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Preston Webster Engaging Teachers with a Streamlined Version of Understanding by Design

Excitement filled the room as curriculum specialists and web designers from four universities designed the coolest unit design template. There was no shortage of ideas with valid arguments about what should be included in the final design. Later, the excitement was quite different when I introduced this template to my first group of teachers. As the template was revealed, I could see the teachers deflate in their chairs. I'll never forget the hope in their faces turning into something more life… Continue

Added by Preston Webster on November 26, 2009 at 8:30pm — No Comments

Dan Weller How can I use NING in my 7th Grade HEALTH class??

1. I can post video clips, articles, websites, etc. Maybe I can use these posts to drive discussion about issues like smoking, messages in the media (big tobacco and alcohol ads) 2. For their Drug Presentations - Students can create a NING profile about their drug instead of a power point! They can post information, anti - whatever their drug is ad. Would this be conducive to covering all of the various topics the students need to cover? Usually that's quite a bit of information. After discuss… Continue

Added by Dan Weller on November 24, 2009 at 11:24am — No Comments

Dan Weller How can I use NING in my SCIENCE class room?

My first thought is to use NING as a way to keep and revise thinking about the major topics in the ES curriculum. 1. For instance, rather than using sticky notes/index cards every time we want to discuss a new question, maybe students could just respond to a Blog post or discussion on NING. As we learn, can we update our thinking as class blocks/small groups/individuals on the NING? 2. Studying - Discussion forums in quiz/test prep. 3. Collaboration - Groups might use the NING site to discuss… Continue

Added by Dan Weller on November 24, 2009 at 10:00am — 1 Comment

Joseph R. Stefani A Word or Two About the NYT Article, "Tips for the Admission Test...to Kindergarten"

I am a fan of the way in which the blogosphere can pluck an article from the news and give it a life of its own. Not quite the Susan Boyle phenomenon but close. One such news story is the NYT's 11/20/09 article, "Tips for the Admission Test...to Kindergarten." You can now find this article linked in countless tweets and written abou… Continue

Added by Joseph R. Stefani on November 23, 2009 at 4:22pm — No Comments

Kathy Waggoner Today

I feel much more focused after today's worktime. Walking in I felt like I was swimming in a black hole of indecision. I now am zoned in. My next step is to create an observation instrument. Continue

Added by Kathy Waggoner on November 23, 2009 at 3:27pm — No Comments

Nancy Reflection on Rubric

Students in 5th grade math often will ask "why do we need to know or learn this"? I want my students to understand the connection between what they learn in 5th grade math and the outside world or its importance in any field of study. Continue

Added by Nancy on November 23, 2009 at 1:53pm — No Comments

Helena Wullert What to Observe (Mon 11/23/09)

My PGP is about assessment and feedback. Based on my survey results, I need to provide more of the following: *opportunities for students to assess their learning and their understanding *opportunities for students to reflect on their learning and their understanding to plan future strategies *opportunities for feedback *opportunities to reflect on feedback to plan future strategies *study techniques I do some of these some of the time, but I need to infuse this in my daily routine. Every day… Continue

Added by Helena Wullert on November 23, 2009 at 1:43pm — No Comments

Ellen Advising Sophomores

Advising Sophomores... Do boys and girls show stress differently? I wonder if a girl might say, "I'm so stressed," and get a positive, warm, nurturing response from a teacher, while boys might push back, feel defensive, panic, and get an impatient teacher response. Reflections on the calendar...is it a good idea to take stock as a grade, sharing resources, etc. or is it a better idea to be free range, just going from topic to topic? Would it be possible to talk about boyhood transition to man… Continue

Added by Ellen on November 23, 2009 at 9:51am — No Comments

Brad Online School for Girls Newsletter November 2009

Online School for Girls Newsletter November 2009 Last week, in Nashville, Tennessee, a group of three students sat around a lunch table with their teacher. In itself, this is not unusual at most of our schools. However, what made this lunch unique was that the teacher, Heather Mannella, was from Westover School in Connecticut, and her students from Harpeth Hall School in Nashville were enrolled in her online Genetics course. When they met in person there were hugs all around. Heather kn… Continue

Added by Brad on November 19, 2009 at 2:14pm — 1 Comment

Matthew Lipstein Highlights from NEIT 2009

I'd like to share an email I sent yesterday to the faculty and staff of my school. This was my attempt to encapsulate the NEIT experience and to provide opportunities for people to explore the content as well. Thanks to Alex Ragone for the prompt. Enjoy!
Greetings, Last week five of us attended the NEIT Conference at Mohonk… Continue

Added by Matthew Lipstein on November 18, 2009 at 12:38pm — 1 Comment

Liz Davis Making Meaningful Connections (NEIT2009 Days 2 and 3)

cross posted at www.edtechpower.com … Continue

Added by Liz Davis on November 18, 2009 at 9:38am — No Comments

Liz Davis Reflections on NEIT2009 - Day One (Cross Posted on www.edtechpower.com)

I could hear my heart beating in my chest as I drove up to the Mohonk Mountain House, the site of the NEIT (New York State Association of Independent Schools (N) Education (E) Information (I) Technology (T) conference. I was excited, but also nervous at the end of my 3.5 hour d… Continue

Added by Liz Davis on November 18, 2009 at 9:21am — No Comments

Laurie Bartels Digital Social Networking w/o the Computers...

I've been asked to design and teach a 1 or 2 session adult ed course on social networking, including Facebook and Linkedin, and perhaps Twitter. The participants may likely be seniors, though these days I'm not exactly sure what age constitutes a senior. I can craft the curriculum in any format I like and decide the time frame. There is only one catch – we will not be using computers. I am intrigued by this for two reasons. The first is my love of participating in professional development and a… Continue

Added by Laurie Bartels on November 14, 2009 at 6:30am — No Comments

Chris Smith (Shamblesguru) Shambles Newsletter November 2009 ... online

http://www.shambles.net/newsletter/november2009

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Added by Chris Smith (Shamblesguru) on November 11, 2009 at 12:55am — No Comments

Joseph R. Stefani Canary in a Coal Mine

I liked Geraldine Fabrikant's 11/7 NYT article, Prep Schools Face Cuts in Student Aid, but to me it is not the most compelling story of the intersection between independent schools and the struggling US economy. To me the most compelling story is what is happening to those schools who were living hand to mouth prior to the economic downturn. For these schools, endowments are small or non-existen… Continue

Added by Joseph R. Stefani on November 10, 2009 at 5:00pm — 2 Comments

Bill Ivey Teachers' Letters to Obama

There is a rapidly growing group on Facebook which is compiling letters by teachers on our country's education policies to be sent to President Obama. I believe that we as independent school teachers can be a major contributing voice to this project. I know my Humanities 7 class erupted in cheering and applause this year when they learned they didn't have to take the MCAS, and I know many public school teachers who tell me they appreciate that I do what I do because it would be difficult if not… Continue

Added by Bill Ivey on November 8, 2009 at 12:27pm — No Comments

Joseph R. Stefani A Word or Two About Susan Engel's NYT OpEd, "Teach Your Teachers Well"

Susan Engel's New York Times OpEd, "Teach Your Teachers Well" has some fine ideas about teacher development but unnecessarily slams graduate education programs, their hard working professors, and their students. Let's start with the bad news according to Engels; "the strongest students are often in colleges that have no interest in education,… Continue

Added by Joseph R. Stefani on November 5, 2009 at 5:02pm — No Comments

Joseph R. Stefani "There Is No Information Overload, Only Filter Failure"

The Wilson Quarterly has a worthwhile article that takes on the notion that books are becoming less central to out cultural life. In "Three Tweets for the Web," Tyler Cowen chooses not to dispute the displacement of books but rather champions the web of information that is becoming central to our cultural lives. By that he is referring not to the torrent of information on the web bu… Continue

Added by Joseph R. Stefani on November 3, 2009 at 6:26am — 4 Comments

mrsdurff Flatclassroom09-3 SoundingBoards

Every fall a global project takes place led by Julie Lindsay and Vicki Davis. This year over 220 students from 5 countries will research trends in information technology and globalizatio… Continue

Added by mrsdurff on October 30, 2009 at 9:58pm — No Comments

Joseph R. Stefani Creative Writing at 2:00 AM

As a twenty year educator I'm a bit of a school geek. By that I mean that I'm fascinated with some quirky aspects of schooling. When my nieces start a new school year I want to know what they're taking, no not "English, history, math, etc." but really what they are taking, what is name of the course? what is the topic? what book are you using? etc. Mostly they're patient. I love looking at schools from the outside and thinking about the message that is being sent by the building. I drive to Sout… Continue

Added by Joseph R. Stefani on October 29, 2009 at 11:00am — 2 Comments

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Demetri Orlando Demetri Orlando created this Ning Network.

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Jamie Britto added 2 videos.
4 hours ago
Susan Carter Morgan replied to Deborah Levy's discussion 'Looking for a great Video Sharing website with the ability to privately share videos'
I've used Vimeo, which allows videos to be share via password (or left open if you prefer).
12 hours ago
Susan Carter Morgan commented on Dan Weller's blog post 'How can I use NING in my SCIENCE class room?'
Have you seen this? Pretty cool:) http://extremebiology.ning.com/
12 hours ago
A video by Jamie Britto was featured
Michael Horn Discusses Disruptive Examples
My school is working with Michael Horn on our next school plan. Michael has graciously allowed us to share his videos with you. We will be using these videos to explore and apply Disruptive Innovation theory to our next school plan.
13 hours ago
Preston Webster added a blog post
I am haunted by more failure than success because of failing to adjust my professional development design to match current personal and system realities. But these failures have created opportunities as well. Here's how. Excitement filled the roo...
yesterday
Servando Ortega is now a member of  Independent School Educators network
Welcome Them!
yesterday
Debbe Cotter added a discussion
My Blurbs
Here are the three short blurbs for the AIMS Technology Retreat program. Feed, a Must Read Anyone who works with or knows a teenager, a tweenager, or a pre-teen absolutely must read Feed by M. T. Anderson. Set in the near future, the author convin...
on Wednesday
Denise B, Bonnie Frampton Faust, Christian Long and 2 more joined  Independent School Educators network
on Wednesday
Preston Webster replied to Liz Davis's discussion 'Rethinking Professional Development'
Laurie, You are at the heart of what motivates adults to learn. Excellent. Most of my failure had to do with my inability to connect meaning, purpose, and passion to learning that helped teachers improve teaching (this means doing something diffe...
on Wednesday
Laurie Bartels replied to Liz Davis's discussion 'Rethinking Professional Development'
Hi Preston, I think that PD – and this refers to all types of PD, not just PD related to technology – should encourage and support learning: • within one's area of expertise • within one's area of passion • that complement's one's area of experti...
on Wednesday
Laurie Bartels replied to Liz Davis's discussion 'Rethinking Professional Development'
Thanks, Preston, for sharing the article on finding time. ~Laurie
on Wednesday
Susan McClements added a photo:
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on Tuesday
Preston Webster replied to Liz Davis's discussion 'Rethinking Professional Development'
Time is our enemy, for sure. Sadly too much PD is designed around time and budgets. But honesty is encouraged here as well. Time is required as teachers deconstruct and construct ideas while creating predictability and control in ready-to-use mat...
on Tuesday
Curt Lieneck replied to Liz Davis's discussion 'Rethinking Professional Development'
Thanks, Liz. We just haven't had much luck with getting teachers to give up those blocks, at least not on a consistent enough basis to make any real progress. I hope you see some real success in making this paradigm shift.
on Tuesday
Liz Davis replied to Liz Davis's discussion 'Rethinking Professional Development'
It would come out of their free block. I'm planning to meet with them every two to three weeks for a semester.
on Tuesday
Curt Lieneck replied to Susan Carter Morgan's discussion 'Twittering?'
I used it pretty actively for about two years and ultimately found it more annoying than useful. Keeping a decent signal to noise ratio took too much care and time. I'm glad others find it wonderful, but it didn't really work for me.
on Tuesday
Curt Lieneck replied to Liz Davis's discussion 'Rethinking Professional Development'
Where is the teacher's time coming from to engage in these more personalized approaches to PD? We would gladly do more of this sort of thing with teachers, but even those motivated to do so have a lot of trouble making time for them.
on Tuesday
Alicia Cuccolo and Erica Budd are now friends
on Tuesday
Kiki Carozza, Sally Lee, Susan McClements and 2 more joined  Independent School Educators network
on Tuesday
Robert Principe added an event
December 14, 2009 from 1:30pm to 4:30pm
Making it real: A Workshop on Multicultural Competency Development in Every Classroom MONDAY, DECEMBER 14TH. 2009 1:30 A.M. – 4:30 P.M. Beaver Country Day School, Chestnut Hill, MA. Please spread the word - administrators (grades 6-12) will benef...
on Tuesday

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