PD 2.0: It's All about Building Community
When preparing for the recent three day workshop- High Schools New Face I tried to model the concepts I would be teaching and designed what I hoped would be seen as Professional Development 2.0. I wanted the secondary teachers, administrators, and superintendents attending to experience personalized learning, development of their own personal learning networks and virtual communities of practice.
Using Wikis to Build Learning Communities
Wikis are a wonderful tool for building community in a blended environment. My first goal in building community with my conference cohort was to have everyone join the wiki so that we could all edit and add to different pages. My thinking is that by creating a collaborative space we all experience a sense of ownership in that process.
I also wanted to use the workshop wiki to connect the face-to-face participants to the synchronous online guests giving them a way to connect and feel part of the same community.
I also used the wiki to:
--- access the workshop goals
--- deliver my curriculum
--- give everyone access to all the resources
--- store the materials and movies I used during the workshop
--- promote collaboration
--- link to all the content being created
The workshop goals for the three days were as follows:
1. PRIMARY OBJECTIVE - For you to go back and change at least one thing
your are doing in your typical practice in the classroom. We will revisit this goal.
2. To expose you to several tools and strategies used to make
connections with content experts beyond the four walls of your
classroom.
3. To network you with some of the widely recognized 21st Century
learners/teachers in the blogosphere for ongoing professional
development.
4. To establish a virtual community of practice where you can continue to connect with each other long after the workshop ends.
5. To help you become comfortable with and create your own blog, wiki,
podcasts and other social networking accounts in an effort to help you
gain ownership of the new learning landscape.
6. To promote the knowledge, skills and sense of urgency for 21st Century teaching and learning.
Blogging for Reflection and Building a Sense of Trust
Another tool I used was a workshop blog. My purpose in doing so was three fold. I wanted to model the use of blogs, help participants understand the strength of comments, and allow a place for reflection. Using a group blog is a perfect "first step" towards encouraging the adoption of blogs as an educational strategy. This also gave the cohort a place to start sharing ideas and a way to get to know each other. Having introductions happen via the blog saves time and yet works toward instilling trust as we get to know a little about each other, while at the same time giving practice to those who have never used a blog.
In an intentional effort to build trust for our developing community I also created a team building activity within the wiki. This activity enabled participants to engage as a team, practice posting to a wiki, explore and discuss Creative Commons licenses and copyright issues. It also taught the skill of finding and posting a copyright free picture using proper citation. Once team identity was established the small groups discussed a few prompts that deepened their understanding and ownership of the changing educational landscape.
Developing the Professional Learning Network
The most powerful component of participatory media (Web 2.0) is the ability to build diverse personal and professional learning networks. Using a connectivism framework and Gizmo, a VoIP tool, we engaged in an activity called Virtual Speed Dating-Web 2.0 Discussion. While there was no dating intent involved, the quick introductions, high energy conversations and 15 minute per conversation time frame helped earn the provocative name. Educational bloggers who use Web 2.0 tools with their teachers or students from Australia, New Zealand, Wales, and across the US agreed to participate.
Speed Dating Set-Up
I asked ten tech savvy, blogging, Web 2.0
using, professionals to each download Gizmo and add me. Ten computers with Gizmo loaded were placed in various places
in the training space. At the designated time we called each guest via Gizmo. Five to six participants sat at each table and began to introduce themselves. The invited guest had 15 minutes to lead a fast, succinct, informal
conversation around how they use participatory media in their own teaching or PD
opportunities and encourage a back and forth conversation.
Getting to know each group and sharing was fast and furious (like speed dating) as they only had 15 minutes before we transitioned to another fresh group of 5-6 people and the process started over again. We did this four times.
Outcomes of the Exercise
For the most part this wildly fun event went like planned, but even when the live events like this do not go exactly as planned they are still very valuable in terms of experience and learning. Wes Fryer, one of the virtual "speed daters" described the questions as "very challenging and thought provoking... reminded me of college debate cross examinations!" Paul Harrington, another one of the guests who actually podcasted his experience had this to say,
While I know some of the speed daters had technical problems, this happens with this technology sometimes. In fact, I often marvel at the way it actually works at all. We have all tried to push the envelope in our own ways, many of us trying out the technology in presentations because we are following your very considerable lead in tech use both in the classroom and the lecture hall.
I found even the pre-meeting Skype chat with fellow 'daters' an invaluable experience. I also appreciate how much the whole experience meant to the most important people there -the attendees at your course. After all our driving aim as educational technologists is to push more educators to join this phenomenal way of re-defining teaching and learning in our own classrooms.
The attendees enjoyed the experience as well. Several principals who were not in my cohort came up to me at dinner and shared how excited their staff was in describing the "speed dating" event. In addition, many listed "speed dating" as the most valuable part of the workshop.
Elluminate Me
Another networking strategy I used was to offer an Elluminate session with four of the Alabama Best Practice Center 21st Century Fellows. The Fellows were new to Web 2.0 tools just two short years ago. I felt that by having them share their stories in Elluminate breakout rooms participants could get a feel for a virtual classroom, while also learning about how these teachers developed their 21st Century pedagogy using Web 2.0 tools to create projects that aligned with school and district goals. Everyone put on head sets and logged into our virtual classroom. After a quick overview of the tools we went into virtual break out rooms with about 10-15 participants each. After a brief presentation (inside Elluminate) showing wikis, slides, and blogs related to the projects, the Fellows opened the room up to questions. Participants raised their hands virtually and used a microphone to ask teachers in Alabama to explain details. After 20 minutes we switched rooms and the participants got to hear a different Fellow speak.
Twitter Camp- (picture is from Alan's NMC conference- not ours)
Another networking tool that provided connections and yet another way for participants to build their own personal learning networks was Twitter. I had each of the participants create an account and to add me as a friend. Like in the picture above, I added a message that showed how they could post to our camp. I also alerted others who were my friend in Twitter to please add our @hsnf account. So that throughout the first day of the workshop participants and my friends in the blogosphere communicated and made connections.
Blogging Begins with Reading
As a way of introducing blogging for scholarship and how just like good writing begins with reading, so does blogging, I had participants visit the blogs of Edubloggers who came to the NECC Edubloggercon.The participants were asked to spend sometime reading and exploring these blogs and then post a reflection on the workshop blog of what they found interesting. We also practiced embedding the link of the blog they read by using html code.
The activity was an intentional way to model the building of personal/professional networks by locating blogs and adding them to an RSS feed. We created our own feeds and practiced adding some newly favored blogs.
Virtual Learning Communities 
The component I think is really missing from most professional development opportunities is follow through. Typically, we send teachers to workshops and they get fired up and come back unable to sustain the momentum without support.
One solution to this problem is to create a virtual learning community (VLC) using one of the available platforms like Tapped In or Ning. Getting the participants established in the community while you are still together face-to-face helps ensure use of the resource after the workshop ends. Obviously, most of us who deliver professional development will not have time to facilitate a learning community for each workshop given, so it is imperative that ownership for the community is given to several interested attendees while you are at the workshop. They take on the role of moderator.
We decided to create a learning community inside Tapped In as a way of staying connected long after the workshop ends. We explored Ning too and many joined Classroom 2.0. One superintendent even created his own Ning community to use with his teachers.
It's All about the Learning
Teachers like tangibles. I think the reason there is so much focus on the tools, rather than how to use the tools to support learning is because when we are learning something new we want something concrete to manipulate. Web 2.0 tools like blogs, wikis and podcasts give us that concrete fix. Teachers, like their students, need time to explore the tools before getting on with the learning. However, at some point in a PD 2.0 workshop the focus needs to switch from the tool itself to making the tool a seamless medium for mastery of standards-based objectives and 21st Century life skills.
After looking at many examples of 21st Century teaching and learning, we broke into groups based on disciplines. Using Post It notes each person at the table generated one idea per note for how these new concepts and tools could translate to learning in the classroom. Next, we worked in pairs to chunk the ideas into manageable categories. Finally, as a group we used chart paper and synthesized the information into workable lesson ideas. A reporter in the group then captured what was generated for the wiki so everyone could benefit.
The final activity was a Birds of a Feather exercise where we grouped by interests: blogs, social networking tools, podcasting, Second Life, or virtual learning communities. Groups then took an unconference approach to what was discussed. The activity was intentionally unstructured and the learning needs/wants of the individual were met by others who could informally show them what they needed to know. The discussions and demos developed organically based on learner interest and "just in time" learning needs.
Next Steps
One distinctive factor of PD 2.0 is that after the workshop ends the communication and collaboration doesn't. Using our VLC, linking to and commenting on each others blogs, and bumping into each other on Twitter, Skype, delicious and other social networking tools will ensure that we all continue to learn and grow from each other. Individuals involved in my cohort in New York become part of the larger international community and as champions develop and teach others, the ideas spread and educational reform takes place through a "none of us are as good as all of us" mentality. Even as we speak, Paul Harrington has joined the Tapped In group and is answering questions from the NY teachers about how he uses Classblogmeister.
Professional Development 2.0 is about personalized learning for teachers. It is about ownership, developing your online voice and joining professional networks. As teachers we must first own these concepts and skills before we can give them to our students. And by using these 21st Century strategies to create networks of 'teachers teaching teachers' we can ensure that none of us get left behind and that every child will be prepared to meet the future that awaits them.
Your PD 2.0 Ideas Needed
What 21st Century strategies have you used in a PD 2.0 workshop? What ideas have you tried that worked or didn't work in helping teachers to understand the changing learning landscape? Do share!
As my friend in New Zealand, Jane Nicholls likes to say, "Problem solving is more fun with a friend."
Comments
Virtual learning communities work great for professional development. These communities allow for collaboration between educators and other professionals that can be arranged around the busy teacher's schedule. Particularly at the secondary level, educators become isolated from each other and can benefit greatly from a VLC like Tapped In. We used it in the Alabama Best Practices Center 21st Century Schools program and found it to be very helpful in connecting more experienced educators with those just entering the program. Because it worked so well for us in our professional development, I added Tapped In to my classroom this year. It had many great uses for students as well. Virtual learning communities further professional development goals and offer both educators and students collaborative opportunities that are invaluable.
Posted by: Scarlett Gaddy | July 22, 2007 7:05 PM
Sheryl
You say,
"Teachers like tangibles. I think the reason there is so much focus on the tools[...]However, at some point in a PD 2.0 workshop the focus needs to switch from the tool itself to making the tool a seamless medium for mastery of standards-based objectives and 21st Century life skills."
I think you have just summarized the two unavoidable steps needed to develop new literacies. The task of the presenter or Professional Developer would be to facilitate bridging the gap between these steps.
This post is also a brilliant summary of what conferences can be like in the future.
Thank you for sharing.
Posted by: Claudia Ceraso | July 22, 2007 7:09 PM
Hi Sheryl, I loved this article. I especially loved the idea of the group workshop blog to demonstrate the power of blogging and your statement that blogging begins with reading. There is so much else too. Brilliant!
Posted by: Jo McLeay | July 22, 2007 10:49 PM
Hi Sheryl
Thanks for this great example of how PD can be done differently. So often we have PD which is do as I say not as I do. I look forward to using your framework today with a group of Social Studies and English teachers and will let you know how it goes.
Posted by: Richard van Dijk | July 22, 2007 10:50 PM
Scarlett,
I would love to hear more about how you used a VLC with your students. Please share!
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Claudia,
You said, "I think you have just summarized the two unavoidable steps needed to develop new literacies. The task of the presenter or Professional Developer would be to facilitate bridging the gap between these steps."
Well put! I think we are at the place in the development of the new literacies that we need to start thinking collectively about the best ways for transmission. Maybe the facilitation you speak of is an actual skill that 21st Century teachers and PD folks need to develop?
Thanks for extending my thinking around this. I hope you will drop back by and add to the developing conversation.
Posted by: Sheryl Nussbaum-Beach | July 22, 2007 11:31 PM
Exactly! Our attendance at workshops from now on should never end!
Great description of activities and the enthusiasm it generated!
Bravo.
Cheryl
Posted by: Cheryl Oakes | July 22, 2007 11:59 PM
A great report on what sounded like a brilliant event. It was great also to be part of the speed dating experience - Sheryl again pushing the boundaries of PD - keep up the good work :)
Paul
Posted by: Paul Harrington | July 23, 2007 1:01 AM
Sheryl,
This looks like it was a fabulous workshop. The article really pulls it all together. A colleague and I are creating a "Wisdom Community" within our school to review Web 2.0 sites and tools, evaluate them thoughtfully, and brainstorm applications for the classroom. It will all be collected on a Teach Web 2.0 wiki that we hope to open to the outside world once it is established. You can see the beginnings of our community at http://teachweb2.wikispaces.com/
Posted by: Wendy DG | July 23, 2007 1:50 AM
Jo,
The workshop blog was a great way to kick things off and get teachers who haven't used blogs to start by commenting. Although I struggled with only having a few posts and then transitioning to their own or other's blogs.
Does the abbreviated use seem awkward to you? Can you think of other ways I could have incorporated that resource?
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Richard,
I do hope you drop back by and tell us how your session went.
I am very curious to know what of this framework you tried and how it worked with your teachers?
I also would enjoy hearing your reflections of your event overall in terms of 21st Century skills.
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Cheryl and Paul,
Thanks for your words of encouragement. Would you mind sharing some of the ways you are using web 2.0 tools in PD opportunities at your school? How have you built community with your staff?
Cheryl- I remember you said you were going to have your teachers read and comment on each others blogs in an effort to build community. How did that go?
Posted by: Sheryl Nussbaum-Beach | July 23, 2007 2:09 AM
Wendy,
I spent some time on your Teach Web 2.0 wiki and your blog. Looks like a promising start.
I wonder if you would mind sharing a little about the VLC framework around which you are patterning your Wisdom Community.
Reading your blog you mentioned Charlotte N. Gunawardena's VLC model.How should her work be informing our discussion here?
I look forward to learning from all you will share.
Posted by: Sheryl Nussbaum-Beach | July 23, 2007 2:26 AM
I have learned some very valuable lessons from those I consider my online mentors....here is one piece of advice I wish to share:
Don't be overwhelmed by it all. Pick one tool and try it with one class. Explore with them, then expand as you are ready.
In my not-so-infinite wisdom, I said, "but that's not fair to the other kids" when that oh-so-knowledgeable mentor said, "but if you don't do it at all your being unfair to so many more."
GET OUT THERE AND JUST TRY IT! Kids don't expect perfection and they love it when you don't know it all.
Posted by: Aimee Smith | July 23, 2007 2:51 AM
Great advice Aimee. So did you start with your learning first or did you just dive in with your one tool/one class? I would love to know which tool you chose first and what was the activity?
Posted by: Sheryl Nussbaum-Beach | July 23, 2007 3:36 AM
Sheryl--
Your workshop is all about the participants and building their capacity. It is amazing to me how far we have come in providing our teachers with "work" shops where they control their own learning!
I am curious--I got stuck in the team building activity you did at the very begining. How long did that thake the participants to complete? How did you keep them on schedule??
Mary Anne
Posted by: mary anne | July 23, 2007 10:52 AM
Hi Mary Anne,
Personalized learning really works with teachers too.
The team building activity was part of Tuesday's agenda. I allowed 30 minutes for the team to choose an ID and discuss the prompts. I circulated helping, answering questions, and redirecting during that time.
When it was time I simply started the reporting out of their team's responses to the discussion prompts. Some teams had gotten farther than others but all had been engaged.
Do you have ideas for how I could make it better or have done something different that would have accomplished the same objectives? I would love to hear others ideas on ways to make f2f trainings more 2.0.
Posted by: Sheryl Nussbaum-Beach | July 23, 2007 11:33 AM
It's great to see the wonderful work in technology you are doing! I have attended some workshops through the county this summer and as always, there are those that are gung-ho about new technology ideas and those that aren't! I'm hoping to see more interest in August!
Posted by: Sheila | July 23, 2007 2:42 PM
As a High School New Face participant, I would like to compliment Sheryl on her excellent job. Sheryl, you were well prepared, clear in your message, and an overall nice person! Your patience made it easy for us technologically challenged to ask questions and make comments. I plan to start using wikis right away with my level I French students. I would like them to write journals about themselves adding new information as they learn more vocabulary and structure of the language. I think that Sheryl is so right in suggesting that we just try one little piece at a time.
Posted by: Kathy Tevington | July 23, 2007 2:46 PM
Kathy,
Thanks for stopping by! I am glad you found the workshop of value!
Kathy is a brand new blogger. It would be nice if some of you would stop by and leave her a comment to get her started. Leave her your ideas for using these tools with her foreign language students.
http://frenchteaching.edublogs.org
Posted by: Sheryl Nussbaum-Beach | July 23, 2007 3:08 PM
Sheryl, you model these concepts and skills so well!
You’ve shown us exactly what these 21st century or multi modal or whatever-you-want-to-call-them skills are. (This may sound obvious, but a lot of the discussion of these skills never gets any more concrete than the old “lifelong learning skills” that headed every school’s philosophy but rarely showed its face in a classroom!)
You’ve provided tangible evidence of the need for/benefits of them in and out of class. (Teachers are a hard sell. After all, if I don’t need it, why do my students?)
You’ve designed guided and independent practice in actually using these skills. (So often we assume that teachers aren’t like real learners who need time and practice to process.)
You’ve even included ways to help us maintain the learning community and further develop our expertise in using these skills beyond the lesson. (How often have we all come back from a workshop about to explode with excitement only to never unpack our hastily scribbled notes or actually start using our new tricks?)
On top of that, the instruction is emotionally and intellectually engaging and fun. (Actually, this would go first on my list.)
I have been a huge proponent of 21st century skills for ages because I understood the need for our students to have these capabilities and experiences, but this workshop makes me feel the need in a visceral way. If teachers really do teach the way they are taught, the participants in this workshop may just be as amazing as you are! You don’t mind if I steal all of this, do you?
Do you have any follow up in mind for these groups or will they be self-sustaining?
Posted by: Robin D. Smith | July 23, 2007 3:17 PM
Hi Robin!
Thanks for all the kind words.
You said, "Do you have any follow up in mind for these groups or will they be self-sustaining?"
In terms of formal follow-up no, I was simply a guest presenter at a f2f conference in NY (I live in VA). However, informally we will stay connected via the VLC in Tapped In, their blogs, Twitter, and other places we bump into online.
A few of the superintendents have asked for me to do a follow-up with their faculty. So that will scale what was started.
You said, "You don’t mind if I steal all of this, do you?"
Not at all. The reason I shared in such detail was to give a PD 2.0 framework for others to use and remix. What I am hoping for is as you improve upon what I have done you will add your suggestions here so I can grow too!
You didn't link to your blog. Do you have one I can add to my feed?
Posted by: Sheryl Nussbaum-Beach | July 23, 2007 3:31 PM
Sheryl,
You've done a great job both modelling and (for your readers) laying out and explaining what you did at your conference. I get fatigued even thinking about the planning and coordination that must have gone in to it.
The on-going virtual learning community is indeed key in sustaining development.
In my Edusign blog, I just wrote a post on Faculty Development 2.0 inspired by your work here, and am soliciting reader experiences on what tools they've come across that help faculty (or professional) development move from the Information Age to the Age of Creativity (Daniel Pink) that you've written about in past posts.
It looks like you and others use a variety of tools, which I feel still need a connecting hub. I'd be interested in reader feedback
http://edusign.blogspot.com/2007/07/faculty-development-20-in-age-of.html
-Joel G.
Posted by: Joel G. | July 23, 2007 6:25 PM
Joel,
I think Faculty Development 2.0 will be key to moving these reform ideas forward. I am off to your blog now to add my 2 cents.
Thanks for dropping by. I hope you will come back often.
Posted by: Sheryl Nussbaum-Beach | July 23, 2007 7:18 PM
Thank you for sending your on-line seminar here with this assignment, Sheryl. I am looking for a FTF workshop like this for my befuddled mind that prefers one-step-at-a-time experience before being faced with the bevy of choices that we have. I especially liked the "Bird of a Kind" table to web exercise. The URL I give above is a little embarrassing: I created this first-ever home page in order to build the blog Verizon promised, but as they did not have a blog afterall (at least I cannot see how to get it to accept blogs), I will have to start over elsewhere. Thank you for all the excellent resources you share; thank you for all the times you say, "Use it! That's why I sent you here." I'll remember to do that myself whern I finally launch. Susan
Posted by: Susan Chast | July 23, 2007 7:41 PM
Sheryl, I concure with all that has been said. This was an overwhelming, yet incredibly beneficial workshop and I feel very lucky to have taken it. I loved the fact that everything you showed us, was in the resource page and also on the daily syllabus (which I felt was VERY effective at going back and researching). Thanks again and I can't wait to get everything up and running!
Karen
Posted by: Karen | July 23, 2007 7:55 PM
Hi Susan,
Glad you are finding the resources useful.I love your blog! Why is it you are going to rebuild somewhere else?
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Karen,
I am glad the workshop was of value to you. What about it stood out as different than PD 1.0 workshops you have had in the past? Do you think your students would enjoy a similar structure to learning in the classroom?
Posted by: Sheryl Nussbaum-Beach | July 23, 2007 8:36 PM
I have watched our student teachers use blogs for their inservice activities. Now I got a glimpse into what interested and excited them. Since f2f teacher networks have sustained my professional soul over the years, I think I am now ready for the new landscape. This workshop is helping me get started. Right now "To wiki or to blog," that is my question.
Posted by: Rita Sorrentino | July 24, 2007 1:19 AM
Life has certainly changed since Tuanz and meeting with you Sheryl. The integration of Web 2 into every aspect of teaching and student learning is now part and parcel of every day life with so many new ideas being promoted by students as they thrive in their stimulating learning environment.Lenva and I are going to present at a conference in Sydney in October and I have found many of the ideas that you have posted in your workshops really valuable. They have guided my thinking in the use of wikis and blogs in the classroom. ( Thank you for your comment and input on the Anne Frank blog done by students in my class). We are now looking at Human Rights - with some exciting web 2 applications to support this learning.
Posted by: Gail Mitchell | July 24, 2007 10:16 AM
Thanks for the great and very informative article. Working with the Alabama Best Pratices Center through the 21st Century Project was one of the most thought provoking projects I have ever been involved in. Our team and thereby our teachers and students have moved forward very quickly because of it and you, Sheryl. Thanks for all your hard work!!!
Posted by: Elizabeth Reints | July 24, 2007 1:11 PM
Rita,
The rule of thumb is choosing the right tool/medium for the task. Wikis are great for collaboration or a portal of resources. Blogs are better for op ed pieces where one person (per post) has a conversation with the audience about ideas.
I am looking forward to seeing how you work through this and adding your resources to my feed.
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Gail!
Sounds like New Zealand has taken off in leading others through online collaboration and personalized student learning! Keep me posted and break a leg in Sydney. Be sure and share all the great things you create for that conference.
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Elizabeth,
I'd love to hear more about how you and your students are applying all we discussed and learned from each other in our VLC.
What was it about the project and our virtual collaborations that worked for you and gave you the motivation to change practice?
Posted by: Sheryl Nussbaum-Beach | July 24, 2007 5:11 PM
The challenge, some say, was coping with a three day conference on technology most of us participants never experienced. But I say the real challenge is digesting and disseminating the information to every teaching organ in our bodies, so that our class can benefit from our discoveries.
Just communicating via this blog shows that we web 2.0 partcipants have accepted the challenge. Thanks Sheryl.
teachers, model good students
Posted by: Shaheed Ali | July 24, 2007 6:23 PM
I really like the idea of the PD participants being a part of things. I want to learn lots more about wikis!!
Posted by: Melissa | July 24, 2007 7:16 PM
Interesting read and interesting event. One issue I have struggled with in similar training session is how to encourage people to continue to participate in virtual communities after the face-to-face community has stopped meeting. Are there incentives that make sense for people who have little in common? Are there check-ins or deadlines that might help sustain communities?
Posted by: Dan Gilbert | July 24, 2007 11:13 PM
I was at this event as "support," but I have to tell you that I learned so much during this time. This was a very valuable workshop in terms of really using these tools. What I liked most about it is that she did not linger so much on the "how to" as happens in so many workshops that I attend. Rather, she gave them just enough to get into an activity and then use the tools in practical ways.
Currently the organization I work with has workshops about the tools -- ie. Podcasting, Wikis, and Blogs, but I can see these phasing out over time as we begin to simply incorporate them into everyday use. Which is the hardest part for those of use not native to it.....
One challenge, however, is that many of these tools violate many school districts outdated Authorized Use Policies. We will be having a form, once it's approved by Board and lawyer, that districts will have to have their superintendent sign before they can take many of these workshops. Basically they'll have to agree to update their AUP's, realize that teachers are responsible for their content, and that they will obtain parental consent for the students to use the tools.
I would caution any teachers that really want to use web 2.0 technologies in their classrooms (You all should want to use them) to check with their districts AUP, and if it does not allow for them (most old AUPs refer to discussion boards, etc...) be an instrument of change within your district and get your AUPs changed.
Good work at the conference Sheryl, and I'm glad that you made it through the Buffalo Airport with all your belongings. ;-)
Posted by: Antonio Scordo | July 25, 2007 3:03 PM
As a participant, I cannot say enough about the professional development that occurred. I was totally immersed in the applicability of using web tools for students. It wasn't until the end of the second day that it occurred to me that there was applicability to on-line professional development. Creating virtual space for teachers and administrators to learn from each other was something I thought about but had not put into practice. Sheryl, you have stretched me once again and for that I thank you.
Since the conference has ended, more and more people are continuing the conversation on the virtual spaces you helped us create. It is exciting to hear how people continue to be energized and now that they are more comfortable using the tools, are looking for examples of how people are integrating the technology with instruction. I'd say you achieved your goal!
Posted by: Neil A. Rochelle | July 25, 2007 3:36 PM
Sheryl,
You did a great job of getting us all motivated to continue using the many different tools you shared with us at High School's New Face conference in Elicottville, NY.
I am relatively new at Blogging but have started one (http://hcssesp.blogspot.com) I am also using a wiki to store information, links, and any other information I want to utilize for an upcoming Board retreat, Administrative retreat and first day of school planning. http://boardretreat.wikispaces.com/. Much of the infomation on my wiki is from links in the materials you shared with us.
I've been stretched so much that I haven't been to bed before 12:30am since I left the conference as I attempt to get myself around the real power of the tools and how I can use them most effectively. One of the resources I read said that you should limit yourself to how much blogging you do sy one time. I now believe that because I am tired from the late nights.
I have also been amazed at how much the community of learners are willing to share what they know to help out those of us with questions in order to move the learning along in a forward direction.
Sheryl, your personal story was moving and I applaud you for what you have been able to do to help move education forward and your epitaph will surely reflect the quality work you are doing on behalf of children all over the world.
I want to "share the love" but must have had brain overload when you explained how to create a link out of a word in a blog. If someone can talk me through that again, I would appreciate it.
Sincerely in education,
Garry
PS I have a virtual office in Tapped In and am exploring the best way to utilize the resources there.
Posted by: Garry Stone | July 26, 2007 3:54 AM
Sheryl, I have been using grant awards to develop 21st Century Skill Sets to use in my classroom and for PD2.0. By finding the best and most advanced tools to complete a goal or realize a vision, I end up with a "package" that draws attention merely from its usefulness.
Whether it’s a creating a screencast tutorial or developing new open source tools, making it user friendly and packing it up in a way that gets attention help spread the word.
New skills for the user and a more efficient and enjoyable means to an end help everyone involved not to mention the connections and ideas that come with sharing. It's as though you take a step up to a new level of expertise with each accomplishment. News clips may ensue and interest from students or other teachers help open the door to share these skills. It just goes round and round. Getting the word out about what works or asking for help to find out why it didn’t builds the synergistic dynamic for a positive outcome regardless of it’s success.
Thanks for a wonderful blog.
Posted by: Lee Baber | July 27, 2007 6:08 AM
Shaheed,
I think you did a fabulous job coping! I can't wait to see how the collaborative session you planned turns out. Please let me know how I can help.
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Dan Gilbert,
You said, "One issue I have struggled with in similar training session is how to encourage people to continue to participate in virtual communities after the face-to-face community has stopped meeting. Are there incentives that make sense for people who have little in common? Are there check-ins or deadlines that might help sustain communities?"
You might want to check my other post on here about VLC as I address some of those issues.
Thanks for adding to this discussion!
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Neil and Garry,
As superintendents I am so proud of your leading from the bleeding edge!!! As your staff watch you learn and use the tools in your practice they will also be willing to try.
I am learning so much from all you have to share.
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Lee,
Thanks for your valuable insights. You said, "New skills for the user and a more efficient and enjoyable means to an end help everyone involved not to mention the connections and ideas that come with sharing."
I so agree! In that spirit you have got to see what the Alabama teachers involved in the 21st Century learning work I am helping to lead have accomplished. It is nothing short of amazing.
http://www.abpc21.org/index.html
Posted by: Sheryl Nussbaum-Beach | July 28, 2007 5:47 AM
Your session at the conference was awesome. What I walked away remembering the most is the different ways to use blogs and wikis across curriculi that we shared. And I have been looking for a threaded blogging/forum software to use in my classes. Tapped-in seems to be the one to try. Thanks.. Nicole
Posted by: Nicole | August 6, 2007 4:35 PM