Community Buzz
SIGTC Gears Up for NECC in Second Life
In mid-April SIGTC started preparing for the SIGTC Forum at NECC by hosting visionary leaders and presenters on ISTE's Island in Second Life. These Second Life sessions, held every Tuesday (at 7PM Eastern, 6PM Central, 5PM Mountain, and 4PM Pacific) in Second Life at the ISTE Band Shell, will continue to take place until NECC! Join SIGTC and ISTE SL members at:
http://slurl.com/secondlife/ISTE%20Island/126/128/25
Participants will learn the IT4L process, how to approach Accountability for Growth, Learning in the Digital Age, Leadership and Emerging Technologies.
The “real life” SIGTC Forum “Expanding the Boundaries: Information Technology for Learning” will take place at NECC on Sunday June 29 from 1-4PM. Be sure to sign up! But whether or not you are coming to NECC, there is sure to be valuable knowledge built among us over the next two months!
Next SL Session:
Bob Moore - We're Off To See The Wizard!
Tuesday June 3
In Second Life, we know we're not in Kansas any more, but lucky for us, Bob Moore is! Leader of one of the most visionary school districts (Blue Valley, KS), Bob Moore knows what it takes support digital learning for all students and teachers. We'll explore how each member of the I&T team can strengthen district level support for programs, and how to increase the effectiveness of communications and collaborations with your Wizard, by better understanding your respective needs and roles
Watch the wiki for up to the minute information:
http://sigtc.iste.wikispaces.net/Expanding+the+Boundaries.+Information+Technology+for+Learning
You need to have a Second Life account (which is free, visit secondlife.com to set one up) already established to participate in these sessions. SIGTC looks forward to seeing you there!
SIGMS Diversifies at NECC
This spring SIGMS is busy planning activities for NECC 2008 focusing on school library media centers that are using technology as well as incorporating Information Literacy. There are lots of sessions to choose from. In planning your schedule the conference site program search screen has a new SIG Picks feature. This allows you to find sessions recommended for school library media specialists. You can even put in a search for sessions recommended by multiple SIGs, for example, one session has been recommended by both SIGTE and SIGMS.
In addition to the workshops and concurrent sessions there are three special activities of interest to school library media specialists.
Our first activity highlights some of our success stories with our first ever “ISTE SIGMS Media Specialist Technology Innovation Award” (www.iste.org/sigms-award). Showing the benefits of collaboration, SIGMS, ISTE, Linworth Publishing, Inc. and Follett Software Company will recognize two teams, composed of a “school librarian and collaborating teacher, who have conducted an exemplary technology program extending beyond the library to meet the needs of classroom students and teachers.” The winners will be highlighted during NECC 2008.
At NECC 2007 SIGMS hosted a 21st century playground exhibiting ways school library media centers utilize technology. This year’s playground will feature Texas school library media centers. Visitors can see Web 2.0 tools, such as Flickr, Airset, Edublogger, Wikispaces and experience how Texas school media specialists use these tools daily with students and staff. Try out the latest audiobook solutions such as Playaways and Bookflicks. Create a podcast to promote books and learning. See how state standards are integrated with state databases for student projects. Join Texas library media specialists at the 21st Century Media Specialist Playground
SIGMS also sponsored a forum during NECC 2007, which focused on the role of the school library media specialist. This year’s event will focus on standards looking at the NETS for students and teachers along with the new AASL 21st Century Learner Standards. We have an exciting list for the panel; Doug Johnson, Joyce Valenza, Jamie McKenzie, Annette Lamb, Gail Dickinson, among others. Be sure to complete your NECC 2008 registration and indicate that you will be attending the SIGMS Forum.
Looking forward to seeing you all at NECC 2008!
SIGAdmin Webinar Encourages Dynamic Leadership
To encourage an international audience of administrators versed in traditional educational philosophy the opportunity to consider alternative book reads for enhancing, improving, and developing a dynamic organization of leaders, SIGAdmin presented an hour-long Webinar on Thursday, May 15.
Dr. Dallas J. Blankenship, Superintendent of Scott County Schools, Georgetown, Kentucky brought webinar attendees into the inner circle of the book, The Toyota Culture, highlighting the importance of developing a culture of trust and respect which leads to continuous improvement. Participants learned key factors on how Toyota has been able to get people involved and developing a quality product regardless of employee background, native culture, and degree of schooling. Administrators can replicate this philosophy within the education environment while meeting the needs of all stakeholders
Following the presentation, participants posted follow-up with discussion on the SIGAdmin Wiki. If you missed the event, you can view the archive here. Those viewing the archive are encouraged to join the Wiki discussion!
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