Last week one of our colleagues, Mary M., shared with us the one millionth word (Web 2.0) that made the official English language list on June 10, 2009. Web 2.0 encompasses a number of resources sure to grab your attention as well as time while you're out there surfing on the net. Fear not, just because it may take up your time doesn't necessarily mean you'll waste time, in fact, Web 2.0 tools can save you time. One great example is the use of social bookmarking sites. These sites allow you to store your bookmarks online and tag them for easy reference in the future.Read more...

A virtual ‘beach-bag' full of activities for summer fun...

Julia and I are definitely thinking on the same wavelength these days. I started writing my blog post about a week ago on summer resources for kids to do while on summer break and Julia asked if I would do a quick review of her blog post about Summer Technology Resources. At first we thought we'd combine the two posts but then decided to run my post as a continuation to add specific ideas and sites to the list that was started in her post. So, here goes.....Read more...

I thought it would be fun to use descriptive words to create a Wordle about our company, Clarity-Innovations. Team members contributed words to help create the "word-cloud" describing who we are, what kind of work we do and the things we value in educational technology.Read more...

8:30am Welcome and Video Teaser
Chocolate: the 2006 movie about child slave labor on the Ivory Coast (fast forward to 4:33)

• How can technology enable creativity and innovation?
• What support structures need to be in place to support creativity and innovation?
• When have you had a chance to be creative or innovative?
• [PD Strategies: Quiet Reflection & Talking Chips]

8:50am The Medici Effect (Website)

• What does it mean to be creative or innovative?
• How are the terms different?
• The Medici Effect examples
• [PD Strategies: Think-Pair-Share & Different Colored Cards]

9:20am Unveiling the NETS and Learning and Innovation Skills
[PD Strategies: Music/Sound Cues; How Many Fingers Time Check]

9:35am Creative and Innovative Projects
[PD Strategies: Four Corners]
Category #1: Podcasting - Radio WillowWeb and Our City

Structures for Success:

• Teacher Resources
• Planning Book for Students
• Our City Teacher Resources
• Our City Planning Book for Students

Category #2: Cross Cultural Collaboration - Rock Our World (ROW)
ROW Projects (year 3 has Music)
Structures for Success:

• ROW Overview
• ROW Resources
• ROW Moodle

Category #3: Blog Projects
Voices of the Sixties and Secret Life of Bees
Structures for Success:

• LHS Voices of the Sixties (see above link)
• Secret Life of Bees Assignment

Category #4: Digital Stories told through Movie Projects

• Rights and Responsibilities: Grass Born to Be Stepped On (middle school social studies project)
• Documenting Child Labor in Nepal (high school social studies/fine arts project)
• Mabry Online Film Festival

Structures for Success:

• Associated lesson plans (available for Grass and Labor videos)

Creative and Innovative Projects (activity handout)

10:20am Four Corners Report Out
As a group, post a single comment summarizing the project, its value, and the connection to NETS and Learning and Innovation Skills.

10:30-11:50am Personal Connections
Create a presentation (the format is up to you) that you can use with your staff when you return to your district that will help them understand NETS 1 & 6 and the Learning and Innovation Skills.

Sample Presentation, 3 Steps

The presentation should:

• clearly demonstrate what it looks like when students are achieving NETS #1 and 6.
• contain a commitment to "next steps" -- what you need in order to help your teachers create classroom activities for students that address NETS #1 and 6.

11:50-12:00am Gallery Walk

12:00-12:15am PD Strategies and Resources Recap

• Download Strategies
• Music Wands