Community Buzz
Roundup of SIG Discussion in the ISTE Communities During Spring/Summer 2006
Did you know that each SIG has a discussion community on ISTE’s Web site? The communities are a great place to ask for help with a particular issue, share best practices, and combine resources. Below is a sampling of community discussion over the past few months.
SIGAdmin (Administrators)
- Educational Technology vs. Information Technology
SIGHC (Handheld Computing)
- Pocket PC and High School language arts
- Ubiquitous computing
- Active discussion on handheld wish lists—spreadsheet graphing, mobile phones, guided reading program, lesson plans, etc.
HyperSIG (Hypermedia and Multimedia)
- Dreamweaver and Flash resources and curricula in schools
SIGILT (Innovative Learning Technologies)
- Mobile phone use for educational purposes
- Video projects
SIGIVC (Interactive Video Conferencing)
- “Ah-ha” moments in interactive video conferencing use and member introductions
SIGMS (Media Specialists)
- New SIGMS wiki and planning for the coming year
SIGTC (Technology Coordinators)
- Technology grants
- Managing crowded computer labs in schools
SIGTE (Teacher Educators)
- Addressing technology standards
- Classroom teachers: technology challenges and opportunities
- Using blogs in the classroom
- Classroom teachers’ forum
- Electronic mentoring for new teachers
- Professional development practices
- Research practices
SIGTel (Telelearning)
- What parents need to know about online activities
SIG Highlights from NECC San Diego
In addition to SIG business meetings at ISTE’s annual conference (NECC) each year, individual SIGs sponsor a variety of events, ranging from content-rich workshops and sessions, to focused relationship-building events such as forums and membership breakfasts. Longer-format programs such as symposia, summits, and retreats allow for deeper exploration of particular topics or issues, while hands-on playgrounds expose participants to a wide range of new technologies and tools.
If you were able to attend NECC this year, you can attest to the tough choices faced in deciding which of the numerous events and presentations to attend each hour. And if you weren’t able to attend, we’d like to provide you with a sample of some of the conference’s thought-provoking content. Below is a recap of SIG-sponsored programs at NECC this year. We hope you will join us at next year’s NECC in Atlanta, to network with peers, keep abreast of current education trends and tools, and most of all, make your own contribution to your SIG.
SIGAdmin
Forum: Technology Leadership Forum 2006: Road Map to Systemic Change (Hosted by SIGTC and SIGAdmin)
Paula Don, School District of Philadelphia, with Camilla Gagliolo, Don Knezek, and Lynn Nolan
This half-day forum explored the relationships and shared responsibilities of technology coordinators and district/building leaders for systemic change.
SIGCS/CT
Symposium: 2006 Computer Science and Information Technology Symposium
Chris Stephenson, Computer Science Teachers Association
This full-day event, which was hosted by CSTA and ISTE, provided practical, relevant professional development for Grades 9-12 computer science and information technology teachers.
SIGDE
Summit: ISTE's Digital Equity Summit 2006
Mila Fuller, ISTE, with Sharnell Jackson
This full-day event convened community, state, and national leaders to discuss digital equity issues and challenges. During the summit, attendees gained awareness of critical dimensions of the digital divide, challenges they represent, and proven solutions for each of these challenges. Upon completion of the summit, participants left with resources and heightened awareness of digital equity solutions.
Workshop: Strategies to Equitably Provide Learning Technology Resources for Every Student
Robert (Bob) McLaughlin, National Institute for Community Innovations
Participants developed personalized action plans to improve learners' access to learning technologies in the classroom and home. (Sponsored by ISTE's SIGDE.)
Digital Content Retreat
Robert (Bob) McLaughlin, National Institute for Community Innovations
A day and a half retreat, ISTE’s Special Interest Group on Digital Equity, that brought together national leaders in digital instructional and staff development processes in order to: recommend criteria by which those offering deeply discounted new computers and free or low-cost refurbished computers should select digital educational contents and tools for bundling with the computers; recommend processes for selecting these digital instructional and professional development resources; recommend strategies for promoting these digital contents and tools; and recommend strategies for supporting effective use of these digital contents and tools.
SIGHC
Concurrent Session: Beaming Across the Curriculum
Debbie Lyles, Franklin Parish High School, with Marge Arnold
Demonstration of how handheld computers are used in oral history and other multimedia projects by students at Franklin Parish High School in Louisiana. (Sponsored by ISTE’s SIGHC.)
Concurrent Session: How Have Missouri Students Accelerated Learning Using Handheld Computers?
Mark Yehle, Successlink, with Stacey Franks
Demonstration of how Missouri teachers, students, technology specialists, and administrators have parlayed inexpensive handheld computers into powerful, uncomplicated learning instruments, giving students computer access anywhere, 24/7. (Sponsored by ISTE's SIGHC.)
Concurrent Session: iPodagogy: Handheld Technology within a Scottish Educational Framework
Ruth Johnstone, City of Edinburgh Council, with Stephanie Ho, Jade Malone, Steven Moore, Stephen Rafferty, David Rough, Richard Thomson, and Fareeha Younis
Haggis, Kilts and iPods—a Scottish secondary school within an area of economic deprivation has engaged staff and pupils by deploying handheld technology. Exhibitor-sponsored session. (Sponsored by ISTE's SIGHC.)
Concurrent Session: Student Reporters: Using Video Cell Phones as an Educational Tool
Thomas McNeal, Kent State University
Session that demonstrated how to bring the world to students over a video cell phone—by creating video clips and picture files, and conducting conferences with experts in the classroom. (Sponsored by ISTE's SIGHC.) (Commercial Content)
Concurrent Session: Ubiquitous Computing: Making the Most of Handhelds in the Classroom
Mark van't Hooft, RCET, KentStateUniversity, with Karen Swan
Answered the question, “How can handheld computing be leveraged to create much more powerful technology support for teaching and learning in ubiquitous computing environments?” (Sponsored by ISTE's SIGHC.)
Workshop: Linking Palm Handhelds to Desktop Applications: Advanced Curriculum Integration
Michael Curtis, Mobile Technovations, LCC
This full-day workshop demonstrated how to leverage existing technologies to use handhelds more efficiently and effectively and better understand how handhelds fit into the educational technology continuum. (Sponsored by ISTE’s SIGHC.)
SIGIVC
Workshop: Internet2: An Inside View
Ruth Blankenbaker, Center for Interactive Learning and Collaboration, with Dawn Colavita, John Fleischman, Holly Jobe, and Jan Zanetis
This workshop was designed for educators curious about Internet2, and helped answer the questions, “What is it?” “Can I access it?” and “How and why should I?” (Sponsored by ISTE's SIGIVC.)
SETSIG
Workshop: Getting Started in Universal Design for Learning
Dave Edyburn, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Participants of this half-day workshop were introduced to key universal design for learning concepts, resources, and strategies for all students. (Sponsored by ISTE's SETSIG and SIGTE.)
Playground: Assistive Technology Playground
Susan Cherup, HopeCollege
This full-day playground experience explored assistive technologies for mild disabilities, young children, sensory impairments, and AT resources/organizations/accessible design. Participants gained suggestions for using many of the same technologies for non-disabled peers in inclusive settings.
SIGTC
Forum: ISTE SIGTC Membership Breakfast: The Role of Technology Leadership in a Changing Educational Landscape
Camilla Gagliolo, Arlington Public Schools
This membership networking event discussed technology leadership in the 21st Century, providing an opportunity for technology leaders to share observations, ideas, strategies, and problems in supporting technology in schools, districts, and regions. This event facilitated the exchange of ideas and experiences from the field of technology leadership, and engaged the SIGTC membership in discussion on professional practices.
Forum: Technology Leadership Forum 2006: Road Map to Systemic Change
Paula Don, School Districtof Philadelphia, with Camilla Gagliolo, Don Knezek, and Lynn Nolan
This half-day forum explored the relationships and shared responsibilities of technology coordinators and district/building leaders for systemic change. (Hosted by ISTE's SIGTC and SIGAdmin.)
Workshop: Join the Podcast Revolution: Explore Emergent Technologies for Student Publishing
Camilla Gagliolo, ArlingtonPublic Schools, with Karen Connaghan and David Warlick
This full-day workshop covered the basics for creating podcasts, and focused on how podcasts could empower students and educators with a tool to promote learner-centered instruction. (Sponsored by ISTE's SIGTC.)
Workshop: Technology Leaders Resource Forum
Tim Landeck, PajaroValleyUnifiedSchool District, with Doug Prouty
This dynamic, fast-paced, and entertaining discussion examined the difficulties and solutions to the challenges technology leaders face in a full-day workshop. (Sponsored by ISTE's SIGTC.)
SIGTE
Forum: SIGTE Forum: The Use of Technology by Teacher Educators—Instructional Choice or Social Justice Issue?
Arlene Bothwick, National-LouisUniversity, with Dave Edyburn, Melissa Pierson, Colleen Swain, and Rachel Vannatta
The SIGTE Forum included a breakfast and networking opportunities, and a panel discussion of broadly defined social justice in education.
Concurrent Session: Developing Key Research Questions for Technology and Core Content Disciplines
Melissa Pierson, University of Houston, with Susan Albaugh, Rhonda Christensen, Tom Hammond, Sara Kajder, Gerald Knezek, and Maggie Niess
Representatives from technology and core content professional organizations addressed development of key research questions for using technology to enhance teaching and learning. (Sponsored by ISTE, SIGTE, and SITE.)
Concurrent Session: Laws and Ethics: A Teacher Education Response to NETS•T VI
Margaret Thombs, Roger Williams University, with Robert Leneway and Davina Pruitt-Mentle
This session highlighted successful strategies and resources for preparing teachers to address important social, ethical, legal, and human issues in technology. (Sponsored by ISTE's SIGTE.)
Concurrent Session: Professional Development: Partnership Models Integrating Technology in Teacher Development
Karen S. Grove, University of Nevad-Las Vegas, with Kimberly Lawless, Josh Radinsky, Louanne Smolin, Margaret Thombs, and Essington Wade
This panel highlighted successful professional development models in collaboration with university partners that promote effective integration of technology in teacher education. (Sponsored by ISTE’s SIGTE.)
Workshop: Avoiding E-Portfolio Abuse: Examining Purpose, Methodology, Products, and Outcomes
Joyce Morris, Universityof Vermont, with Ann McCoy, Gail Ring, and Heidi Stevenson
In this half-day workshop educators interested in preservice e-portfolios for learning and assessment explored diverse models and products, and considered alternative implementations. (Sponsored by ISTE's SIGTE.)
Workshop: Getting Started in Universal Design for Learning
Dave Edyburn, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Participants of this half-day workshop were introduced to key universal design for learning concepts, resources, and strategies for all students. (Sponsored by ISTE's SETSIG and SIGTE.)
SIGTel
Workshop: DIG DEEP: Digital Imaging with GIMP: Developing Exciting Educational Projects
Manorama Talaiver, LongwoodUniversity
Participants in this half-day workshop used a free image manipulation application to create images for instructional resources, and received a CD with project resources. (Sponsored by ISTE's SIGTel.)
Poster Session: Historical Inquiry: First Nations and Non-Aboriginal Children Revisit Traditions
Sherri Rinkel-Mackay, Galileo Educational Network, with Brenda Gladstone
This poster session highlighted winners of the annual SIGTel Online Learning Awards. This particular session demonstrated “learning with inquiry.” First Nations and non-aboriginal children collaborated to create a Web resource on historical relationships and told their story anew using digital technologies.
Poster Session: Online Projects For You
Jennifer Wagner
This poster session highlighted winners of the annual SIGTel Online Learning Awards. This particular session demonstrated online projects and how they can impact the classroom in a positive and productive way.
Poster Session: The Web Pen Pals Project: Chatting Online About Books
Susan Groenke, Universityof Tennessee-Knoxville, with Joellen Maples
This poster session highlighted winners of the annual SIGTel Online Learning Awards. This particular session demonstrated the Web Pen Pals project, which was created to provide a space where 8th grade struggling readers could “chat” about the young adult novels they are reading with pre-service English teachers who are reading the same novels.
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