On Deck

 

 sospodcast episode 13: What stalls the shift? [1:13:00m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Introductions

Rick Pierce of Rising Sun Consultants and Andy Torris from Shanghai American School joined David and Jeff for tonight’s show.

Essential Question

What Stalls the Shift?

Take away from the discussion>

-We need to differentiate between “change” and the “transition” that follows. Administrators need to allocate much more time for the transition. Need to validate the emotions of community members as they go through the transition. Need lots of support and guidance that takes planning just as one plans the change.
-Leaders as visionaries while also working to serve the teachers, students and community. Servant leadership. Managers who craft programs and follow through.
-Even with lots of energy and time for transition, there will be some “anchors” who are stalling the shifted and must be transitioned out with grace and dignity.
-How to start the change? Form a leadership team of admin and teachers, determine what you want to do and where you are going. Set the vision.
-Have to set priorities. How to deal with all the different community members with their varying priorities? What guides you in deciding what comes first? Leadership means sticking with the carefully decided priorities which are guided by your mission and student learning goals.
-What happens after the delegation of responsibilities? Administrators need to let go but be very clear in guidance and expectations being ready to accept the work of the follow up teams.

Blog Posts of the Week:

Jeff: LeaderTalk Learning 2.008 Bring your administrators and board members to the conference!
David: 10 Principles for Principals by Ryan Bretag. Adapting to Change by Will Richardson.
Rick: Leading the Shift Leading and Managing Change
Andy: PD Success Story Who is Interviewing Whom? Rising Sun Book Review’s on Change Management

Sign Off:

* Next show will be the start of season two  as we pick up in September from Bangkok, Thailand from Jeff’s new abode. David continues to shift along from Hsinchu, Taiwan.
* We will be expand on previous discussions of teacher practitioners sharing practical methods to shift our schools starting from our classrooms. We will continue other discussions connected to the big picture process of shifting our schools.
* Don’t forget to post Web sites/blogs to the SOS Del.icio.us bookmarking site that support our upcoming EQ.

 

 SOS podcast episode 12: Your standards or mine? [49:49m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Introductions

Chris O’Neal, educational leader and consultant, joined David and Jeff for tonight’s show.

Essential Question

Your Standards or Mine?

David> See his blog post.

Jeff> We don’t have standards for paper and pencils so why would we need them for technology? Aren’t we working with teachers to help them reach their subject area standards with the help of technology?

Take away from the discussion> The higher order rich NETS are helping frame the conversation with administrators as they talk about learning in their buildings. What is another name for “standards” when we talk about the NETS as learning outcomes we want integrated across the curriculum.

Blog Posts of the Week

Jeff: See his 3 posts on having standards for technology: 1 2 3
Chris: Bionic Teaching
David: Practical Theory

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* Next show is Thursday June 12th at 7 PM Shanghai time.
* Our guest will be Rick Pierce of Rising Sun Consultants, Andy Torris from Shanghai American School and Struan Robinson from International School Bangkok.
* Essential Question for the show: What stalls the shift?
* Don’t forget to post Web sites/blogs to the SOS Del.icio.us bookmarking site that support our upcoming EQ.

 

 SOS podcast episode 11: How do we connect technology to classroom learning? [58:38m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Introductions

Kim Cofino, Justin Medved and Dennis Harter joined Jeff and David for tonight’s show.

Essential Question

How do we connect technology and classroom instruction seemlessly?
David: See his blog post.

Jeff:

Take away from the discussion-

-Big move in their library in the elementary now called the Learning Hub at ISB. Merging and bringing together many ideas and strategies for what libraries will be in the future.
-They fully integrate the technology skills into the curriculum. No stand alone technology classes in elementary and one in MS.
-Just in Time support.
-New Literacy Wiki
-21st ISB Literacy

Blog Posts of the Week:

Jeff: Connectivism Sentiments on Common Sense

David: Transliteracy: The Digital Hub

Kim: Educational Origami

Justin: Moving at the Speed of Creativity Thinking Allowed

Dennis: Always Learning

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* Next show is Monday May 26th at 7:00 PM Shanghai time.
* Our guest will be Chris O’Neal of Edutopia’s Spiral Notebook.
* Essential Question for the show: Your standards or mine?
* Don’t forget to post Web sites/blogs to the SOS Del.icio.us bookmarking site that support our upcoming EQ.

 

 SOS podcast episode 10: When not to use Technology [44:29m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Introductions

Dave Navis, a 5th grade teacher from Hong Kong International School joined Jeff and David for tonight’s show.

Essential Question

When not to use technology?

David: See his post.

Jeff: See his recent post on his screen free week.

Dave Navis: See his post.

Blog Posts of the Week:

Jeff: Turn TV Off

David C: Jamie McKenzie’s FNO 500 Mile Project Leader Talk: Shift Happens- Now What?

Dave N: Alan November

Note: Don’t forget to register for the Learning 2.008 Conference. A new EdubloggerCon segment has been added to the program.

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* Next show is Thursday May 16th at 7:00 PM Shanghai time.
* Our guests will be Dennis Harter, Justin Medved & Kim Cofino of the International School Bangkok.
* Essential Question for the show: How do we connect technology and classroom instruction seamlessly?
* Don’t forget to post Web sites/blogs to the SOS Del.icio.us bookmarking site that support our upcoming EQ.

 

 Shifting Our School episode 9: How do we go deeper?: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Introductions

Michael Lambert, a Middle School teacher from Concordia International School in Shanghai joined Jeff and David for tonight’s show.

Essential Question

How to go deeper in student learning? Why go deeper?

David: See his blog post.

Jeff: Engage student and allow them to be nodes of information.

Take away from the discussion-

Mike’s 5 Strategies for Deeper Learning:

1. Go one to one with laptops so students have access to information to answer their questions. Let’s students “rewind”, go back to information when they need to further their understanding.
2. Project-based Learning: cross discipline the learning in real world applications. Example: Mike’s class visited a bike shop which connected economics, science, math and community building. They also went to a landfill, about learned alternative fuels and made further connections to being better citizens of the Earth.
3. Visuals- let the images tell the story. Strong connection to student brains. Evokes the emotion which brings attention which drives learning. Using graphs. How to filer the information, make meaning of it. Media Literacy.
4. Build in multi-sensory experiences. Get the kids outside the classroom and engage in field trips, real world–new brain experiences. These are deeper. Sometimes means making mistakes, being uncomfortable which leads to learning.
5. Teachers need to let go. Let the kids be more in control. We need to be the coach. We can be co-learners.

Inquiry. Everyone provides questions. Help students take their passions and questions to design question to research and then come up with more questions that they want to answer.

Make connections across the curriculum then lead to questions and further applications that combine subject areas. Cannot be narrow with our curriculum. Ready to go in different directions.

We need to really focus on teaching students to be learners. If they are truly going to be independent life long learners, they have to have the skills to be active learners.

What does a shifted school look like?

Jeff: What is a Shifted School? A school that understands that learning is a 24/7 activity and engages students in THEIR spaces to learn. A school that instead of forcing student to come to them to learn, they go to them and create learning opportunities where the students are. They use tools that are familiar to the students, that engage them in the learning process and allow them to not only connect nodes of information, but also always them and teaches them to be a node as well.

David: What shifted looks like see 21st Century Schools & his post on the topic. School 2.0 wiki by Steve Hargadon as a place to read opinions on what shifted schools look like and add your opinion. And listen to episode 8 where Brent Loken talks about Hsinchu International School.

Mike: If you are using strategies for deeper learning and helping kids make connections, you are really focusing on learning which is what shifted schools are all about. We need to look at our pre-service teacher programs to shift them where teachers learn teaching 2.0 strategies while taking part in mentoring programs to get them up to speed.

Blog Posts of the Week:

Jeff: Remote Access A Difference Mark’s EdTech Learning is Messy

David: See Margaret’s comment for SOS episode 3.

Sign Off

* Next show is Wednesday April 30th at 8:00 PM Shanghai time. Note: This is a different day and time than our usual show.
* Our guest will be David Navis of Hong Kong International School.
* Essential Question for the show: When not to use technology?
* Don’t forget to post Web sites/blogs to the SOS Del.icio.us bookmarking site that support our upcoming EQ.

 

 SOS Podcast episdoe 8: How to Shift: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Introductions

Brent Loken, the Director of Curriculum and Innovation at Hsinchu International School (HIS) joined Jeff and David for tonight’s show.

Brent has a Web site and a blog where you can read more about his ideas.

Essential Question

How to Shift?

David> See his blog post for his Top 10 list of steps to take to shift.

Jeff> We need to think about the effect of small, start up schools like HIS and how they might bypass the traditional schools to offer the 21st century learning that our international corporate parents are realizing their children need.

Take away from the discussion>

-It is usually an evolutionary approach in most schools for them to slowly make the shift to School 2.0.
-So much more difficult to shift schools with history and culture that won’t adapt. But we cannot stop our efforts!
-If you are fortunate to be at a small school or one just starting up, you have a much better chance of getting everyone of like minds and beliefs onboard to take a more radical approach.
-”Rethink everything”. “Needs to be a revolution”. “Be bold”.
-The curriculum is not fast enough to keep up with the learning community of a shifted school. Must be ready to adapt it as your school adapts to the learning needs of its students.
-Possibility of competition from start-up schools? Just like in the business world.
-Healthy competition in schools provides more choices for parents and to choose from.

Blog Posts of the Week

Jeff: New Literacy Leader Talk
The Learning 2.008 Conference in Shanghai!

Brent: Arts and Smarts article Whole Child article
A Mind at A Time by Mel Levine

David: Powerful Learning Practices
9 Principles for Implementation: The Big Shift
Leading the Shift in International Education

Sign Off

* Next show is Thursday April 18th at 7 PM Shanghai time.
* Our guest will be Michael Lambert of Concordia International School in Shanghai.
* Essential Question for the show: How to go deep in learning? Why go deep?
* Don’t forget to post Web sites/blogs to the SOS Del.icio.us bookmarking site that support our upcoming EQ.

 

 EARCOS Live: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Over two days I set up shop at a desk in the commons area at the EARCOS Teachers Conference and recorded conversations with anyone who walked by and looked at the crazy guy with headphones and microphones set up. Thank you to everyone who stopped by or who I grabbed to get your prespective on the conference!

Podcast Link:

Webcast Academy how to record a two way Skype call with Audacity

 

 SOS podcast episode 7: How do Adults Learn: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Introductions

Jeff Nugent joined Jeff and David for tonight’s show.

|Essential Question|

How do adults learn?

David> See his blog post on which lists several factors we need to keep in mind when working with adult learners. And as with all learners, we must differentiate our instruction to meet their individual needs.

Jeff> We need to think about the following question:

What gets in the way of our veteran generation educators from going more public with their ideas and work?

Take away from the discussion>

-The forming of teacher cohorts focused around essential questions. Helps with feelings and fear of vulnerability. Building community, breaking down isolation. One might start with a book discussion then move into member offered topics and questions.
-How to support educators in taking risks?
-Form Professional Learning Networks (PLN) around different topics of interest to the members.
-Sustaining engagement and ongoing support is key.
-Creating a PLN and community in general is tougher in higher education. Having a physical and eventual digital space where folks can come together to form community is important.
-Adult learners wanting to be self directed and sometimes are overwhelmed by 2.0 learning tools.
-How do we support self-directed learning by minimizing some of the fear of leaving one’s comport zone? (Future EQ)
-Pre-service teacher education programs are so important. Build on these young adults’ natural inclination to socially connect and collaborate. There is a positive side to their sometimes very public nature of our youth and their social networking sites.
-What gets in the way of our older generation from going more public with their ideas and work? (Future EQ) Is this the nature of teachers?
-Backwards translation of our (IT/ET leaders) being way out there in blogging, Twitter, wikis, etc. to engage newcomers and overcome their pre-conceived notions of what these tools are about. Blogs are an example of folks thinking that you use them to tell your personal information only.
-Seeking to understand is central for the instructional/educational technologist. We are the “IT counselor” from time to time seeking to understand our teacher partners, their feelings about using technology and information tools and how they might take steps to find one or two that meet their needs. That human relation aspect of our job is huge.

|Blog Posts of the Week|

Jeff U: Webblogg-ed 2 Cents
Jeff N: Connectivism
David: Designed To Inspire

|Sign Off|

• Next show is next week from the EARCOS conference in Kuala Lumpur. Refer back to this site and Jeff’s The Thinking Stick main page for the date and time.
• Our guests will be teachers from around Asia.
• Essential Question for the show: How are you shifting?
• Don’t forget to post Web sites/blogs to the SOS Del.icio.us bookmarking site that support our upcoming EQ.

 

 SOS podcast episode 6: Connecting Parents and creating portals for learning: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Introductions

Justin Hardman and Chris Betcher joined David and Jeff.

|Essential Question|

How to expand the learning community to the parents?

Jeff> Look at your technology vision and plan to include the development of a school portal that provides the tools to make the components of your plan a reality.

David> See his recent post that focused on two themes. One being that schools should use their portal to build on current practices that are already in place to connect parents and expand the learning community. Making information access and communication digital definitely enhances communication opportunities. A second theme is to invite our corporate parents working in 21st century information-rich jobs to our schools to share their experiences and expectations what skills they want their employees to have. Their real world experiences can help in the shifting process as teachers connect what they are teaching to the real world assessments their students will be experiencing.

Take Away from the Discussion:

-The recent breakout of a virus in HK reminds us of the importance of schools having the capability to go virtual with a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE).

-Sharing of the myDragonnet online learning platform with three components: classroom management tool, curriculum mapping tool and electronic portfolio. Justin has many insights to share.

-Wetpaint as a very useful wiki provider.

-Value of individualization in developing VLEs by having a programmer on school staff.

|Blog Posts of the Week|

Jeff: Planning for 21st Century Technologies

David: Jonathon’s Blog on VLEs

Chris: Clay’s Wedding Always Learning

Justin: E-Framework Electronic School

|Sign Off|

-Next show is Thursday March 20th. Catch it live at 7:00 PMShanghai time.

-Our guest will be Jeff Nugent from the Virginia Commonwealth Univeristy. Check out his Techne blog.

-Essential Question for the show: How do adults learn?

-Don’t forget to post Web sites/blogs to the SOS Del.icio.us bookmarking site that support our upcoming EQ.

 

 SOS podcast episode 5: How do we connect? [60:03m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Introductions

Chris Betcher and Clay Burell joined Jeff and David.

|Essential Question|

How do we connect?

Jeff> The Shanghai American School blogging system is set up so that whenever anyone logs in, he/she sees a RSS feed with the latest posts from the other student and teacher SAS bloggers. We often focus in the blogosphere on connecting outside of our schools for learning. We also need to find ways to build internal learning communities and this is one way to do it.

David> Three ideas come to mind when thinking about how to connect. One is the way Kim Confino and Julie Lindsey build telecollaborative opportunities for students to connect to other learners around the world. When it comes to connect to this learning network, what hardware are we using to make the connection? Are we at the point of having a handheld device designed for the education market that allows for ubiquitous connectivity? And what about the thinking and learning that goes with students learning by making connections? See David’s blog post for more reflection on these questions.

Take Away from the Discussion:

• “Learning means risk taking.” How to apply this to the hiring process to look for new hires who take risks.
• How to work within the school day to build in the opportunities for making connections. We need to structure time in the day where students can pursue their passions and collaborate for learning.
• We need to demystify and translate the names and learning purposes for many of our Web 2.0 tools so that new users can understand and not see them as so daunting to try.

|Blog Posts of the Week|

Chris: Remote Access

Clay: Re(Musing)ings

David: Techne & The Far Side of Tech

Jeff: Drupaled & WordPress

|Sign Off|

• Next show is Thursday March 13. Catch it live at 7:00 PM Shanghai time.
• Our guest will be Justin Hardman from the Hong Kong International School. Check out his Blueprint: New World, New School blog.
• Essential Question for the show: How to expand the learning community to the parents?
• Don’t forget to post Web sites/blogs to the SOS Del.icio.us bookmarking site that support our upcoming EQ.