ISTE 2010: Beyond Catch Phrases

Welcome to ISTE 2010!

Digital-Age Learning Best Practices Observation Form

Promoting shared expertise with networked collaboration
Complex Thinking Skills

Bolstering inquiry through student questions
H.E.A.T. Scoring Guide
5E lesson Plan Template

Making Authentic Connections

Using horizontal/vertical differentiation
Sample Learning Station/Center Template

Anchoring student learning with digital tools/resources

Implementing Formative Assessments
A-Z Informal Assessment Handout

Word Up! Using Word Frequency Visualization Tools

Do you like word games, crosswords, and playing scrabble? Do you consider yourself a visual learner? These tools connect visual and verbal learners like never before!

Word Frequency Visualization tools allow students to analyze visually the frequency of words within a passage by pasting the passage text directly into an online form. Web 2.0 Tools such as Wordle and TagCrowd are free to use and do exactly this.

Wordle, by definition on their website, "is a toy for generating “word clouds” from text that you provide. The clouds give greater prominence to words that appear more frequently in the source text. You can tweak your clouds with different fonts, layouts, and color schemes. The images you create with Wordle are yours to use however you like. You can print them out, or save them to the Wordle gallery to share with your friends". At first, it may seem like just a fun little tool, but the educational opportunities are endless that educators are finding for these tools.

Imagine having students paste the text from the Declaration of Independence into a form and then getting back a word cloud that shows the frequency of the words visually; with the more frequent words appearing larger on the screen and the less frequent words appearing smaller. How about a discussion that compares and contrasts the inaugural speeches of John F. Kennedy and Barack Obama based on the word frequency in the visual representation of these speeches? These same tools are also effective for students to analyze their own writing to explore the redundancy of word use. In the most simplest terms, it is a great way for students to express themselves with in a visually, verbally, Web 2.0 way!

Below are links to these Web 2.0 Tools as well as some links to ways educators as using these tools in the classroom.

Web 2.0 Tools
Wordle
TagCrowd

Examples
TagCrowd Example
Forty-six Interesting Ways to Use Wordle

So now that you have explored and shared the tool and the ideas, let's focus on how to continue to encourage teachers to utilize them by giving them some commendations and recommendations.

Wiki: Commendations
1. Reward efforts by highlighting Wordle creations to the rest of the staff.
2. Set up for success and take the lead on creating a Wordle to illustrate something (i.e. your next meeting agenda) to your staff or something fun to get started!!

Wiki: Recommendations

1. Start simple by presenting a task that needs to be completed by using one of these tools. Curriculum maps or content standards can be copied into a word frequency visualization tool to highlight key concepts to begin the discussion and activity at a curriculum planning meeting.
2. Keep it simple and use these tools for Student of the Week, describing character traits of the individual student.

So explore the Word Frequency Visualization Tools and see how they might be used in your classrooms to turn up the H.E.A.T.!

Turning Up the H.E.A.T.: LoTi Orientation

Today's Agenda:
• 21st Century Teaching & Learning
- Reaction Time Simulator
- Reaction Time Spreadsheet
- 270ToWin
• H.E.A.T.
- Bloom's Taxonomy
• LoTi
• H.E.A.T. Strategies
- Web 2.0 Resources
- Focus Strategies
- Lesson Makeovers
• Retrofitting LoTi

General Resources:
• 21st Century Learning Revisited
• LoTi Sniff Test
• LoTi Framework
• H.E.A.T.
• Thinkfinity
• Ning
• A-Z List of Informal Assessment Strategies
• Questioning Toolkit
• 21st Century Performance Assessments

Math Resources
Interactivate
NLVM
Illuminations
Math Tools
Thinkfinity
Get Real: Math in Everyday Life
Math Projects
Applying Math Skills to a Real World Problem
Funny Math Videos on Teacher Tube

ELA Resources
Read-Write-Think
Thinkfinity

Family and Consumer Science Resources
Online Resources
Family and Consumer Science Website
Thinkfinity -Search by Content for Resources, Lessons

Science Resources
Virtual LabsChemistry
Simulations

Social Studies Resources
270toWin
National Budget Simulation

Fine Arts Resources
The Audition Room
SFS Kids

Web 2.0 Resources
• GoToWeb20
• Web 2.0 Tool: Survey Monkey
• Web 2.0 Tool: Zoomerang
• Web 2.0 Tool: Survs
• Web 2.0 Tool: Dabbleboard
• Web 2.0 Tool: MyWebspiration
• Web 2.0 Tool: Wordle
• Web 2.0 Tool: TagCrowd
• Web 2.0 Tool: Blogger
• Web 2.0 Tool: 21 Classes
• Web 2.0 Tool: Writeboard
• Web 2.0 Tool: Wikispaces
• Web 2.0 Tool: ePals
• Web 2.0 Tool: Gaggle
• Web 2.0 Tool: GoogleDocs
• Web 2.0 Tool: EditGrid
• Web 2.0 Tool: Audacity
• Web 2.0 Tool: GarageBand
• Web 2.0 Tool: Zoho Writer

Website Construction Resources
Wikispaces for Teachers
Blogger
SchoolNotes
Scholastic Home Page Builder

Jog the Web

Interactive Map Resources
Intute World Guide
National Geographic Map Machine
Google Earth

Video Editing Resources
Movie Maker (Windows)
iMovie (Mac)

Publishing Student Work Resources
Publishing Students Resources

Virtual Field Trip Resources
Take or Create One
Internet 4 Classrooms Trips
Tramline

Photo Sharing Resources
Photobucket
Flickr
Shutterfly

Screen Capture Recording Resources
Cam Studio
i Show U (Mac)

5C's of Instructional Leadership

Research abounds that references the pivotal role that building administrators play in the educational change process. Successful implementation of any school-based innovation can be traced to the attitude and actions of the site-based leader. Whether the change involves the implementation of a new reading program, the creation of professional learning communities, or the introduction of a new way of conducting classroom walkthroughs, the behavior of the school building principal can bring either success or failure with any innovation.

The LoTi Digital-Age School is by definition a school committed to improving student achievement and digital-age teaching and learning on campus. However, our experiences have shown that the level of success is directly related to the quality of leadership manifested by the campus’ chief instructional officer. On campuses that have flourished as LoTi Digital-Age Schools, the building administrator has manifested a high degree of what I refer to as the 5’C’s of instructional leadership: Cultivation, Courage, Creativity, Commitment, and Communication. Each of these attributes serves at the core of a successful LoTi Digital-Age School implementation.

Cultivation:

How many times have you heard someone describe their educational leader (e.g., superintendent, principal, director) as a true visionary--someone who is able to envision a bold plan to improve student achievement, reinvigorate a dormant curriculum, or sustain

21st Century learning environments, yet is unable to execute on that vision? Though creating a vision for instructional change or renewal at the campus or district level is laudable, the inability to cultivate that vision for success into a viable plan of action can lead to staff discontent, apathy, and, worse yet, passive resistance to the entire change process. LoTi Digital-Age School principals who are able to cultivate a climate of change against perceived environmental barriers (e.g., standardized tests, staff resistance) possess that intangible attribute of a true instructional leader that cannot be taught in a graduate course.

Courage:

Courage represents the ability to “stand for principle” in the face of mounting pressure to

find quick-fix solutions (e.g., extensive test prep exercises, over-reliance on drill and

practice activities) for long-term problems. In schools today, no one can escape the

inevitable “high-stakes” test given annually each spring to measure what students know

in targeted grade levels and content areas. Possessing the ability to challenge

conventional wisdom and focus on what research as well as what your “gut instincts”

tells you what works best for students academically (e.g., higher order thinking, student

engagement, authentic problem-solving, differentiated instruction, cooperative learning) defines the courage level of instructional leaders. Acting courageously simply means applying one’s convictions to a problem or challenge regardless of outside pressures. Successful LoTi Digital

Age Schools are lead by leaders with courage.

Creativity:

Top-flight LoTi Digital-Age School administrators are able to exercise their creative instincts to find solutions to problems. Where others see barriers, they see opportunities. Think about those building administrators whom you have known personally, read about in a periodical, or viewed

on You Tube who were able in a relatively short period of time to increase student attendance, reduce violence on campus, improve school climate for both staff and students, and raise test scores. Many of us have met these individuals and watched them as they steered their way through obstacles and against overwhelming odds as well as naysayers who said that it could not be done. These individuals are able to exercise their creativity with a large dosage of personal initiative to implement their vision for success.

Commitment:

In the movie, The Patriot, Mel Gibson’s character was reminded continually by his oldest son played by Heath Ledger to “stay the course” as it relates to the larger mission of defeating the British during the Revolutionary War rather than give up or focus energy on personal vendettas. Successful LoTi Digital-Age School principals are able to stay committed as it relates to the implementation of their action plans even when the popular decision would be to acquiesce to special interest groups on campus or stop the process entirely. During my graduate years as an aspiring administrator at San Diego State University, I will never forget a professor, Dr. Al Moreno, who often kidded us about the definition of leadership which was to “find which way the herd is going and get out in front.” True leaders do not rely on Gallup Polls to do the right thing; they “just do it.”

Communication:

Effective communication is the cornerstone for an effective LoTi Digital-Age School implementation. Oftentimes, staff is unsure about the school’s central mission when the level of communication from the principal is reduced to a weekly email or a brief speech during a faculty meeting or via the intercom. Quality communication extends beyond the spoken or printed word. At successful LoTi Digital-Age Schools, the building leader is able to translate his/her words into action and create a consensus among all key stakeholders as to the school’s mission. Though the level of communication starts with the principal, it does not stop there. Quality communication involves all participants on campus best manifested in clusters of professional learning communities.

The 5 C’s of instructional leadership are central to the change process at a LoTi Digital-Age School. According to Joiner, “effective change requires skilled leadership that can integrate the soft human elements with hard business actions.” (Joiner, 1987 p. 1). Successful LoTi Digital-Age Schools are lead by individuals who possess these qualities.

May the LoTi be with you Always!

Chris Moersch

Joiner Jr., C.W. (1987). Leadership for change. Cambridge, MA: Ballinger Publishing Company.

LoTi Administrator Meeting: Goose Creek ISD

Provided below is the agenda for our LoTi Administrator Meeting.

Big Ideas for Today

Mega-Trends Impacting Digital-Age Learning

21st Century Teaching and Learning

What is H.E.A.T.?

• H.E.A.T. Framework

• H.E.A.T. Rubric

What is LoTi?

• Digital-Age Framework

• Dissertation Studies involving LoTi

• Research-based Results

• School Improvement Model

• LoTi Sniff Test

• LoTi Sniff Test Review

LoTi/H.E.A.T. Input/Output Model

• Discussion: How does LoTi relate to H.E.A.T.? If you have access to a laptop, add a comment at the bottom of this blog post now about the relationship between LoTi and H.E.A.T.

What is the LoTi Continuous Improvement Cycle?

• Assess - MILE Guide Assessment: Partnership for the 21st Century Skills

- LoTi Digital-Age Survey

• Plan

- Sample Next Steps Action Plan

• Implement

- Sample H.E.A.T. Strategy- Sample Edit Grid Spreadsheet

• Sustain

- LoTi/HEAT Observation Form

- Sample Classroom Walkthrough

• Discussion: As an administrator conducting classroom walkthroughs, what criteria or "look-fors" do you currently use to gauge acceptable instructional practices? How do these criteria compare with the H.E.A.T. look-fors?

Sample LoTi Project School Report

What is Digital-Age Leadership?

Professional Development Opportunities:

• LoTi Administrator Institute (Summer, 2010)

• LoTi Mentor Certification Institute

• Online LoTi/H.E.A.T. Classes (User ID: lotiguest/Password: lotiguest)

Resources:

• LoTi Connection

• LoTi Lounge

• LoTi Classroom

The Wonderful World of Wikis

Web 2.0 tools provide educators with a plethora of options for creating collaborative learning environments for their students. Online Collaborative Writing/Research tools give students a place to work together on research and writing projects and allow their research to go beyond the capabilities of one student.

By breaking the topics down into parts and sharing information, students are more likely to ask better questions and to look for the best resource they can find. By sharing the writing online, students can work with another student who is interested in the same topic even if they do not happen to have the same class period or even the same teacher.

According to Wikipedia, the world's largest wiki, a wiki can be defined as a collaborative website which can be directly edited by anyone with access to it. Wikis have grown to be used as a tool to create classroom websites and other information repositories where the creators can control who has viewing and/or editing rights. Most wikis can be edited using a simple web browser and do not have the barriers (technical skills, additional software and hardware requirements) that many other web publishing tools possess. Wikis provide the medium for educators to really start turning up the H.E.A.T. (Higher-order thinking, Engaged learning, Authentic connections, and Technology tools) or H.E.A.R.T. in the classroom.

So what are some quick and easy ways to introduce wikis to educators? Assign a collaborative task such as lesson planning or even planning a school event. Ask teams of educators to design a wiki to do their planning. And do not forget to include everyone! Administrators and other school leaders set a great example by modeling the use of the tool with staff. Here are some simple to use wikis that are FREE and include many educational examples and tutorials to get started:

FREE Wikis

PBworks in Education

Wikispaces for Educators

Example Wikis

2nd Grade Teachers

Middle School Science Fair

High School Book Leads

So now that you have explored and shared the tool and the ideas, let's focus on how to continue to encourage teachers to utilize them by giving them some commendations and recommendations.

Wiki: Commendations
1. Reward efforts by highlighting wiki creations to the rest of the staff.
2. Set up for success and take the lead on creating a wiki that can utilized by all staff for event planning or something fun to get started!!


Wiki: Recommendations

1. Collaboration, teamwork, support are key elements and should be encouraged. No one has to go this alone!
2. Start simple by suggesting a task that already needs to collaborated on and suggest using a wiki as the tool.
3. Reward efforts by replacing a meeting with the use of a wiki with some key points and ideas that staff can discuss online over a week instead of a weekly staff meeting.

So explore The Wonderful World of Wikis and see how they might be used in your classrooms to turn up the H.E.A.T.!

Oklahoma LoTi Snapshot: Continuous Improvement Process

Provided below is the agenda for our LoTi "Snapshot."

What is digital-age teaching and learning?

• Elementary School Classroom: Food Chains

• High School Classroom: Biology

• Middle School Classroom: Elements Commercial

Now, rank the videos from Lowest (1) to Highest (3) in terms of representing digital-age teaching and learning.

• Discussion: Add a comment at the bottom of this blog post now about the specific "look-fors" that separated your highest rated video from your lowest rated video.

What is H.E.A.T.?

• H.E.A.T. Framework

• H.E.A.T. Rubric

• Discussion: Conduct a H.E.A.T. analysis of the Food Chains video. Was it bringing the H.E.A.T. to student learning in terms of Higher order thinking, Engaged learning, Authentic connections, and Technology use. Take a minute to reflect on the amount of student H.E.A.T. generated from the video.

What is LoTi?

• Digital-Age Framework

• Dissertation Studies involving LoTi

• Research-based Results

• School Improvement Model

• LoTi Sniff Test
• LoTi Survey Validation

• Discussion: Conduct a LoTi Sniff Test of the Biology video. What was the LoTi Level of the video?

• LoTi/H.E.A.T. Input/Output Model

• Discussion: How does LoTi relate to H.E.A.T.? How does the LoTi/H.E.A.T. Model relate to 21st Century Skills.

What is the LoTi Continuous Improvement Process?

• Assess

- LoTi Digital-Age Survey
- Sample LoTi Digital-Age Profile Report

• Plan

- Sample Next Steps Plan

• Implement

- Sample H.E.A.T. Strategy-Web 2.0 Tools

• Sustain

- Classroom Walkthroughs with H.E.A.T (User ID: lotiguest/Password: lotiguest)

* Sample Classroom Walkthrough

* LoTi/HEAT Observation Form

* Sample Observer Report

• Discussion: What criteria or "look-fors" does your school district currently use to gauge acceptable "digital-age learning" best practices? How do these criteria compare with the H.E.A.T. look-fors?

What is the role of the Educational Technology Instructional Specialist (ETIS)?
• Facilitate classroom walkthroughs
• Create Individualized Professional Development Plans for targeted staff members
• Facilitate the development of a Next Steps plan focusing on 21st Century Skills (i.e., H.E.A.T.) and student achievement
• Perform large/small group professional development
• Conduct in-class modeling of 1:1 environment based on the critical content standards
• Design benchmark interventions at a LoTi 3+
• Collect pre/post LoTi data from targeted classrooms

* Sample LoTi Project School Report

Professional Development Opportunities:

• LoTi Administrator Institute

• LoTi Administrator Institute Course Syllabus

• LoTi Mentor Certification Institute

• Online LoTi/H.E.A.T. Classes (User ID: lotiguest/Password: lotiguest)

Resources:

• LoTi Connection

• LoTi Lounge

• LoTi Classroom

• Partnership for the 21st Century Skills

• 2009 MILE Guide