Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Junior High Roll-Out Huge Success
All I can say is thank you to our Junior High students, wow, what a great job all of you did today. You listened well, did everything correct, asked good questions, and are the first Cougars to receive laptops. To view more videos of our Roll-Out session with our JH students please visit my Youtube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/shawnwholloway There should be four videos of the students and my "speech" I gave to them. If today is any indication, 1:1 learning at Manson Northwest Webster is off to a great start.
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Positive Energy
Positive Energy
It was fun to feel the positive vibe coming from #mnwcougars this week as our first three days of in-service were conducted. Don’t get me wrong, we had some bumps in the road, some rough spots, and some definite punt situations. But overall, I was extremely impressed with our K-12 teaching staff and their willingness to learn.
Technology Overload?
#mnwcougars are making many changes this fall in the area of technology. For some this is a huge learning curve and for others it is old hat. The collaboration between staff, with teachers teaching each other was awesome. Newly formed blogs, Class Jump sites, online classes, Google Apps, Twitter, and Skype were some of our staff highlights. It is fun to see people learn new things and take risks. I believe taking risks and being willing to learn will be key factors in our success as we implement 1:1 computers as learning tools for our students.
Did someone say Twitter?
The #mnwcougars hashtag nearly tripled in followers over the course of the past week from 8 to 16 to 23. It was fun to track the new #mnwcougars users with www.blastfollow.com. What is Twitter? Why should I use Twitter? When do I find time to Twitter? For everyone the answer is different. One common cry I hear from educators that aren’t connected globally is, “I just wish I could have some planning time with other like subject teachers from outside of our district.” With a social network like Twitter you can. Go find that connection, and amazing results could follow. Once users start to make connections and find resources, people will start to say, What did I do before Twitter?”
It was fun to feel the positive vibe coming from #mnwcougars this week as our first three days of in-service were conducted. Don’t get me wrong, we had some bumps in the road, some rough spots, and some definite punt situations. But overall, I was extremely impressed with our K-12 teaching staff and their willingness to learn.
Technology Overload?
#mnwcougars are making many changes this fall in the area of technology. For some this is a huge learning curve and for others it is old hat. The collaboration between staff, with teachers teaching each other was awesome. Newly formed blogs, Class Jump sites, online classes, Google Apps, Twitter, and Skype were some of our staff highlights. It is fun to see people learn new things and take risks. I believe taking risks and being willing to learn will be key factors in our success as we implement 1:1 computers as learning tools for our students.
Did someone say Twitter?
The #mnwcougars hashtag nearly tripled in followers over the course of the past week from 8 to 16 to 23. It was fun to track the new #mnwcougars users with www.blastfollow.com. What is Twitter? Why should I use Twitter? When do I find time to Twitter? For everyone the answer is different. One common cry I hear from educators that aren’t connected globally is, “I just wish I could have some planning time with other like subject teachers from outside of our district.” With a social network like Twitter you can. Go find that connection, and amazing results could follow. Once users start to make connections and find resources, people will start to say, What did I do before Twitter?”
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Does this count as a Blog Entry?
Just back from SAI (School Administrators of Iowa) Annual Conference. I have enbedded a video at the bottom of the blog page as my reflections and second blog entry. Truly a non writer's blog.
Highlights of the video from the conference include the following things:
1. Thank you to SAI for a thought provoking, challenging, and 21st century learning lineup of speakers.
2. #saiconf10 awesome backchannel conversation, tweetup, great face to face connections, big thank you to my PLN, this hashtag made me engaged both days
3. Alan November, one word awesome. Here is a link to my notes from his first session. THE BEST SAI SESSION I HAVE EVER BEEN TO AND TO THINK THERE WERE ADMINISTRATORS LEAVING THE SESSION?
https://docs.google.com/document/pub?id=1ope-4oT_MC0TGz1qixyZFzRjhOOiPPtND3whMPbngjE&pli=1
His key point was, "what was homework should become classwork and what was classwork should become homework."
Please check out the video and become a follower of mine, yes I'm begging
Highlights of the video from the conference include the following things:
1. Thank you to SAI for a thought provoking, challenging, and 21st century learning lineup of speakers.
2. #saiconf10 awesome backchannel conversation, tweetup, great face to face connections, big thank you to my PLN, this hashtag made me engaged both days
3. Alan November, one word awesome. Here is a link to my notes from his first session. THE BEST SAI SESSION I HAVE EVER BEEN TO AND TO THINK THERE WERE ADMINISTRATORS LEAVING THE SESSION?
https://docs.google.com/document/pub?id=1ope-4oT_MC0TGz1qixyZFzRjhOOiPPtND3whMPbngjE&pli=1
His key point was, "what was homework should become classwork and what was classwork should become homework."
Please check out the video and become a follower of mine, yes I'm begging
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