Wednesday+-+Doersch

Thinking Big as the World Gets Smaller Hall Davidson 8:45-10:30a

[|Taking it Global] This website connects classrooms around the world via Skype.

If we do core standards with technology, everybody benefits. Measuring shadows at a certain time of the day helped kids find the circumference of the earth. (fundamental trigonometry)

[|Google translate] - helps kids read all web pages in all different languages. Google tools will give you 6 lines of code to have a built in translator. You can also have web pages displayed in different languages at [|Google language tools]. I like the [|Elmer Fudd] Language.

Kids in online learning environments achieve more on standardized tests than bricks and mortar classes. [|New York Times]

Have kids create content - this is the way they learn best. Hall showed a whole bunch of student created movies. [|Scratch] is a great site where kids can create content. [|Sketchup] is a cool content creation program as well. Coolest part - it's on all our computers, including your laptop!

The[| Flynn Effect] says that students are scoring higher on basic IQ tests. Why is this happening? Our students are tool-users and problem solvers and they're motivated to to it. Technology is helping them create.

Hall created a video using Discovery Education content using the green screen trick I showed you. The cool part is that kids redo and redo and redo because they want it to be good. HOw many times do kids want to redo their homework? Content creation motivates and excites kids. Research shows that students watch their own content created video LONGER than videos acquired from other sources like youTube.

Hall talked about the case study of Charlotte-Mecklenberg school district. They use Discovery Education content AND they have a 1:1 program. The way students learn has changed. Students have attention problems because they are watching a lot of TV and video. Kids have a "new" kind of brain. Indiana changed their definition of textbooks and counted digital media as a learning material as well. Example of Discovery Science.

Dr. Pfeiffer chatted with a teacher who has his whole math class online. Here is an [|example.]

Effective Staff Development in a 1:1 School & Running a Successful 1:1 Program Kip Keckler - "tech advocate", [|Kenosha School District]

Kip talked about how teachers will go to Web 2.0 sites because they like them or need them:
 * Social Education Networking - A school district in the room allows social networking for education. Business Facebook example. [|My Big Campus] (facebook-like for social learning), iPads - (Speech to Text applications), QuickieQ
 * If we provide hardware that people request, they have to tell why they want the piece of equipment. They will be taking on the responsibility of training the staff. They are then responsible for finding answers to questions about the device. Are they answering questions? How is it involving students? Sometimes it causes problems between staff.

Essential needs from students - accountability
 * Take ownership of their learning, including all technology tools (in the 50,000 moves of the laptops, 12 computers were misused)
 * Assist new students and guest teachers
 * Promote good use int he community - if they use in the community, be patrons of the place providing free wifi

CATT Squad Computer and Technology Team - student driven with about 50 students in the building "I'm your CATT agent."


 * Teachers need to be**
 * flexible
 * open to change
 * help each other
 * make it personal
 * wish-list
 * want it - own it
 * 1 full staff tech meeting per month
 * 1 tech mini-meeting per month
 * technology committee
 * tech/sub-committees
 * peer teaching - the mentors have full reign of their computer

Goals - Indicators - Measures - Targets
 * Smart Goals**


 * Essential needs from administration**
 * understand enough to care
 * trust in your staff
 * know that issues are part of the environment
 * invest in the staff
 * feed them


 * Recent issues**
 * iTunes
 * Laptops for Staff (now iPads)
 * Wish Lists
 * My Big Campus

[| http://www.edweek.org/ew/section/video-galleries/october05-event-edtech.html#cator]

Allow staff to do the research, find 3 different models, and talk about use. Once research is done Kip buys the item.

Establish credibility []l and procedures.

"Why does the kusd give ninth grade students who are getting d's and f's laptop computers free of charge? No homework is being done on them, but plenty of time is spend on MySpace." - quote from a citizen. Kip pointed out isn't that what the author is doing?

Kids need to get a virtual learning experience before they hit college.

"We need to be the Sesame Street of Social Education Networking."


 * Other considerations**
 * cart management - not all kids take their computers home. Must be approved by teachers. CATT squad kids deliver the computers.
 * batteries - dim brightness to conserve battery power, if kid news new battery the CATT squad replaces
 * support staff
 * controlling yourself - As a teacher, be good role model when things go bad, no melt downs because kids replicate those behaviors. "pencils break, do you stop teaching?"
 * recycling - must do by law
 * money
 * the unknown factor
 * more proactive than reactive - "this is what happened, this is how to prevent it." They have never gone over 8% of damage/year.
 * no synchronization services - turn the responsibility over to the students

Support staff - district staff then local support

Forms online at: GET THIS LINK

Blending Online Learning in Your School Dawn Nordine - CESA 9

[|Wisconsin Virtual Schools]
 * State led supplemental online program
 * Partnership between DPI and CESA 9
 * Provides core content, electives, advanced placement, and credit recovery online classes taught by Wisconsin certified teachers
 * Managed by CESA 9 since 2000

Population
 * 60% rural districts and 40% urban districts
 * 75% of students now take courses because their district does not offer the course. (asynchronous course)
 * Research shows that kids spend more time on line courses
 * Blended model is the most prominent, upcoming movement

Not designed to replace classroom teacher, nature is supplemental and to serve students in a different way.

Over 1million students in Wisconsin taking online courses

Data is still new. [|Inacol] is the most up to date research.
 * great research and resources
 * Digital learning council report - 10 items about digital learning and things to keep in mind about planning
 * Legislatures will be using the document

Examples of Wisconsin School District Initiatives
 * Expand curriculum
 * Supplementing curriculum
 * Retaining enrollment
 * Sustaining programs/positions - some school districts are creating new positions for this
 * Local virtual school
 * Preparing students with 21st century skills - Most of the trend right now

Blended learning = One of the three emerging trends in education
 * Student taking 7 f2f and 1 online classes
 * Student is home for 1/2 day working on online courses, other half at school
 * Teacher has kids post things online and participate in discussion
 * [|Green Lake School Distric]t is using blended with 25 kids for the semester (Fall 2009 data) : 10 electives, 3 math, 4 science, english 2, world languages 6, average grade is 91% and the completion rate is 100% Their numbers are going up for 2010. Mentor is very important because they serve as support for the student taking online course taking attendance, monitoring progress, helping them get through the mechanics of the course. Green Lake uses a parapro.

Policies are out there by school districts regarding taking an online course.

Things needed:
 * Board support
 * Funding considerations
 * Local education guide position
 * Student selection process

[|Montello School District] first in state to put its teachers through online learning training (48% of their k-12 staff trained) and is going online with blended and online (synchronous and asychronous). They use WVS content.

[|Algoma] - using for their AP Physics and AP Chemistry. Small schools combine the two courses, all their kids work independently on their online courses and the instructor works on reviewing their work online. If there is a need for f2f she can use the teachable moment. Using digital content, highly qualified teachers, and f2f.

ONline PE
 * Students can proceed at their own pace
 * All student receive indiv feedback
 * Feedback is provided during school hourse
 * F2F and virutal student questions provide complimentary feedback about difficult concepts
 * Virtual labs are very engaging and easy to organize

When looking at online content for students, they must be engaged in 3 clicks or less, make sure content is on page without scrolling up/down.