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ISTE's SIG1to1 Meets for First Time at NECC in Atlanta 

By Eva La Mar & Mike Muir, SIG1to1

There is a new SIG alive and well at ISTE! SIG1to1 works to advance the thoughtful proliferation of 1-to-1 learning with laptop environments for every student in K–16 education. We share 1-to-1 initiatives, concerns, and best practices with the topic’s most passionate supporters, and work to enhance teaching and learning within such classrooms.

On June 26, 2007, SIG1to1 held its first business meeting at NECC in Atlanta! The meeting was generously sponsored by Absolute Software, which helped set the tone for this productive meeting with more than 50 participants from across the country and around the world.

We started the meeting with brief introductions of the people involved in the writing and processing of the SIG application, including introducing the new SIG1to1 leadership: Mike Muir, our SIG Chair, Alice Owen, co-Chair, and Eva LaMar, Communications Officer. 

Alice Owen, who spearheaded the application for the new SIG, gave welcoming remarks via a cell phone connection, due to visiting her granddaughter in Mexico!  Mike Muir continued with a brief history of the new SIG, as well as an outline of some of our goals and objectives. 

Our large group then broke into smaller groups to discuss areas of focus for our new group. Each group reported out ideas and findings, which where noted and recorded. Members brought up ideas such as book discussion groups, following future topics, working on a SIG wiki, newsletter ideas, gathering and organizing 1-to-1 resources, collecting and organizing research pertaining to 1-to-1 programs and organizing topics (teacher, staff development trainer, administration, district office staff, higher ed, university researchers, etc.).

Watch for new resources and ways to participate as SIG1to1 gets off its feet!  If this SIG interests you, be sure to join! If you want to actively participate in the SIG, be sure to contact Mike Muir (mmuir@maine.edu), Alice Owen (AOwen@irvingisd.net), or Eva La Mar (eva.lamar@sps.lane.edu).

Learn more at http://www.iste.org/sig1to1/ and http://sig1to1.iste.wikispaces.net.

ISTE's Special Interest Group Wikispaces

SIG Highlights from NECC Atlanta

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 San Antonio, to network with peers, keep abreast of current education trends and tools, and most of all, make your own contribution to your SIG.

SIG1to1

SIG1to1 Business Meeting
Tuesday, 6/26/2007, 4:45pm–6:15pm

SIGCT

SIGCT Business Meeting
Monday, 6/26/2007, 4:45pm–6:15pm

(SIGCT) Workshop: Introducing Java Programming via Games and Simulations - Greenfoot
Michael Kolling, University of Kent
Saturday, 6/23/2007, 8:30am–3:30pm
Greenfoot is a highly-motivating development-environment for teaching programming in Java (for Windows, MacOS, Linux). Participants learned how to use it effectively in their teaching. Sponsor: ISTE's SIGCT.

SIGCT Forum
Joe Kmoch, Washington High School
Monday, 6/25/2007, 7:30am–10:30am
This breakfast forum allowed our SIGCT membership to network, to hear a panel discussion related to teaching computing concepts (who, what, when, where, and how), and to work together in smaller groups to formulate direction for SIGCT activities in the coming year. The panel included a textbook author, a high school author, and a developer of software many of us use in our Java classrooms.

(SIGCT) Session: Virtual Worlds: A New Frontier for Integrated Self Expression
Margaret Corbit, Cornell Theory Center, Cornell University
Monday, 6/25/2007, 3:30pm–4:30pm
The serious games approach brings the "mountain to Mohammed." Participants leveraged online multi-user virtual worlds for fun, curriculum-centered, project-based learning. Sponsored by ISTE's SIGCT.

SIGDE

SIGDE Business Meeting
Tuesday, 6/26/2007, 4:45pm–6:15pm

SIGDE Forum
Robert McLaughlin, National Institute for Community Innovations
Wednesday, 6/27/2007, 7:30am–11:30am
In this interactive, pragmatic Digital Equity Forum, participants identified the greatest digital divide challenges they face, shared proven and promising digital equity strategies and resources (e.g., sources of refurbished and discounted hardware, open source software, exemplary digital educational content, etc.), and developed personal action plans for significantly improving equitable access to learning technology resources for their most underserved students and their families.

SIGHC

SIGHC Business Meeting
Tuesday, 6/26/2007, 4:45pm–6:15pm

(SIGHC) Session: Anywhere, Anytime: Using Mobile Phones for Learning
Thomas McNeal, Kent State University with Mark van't Hooft
Monday, 6/25/2007, 11:00am–12:00pm
The Desktop Videoconferencing (DVC) Project at Kent State University presented their research on new and unique ways of using video-conferencing for learning with mobile phones. Sponsored by SIGHC.

(SIGHC) Session: Mobile, Digital, Ubiquitous: Solutions for Learning with Handhelds
Julie Lindsay, International School Dhaka, Bangladesh with Judy Breck, Graham Brown-Martin, Michael Curtis, Janice Kelly and Tony Vincent
Monday, 6/25/2007, 8:30am–9:30am
Panel members presented solutions for curriculum integration, multimedia inclusion, and best practice of mobile technologies for learning at any age. Sponsored by ISTE's SIGHC.

(SIGHC) Poster Session: Handhelds: Empower Students to Increase Academic and Behavioral Achievement
Daniel Gulchak, Arizona State University
Wednesday, 6/27/2007, 9:00am–11:00am
Participants learned how students can use handhelds to monitor their performance in school with results of an empirical study and ideas for replication in their classes. Sponsored by ISTE's SIGHC.

(SIGHC) Poster Session: mLearning with Cell Phones: Just the Beginning
Lucianne Sweder, Governors State University/Capella University
Wednesday, 6/27/2007, 12:00pm–2:00pm
Participants learned how mobile phone learning can be designed to advance the adolescent reader. Sponsored by ISTE's SIGHC.

(SIGHC) Session: Using Student Response Systems Across Environments: See It in Action
Margie Johnson, Metro Nashville Public Schools with Patrick Artz and Daniel Gulchak
Wednesday, 6/27/2007, 1:30pm–2:30pm
Participants learned how to engage students in classroom discussions like never before. They saw how three educators use student response systems and learned to use them themselves. Sponsored by ISTE's SIGHC.

SIGILT

SIGILT Business Meeting
Monday, 6/26/2007, 4:45pm–6:15pm

International Leadership Summit: Learning Technology Development, Research, and Dissemination
Robert McLaughlin, National Institute for Community Innovations
Monday, 6/25/2007, 7:30am–12:30pm
This half-day summit, co-sponsored by SIGILT, SIGHC, SIGTel, SIGTE, and the International Committee, focused on how to develop, validate, and disseminate effective learning technologies relevant to the learning improvement priorities of the Big 21 Network—the leadership of the nation's 21 largest school districts.

SIGIVC

SIGIVC Business Meeting
Tuesday, 6/26/2007, 4:45pm–6:15pm

(SIGIVC) Workshop: Internet2: Extending New Technologies, Applications, and Content
Ruth Blankenbaker, Center for Interactive Learning and Collaboration with John Fleischman, Holly Jobe, James Werle and Jan Zanetis
Sunday, 6/24/2007, 8:30am–11:30am
Participants learned how institutions, innovators, and schools use Internet2 to create international learning communities. They used rich digital libraries and remote instrumentation to create new knowledge and opportunities. Sponsored by ISTE's SIGIVC.

SIGIVC Forum
Tuesday, 6/26/2007, 10:30am–1:30pm
The forum focused around a “Speed Networking” activity in which pre-selected participants had 2 minutes to highlight their successful IVC programs and projects, followed by time to network with the forum presenters. All attendees received printed material outlining all projects presented. The remainder of the forum was used for committee work in one of the following committees: Communications, Research, Professional Development, or Emerging Technology.

SIGMS

SIGMS Business Meeting
Monday, 6/26/2007, 4:45pm–6:15pm

SIGMS Forum: The Changing Landscape of 21st Century School Information Centers
Tuesday, 6/26/2007, 10:30am–12:30pm
The SIGMS forum featured a discussion about the changing landscape of the 21st century school information center led by a panel of technology experts. These experts included bloggers, wikiers, tech gurus, technology information specialists, school library media specialists, and administrators.

SETSIG

SETSIG Business Meeting
Monday, 6/26/2007, 4:45pm–6:15pm

(SETSIG) Workshop: Differentiating Instruction for Diverse Learners with Readily Accessible Technologies
Brian Wojcik, Illinois State University with Kathleen McClaskey and Sean Smith
Saturday, 6/23/2007, 8:30am–3:30pm
Diverse learners face many challenges in school. This workshop provided participants with hands-on experiences using readily available research-based technologies to differentiate instruction for learners. Sponsored by ISTE’s SETSIG.

SETSIG AT for IT Playground
9am – 4pm
SETSIG provided an enriching playground with cutting-edge information about assistive technology.

SIGTC

SIGTC Business Meeting
Monday, 6/26/2007, 4:45pm–6:15pm

SIGTC Forum
Sunday, 6/24/2007, 1:00pm–4:00pm
The SIGTC forum featured a discussion about Internet safety. Topics included how to properly protect and teach about the perils and benefits of the Internet.

SIGTE

SIGTE Business Meeting
Monday, 6/26/2007, 4:45pm–6:15pm

(SIGTE) Workshop: Tips for Providing Online Instruction and Professional Development
Marge Maxwell, Western Kentucky University with Walter H. Kimball, Julie Moore and Pam Petty
Sunday, 6/24/2007, 8:30am–3:30pm
This workshop provided teacher educators with specific methods of creating online learning communities, providing online professional development, and online courses. Sponsored by ISTE’s SIGTE.

(SIGTE) Session: Teach the Teachers Well: Teaching and Learning with Today's Tools
Gertrude (Trudy) Abramson, GSCIS / NSU with Jo Ann Carr, Fran Sikorski and Camilo Willis
Monday, 6/25/2007, 12:30pm–1:30pm
Participants saw models created by technology-enthusiastic teacher educators. They also viewed simulations, role plays, and other electronic games, and gained knowledge on how to make learning interdisciplinary and enticing. Sponsored by ISTE's SIGTE.

SIGTE Forum: Tools to Assess the Use of Technology for 21st Century Skills
Tuesday, 6/26/2007, 10:30am–12:30pm
The annual SIGTE Forum examined issues of interest to teacher educators and professional developers through a panel discussion of tools to assess effect of technology on K-12 student learning and higher-order thinking skills.

(SIGTE) Session: Preservice Teachers and Digital Video: Learning, Teaching, and Reflection
Karen S. Grove, University of Nevada, Las Vegas with Ann Cunningham, Margaret Thombs and Essington Wade
Tuesday, 6/26/2007, 3:30pm–4:30pm
This panel highlighted successful digital video projects from classroom to field that promoted school-university partnerships and effective integration in teacher development. Sponsored by ISTE’s SIGTE.

(SIGTE) Session: Distributed Research Model: Collaborative Inquiry in Technology and Teacher Education
Melissa Pierson, University of Houston with researcher(s) to be named from SIGTE
Wednesday, 6/27/2007, 10:30am–11:30am
Presented development of a collaborative process for conducting research across teacher education institutions to access larger research populations and draw larger-scale conclusions. Sponsored by ISTE's SIGTE.

(SIGTE) Session: SIGTE Research Paper Award
Arlene Borthwick, National Louis University with Colleen Swain
Wednesday, 6/27/2007, 8:30am–9:30am
SIGTE's Research Paper awardee presented the award-winning paper for 2007. Sponsored by ISTE's SIGTE.

SIGTel

SIGTel Business Meeting
Tuesday, 6/26/2007, 4:45pm–6:15pm

(SIGTel) Workshop: Enriching Your Learning Community With Flickr
Susan Silverman, New York Institute of Technology
Monday, 6/25/2007, 1:00pm–4:00pm
Flickr is more than just a free place to store photographs.  Participants learned how to use Flickr and explored the many ways it can enrich learning. Sponsored by ISTE’s SIGTel.