3 steps for 21st century learning.

I love EduBloggerWorld! If you haven't joined yet, then click the badge in my sidebar and join up. I was browsing through EBW and just stumbled upon this cool video by Jackie at Teacherhacks

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Simple, practical and achievable. What more could one ask for? Be sure to visit her blog for support materials.

Parent2.0...Special Guest Podcast

Lucky us...

One of our very talented parents (Jenni Cargill) has allowed us to feature one of her excellent stories as a podcast on the MullumWriters blog. Go and listen if you have a few minutes.

Parent2.0??

Digital Schools Statistics

Roger Pryor at Leaders in Public Schools has a post explaining the many and varied benefits of utilizing web2.0 tools in your school. In it he links to tech learning articles on web 2.0 and professional development, which has a great list of resources to share.

Roger also links to Key technology trends , another techlearning article. Note point 4. bandwidth crisis looming. I've blogged about this before using the term exaflood.

1. Not long ago very few schools had a large number of laptop computers.

2. Ubiquitous Computing Is Growing Rapidly
3. Ubiquitous Computing Practitioners Report Substantial Academic Improvement
4. A Bandwidth Crisis Is Looming

Today the Internet bandwidth per student is 2.90 Kbps (or kilobits per second per student) according to the survey. Furthermore, schools say they will grow this to 9.57 Kbps per student by 2011—a 3.3-fold increase. But the ADS 2006 team believes that as much as 40 Kbps may be needed in five years. As the number of computers in schools increases and the ways in which students use computers change, more and more bandwidth will be needed.

It is unlikely, however, that many schools are budgeting for a 14-fold increase, although technology directors are generally aware of the challenge. The hard costs of the bandwidth required to support the growth in online learning, home connectivity, and ubiquitous computing are unknown and likely to require additional research.

5. Online Learning Is Growing
6. Professional Development Is Key
7. Low Total Cost of Ownership Is Increasingly Important
8. Some Product Categories Will Grow at a Rapid Rate (IWB's and handheld/mobile devices)

The article gives graphs and stats, well worth a read.

Briefing the Principals

I've been asked to present to a group of local small school principals regarding computers in schools and staff training.

I've put together a package that I feel provides a framework for understanding the issues surrounding "21st century skills".

To get things started I though I'd shake it up first. Four months old but good, and only 2 minutes. That ought to turn the discussion to getting these skills out to our kids.


So how do we get there?
Nets: the next generation: This is an excellent refinement of digital world skills including the important realm of citizenship skills (which is often overlooked in the discussion). Nets the next generation is presented in an easy to read, checklist style.

Leadership in an Online World: This document from the Ministerial Council on Education, Employment, Training and Youth affairs, (MCEETYA) provides a framework which will enable leaders to plan for and support change. Australia and New Zealand are committed to this. Greg Whitby referenced a similar document in his recent post at blueyonder

School 2.0 map: get a free one here. School 2.0 is a brainstorming tool designed to help schools, districts and communities develop a common education vision for the future and to explore how that vision can be supported by technology.












This inevitably leads to the question: "This is all well and good, but how do I prepare my staff?"
That's easy... The Intel Teach program is excellent here, though some might say that excellent is understating things a bit.

"It is an exemplary professional development opportunity for educators committed to creating learner-centered, technology-enabled curriculum and instruction for the 21st century."

- ISTE* Seal of Alignment Report on
Intel® Teach Essentials Course, Version 10

Intel teach is a global program, and is being implemented in over 50 countries, but for examples of how it's working here in NSW (Australia) check out some examples of intel teach in NSW

Hopefully my presentation will encourage some schools (just one would be enough) to make a change.

So that's it. What have I left out? What do I need to leave out? As always, comments and tips are most welcome.

Podcasting session at NSWCEG

I sat in on Greg Preston's podcasting session at NSWCEG today.
Here is a roundup.

1. Podcast research (in relation to educational outcomes and classroom learning. Not much of it around. Suffice to say that "it feels right".
2. Examples of podcasting, from professional, commercial, to student.
3. Quick demo of how to record, edit, save and upload. reference to numerous web based tutorials.
4. How to use podcasts. Group projects, authentic audienc, external contacts, must be organised.
5. Steps to success.

• Concept (audience, delivery, funding, outline, tasks.
• Content (subject matter, research)
• Implementation (record, edit etc)
• Release:
• Evaluate: (assess against outcomes/goals, rubric)
• Further issues. (copyright, child protection)
  

21st century Leadership

Had the pleasure of chatting with Dan Morris at lunch. He is a fellow Intel Senior Trainer, so we had that amongst other things in common. (Like NECC... even though I was an inworld participant.) He showed me a site that he and Gene (Bias) are using to demonstrate the concepts of 21st century learning to leaders and administrators . You might like to check it out here

I'm off to listen to Gene's keynote.

more later

Live from NSWCEG

Well I made it. I'm sitting in a presentation at the moment by Bryn Jones from Atomic Learning.

It was a seven hour drive from my place to Newcastle. All of the roads are blocked and there are police all over the streets trying to keep the crowds under control with regards to the grounding of the Pasha Bulker.

Dan Morris gave the Keynote this morning on 21st century skills. He was fresh from NECC and spoke on problems of promoting change. Also had fun with these lettle clicker things, where he asked a question of the audience and we got to click the response. Fun yes, but interesting then to compare our reponses with other groups accross the USA.