ISTE Welcomes New SIGs
This is the second year of the new structure for the Special Interest Group Program, which now has three different levels of SIGs: Topic-Level, Forum-Level, and Division-Level. Last year, six SIGs joined the program. This year, the ISTE Board has approved two new SIGs. New SIGs begin at the Topic-Level. These SIGs are informal, loosely affiliated groups of members who convene to discuss narrowly focused topics or leading edge innovations within the Ed Tech field.
The new Topic-Level SIGs are:
International Schools SIG: This SIG provides a vehicle to bring International Schools together to discuss issues of educational technology and build a framework for implementing ISTE standards in their schools and regions.
Virtual Environments SIG: While currently focused on Second Life, this SIG welcomes any educators or technologists who are interested in the development of all Virtual Environment platforms for connection and collaboration.
For more information on these SIGs, visit their wikis.
SIG Events: Archives and Announcements
Virtual Learning Community:
The Media Specialists SIG (SIGMS), in conjunction with AALA, continues its Virtual Learning Community in Second Life. Recent facilitators have included Alan November and Doug Johnson.
Webinars & Workshops:
The Computing Teachers SIG (SIGCT), along with the National Center for Women in Information Technology (NCWIT), sponsored a webinar on NCWIT's "Gotta Have IT" resource kit. This webinar was hosted by Luci Brown, SIGCT's Business Officer, and presented by NCWIT's Jane Krauss and Ruthe Farmer. The presenters discussed the use of the resource kit's contents. The contents of this kit are available on the NCWIT website: http://www.ncwit.org/ghit. The archives from the SIGCT/NCWIT webinar are available here: http://iste.acrobat.com/p97892704/.
The Mobile Learning SIG (SIGML) continues its Ustream workshop series. "Podcast Picks," presented by Tony Vincent, is archived in two parts at ustream.tv: Part 1 is here and part 2 is here.
Book & Article Discussions:
In order to help foster professional dialogue, the Administrators SIG (SIGAdmin) has begun a monthly article discussion on their wiki (http://sigadmin.iste.wikispaces.net). This month's article is on Second Life.
Media Specialist SIG (SIGMS) members are currently engaged in discussions on their group on the ISTE Ning (http://www.iste-community.org/group/sigms). This month's article is on 21st Century skills. You can follow the discussion thread here.
Several SIGs, including the Mobile Learning SIG (SIGML), are planning book studies for this winter. Be sure to stay tuned to your SIGs' listserves and wikis for more information so you can participate in the discussions.
Surveys:
Help shape the direction of your SIG! The following SIGs are currently soliciting input from their members.
Administrators SIG: SIGAdmin survey
Digital Equity SIG: SIGDE survey
Games & Simulations SIG: SIGGS survey
Want to get involved? Contact Audrey Watters, SIG Program Manager (awatters@iste.org) or one of your SIG Officers (see the SIG Directory for contact information) for more information.
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