples for Kids‘ is a group I created to share resources with other educators using Apple products in the classroom. Check it out and join the Group. Each day, week, month (you choose) you will be emailed an update of the additions posted to this group. So even if you have not been on the Diigo website for a while, you will still get the latest news. Pretty cool.

This is the tip of the iceberg with Diigo. You can use it to start conversations and create a forum. You can even use it with your class to share resources, new understandings, raise issues, have discussions….exciting and relevant skills for your students. But start slowly and get used to this new idea. You will soon be hooked!

I believe the absolute first step for any ‘tentative techie teacher’ making the jump from ‘Digital Tourist’ to ‘Digital Citizen’ is to create a Google Account. A basic idea I know, but by simply signing up and creating your own space on the web, you are going to be liberated in a number of ways. Google is much more than just a search engine, way to find your way around with ‘Maps’ or email client. There is a wide variety of Google ‘Products’ available, and the list continues to grow. And the best thing is, by signing up, you will get access to all of these products once you log in.

Some of the most basic, yet useful reasons for teachers to sign up for a Google account include;

1. Access - Your account can be accessed anywhere, from any computer via the web browser. You can sync up calendars, email, etc to programs you are running from your computer, but if you are out and about and can get access to the web, you will always be able to access this information.

2. gMail - As teachers, we are usually a suspicious bunch, so while exploring the net, it proves useful to have another email account besides your educational institution one. This is is also important for when it comes to accessing Web 2.0 programs, but we will talk more about that in the next post. Gmail also works seamlessly with other eMail programs you may be running on your computer.

3. GoogleDocs – a fantastic way to store, manage, back-up and collaborate your documents. GoogleDocs allows you to create folders and upload files from your computer to the ‘cloud’ so that they can be accessed from anywhere once you sign in, backed up in case your computer crashed or even invit collaborators to work on a document with you. The last being a fantastic way for teachers to collaborate on new units without having to book yet another meeting. Pretty cool to when you are both on the same document at the same time!

4. Reader – Now that you are starting to navigate the net for more information and resources, you will come across a number of sites that you really like, and would be interested in keeping up-to-date with their latest changes. Lets say, you wanted to keep an eye out form my next riveting post, but don’t want to check the website every day. By clicking on the ‘RSS Feed – Subscribe Now’ button in the right hand column of this blog, you will be asked which reader you are using. You simply select the ‘Google Reader.’ Now, each time you log into your Google account, if you click on ‘Reader’ in the top left hand corner, you will see a summary of my posts, with any new posts that have been added. Basically, you can view the information to all of the websites you are interested in without having to visit them all separately.

5. Google Blog Search – This feature allows you to search blog topics you may be interested in, locating the absolute latest posts from all over the world. If, for example, you were wanting to search the latest update on ‘Education’ and ‘Technology’, you smply type it in and the latest blog post made concerning this topic will appear at the top of the list. Here you can also subscribe to an RSS Feed which will be added to your Google Reader, and if you scroll to the bottom of the page after your search, you can create an email alert, seacrh google news for the same topic, and even create a ‘Gadget’ to your Google homepage alerting you as to the latest changes. Pretty full on, but there is now no excuse not to be up with the latest on topics you are interested in.

6. Calendar - The simplicity of a calendar can never be underrated. Being able to add events as needed, as well as the ability to share them with specific people or even publicly are features teachers use daily.

7. Google Wave – This is the next big thing. It will change the way we communicate and collaborate online. This is yet to be released, but there is a buzz around the net concerning this feature. Ongoing conversations or discussions between people, with the ability to collaborate with images and text in real time is the tip of the iceberg. Go to http://wave.google.com/ for a preview. Another good way to keep up with the latest on its development is to use the new skills you have developed. Why not search for ‘Google Wave’ in the ‘Google Blog Search’ and possibly subscribe to a page that seems to have the latest updates on it. By checking your ‘Reader’ you will have all of the latest developments.

And of course, being a teacher, we all know the best part about it – it is all free!

In my next post, we are going to explore the power that having a Google account will have when tapping into the vast number of Web 2.0 programs available on the net.

So what are you waiting for? SIgn up and get connected!

Technology in the classroom is not simply about finding resources on the web, or just using an Interactive Whiteboard in the classroom. To become more effective users of technology, we need to make the jump from being ‘Digital Tourists’ to ‘Digital Citizens.’ In doing so, we will not only be amazed at the volume of ideas, resources and information on the web, but also the ability to collaborate, share and support other teachers all over the world! In turn, your understanding of how the Internet works and the technology available will positively impact on your ability to pass on these important 21st Century skills to your students.

But this knowledge doesn’t just enter your brain via osmosis. You will need to put in time, explore and participate in order to become a proficient and confident user. If we can compare learning about new technology in the classroom to learning a new sport or instrument, they have several key things in common;

• The hardest part – making the decision to participate. Deciding to become part of a team and commit to the training and games is the most significant step. Not giving in when it gets a bit tough in order to enjoy the success is a common factor.
• Training – practising your craft. Putting in the hard yards that nobody else sees. It will take time, but it gets easier as you go.
• Game day – performing when the team really needs you, when the band is performing or the kids are waiting for the exciting project you have been talking about.
• The celebration – the reward when it all comes off. When you win the match, nail the song or have your students literally buzzing with excitement.

Eratosthenes, the ancient Greek mathematician, created an algorithm for finding all of the prime numbers up to a given integer. Today, this algorithm is still taught in school Mathematics classes, and utilised in computer programming. The process was given the name ‘The Sieve of Eratosthenes.’

But why discuss this in a blog looking at trends in educational technology? Over the past few weeks I have been fortunate to attend and present at a number of conferences focusing on incorporating new technology into the classroom. Anyone who has attended a similar conference, a Twitter account, social bookmarking account such as Diigo or is a member of a social networking account such as Ning, will have a number of things in common;

1. Access to an overwhelming myriad of resources
2. Access to new ideas being shared
3. Access to new experiences from classrooms all over the globe

This advance in technology and its implication for the everyday classroom is astounding. But in the race to always be trying something new and innovative all the time, are we losing sight of the real goal in education – providing a quality curriculum? Are we underrating the importance of maintaining, developing and improving these exciting programs that we implement?

In my school, I have run a number of programs throughout the years that have incorporated the use of technology in a number of exciting ways. ‘Movie Magic’ is an inquiry based learning program that is now in its 5th year that sees 130+ students studying and developing their own short films.The school podcast site, www.ischool.net.au has also been in development since 2007, and continues to go from strength to strength.

But these programs have not been one-hit wonders. It has taken a huge amount of work to maintain and develop them. They have become part of the school culture, they are now programs that students look forward to becoming a part of, and a reason why many parents enroll their students. Each year the programs change and evolve to suit student and community needs, as well as improve the programs. This is in itself a major reason that we should spend time refining and developing these programs that we start off in schools but sometimes do not always maintain.

So when I speak to teachers attending conferences, or taking the plunge into the social networking scene, I can understand their feelings of being overwhelmed and intimidated. It is not that they are not interested or do not want to try new things, but the same question always arises – ‘Where do I start?’ This is where leadership come in.

School leaders, whether they are the ICT co-ordinator or leadership team, need to prioritise and plot a clear course of action for their staff. This is not to say an enthusiastic classroom teacher with a flair for ICT is not to be encouraged, but teachers need to be somewhat ‘insulated’ from the growing mass of emerging technologies so as not to be overwhelmed.

Now don’t get me wrong. All teachers need to be aware of the various technologies, their strengths and how they can be incorporated into the classroom to provide engaging programs for the adults of the future. This is our job, and there is going to be some hard work for the teacher – reading, exploring and testing of new ideas before they hit the classroom. We do however, need to provide support and guidance.

I see my role as a Leading Teacher in charge of ICT as a person who ‘sifts’ through the mass of new approaches and technologies, and figures out ways to implement relevant tools that suit our school’s goals. We can still shape these goals, but we need to have a clear understanding of the steps involved, the ‘Beginning, Middle & End’ – what is the lifespan of this product? Where could we wnd up in a year or two with it? Do we need to take this approach because everyone else is?

These are the tough questions yet the important ones that demonstrate leadership. Lets start refocusing on developing quality programs with depth and scope that will continue to evolve over years, not just initiatives that are the latest fad. It is time more of us took out our ‘technology sieve’ and start sifting, for the benefit of our staff and students. Eratosthenes figured it out thousands of years ago.

It can’t be that hard… can it?

It is finally here. The Action Stations Series through the Curriculum Corporation releases a practical guide for teachers on ‘Digital Storytelling.’ There is no denying the importance of making our students critically literate, and in doing so, more digitally responsible. But creating lessons that cover these issues in an engaging way is not always clear for the teacher. We attend lots of Professional Learning and Development sessions in our careers, often walking away inspired and motivated, but with the same old nagging questions seem to surface;

• How do I set it up in my classroom?
• What do I need to get started?
• How do I go about it?

If you are this teacher, then this book is for you! This is a program a colleague and I have been working on for several years now in the everyday classroom. And even if you don’t want to produce your own ‘Short Film Festival’ as outlined in the book, the book is setup in such a way so that the teacher can run with whichever lesson they choose.

We are also attempting to provide ongoing support in the creation of a forum at the link below, or sinmply click on the ‘Badge’ in the right hand side-bar of this blog;

http://digistorytelling-actionstations.ning.com/

This forum will allow teacher to share their learnings, understandings and challenges as they implement the program. Both Richard and myself, the authors of the book, will contribute to these discussions and help you along the way. Unique, but we feel this type of program is a must for every school.

If you are interested in some sample pages and/or ordering a copy of the book, click on the book front cover below for the link.