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)

TCEA Leadership Seminar - Session 2 "Surviving and Excelling at 1 to 1" by Lori Gracey

Things You Need to Know and Think About When Thinking of Implementing a 1 to 1 Solution (from Lori Gracey. Project discussed: Bastrop ISD)

Lori says: This is SO worth it to do this. We have to do this because this is their world we, and our kids. live in. How would we function without our cell phones, computers, etc? Why would we do that to our kids? They need to function in school the same way they function in the real world!

Here are the insights and Questions to Ask Ourselves that Lori gave us:

There are tons of free stuff out there. Bastrop bought lots of audiobooks.

Why are we going 1 to 1? What is our educational reason?

The choice of what device to buy is one of the last decisions we should make. The why and the learning are first.

Does everyone in your district know what the 1 to 1 means? Bus drivers? Cafeteria? Custodians? Counselors? Every department in the district? this will effect all of them.

There will be things we do not anticipate.

Our community will have expectations. They will expect Internet access for their kids at home. We will have to put together a public relations information item so that everyone will know where they can go in the community to access wi-fi. In Bastrop Lori made a deal with Starbucks - free wifi for kids if they bought something while they were there. :)

Keep schools open at night when possible.

3 years is basically what we are going to get out of each device. Kids will tear them up.

We need to be sure that the computers will handle online testing.

Leadership: Are the people in 'power' on board for the Initiative. Are they passionate about it? This will consume technology directors/coordinators time. Are we prepared for a TAKS score dip the first year, but then higher scores years after that? It may be even the 4th year that scores go 'way' up. The School Board will need to know this.

Are our TIMS tech staff on board with this? There will be a lot of work. This will be all consuming for this department.

Campus principals will make or break this project. They MUST be 100% behind this project for it to work. They are critical. We need them to totally understand all aspects of the project. They will be dealing with angry parents over broken laptops, students accessing inappropriate sites, etc. There will be bumps in the road and principals will need to be committed to working through these.

Professional Learning: We have to help them understand what the new instruction looks like and how it will be integrated into PDAS. They will be worried. Campus principals must be on the same page about how they will use PDAS with teachers in the 1 to 1.

We must have training for C&I people and teachers.

The technology (laptop and software) vs. the teaching:

Teachers need to know their subject, not technology. That is their job - their content and the best instructional strategies. Tell teachers up front that they do not have to know how to do everything on the computer. The kids will know, kids will learn quickly how to do the things they do not, and teach them. Their job will be about teaching the content they know, just in a different way. We will take care of the technology training.

C&I: You cannot give students a laptop in a classroom and have teachers lecture. Kids will 'eat teachers alive.'

Bastrop totally rewrote their curriculum - all of the CORE.

Teachers have to know what to do when kids do not bring their laptops. And all of these issues. Teachers must know that they are not expected to never use pencils, paper, books anymore.

The computers: Kids who are bored will take their keys off of their keyboards. Note: Kids will be bored in class the first year if the teacher doesn't teach differently than before. We will have repair costs.

Taking them home...kids will decide not to bring it to school (if I don't bring it, I wont have to do work) if there are not engaging learning activities going on at school that involve using the laptops. If it is just a paper and pencil, not too engaging.

In Bastrop, after middle school kids used laptops in 8th grade, the 9th grade BCIS class was not needed for most kids anymore. Kids already knew the skills they would be learning in that class. Now kids there mostly take the advanced technology classes. Few take BCIS, so staffing and classes offered changed. We have to be ready for this.

AUP/Policies/Procedures:

How are we going to update/load software? Discipline policies?

Policies and procedures to think about: Students checking out of school...the school staff member who checks kids out will now be responsible for taking up laptops now, in addition to textbooks, etc. What will that procedure be?

Inventory: can be a nightmare...be careful. Laptop breaks, kid borrows one, inventory serial numbers...be careful to have a good process or kids will end up with more than one laptop.

Filtering: Blocked websites? Teachers will need quick responses to sites that need unblocked.

Bastrop bought software that filters away from school. The community will expect this. When kids are using their laptops late at night or they are on inappropriate sites at home - parents will expect your help with that.

Digital Copyright: Huge issue. Critical that we provide training for teachers and students about this. Lawyers WILL be calling the school when kids and teachers are posting things they copy and paste from other places....

Are we going to use a content management solution (place to put everything - PowerPoint, resources, lessons, web 2.0 tools like blogs, digital drop boxes to turn in assignments - that is searchable and available online 24/7). Free: Joomla.

The battery in the laptops will not last more than 3 hours (Lori says, not matter what brand of computer you have). Where will kids go to charge laptops during the day?

Do we want or need a software monitoring system so that teachers can see what is on all students' computers at all times? They are not that expensive. Teachers can lock students' computers when needed, open a program for everyone, etc.

We will spend a year talking to everyone about this, training, curriculum, etc.

This is NOT about TAKS scores. 1 to 1 will eventually raise scores, but this this is about truly training kids for the 21st Century.

Parents will need training. They will need to see how the laptops will be used to transform teaching and learning. They will not know what their child's classroom will look like and it is our job to help them understand what activities their children will be engaging in (what software/Internet resources will be used, etc.) Parents will want TAKS prep software on the laptops.

Parents and students will want to load printer software on the laptops at home (home printer, digital cameras, etc.). What will be our policy?

Printing Policy: Bastrop's was no printing. Everything was digital (turn in drop boxes, etc.). They went Green. If students want to print at school they must go to library, show the librarian what they want to print and get permission.

Parent Meetings: Lori had many, many meetings. She also had community meetings.

Lori did a great job of helping with the thinking and planning that we must do. She also gave me lots of resources to bring back (management and policies docs, Professional Learning Curriculum, Websites, etc.).

TCEA Leadership Seminar - Opening Session, Anita Givens, Tuesday Feb. 9

This full-day seminar is designed for board members, campus and district administrators, technology directors and coordinators. Throughout the day, we will be investigating trends and issues related to the effective implementation, administration, and evaluation of technology integration. This looks like a great day!

Opening Session: TEA Technology Update from Anita Givens, Texas Education Agency:

Electronic Textbooks:

Future of textbooks: Definition of textbooks in Texas includes "electronic textbooks" - anything that contributes to the learning process in an electronic format. This includes "open source textbook." The state must have ownership of the Open Source content, then it shall be licensed to all public schools. If a school district adopts the Open Source they will get a credit for the money they save from choosing other Board adopted books. This means that students can download it from the Internet for free.

The state textbook fund may be used to purchase technological equipment to support the use of electronic textbooks.

HB 4292: The commissioner will adopt a list of electronic textbooks. If a school chooses one of these, the state will pay the district the amount equal to the cost of the ET, plus credit up to 50% of difference in savings from choosing a ET from the Commissioners list, and then money to buy more OT or technology equipment.

This Spring, we will be getting information on our options for selecting textbooks. Before we make a decision about instructional materials, we must include these key individuals: IT, C&I, Business Office, Teachers

We will all have a lot of options.

For the Future Proclamation 2011:

Publishers will have to bid digital and paper formats separately, all teacher and ancillary materials digitally.

New Online State Professional Learning:

Future of Professional Development: The State received a directive for online PL. This summer every teacher has the opportunity to take an online class from TEA. Literacy, New TEKS, End of Course Content/Instructional Strategies Academies PL will be created as online modules/professional learning communities.

There will be Content Academies for teachers in Math, Science, ELA, new CTE courses, Fine Arts training for Math and Science...

Because all

When the SS TEKS are adopted, the Content Academies for this courses will be created and offered.

Targeted assistance and training for schools in need. School Leadership Academies

All of this Professional Learning offered by TEA will be evaluated.

Technology Pilots:

Computer Lending Program (more info coming out in the Spring)

TEA Technology Demonstration Sites - schools doing cutting edge things will be able to apply for this

Project Share: New State Digital Learning Platform

Project Share - online digital platform to provide online textbooks, online professional learning. This is a state-wide district portal that all Texas schools can use student and teacher collaboration, access to online resources, content. This will be rolled out this Spring and Summer. Phase One: using it with teachers in the Academies for PLCs. The PL that the state is building is being done in the Project Share platform.

We will get an invitation to the platform and then we can all build e-portfolios.

The Platform will be EPSILEN. The State is paying the cost for this for all districts.

All NY Times content from 1851 to the present will be available to teachers on this platform.

We need to watch for information/email March, April, May to join the platform. Teachers will receive invitations this Spring. Teachers will be able to log in before they leave school in May so that they can join professional learning communities and have access to the Content Academies Professional learning and resources that will become available this summer. Letters have been emailed to District Leader contacts about this project.

Questions or comments can be emailed to:

Projectshare@tea.state.ts.us

Are we ready for all of these 21st Century changes?