November Learning Conference
Live, from the cozy confines of the Newton Marrriot, it’s quite an echo from NECC (17,000 wandering masses). So far so good.
So, we start with Promethean, demo of their handheld text input devices (via OllieBray.com – Active Expression) – cool way to see bar graph results of most popular results.
It’s a quick way to do Crowd-sourcing; springboard to conversations.
Followed by some Interesting comments about Commons use of UStreaming conference proceedings – ie bandwidth
Ewan McIntosh – Scotland
Its Not all Native Wit – from Creativity to Ingenuity
Main idea of debunking of digital nativism, a digital anti-nativist movement!? But point being there is no dividing line between who can use new technologies, and who is perceived to be able to…
EM inviting the group to follow along via Twitter: twitter.com blc08
Analogy of the “river of news” – navigating the river of information;
Take-aways:
- Tanya Byron – safe use and the power of transformative schools rather than transformative techology
- Clay Shirky – socially interesting technology tools, but need for familiarity; but how is the measure of familiarity altered by the need to swim in the info river, ie what is unfamiliar/familiar?
- Students Against Closures – Scotland’s reactions to school closures – slogan crowd sourcing; “barely motivated activism”
- micro-audiences within macro communities, ie the 20 something trusted members within 185 million – looking at the anatomies of social networks – Saturation learning proces
Showcase of divergent efforts in a convergent world: Johnny Lee – 5.5m views – head tracking
Quality and teachers – most predictive of quality education – McKenzie recent report;
Need to access February 2007 News Map – FIND THIS as well as the academic tracking video!!!!!!Atlas Learning / media
- flashmobs shared awareness. secret/group/publishing/performance/participation/watching spaces
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Mark Nieker – NAF Collaborations and Professional Development
Digital Arts Alliance – 8,000 kids a year
National Academy Foundation – high school academy programs, started by Sandy Weil – NAF focusing on a mentorship and internship models, small school initiatives, offering student career themed learning
Nieker discussed The LongTail and how it relates to PF’s work with NAF, that is providing ongoing pulse to initial PD, as the impact plays out in NAF academies over a period of time.
reference – Curtis Anderson – blockbuster with no tail…
Once the web connection was restored, MN focused on the collaborative model of PD with Pearson Foundation with NAF
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Practical Pegagogy: Web 2.0
Lauren Panton, Chatham University
pre-service teachers; technology integration, (and the room is PACKED)
Lauren provided a great overview of how to create professional development that is sustainable, practical, engaging, and viral
She provided a really practical overview of tools and pd tensions:
Tensions within district models
push<>pull
formal<>informal
personal <> group learning spaces
Some of Lauren’s favorite tools:
- Wordle – for badges among other things
- slideshare ( also slidecasting)
- diigo ( versus delicious) – groups, highlighting, and sharing ; slide function
- classroom 2.0
