Ontario News from ExploreLearning : Events

Teachers need to be in the drivers seat of their own learning

I have the honor of joining my former colleagues at Fletcher's Meadow Secondary School today to participate in their afternoon PD as a "pedagogista". They are using the Minds on Media approach to differentiate the professional learning experience to collectively uncover ideas toward the goal of effective use of instructional technology.

It's not 'wait for the workshop' any more. It's 'just in time' learning - not 'just in case'. Teachers will gain expertise in asking questions using Web 2.0 tools and in developing, nurturing and leveraging a robust professional learning network (PLN).

                 

I am looking forward to not only sharing expertise but also learning alongside my peers. It is so true what Peter Skillen says..."none of us are fully technology literate" as the technology landscape is changing very quickly.

 

In the workshops I did recently with the Durham DSB math learning teams (PLTs), we facilitators were really concious of modeling the best practice that we were trying to share. For me , it can never be that I am simply "talking the talk" as my actions speak so loudly about my own attitudes toward learning. If I am not passionately learning and growing how could I possibily expect that value to be transmitted to the learners I am influencing. ( See this article for some perspective on appropriate professional development for 21st century teachers )

How are you modeling 21st century learning in your professional development? How can we really craft differentiated learning environments for our students if we are not engaged in similar learning environments ourselves? Today we get to grapple with this question.

February 17th - Professional Development Around Ontario

February 17th is a busy day around the province with some spectacular learning opportunities for teachers. ExploreLearning is pleased to be a part of three of these events. Below are some resources that are related to the presentations happening for the Durham DSB, Toronto DSB and Ottawa Carlton DSB. 

Durham DSB - Graham Whisen, OCT

Downloadable version of the workshop folder:  Download Gizmo Folder

Getting started with Gizmos boo klet:  Download Self Guided Tutorial

What are Gizmos flyer:  Download What are Gizmos

 

Toronto DSB Eureka - Peter Wright, OCT

Workshop Handout:  Download TDSB Eureka

Workshop folder:  Download Gizmo Folder

Getting started with Gizmos booklet:  Download Self Guided Tutorial

What are Gizmos flyer:  Download What are Gizmos

 

Ottawa Carlton DSB - Stephen Lippa, OCT

Downloadable version of the workshop folder:  Download Gizmo Folder

Getting started with Gizmos booklet:  Download Self Guided Tutorial

What are Gizmos flyer:  Download What are Gizmos

 

Fall 2011 Conferences

I took a look at my calendar and wow what an exciting month of learning and sharing is on deck! Here is a list of the conferences that ExploreLearning will be at in Ontario in the next month - I hope to cross paths with you!

 
 


                    



edCampTO 2011

This weekend is the first ever edCamp to be help in Ontario - and I will be there. To be honest when I first heard about this kind of professional development experience I could not wrap my mind around how it would work. Check out the description on the edCampTO website.

"The unconference  design of the day means that we really won’t know what sessions are available until participants arrive with their topics and questions....all participants come with a topic, a question, or something to present to the group. This helps create the dynamic energy that is part of the unconference approach. A democratic process helps decide the final agenda, with the most popular and engaging topics forming the" experience.

Will people actually come and engage in rich conversation?

The prospect is exciting to me and so I decided to be involved (as much as I could) with making this a reality. I even commited ExploreLearning to be one of the few corporate sponsors. 

As I read the edCamp Wiki - it makes me excited to not be the only one thinking about tough questions we face as educators. I can't wait for the discussion.

Please consider joining the 150 of us this weekend, Oct 15th 2011 at York University. Register here.

 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Update (Oct 21, 2011): What a spectacular day I had in conversation with so many passionate people. Check out this video from Michelle Horst - sums up the experience so well: http://www.edcampto.org/?p=293 ...and hopefully we will see you next year!