Digital Learning - What are the Essentials?

Web 2.0 in the primary classroom

Helping children find what they need on the internet

Expert authors and advocates for information and technology literacy, Michael B. Eisenberg, Doug Johnson, and Robert E. Berkowitz announce their revised Information, Communications, and Technology (ICT) curriculum for K-12 education. The document, updated to reflect current technology, demonstrates how technology literacy skills fit within an information literacy skills context. Find the download on this page.

Educon 2.2 - Now What Are You Going To Do? A post on school leaders moving from talk to action after an inspirational conference.

Two New School Policies: Cell Phones, iPods Okay In Classroom for one Colorado High School.


Back to basics in this wiki work: What do I use a wiki or a blog?
Should Schools Block Social Networking Sites

Still More Reflections, Resolutions and Predictions 2009-2010

Jane Hart, Centre for Learning & Performance Technologies and Internet Time Alliance has provided insights into her thinking with this overview:
The State of Social Learning Today and Some Thoughts for the Future of L&D in 2010

Will Richardson has written some thoughtful material in his post: 20-20 Vision?

This NZ teacher, Jenny She has a year that was 2009 reflection in two parts.

More on 2009 and plans for 2010 by @jdeyenberg Jen's 2009 Year in Review post.

@rdelorenzo makes a contribution with the post: Reviewing 2009: Reflecting on this Blog, on PLN’s & on Using Web Tools

@ignatia has written "My 8 Learning Predictions for 2010"

That's all folks ...

Twitter is Awash with Personal Reflections, Resolutions and Predictions

Many social media types are approaching the promise of learning in the New Year with enthusiasm. The more twitterati reflect, the more I'll add.

Doug Johnson provides some personal and professional. I like the term "oughts-decade".

@djainslie has a post with a PLN survey. With this retweet, I found someone new to follow.

@ian_gs has a look back on 2009 with links to his most popular posts.

@timbuckteeth has a post "Noughties ... but nice" in which he overviews some of the "personal technological innovations" that emerged in the decade.

@olliebray writes this post on his blog with links to: Education hopes for 2010 at TESS Scotland

@ozge has written: How to survive in 2010 - digitally.

@mrmitchell has written Predictions for 2010 and Reflections on 2009

Stephen W Anderson @web20classroom reports that this was his most popular post in 2009. It is certainly worth some reflection. "You Want Me To Use This In My Classroom? What's The Point?"

@nashworld tweeted about his building principal's @JeanetteWstfall first-semester reflection and reverie.

The technology predictions of ReadWriteWeb @rww are always worth a read.

My comment for @larryferlazzo One more day to share

"One more day to share, what I learnt in 2009."

I am a techy-type teacher and always-on learner from way-back. In 2009, I have learnt that:

*the pace of change in what constitutes effective teaching practice is seriously challenging most teachers. This has resulted in a dire need for many to update their practice. The notion of being a lifelong learner has never been so relevant for genuine educators. This is a non-negotiable, individual responsibility.

*web2.0 social media tools should be thoroughly assessed before teachers consider there use with students. This assessment would incorporate all the standard website content, functionality, age-suitability and eligibility criteria.

*being youngish does not necessarily mean that effective teaching practice using computing technology will automatically occur. The capacity to select online resources and tools that will achieve identified learning outcomes is the key.

Finally, 2010 will be even more exciting.

I look forward to Larry's post, that summarises what educators have said.

Latest Sites2Review-Finally Finished

This is another " post-in-waiting" that I now have time to complete.

What do they have in common? The short answer is they have:

• value to teaching particular subjects
• relevance to esafety

Britney Wilkins wrote: Chartophiles and students, have you heard that Google has made it incredibly easy to generate your own slick-looking charts? It’s true, and all it takes to make one is the ability to read and edit a URL. This has made it possible to get creative with charts and wow the audience for your next classroom presentation. Read on to see what’s been done, and how you can easily do it yourself.

Creating Learning Platforms

This useful wiki resource states: There is a growing desire to rethink education and learning, and the phrase "School 2.0" is being used to think about what schools will look like in the future.

The edorigami is a very valuable resource blog and should be followed to maximise professional and student learning benefits. This is just one example, check out the whole site, especially the work on Bloom's Taxonomy.

Subject-related Learning Links, will enhance teacher learning.

Last but not least, this website provides a wealth of resources for K-12 science educators, Science NetLinks is your guide to meaningful standards-based Internet experiences for students.

google again - new shared stuff application

Just a short note about google shared stuff. It's a new tool that enables social bookmarking, email and sharing. Looks pretty useful. I might start with using it as a bookmark for my most successful learning 2.0 sites. Follow my my shared stuff trail and let's see where it leads!

Videos for learning

My cybersifting has enabled me to identify a number of useful tools for locating and viewing videos. My searching has been focussed on learning more bout web 2.0 applications. This site, vodpod enables you to search topics and save useful videos into a pod. At this link, you can access my collection, join up or follow others.

By saving to vodpod, you can access many youtube and google videos of educational value that would otherwise be blocked because the main site is understandably not accessible in schools.

I have a range of videos that complement what I have collected through slideshare.

Blog and wiki wisdom

I have collected some useful opinion and position statements from social software early adopters, who have gained reputations in educational technology over the last decade. These are worth noting since inevitably they bring a practical perspective to the use of new applications in teaching.

Most days, I spend up to an hour using google reader to identify new developments especially new uploads to slideshare.

I have set up a favourites list and a dedicated group, named "web 2.0 tools in effective learning". The number of relevant slideshows expands each day with educators and enterprising types around the world sharing their work. No real need to develop anything new for presentations any more.

Browse to see the possibilities:
http://www.slideshare.net/group/web-20-tools-for-effective-teaching

Reflecting and evaluating web 2.0 learning journey

I am back now to blog a little about my web 2.0 learning journey. As I indicated in my start up "learning how-to" posts, I have been concentrating on finding out about particular types of social software. Absolutely fascinating is the least I could say. I have been exploring a number of issues including:
*ease of sign in
*ease of use
*time needed to learn how to use
*possible applications to teacher professional learning
*possible applications to student learning
*time needed to maximise value of use for above
*issues of privacy and security

and many other matters not yet identified. I'll add to this list.

The opportunities for learning are vast.