The Wired Classroom

Here is the rest of Carolyn Lesser’s 2008-09 interactive videoconference offerings through New Links to New Learning. For pricing on programs, contact Rebecca Morrison at CSD.

Custom-designed writing videoconference for educators and/or students… This program is offered to give the most flexibility to planners and educators.  Embedded in this program is total control over the content, the number of presentations, the issues and concerns most important to your district or schools, making your enrichment dollars pinpoint accurate at addressing your needs.  Collaborative planning is one of the riches of this custom planning as it brings the element of support and professional development for the efforts of educators concerning writing.  It is a real collaboration between educators and an author.  To view some of the possibilities, visit Carolyn’s website for presentation options.  

Writing Nonfiction Prose or Poetry…#1
Session #1…30 minute conference call from teachers to plan for students
Session #2…45 minute interactive presentation to students…assignment
Session #3…45 minute interactive reading/positive feedback to student work

• Carolyn will choose writing topics appropriate for grade level
• Students will participate in a professional nonfiction writing process
• Teacher input is important…come to conference call with ideas
• Carolyn engages students with enthusiasm for the nonfiction process

Writing Nonfiction Prose or Poetry…#2
Session #1…45 minute conference/call from teachers to plan for students
Session #2…60 minute interactive presentation to students…assignment
Session #3…60 minute interactive reading/positive feedback to student work

• Specific writing topics chosen by teachers/students
• Professional nonfiction writing process tailored & relevant to curriculum, teacher requests, goals
• Teacher input/requests/goals discussed in the conference call
• Added time for student questions following our work together
• Carolyn brings inspiration & enthusiasm to each session

Custom add-ons to any series bring depth and relevance to students & staff~

Now that the school year is over, I think people are starting to this about next school year-  and for high school students and their parents-  about college prep. Cooperating School Districts’ New Links to New Learning offers both an ACT Prep Class and now a PSAT Prep Class, both over videoconference. Trained instructors from The Princeton Review conduct the course and CSD gets you connected to the course. For more info, contact Rebecca Morrison.

Here’s some info to think about:

• Public Missouri high school students who completed The Princeton Review PSAT Clinic averaged of 12.1 pts higher on the PSAT, and the top 50% of student scoring 21.6  points higher, which is equivalent to an SAT scaled score increase of 216 points.
• According to The Princeton Review, when students attend all of the sessions, take all of the practice tests, and complete all assigned homework, average ACT score improvement is three points. 

Author and former teacher Carolyn Lesser has created a new menu of interactive videoconference programs for New Links to New Learning! Here are just a few of the new videoconference opportunities with Carolyn. The others will be up soon. Contact the Virtual Learning Center for costs and scheduling - all programs are upon request. Carolyn works with students second grade and up.

Writing Nature Prose or Poetry
Session #1… 45 minute conference/call from teachers to plan for students
Session #2… 50 minute interactive presentation & student assignment given
Session #3… 50 minute interactive reading/positive feedback to student-read work

• Sessions will concentrate on nature writing specific to relevant curriculum
• We will connect science with the writing/research process in prose or poetry
• Research will be stressed for scientific accuracy for topics
• Teacher input is very important…come to conference call with ideas
• Carolyn will engage students with enthusiasm for her nonfiction process

Multigenre Nonfiction Writing
Session #1… 45 minute conference call from teachers to plan for students
Session #2… 60 minute interactive presentation & student assignment given
Session #3… 60 minute interactive reading/positive feedback to student-read work

• Teacher input/requests/goals discussed in the conference call
• Each nonfiction topic will be written in poetry, prose, letter, journal entry, dialogue, newspaper article, broadcast, report, etc.  
• My professional nonfiction writing process tailored & relevant to specific curriculum, teacher requests, goals
• Specific writing topics chosen by teachers/students
• Time will be taken each session for student questions
• Each session will be full of inspiration, enthusiasm, and positive feedback

Crafting a Play
Session #1… 60 minute conference with teachers to plan for students
Session #2… 60 minute presentation & student assignment given
Session #3… 60 minute presentation of scenes from students’ plays… feedback to and from groups

• Professional play-writing, techniques presented
• Teacher input/requests/goals discussed in the teacher conference
• Curriculum for the basis of the plays discussed with teachers
• Topics chosen by teachers/students
• Time for student questions in each session
• All sessions interactive

There are quite a few technology in education conferences taking place in July. As you know, I will be attending and presenting at the Missouri Distance Learning Association (MODLA) Annual Conference at Tan-Tar-A Resort in Osage Beach (that’s July 9-10).  Ruth, Martha, Nancy and Stacey will head to San Antonio, Texas the first week of July to attend NECC- the National Educational Computing Conference.  In addition, Successlink is holding the 6th Annual Technology Innovations Conference  July 17-18, also at Tan-Tar-A. There, Stacey will present on Web 2.0. Martha and Nancy plan to present at Successlink’s conference on several topics: Internet Safety, SMART Board, and Discovery Streaming.

In other education conference news, CSD’s CHARACTERplus is holding its 14th Annual Character Education Conference in St. Louis this summer. Dorothy White, who does an awesome job on the Midwest Education Technology Conference with Nancy and Joan, also works on CEC with a great group of folks from CHARACTERplus. CEC runs July 16-18.

Movie-Making in the Classroom: Creating Digital Stories & Photo Essays   
- Two Graduate Credits Available -
June 23, 24 & 26 |  9 am-4 pm each day
$298 CSD member; $447 non-member 

Help your students create their own digital stories through by experiencing the process yourself.  This three-day workshop teaches the pre-production, production and post-production phases of movie making. You will have an opportunity to choose one of three easy software programs to use: Windows MovieMaker (PC), iMovie (Mac), or PhotoStory 3 (PC).  The class is a cross between a writer’s workshop and a movie-making symposium.  You may bring a story to share, or you can select from one of the stories provided.  Participants will come away with their own 3-5 minute movie & plenty of ideas about how to help students create one of their own! Register at www2.csd.org/tele. You’ll get a confirmation letter roughly two weeks before class starts.

 Also, the tele still has openings for the July 15 Classroom Projects Using Digital Cameras class. CSD members only pay $125. Sign up at www2.csd.org/tele. You’ll get a confirmation letter if you have successfully registered for the class. Didn’t get a letter? Contact Joan Forrest at 314-692-1259 or jforrest@csd.org.

Today is World Environment Day. As you know, there are many initiatives out there to help the environment. Take a moment to think about what you can tackle to do your part- simple things like washing your laundry only in cold water and making sure your dishwasher is full before running it help. And consider that technology is becoming greener these days! Virtual field trips over videoconference can eliminate the need to load students on a bus for a great educational experience outside of school. You’ll save fuel and time!

Makers of computers and their accessories are also more environmentally aware these days. Should you throw out your current mouse to purchase a new one made out of recycled material? Probably not, but when it is time replace the old one, consider that Google has a Recycled Mini Wireless Mouse for under $20. Best Buy has a recycling program- you can take old televisions, computers, cell phones and more to store locations for recycling. Visit here for more information on their recycling program.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s website lists many companies and organizations that can help you recycle old products- including one in town, e-cycle St. Louis. You can help yourself & students become more aware by promoting recycling in school and in science fair projects. Another great website to take a look at is the Federal Resources for Educational Excellence section on Earth Science.

To learn more about World Environment Day, and its theme, “Kick the Habit! Towards a Low Carbon Economy,” go to the UN Environment Programme website & click around: www.unep.org/wed/2008/english/.

Cooperating School Districts is looking forward to having the following speakers at the Midwest Education Technology Conference to be held January 26, 27, 28, 2009. Technology Tools of Engagement - R U There?

One METC 2009 keynote is Will Richardson. Mr. Richardson is “Learner in Chief” at Connective Learning LLC (est. January 1, 2006). Mr. Richardson is known for his work with educators and students to understand and implement instructional technologies and, more specifically, the tools of the Read/Write Web into their schools, classrooms and communities.  In addition to Tuesday’s METC keynote address and breakout sessions, Mr. Richardson will conduct a full-day preconference workshop on Monday, January 26. For more info on Mr. Richardson, visit his blog, weblogg-ed: http://weblogg-ed.com.

 METC 2009’s other keynote speaker is Deneen Frazier-Brown.  Ms. Frazier-Brown  applies her acting, teaching and technology  experience to help teachers and schools expand students’  learning opportunities through harnessing new technologies as  they energize and motivate us.  For more information on Ms.  Frazier-Brown, visit her website: http://www.deneenfrazier.com/.

 A featured METC 2009 speaker is Howard Pitler, Director of  Educational Technology Mid-continent Research for Education  and Learning (McREL). Prior to joining McREL, Mr. Pitler served as  both an elementary and middle school principal in Wichita,  Kansas.  He also served as an instructor on the staff of the  masters of educational administration program at Wichita State University. He has been active in technology education and leadership development for more than 20 years.  Mr. Pitler will conduct a full-day workshop- Using Technology with Classroom Instruction that Works. This METC workshop will discuss  ways to use technology with  Marzano’s Nine Instructional Strategies. For more information on Mr. Pitler, visit this website: http://innovateonline.info/?view=person&id=11227.

What we like best about interactive whiteboards:

 Nancy ~ Both SMART Board and Promethean Activboard  encourage active student participation in a learning activity.  A very exciting and rewarding experience for students is  when they become teacher for the moment and “teach” their  fellow students such as reviewing a concept in their own  words. This becomes a powerful reinforcement and review activity because students are hearing the concept explained at their learning level and perhaps in a very different way. The interactive whiteboards get students engaged in learning.  Watching a video becomes interactive when the teacher can pause the video, point out details and have a class discussion before resuming.  Learning how to tell time or make money change becomes more intriguing when the students use the electronic manipulative of time and money.  Reviewing for a test is easier when the teacher captures the instruction both audio and visual from the SMART Board using the built-in Recorder.  Students can play and re-play the lesson in video format.
 

 Stephanie ~ Both interactive boards, SMART and  Promethean, are great student motivators.  Since most kids  today are visual learners, the ability to attract attention and  keep it with a large screen vs. a dry erase board or chalk  board is the first motivator. If a teacher uses the board as  intended- as an interactive board- motivation and learning are further enhanced.  Students always want to be a part of the learning, with both boards the learner is engaged. The SMART Board is great, I have taught with one for over 7 years. The touch-sensitive screen is great and the software is very easy to use.  The Activboard requires a pen, is much more durable, and allows for the user to create very specific lessons. Cool things to do – the boards act as the monitor of your computer so whatever you can do on your computer monitor, you can do on the board. You can record, both audio and video, lessons.  These can be then exported and viewed at a later time for students, parents and even used for sub plans. The boards are very motivating for a student to touch their finger or use a pen on a huge screen in front of the class and make something happen.  What a very empowering feeling for anyone! Both interactive boards come with “slates” and “clickers,” other interactive products, for students to use at their seats. These added products also allow for immediate response to help guide instruction and enhance learning from others. 

What do you like best about interactive whiteboards? 

A request from our friend Janine Lim:

Dear blog readers! I know you have probably been able to learn and use resources from my posts and projects. I hope now that you can do me a return favor and promote my research survey in your service area.

Note for regional coordinators: There is one question that asks if they are supported by an educational service agency and if so, what is the name of it. I can use this to pull just your region’s data if you are interested in it. If so, when you send it out, please encourage your coordinators to name your educational service agency in the survey (question 13). Send me an email to let you know you’re interested and then give me over the summer months to pull it together for you. Also, if you want to look through the survey, write “delete” in all the open ended fields so I’ll know to delete your entry since it won’t be valid. Thanks!!

Here’s the official announcement:

Dear Videoconferencing Colleague,

Please take a moment to complete this anonymous web based survey for videoconference coordinators at the district or school level and are responsible for one videoconference unit. If you coordinate videoconferencing at a regional level, please forward this notice to your local videoconference coordinators.

The focus of this study is the videoconference coordinator and their influence on the utilization of videoconferencing in the school. The purpose of this research is to investigate the coordinator’s support of videoconferencing, and the technical and administrative issues that may affect the school’s use of videoconferencing. This study will analyze how these factors may predict the utilization videoconferencing in the school and will assist in providing knowledge on the most effective ways to support the implementation of videoconferencing in schools.

The survey is anonymous and your answers are confidential. Completion of the survey serves as a form of implied consent. Participation is voluntary, and refusal to participate involves no penalty. You may discontinue participation at any time without penalty.

Please click here to take the survey:
http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/?p=WEB227RTY7Y6M7

I appreciate your time and support of this research. Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

Thank you,

Janine Lim
Instructional Technology Consultant
Read Around the Planet Coordinator 2006-2008
Berrien County ISD
(269) 471-7725×101
jlim@remc11.k12.mi.us
Graduate Student in the Leadership Program in the School of Education at Andrews University

If you have questions you wish to address to an impartial third party, you may contact the advisor for this research, Erich Baumgartner, baumgart@andrews.edu or (269) 471-2523.

Here’s an updated map of New Links to New Learning videoconference destinations. As you can see, students in St. Louis have “visited” locations worldwide! Thanks so very much to all who help make it happen. For a closer look, click on the map.

(Our last map was posted in December 2007).