Personal Learning Networks... A Reflection

My Prompt:

Reflect on how your personal learning network has changed and grown during the course of this workshop. Discuss your plans for how you plan to continue to grow your learning network and how you hope to contribute to the professional learning of your administrative colleagues.

Well, here it goes:

After reading, thinking, elaborating my position on the Web 2.0 issue, I've come full circle.  I embrace the idea of making information more accessible so that we can "get the word out"; never did go against that concept.  However, I urge you all to consider one thought when using Web 2.0 tools:  DUE DILIGENCE.  Be cautious, careful, and most of all, ready to clarify to anyone about your purpose in using these tools.  I plan on using these tools to help ease my transition from caveman to "human"  (wink).  In all seriousness, I plan on growing (and have been growing them... shhhhhh) via Facebook, e-Learning, and other means.  I'm in constant search via google for stuff in my line of work.  If the web page I'm viewing has a "add this" or a "follow" link to social media (I have FB), I post it on my wall.  I'm a firm believer that we don't stop learning... it's that how & what we learn changes daily.  The lesson I wanted to teach you all pertains to being what I call "Cautiously Optimistic"... I hope that you all use these tools for their intent and that nobody gets "burned" by them.  Careers have been ruined due to abuse, and many have had legal issues with them too.  But that's because they've done some foolish things... don't get me wrong, if you're wrong, you're wrong.  For my district, I'm going to present my Action Plan to my Principal and hope that some of my Action Plan can be implemented.  I know we can do it and be successful, especially with the podcasting side of the plan.  We have all the resources right now so why not use them in the right fashion I say!!!  Innovation and Creativity are things I revel in, but tactfully!

One final thought:  err on the side of caution... good intentions must have good results!!!

Best,

Shawn

My Action Plan (if I were in charge...)

Well folks,  I created my Action Plan for integrating Web 2.0 tools into my school district.  I hope that it becomes a success in our district (we're doing some of this stuff already but I didn't wanna spill the beans just yet!).



GENERAL INFORMATION
1. Name of Organization: Pell City High School
2. Project Title: Panther News & Notes
3. Project Location: Pell City High School
4. Contact Person: Mr. Shawn E. Schofield
5. Contact Information:
1300 Cogswell Avenue Pell City , AL 35125
Phone: (205) 338-2250
shawn.schofield@pellcityschools.net

6. Project Timeline: Commence in August 2011 School Year and be continuous.
7. Amount Required: N/A
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
Our campus community is disparate, diverse, and vast in terms of size. It is also unique because of the vast number of teachers & students who live outside of the city limits but attend our school district area. Our campus also has many extracurricular activities which have a tendency to spread our teachers & students all around the metro Birmingham area. Panther News & Notes will provide insight to our staff on important reminders, expectations, and logistical decisions and how they must be implemented to achieve success at our campus.
PROBLEM STATEMENT:
As stated previously, our unique considerations for our campus community have made it a requisite that we try many tools to keep our school community informed on the latest events. While doing this, we must take into consideration that financial costs to this project must be minimal but yield excellent returns. Parents are increasingly becoming more interactive using Web 2.0 tools such as text messaging, Facebook, Twitter, and Blogs. This has brought on many challenges, including quashing rumors, innuendos, while projecting our successes, etc. Our problem can be solved best by providing an avenue towards keeping our stakeholders informed with accurate information, while at the same time, keeping media reporting accurate, fair, & balanced.
PROJECT OBJECTIVES:
• Provide insight on logistical decisions that building leaders have made for the upcoming day, week, grading period, etc.
• Provide advice on how to improve best practices in teaching and learning in small daily portions / chunks with research-based best practices provided to us via our teacher in-services, workshops, etc.
• Inspire more feedback, collaboration while instilling collegiality
• Evaluate and showcase educators’ best practices while implementing ISTE NET-T standards
PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION AND MANAGEMENT PLAN:
• School leaders, department heads, and teachers will participate in an in-service about blogging & podcasting. They will learn how to design blog accounts & podcasting accounts. (1 CEU hour max.) To be held on August 3, 2011.
• Show administrative leadership by implementing a daily podcast of Panther News & Notes that will be sent to faculty email accounts via attachment. Current events, extracurricular activities, ideas of best practices instruction, and community interaction will be the key highlights.
• A Blog created by the Principal will be used as a “virtual hardcopy” of the Panther News & Notes. Each teacher is provided the opportunity to provide a comment to provide feedback. The blog will also promote teachers towards being professional while also being collaborative in their feedback.
• Each department will have their monthly department meetings as normal & recorded via podcast. The podcast will be sent via email attachment to the administration.
• The department heads will create blogs that highlight what faculty members of the departments are working on in their classes on a weekly basis. Members of the department will submit their weekly contributions to the department head at least 2 days prior to the next school week. These blogs will be linked to our school’s website. Examples of student work & examples of effective differentiated instruction are encouraged to be posted on the blogs as proof positive towards our colleagues about best practices. Samples will be posted on the school’s website & on Twitter.
• ***NOTE*** HIGHLIGHTS OF ALL BLOGS WILL ALSO BE AVAILABLE ON TWITTER & GOOGLE READER; ALL BLOG ACCOUNTS WILL BE CREATED & MONITORED BY BUILDING TECHNOLOGY COORDINATOR & PRINCIPAL
PROJECT MONITORING AND EVALUATION:
The monitoring will take place via the documentation listed in the above section. The Building Technology Coordinator will create a survey with “Survey Monkey” with a 5 point Likert Scale that addresses how effective the project is towards keeping the public informed. Additionally, I will be able to evaluate how effective the Panther News & Notes is through informal assessments (private conversations- oral, instant message) with the teachers and community (parents/stakeholders). I will also read comments posted online to the blogs, as well as share some of those thoughts at faculty meetings for further feedback. The amount of positive or negative feedback will allow the school leadership & faculty to make adjustments as time progresses. The blogs and podcasts are implemented to provide insight and to keep everyone informed as soon as possible. The hit-meter (# of site visits on blogs) and also the amount of comments will be used to determine how effective the project truly is.
DOCUMENTATION AND SHARING RESULTS :
The project will be documented via Google Reader & Twitter by the Building Technology Coordinator. Results will be shared via the Principal’s blog, Google Reader, & Twitter. The Survey Monkey results will be posted online via the Principal’s blog, Google Reader, & Twitter too.
PROJECT BUDGET:
Panther News & Notes will be using Blogger, Twitter, Google Reader and Internet access.
ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Enjoy!

I'm stirrin' the puddin'... but I ain't spillin' it!

Well after reading my blog comments, it looks like I've stirred the puddin' with some of you who have embraced the Web 2.0 tools as part of your daily lives and curriculum.  I know I know... it's a requirement that we integrate technology into our teaching... and I know that it's a part of our daily lives.  I'm still holding reservations... always will.  I'm conservative & cautious, so hear me out:

• The benefits to using Web 2.0 tools are enormous.  Their goal is to enhance learning for both adults and kids.  No question.  Research has proven that enhancements can make deeper connections with adults & students due to our learning styles.  I get that.

• Web 2.0 tools also bring new definitions to common problems that educators face:  bullying, school violence, professionalism vs. academic freedom (Acceptable Use Policies with Social Media, such as Twitter, FB, YouTube, etc.), and also the abuse of Web 2.0 tools by educators and / or students.  A whole new can of worms has been opened; Pandora's box has become much more complex to deal with for educators.

I want you all to think about these 2 points and  take them into consideration.  That's the whole crux of my position with Web 2.0 tools and their usage.  I'm not here to condone their use.  I actually support their use.  They are another tool in our toolbox of expertise.  At the same time, we've all seen the good, the bad, & the ugly with respect to technology, and Web 2.0 tools.  I encourage their use, but with caution.  Your online identity can be compromised, hacked, whatever you want to call it.  We are not exceptions... it's not a question of if, it's a question of when...

Enjoy the fruits of your labor, but be careful with how you handle it!

I'm not sold on 2.0...

I've been researching about Web 2.0 vs. Web 3.0... It appears that 3.0 is around the corner and that 2.0 tools are "passe".  The beauty of technology!

Now I stated yesterday that I'm not completely sold on 2.0 tools.  I still hold that position.  The Web is transferring data in much more larger and more complex ways... I'm looking into using 3.0 tools very soon within the next 6 months.  I guess I'll enjoy the 2.0 versions while they are still familiar to me.

Personal Learning Networks...

For the past 6 weeks or so... I've been learning about Personal Learning Networks.  In fact, I've also been participating in this endeavor via Web 2.0 tools.  What have I learned?  Well... here it goes:

Let me preface my remarks by saying that I'm not 100% committed towards using Web 2.0 tools in my profession yet.  That may change as I see more & more people in our profession under the age of 40 using them more frequently than older generations of my colleagues do.

For starters, I've learned that the actual act of communicating / interacting with someone about anything personally and/or professionally via the use of Web 2.0 tools has changed how we term our relationship status.  It now seems that when I interact with someone in this arena... it's part of my "Personal Learning Network".  Yeah, it's a cool title, and it sounds sophisticated, just like how we're expecting each other to talk to one another these days.

While I have participated in this realm, and have learned a great deal about how people like myself have dealt with issues in our profession, I yearn for the traditional method of communicating and interacting with others in my PLN:  FTF (Face To Face) or VTP (Via The Phone).  Why?  It's easier to gauge and engage with your colleagues.  While the feedback is instantaneous, and the convenience of this is awesome, I feel that FTF and VTP are more personable to me and my colleagues.  Call me fickle, but Web 2.0 Tools in today's world are making us lose our ability to communicate FTF or VTP.  That is not a good thing to me and to older generations of people.  We've learned how to shut on and off who we talk to via a mouse click or via a thumb tap on our cell phones.  I thought that these tools were designed to make our lives easier... in some cases, they don't.  It is complicated... no doubt.

Conversely,  I DO like how you can be creative, innovative, informative, and enlightening with these tools towards making our careers more productive and also more rewarding towards developing our acumen.

I guess I'm like one of those hybrids... I use traditional and also new technologies to get where I'm going!

National Education Standards: The Next Washington Takeover - By Lindsey Burke - The Corner - National Review Online

Is your school district going to fall victim of this???


National Education Standards: The Next Washington Takeover - By Lindsey Burke - The Corner - National Review Online

Cool Cat Teacher Blog: Daily Education & Technology News for Schools 07/1...

I found this teacher's blog thanks to reading Mrs. Paiml's blog & I wanted to share it with you. I think you might enjoy her thoughts!


Cool Cat Teacher Blog: Daily Education & Technology News for Schools 07/1...: "Jibe and Unity3d | Google Groups Google group for those using Jibe and Unity 3d. Not just reactiongr..."

Vacation is over... gotta hit the grindstone.

Well folks that title just about says it all.  I have to finish 2 workshops by Monday, and of course... keep in tune with family, work, and recreation. 

I had a nice time visiting my family in NW Indiana this past week.  It was a looooong drive back home... 718 miles in one day is a fun time lemme tell you!

I've been catching up on some loose ends here in the house while it rains... maybe I'll get one of those workshops done today.  You never know!

I hope all is well with everyone.  Let not your heart be troubled...!

Boortz Rant: Is the American Dream dead?

Boortz Rant: Is the American Dream dead?

Whew!

Today, it's gonna be a hot one!  As a result, I've decided to exercise before it got too hot.  It's amazing what you can see and learn while riding a bicycle in your hometown.  I got to enjoy some fresh air, as well as enjoy some cool water when I finished.  6 Miles isn't too bad for today's heat.  Tonight when the sun goes down, I'm going to mow the front yard and burn some more calories.

On a lighter note, I'm starting to worry about my health.  I don't feel good sometimes, and it bothers me.  I'm too young to be this way.  I'm worried about my health, and I'm taking preventative steps towards slimming down so that I can enjoy life more.  I'm done with being a pig.

The American Dream

This is America.

And if you've become rich by working for it, you should be admired.

That also means when YOU become rich through hard work and achieve the great American Dream, I would imagine you would want to be admired, not derided.
...
I'm proud of everything I've done.

I'm rich.

And I'm certainly not Shameless.

I'm proud.

--Gene Simmons, KISS

Is Maryland going too far???

 Are they on the "cutting edge" or are they living "on the edge"???  Read and decide for yourself.  I like the concept of teaching "across the curriculum"... it's been around for ages.  Heck, it makes class more interesting at times in my view, to learn what students are learning!  However, I don't think the State Board of Education has the idea set "in stone" yet.  Good intentions to have kids learn about conservation and how to preserve for future generations... however, with no set way of going about it... it makes me wonder... I know how I'd approach it from a teaching perspective, but why make it a graduation requirement to have the class?  Most schools offer environmental science in some form or fashion for over 20 years already.  Let me know your views!

Maryland adds "Environmental Literacy" to Graduation Requirements

10 Reasons Why Your Educators are Resisting Your Change Initiative

I sourced this today from http://blogs.edweek.org


10 Reasons Your Educators Are Resisting Your Change Initiative

1. Surprise, Surprise! Decisions or requests that are sprung on administrators and teachers without notice.
2. Excess Uncertainty. Not knowing enough about the change will result in the "walking off a cliff blindfolded" syndrome.
3. Loss of Control. Feeling that changes are being done to, rather than done by, those affected.
4. Loss of Routine. Concerns that change will require administrators and teachers to question familiar (and comfortable) routines and habits.
5. We've Seen This Before. Expectation that the initiative is temporary and it will stay incomplete, meaning the best strategy is to lay low and not contribute to success.
6. Loss of Face. Change implies that the former way of doing things was wrong. Some administrators and teachers may feel embarrassed in front of their peers or staff.
7. Concerns About Future Competence. Educators can question their ability to be effective after a change: Can I do it? How will I do it? Will I make it in the new situation?
8. Ripple Effects. Change in one area can disrupt other projects or activities, even ones outside of work.
9. More Work. Organizational change often increases workloads.
10. Sometimes the Threat Is Real. Change often creates real winners and losers, and people worry about where they will end up when the project is complete.

Additional thoughts
As a school leader, if you want your change initiatives to be successful, you MUST address these issues. More important than whether you think you’ve addressed them is whether the resisters believe that you’ve addressed them. It’s what is in their heads and hearts, not yours, that’s important.
What else might we add to this list? I’d probably add:

11. Under-Resourcing. The initiative is not accompanied by sufficient resources (e.g., time, support, funding, training) to actually make it happen. So why should we bother?
12. Innovation Fatigue. Too many simultaneous initiatives. [this contributes to both 5 and 9]

Just read a great blog...

This guy cracked me up, but he also gave me some wise thoughts about how to keep my sanity in my career!

http://www.principalspage.com/theblog/