In moving to the digital format, we have created some controversy among the students. In the past the cover was a piece of work completed by a student. It was always a surprise and celebrated event when the colorful hard copy was rolled out. There was great excitement and anticipation of whose a work would be chosen for the cover. A second part of the anticipation was wondering whose piece would be published. It was always a surprise.

With the new eZine, every student in Upper Primary was to select piece of writing and artwork showcased for the worldwide audience to enjoy. The element of surprise was absent, the joy of knowing one’s work would be published was exciting for each student.

I like the new look, it was created by high school students. There was a limited choice for art work this year since the roll out was only a few weeks ago. However, next year should be even greater and better.

So what’s better … celebrate everyone’s best [which might not be as good] or celebrate the best of the best?

Last year I had the privilege to be part of an international team of educators to visit the Kennedy Space Center. I was selected to be members of the NASA/UCF Aeronautics Space Institute. Being given VIP passes,

we were able to visit the launch and landing sites as well as visit numerous buildings where few are allowed to visit. It was during this time tha

t I was awe stuck by Orbiter Discovery. Today STS-124 took off to the International Space Station. On board was the Japanese payload named Kibo. I was able to have lunch one day with the Japanese scientists who worked with Kibo.

During our two week stay I kept a blog of our daily itinerary. So

me of our studies included

• The Space Shuttle Program
• The International Space Station Program
• Strategies/plans for lunar and Mars exploration
• Aeronautics principles
• Orbital mechanics principlesRocketrySpace Environments
• Space Materials, including their selection and testing
• Living and working in space, including the effects of microgravity on the human physiology, design of crew modules for space living, space food, space suits and space tools.
• Astronaut training techniques
• Life support systems, including the growth of plants in space for long-duration flights
• Solar energy principals

This was by far the best professional development I have ever had. Perhaps one day you will be able to go yourself.

A second video was even more profound. Let’s fight it together, was produced by Childnet (a non-profit organisation working with others to “help make the Internet a great and safe place for children”) for the Department for children, schools and families in England (DCSF).

One person can cause others to follow and in turn destroy another. The students kept wanting to discuss each point as the video played and so that is what we did. I especially liked the way it dealt with a variety of technology, not just emails but real life. It was a real discussion starter.

The videos managed to pack a punch, far more than any information I could relay by simply talking about the issue. Make sure you watch both and think about using them in your classrooms. Thanks to Jenny Luca I’m passing them on to you.

The Learners: Kids and Communication
Integrating technology with education in a Web 2.0 world is all about people. People communicating, collaborating, stimulating and and learning from each other. Actually, that’s what teaching should be all about. Social networks, such as Facebook and MySpace are the preferred means of communication for kids today. Today’s generation of students loves to multi-task, perhaps that is why these social network places allow them to do a multitude of tasks all on one website. If anything the social networks have proved that people are important to today’s generations, they just communicate in a forum most teachers are not used to.

So who should NOT use technology?
The Extremes
Technology, when placed in the wrong hands, is very dangerous. There are two ends of the spectrum that this statement can refer to. One end is the beginning user, the other the techie who knows it all. Both of these individuals should be considered armed and dangerous and handled with care. Our job is to guide students in their (and our) learning. If the use of technology inhibits or prohibits learning, then were faced with trouble. The WOW! factor often distracts the audience from real learning. It can lead to bird walking when it comes to learning and understanding.

We must emphasize good teaching, not good technology. The use of technology should not and cannot be abused. It cannot be the ‘dog and pony show’ which substitute for real learning. Promote and teach “pedagogy-based” technology workshops, which focus on good teaching practices and on the design and implementation of technology-mediated courses. If done correctly, a technology department needs to put “student engagement” and “professional development for teachers” at the top of their priorities.

People to People (p2p), Face to Face (f2f)
We are encouraging a society of parallel relationships. Kids are chatting with each other, texting each other, and communicating without ever facing each other.We must be careful they do not become isolated and socially inept. Last week a middle school decided not to sponsor a dance, kids wanted to play computer games. They said they were too afraid of rejection at the dance. Wow, what’s happening?

The history of the book paradigm for learning began in the late 1400’s with the start of the printing press. Suddenly books became the fountain of youth for learning rather than oral traditions handed down from generation to generation. Learning consisted of remembering and knowing. Throughout this era, information was richly managed but poor with information. 500 years of limited knowledge.

Recently, in the mid-1980’s, a new internet based paradigm started. Learning became more than knowledge, it is now understanding. Assessments have become formative and summative. We are now information rich, but poorly managed.

Most recently we now are beginning to see the end of the internet based paradigm. by 2020 this shift will be complete. Internet will be available to everyone.

Publishers make a lot of money from fiction books. The likelihood of them disappearing anytime soon is unlikely. However, non-fiction information, such as textbooks and encyclopedias, will disappear from print. They will be accessed via the internet and wi-fi. One of the newest developing technologies is the flexiscreen book. A prototype is being developed now by Plastic Logic. The 21 second video is a great example.

Multimedia projectors will be in the covers of laptops.What is the role of the librarian? Libraries came about due to a limited resource landscape. That landscape is changing drastically right now. The role of the librarian today is
(1) to manage information … a lot of information. There are two ways to go about doing this. First is on a case to case basis with each teacher. Second, to grow the area of of research. Find books that are needed and create semantic fields. This will be the boom in the next 5-7 years.
(2) Today a library can be anywhere, anytime. Google aims to become the super-librarians of the future. In the next 2-3 years we will see Google come out with a research tool of pull down menus that will target a student country > type of schooling (American, British, AP, IB, IGCSE, etc.) > year in school > subject > topic > available books or media.
(3) The librarian needs to help synthesize information. Howard Gardner in his book, Five Minds for the Future, states that here are five kinds of mind sets we need for the future:

• a disciplined mind
• a synthesizing mind
• a creative mind
• a respectful mind
• an ethical mind

Finally, presentation will become the skill most needed in the future. The skill of being able to present and communicate one’s understanding of learning.

Some highlights from his talk include project based learning has been around a long time. We have sent kids to library to research on Aztecs, make a poster, copy pages and pages of notes …. the old way produced a 5 page report. Today, with advent of computers, it’s now a 20 page report … the new report has more cut and paste.

We have just exited an era of the book based paradigm of learning. This took place starting in 1400 – 1980. Now new paradigm of internet based paradigm starts. It will end by 2020 internet paradigm will be done … everyone will have access to the internet. Distill, synthesize, understanding stuff.

So what did learning look like in these eras? The 1800’s saw the Manufacturing and Farming sector (be polite, be good in school). The 20th Century Service sector (skill set is speaking). Understanding and knowledge were key. Now the 21st century is the creativity sector (analyze, synthesize, apply). Internet is necessary to be creative. Wellington 25,000 people in creative sector 250,000 around the world depend of them.

New Zealand is at the beginning of new understanding … it is called Nouvelle Comprehension … the beginning is now and the next 10 years will explode rapidly with the new paradigm of learning. Core skills that will be needed: Managing self, thinking.

The outcome of new paradigm is to have kids that are WISE. Wisdom to make right choices. A 15 year old can buy a gene splitter on internet and put a virus into the water supply … unwise decision. Bring back values education into the curriculum. Confident, connected, actively involved Life-long, self-motivated learners. Decisions based on values.

more info can be found at:
Mark’s Online Notes
KnowledgeNET
School v2
PD Resources
Global Curriculum
Consultancy
Digital Learning Objects Libraries
Thinking
Image Libraries
Newsletter/reviews
Inquiry Learning

1. Don’t go with the flow – create your own current

2. Don’t let the sky stop you

3. Dare to be different

4. Don’t say it can’t be done

5. Other’s have good ideas too!

6. Let you imagination soar!

7. Dare to be wacky, weird and outrageous!

8. Anything that can be done, can be done better

9. Explore the unknown

10. Ask, “Why not?!”

• Content creation by teenagers continues to grow, with 64% of online teenagers ages 12 to 17 engaging in at least one type of content creation, up from 57% of online teens in 2004.
• 28% of online teens have blogs.
• 39% of online teens share their own artistic creations online.
• Content creation is not just about sharing creative output; it is about participating in conversations fueled by the content.
• 66% of teens with social network profiles restrict access.
• Social network sites (Facebook, MySpace, etc.) are the primary means of communication.
• Email is selected only as a last resort to stay in touch with friends.

With the advent of the super cell phone, communication will continue to change. Why? Nearly 63% of all teens now have a cell phone. Look at the following trends!

• 70% talk daily with friends on a cell phone.
• 60% send text messsages daily
• 54% instant message
• 47% send messages over social network sites
• 46% talk to friends on a landline phone
• 35% spend time with friends in person daily
• 22% send email every day to friends

Pew Internet and American Life Project

http://www.chumfm.com/MorningShow/bits/march24.swf