Category: Reform

Learning to Change – Changing to Learn

Here’s something that will be of interest to all of us. Those with an interest in STEM areas like me should especially take note.

To emphasize the importance of education to the nation’s future and to drive home how much schools need to change in order to educate the children of tomorrow, the Consortium for School Networking (CoSN), the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE), the State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA), and the National Education Association (NEA) have teamed up to develop a public service announcement (PSA) campaign aimed at the presidential candidates. [More…]

Source: eSchool News

Further Reading

  • New PSA Spotlights Technology in Education – NCTI
  • Ed-tech groups give candidates a wake-up call – eSchool News

    • Rethinking Education

    Lloyd Rieber‘s presentation, What’s in a Name?, during the PIDT Conference has caused me to carefully reconsider the terms that we use to describe teaching, learning, and what it is that educators do. I’ll say no more at this time to avoid influencing the data.

    This poll is a means of gaging the collective thinking of educators everywhere. Please disseminate this broadly to get as representative a sample as possible.

    This poll will close at 11:59 PM CST on June 6, 2008.

    P.S.: I’ve decided to try out Zoho Polls with this activity. They do everything else so well I’m betting that this goes well, too.

    Newsletter on Educational Technology

    Throughout the years many of the preservice and in-service teachers in my classes, workshops, and presentations have requested that I start an email newsletter. They indicate that in addition to this blog they would like to receive occasional emails sharing rich resources related to technology integration. I’m excited to announce that I have answered these requests.

    Clif’s Newsletter on Educational Technology focuses on the effective integration of technology with teaching and learning. Subscribers of this free service will receive occasional emails providing valuable resources and information about lesson plans, activities, technologies, research, etc., related to educational technology.

    OPEN TO PUBLIC
    Subscription to this newsletter is open to everyone. You are encouraged to share this with everyone with an interest in education (teachers, administrators, homeschooling families, friends, classmates, co-workers, etc.). Everyone is invited to receive this free newsletter.

    PRIVACY POLICY
    Your email address will never be shared with others. You may unsubscribe at anytime.

    MANAGING SUBSCRIPTIONS
    You may subscribe or unsubscribe to this newsletter as you wish.

    1 Thing

    I’ve added a new feature to Clif’s Notes called 1 Thing. This special section is an area where guest bloggers can communicate “1 thing” they would like to share, suggest, say, demonstrate, etc. about a particular topic. This section will forever be a work in progress, so feel free to suggest guest bloggers and topics anytime. You can easily access this section by clicking on the 1 Thing link in the main menu.

    Suggested Reading for 03/11/2008

    Sickness has finally made its way into our home. All but one of us have been sick since the weekend and I am not that lucky one. As a result, I have had lots of time to grade, plan and read. I though I’d share these particularly interesting posts with you this evening.

    Be Good to the Lunch Ladies

    Web 2.0 Is the Future of Education

    Student Voices on Cyberbullying

    RE Social Network Sites-An Open Letter to the Superintendent

    New Voicethread Export Feature

    Blogging with Students

    Did You Change the World Today?

    Gadberry asks the important question, “Did you change the world today?” So many teachers go into the profession with the genuine intention to positively impact the world. Unfortunately, many of us allow lesson planning, grading, IEP meetings, curriculum standards, meetings, sports, tv, errands, etc. to fill the bulk of our schedules and crowd out any possibility of changing the world. You know exactly what I mean, so I won’t insult you by pontificating on the obvious.

    I haven’t positively changed the world today, but I still have about 7.5 hours to work on it. I assure you I will.

    Now it’s your turn. Did you change the world today? (Please share in your the Comments below.)

    Related Resources

    Teaching, Learning, Technology and the Future

    Let’s discuss the following quote in regards to teaching, learning, technology and the future.

    The future is already here – it is just unevenly distributed. — William Gibson (Attributed)

    Teens Talk about Educational Technology

    One of the highlights of the 2007 AECT International Convention was the fireside chat with Marc Prensky and 5 high school students. Prensky pretty much said the same thing he’s been saying for years (I’ve heard and seen that speech and presentation 3 different times now) but the students brought a fresh perspective to the technology integration conversation. It was great to hear students describe what they consider to be ideal instruction, assignments, assessment, and the desired classroom environment. I sat there thinking that we need to hear from students more often. You can read a transcript of this event here.

    Steve Hargadon has recently posted an article (here and here) summarizing his interview with a 14 year old student “who has recently become actively involved in the online dialog about educational technology.” Steve’s summation and the audio of the interview are both intriguing.

    I encourage you to spend some time listening to what the students have to say and then share your thought in the comments below.