Drape's Takes

I can't tell you how refreshing it is to see people that actually get it. Here are two that do.

First, from Jennifer Jones:

Here are my early thoughts on the learning, keeping in mind I’ve not slept more than 4 hours any night this week:

1. Some people get it. Some people do not get it. Do not dilute your message for these people. Give them all the inferno. The embers that reach those on the outskirts will eventually turn into flames.
2. It is time to toss out the “blog, wiki, podcast” mantra. This is bigger than tools isolated for singular purpose. If we keep pushing the tools into categories, new users will continue to only use the tools for those purposes. We should be twisting, stretching and breaking these tools, not neatly packaging content with them.
3. A wiki is no place to start an intentional, sustainable community. I’ve always said this to my internal customers, but it has been based on my use of them. I’ve now heard many many people describe how the wiki did not work for creating a sustainable network. Let’s let it go, move on and get more creative with our wiki use.
4. Networked learners are more confident than individual learners in questioning authority, discovering alternative realities and resolving critical concerns through thoughtful inquiry.
5. Technology enables people to assign meaning to symbols and words. Meaning is multi-dimensional. It IS about the technology, and it IS about the people.

Jen's advice to not "dilute the message" of the potential of networked learning should be SHOUTED from the rooftops.

Second, Hugh MacLeod speaks of an important issue we all face right now when considering networked learning.


My gut feeling is that EVERY node should have something of tremendous value to offer the entire network. Tapping into that something may be the real trick.

Image Source: Hugh MacLeod

Technorati Tags: networking twitter blogosphere wikis

Other than a few bandwidth and occasional audio issues, OpenPD round three was another pleasing success. The first time an OpenPD session had been hosted by a teacher other than myself, Jamie Gustin - from Magnolia, Texas - did an excellent job in taking the reins. In this opening session, we established that each of the roughly forty participating educators has an existing wiki with which they will be able to work during the remaining four sessions. This session also marked the first time I have ever participated in a professional development session with Jordan School District teachers wherein we didn't meet together face to face. It has been my hope that using such a format will enable me to reach more teachers within my district, at a time that is convenient for them, without requiring them to go through the effort of driving across the valley in order to meet together.


Next Week

In next week's session, we'd like to dig deeper into the wiki toolbox to uncover a particularly useful feature within wikis: the ability EMBED objects. We hope to:

1. Demonstrate how objects are embedded.
2. Showcase a number of different kinds of objects that can be embedded. To accomplish this task, we ask that you, dear participant, Bring Your Own Embeddable Object to class. You know, a favorite embeddable widget - if you have one. If you don't yet have a favorite, be prepared to learn about a few new tools that can be used in connection with wikis.

Missed Our First Session?

No problem. To get caught up with the class, you may view the recorded stream here - and read through the chat here. In order to make sure you're up to speed for next week:

1. Create a wikispaces account if you don't yet have one.
2. Join the OpenPD wiki.
3. Create your own wikispace. K12 teachers can get free premium wikispaces by following this link.
4. Post a link to your newly created space in the discussion tab of our List of Participants page.

See you next Wednesday: 3pm MDT.

Technorati Tags: openpd wikis

At this point in time, I'm happy to report that an additional round of Open Professional Development will be beginning soon - continuing on the discussion we began last month - freely available to any interested educator.


Beginning Wednesday, March 26, at 3:00 PM (MDT) - and continuing for the subsequent five Wednesdays at the same time - we will be learning advanced topics related to using wikis and blogs with our students.

To participate from the comforts of your own building, this is what you'll need:

• An Internet-connected computer, preferably with speakers and a microphone.
• Visit the OpenPD "Get Connected" page to become acquainted with the learning environment. This is "where" class will be held on March 26.
• Optional: Create your own (free) Ustream account so that you may participate in the class chat-room.
• Optional: Download, install, and create your own free Skype account so that you may participate in the audio call.

Finally, to learn more about OpenPD - what it is and why we do it - you may wish to view the podcast I recently created.

Technorati Tags: openpd professionaldevelopment wikis blogosphere

In order to accommodate the schedules of a growing number of interested participants (both inside and outside of the Jordan School District), we have changed the schedule of OpenPD's Round 3, deviating from our original plans.

Round 3: Details

Time: Class will be held once a week (for five weeks) beginning Wednesday, March 26. Class sessions will be held from 3:00-4:00 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time. Click here to translate these times to your time zone.

Place: Click here to participate in the action, here to learn more, and feel free to join in from any Internet-connected computer in the world.

Topic: In Round 3, we hope to continue the discussions that were started in Round 2, focusing more in-depth upon advanced topics related to using wikis and blogs in an educational environment.

Round 3: The Beginning of a New Era?

In previous OpenPD rounds, educators from all around the world joined in with a core group of teachers with whom I met in a face-to-face PD setting. In Round 3, we hope to change that as there will be no formal PD class scheduled for teachers from within my district. It is my hope that teachers within the Jordan School District will participate in the same manner that others outside of the district have - from the comfort of their own buildings - but with the option (not requirement) of attending with me in person.

We'll see how this goes, and if similar PD efforts might be feasible in the near future.


Image Source: Flickr user K2D2vaca

Technorati Tags: openpd wikis blogosphere education technology professionaldevelopment

Well, here we go. I just finished setting up the video/audio stream with our district tech gurus (yeah, even smarter than I am) and holy crap: I'm starting to think that this thing is actually going to work.

Here are the details for this Wednesday's "open professional development session" entitled Social Software in the Classroom:

• Class will be held once a week (for five weeks) beginning Wednesday, September 19.
• Class will be held from 4:30-7:15 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time. Click here to translate these times to your time zone.
• If you don't have a Skype account, you will want to create one ahead of time (free), as Robin Ellis will be moderating a Skype chatroom throughout the class. To join in, send her a quick message through Skype: robin.ellis1
• Our class wiki (with schedule and future participant portfolios) will be available here: http://socialsoftware07.wikispaces.com/
• A quicktime audio/video stream will be available here: rtsp://163.248.25.133/socialsoftware07.sdp. Because we will be using Quicktime to stream, you will want to ensure that your Quicktime software is up to date ahead of time. Visit this site to get the latest version (free).

If you are a teacher, administrator, or technology specialist that would like to learn more about the many free, online tools that can be used to enhance your teaching, then consider yourself personally invited to join us. We'd love to have you and look forward to an exciting, open, and collaborative experience.

Update:

• To join in on the action, please join the wiki we'll be using for the class.
• For teachers not receiving in-service credit, perfect attendance is not required.
• While this class is intended to help newbies learn more about the educational uses of Web 2.0 technologies, experienced users are equally welcome (and appreciated, as the sum of our knowledge is what truly makes these new technologies so appealing).

Technorati Tags: socialsoftware07 education technology wikis quicktime skype professional_development

It's nearly been a week since TTIX. In this time I've been able to reflect on how I did as a presenter, as well as the messages shared by others at the conference.


Here are a few of my thoughts as I reflect back:

• TTIX was small, small is actually a very good thing, I would certainly like to participate again. In preparing to deliver the keynote, I had always envisioned a much larger crowd. All told, there were probably around 100-150 there - I was planning on 500. Nevertheless, the intimate setting was extremely comfortable and we were able, throughout the day, to have very meaningful conversations about integrating technology in the classroom.
• TTIX was extremely well organized. I was very impressed in the preparations that were made - particularly by Jared Stein and Janel Mitchell. Excellent job.
• I participated in an excellent session about "Brainhoney", a potentially wonderful application that takes David Wiley's idea of Learning Objects and makes it available for educators. I have been watching Dr. Wiley's work very closely for the last several years and hope that Curtis Morley et al. can deliver.
• Wikis - Tim Stout did an excellent presentation on how he uses wikis in his classes. Are we using them enough?
  

I feel bad that I wasn't able to share my entire presentation. I had 'em eating from the palm of my hand (I'm sure that effective educators and salespeople can identify with this - the moment that they are hanging on your every word - the very reason that I love to teach. I only hope that I was able to motivate them in such a way that they will move to action.

Image Source - 1

Technorati Tags: ttix07 education technology wikis learningobjects