I’m honored to be given this award by Loony Hiker from Successful teaching. Thank you so much Pat!  It is very nice to be noticed especially when I have been referred to on some blogs not even by my name LOL
The rules for this award are as follows:
(1) Put the logo on your blog

(2) Add a link to the person who awarded you

(3) Nominate at least 7 other blogs
(4) Add links to those blogs on yours
(5) Leave a message for your nominees on their blogs.

7 blogs that I find inspiring, motivating and thought provoking are the following:

Dean Grooms Effective Digital Classrooms

HeyJude

TechnoLOTE

Tom Barrett

Tony Searl

KerryJ

Middleclassgirl

Over the past few weeks I have been to some diverse schools.  I have been to many independent schools where money doesn’t seem to be an object and students are lucky enough to be engulfed with technology at every opportunity.

Today I visited Sunshine North Primary and ran a session on web2.0, IWBs and numeracy.  The discussions were amazing and they were all student centered which was fantastic.  Teachers here were very selective in their web 2.0 pickings as they had their own students in mind.  I loved hearing things in my session like “that could work with ………”

I think sometimes it is really easy to trial new technologies, new innovations amoungst students from white middle to upper class parents.  It is a whole other ball park to begin to a risk take with students already at risk !

The whole school was about doing the best for the students, they were not worried about self promotion or what the latest edtech revolution was.  They were focussed on what was the best for their students.  These kids didn’t have mobile phones to call a friend on, they didnt have ipods or anything like it.  Computers at home were limited and internet access was even more limited.  So how do we address this?

These students personal learning networks were limited and their access to others who spoke the same language sometimes was even limited.  The gap was not just about hardware but was about access to networks of other students who could assist them.  I am seeing more and more collaborative projects jumping on the horizon and I hope this will begin to redress some of this inequity.  However many of these projects are independant schools with other indenpendant schools and public schools with other public schools.  Reminds me of some countries where walls are built around slums to avoid catching a glimpse of something which might offend us.  I would love to see some examples of collaboration between schools where there is different socio economic status.  Summer Heights High earlier this year mocked this situation but seriously how often do things like that happen out of channel two sitcoms?

As teachers in the edtech community we seem to have moved beyond this, it no longer matters where you are from or how much you make.  We just want to work together, now its time to do this with kids.  It also doesnt have to always be global it could be the public or independant or catholic school up the road.  Like my previous post boxes then start to come down and connections can be made then there is a hope for students to be able to have a PLN where they are hearing thoughts from outside the box.

John Pearce spoke to me earlier about a wonderful idea where students with esl background contact their homeland and ask their questions in their own language.  At Sunshine North the divide in regards to technology and funding was there but the passion, the teachers and students was present in every way.

It all links back to the fact that schools are centres for communities to gather and the more ways teachers can build their social capital the better equipped they will be.

Congratulations to this school for taking risks pushing edtech with students where language, background and money is an issue but learning is never an issue !  Teachers were using the tools they had to improve learning and sometimes the tools dont have to be technology sometimes passion works just as well.

Sometimes it is that snide comment that spurs you on to reflect on life.  Love is a wonderful motivator, so is technology and so it would seem is hurt.  When I was told yesterday:

You seem to think that, through your “uniqueness”,
you are in some way superior just because you are different.  Here’s a
little secret, most often a need to be so “different” is just a
pitiful cry for attention to get noticed by anyone in any way.

I first had a little sook because hey I never professed to be unique, “I am unique, just like everybody else” but then I reflected on this writers motivation and then reflected on my life and where I am going and decided that this comment above really is not mean but a reflection of where we are in society.

In society we like boxes, we absolultely love them.  If we can label it and package it then it is fine and dandy.

When I went to school I was put into a box as a “Nerd” and sometimes eventhough I dread to remember as a “goth”

When I first went into work in local government we did Myers Briggs and I was given a box ENFJ.  I subscribe to some of it but does that box make me? No

When I started my current job I was HR profiled using DISC and came up a dominant influencer (LOL again not too far off centre)

These boxes in my life were given to me,I dont remember ever choosing them.  I have had all sorts of boxes throughout my life and I am sure people will continue to box and label me and others for some time to come.  Graham Wegner recently spoke about the boxes he is given by staff at his school and how he uses this as positive.  I have noticed recently the box of “edtech” has become popular and these boxes are getting together to find new ways of containing thoughts within the larger box.

I know labels and boxes are a part of life it allows people to define and grapple with things they do not understand..  People may not have experienced or encountered alcoholism, depression, homosexuality, or many other experiences but a label allows us to classify that information so we can make some sort of sense of the things we are scared of or know little about.   Boxes also keep us secure in the knowledge that we have an identity a place where we can build box communities with others.

So enough of my own reflection what about schools?

Surely as a leading edge environment in the 21st century the box walls are being broken down??

Students and teachers see each other as one? Because aren’t we all learners?

At the moment there are a few trail blazers out there trying to break down boxes create flat classrooms and begin to embrace differences whether they be nerds, colour, distance, size, race or language.  I heard someone say this week that “it is really hard to create something unique” Yes it is and it is when that uniqueness occurs that walls begin to break down and others then gain the empowerment to have a go at breaking down a box of their own or two. I want to name and acclaim a few of these trail blazers as they don’t seem to be out there blowing their own trumpets and anyone breaking down walls deserves a clap at some stage.  I know there is heaps more and I encourage you to comment and add more:

• Kim Cofino for working beyond the walls and seeking feedback and collaboration
• Sherryl Nussbaum Beach for reaching beyond her school, district, country about out to others on such a regular basis with every project she is part of.
• Judy O’Connell for understanding that libraries are not just book boxes
• Dean Groom for refusing to accept a deficit model in his staff and working outside the mould, and working outside of the box that is a school and is Australia.
• Chris Lehman for breaking boxes in schools from the top, this is hardly ever done !

SO what does this mean for  me?  It means that I will keep trying to unbox my thoughts and continue to talk to as many people as possible and really make an effort to make my own decisions before getting out my labelmaker.  It means that when I work with students I will try and model the same “box cutting” attitude.  It means that when I am put back in my box I will jump up and have another go!

I would love others to tell me about their experience of boxing and labelling and the affect it has had on them or their schools.  I am sure you were or know a student who didn’t fit the mould and sat in that box all by themselves.  I am also sure there are a few of you out there that have helped students break free of labels and move towards indivuduality.

I would also love to hear from people who have thoughts about a life with no boxes?  Imagine you had no label and your children had no label how would life be different?

I am currently pondering this thought and will get back to whoever reads my rants at some stage as to where I am with this.

I found this quote today and it resonated with this post and I thought you may like to ponder it as well.
Be daring, be different, be impractical, be anything that will assert integrity of purpose and imaginative vision against the play-it-safers, the creatures of the commonplace, the slaves of the ordinary.

Cecil Beaton

Today I came across this and just loved the power and simplicity of it.  The idea is in the video below but I think it could be adapted powerfully to work with students on visual and written literacy.  The first video is from the book which started it all.  People submitted their six words stories via twitter and match with images from flickr.  I would love to work with students on this idea where they take the images and match it to their six word story.  I think it is an extremely powerful way to demonstrate the power of images and words.  The second video is from a teacher who had a go with their students.

I would love to start up a channel or a site with students six word memiors and begin to celebrate students ideas and work.  If you would like to be involved please comment below and we can begin to collaborate.  I would also like to set up a movie of educators 6 word memoirs.  I am currently working on my own and would love to work with others.  Please join me and others in collaborating in this project at http://6words.wikispaces.com

I look forward to learning more from everyone. Here is my one I have put it on the wiki as well

I know that we need to be aware of the power of an echo chamber and that controversy is good.

Sometimes you write a post and it annoys people. Sometimes people take your comments personally instead of systemically and sometimes words are taken out of context. My last post reflecting on the role of technology integrators has stirred up some controversy not so much in my comments as that would be far too analogue but through the back-channels, the new form of passing notes in schools. This time I have been lucky enough to have some conversations about my post and been able to look at answering some of my own insights and backing them up with solutions. I have been described as a whingy blow through blogger and I can live with that but as I didn’t get a chance to reply through comments I will reply here.

Essential to the role of any teacher is why are students at school?

Some people would say that school is about producing exam passers?

Is this why you became a teacher?

I know it was never on the list of reasons I decided to become an educator! I became an educator for a multitude of reasons some of which are:

• To get others to feel that amazing “ah ha” moment when learning become explicit in ones mind
• To support and embrace a love for learning through modelling and instruction
• To be able to support and scaffold students to achieve their potential
• The notion that every child can achieve no matter what background, and it is my job to support and scaffold this.

So I will admit I did blog about a problem that has been around in schools for a very long time.  Schools have been trying to integrate technology as long as technology has been around.  In all schools there are pockets of amazing practice and the job of a technology integrator is to begin to tie these innovations together to improve student life and outcomes.  My reflection was not about whether this was right or wrong but whether it goes far enough.  When are we going to get to the point where technology is a part of teaching.  I do not have all of the answers but I do think it needs to start with student mentoring and the development of student voice in a school.  I don’t think that butting our heads against the wall with the same teachers has made that much of a difference in the last 20 years, so what makes us think throwing more human resources at the problem will help.

When was the last time you saw a student at a curriculum planning meeting? Or saw teachers taking students to conferences or PD days?  I havent seen it happen very often but it needs to occur because students are at the very heart of why we are at school.  Not exam results, life is not about pushing students through a sausage factory into University regardless of what many schools will tell you.

The answer to our issues has to begin with students until schools begin to give students the ownership to be reflective leaders to their teachers we will never see change.  Student mentor programs work because it gets to the heart of why teachers teach ! When a teacher comes and gives advice and support to another teacher they are coming from different pedagogical spaces sometimes.  When a student gives reflective feedback it links to the heart of why teachers teach.

At Caroline Springs College I worked as a change agent.  I tried and battled to get teachers on board using a carrot and stick approach and guess what it didn’t work.  it didn’t work no matter how long you observed whether it was 4 hours or 40 hours.  So I had two choices I could perpetuate the perception that we do innovation well and that it is getting better.  Or I could pull my finger out and look at new ways of doing things.  That new way was our SET program.  (Students Educating Teachers)

The program was drawn out of asking students why they learn and asking teachers why they teach.  Guess what ! There were similarities, hard to believe I know.  Teaching and learning was of mutual benefit to both concern yet the learning process was quite one sided.  Here we were trying to work with the teachers to change but we needed to work with the students.

So we started and we began to work with both groups on giving and recieving feedback.  What protocols are best used? How do students enable change? How do teachers work with this new paradigm? How do students impact their classes?  Again I will mention this did not have much to do with technology but it had loads to do with learning.  So our students began meeting and reflecting and collaborating with teachers and change began to occur.  Not yet with technology but with student voice.

Then we realized that our students had similar problems with technology as our teachers did.  They had the keys but had trouble finding the lock.  Our teachers knew the lock but didnt have the keys.  Somewhere we had to meet in the middle and we did !

We started working with our students in technology usage and the how ! We worked with our teachers on the why? and we found a match, it is not perfect but it is better than it was before.  I am not saying it is the answer to all our integration problems I do sincerely believe it is a start in the right direction.

Starting with the students first!

The last two weeks I have felt like I have not stopped, been at conference after conference. The learning has been amazing. I have met some of my geek heroes and shared drinks and great conversation with them, most of all I learnt heaps and was stimulated to learn more. This was all done via technology, I met these people face to face for the first time over the last fortnight but felt like I knew quite a bit already through my e-network. My enetwork is my online personal learning network. The people in my enetwork are found via blogs, twitter, secondlife and various other networking sites. These applications are making me more human not less, I am out meeting and having some of the most powerful conversations in my life thanks to these networks.

So who have I met? and why was it so powerful ?
- Dr Michelle Sellinger: We had a great discussion on the advent of mlearning and the implications it has for multimedia content creation in the classroom. We spoke about how linking mlearning and elearning together we can collaborate, connect and create with greater ease than ever before
-Al Upton: I feel like I already knew Al before I got to South Australia, he is my neighbour in second life. I learnt again not so much from the content of his presentations but the way he presented making sure all voices were heard and everyone were actively part of the moment.
-KerryJ what a woman with passion and knowledge ! I never knew this time last year I would have met such a dynamic person with great knowledge of copyright and creative commons and life through secondlife. Kerry organised dinner for a group of us and we had an absolute ball and have made connections and conversations that may have the possibilities for collaborations in time.
-Others: Over the time I had amazing conversations and reflected what a small world we live in and how much we need networks so that learning is not a one sided process.

So from these connections where to for me? I have set some goals based on the learning’s from people and thought it best to print them for the world to see :
-Be more present and treasure each moment you have when working with people.
-Listen more, people have amazing knowledge to impart but I am sometimes too busy talking to ever hear it
-Have fun, I am only 28 and don’t need to be the best at everything being where I am means I always have somewhere to go and always have something new to learn

So my question to my network is:
Where can we take these conversations?
How can we collaborate?
How can we further connect to ensure future learning?

Google likes to have its fingers in many pies as we all know, they have google docs, spreadsheets, pictures, video and maybe even toilet paper but I haven’t had that in my inbox as yet.

Now they have launched Lively which is a virtual world. Lively, which Google likes to call a “virtual experience,” allows users to create an avatar, decorate your own virtual room, invite friends to your room and do things you’ve always wanted to do, like increase your bust size and lose through few stray kilograms.

It looks kind of like a dumbed down version of  Second Life without the commerce and user created community aspect. One of the biggest pluses for Lively is that it is on the Web, embeddable on your own site, rather than parallel to it as a separate, private world — although you do have to download a small browser plugging to participate. For now, it’s only for Windows which means for me a pretty big downside as I am predominantly a Mac user.  It of course links in with all the other Google suite of products so you can have youtube clips showing in your lively room as well as your picasa pics up on the wall.

So will this mean that I am no longer considered a nerd for loving Second Life and that my facebook friends will suddenly understand why throwing penguins is fun and therapeutic in Second Life?

I am not convinced

There seems to be a big difference between a virtual 3d chat room and a user created community like Second Life.  I am interested in hearing other peoples thoughts on the applications of Lively in education and business.  The opportunities for teachers to embed 3d virtual private conversation spaces onto their class blogs seems to me to be the biggest draw card for this new application.   I would love to hear other peoples views, ideas on Lively !

I have posted googles promo video below for you to look at !

personalised-learning-curriculum-plan1

coaching-reflection-proforma1

explicit-teaching-is-active-teaching

coaching-plan-staff-example1

Today I was given some software to play with called Crazytalk and I have fallen in love with it.  Crazytalk turns photos into talking movies with facial recognitions.  I have had a play with it and so far I am in love, the possibilities in a classroom are wonderful where photos come alive.  I have seen a heap of photostories and this leaves the, for dead.  I have attached and example for you to have a look at

Wordle is a toy for generating “word clouds” from text that you provide. The clouds give greater prominence to words that appear more frequently in the source text. You can tweak your clouds with different fonts, layouts, and color schemes. The images you create with Wordle are yours to use however you like. You can print them out, or save them to the Wordle gallery to share with your friends.

I have attached a wordle of my delicious tags and would love other to share their word clouds.

Thanks to Jo McLeay for sharing this with me :0)