tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36872073.post1887694089679331782..comments2023-05-25T08:00:35.105-04:00Comments on The 21st Century School House: Stepping out, putting my money where my blog isMillerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05517958038962746348noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36872073.post-44572349462655835882007-04-07T22:52:00.000-04:002007-04-07T22:52:00.000-04:00Mr. Miller,Thank you once again for the inclusion ...Mr. Miller,<BR/><BR/>Thank you once again for the inclusion in your posts. Here is my quick advice on the presentation:<BR/><BR/>1. Definitely cut your agenda to show them very quick, easy ways to increase productivity.<BR/><BR/>2. Tell them they shouldn't bring this into the classroom until they are ready to.<BR/><BR/>3. The most well-received Web 2.0 technology in my district: del.icio.us. The ability for my staff to latch onto other people's research and track it through RSS proved an instant success. I would include that one in your presentation.<BR/><BR/>4. What I did with SketchUp was show it to the staff, but then loaded it on the machines of teachers who had study halls. When students complained of nothing to do, the teachers told them to go build something. It was a win-win. Teachers did not have to become experts and the students just started playing. It caught on and now is used by teachers in classrooms in both of my schools.<BR/><BR/>Hope this helped.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08156784418545421424noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36872073.post-86940475672723561332007-04-06T13:15:00.000-04:002007-04-06T13:15:00.000-04:00Since you now have more time available prior to yo...Since you now have more time available prior to your actual professional development, send them links to blogs that you read and encourage them to read them before the PD. That will set the stage for them to be more willing to consider new ideas and strategies. Reading other educational blogs has transformed my thinking about education, teaching and learning.<BR/>On the day of your workshop, ask how many read through the blogs and learned about Web 2.0, what did they learn, what do they think?<BR/>This may set the stage for excitement to invest in what you are sharing with them.<BR/>(On the other hand, if it turns out no one explored the pre-workshop links that you sent to them, then I would question how they can instill in their students a love for life-long learning if they were unwilling to model it themselves!)<BR/>Just my 2 cents!Karen Janowskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09735088828586482051noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36872073.post-85445668832586527512007-04-05T21:13:00.000-04:002007-04-05T21:13:00.000-04:00Brian and Nancy: Thanks for your input. Ever since...Brian and Nancy: Thanks for your input. Ever since volunteering for this, I've been kicking around ideas, changing tacts, asking questions. I was talking to a colleague today, and the more we talked, the more I began thinking that Google Earth and Sketchup may seem too much like the latest cool link, you know, something that you get e-mailed to you as a "hey check this out" kind of thing.<BR/><BR/>I want the teachers to come to some kind of realization that we can't just think of technology as the latest cool link to put in our utility belt (I borrowed that analogy from someone else). I want this, no matter how short, to be different. I want them to start discovering the power of these tools, blogging being a central component, and how they can fundamentally change the way we do things. Lofty aspirations for sure.<BR/><BR/>I still have some time, as I just found out the day has been pushed off until April 26. Either way, I appreciate the input and will definately take into consideration your experience and cut this agenda down.<BR/><BR/>Thanks again, and Brian I may take you up on that offer sometime - either soon or somewhere down the road... :)Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05517958038962746348noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36872073.post-10333251929837981522007-04-05T11:58:00.000-04:002007-04-05T11:58:00.000-04:00Brian's comment about cutting your agenda in half ...Brian's comment about cutting your agenda in half is critical, I think. I have tried to cover just blogs and wikis in an hour and felt like I was just getting started.Nancy A. McKeandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11502683354134304145noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36872073.post-80124754967435562462007-04-04T22:59:00.000-04:002007-04-04T22:59:00.000-04:00Mr. Miller,First, I love the title of the post. I...Mr. Miller,<BR/><BR/>First, I love the title of the post. I am happy that my resources have been of some help to you...and hopefully the teachers you are training, as well.<BR/><BR/>Let me make one suggestion concerning your agenda. From what I gather from your post you have a one hour block of time with your teachers. Take your agenda and cut it in half. TRUST ME! Spend a good 20 minutes on the "Did You Know" video just discussing what this all means for our students and for us as educators. I am willing to bet that your teachers are going to have some very interesting things to say. Moderate this conversation...but let them discuss and come to their own conclusions. 21st Century skills could be another 15 minute discussion. Definately, recommend that they read "The World is Flat" by Friedman. 5 more minutes on Web1.0 and 2.0 and you are already at 40 minutes. So what now...your Google Earth and Sketchup plan is perfect, but realize that there is no time for hands-on. 20 minutes and you have an hour. Save the blogs for next time.<BR/><BR/>So what's next? I would send an email to your teachers explaining what a blog is and pointing them towards a few that you read and believe that they would benefit from. Encourage them to comment and "blog surf". At your nest training you can get right into introducing Blogger and not have to spend the time on what a blog is.<BR/><BR/>After that I'd sugggest any one of a number of a variety of topics depending on your staff...wikis, podcasts, RSS, social bookmarking, videoconferencing, digital citizenship.<BR/><BR/>If I can be of any help during your presentation via Skype or videoconferencing just let me know.<BR/><BR/>Brian Grenier<BR/>http://bumpontheblog.etowns.netAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com