This has me thinking that we all have changes that happen and we all find ways to adjust and re-align our life.  This happens constantly in education.  Changes.  New curriculum, new staff, new students, snow days, sick days, new years, new technologies.  The list could go on and on.  How we deal with it is what makes the difference.  We can try and keep things the same or we can try and adapt and work with the circumstances we are given.  In today’s world, technology is making a place and this is changing education.   The focus is not technology, the focus is on how to reach our digital learners.  I posted recently at my Lutheran Tech Teacher blog a little more about this after attending the LEA convocation.  Feel free to check it out.  Because so much is changing, it is hard to keep up with everything.  Find one thing you can try.  Learn it well, use it well and add more as you go.  Make little changes that you feel comfortable with and you may surprise yourself!   Happy Learning!

THURSDAY 02/25/10 – 4:00-5:00pm
What Are You Doing?
Kathy Maske
Altamont Lutheran Interparish School

Link to recorded session: https://corsica.cuw.edu/p41048649/

“In our schools today, education is changing.  We have more technology than we know what to do with.  Our Lutheran schools have the opportunity now more than ever to utilize the same technologies as other schools do via the Internet.  There has been an explosion in online, collaborative networking in the last 5 years or so with the introduction of MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, Plurk and other social networking sites.  What happens when we utilize these tools in our professional development?  Continuous online learning!  We now have tools that we, as Lutheran Educators, can use to collaborate with other educators continuously.  Whether you are seasoned at networking or are just beginning, sharing is valuable for all.”

THURSDAY 02/25/10 – 5:00-6:00pm
Podcast My Class Fast
Daniel Burk
Grace Lutheran Lancaster, CA

Link to recorded session: https://corsica.cuw.edu/p59231468/

“Teachers are afraid to try something new.  Podcast is something that any class and any teacher can utilize in their classroom.  We will go step-by-step how easy it is to record and publish a Podcast for your class.”

FRIDAY 02/26/10 – 11:00-12:00 noon
Personal Learning Networks and You
Jeremy Biddle
CUW Ed Tech Cohort/Lutheran Educators’ Guild

Link to recording: https://corsica.cuw.edu/p73822927/

“Personal Learning Networks [PLNs] are a solution for one of 21st Century education’s most difficult problems: keeping informed of emerging technologies and learning how to utilize them in our classrooms.  PLNs tap into the vast array of freely available information via traditional sources (books, newspapers, etc.) and emerging ones (blogs, Twitter, etc.).  A PLN, states Dr. Daniel R. Tobin, is a group of people who can guide your learning, point you to learning opportunities, answer your questions, and give you the benefit of their own knowledge and experience. This presentation will provide a starting point for educators to implement their own PLNs.  The audience will be provided with a brief presentation on PLNs and their usefulness, suggestions of software to use (along with tutorials/demonstrations of their use), and a categorized list of sources for individual educators to use in beginning their own PLN.  The list of sources will be posted online, with the ability for an educator to make their own additions to share.”

Three of the Guild’s authors will be presenting this year:

02/25/10 – 4:00-5:00pm
What Are You Doing?
Kathy Maske
Altamont Lutheran Interparish School

https://corsica.cuw.edu/cle6/

“In our schools today, education is changing.  We have more technology than we know what to do with.  Our Lutheran schools have the opportunity now more than ever to utilize the same technologies as other schools do via the Internet.  There has been an explosion in online, collaborative networking in the last 5 years or so with the introduction of MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, Plurk and other social networking sites.  What happens when we utilize these tools in our professional development?  Continuous online learning!  We now have tools that we, as Lutheran Educators, can use to collaborate with other educators continuously.  Whether you are seasoned at networking or are just beginning, sharing is valuable for all.”

02/25/10 – 5:00-6:00pm
Podcast My Class Fast
Daniel Burk
Grace Lutheran Lancaster, CA

https://corsica.cuw.edu/cle1/

“Teachers are afraid to try something new.  Podcast is something that any class and any teacher can utilize in their classroom.  We will go step-by-step how easy it is to record and publish a Podcast for your class.”

02/26/10 – 11:00-12:00 noon
Personal Learning Networks and You
Jeremy Biddle
CUW Ed Tech Cohort/Lutheran Educators’ Guild

https://corsica.cuw.edu/cle3/

“Personal Learning Networks [PLNs] are a solution for one of 21st Century education’s most difficult problems: keeping informed of emerging technologies and learning how to utilize them in our classrooms.  PLNs tap into the vast array of freely available information via traditional sources (books, newspapers, etc.) and emerging ones (blogs, Twitter, etc.).  A PLN, states Dr. Daniel R. Tobin, is a group of people who can guide your learning, point you to learning opportunities, answer your questions, and give you the benefit of their own knowledge and experience. This presentation will provide a starting point for educators to implement their own PLNs.  The audience will be provided with a brief presentation on PLNs and their usefulness, suggestions of software to use (along with tutorials/demonstrations of their use), and a categorized list of sources for individual educators to use in beginning their own PLN.  The list of sources will be posted online, with the ability for an educator to make their own additions to share.”

We look forward to seeing you at the conference!

So, as the title of my post states- “Are we getting anywhere?”  In teaching?  Well, are we?  I would say yes when it comes to the technologies that are available.  We have so much at our fingertips, literally!  But are we using the technologies to get anywhere?  I sometimes struggle with this.  There are so many websites, devices, software and hardware choices to choose from that it is hard to know what can be of the most benefit to our students.

There are new things to learn, new technologies to try, and students who crave the interaction with these technologies.  They crave engaging learning and interactions.

“It takes time to learn new technologies”

“I have enough to worry about”

“I don’t think I would use it”

So, I ask again- Are we getting anywhere?

Integrating technology isn’t about using technology to teach.  It’s about engaging our students.  It’s about changing something in the way we teach.  Instead of reading about the people in Russia, we can  talk to them via Skype.  Why not engage the students in fractions via You Tube.  It means taking our teaching to the next level.

Does this require some work?  Yes!  When we decided we would be educators, we committed ourselves to life long learning.  And if you didn’t, well…maybe you should take a second look at what you are doing with your life! It is part of the calling of being in education.  There’s learning involved.  What I am writing is probably not a shock to anyone.  However, there aren’t too many who may say it out loud.

Looking back a the photo above, I can tell you that both phones will get us in touch with the people we try to contact.  The old ways of engaging students versus the new ways of technology- both ways will get the information across.   Are we getting anywhere?  Yes, slowly.  However, how we get to where we are going is up to us!

It stands for 21st Century Lutheran Education. 21CLE is an online conference in its 2nd year. There are speakers across the map. All the presenters love Lutheran Schools and Educators and want to improve Lutheran Schools and Education.

Want to know what the great thing is?

3 of your very own Guild authors will be presenting this year! How great is that!

02/25/10 – 4:00-5:00pm
What Are You Doing?
Kathy Maske
Altamont Lutheran Interparish School

“In our schools today, education is changing. We have more technology than we know what to do with. Our Lutheran schools have the opportunity now more than ever to utilize the same technologies as other schools do via the Internet. There has been an explosion in online, collaborative networking in the last 5 years or so with the introduction of MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, Plurk and other social networking sites. What happens when we utilize these tools in our professional development? Continuous online learning! We now have tools that we, as Lutheran Educators, can use to collaborate with other educators continuously. Whether you are seasoned at networking or are just beginning, sharing is valuable for all.”

02/25/10 – 5:00-6:00pm
Podcast My Class Fast
Daniel Burk
Grace Lutheran Lancaster, CA

“Teachers are afraid to try something new. Podcasts is something that any class and any teacher can utilize in their classroom. We will go step-by-step how easy it is to record and publish a Podcast for your class.”

02/26/10 – 11:00-12:00 noon
Personal Learning Networks and You
Jeremy Biddle
CUW Ed Tech Cohort/Lutheran Educators’ Guild

“Personal Learning Networks [PLNs] are a solution for one of 21st Century education’s most difficult problems: keeping informed of emerging technologies and learning how to utilize them in our classrooms. PLNs tap into the vast array of freely available information via traditional sources (books, newspapers, etc.) and emerging ones (blogs, Twitter, etc.). A PLN, states Dr. Daniel R. Tobin, is a group of people who can guide your learning, point you to learning opportunities, answer your questions, and give you the benefit of their own knowledge and experience. This presentation will provide a starting point for educators to implement their own PLNs. The audience will be provided with a brief presentation on PLNs and their usefulness, suggestions of software to use (along with tutorials/demonstrations of their use), and a categorized list of sources for individual educators to use in beginning their own PLN. The list of sources will be posted online, with the ability for an educator to make their own additions to share.”

If you would like more information head over to http://blog.cuw.edu/21cle/ List of all the presenters are there.  You can also register to attend.

Personally, this will be my first real public presentation.  I have talked in front of my school and church and I have voiced thoughts in conferences before, but to be the focus!  I am a little nervous.  A lot of thoughts of being a student is rushing to my head.  Am I qualify to talk about podcasts? What if I am asked a question I don’t know how to answer.  Will I sound ok?  I kinda hate my voice on recordings.  Just need to breath and pray (A LOT!).

Make sure you join us during the 2010 21CLE, tell your colleagues to watch/listen to the presentations (Think about PD days)  All the sections will be recorded also.  You can check out the 2009 21CLE on the site also.

Make sure you tell your friends about the Guild also.  Plus this is your Guild also.  Make sure you make comments and be part of the forum to go into more depth on any topic that is discussed.

So, what is your passion?  What do you most want your students to learn?  How does this all fit together?  Do you ask yourself this often?  If not, start.  Our students are not the same as they once were.  The way we educate our students is and should be changing.  I would venture to say that we will see more 1:1 classrooms in the next 10 years if not sooner.  Technology is shifting education.

Now where does that leave you?  Are you willing to shift your teaching?  Are you willing to learn?  Are you willing to teach the students in new ways?

Hmmm……

Something to ponder if you aren’t already.

I am sitting in the Vegas airport, hoping my battery doesn’t die before I finish this, but waiting for my flight back to LA.  I spent all day at Faith Lutheran Jr. High and High School in professional development.  No one is making me go.  Well no one but me. My school didn’t say I had to go, I wanted to go.

This past Thanksgiving week I got very sad, because I was not able to go to our annual Lutheran Educators Conference (LEC).  Our school didn’t have the money.  I am also guessing they didn’t have the love for their teacher or students.  I was told the conference was “optional” and not “mandatory.”  Everyday we ask our students to learn, but do not ask it of ourselves.  Professional development is MANDATORY!  In a recent survey of Lutheran educators it reveals that professional development for information, media, and computer literacy is a PRIORITY.  Dr. Perry Bressman shared this thought, “Who wants to go to a surgeon who hasn’t learned anything new in he last 10 years?” Why should parents send their kids to us, if we are stuck in our teaching methods that are outdated.

So the only thing that can come from PD is good things. (even if the conference sucks)

I love going to LEC for numerous reasons.  It is a time to relax (vacation time for my family), it is a time to learn, and it is a time to interact.   Although our staff does interact with each other during the rest of the school year, it is always nice to sit down as a staff for a nice meal.  It is a time to bring each other closer to each other.  As you may know the Lutheran school system is actually very small in some terms.  I have taught at 3 different Lutheran schools and have made connections with other teachers, which is always nice to catch up with at these conferences.  I meet new people who in turn can become part of my PLN.

I love going to the sessions and learning new concepts and applications.  If I could I would go to a conference every week to learn something new.  But, it is also a way to refuel my tank.  I can get excited and can’t wait to be back in my classroom to try something new.  It helps you from getting burnt out.  Most Lutheran teacher burn the match on both end.  We need time for ourselves.  Mary Irish, principal, talked to this very statement about how we need to make sure we take care ourselves so we can take care of others.  Mary compared it to taking an airplane.  They always tell us on flights that if we need to put on oxygen mask to make sure we put ours on first before we help anyone else.  It is nice to be at a great place.  For this SLED conference we were at the Red Rock Resort in Vegas.  It was so relaxing.  The room was great and peaceful.

What are you doing for PD?

If your school is like mine, you might not get the opportunity to go to conferences, because it is too expensive.  But, you should not worry.  You can still learn and interact.  You need to take your ownership in PD as I mention in earlier post about this being your year.  Create your PLN and learn from them.

Here is what you should do.

Go to http://blog.cuw.edu/21cle/archive-2009-presentation-recordings/ and listen to the different presentations from last year 21CLE.  Then, make sure you mark your calendars for this years conference – February 25th, 26th and 27, 2010!

Finally you need to keep reading here on Lutheran Educator’s Guild.

Fall in love with your PD.

I understand the want of holding onto the past or keeping it as a record or historical museum. That is not what we are doing. We have stuff that does not work and is just plain ugly.

Some teachers are the same way, not that they are ugly, but use methods that do not work anymore, they are old and out-of-date. There are teachers who have been teaching for 40 years, when in reality they have been teaching for 1 year, 40 times. Maybe it is me, and maybe it is my so called ADHD mind, I make teaching hard on myself. I rewrite my lesson plans every year. I do use some of the same thoughts or techniques if I believe it went well, but I change things up, I add, I adapt.

My next goal is trying to clear out the old junk in the computer lab and in our teachers closet of lessons. I am working on helping them integrate project based activities to engage the students in their learning opportunities. I have started a wiki http://gracelutheranchristianschool.wikispaces.com/ which I am putting project directions, rubrics, and notes together. My goal is to have the teachers to use these projects, but then start thinking about creating their own to post on the wiki.

I got the idea from a fellow colleague Dave Black and his school. His school is further down the road when it comes to implementing 21st century skills. I only pray that my school will catch up.

The technology curriculum is organized in the following manner:

1. First and Second Grade children are introduced to the fundamentals of the computer. They learn to identify and locate computer parts and learn the functionality of the mouse and keyboard.
2. Third and Fourth Grade children are introduced to the fundamentals of computer applications using a structured text book and workbook. Proper keyboarding techniques begin in Third grade and continue through eighth.
3. Fifth Grade students are introduced and use extensively the Microsoft Office Suite of products using a structured text book and work book. Primarily focusing on Microsoft Word and PowerPoint.
4. Sixth Grade students continue with the Microsoft Suite of products with emphasis in Microsoft Excel and Outlook.
5. Seventh Grade students enhance their Microsoft Word skills and are introduced to the Internet and database software such as Microsoft Access.
6. Eighth Grade students are evaluated in all applications of the Microsoft Office Suite to prepare them for the challenges of high school.

From the outside view, this looks great. It is much more than many Lutheran schools are doing and so many public schools. But it is very limited. This is what my school is like. Very limited overall to the projects and learning the student do. I am not saying Microsoft Office is a bad thing to learn. I use Office all the time, every day. I do know I have 07 on my personal laptop and the students use 03 on the computers. Those two versions are completely different. I have a hard time finding where in 03 the tools I want, because I know where they are in 07. I am not sure how this school does their lesson, if they are like Future Kids, which my school uses (ugh). Or the teachers have the students create original projects using Office. By the look of it They are using some type of cookie cutter mold for the early grades.

After I grazed around this school website, which seems like they have a nice lab. I stopped by a fellow Lutheran teachers latest wiki for his school. On the wiki he lists his goals. See how drastically different they are from the goals listed before.

1. The ability to use technology in God-pleasing ways for ministry and personal productivity, and in keeping with good digital citizenship practices
2. The ability to analyze information and sources critically for accuracy and relevancy
3. The ability to communicate effectively through the spoken word
4. The ability to communicate effectively through the written word
5. The ability to collaborate effectively with others — even with those whom you may not personally know
6. The ability to be self-motivated to be a life-long learner
7. The ability to create, innovate, and problem solve independently and collaboratively
8. The ability to act and think globally

Instead of prescribed word for word orders, the students are given a little leeway to think more. This list of what they will be integrating throughout the day instead of having a computer class one day a week for an hour in the computer lab. So look at what you are doing in your school. What group of lists would you fall in, the 20th century or 21st century way?