#edcampusa Experience

I discovered that I only really blog after I have been so inspired that my mind is still turning hours later after an experience. Today after a two year hiatus, it has happened again because.... I have attended my first Edcamp.

Since I have taken my position as the state department, I found myself in a different part of the playing field in education. Attending conferences was no longer about bringing something back to my classroom but bringing something back to the state. To be honest, there was not a conference I attended that really help me in my role.... until today.

The USDE Edcamp was different. The topics discussed included how to include all educators in social networking so we could all be connected. One idea that was shared by the edcampers is to start the movement of state involvement. This means having SDE know what is going in districts and schools, not just policy. The state has this stigma of being unreachable and I want to change that.

No matter what happens in the future, the SDE will always have to monitor policy and ensure compliance but there has to be a middle ground in which we are still connected to the classrooms and to each other.

My one take away from #Edcampusa is to connect to other state departments, share ideas, and start the State Edcamp Movement.

Learn Now, Lecture Later: New and Emerging Classroom Models

This is my first official at ISTE2012 and it was a last minute choice. I usually do not go to session that are sponsored by a particular company because the information is generally skewed. However, I want to see emerging classroom models and hopefully be able to adapt and apply to my classroom.

There is a panel discussion with superintendents/directors from various districts. During the introduction, one of the gentlemen said, "We do not teach pencils we teach writing, we need to think of technology the same way".

What technology are you using most often in your district?

• 1:1 laptops/netbooks
• Students need to own their work and sharing does not allow that. 
•  Blogs
•  Encouraging students to write about what they read, increased student finishing books.

 What are teachers doing with the technology?

• Hand-On projects
• Groups projects
• Independent study
• Distance/virtual learning
• One-on-one tutoring

How is the shift away from lecturing affecting the way they learn?

• Students like to use the same resources (cell phones) in school and outside of school. 
• Student ownership
• Keep students "plugged in" during school.

What technologies does faculty need?

• Laptop/netbook
• Working technology-professional development

 "We do not take our crayons and put them all in one room, there are available in every classroom. That is how computers should be in the school dispersed, throughout, not in a computer lab"
How is technology transforming student learning?

Technology Coaches and Professional Learning Communities - Look at the research. What has been done, what works?

What does the research say?

ISTE Leadership Symposium

There are representatives from all over the world represented at the leadership symposium, representing educational technology.

Michael Fullan is a guest speaker here and I always find interesting to actually hear someone speak after I have read their work. I read Michael Fullan's work during my JHU/ISTE administration certification program. Michael Fullan - Engage Students.


Designing Learning Environments
(Jonathon Bergmann)

• Engaging - Hands On - Active Classroom
• Must start with the pedagogy.
• What is best use of my face-to-face class time?

Flipped Classroom in Elementary School:

• "B-Ba-Bat"
• Math Concepts
• Model reading strategies 

I thought the session was informative but skewed toward flipped classrooms and thought it should have been a more rounded discussion about best practices for designing. Great information about the flipped classroom.



Resources:

http://leadershipsymposium2012.iste.wikispaces.net/
http://learningspacetoolkit.org/

Being an Advocate for Educational Technology

I recently, had the privilege to participate in the Washington Education Technology Policy Summit as a representative from the Maryland Society for Educational Technology (MSET), the Maryland ISTE affiliate. I volunteered to participate in order to document advocacy hours for JHU/ISTE Administration and Supervision internship log.

Attending this summit was a learning experience to say the least. It began with an information session that focused on the top-level requests from technology education advocates. I must admit I had not heard about any of them prior to this summit. The requests included (1) to restore Enhancing Education Through Technology (EETT) funding, (2) support the inclusion in ESEA reauthorization of the Achievement Through Technology and Innovation Act and the meaningful infusion of education technology into all pertinent federal education programs (e.g., Title I, IDEA, Title IIA, etc.), and (3) support the passage of the Rockefeller/Snowe bill, which would permanently exempt from the Anti Deficiency Act all universal service program and the E-rate. In addition to learning about these requests, there was a crash course in appropriations. After the crash course, I was sent on my way with other MSET members to meet with local politics and let them know the importance of having technology in the classroom.

               For me the highlight of the event was meeting with Congressional staff. I was impressed at how attentively they listened as summit participants talked about how technology can make learning more efficient for teachers, engaging for students, and effective for learning. I was able to attend the meetings with three other representatives from Maryland. The stories we shared with the staff members included, using Edmodo to engage students in learning, using Wikis to collaborate among teachers, and using media to assist students in making authentic real life connection to learning in the classroom. I discussed how technology, specifically wikis, is used with teachers to provide a professional learning community in which they can share lessons, ideas, and success stories. I informed the staff members that technology is not only about the students understanding and utilizing computers but teachers using it to make their teaching more effective. Other stories shared included, learning being differentiated with computer programs.

After meeting with the members of the congressional staff from the offices of Barbara Mikulski, Ben Cardin, and John Sarbanes, I really felt that I made a difference because I was able to convey the idea that Technology in Education is powerful. I felt they understood the importance of having technology in the classroom for both teachers and students but their hands were tied because of the federal budget. I know I made a difference because I at the very least planted the seed for the staff members to know that technology is important because I was able to share my success story with teachers and students I worked with. Educational Technology may not have been on their agenda before I went and told them how it made a difference in my teaching. Now, that I have told my story I feel I have made a difference and I can not wait until the next time I can meet with the staff members to share my next success story of using technology in the classroom and explain how vital technology can be to in order to make technology effective and engaging.

NETS-Students and Edmodo

I was lucky enough to write an guest blog for ISTE Connects through my internship. The focus is on using Edmodo in the classroom. Take a look and provide your thoughts... What are you experiences with Edmodo?

http://www.iste.org/connect/iste-connects/blog-detail/12-03-28/Edmodo_and_Student_NETS.aspx

White House to Hold Online Office Hours

As a follow-up to the State of the Union address, White House Staff are holding “Office Hours” on Twitter.  Tomorrow, Friday at Noon EST, Roberto Rodriguez, Special Assistant to the President for Education Policy will be responding to education questions and comments.  I encourage education technology supporters to ask questions and/or make statements on Twitter using hashtag #WHchat at Twitter.com/WHLive

Some possible tweets:

Classroom technology is a key component to college and career readiness. Will there be funding for #edtech in Pres. Obama Budget? #whchat
Is there an #edtech component to the new competitive education program that President Obama announced at the SOTU?  #whchat
In SOTU, Pres. Obama said we should let teachers teach with creativity.  ISTE #edtech standards bring creativity to teaching  #whchat

ISTE 2012 - Poster Session

Information about my poster session.