sharon's share

Bernie Dodge at NECC 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Sharon) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 18:04:00 +0000

Cheryl Oakes covered live

Bernie Dodge Place Puzzles, bring field trips to the classroom

thanks Cheryl!
Technorati Tags: cheryloakes, berniedodge gis

Where's the buzz?

noreply@blogger.com (Sharon) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 17:06:00 +0000

Usually there is a buzz in the air at an international conference. It is heard in the halls and during lunch. It permeates the sessions and lounges. Everyone wants it - it is the tool that will finally bring education into the 21st century.

I can remember some buzzes over the last few years - PDAs, interactive whiteboards, and last year it was clickers. But this year, I have been listened for the buzz in vain. What is the new solution? Has the buzz been lost? It came clear when I overheard a conversation among teachers.

It went like this:
Teacher One: "I'm exhausted. I am collecting fantastic ideas for teaching. I wish I could attend every session."
Teacher Two: "I took a break and visited the exhibits - did you?"
Teacher Three: "My district has no funds for purchasing expensive gadgets. I didn't even go down".
Teacher One: "I did, but afterwards, I felt like they were promoting buying things while the sessions are about changing learning?"

What was that? I was hooked and shamelessly jumped into the conversation asking what they felt was their 'aha moment' so far. Their enlightening responses:

1 - using wikis to collaborate and communicate
2 - using twitter to hook up with colleagues around the world. Although she had never used it before arriving in DC, she now was following an admirable group of educators!
3 - digital stories as a teaching tool

These teachers get It! Yes, I think they've actually got it!

Is the buzz word for 2009 learning!
Technorati Tags: necc09, sharonbetts

NECC 2009 debate

noreply@blogger.com (Sharon) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 13:20:00 +0000

http://khokanson.blogspot.com/
above is the cover it live session

Brick and Mortar Schools are Detrimental to the future of Education, a debate at NECC 2009
Formal debate.
Technorati Tags: necc09, debate

Digital Equity Summit

noreply@blogger.com (Sharon) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 19:17:00 +0000

I registered for this summit as I thought it would give me insight and time to collaborate on solutions for the present inequity. Following the overview and introductions some talking points and description of the direction being taken in the US DOE came from Jenelle Leonard.

the urgency is now - our children have one chance at education and it can't wait
scaling up proven practices
promising and innovative strategies
no long compliance driven
moving toward participatory, inclusionary
looking for partners
teamwork
listening sessions from the bottom up with posted minutes and blogs - then rebrand and continue with what is good and fix what is not

Keynote by Milton Chen, Executive Director of the George Lucas Educational Foundation
http://edutopia.org
described latest launch: What have the young people been doing?
10 multimedia profiles of digital youth - distribute them to "policy makers"
more than 3.5 hours and over 100 web pages "Digital Generation Project"
viewed the overview and a video about Luis - these will become part of my presentations and trainings. free on iTunes for download
We could certainly download them for ourselves - I would have liked to have some time to work on uses of these films and future directions.

Pearson was the sponsor and their representative discussed their foundation site - videos available on their site
Roundtable of stories of success - we did not have enough time to complete these discussions which I feel is a real shame. It is great to celebrate and hear news on Digital equity successes, but I really did not feel much progress was made in these hours.Technorati Tags: digitalequity, necc09

school 2-0

noreply@blogger.com (Sharon) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 19:10:00 +0000

http://School2-0.org
http://isteschool2.ning.com
Came into this session late as there were a lot of people that did not show and empty seats were available.
Came into a discussion of "how to keep up with the technology and learning".

Some responses from the audience:

We need to participate ourselves in order to mentor.
School needs to become 24/7 available.
etoolkit.org - an interactive 2.0 planner
Presented by 3 former teachers who have developed this toolkit of tools. How to bring these facts to schoolboards and administrations.

This presentation had the book, "web 2.0 - new tools, new schools" by Gwen Solomon and Lynne Schrum which I will review later after reading.

Reflections by group:

How to get decision makers into the rooms.
You can be proactive by starting small and planting the seeds of change.
Its about affirmation - reinforce the movers and shakers for inspiration.
If you keep saying it, eventually someone will eventually agree.

Sorry that I missed the major presentation, but will touch base with their website (which I noticed I have previously visited, but never fully utilized).
Technorati Tags: necc09, web20, sharonbetts

NECC Keynote

noreply@blogger.com (Sharon) — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 22:51:00 +0000

The live backchannel site for the NECC 2009 Keynote by Malcolm Gladwell.
Technorati Tags: necc09, malcolmgladwell, iste

FOSSED - day 1 Ruby

noreply@blogger.com (Sharon) — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 13:06:00 +0000

A session on Ruby at FOSSED - by Shaun Meredith
this may seem odd - but some notes on Ruby programing

&amp;lt;a href="http://www.coveritlive.com/mobile.php?option=com_mobile&amp;amp;task=viewaltcast&amp;amp;altcast_code=53ae072105" &amp;gt;FOSSED - Ruby&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;
fosssed ruby sharonbetts

Can it be summer

noreply@blogger.com (Sharon) — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 13:55:00 +0000

My email signature for the last month has been: I've got so much to do, I'm getting nothing done.
It seems posting to this blog has fallen into that category. Over the summer, it always goes a bit quiet, but I had planned several posts that just did not get finished before the teachers and students left on their well deserved break. So, just a simple update on the next month.
This week, is FOSSED - a gathering that has expanded from 5 open source dreamers into an national (even international 3 days). I am looking forward to my two days presenting - Motivating with Web 2.0 tools and Mahara ePortfolios (co-presenting with Thomas Steele-Maley).
Saturday begins the NECC09 adventure - bus from Maine to DC
I have 3 scheduled presentations - all informal this year - 2 in NECCunplugged (Mahara and Open1to1) and the 3rd a Birds of a Feather. This is one of my favorite times to renew old friendships and make new.
Following a short vacation, I am back to DC for the NCES Forum and Conference at the end of July. I am very impressed with the organizers of this conference. Last week I had email and a phone call from a "mentor" to help me with my first year as the representative from Maine local districts.

Of course, there are the two weeks of Technology Bootcamps with the teachers in my district. They are so enthusiastic - it helps to motivate me into the next year.
Hope you all have a great summer, too.

Technorati Tags: necc09, fossed, nces, sharonbetts, mahara, open1to1

Making a Difference?

noreply@blogger.com (Sharon) — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 19:57:00 +0000

Boy, it is difficult to find time to blog lately - I think my microblogging has become more prolific while this one suffers. But, I just felt I had to record some thoughts this dreary Sunday afternoon.

I just finished filling out papers for a possible retirement in the next few years. Looking up and through my "treasures" from over 30 years in education made me wonder if I ever made a difference - ever left any students better than when I met them. So, I took a private trip down memory lane and would like to share just a few of the remembrances.

-- It all started in the early 70's as part of the American Peace Corps where I worked within a small village being involved with women's matters and a girls high school in Dezful, Iran. I hope that the cultural exchanges, the discussions on pasteurizing milk and the daily friendships left my neighbors with as much as I brought home. I will never forget the day before we left for Tehran airport when our neighbor begged us to take her 3 year old, Hossein, with us for a "better life". Hossein would now be 38 years old! I wonder if I ever see him in the faces of the Irani people in the news. About 2 years ago, I was contacted by my best friend and co-worker from there - after the tears flowed, Mahnaz and I both expressed how much we had learned and were able to share with others after separating. We have again lost contact, but hopefully before another 30 years, will again be able to touch each other.

-- My next adventure was in the US - northwest Ohio. I taught grades 7-12 for ten years there. The two best memories are the time spent with students in a work study program and being able to start a computer program within the high school. The first helped individual students to become more than they ever anticipated and the second is still going strong bringing technology to the classroom.

-- Then to Europe (Germany) with my husband's NATO job and two small boys in tow. I was so lucky to become part of a fantastic group of women many of whom I still consider my best friends. Work was with Dept. of Defense Dependent Schools where I hope I made a difference by:

Participating in the committee changing curricula to a problem based model
Starting a distance learning computer science program for interested high school students
Again expanding the exchange of culture with so many - a two way street

-- In 1994, we moved back to the US - southern coastal Maine. I love working here - the way life should be. I think I am making a difference. The power of my suggestions has at least:

A collaborative of districts is now working together to save money through a buying group
A yearly open source conference, FOSSED, has been started and evolved into a resource for all educators
A new K-3 computer program has been implemented within a district

I had the ideas - others took them and ran! It pleases me to see students and schools benefit.

Are any of these accomplishments headline makers? No, but did I help to make a difference? I think so - and I hope to continue to do so even if I do someday manage to "retire".

DODDS
sharonbetts
peacecorps

Google goes Square

noreply@blogger.com (Sharon) — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 15:03:00 +0000

Floating all through my daily tweets today - Google Squared

Google squared take the results of a Google search and organizes them - then allows you to add to the subcategories through a deeper search. If Google picks out some categories that do not meet your criteria, you can easily delete them with a click.
Here is a video example:

Technorati Tags: googlesquared, searching, sharonbetts

joining the CASTLE summer book club

noreply@blogger.com (Sharon) — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 17:23:00 +0000

I just ordered the book and joined the Second annual CASTLE summer book club! The book for this summer is "Why Don't Students Like School?" by Daniel Willingham. This is a book that I have been meaning to read and what better way to really delve into the work than with over 80 other participants!

If this works as well and is as valuable as I anticipate, I may try using the format for teachers in my district next year. So many great books, so few meeting times.

Wonder what vehicle Scott will choose for the discussions?

Technorati Tags: chrismcleod, CASTLE, sharonbetts, bookclub

FOSSED almost here

noreply@blogger.com (Sharon) — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 14:11:00 +0000

Join me for FOSSED 2009 at Gould Academy in Bethel, Maine.

I will assist in a session on ePortfolio basics and facilitate ePortfolio creation using Mahara.

I am also leading a session on " A Smorgasboard of Technology Tools" and where they fit into your curriculum.

This conference has grown from a small Open Source group of forward thinking educators into a broad spectrum of web 2.0 and open source tools for teachers, administrators and techies.

I hope to see you there.

Technorati Tags: fossed, sharonbetts, mahara

Two Great Possibilities

noreply@blogger.com (Sharon) — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 14:16:00 +0000

As I answered emails this weekend and became more involved with serval new projects, I realized how powerful collaboration can really be in moving education forward. I am honored to be working with dedicated educators in two new initiatives. Both are pursuing the goal of supporting educational transformation with technology during these tight budgets and rapid changes.

The first - Maine Netbook Purchasing Consortium
This group was formed to find a cost effective way to move schools into a 1-1 model using Netbooks. Although searching for solutions that can be afforded during these difficult financial times, this group never wavered in directing their criteria and goals toward educational standards. The conversations have been exciting and motivating as possibilities became evident. A bid package went out today.
More information at http://maineschoolwikis.wikispaces.com

The second - Open1to1
This collaboration has grown from an idea proposed by another Open Source advocate. Open 1-to-1 is a not for profit organization that provides resources and support for schools that want to deploy 1-to-1 computer solutions. Our organization is comprised of school technologists, educators, consultants, vendors, and other parties which collaborate to provide a comprehensive set of solutions and services for the Open 1-to-1 community. The mission of this organization is to make 1-to-1 computing more affordable, and create solutions that further aid in learning and greater opportunities for students and their communities. I was very pleased to be invited to sit on their board.
More information at http://open1to1.org

How successful will these grass-root efforts be? I believe that they can and will be extremely important to the students of my state. It is educators like my colleagues in these groups that do not see walls but paths of opportunities when faced with difficult times and challenges.

I am proud to be a part of this.
Technorati Tags: open1to1, netbooks, sharonbetts

No more technology plans

noreply@blogger.com (Sharon) — Fri, 22 May 2009 18:13:00 +0000

I just finished compiling a district Technology Plan - actually a "long range plan". Yep, really! We are still required to plan for technology for 3 or more years. A committee of dedicated folks worked hard to put their goals onto paper. The process had some valuable outcomes:

We had time to reflect on teaching and learning
We discussed possibilities and collaborated on our dreams
We did some analysis and inventories of technology availability and its uses

But while answering the 'required 14 questions', we bogged down. The excellent conversations stopped. The result of our work should have been a Plan for Learning - actually Individual Student Plans for Learning. Part of these plans would be the technology deemed best suited to meet the goals and aspiration of the student herself. Don't get me wrong, I think that many of the points we are required to address are good ones:
"Strategies for Improving Academic Achievement and Teacher Effectiveness" and "Professional Development" for example. I just take issue with needing to plan for purchases 3 years down the road - how do we "Identify Necessary Technology" or "Promote various Curricula and Teaching Strategies that Integrate Technology" without knowing the Plan for Learning?

Technology is evolving at such a rapid pace, it is nearly impossible to even stay familiar with the possibilities, let alone plan for them. When I first started in this game, a plan was a helpful way to move a district and community toward purchases. Today that is rapidly becoming moot. U.S. schools with no computers are a rarity. As we move into the era of netbooks, smartphones, wireless access and clouds, planning for technology has become an oxymoron. I hope that this is the final time I need to "plan for technology". I do plan on researching technologies for learning as part of every day and every decision.

Chartle.net - interactive charts

noreply@blogger.com (Sharon) — Fri, 08 May 2009 14:07:00 +0000

Charting and understanding graphical representations can be difficult for students. Chartle.net enables you (and them) to create and publish charts online! The steps are interactive and changes can be seen as you alter the data. A great tool for teachers!
Some examples from the gallery
Report problems to embedding@chartle.net

Report problems to embedding@chartle.net
What types of charts can you make? Look at the tabs on the Create window:

Technorati Tags: chartle.net, charts, sharonbetts

Links - One more reason to Tweet

noreply@blogger.com (Sharon) — Tue, 05 May 2009 19:01:00 +0000

I find so many great resources when browsing my twitter account.

Examples from the last hour:

On cross cultural etiquette and understanding: http://www.culturecrossing.net/explore.php
Laptops for every student in South Carolina: http://laptopsc.org/
Where do you Learn: http://bigtweet.com/c/b/twitter/willrich45/1amZ6p
Using Skype in the language classroom.
Maine Student Technology Conference: http://mltiolc.wordpress.com/participation/
How much sugar is really in those foods? http://www.sugarstacks.com/
Spanish connections in education: http://bigtweet.com/c/b/twitter/willrich45/UwOqp
The Nazi Olympics - project from the Holocaust Museum
Young Scientist's Challenge

That's right - less than an hour and possibilities for a year's worth of collaboration and projects.

If you do not use twitter, you should begin today!

Technorati Tags: twitter, laptopsc, mlti, holicaustmuseum, sharonbetts

Innovations in Education

noreply@blogger.com (Sharon) — Mon, 04 May 2009 18:43:00 +0000

I am hoping to finish my article for submission to this book. You, too, can contribute.

The first edition, Education for a Digital World: Advice, Guidelines, and Effective Practice from Around the Globe, was published by the Commonwealth of Learning in July 08 and is available to download from their website.

The creation of this book employed a unique interactive collaborative research model, a forming relationships model, the sharing of ideas to produce new thinking model. It had almost 50 contributors from around the globe representing education, research, administration and business, it has a global perspective. Take a look at our map of contributors!

We are now working on a 2nd Edition. The tentative title is Innovations in Education, but it could become Education for a Digital World, Edition 2. It will be published by CoL to coincide with PCF6 in India 2010 from 24 - 28 November. http://www.col.org/progServ/panComm/Pages/pcf.aspx

An organizational meeting will be held online, May 22nd in elluminate. For details and further information visit our page in Wikieducator or our Book Wiki.

Technorati Tags: commonwealth-of-learning, sharonbetts

WallWisher - Useful graffiti

noreply@blogger.com (Sharon) — Mon, 04 May 2009 15:20:00 +0000

Wallwisher is a quickly setup wall of resources: images, links, videos which can be shared and developed individually or by groups.

Another easy way to setup links for a class, a project or a presentation. Give it a try!
.
Here is my example: (made in 5 minutes)

Technorati Tags: wallwisher, sharonbetts

Final thought on "The Game of School"

noreply@blogger.com (Sharon) — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 17:54:00 +0000

I have finished this book and am trying to absorb all it said to me. Here are a few thoughts from the final two chapters.

Chapter 6 -
Getting Stuck is a chapter about moving out of the game and into authentic learning. The most powerful part of the chapter was the "quiz", Fried's Joy and Misery Index for Educators (page 167).
Although I am no longer directly in classroom instruction, I registered my scores. I am happy to say that I am not a lost cause. I do see a way into authentic learning in our schools.

Chapter 7 -
No Time to Waste certainly says it all in the title. I was very impressed with the idea of teachers being required to address themselves directly to their students. The examples from pre-teacher students were motivating to me as I found myself wishing I could participate in their units. "Authentic learning is within our reach." (page 184)

If we can connect learning to learner, we can succeed. Just realizing that it is many times just a game, is a great start.

Technorati Tags:
robertfried, gameofschool, sharonbetts

Game of School - part 2

noreply@blogger.com (Sharon) — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 12:36:00 +0000

The Game of School by Robert Fried
Some thoughts and quotes from Chapters 2 - 5

Chapter 2 -
As the child proceeds through school, he may learn many useful and interesting things. But he also learns to undervalue his own learning in favor of "doing the work," pleasing his teachers, getting good marks.. (page 24)

Chapter 3 - on spelling lists
For in forcing our "official" vocabulary lists on children and then testing them to see if they have memorized our words, we take their natural linguistic appetite and transform it thourgh acts of subservience and drudgery. (page 66)

Chapter 4 -
In this chapter, I found myself thinking deeply about the distinction between "learning for its own sake" and "working for the grade". Fried's seven categories of learners which have evolved from our game of school exemplify the distinction:
True-Blue Learners; Go-Getters; Cherry Pickers; Pluggers; Goof-Offs or Rebels; Socializers or Hang-Outers; and Give-Uppers (page 82)
Essays from students trying to place themselves in these categories are eye-opening.

Chapter 5 -
Reading this chapter made me wonder if we are preparing our new teachers to "create a mutually respectful learning partnership" in their classrooms or to "successfully manage the students" day to day. Although these methods overlap, it should be emphasized that management should not be the ultimate goal.
Much of this chapter is dedicated to Fried's outlines of different descriptions between the Game of School and Authentic Learning in the areas of: assessment, curriculum, discipline, instruction, motivation and family involvement.

The most powerful statement I found in this chapter is that 'there is no such thing as a young person who isn't learning'. It is what they are learning that is important.

gameofschool
robertfried
sharonbetts

Thoughts on a spring afternoon

noreply@blogger.com (Sharon) — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 16:40:00 +0000

Moved the patio table to the front yard - got out the netboook - brought "The Game of School" to finish - anticipated lots of creative thoughts and impressions for my blog and my upcomint presentations.

However, the Maine breeze, sounds of a cardinal, flutter of the phoebe building a nest in our dog shelter (that is not going to work out well....), and the warmth of the sun on my back have taken controll of the day.

I can hear my mother (all those years ago) saying, "Put the work away - life needs living".

Today, Mom, I am living it.

The Game of School by Robert L. Fried

noreply@blogger.com (Sharon) — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 17:36:00 +0000

I am reading this book during the Spring Vacation week - and am going to reflect daily in my blog.

I have always thought of myself as a perpetual student - a career which I feel very successful. With the onset of more collaborative and reflective tools, I find myself realizing that much of what I have been engaged in was really just a game. Make the grade, receive the accolades, finish the work - but real learning and personal expansion was rare. Recently (the last 5 years or so), I believe I have moved away from the game and into real lifelong learning. I hope that this book will help me to put others on this same path.

Chapter 1 - Wasting Time
If you had to estimate the amount of time our children spend wasting during a school day - what percentage would you decide? Do they head off to school eager to start a new day? If asked, do they respond that much of school is boring? If people do not view activities as important and as having direct meaning to the "right now", they will not truly learn. Learning should be authentic - examples are giving in this book. And school should be about learning not about obeying.

I found the following scenario powerful: When asked "What are the most important things you learn in school?", most respond with behaviors:

no pushing
no fighting
don't throw stuff on the ground
be good

These are important, but are they the MOST important? What about reading, writing, mathematics? Most students feel that they are simply in school to "do what they are told". Where is the zest for learning?

Technorati Tags:
sharonbetts, gameofschool, robertfried

Getting To Got It!

noreply@blogger.com (Sharon) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 23:06:00 +0000

The Administrative Team in my district completes book reviews to make it easier for everyone to receive information for many more titles than we could ever find time to read. With their permission, I will occasionally post some of them for you.

Title: Getting To Got It! Author: Betty K. Garner
Reviewed by: Deb Alden
Note: ASCD Premium and Select Member book, November 2007
Also available as an eBook

Pages: 150 Chapters: 9

Summary:
Cognitive structures are the basic mental processes people use to make sense of information. We use cognitive structures to process information and create meaning by making connections, finding patterns, identifying rules and abstracting principles. Underdeveloped or underused cognitive structures can be a source of learning difficulties and teachers often don't immediately identify this b/c we assume cognitive structures operate automatically. Each individual has to develop his or her own cognitive structures and it is never too late to develop cognitive structures. The premise is that teachers can assist students in development by asking open-ended questions, making sure students understand "why" and "what" they are learning and developing relationships.

Chapters 2-9 go through eight cognitive structures. Each chapter defines the cognitive structure, how to help students develop the cognitive structure and specific suggestions for practice. In addition, throughout these chapters are anecdotal accounts with students in all grades.

Recommendations:
Excellent book for teachers K-12. This book would be great for study groups. Specifically in terms of "Response to Intervention" and the work we are doing with intervention. It really shows what can be done to help students before labeling them with a disability. Not focused on just one subject area. VERY applicable to all subject areas..in this sense it would be a great "all school" read. While reading this book

Other considerations:
A specific chapter could be useful to a teacher of a student with a certain difficulty. These may be used by "student study teams", at referral meetings and also by our school psych. service providers. All ASCD members should have a copy of this book and we will be purchasing several for our central office library.
image from amazon.com
bettygardner
sharonbetts
ascd

School Leadership that Works

noreply@blogger.com (Sharon) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 14:13:00 +0000

The Administrative Team in my District complete book reviews. With their permission, I would like to post their thoughts here. Many of these works should be read by every educator.

Title: School Leadership that Works: From Research to Results Author: Robert J. Marzano Reviewed by: Thomas Martellone, Principal Greene Central School, Greene, ME

Pages: 193 pages Chapters: Nine Chapters

Summary:

Marzano and associates have cleverly used Meta analysis to truly calculate the impact of leadership on student achievement and school improvement. In Part One of the book (Chapters 1-3), Marzano explains some theories behind leadership and how they analzed the data. Don't be deceived. . . the reading was very navigable and not too filled with jargon. Bottom line, Marzano has shown the relational impact of effective leadership on student achievement. In Part Two (Chapters 4-7), Marzano looks at the 21 responsiblities of a school leader, the types of change that can affect those responsibilities and which approach is best for the different responsibilties. The book closes with how a leadership team may help implement change within a school setting. The epilogue was a challenge due to the technicality of the statistics, although the questionnaires for buiding principals included in that section had great questions about leadership.

Recommendations:

The list of 21 responsibilities was very interesting in regards to all the things that leaders do within their organization. The list was reviewed in table form and correlations were provided with the individual responsibilties. Marzano also goes into more depth after providing specific information about each attribute. Based on the reading, it does look as though leadership plays a key role in the effort to raise student achievement, although individual studies do not necessarily show that. Marzano also skillfully points out the type of change that is necessary for some of the different responsibilities to be realized to their full potential.

Other considerations:

Although this book could be read by anyone in a school setting, it probably would hold the most significance for those people in leadership or administrative roles that want to find ways to increase their impact on student achievement.

Watch and Listen - students views

noreply@blogger.com (Sharon) — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 15:05:00 +0000

The videos being produced by the NetGenEd group of students should be watched by all teachers.
"Every student is different, so every education should be different". No More Cookie Cutter Education:

Find more videos like this on grownupdigital

Many more.
Are you listening?
http://netgened.grownupdigital.com/video/video