Planning for Responsible Tech Integration
http://bit.ly/wcpsstech1
In February of 2012, full-time classroom teacher and technology author Bill Ferriter will be presenting to the Technology Committee of the Wake County Division of Principals on both the changing nature of teaching and learning in the 21st Century and the steps that school leaders can take to craft careful technology integration plans for their schools.
This wiki page will house materials for this presentation.
Thought for the Session
Making technology decisions in schools is (sadly) a lot like herding cats. Can you figure out how?
Shared Brainstorming
Several years ago, the Wake Education Partnership released a report that asked a critical question: What DOES a world class public education that prepares students for the global economy look like in action? How would you answer that question? Spend a few minutes reflecting individually by sharing your thoughts in this Google Doc.
Additional Slides for Today's Session
Evaluating Your Current Reality
One of the first steps that you can take to ensure that your school is tackling digital projects that are sustainable is to think carefully about your current reality. This Essential Skills Checklist can help you to identify the kinds of technology integration projects that are likely to be worth pursuing in your buildings.
Technology Vision Planning
One of the reasons that schools often struggle to integrate technology into their work is that choices are made without a clear end in mind. To focus decision-making, Bill Ferriter recommends that every building craft a set of vision statements that clearly detail the specific behaviors that teachers and teams would be demonstrating if technology was being used effectively to advance their school's mission.
These handouts can help schools to carefully craft their own set of technology vision statements:
Technology Vision Statements
Technology Planning Guide
Technology Planning Scenario
Advice from a Digital Superstar
Ever since creating the first Did You Know video, Karl Fisch -- an English teacher at Arapahoe High School in Colorado -- has been widely recognized as one of the most important voices in the conversation around changing teaching and learning with technology. When asked what ONE bit of advice he had for leaders responsible for making technology decisions in their school, here's how he responded:
Professional Development in Social Media Spaces
One of the mistakes that school leaders often make is focusing their technology change efforts on teaching practices. Investing time and energy in showing teachers how new tools and spaces can change their own learning is a more productive first step. Teachers with first-hand experience with the ways technology makes learning more efficient and effective almost always translate those lessons into their work with students.
The following resources might be useful starting points for school leaders that want to introduce teachers to the professional development potential in social media spaces:
The Importance of a PLN
http://teacherleaders.typepad.com/the_tempered_radical/2010/11/the-importance-of-a-pln-.html
This post from Bill Ferriter's blog points readers to a series of articles and pieces that he's written over time explaining exactly why digital learning networks matter.
Five Twitter Hashtags that Can Save School Leaders Time
http://teacherleaders.typepad.com/the_tempered_radical/2011/08/twitter-hashtags-for-school-leaders.html
This post from Bill Ferriter's blog introduces readers to hashtags -- unique identifiers that are used to sort content in Twitter -- and then offers a list of common hashtags that school leaders use to network and share resources with one another.
Twitter Can SAVE You Time
http://teacherleaders.typepad.com/the_tempered_radical/2011/02/twitter-can-save-you-time.html
This post from Bill Ferriter's blog shares a very tangible example of how networking in social media spaces saved him time and connected him with valuable resources that he may never have found on his own.
Using Social Media to Support Singletons in a PLC
http://teacherleaders.typepad.com/the_tempered_radical/2010/10/twitter-for-singletons-in-a-plc.html
http://teacherleaders.typepad.com/the_tempered_radical/2011/06/electronic-teaming-for-singletons-in-a-plc.html
One of the most immediate groups that social media spaces can serve are the singletons in any PLC simply because singletons all over the world are using social media spaces to network with one another. These two posts can help your singletons to start swimming in this digital world.
Tracking Learning in Social Media Spaces [HANDOUT}
SM_Handout_TrackingSMPD.doc
One of the reasons teachers often push back against social media spaces for professional development is that their work in social media spaces isn't recognized for formal renewal credit. This handout can be used by teachers to document the tangible impact of social spaces on their learning -- and by school leaders to award renewal credit for the work that teachers are doing in those spaces.
Exploring Educational Conversations in Social Media Spaces [HANDOUT]
SM_Handout_ExploringEducationalConversationsinSMSpaces.doc
Another reason that teachers struggle to embrace social media spaces for professional development is that they are unaware of the true extent of conversations happening in those spaces. This handout can be used by any educator to learn more about the different ways that they can learn with others online.
Learning about Social Media Spaces [HANDOUT]
SM_Handout_LearningAboutSocialMedia.doc
This handout is designed to support leaders that are interested in learning more about the role that social media can play in driving change -- both in education and in organizations that depend on support from the broader community. It points readers to some of the strongest resources available for understanding what social media can do for individuals and the groups that they work for.
Additional Resources
Bill is constantly creating content that is designed to help teachers -- to be better collaborators, to be better leaders, to be better learners, and to be better 21st Century teachers. You can find some of his best content here:
Digitally Speaking PD Wiki - almost everything that Bill creates connected to teaching and learning with technology can be found on this website.
Tech Book Handouts - There are over 70 handouts in Bill's teaching with technology book. You can download all of them for free here.
Social Media Book Handouts - Bill has also created a series of handouts for his book on using social media to reach out to communities and to improve teacher professional development. They can be found online here.
PLC Book Handouts - One of Bill's biggest passions is helping teachers to create meaningful professional learning communities. The handouts in his first PLC book -- which can be downloaded here -- will support learning teams at any stage of their development.
Tempered Radical Blog - Bill writes twice a week every week about topics ranging from educational policy to teaching and learning with technology. You can follow his content by checking out his blog.
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