Sydney Region Leaders Conference

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Welcome!

Workshop

As the culmination of an evolving model called The Edge-ucators Way, Tom will engage participants in exploring three core strategies and a model to promote student self-initiated learning.
(Want to try ClassBubbles? – use key: detnsw)

 

Keynote

I have the pleasure of sharing “It’s Broke – So Let’s Fix it” with the leaders of government schools in the Sydney region.  The key points are to focus on our most important tasks: changing classroom practices to leverage ICTs to support the best in evidence-based pedagogies, to break free from a century’s worth of habits and emerge into a new Era of Education.  A pdf of the keynote is available.

The Edge-ucators Way

Look to Learn

Samples

Resources

Interaction: Comment on this Post: how could you use / support Look to Learns?

ClassPortals

References:

For Ideas & Inspiration

Interaction: Brainstorm Topics you think would make good ClassPortals

WebQuests

WebQuests by Tom

Resources

Articles

Interaction: Brainstorm Topics / Big Questions for possible WebQuests (Group 1 & Group 2)

Activity: Creating Your Smart Online Space

Activity – Web 2 Tools

Self-managed Learning Framework for students

C E Q • A LL / Seek all!

WebQuest Day 2

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Welcome Back to Day 2!

Today we have three main objectives:

  1. Get a clear experience / understanding of the Group Transformation phases from the Day 1 WebQuest.
  2. Draft a WebQuest on a topic of your own choosing.
  3. Make sure you have the platform & digital resources to develop the draft WebQuest.

Activity 1 – Revisiting the Group Process

To make sure you have a successful experience from the inside of a group transformation process, I’ve revised the task into this handout: School 3.0 WebQuest Group Task.  Let’s do this as a warm-up and then debrief.

Extra Inspiration for current models?

Your Versions

Sampler of Group Process Tasks Tom’s Used

Activity 2 – Drafting Your WebQuest

Use the handout from Day 1: Designing a WebQuest.  Focusing on page 2, brainstorm the big pieces of the WebQuest you could develop. At this stage you want to see the overall construct because once you start developing it, it’s easy to get stuck into a “timesuck” or bogged into details and surfing.  Let’s keep our heads-up and think “Big Picture” or you will realise the truth behind every WebQuest (it can expand to include the universe of thinking and topics).

Topics and Questions – EtherPad Brainstorming?

 

Activity 3:
Building / Enriching Your Smart Online Space

WordPress Support

Activity 3:
Developing Your WebQuest

Gather Resources & Perspectives

Thinking Tools

“Homework”

Develop your WebQuest to share a solid draft on October 13.

Climate Catastrophe!?

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Commit to a decision – do you agree with this argument?

Claim-Support-Question

  1. Make a claim about the topic
  2. Identify support for your claim
  3. Ask a question related to your claim

 


WebQuests Day 1

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Getting WebQuests

The following is a WebQuest designed to introduce educators to both the lived experience of a WebQuest as well as some of the challenges and opportunities we face in 21st Century schools.

Introduction

“In the beginning, there was the computer, then the Internet (the Internet?).  In 1994, along came the World Wide Web.  Within 15 years a few things happened…”

Big Question

How should schools change to adapt to the 21st Century?

You have +45 minutes to immerse yourself in your role and begin addressing your task below.

Roles

Technologist

Task: Given the changes in technology, how can it support school-based learning? (click to begin answering)

Pedagogue

Task: Given expert opinions about the old and new ways of schooling, how do you think schools could / should change to suit the 21st Century? (click to begin answering)

Educator

Task: Given the changing landscape of global education, how could / should Australian schools change to suit the 21st Century? (click to begin answering)

Creator

Task: Given the new media and ways of expression, how could / should  learning be represented by Australian schools in the 21st Century? (click to begin answering)

Group Task

Now that you have been able to focus on one aspect that impacts learning and schools in this century, you need to bring this expertise together to answer the Big Question:

How should schools change to adapt to the 21st Century?

Your Team answer must include consideration of each of the four main areas.  In other words, the group response must be informed by an understanding of changes happening in the following four areas:

  • Technology
  • Pedagogy
  • Education
  • Creative Media

[nggallery id=1]
creator / pedagogy / schools / technology

Your team can choose how to present your answer.  One suggestion is to create an Infographic. Here is a description of how to do it and here’s a tool you can use (Team 1, Team 2, Team 3, Team 4 or use a whiteboard wall or?).

Presentation and Feedback

Each team presents their ideas.

Debriefing and De-constructing the “WebQuest”

Use this stixyboard to brainstorm your insights into the WebQuest process

Use the Comments link at the bottom of this post to give Tom feedback on how this experience was for you.

Introduction

Resources

Articles

Next Steps – Homework for next week

  1. choose a topic
  2. brainstorm its related perspectives
  3. If you have time, begin looking for resources

Day 5 – Showcase & CEQ•ALL

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Welcome!

As the final day in the 5-Day Series, we 1) showcase participants’ work and 2) focus on supporting student self-managed learning.

Activity 1: Case Studies of Participants’ Work

Please use the comments link on this post to submit a URL if the one listed below is not your main site.

Real, Rich and Relevant Group

Use the Beta EtherPad to offer comments and encouragement.

Activity 2: Self-managed Learning Framework for students

C E Q • A LL / Seek all!

Work period reviewing / integrating student-managed learning into projects

Activity 3: Work Period & Discussion

Last chance for input and sharing as a group

  • Techniques like Diigo, Netvibes, podcasts, WordPress
  • Consider school strategic directions (WordPress installation?)

Activity 4: Reflection & Feedback

Adelaide – CEGSA

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CEGSA – August 13 – Adelaide, South Australia

Computers in Education Group South Australia

St Peter’s College Junior School, North Terrace, St Peters.

Keynote: “It’s Broke, so Let’s Fix it” – re-making education for our Digital Era

We now live in era when self-motivated students with computers and broadband access can learn more than they could in school.  Not surprising since “school” is a construct designed using the best technology available one hundred years ago.  Although education has tried many reforms in the past thirty years, all have been based on this old model.  It’s time for a new construct.  Society has changed around us, undermining cultures focused on standardised outcomes and the myth of uniform excellence.  In other words, a culture like “school.”  The world surrounding schools has moved from a “one-size-fits-all” mentality to one where digital customisation enables a world “all-fit-to-one’s-size”.  In this new reality, learn about the four critical pieces needed to succeed and how you can get students and staff started today!

Presentation slides – download: 22 mb .mov (download the file and then open in a movie viewer or Firefox)

90 min hands-on Workshop: “Unpacking Next Era Ed”

This hands-on workshop follows from the keynote, “It’s Broke, so Let’s Fix It!” and details the main strategies of The Edge-ucators Way and CEQ•ALL (“Seek All”).  Find out how Web 2 tools and rich media can be integrated into evidence-based frameworks that you can use to shift from teacher-directed to student-managed learning that will span students’ school years and result in greater achievement and preparation for their futures.

The Edge-ucators Way

Look to Learn

Samples

Resources

Interaction: Comment on this Post: how could you use / support Look to Learns?

ClassPortals

References:

For Ideas & Inspiration

Interaction: Brainstorm Topics you think would make good ClassPortals

WebQuests

WebQuests by Tom

Resources

Articles

Interaction: Brainstorm Topics / Big Questions for possible WebQuests (Group 1 & Group 2)

Activity: Creating Your Smart Online Space

Activity – Web 2 Tools

Self-managed Learning Framework for students

C E Q • A LL / Seek all!

WebQuest Day

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Quick Brainstorm

What are WebQuests? – stick up your thoughts

Introduction

Topics and Questions

Gather Resources & Perspectives

Thinking Tools

Collaboration Platforms

Possible Sources for Real World Feedback

  • Local experts, older students, parents, community clubs, etc.
  • Technorati – Search Real Blogs & Posts –  caution  advised
  • Aardvark – Ask real people who have some expertise on a wide range of real world subjects.
  • AllExperts – post questions to real people.
  • Australian Parliament – House of Representatives

WebQuest Resources

Articles

Resources

WebQuests .9 & 1.0

 

PLEASE Stop Teaching!

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Here’s a passage from my Next Era Ed book I wrote this morning.

What if we could improve students:

  • conceptual understandings
  • retention of information
  • quality of performance
  • achievement
  • interest in pursuing further study
  • mental wellness & self concept
  • sophistication of thinking

What if the methods were “sure-fired” with decades of research at some of the most respected universities in the world?

What if each were backed up by a model that defined effective strategies to ensure success?

Want to review the list again, because I’m about to pose a trick question?

Ready?  Okay, you can improve students learning in all the ways in the list above as long as you don’t do one thing: teach.  Especially in a school.

It seems cruel doesn’t it?

But a few hours later as I am going over a list of ICT Skills generated by a school I work with, I ran across this item that a “teacher” added to the list of “baseline skills.”

  • Teach students how to use the Internet for research purposes, including advanced search functions, keyword choice. etc.

This kind of thing makes me want to scream (and validates my point above).  Can’t we recognize that if we stop thinking “teach” and shift to “learn” that it creates an entirely different (and better!) criterion?:

  • Create a task that can only be achieved when students appropriately use advanced search strategies.

I suppose one main difference is that the first one is very easy…

(please pardon my frustration, but some days the mountain seems awfully steep)

stop-teaching

Day 3 – ClassPortals

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Introduction

Tom’s Intro

ClassPortals…

  • Focus on one compelling topic (with all its interesting connections to others)
  • Embody a passionate interest of the teacher and students
  • Continue in the background of class activities drawing attention when something in the real world provokes it
  • Act as a platform for things like writing, podcasts, videos, photos, cartoons, data collection, etc.
  • Make a contribution to the world’s learning

Examples

References:

For Ideas

For Inspiration

Brainstorming and Designing

Task 1: Choose Topic(s)

Task 2: Enrich the Possibilities

  • What would excite student interest in this topic?
  • Why People Care about this Topic
  • Complexity: What Issues and Aspects make up this Topic?
  • Embedded Learning Skills

Task 3: Tapping & Taming the Information Stream

  • Examples: Tom’s ClassPortal Pageflakes or Netvibes
  • Types of Current Information Available (News, Podcasts, Video, Cartoons, Movies, Books, etc.)
  • Initial places to begin looking
  • Possible Student Jobs, Roles, Tasks (consider ICT expertise and Gifted & Talented extensions)

Task 4: ICT Productions

  • Based on Your Skills & Interests & Student Inclination, which ICT Creations seem possible?
  • Any needed software, hardware, online spaces / tools, tech support, tutorials, etc.

Let’s Get Started!

Next Session: Day 4

  • Real, Rich and Relevant Group: Wednesday, 27 July (Day 5: Aug 17)
  • AGQTP Group: Tuesday, 16 August (Day 5: Oct 12)

CEFPI Conference – Sydney Exhibition Centre

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The Council of Educational Facility Planners International is currently holding their conference at the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre in  Darling Harbour.  I will be contributing to a discussion session on Wednesday and a keynote on Thursday.

During the discussion session I will be able to make the case for where current schools are “broken” and during the keynote I will share my version of the “Fix:” Next Era Ed.  Essentially, today’s schools are built on the assembly line model which worked reasonably well last century given the available technology.  When resources and expertise were limited and the goals were “basic skills,” the Factory School was our best option.

Today’s digital technologies, however, “change the game.”  Not only is this the beginning of a Golden Era of access to rich digital media and interactions, but the data mining behind the scenes allows for what Alvin Toffler called “mass customisation.”  So why do we continue to operate schools based on last century’s “one-size-fits-all” mantra instead of shifting to the possibility of “all fit to one’s size?”  This is my shtick.

Theme Session: “It’s Broke”

Challenge: Contribute environmental planning ideas around 3 versions of Digital Schooling

Keynote: “So Let’s Fix It!”

Thursday morning I have the chance to make my case for the four areas we must address if we are to succeed at shifting away from the “virtual learning” of the assembly line school in favour of the Joy of Learning available in the digital era.