Educating Innovatively

When I began teaching in 1997 I was shocked when I was approached to provide professional development for my district on using computers in the classroom. I was surprised because I was a first-year teacher and couldn’t imagine that I was the person the school district would select as best suited to teach other teachers how to use effectively use technology in the classroom. Paul Reese was the technology coordinator for the district at that time and informed me that I was one of the few teachers he knew of that was putting technology tools to use in the classroom and he promised me I had a lot to offer. I realize now the importance of a leader and mentor to see more in you then you see in yourself and am happy that I took him up on the challenge. That year I taught teachers how to create class websites, publish historical newspapers and travel brochures to support social studies instruction, actively watch video to support content area instruction, use excel to support math and more.

I realized that what made me the right person for the job was that I was always interested in trying out new technologies and learning new things to make teaching and learning more exciting. In a “World is Flat,” “Whole New Mind,” “Change or Die,” climate that we are teaching in, I’ve found my ability to Adapt or Become Irrelevant not only useful, but necessary. If you're reading this, I imagine you either are or are open to being the same way. As such, I am anxious to share the technology tools that I love and use with others.

These are the my current can't-live without tools.
1) Wikispaces
2) Google Docs
3) Skype

These are three tools in which I use as more of a consumer than a producer and want to begin using more actively.
1) NING
2) Twitter
3) UStream

You can learn more about these tools at The Innovative Educator wiki where you’ll find the url, description, tips, and information on learning to use each tool. I know there are many other innovative educators out there. I invite you to share your favorite tools and those you want to begin using more actively.

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Microsoft Shares School Leader Development Tool

I’m at Microsoft’s Partners in Learning briefing where Marion Ginopolis is visiting from Michigan to present a School Leadership Development (SLD) instructional leadership tool developed in partnership with Microsoft used by educators and their community partners as a framework for thinking about 21^st century learning. The program has engaging and robust resources that can inspire and motivate leaders provided they have a strong facilitator. There is a facilitator guide that comes with the program. The program can be delivered in a way customized to your needs and can be delivered over about 8 – 10 hours. Below is an overview of the program.

School Leader Development: Building 21st Century Schools
Microsoft has partnered with John Bransford of the College of Education at the University of Washington and Little Planet Learning, a company that delivers custom learning programs, to create School Leader Development: Building 21st Century Schools. This instructional leadership tool for leaders of primary and secondary schools serves as a guide for creating a learning environment that prepares students for a modern world. The unique curriculum combines video, challenge questions, discussions, and expert resources to focus on the following issues facing primary and secondary school leaders:

• Dimensions of change within schools in the 21st century
• Guidance for student learning
• Strategies for success for all students
• Innovative approaches for education
• Strong leadership for all schools

Here is the School Leader Development overview demo. Microsoft states that you can receive this CD to use with school leaders. For more information, send e-mail to pil_lead@microsoft.com.

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Microsoft Prepares Students for 21st Century Careers

I’m at Microsoft’s Partners in Learning briefing where Allyson Knox is presenting on a program to help ALL students determine what they want to do with their future and how to prepare for it. This 20 – 25 hour experience can be its own separate class or part of classes such as Economics or Global Studies. The program looks robust and it has fabulous materials and resources. The course allows facilitators to collect pre and post surveys so you can analyze the growth of participants. Below is an overview of the program which they have created to prepare students for careers in the 21^st Century called Career Forward.

The CareerFoward program takes on the challenge of assisting young people as they prepare for careers in the global market that is impacting their lives now and in the future. Technology, along with many other factors, has leveled job prospects for people all over the world. Career opportunities are more diverse than they used to be, and students today need to be introduced to the growing global competition that they will face. Most important, they need motivation to plan and see the education that is so crucial for their futures. This program is designed to provide a framework for students and teachers to use as they explore possibilities and learn how to prepare for the future. The program contains about 20 hour-long online sessions using personal reflection and activities and gives each student an independent exploration of the possibilities for their future that will allow them to move on and create an Educational Development Plan (EDP).

Amazingly this program is available and it’s materials are available and accessible for use at http://course.careerforward.org/default.htm for teachers to begin using with their classes today. Microsoft recommends using the program with High School students but several participants attending the briefing thought this would also work well in middle school. You can see how Michigan put this program into action at their Michigan Virtual School website.

I encourage you to take a look at this program and think about where it fits in the school(s) with which you work? Please share your comments, thoughts, and ideas on how this may be beneficial in your environment or if you have used the program please share your feedback.

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