Given to Us Today by the Great Discovery Education Leaders - Greatness!

(Listen to our group today reading the poem)

...do not look outside yourself for the leader.
This could be a good time!
There is a river flowing now very fast.
It is so great and swift that there are those who will be afraid.
They will try to hold on to the shore.
They will feel like they are being torn apart, and they will suffer greatly.
Know the river has its destination.
The elders say we must let go of the shore, push off toward the middle of
the river,
keep our eyes open, and our heads above the water.
See who is there with you and celebrate.
At this time in history, we are to take nothing personally,   least of all
ourselves!
For the moment we do, our spiritual growth and journey comes to a halt.
The time of the lonely wolf is over.
Gather yourselves!
We are the ones we have been waiting for.

Discovery Education Science - Check this Out!

Discovery Education Science
Amazing Digital Product for our 21st Century Scientists
Be sure to check out the "Experience It" and the "Product Information" links/areas on this page!

Beyond the Textbook - Discovery Learning and Texas ASCD @ Region 11 Education Service Center, Ft. Worth, TX Jan. 21, 2011 - Dr. Carol Wetzel

21st Century Skills - Promoting Creativity and Innovation in the Classroom - Dr. Carol Wetzel
with Carol Ann McGuire

Fierce Conversations: 
The Fierce Blog
Fierce Conversations - Book Notes
1.  What is the challenge?  Creating 21st Century Learning Ecosystems
What is 21st Century Learning (Partnership of 21st Century Learning videos)?  Observable, Measurable Indicators:
Upgraded curriculum and instructional best practices, P21, Global Cultures Learning/Collaborations
2.  What's at stake? Our students, our kids
3.  The ideal outcome? Carol Ann McGuire 
Shanghai TV University   -
China educates 23% of population, but planning for 100%.  They one education system, not individual systems like the US. 


It's not about money, it's about innovation of what we already have (technology, teaching practices, creativity, collaboration, problem solving). Incorporating more Fine Arts into our curriculum.   

4.  Relevant background information - What are we doing in the United States that is a model of 21st Century Learning Ecosystem?
ThinkQuest:   
SARS - An Open Scar thinkquest
Challenge-based/problem-based/project-based Learning:  Students collaborating with one another and students around the world, teams creating a website for their peers.  Using technology, inquiry-based learning, making the world a global village. 
How can we do this? Implementing Problem-based learning, using the Thinkquest model of collaborations of students in different campus classrooms and district schools, 

New Tech High -


5.  What have we done up to this point - 


6.  What can we do to meet the challenge - sharing the vision, modeling "the way," take a top-down approach to PL with all stakeholders, educate parents with 21st Century nights (stations manned by students demonstrating how they are learning 21st century skills), teacher PL, model lesson demonstrations for teachers (they are not pulled out of classrooms for PL), classroom management of digital teaching modeling, videotaping of teaching (teachers view one another as they teach digitally) and put these on the Cisco Video Portal.

Beyond the Textbook - Discovery Education &Texas ASCD - Jan. 21, 2011 - Hall Davidson @ Region 11 Education Service Center, Ft. Worth, TX

21st Century Learning in our district:  Must have a shared vision (teachers, parents, administrators).
Hall Davidson - Director of Global Learning, Discovery Education
http://www.discoveryedspeakersbureau.com/node/119


Article:  A Call Technology in the Classroom - from District Administration
What do we have to do to Transform?
1.  We have to model the use of technologies
Discovery Streaming Education - Not just a video library, that's not digital learning.  Editable, student-centered (they can use it 24/7),  can share on social-media sites...
We need to use this media in every meeting with teachers, principals.  Example:  Animal Behaviors clip with principals - "Which animal most reminds you of you in your daily job?"
Begin with this activity at ILT and follow up with Lunch and Learns, campus instruction, integrate into District Curriculum.
Google Translater
Google Alert
Wordle
2.  Web 2.0 applications for student learning - have to begin using digital tools in the classroom


3.  Professional Learning for Teachers
4. 


Kids in online learning situations out-perform kids in face to face instruction. If we don't do it, the private sector/Charter Schools will steal our kids.


Kaplan University Commercial


Online education - web-based video, instant messaging, and collaboration tools
Are we using iTunes U?
More digital books sold at Amazon than books 09/10.


Why go digital?

• Economy
• Technology effectiveness
• 21st Century Skills
• Engagement for learners

 But all of this means nothing if we cant measurably improve learning.  That is where you will get buy-in from teachers, principals, and parents.  Check out the Charlotte-Mechlenburg School District (this district is also a model Cont. Improvement district).  Ann Clark - chief academic officer in Charlotte - Science study scores after they adopted a digital instruction model.  The professional development was the key to the success of this initiative.  Also Osceola County Public Schools, FL. , Indianapolis Public Schools... Students' scores in Reading, Math, and SS also improved because they were more interested in the content, they wrote in traditional journals in addition to digital composition (important for kids to write in journals traditionally  - brain research)