This public service campaign video was filmed at the CoSN (Consortium for School Networking) annual conference. The wisdom with which educational leaders like Alan November, Greg Whitby, and Stephen Heppell explicate the urgency of giving teachers the tools to connect with 21C learning and their students is poignant in this video. The massive task of making schooling relevant for today’s learners is communicated with precision. These international educators recognise the need to shift our thinking at all levels by being innovative, thinking creatively and developing 21st century pedagogies that will inspire this generation of learners.

This Technology Integration Matrix is a very handy reference point for school administrators, especially those ready to take the plunge and give students the opportunity of 1:1 access the Digital Education Revolution funding offers.

It is worthwhile clicking on the links under each indicator to see how the integration works in both shared and 1:1 learning environments. You’ll find video examples, objectives, materials/technology list, standards, and what amounts to basically a lesson plan. Incredible resource!

The Technology Integration Matrix (TIM) illustrates how teachers can use technology to enhance learning for K-12 students. The TIM incorporates five interdependent characteristics of meaningful learning environments: active, constructive, goal directed (i.e., reflective), authentic, and collaborative (Jonassen, Howland, Moore, & Marra, 2003). The TIM associates five levels of technology integration (i.e., entry, adoption, adaptation, infusion, and transformation) with each of the five characteristics of meaningful learning environments. Together, the five levels of technology integration and the five characteristics of meaningful learning environments create a matrix of 25 cells as illustrated below.

As @dswaters pointed out at the recent ECAWA unconference I am not the most social creature online these days! I do engage with some discussions on email lists and a little bit more lately on Twitter but in general this year I have not really been joining in the dialogue of the blogosphere as much. I have been considering the reasons behind this, and think it is simply that I am so busy with the new job, but most of all I think it’s because if I am going to engage with a discussion I feel I need to really immerse myself in the discussion to have my contributions be of any use.

This general demeanour leaves me missing out on a fantastic project is going on in the edublogosphere called the 31 day comment challenge. I would love to be part of it but instead I am just going to write about how cool it is instead :-). Sue Waters makes some valuable points here about the fact “that commenting on blogs is a crucial aspect of blogging conversations for achieving the greatest learning,” and this is put in context by an insightful reference to Derek Wenmoth’s diagram The Four C’s of Participation in Online Communities. Maybe I’ll be up for the next one.

BTW - Digital Chalkie is a multi-user web-blog. If you are a blogger who would like a different audience, register above, and blog away here to your hearts content. As an open group-blog anyone is welcome to share their posts.

Technology now dominates every area of our lives and educators need to make sure they are prepared for its inclusion into our schools. This may mean making a break from traditional teaching methods; but there is no denying the inevitability of technology being thrust into curricula around the country. Many teachers may be hesitant to accept this new world order but the key is to ensure they are ready for this new challenge. Here are some tips for preparing teachers for the future:

∙ Make teachers feel comfortable. Many, at first, will resist the influx of computers into their classroom but if you can make feel at ease by letting them know the full spectrum of possibilities out there, then they will warm up. Appeal to a teacher’s passion in their given subject area of expertise and show them a computer program that will open their eyes to new, different ways of teaching their subject.

∙ Teach the teachers. Keep in mind that teachers are just like the students in that they will learn at different rates. Develop a comprehensive training program, but allow the faculty to learn at their own speed. Avoid putting overt pressure on them to be at a certain computer aptitude. Eventually they’ll get the hang of it. Don’t rush them because then they’re more apt to abandon the training.

∙ Keep a slow, deliberate pace. There will be plenty of staff members that are already advanced when it comes to using computers but for the ones that are a little slower maintain a steady training pace. Technology training is not something that can be accomplished overnight. It is something that you will continually be working on with workshops throughout the year.

∙ Create a rewards system. Implementing such a training regimen may often require teachers to spend more time than the district allows for in a pay structure. Anyone will be more apt to quit on a project if they’re not being properly rewarded. Compensate teachers if they’re spending more than the allotted time on the training.

Paul Fuller was our special guest in a live Digital Chalkie webcast in this conversation around how one globally aware primary school got their one-to-one parent funded notebook program off the ground please tune-in. Paul explains about the students’ reactions, planning, financing, technical and pedagogical shifts.

Below is a podcast of Digital Chalkie webcast #6: How to start a parent funded notebook programme in a Primary School recorded on 8 p.m (WST) Thursday 13 2008:

We find out what happens if you give a kid their own device with access to the connected world? Why have Rudd/Gillard and Smith got it right with this policy of trying to get computers into the hands of students? Or do you have a different opinion?

This is a slideshow from one of the presentations Paul gave to the school community:

To get the discussion rolling before the webcast, I posted this text below to a few email lists, sourced from this website here. This piece was posted on the Abilene, Kansas High School Dialogue Buzz website during the spring of 2003. It was an anonymous post by a student, but is VERY powerful.

Let’s have a little competition at school and get ready for the future. I will use a laptop and you will use paper and pencil. Are you ready…?
I will access up-to-date information - you have a textbook that is 5 years old.
I will immediately know when I misspell a word – you have to wait until it’s graded.
I will learn how to care for and harness technology by using it – you will read about it.
I will see science concepts in 3D – you will do the odd problems.
I will create artwork and poetry and share it with the world – you will share yours with the class.
I will have 24/7 access – you have the entire class period.
I will access the most dynamic information – yours will be printed and photocopied.
I will communicate with leaders and experts using email – you will wait for Friday’s speaker.
I will select my learning style – you will use the teacher’s favorite learning style.
I will collaborate with my peers from around the world – you will collaborate with peers in your classroom.
I will take my learning as far as I want – you must wait for the rest of the class.
The cost of a leased laptop per year? - $250
The cost of teacher and student training? – Expensive
The cost of well educated Australian citizens and workforce? - Priceless