EduCon+Presentation+Chat

In order to speak in the chat room, you need to log in to Ustream. If you do not have a Ustream account yet click here to register one for free. 08:01 darrendraper : Hello Tom 08:03 tom_turner : hey there Darren....sitting in my garage doing a garage sale...this is spectacular 08:03 mjclausen-1 : Is audio working for everyone else? I'm not getting any sound. 08:03 tom_turner : no sound at all here 08:04 kdumont-1 : Not seeing or hearing anything. 08:04 mjclausen-1 : I've got video 08:05 kdumont-2 : Have video on the direct channel, but no audio 08:07 darrendraper : They're working on audio through Ustream. 08:07 mkm420fritz : thanks! 08:08 diane : Is there a list of workshops + the channels they're on? 08:08 diane : Can't hear any sound on Channel 6 08:08 mjclausen-1 : @diane http://edtechtalk.com/studio/educon20 08:09 kdumont-2 : The channels on the Educon studio page are screwed up. 08:09 diane : Rats, didn't catch that address! 08:09 srolle-1 : Any sound here? 08:09 diane : Not hearing sound on channel 6 08:09 mrsrsscience-1 : No sound 08:10 diane : Can I retrieve old chat? 08:10 diane : Wanted list of workshops + channels but was in transit when it was first sent 08:11 ehelfant : http://educon20.wikispaces.com/Agenda#one 08:11 diane : Thanks! Who 08:11 diane : Who's in this workshop from my twitterverse? 08:12 ehelfant : think i'll check out another one that has sound.. 08:13 fifer1863 : audio issues? 08:13 diane : Me too, thanks fro the wiki link 08:13 diane : No sound 08:14 darrendraper : Professional development is typically: 08:14 darrendraper : Set time 08:14 darrendraper : In a room 08:14 darrendraper : When there's not buy-in it falls apart 08:15 diane : Definitely need stakeholder input 08:15 darrendraper : Presenters don't always impress teachers as much as teachers can impress teachers. 08:15 darrendraper : Credibility gap? 08:15 diane : Reality check 08:16 darrendraper : Outsiders bring in a canned presentation. 08:16 diane : what works with teachers doesn't always translate into classroom success with students? 08:17 mkm420fritz : there needs to be a lot of follow up in the classroom... 08:17 mkm420fritz : sound???? yes!!! 08:17 diane : Sound is on! 08:17 darrendraper : YEAH! 08:17 mkm420fritz : a lot of feedback... 08:18 darrendraper : My Ustream audio is off so it's not me. :) 08:18 mkm420fritz : wow - that was loud... 08:18 diane : Looks like tech heaven, all those laptops! 08:19 mkm420fritz : feedback is much better - almost gone. 08:19 darrendraper : Followup is key. 08:19 diane : Need some space for mistakes to encourage teachers to take risks 08:20 mkm420fritz : more than just one time. it needs to be constantly revisited with support 08:20 diane : And positive reinforcement when something succeeds 08:20 diane : Don't punish the risk-takers and innovators 08:20 mkm420fritz : that's where community building is so important 08:21 diane : Internal + online PLN 08:22 darrendraper : Sometimes bringing in an outsider helps. 08:22 mkm420fritz : yes - but connections have to be made so that it's not out of context....followup!!! 08:22 diane : As long as suggestions can be tailored for the specific needs of a district 08:23 diane : Too many one-shot expert workshops! 08:23 darrendraper : Sometimes professional developers need to validate themselves before they can reach their audience. 08:23 darrendraper : Students need to be more self-directed. 08:23 darrendraper : My question: should't TEACHERS be self-directed in THEIR learning? 08:24 diane : Staff needs to know internal support system e.g. Librarian! 08:24 diane : Our district doesn't reward own time learning; do it anyway 08:24 IDanceForGod-1 : I agree...staff need to know the resources available, including people. 08:24 darrendraper : Well said, IDance! 08:25 diane : And "resources" need to be given some time to assist others 08:25 IDanceForGod-1 : Thanks....I'm watching via UStream, and I lost the sound....any clues about that? 08:25 diane : I stiil have sound 08:25 IDanceForGod-1 : oh, there it is! 08:26 ehelfant : teachers should be self directed in their learning but often aren't and with tech, don't know how to be 08:26 mkm420fritz : you said it ehelfant....they don't know what's out there 08:26 ehelfant : have to teach mine to be self or group directed 08:26 diane : What is the responsibility of administration to be tech literate? 08:27 diane : If they're not on board, everything is slowed down 08:27 IDanceForGod-1 : I think it's idealistic for administration to be fully tech literate...but if they have the interest, encourage it! 08:27 darrendraper : Good question, diane! 08:27 mkm420fritz : they need to know what to look for and model its' use! 08:27 ehelfant : admin has to at least be conceptually aware of tech potential even if they can't do a wiki 08:27 IDanceForGod-1 : That doesn't mean they can't support it 08:27 diane : Exactly, reward initiative, encourage exploration and experimentation 08:28 kassissieh-1 : Admins need to understand enough about the tech to know its implications for teaching & learning. 08:28 mkm420fritz : yes - content first!!! 08:28 IDanceForGod-1 : Definitely, I agree! 08:28 diane : Always have to keep in mind: tools support content 08:29 ehelfant : admin needs to support curriculum revision and encourgage that revision to include the instructional tech person and the librarian.. 08:29 ehelfant : we seem to make lots of progress withthat approach 08:29 IDanceForGod-1 : So how do we get the admin on board? 08:29 mkm420fritz : all stakeholders - it's a systemic problem...needs systemic leadership! 08:29 diane : Showcase successes: parent buy-in + admin support 08:30 diane : PR is important 08:30 ehelfant : right diane.. a really good well highlighted success gets losts of mileage 08:30 IDanceForGod-1 : Good ideas, I need to use some of those in my district. 08:30 diane : Picture in the paper = kudos from Super 08:31 diane : Yes, I'm here on my own time. 08:31 IDanceForGod-1 : Me too :-) 08:31 diane : Going to NECC on my own time and money. Super not impressed I'll be on a panel 08:32 darrendraper : Compulsory education... 08:32 diane : Still have to do compulsory written PD piece 08:32 ehelfant : we took away the mandatory training in favor or a training portfolio 08:32 diane : Bottom line is a lack of trust in our professionalism 08:33 IDanceForGod-1 : Do you mean that we don't trust other professionals or we don't trust ourselves? 08:34 kdumont-2 : Responsibility outweighs the actual practice. 08:34 diane : I mean that admin & BOE don't trust teachers to development at their own pace in their own style 08:34 IDanceForGod-1 : Got it....yes, I think that's right. 08:35 diane : meant "develop" 08:35 diane : Learning doesn't take place on a schedule 08:36 diane : My life and my network is my learning venue 08:36 IDanceForGod-1 : True...and I can't see how that would work in an elementary school....who covers the class during all that planning and PD? 08:36 darrendraper : Built in time is WONDERFUL when teachers and admins take advantage of it. 08:37 kdumont-2 : Elementary schools will find the time if it is important to the principals and teachers. 08:37 diane : My principals don't want too much "non pupil contact time" plus I have to cover teacher planning time 08:37 darrendraper : Self-directed learning... 08:38 diane : Teachers who aren't learners are one-dimensional 08:38 IDanceForGod-1 : I have "specials" to cover too...I guess I'm just not seeing how another way could work in K-5 08:38 darrendraper : Amen, Diane. 08:38 darrendraper : Yes, face time is valuable. 08:38 diane : As the sole K-12 librarian, my colleagues are all virtual 08:39 IDanceForGod-1 : Face-to-face contact is important too....it's easier to miscommunicate virtually. 08:39 diane : But the teachers are not concerned with the same issues that I am 08:40 diane : They don't want innovation - out of their comfort zone 08:42 diane : Those who are willing to try new things get frustrated with lack of equipment 08:43 thegilch-1 : I see that frustration often as well, Diana 08:43 thegilch-1 : oops, Diane 08:43 diane : Don't usually like mandates, but need some equalization of curriculum and resources nation-wide 08:44 thegilch-1 : agrees, something that provides tech and innovation across the board 08:44 thegilch-1 : why isn't that a mandate of NCLB? 08:44 diane : No child should be penalized because of where they live 08:44 thegilch-1 : **playing devil's advocate 08:44 IDanceForGod-1 : The SKILLS Act is up for vote soon. 08:44 diane : Right - there is a tech component to NCLB that is largely ignored 08:45 IDanceForGod-1 : If it's part of NCLB, then libraries will get a boost at least 08:45 thegilch-1 : ignored and unfunded 08:45 IDanceForGod-1 : fair point 08:45 IDanceForGod-1 : But if it's supported and enforced, it could be effective. 08:45 thegilch-1 : I think "enforced" is the key word 08:46 thegilch-1 : int he words of Bonnie Raitt, I can't make you love me if you don't 08:46 diane : Many educators say library is heart of the school, but do they really believe it? 08:46 thegilch-1 : the more people feel forced to do something, the more they shut it out 08:46 diane : Our school is focused on mandated tests. All else is secondary 08:47 thegilch-1 : I do, Diane, but we have a media specialist who is also our tech specialist and she ensures that our library is balanced with digital and paper media 08:47 diane : My job isn't viewed that we. We have an IT who is hardware focused, no educational technologist on board 08:47 diane : viewed that way 08:48 diane : On the teacher level, there are many full minds not ready to be opened 08:48 thegilch-1 : My question in relation to sessions, and conversations like this one, is how many participants are in the decision making realm of education? Do decision makers even know that there are conversations out here like this that they can draw statistics, experience, research, etc, to put into action? 08:49 diane : to new ideas 08:49 diane : Afraid you've got a very valid point. We're preaching to the choir here. 08:49 thegilch-1 : we're building a revolution, of sorts, maybe 08:49 diane : And the choir has no real power. 08:50 darrendraper : Presentation link: http://tinyurl.com/2hesyl 08:50 thegilch-1 : the power of voice, diane 08:50 thegilch-1 : thanks darren 08:50 diane : I'll be retiring soon and fighting in the revolution from another direction 08:50 darrendraper : Or here: http://tinyurl.com/yv73lk 08:51 thegilch-1 : I was in conversations like this one several times over the past few days at FETC 08:51 thegilch-1 : very eye opening 08:51 thegilch-1 : how do we harness the power of the whole without alienating those who will take more time to get on board> 08:51 diane : Do you find these conferences empowering or frustrating, as the reality of your actual job kicks in 08:52 thegilch-1 : totally empowering 08:52 diane : Good for you! 08:52 IDanceForGod-1 : I think it's some of both...it's inspiring to be reminded of our potential 08:52 IDanceForGod-1 : but frustrating when you see the budget numbers 08:53 diane : I'm too impatient, I guess. Too old to wait for evolution, need the revolution! 08:53 thegilch-1 : yes, that too IDance... 08:53 thegilch-1 : but, I am totally aware of how fortunate I am to be at a hi-tech center, and have an amazing admin 08:53 diane : So sad that's not the norm 08:54 thegilch-1 : we hope that it will be, before it's outdated 08:54 thegilch-1 : :-) 08:54 diane : Time, time, time... 08:54 thegilch-1 : but, Steve Dembo said something that I found enlightening 08:54 IDanceForGod-1 : I'm also pretty fortunate....but even in my district, there's a lot of inequities. 08:54 IDanceForGod-1 : That's what I fight for 08:55 IDanceForGod-1 : or against rather...oops 08:55 diane : Still comes back to admin. buy- in. No instructional coaches in our district 08:55 thegilch-1 : that we are only recognized professionally for the "hours" we spend following a program for PD, not the true hours we spend building networks and learning and using and trying new things 08:55 thegilch-1 : like this... 08:56 thegilch-1 : I got wat you meant, IDance 08:56 diane : I wish we were valued for our desire and our skills 08:56 thegilch-1 : same in our district, large gap between the haves and have nots 08:56 thegilch-1 : but I am at a magnet school, my only wish is that all kids had access to the potential we create, not just 150 per year 08:56 darrendraper : Key word: change 08:57 diane : Change in procedure will come with change in attitude 08:57 thegilch-1 : bravo, DIane 08:57 diane : Not even all of the students desire change 08:57 thegilch-1 : change in attitude from the bottom up and the top down 08:58 diane : Gave a BOE presentation and they were blown away. Absolutely no change in my duties or resources reaulted. 08:58 diane : resulted 08:59 diane : Teachers see this kind of change as an add-on, more work, no reward 08:59 thegilch-1 : for the most part, yes 08:59 thegilch-1 : I agree 09:00 diane : And God help them if experimentation results in lower ELA scores! 09:00 itoldja : fear of the unknown... 09:00 diane : Used to be experts, not co-learners 09:00 IDanceForGod-1 : Going back to the contracts thing...I think teachers will try it if they are paid to try it....less risk 09:01 thegilch-1 : true, and I get so frustrated with educators who don't see the value of this in ELL education 09:01 IDanceForGod-1 : my district offers "workshops" for tech that count as pay for teachers....it's amazing how motivating that is. :-) 09:02 thegilch-1 : that is good, IDance, in my dist, they stopped doing it because "they" think teachers use it to milk the dist for $$, which is very sad 09:02 diane : However we reel them in, some will stay with it once they actually try some new tools 09:02 diane : "Our" time doesn't seem valuable to them 09:02 IDanceForGod-1 : Yeah, I know some teachers who do that...but they still learn something despite their ulterior motives. 09:04 thegilch-1 : true, IDance 09:06 thegilch-1 : ooooohhhhh, good buzzword, shared aspirations 09:06 thegilch-1 : I think that;s a key 09:06 IDanceForGod-1 : Maybe a key to getting teacher buy-in is to save them time.... 09:07 IDanceForGod-1 : because in the end, if they save time, that's almost as good as paying them. 09:07 thegilch-1 : yes, I think it all comes down to simplicity 09:07 thegilch-1 : simplifying our approach, our process, and our expectations 09:07 IDanceForGod-1 : PD as time-savers, maybe? 09:07 IDanceForGod-1 : make their lives simpler 09:08 thegilch-1 : and we all benefit from that 09:09 thegilch-1 : if everyone's lives are simpler, if we all share the same common goal, shared aspirations, then all our lives are simpler and we can focus on our true challenge 09:09 IDanceForGod-1 : ohh...I LIKE that! 09:10 thegilch-1 : ty :-) I come up with good ones once in a while 09:10 sroseman : testing 1 2 3 09:10 thegilch-1 : or at least I try to, though I am usually just humoring myself 09:10 thegilch-1 : going back to something someone said earlier, that even students don't want change 09:11 thegilch-1 : I see that at the HS level ALOT 09:11 IDanceForGod-1 : Yeah, change is always tough. 09:11 IDanceForGod-1 : I think it goes back to "selling" it as something that will help them. 09:11 thegilch-1 : they have been so conditioned to certain things, that change really spins them out, and they don't know how to handle it 09:12 thegilch-1 : for instance, TEST PREP 09:12 thegilch-1 : ugh! 09:12 thegilch-1 : actually was told by a sophmore last semester that I was doing nothing to prepare them for FCAT 09:12 thegilch-1 : because I wasn't doing sample test questions every day 09:13 thegilch-1 : double UGH! 09:13 IDanceForGod-1 : Even at elem. we do PSSA prep sessions....not fun at ALL! 09:15 thegilch-1 : but even more, how does that benefit kids? How does it add to their education or development? 09:16 IDanceForGod-1 : It doesn't....but while the tests are required, it's a necessary evil...with the emphasis on "evil." :-) 09:17 thegilch-1 : true, it's our reality, but it doesn't teach them to adapt 09:18 thegilch-1 : I prep them for the test by having them read a novel, and then blog their literary analyisis, and then discuss each others' responses 09:18 thegilch-1 : same skill 09:18 IDanceForGod-1 : Well then you're killing two birds with one stone...you're combining 21st century skills instruction with test prep 09:20 thegilch-1 : getting others to see the value 09:20 thegilch-1 : tell people about what you're doing 09:20 thegilch-1 : show your enthusiasm, and tell about how it helps your practice 09:21 thegilch-1 : they will catch on 09:21 IDanceForGod-1 : Yes, just like with collaborating on instruction...if one teacher does it, others will say "how did you do that?" And that's more business for the library. 09:26 IDanceForGod-1 : Sounds like the training needs to come first, or it needs to be simultaneous with PD 09:26 chellouise : interesting conversation 09:26 darrendraper : This has been an amazing conversation! 09:27 chellouise : I think teaching HOW to do something (like a presentation) should come first, then maybe some training on a specific application. What do you think? 09:29 IDanceForGod-1 : Yes, I think that's what I meant by simultaneous....because they blend together so easily when you are using a specific application. 09:31 thegilch-1 : I have so enjoyed this, but I am off to see the manatees, perfect day for it here in SW FL 09:31 thegilch-1 : have a fab day everyone! 09:32 IDanceForGod-1 : You as well! Enjoy the sunshine! 09:33 IDanceForGod-1 : Thanks everyone for chatting! 09:33 darrendraper : Great work, chatters! Thanks for joining in! 09:34 dwaltman : hello brian smith