David Warlick is working to begin each presentation with something he has learned in the last 24 hours, because above being a teacher, he is a learner.  We are struggling to redefine teaching.  The 21st century teacher is a master learner.

This presentation has handouts at http://davidwarlick.com/handouts

David is telling us how his personal learning network started in 2004.  He realized after reading a couple of other blogs that a blog was not effective as a one way conversation.  He began reading blogs based on comments from other people’s blogs.  Then became aware that this had become his personal learning network (George Siemens, “Connectivism”).

“What is the difference between a social network and social networking?”

David set up a wiki that asked this question, then used the responses to build the presentation

Arturo Guajardo, Austin ISD

Presentation will be posted at http://www.eduese.com

Title comes from the belief that technology can transform ESL instruction.  Arturo works closely with teachers who teach ESL students.  Goal is to present tools for ESL teachers.  Based on research on Common Principles & Strategies for ESL Instruction.

Background knowledge, Academic Language, Sense of Self are the three ESL strategies that he believes have the most connection to ESL instruction.

Background Knowledge:  ELLs will learn new content and language when it is built on what they already know.

LaDonna Conner and Amy Bramhall-Carrolton-Farmers Branch ISD

Presentation will be posted at http://www.beyond4walls.org

Podcasting and iPods int he ESL/Bilingual classroom

How I Learned English:  55 Accomplished Latinos Recall Lessons in Language and Life (National Geographic Books)

Teacher in CFBISD says, “When I tell them it’s going to be podcast, they practice more than when I have them say it to me.”

20 point difference in test scores in one class.

Two students had failed every benchmark in math.  Gave each student a video iPod frontloaded with Unitedstreaming videos as well as Photostory with the math SEs…both passed TAKS the following year, and one student was 2 points from commended.  Was not the only intervention, but it made a difference. 

Sheryl first commented on how much technology has changed even in the year since she was here at Tech Forum SW 07.

She used the Cisco clip “Welcome to the Human Network” as the theme for the keynote.  “We drag and drop people wherever they want to go’.

Are we ready for 21st century learning?  We are 8 years into it.  She is the 3rd year of a Microsoft Partners In Learning grant in Alabama.  Sheryl picked 10 of their best schools…went looking for “where they are” getting ready to begin the 4th year of the grant.  She found the teacher excited and using the technology.  The kids, not so much…they were still watching, not participating.

Sheryl talked to the kids, and asked these 2 questions:

• What teacher stood out to you, and what was the lesson you walked away knowing you had really learned?
  • Teachers with passion
  • Teachers with competency
  • Teachers who allowed students personal choice.
  • Teachers who care.
• What is the worst teacher, lesson, experience in your learning?
  • Teachers who give nothing but notes
  • Quotes to Sheryl from students:
    • “I’m a teenager…I don’t like to read…if you give me 20 pages of notes, I’m going to skim it, plug in the words, not learn it.”
    • “I want lessons with purpose so I can retain it.”
    • From a 4th grader: “You know the word teacher, it has the word ‘teach’ in it”.

Participatory Culture-Henry Jenkins

1. Relatively low barriers for engagement
2. Strong support for sharing creations with others
3. Informal mentorship
4. Members believe their contributions matter.
5. Care about others’ opinions of self & work.

2 years ago…were kids producers of content?

Clay Shirky…Here Comes Everybody: Four stages to mastering the connected world:

• sharing,
• cooperating,
• collaborating, and
• collective action.

The magic happens when the kids collaborate.  Students publish their work and even share with other groups, but what happens when someone from around the world comments on their work?  We have then moved from cooperation to collaboration.

Trend 1-Social and intellectual capital are the new economic values in the world economy.

If we are going to prepare kids for their “right now”, we must make these shifts.  Are we teaching kids to be good digital citizens–to use the tools they are already using responsibly?

Moving from mandated accountability to mutual accountability:

“By the year 2011 80% of all Fortune 500 companies will be using immersive worlds” –Gartner Vice President Jackie Fenn

“Learning to be creates passion.” –Sheryl Nussbaum-Beach

“Schools are only one node on the network of learning.” –Sheryl Nussbaum-Beach

When we were in school, learning stopped an started at the schoolhouse door…today, learning can take place any place and anywhere.  We have done a great job of preparing kids for the present…the rules have not been created yet for preparing them for the future.

Sheryl shared the following example of true collective action:

Laura Stockman-share, connect, collaborate, collective action.  Laura was a 10 year old who created a blog when her grandfather died called 25 days to make a difference.  She wanted to do and record 25 days of good deeds.     It became an international project, and is still ongoing, almost 2 years later.  WOW!!!!!

Types of communities:

• place
• memory
• interest or passion

Personal Learning Networks

Community–in and out of the classroom

Are you “clickable”-Are your students?

Moving from classroom metaphor to community metaphor.

“They come to you with a chip in their head anyway!”  Tony Wagner-The Global Achievement

Learning Ecology:  http:/www.elearnspace.org/Articles/google_whitepaper.pdf

The tools are not the point…becoming a participatory culture using the tools is the point.

In the I knew this, but it really hit me when she said it department:

“We are the last generation of teachers who have the choice whether or not to embrace technology.”