Community Buzz
Coming Up in May: Interactive Video Conferencing Webinar
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SIGIVC Chair
Jan Zanetis
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On May 15th ISTE will offer the last webinar in this season's Technology in Practice Webinar Series.
Maximizing Interactive Video Communications: Methods for Motivating Teachers and Captivating Learners will be presented by SIGIVC Chair Jan Zanetis and Kecia Ray.
Along with Camille Cole, Jan and Kecia authored the book Videoconferencing for K–12 Classrooms: A Program Development Guide, which is included in registration fees for this webinar.
Join these experienced presenters as they discuss research findings, best practices and recommendations for growing outstanding IVC programs.
For more information or to register, visit this webinar's detail page.
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SIGTC Examines NETS Refresh During TappedIn Chat
On February 26th SIGTC held an event on the online chat community TappedIn (www.tappedin.org) to discuss the recent NETS Refresh. The purpose of the event, held first in a chat room in TappedIn’s Education community and then moved to an interactive audio/video meeting space provided by Safari Montage, was to collect feedback about the new standards proposed by ISTE collaborators. Members of the SIGTC group looked at the standards as they relate to classroom teaching, tech coordination, and administration across districts. As one participant put it, “The standards set the bar and communicate to political and state entities that these skills are essential for 21st century learners.” Some of the topics emphasized were context (“Are the rules in Colombia, China, and Chad the same as Cleveland?” asked a participant), local support (“ongoing PD is key” said another participant), and what tools are driving changes in the way we teach.
SIGTC holds events several times per quarter in their TappedIn Group Room. March included a discussion about why youth love MySpace. Upcoming events are posted in the SIGTC room within TappedIn.
To join the SIGTC group in TappedIn, please contact Karen Connaghan (KarenConna on TappedIn) or visit the Group by searching for “SIGTC” in "Places."
SIGTE Sponsors Book Discussion Group
ISTE’s Teacher Educator SIG (SIGTE) has been holding a book discussion this winter and spring. The discussion, coordinated by a steering committee chaired by Craig A. Cunningham of National-Louis University outside Chicago, has most recently discussed Meaningful Learning Using Technology: What Educators Need to Know and Do, edited by Elizabeth A. Ashburn and Robert E. Floden (Teachers College Press, 2006). About 35 people have signed up for a listserv for the discussion, and a smaller group has been participating in weekly live discussions in Second LifeTM (http://secondlife.com).
Discussions so far have focused on the obstacles to successful technology integration, "meaningful learning" as a concept, and the use of Multi-User Virtual Environments such as Second Life. Some of the group will meet at the American Educational Research Association meeting in Chicago April for a luncheon; the book discussion continues through the end of April. Contact craig.cunningham@nl.edu for more information and to join the discussion.
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