Notes from a virtual conference for educators and some of the

exciting information that was shared.

The Speakers at the conference were :

• Lee Kolbert - http://macmomma.blogspot.com

• Dean Shareski – www.ideasandthoughts.org

• Christina Asquith – www.christinaasquith.com

• Carol McGuire – www.rockourworld.org

They talked about How we should get rid of the walls in the classroom

Extend learning beyond the four walls

Start getting away from the “Mind your own business learning” that we are currently in.

Realize that the biggest façade now is that “School is the primary place of learning”

Think about what you can do in the classroom that can’t necessarily be done anywhere outside of it

Know that school is not going to last forever

And… What's so good about ‘face to face’ anyway?

According to one of them • Culturally, we have lost the community• We do what we do until we know better

• http://digg.com/arts_culture/Blow_Smoke_In_Her_Face_and_She_ll_Follow_You_Anywhere_PIC

Educators have to be• Immersive – ready to plunge into risky territory

• Mobile - try new ways

• Collaborative and

• Social

We have to be

• Connectors first – make a connection with the kids first.

• Content experts second

Before……

Teacher

Curriculum documents

ColleaguesOverhead?

Maybe?

Now…..everyone needs to be a networked learner

Facebook

DigitalCommunication

devices

DigitalPhoto sharing

colleagues

curriculumSocial

networking

computers

FamilyLocal

community

blogs

wikis

skype

Video conference

networkedteacher

According to the speakers, we have to realize that

• The smartest person in the room is the room. • We can learn a lot from each other• Participatory learning is the way to go• Other methods of learning have to be utilized• The world has changed and we need to capture and

engage our students• The world is moving so fast and our schools are not

At the end of each lesson

• We have to ask students

• How did you contribute to the learning of others?

• What did you learn from others?

What to do• Consider what you already have – assets

• Have experts talk via virtual conferences

• We have to be transparent

• Teach with digital media – even if you start with the simplest form

Interactive sites

• For writing prompts www.plinky.com (blocked at work)• Digital storytelling www.xtranormal.com• Download videos www.zamzar.com• Collaborative lists www.tadalist.com• Photo novels www.pimpampum.net/bubblr• Literary family tree www.family-mingle.com• Book discussion www.bookglutton.com

Free Websites

Prezi.com- a free online alternative to Powerpoint. Sign up for student/teacher license

Quizlet.com – a free site that makes vocabulary fun

Google docs – create and share documents, spreadsheets, presentations online

Edmodo – Teacher invented twitter. Free private social platform for education

Wall wisher – sticky note board for students and teachers to post issues

Educator Resources

• www.cilc.org- center for interactive learning and collaboration

• www.teachersconnecting.com- a place to find other teachers for cross-classroom collaboration

• www.Freetech4teachers.com- resources for teaching & learning

• www.digitalcitizenshiped.com- understanding the ethical use of digital files

• www.discoveryeducation.com (formerly United Streaming)