Twitter and the Creation of Continuous Professional Development.

Teachers, Administrators, Teaching Assistants, Aides, and Staff all the pieces in which creates a school. We serve the students, parents, and our fellow colleagues and this is our profession. Sometimes educators tend to stray away from professional development. The reasons range from boredom, cost, relevance, and points in between. The truth of the matter is that our profession is also a lifestyle because it reaches beyond the brick that makes our buildings and reaches our students at home in their hearts and heads. We to must reach beyond the walls and continually strive to gain knowledge, strategies and yes learn from others mistakes. An informed teacher is a prepared teacher. You have fewer curveballs, and can remain relevant to your students and faculty. I have found the best way to continually develop as a teacher is to READ, just like we beg our students to do. Twitter and Educational Blogs offer insight, focus, and direction to educators looking to follow a continuous development. This method of development is cost effective, relevant, and paced by the individual. Due to the individual nature this must be a culture change and intrinsically motivated for the teacher to always be on the look out for new  information and articles. Teachers should be allowed to discuss articles and share teaching methods, this can be achieved online, through email, blogs, or google docs and also through face to face meetings and collaborations. 

          

Some Twitter Key Points and Strategies: Tom Whitby offers many more strategies on his blog My Island View

• Remember not everyone knows everything. You need to experiment, play around, and see what aspects of the program work best for you.
• Focus on your interests- Keep personal and professional interests separate this way your not missing information due to and overload of posts and also so that fellow educators take you seriously.
• Check out profiles and who people are following- this way you can expand you professional database and ensure you are learning. 
• #any word is known as a Hashtags eg. #edchat- these are places to post comments to questions and ask you own as well.
• Teacher Tuesdays- every tuesday twitter promotes teachers to talk and discuss current topics and trends in education. It is a great day of the week to start on twitter.
• Retweeting is when a person who you are following reposts a comment by someone else. If you are not following the retweet and you like what they have to say go ahead and follow them. Again, another great way to expand you educational database. 

Professional Development Responsibilities

• Reform is needed in a very real way both in effectiveness and bugetary reasons.
• Techers are just like students... we learn in many different ways and we are given choices and asked to work accordingly we can come up with some really good stuff.
• With the emergence of podcasts, slide share, virtural classroom platforms and yes TWITTER and other social networking sites teachers should have several options that are cost effective and collaborative.
• Administrators need to lead this effort and practice what they preach.

It is being used and results are positive...

Many Universities are turning to Twitter and other Social media sites to engage, inform, and interact with students at convient and effective ways.

• University of Wisconsin-Madison
• Marquette
• Butler
• Syracuse
• Twitter, Facebook, and Foursquare top the list as the most popular.

"Through social media, these four universities have joined the conversation, created a team, showed their personality, served their customers and called their audiences to action. As a result, they've built a loyal, engaged audience. They've shown students that they'll respond to their questions and concerns. And they've mobilized their community" (Roscoria, 2011)

The Digital-Admin- Teacher- Profesional- Learner 

"It’s about transforming yourself into a professional who can effectively research technology trends, monitor the uses of technology in your school or district, avoid the fear factor that can easily paralyze you, and empower student- centered learning to create vibrant, exciting learning projects."(Larson, Miller, & Ribble, 2010)

Some Educators Leading Teacher Development

Follow Me!!!

• @tomwhitby
• @nmhs_principal
• @CiscoEDU
• @ VirturalLrnAcad
• @baldy7
• @CoachB0066
• @courosa
• @ncara
• @auggie0513

Be Safe, Be Smart, Be Professional

Facebook and other social media sites are opening new exciting methods of teaching and providing genuine learning experiences. But please Please PLEASE Be Safe, Be Smart, Be Professional. New research "warns teachers not to "friend" pupils on Facebook amid concerns over the blurring of boundaries between school staff's professional and private lives." Facebook has become the most common social media platform however, with it comes several private features that can raise problems with communication between students and teachers on an inappropriate level again blurring the lines. Facebook was never intended to be used in the educational setting and never anticipated the technological age we are evolving in. I would say that if a teacher wants to use a social media platform, research them and try to use one specifically intended for education. One such site I am aware of is Edmodo but again look at a lot of sites, mess around with them, pilot them with a small group, and choose the best one for you and your students. As the teacher you want the passing of information to be as topical as possible and the security settings to be strict and tight. This is a large step in the creation of cyber students, policies must be in place and followed, and students must be disciplined and held accountable for actions online. Cyber-bullying will occur we must be ready and be able to take action against this. As the article points out avoid site like Formspring at all cost. Formspring allows people to post questions and receive comments as answers. This is not a bad idea as a teaching tool however, it is anonymous and that allows students the ability to bully free of retribution. 


In conclusion, we must be open to new technology, we must reach high and pull our students along, but we must remain guarded against common pitfalls, learn from others mistakes, and create cyber-students that are safe and respectful. So please don't be scared just Be Safe, Be Smart, and Be Professional.            

The Digital Divide... A battle not yet won.

What to teach?
                 When to teach it?
                                        How to teach it?
                                                             What grades to teach it to?


Battles of education through curriculum development and testing procedures. These questions are enough to drive any teacher crazy and worry any administrator to their core. But what exactly happens in the world of digital learning. 


Who benefits?
                  Who is included?
                                         How are they monitored?

Is the learning experience the same for all digital students?

As some institutions boast this is the "school of the individual" or a "school of one." The digital divide is growing larger and groups are forming opinions on the matter. 

According to Paul E. Peterson in his article "A Pedagogical Divide in the World of Digital Learning" "One side of the argument feel digital learning is not about learning fractions, long division, Mandarin, chemistry or calculus.  It is about cooperating with diverse groups of students from across the globe, playing games, and creating new things. Through such unstructured activities, a student will acquire the 21^st Century skills of creativity, openness, playfulness, and cooperation." Whereas others feel that "Digital courses should be created and distributed freely by schools, universities and selfless servants of the public.  Perhaps there is some connection between this perspective and the notion of what is to be taught in a course.  If one only needs to teach creativity, cooperation and 21^st century skills, then course construction may be done as a hobby or left to students themselves."

On youtube countless people throw around their opinions, the discussion rages on in the world of Twitter @ #edchat. Here we see Geoffrey Canada talking about his opinion on learning in the digital age.   

Example of a possible E-Learning Framework provided by Badrul H Kahn

This debate will rage on and on and just as Mr. Peterson says "Digital Learning is coming, but the battle over its form and content is just beginning" 

So what are you thoughts...

              Who should be taught?

                              How should they be taught? 

                                               Should this be at home or in school?

Check it out... Get connected... Be the first... Just experiment...

The "New Media Consortium Horizon Report for 2011" is out and provides a good overall report on new trends and tries to predict what will be relevant from 1 year to five years down the road. Through this class we are lucky to have a deeper appreciation for technology and as future principals we must lead in the experimentation and implementation of future technologies. 

Check it out...

• Time-to-Adoption Horizon: One Year or Less
  • Electronic Books
  • Mobiles
• Time-to-Adoption Horizon: Two to Three Years
  • Augmented Reality
  • Game-Based Learning
• Time-to-Adoption Horizon: Four to Five Years
  • Gesture-Based Computing
  • Learning Analytics

Get Connected...

Talk to fellow educators and administrators. Figure out where you see your classroom, school, and district headed. Arrange times to meet or email and research more and more about the future of technology.

Be the First...

Don't be afraid of what is to come. Go out on a limb and be the expert invite others to jump in with you. We may never know totally what the best use of technology may be in the future but if we commit to some and use it in best practices possible it will be worth the effort. 

Just Experiment...

 Technology is a tool, it is adaptable, and can be modified. Do not be bound by it, or use it in only one way. Experiment with it allow students and other educators to experiment with it.  Please Have Fun With Technology.

  

Complete Horizon Report 2011

Obesity and Technology... Taking an "outside the box" approach to a GROWING problem.

The stats are shocking and the predictions for the future are disturbing. Children are less and less active and obesity is not just a problem but a growing epidemic that must be addressed because some physicians believe that if our children continue down this path that their generation may be the first to be outlived by their parents. Thirty percent of students are overweight or obese and in Hispanic or African American communities that number jumps to Forty percent. This effects children's overall health, self-esteem, social behavior, and even academic success. Many blame technology (video games, computers, TV ect...). Dr. Arlene Ackerman (Superintendent of Philadelphia School District) points out that "Technology and convenience are two aspects of our students' daily lives that can have remarkable benefits or can enable harmful habits." in an email sent to all teachers in the district today. We must promote healthy habits and encourage our students to get out and be active. 

This yet another Presidential emphasis and concern. First Lady Michelle Obama has created the "Let's Move" campaign in order to raise awareness and promote activity and healthy lifestyles for families and students. 

Technology needs to be a benefit to this cause and not a hinderance. Technology is not going away and it will be used more and more in our schools and our lives and it is because of this that we can not just let it be a source of these problems. 

Nintendo Wii, X-Box Kinect, and Sony's PS move combine gaming with movement. Perhaps, a free time station or classroom reward. Several websites provide education, games, and exercises to be researched and enacted upon. Someday even the iPod may promote activity by being solely charged by a person's heartbeat. 

I understand that technology has played a role in this growing problem but it doesn't need to be treated as a necessary evil. Technology can evolve and adapt to become a benefit and guide to our students.    


Best Workout Websites- Combining Technology and Fitness    

    

Leaders Just Do It Differently....

The article arrived in my mail box at school yesterday and it was just two good not to comment on. In the article Dr. Heidi Grant Halvorson a Motivational Psychologist describes the "Nine Things Successful People Do Differently" these principal points mimic the focus that successful leaders must have to implement a plan (especially one technologically focused) in a school. When creating successful programs you want them to be a natural part of daily use and activities. This requires a culture change, attitude change, and sometimes most difficult TIME.      

Get Specific:

When deciding what you goal will be get as specific as possible. Don't just say that you want your faculty to use technology more. BE SPECIFIC! "I want my teachers using their smart boards at least three times a week." "I want students to update the classroom web page every week to display current work, activities, and upcoming events." " I want enough laptops in the building for every student." This way you know exactly what needs to be done to achieve your goal and you plan is clear and precise.
   

Seize The Moment To Act On Your Goals:
Jump on board and be confident that the time is right. As we have always heard "there is no time like the present." Again, BE SPECIFIC plan short term goals and achieve them. This increases the likelihood of getting to you desired result.  

"You Miss 100 Percent of the Shots You Don't Take"- Wayne Gretzky 

Know Exactly How Far You Have Left To Go:

Monitoring your own progress allows real time assessment of what is working and what is not. You need to be honest and open to changing your approach, if it is not working it must be altered so that it does work. You need to give your plan time to grow and develop but it must also be monitored frequently to see that progress is indeed being made. If one more teacher or parent decides to use technology or go to development classes to better understand progress is being made.

Be A Realistic Optimist 

Positive upbeat thinking is a key component to successful change. We must believe we are doing the right things and that it will get better. This optimism will lead others to follow you and sustain motivation for those working on getting better. And this will also provide motivation for you as the leader. But again as the the leader you must be rooted in the real world and be critical of what is going on through monitoring, altering, and adapting to best practices. "Don't underestimate how difficult it will be to reach your goal. Most goals worth achieving require time, planning, effort, and persistence."
It reminds me of this scene from "A League of Their Own" when Tom Hanks' character says "It's supposed to be hard, if it wasn't hard everyone would do it, the hard is what makes it great."

   

Focus On Getting Better Rather Than Being Good:

Skill will be acquired, practice makes perfect, and every time you put in effort you grow as a person. I know for a fact I will NEVER golf on the PGA Tour but as long as I get better every time I swing my clubs I am happy and will play as long as that continues. Change is what we are trying to promote, perfection is not given it is earned and it takes years and years of getting better to become good at something. As long as short term goals are continually being met then your people, and project are getting better. Do not stop, push through, and work Work WORK it will be worth it in the end.

Have Grit:

" Grit is a willingness to commit to long-term goals, and persist in the face of difficulties." Lets face it change is usually not easy, and people will challenge you. We as leaders must have some thick skin and strong purposeful focus to get the job done. Grit is what allows us to soldier on even through we are continually being told to give up. Have faith in yourself and believe in what you are doing and you will make it through to the other side.

  

Build Your Willpower Muscles:
Grit will get you through the short-term pitfalls and struggles, but when time becomes an issue only your willpower will keep you on track without faltering. We are weak as human beings giving up can be the easiest thing we ever do in our lives but leaders realize there are more important things that must be accomplished and continue doing tasks that they may not WANT to do because in the end it will payoff.
Don't look at the negative and say it is something you "HAVE TO DO" make it a positive and take pleasure in the fact that you "GET TO DO" something.
   
Don't Tempt Fate:
Don't bite off more than you can chew. Make the goals achievable and do not pile on more that you need to or more than you can handle. This just leads to becoming overwhelmed, frustrated, and more likely to give up. Doing to much makes it seem like you are not reaching your goals and motivation will dwindle. Remember you don't want to loose you fight and that this is a marathon not a sprint.


Focus On What You Will Do Not What You Won't Do: 

Again you plan of attack and short term goals should include what you ARE going to do to achieve and nothing else. Describing or thinking about what you WON'T do only limits your efforts. Be open to trying new approaches and ways of solving problems. Never allow yourself to discount people or methods because the one you do may be the one that works. Allow people to explore and learn through trial and error. Making a mistake is part of this process and be fearful of that impedes progress.

Cyber Bullying... A growing concern and a subject that must be targeted!

What is Cyber Bullying?

Childnet International Cyber-bullying Video- Great Example of what this is and how it effects students.

Cyber-bullying has been defined as… 

”When the Internet, cell phones or other devices are used to send or post text or images intended to hurt 

or embarrass another person"Bullying can vary in degrees of severity. From continuing communication 

when asked to stop to sexual harassment and aims of humiliation through mass social media.  

A Growing Problem 

This issue of bullying has become such an issue that the President and First Lady feel the need to hold a conference to promote awareness and start a movement of anti-bullying no matter what type it is.

According to the National Crime Prevention Council  40% of students with internet access have reported 

being bullied online. Female students are more likely to be bullied than boys. Only 10% of those students 

reported in to a parent or another adult. 15% of parents feel they are “in the know about their child’s 

online activity. Social Networking Sites are overtaking Chat rooms as the origin of incidents.

For middle school age students and teenagers online, the fastest growing problems within the world of 

cyber bullying are:

• Stealing an individuals name and password to a social networking site, then using their profile to post rumors, gossip or other damaging information.
• Altering photographs using PhotoShop or other photo editing software in order to humiliate the individual.
• Recording conversations without the individual knowledge or consent, then posting the call online.
• Creating confrontational and mean-spirited online polls about the individual and posting them on different web sites.
• Using web sites and blogs to post hurtful, embarrassing information about another individual.

Social Implications

Victims have lower self-esteem, increased suicidal ideation, and a variety of emotional responses, 

retaliating, being scared, frustrated, angry, and depressed. One of the most damaging effects is that a 

victim begins to avoid friends and activities, often the very intention of the cyber-bully. We must be a

Be attentive to change in behavior of students. And come to grips that this is a real problem happening in 

our schools.Prevention is key to creating responsible “Cyber-Students” that will become responsible 

“Cyber-Citizens” someday.

Teaching to Prevent 

A whole school community approach must be taken in order to begin to prevent this growing problem. 

This program must incorporate elements at the individual, classroom, school wide, parent, and 

community level  to effectively prevent and intervene in cyber-bullying situations.

Another question lies in our authority to respond especially when it comes to events that occur out of the 

comfort of the classroom. We can respond to out of school student speech if that speech has caused, or 

could cause, a substantial disruption in school or interference with the rights of students to be secure.

 Encouraging peer witnesses to assist and report is very important. Peers are the ones who establish the 

social climate and norms and if they begin to denounce unacceptable cyber behavior then this issue will 

become less common.

Guidance 

Use a social norms approach for prevention education. Set up situations and realistic role playing 

scenarios to let students develop ways to defend and avoid these situations. Make sure students know 

how to prevent placing themselves at risk, such as not sending digital material others can distribute to 

embarrass them. Make sure they know how to effectively respond on their own, when they should ask 

for help, and what adults can do.

 Emphasize that cyber-bullying is not cool, it is cruel.

Resources to help should you run into a situation or have any 

questions about this growing educational concern.

Center for Safe and Responsible Internet Use- this is the documents section of the website that has fantastic articles that can explain ways to prevent, combat, and legal issues to worry about especially as potential administrators.

National Crime Prevention Council-  a public advertising campaign aimed at preventing cyber-bullying, also some staggering statistics, and national contests for students to raise awareness.

  

Preparing Our Students For A Lifetime Of Success!!!

The future will come no matter what, every tomorrow (future) becomes a today (present) if we are ready or not. As I stare out over the bright eyed, excited and carefree students in front of me, I can't help but worry about what the future holds for my students. The technological age is upon us, it continues to grow and flourish in this country not only in its own realm, but the applications in other careers and areas of life. This article from MSN Careers, focuses on the next ten to twenty years into the future to give us the ten jobs that will become relevant and best for growth. “As things like technology, medicine, science and environmentalism continue to advance in the coming years, several occupations are bound to emerge. By understanding these trends, job seekers can play a more active role in planning for their careers.” The technology jobs are not going to go away and children need to prepare for them. With such jobs as Cyber Security Specialist, Medical Records Administrator, Mobile Application Developer, Simulation Engineer, and Social Media Manager we see technology a vital element to the growth and success of the future. We are no longer a country of manufacturing giants and the future if the job market mimics this, we need people to make things easier, maintain things, and care for people. Technology will be a key component and can no longer be ignored in classrooms. Technology will provide genuine learning experience, that stretch beyond the for walls of our classrooms.
   

This video simply backs up the MSN article, yet again technology jobs are at the top of the list,  followed by medical professions (helping people), and followed by professions that use technology as vital tools.While both of these are geared to those searching for a job, it is our job to use these tools to prepare students for the future because they too will be searching someday. At the end of this video the narrator say the best way to know what you want to do is to go out, sample the work, see if and what you like about a certain career then decide what to do. If we as teachers can provide students with opportunities to explore, search, and manipulate different media, technological devices, and applications, we will not only prepare them for their own future, but we will create a better outlook for our economic future as a country.