Clif's Notes

Professional Development Partnership with MASE

I taught a professional development workshop this afternoon in which we kicked-off an ongoing conversation about Instructional Design in the Digital Age. This was the first workshop in a two year project with the Memphis Academy of Science and Engineering — a 6th-12th grade charter school with a high school 1:1 laptop program. The primary goal of this on-going project is to enhance learning and increase student motivation throughout the school. Instructional design (data-driven decision making, lesson planning, team/ grade level/ departmental planning, curriculum mapping/ alignment, scope and sequencing, and more) and technology integration (especially free Web 2.0 tools) will be key components of the workshops and instructional coaching this spring semester and during the summer (I’ll share more about this in my next post).

I enjoyed the entire event. The faculty actively engaged in the discussions and activities and helped me better understand some of the ways that they’d like to grow and improve over the course of this project. The were friendly, respectful and receptive. Many expressed eagerness to learn particular technologies that they already desire to integrate in their classes.

I am PUMPED about beginning this partnership!

• Free Educational Technology Workshops
• Planning District-Wide Technology Professional Development
• Collaboration in a Web 2.0 World
• What Do You Want in Professional Development?

Brain Rules for Teachers and Presenters

Hat tip to Miguel for bringing this to my attention.

• TN DOE Partners with iTunes U
• Meme – Passion Quilt
• Teachers’ Online Identities
• Pay Attention

Planning District-Wide Technology Professional Development

Brenda McCombs, Drew Polly, Clif Mims and ALBHS Science Department
2009 Midsouth Technology Conference

We’ll be sharing information about the Impacting Kannapolis Program today at the MidSouth Technology Conference (MSTC). This program is in its 2nd year of funding through the IMPACT Technology Grant sponsored by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. My involvement with this program consists of providing several weeks of professional development in instructional design and technology integration each summer.

This presentation will describe the approaches to designing and implementing district-wide professional development in a high-need, Title I school district. The workshop will share approaches to supporting teacher learning and teacher leaders, and also highlight technologies and projects that have been used in schools.

NOTE: Visit the collaborative wiki page for this presentation at Learning Telecollaboratively for additional information and resources. Photos from this presentation are available at Lifestreaming from My iPhone (my Posterous).

View more presentations from Clif Mims.

Conference Tag: #mstc09

• It’s Good to Be Back
• It’s Good to Be Back, Again!
• Multiple Representations of Understanding with Technology
• Professional Development Partnership with MASE

Multiple Representations of Understanding with Technology

These are the slides from my first Tennessee Educational Technology Conference presentation. Unfortunately the animations and effects were lost when uploaded to SlideShare. I’ve shared my notes and resources from this presentation over on my wiki, Learning Telecollaboratively. I hope to create a Vidcast or SlideCast of this presentation once I return home and things settle down.

I demonstrated that with freely available digital technologies students can demonstrate their understanding of course content in multiple ways (images, audio, video, presentations, artwork, and more). Each student’s end product (learning artifact) allows them to personally self-express their understanding of the content/mastery of the skills. Although teachers may not be comfortable using all of today’s technology it is important to consider allowing students to use it to communicate their understanding as they are often more naturally able to more fully express themselves with digital media.

View more presentations from Clif Mims.

Conference Tag: #tetc

• Multiple Representations of Understanding through Digital Media
• Day 2: MECA 2010
• Planning District-Wide Technology Professional Development
• Prezi

Did You Know 4.0

I’ve been developing workshops for the BILD Institute for the past couple of months and I’ve discovered/rediscovered many quality resources about educational reform, instructional design, technology integration, and innovation as well as many new web tools and services. I hope to share much of this with you here on this blog (You can also go ahead and access it on the BILD Institute site.). The first resource I’d like to share is this recently updated version of the Did You Know/Shift Happens video (See previous versions here, here and here.). “This is another official update to the original Shift Happens video. This completely new Fall 2009 version includes facts and stats focusing on the changing media landscape, including convergence and technology, and was developed in partnership with The Economist.” (Source)

• Did You Know?/Shift Happens
• Wordles of Every Inaugaration Speech [Video and Gallery]
• Memphis City School Receive $90 Million Grant
• Suggested Mac Software

What Is Effective Technology Integration?

I developed the following activity for one of the educational technology courses I teach. We talk about the below scenarios and questions during the beginning of the semester. I would appreciate hearing your answers to the questions and I’m sure the teachers in the class would find it helpful.

Consider the following scenarios.

A. A teacher keeps attendance and grade records on the computer.

B. Students use concept mapping software to help them organize information for a research paper.

C. A first grade class practices math facts while playing Number Munchers in the computer lab.

D. Students use the classroom computers to check their email and read the news at ESPN.com during their free time.

E. The teacher includes video clips of scientific principles in the real world that can not be easily replicated in the classroom during the lesson.

F. Groups of students work together to produce a podcast (audio) or vidcast (video) in which they critically analyze the events that led to the tragic deaths of Romeo and Juliet.

G. The teacher types and prints worksheets for students to complete for homework.

H. Pairs of students develop interactive games related to the Middle Ages using PowerPoint.

Please share your thoughts about these questions.

1. Which of these scenarios are examples of integrating technology with learning and instruction? Provide rationale for your responses.

2. What are some of the characteristics of effective technology integration in educational settings?

• U.S. Secretary of Education Requests Feedback on Technology in Education
• Multiple Representations of Understanding with Technology
• Technology in the Classroom
• 1 Thing Teachers Should Know about Teaching with Technology

Educational Technology Certificate

You can earn a certificate in educational technology with our 4 online courses. Visit http://idt.memphis.edu/certificate for full details and assistance.

• Interesting FREE Online Workshop
• EBC and NECC Preparations Underway
• NECC Buzz Has Begun
• Free Apple Seminar for Educators

Knocking Down the Walls of the Classroom

Using Web 2.0 Tools to Create a Global Classroom Experience
Kristy Conger and Clif Mims
Instructional Technology Conference

The term Web 2.0 is certainly a popular buzzword. Other than hype, what do Web 2.0 tools really have to offer? Is it possible for educators to effectively use these tools to engage learners? Kristy will share specific tools and strategies we’ve found successful in hopes that these will help you begin implementing Web 2.0 technologies in your courses.

Presentation notes and resources

The Ustream will go live at 11:00 AM CST. Join us!

• Technology Integration Showcase
• Knowledge-able
• Developing Educational Technology Courses
• Integrating 2.0 Tools Meaningfully

It’s about Learning and Not about Technology

Here’s a bit of news from the 2009 Gulf Educational Supplies & Solutions (GESS) Exhibition in Dubai, UAE. Discussions have highlighted the availability of technology and high-speed Internet access in schools around the world, the technology-rich environments in which many students live, and the revolutionary ways in which students and teachers can interact.

David Fairbairn-Day, Head of Education Market Development at Promethean Limited, states, “The challenge therefore is to embrace the new technologies into the learning environment and to realize that it isn’t what you know – it’s knowing where to find the information you need that counts.” He goes on to ask, “Doesn’t it make more sense to learn to use technology in order to aid the teaching process…as opposed to what I have seen so often in some countries where they are too busy learning the technology simply in its own right. At all times, teachers should surely concentrate on the fundamental question of how technology can enhance learning.” David shares that “whenever I talk to teachers and ministry officials involved in the purchase of classroom technology, I always say to them: invest 70 per cent of your budget on the technology, but lay aside at least 30 per cent of your resources for training and teacher support” (Source).

Read the full article.

• 1 Thing Teachers Should Know about Teaching with Technology
• 1 Thing Teachers Should Know about Teaching with Technology
• Technology in the Classroom
• 1 Thing Teachers Should Know about Teaching with Technology

New Diigo Group

I’m a big, big fan of Diigo. I appreciate that I can save and share bookmarks, highlight and leave comments on webpages, annotate resources, host and participate in groups and forums on particular topics, message and interact with friends and colleagues, and much more. It’s a very big component of my personal learning network (PLN). I’m also impressed and pleased that the Diigo founders and employees listened to its community of teacher-users and developed Diigo for Educators (More fondly referred to as EduDiigo). Here are some thoughts about about why teachers and learners might use Diigo.

I started a new group dedicated to the topic of design and development. I invite everyone with an interest/expertise in the topic to become an active member.

FYI, consider joining these other groups that started, too.

• Education and Technology
• Teaching and Learning with Web 2.0
• Virtual Math Manipulatives
• Instructional Design
• Graphic Design
• Design and Development
• Resources for Future Teachers
• Resources for Graduate Students

I encourage everyone to take a look at Diigo’s services and consider taking advantage of it. Please feel free to friend me because, as I frequently say, “Together we learn more.”

• New Diigo Group: Mobile Technology and Education
• Teaching and Learning with Web 2.0
• Teaching and Learning with Web 2.0
• Diigo Notes for 05/08/2008