Ontario News from ExploreLearning : Professional Development

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

 

OISE Workshops

I have the distinct pleasure of supporting teacher candidates at OISE this week in learning more about Gizmos and Reflex. This post is simply bringing together the resources that I am planning on sharing so everyone can find what they need. 

 

Gizmos: www.explorelearning.com

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

Modeling Linear Systems - activity for whole class instruction:   Download Modeling Linear Systems 

 

Reflex: www.reflexmath.com

What is Reflex flyer:  Download Reflex Flyer

Reflex White Paper:  Download Reflex_White_Paper

Results from Ontario pilot schools:   Download ReflexOntarioFlyer

Importance of Math Facts by Marian Small:  Download Marian Small (Importance of Math Facts)

 

YouTube EDU

I am regularly in classrooms, computer labs, meeting rooms, libraries, and offices of stakeholders in public education. As a guest, I am at the mercy of the network protocols and filtering of the school or school board that has invited me. Sometimes there are technical problems, other times everything goes smoothly. You just never know what quirky obstacle you will need to overcome before the workshop start time.

One common issue I face with school networks is the blocking of YouTube. Five years ago a collection of my Peel DSB colleagues and I started to advocate for the "unblocking of YouTube" and I recently learned that this effort has now been successful. YouTube is available to Peel teachers! This took far too long.

If teachers were surveyed, I have no doubt the vast majority will say that YouTube has delivered spectacular value to the own learning and the richness of the classroom experiences they construct daily. This is part of the reason why ExploreLearning recently launched a YouTube Channel as a venu for teachers to share lesson ideas using Gizmos.

So, I find it interesting that YouTube has rose to the challenge and found a solution.

YouTube launches a section just for schools

Excerpt written by Jeff Festa: (http://www.eschoolnews.com/2011/12/14/youtube-launches-a-section-just-for-schools/print/)
 

YouTube has created a special section for schools, filled with age-appropriate educational content. 

YouTube for Schools gives users access to the hundreds of thousands of educational videos on YouTube EDU. This includes short lessons from top teachers around the world, full courses from the world’s best universities, professional development from fellow educators, andinspiring videos from thought leaders.

Educators also can customize the content that is available from the site. Though all schools receive access to all of the content on YouTube EDU, teachers and administrators can log in to YouTube.com and create playlists of videos that will be available at their school.

School teachers and administrators can log in and watch any video, but students cannot log in and can only watch YouTube EDU videos and videos their school has added. All comments and related videos are disabled, and search is limited to YouTube EDU videos.

YouTube also has created a page for teachers, YouTube.com/Teachers, to help them learn to use the site as a powerful educational tool. http://www.youtube.com/schools  

 

VROC T-Wise Interview

A couple of months ago I was interviewed by Kevin, Colin and Scott for VROC's T-Wise program. If you are just getting started with ExploreLearning Gizmos or figuring out why this is a great resource you will want to have a listen. 



Newsletter Archive

Newletter archive is now up to date with the most current edition. Enjoy!

  Current Issue: January 2012 - Link to Jan 2012

Archive

September 2011 - Link to Sept 2011 

January 2011 -  Link to Jan 2011

September 2010 -  Link to Sept 2010

June 2010 -  Download June 2010

January 2010 -  Download Jan 2010 

 

Also available is the Archives of the EL Explorer North American Version

 

ExploreLearning Social Media - Get Connected!

Are you ooking to connect with ExploreLearning? Link to our various feeds right here and get into the conversation.

           

 

Getting Started With Gizmos

I often recieve emails from teachers asking me for information on how to get started using their ExploreLearning account so they can use Gizmos with their students. Here is the 3-step process to getting going:

  1. Register for your account with your school board registration key (Umm..I need more info?)

  2. Read the self-guided tutorial - Download Self Guided Tutorial (PDF)

  3. Watch some of the How-to Movies to clarify the details.

 

 

 

 

However, most people prefer a workshop session, as the resources above only really get you understanding the ExploreLearning website but not how to effectively use Gizmos. Hosting a workshop in your school is by far the best and fastest way to get you and your colleagues started.

The full description of the workshop can be found here. (Additionally, we have web-based training and a 3-week online course) 

Basically, what I aim to do is get the participants comfortable with using ExploreLearning.com and model 2-3 different lessons specifically highlighting how I have used Gizmos to differentiate my instruction, identify student misconceptions, and gather assessment information to guide and pace a lesson sequence.

There is also a significant portion of the session where teachers simply explore the library of Gizmos and experiment with ones of interest to them. When time permits, the ideas and discoveries are shared in a collaborative way either by teachers simply sharing what they have discovered and how they will use a Gizmo or, for a full day session, actually creating support materials to get them prepared with at least 3 or 4 lessons. The presentation is really tailored to the needs of the group, so sometimes a lot happens, other times, less happens because the group needed more support.

The majority of the sessions that I do are half day sessions (3 hours) that occur in a morning and/or afternoon. Occasionally, I do a full day session (6 hours) which allows for a slower pace, more exploration time, and the creation of a “mastery task” (collaboratively created lesson document, teacher lesson presentations, etc.). 

If you are interested in scheduling a session, the best starting point for me is for you to fill out this form: www.tinyurl.com/OntarioTRF. We can then work on finding a date that works for us. 

Still not sure how to get started?  Help just an email away: slippa@explorelearning.com

(image credit: www.sanfranciscosentinel.com)

New "in-class" video showing best practices with Gizmos!

Recently published on YouTube is a 4-minute video demonstrating whole class instruction with Gizmos! Take a peek into a 5th grade classroom where students are investigating the Mineral Identification Gizmo.

Do you have videos of your students using Gizmos? If you do, please consider posting them to our Facebook page or YouTube channel.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My broken leg...and the road to recovery.

Well, as the year is wrapping up I am reflecting on this years challenges and successes so to start framing my goals and direction for 2012. Of course, I am hoping 2012 brings fewer challenges than I faced in 2011. When I was engaging in this process at this time last year, I never would have imagined I would face orthopedic surgery to mend a shattered tibial plateau (left leg for the non-scientists reading this). It has not been an easy road to recovery but looking back now I can certainly see the blessings. Without a doubt, I am a much stronger person because I overcame the great challenge a little bit at a time.

In conversation with my new friend, CJ Calvert, he shared with me this:

"The doors to success swing on the tiny hinges of daily discipline.The biggest challenges that we face are overcome with the smallest of daily actions.

For me, I was dedicated to consistent small efforts toward a full recovery and that has made a big difference in getting this far. 

So, resolve to be commited to something for 2012 and work at it a little bit at a time. You will be amazed how quickly you can overcome.

Happy New Year!