TCC09: Creating a Culture of Learning

Full Title: Creating a Culture of Learning – Modeling a Vision for Technology Use in an Online Environment to Impact the Use of Technology in the K-12 System

Liveblogged notes from the TCC online conference. My notes in italics.

Summary: “This session will share ideas of how to create a culture of learning in an online class at the university level so that it will impact the vision and use of technology at the K-12 level. Regardless of age, individuals learn differently. Creating an online learning environment that utilizes differentiated strategies to meet the needs of a diverse student population will be addressed.”

Presenters:

• Silvia Braidic, California University of Pennsylvania
• Joe Oliphant, California University of Pennsylvania

Joe was a teacher for 6 years, now graduate student/technology director working to help teachers use tools

Topics Addressed

• Background
• Lead by example
• Model and Infuse Effective Practices of Technology
• Technology Tools
• Enabling Others
• Increase Technology Awareness
• Research on Coaching
• A little Trivia

Their program follows Quality Matters–teacher & principal training

What steps can we take to impact how technology is used in K-12 classrooms?

Resources can be used for other fields, not just education

Their vision: Lead the way

University Program > University Student (Principal candidates) > Teachers > Students

How do we lead the way?

• Awareness of tools
• Understand what tools are capable of
• Learner-centered environment–need to get our learners involved
• Promote participation
• Instructional coaching for technology

Technology Tools

• Support communication
• Foster collaboration
• Meet diverse student needs

Skype

• Most people had used Skype
• I’m not taking notes on their overviews of the tools–you can get that info elsewhere. Ask in the comments if a tools is mentioned that you want to learn more about.
  
• Example: Live Webcam piano lesson via Skype

Feed Readers

• Someone mentioned that Twitter has become her feed reader
• Great way to spend a certain amount of time as a principal learning without having to go hunt for stuff

Google Docs

• They have used Google Docs for student feedback with comments–avoids the emailing back and forth
• They would like more administrators to start using it to model for teachers–maybe with Google spreadsheets with teachers for fundraising.
• Can start small
• As a tech person in the schools, Joe was able to model tools, get the principal to model, and have it start to trickle down

Google Forms

• Follow the wizard to create
• Compiles it automatically into a spreadsheet

Wiki

• Classroom websites for free
• Gave example of a 1st grade teacher with a very slick looking “bulletin board” with links to different projects
• Share info with parents w/o wasting paper
• Example given in the chat: all but the first page is student-created work: http://weewebwonders.pbwiki.com/
• Use wikis as archive of resources for students to refer to as needed
• Share documents together
• Multimedia posted on the wiki like Blabberize

Principals have walkthroughs for things to observe in classrooms, but often don’t have walkthroughs for their tools

ISTE has a free classroom observation tool: ICOT. Helps principals identify best practices being used in classrooms.

Funny parody video with technology for getting walkthroughs done–Walkthrough and Learning Objectives

Online Portfolios

• LiveText
• Get principals to model by creating their own portfolios

Steps to increase technology awareness for principals

• Show how supports teaching and learning
• Advocate tools available–lots are free
• Involve parents, school board members, staff
• Use a wiki to share best practices
• Model positive relationships between principals and tech coordinators

Coaching does improve use of technology

Common Craft videos as examples

Used a Google Form to share resources at the end–get everyone to participate