Featuring the Work of Mark Arnold

I just happened upon some of the outstanding work of Mark Arnold this morning which I hadn't seen before. He is at Mount Desert High School . . . which is, it so happens, yet another Maine school that is making wonderful use of Google Apps.

First of all, you really need to check out this site called Teaching & Learning Guides. What a straight-forward template for organizing content and resources!

Next, check out Mark's Trojan TechNotes for very helpful advice and resources.

Google Sites 101
Google Apps for Educators
Digital Storytelling
GoogleME
Why Google Apps for Schools
Differentiated Instruction
TV & Radio to Educational Resources
Learning Tools Exposition
Evaluating Web Resources and Wikipedia Articles
Videoconferencing Systems and Idea Bank

Featuring the Work of Keith Kelley

I've always been impressed with the projects that Keith Kelley does with students in Maine. I first knew Keith as the librarian at Oxford Hills Middle School where he built computers and created movies with students in his after-school computer club as well as acting as DJ at school dances and being a great source of technical and pedagogical knowledge.

Oxford Hills' loss was MSAD 48's gain. Keith now runs the integrated technology classes at Somerset Valley Middle School and Sebasticook Valley Middle School in that progressive district.




To get an idea of the powerful learning that is taking place in his classes, check out the following blogs in which Keith documents and promotes his work with kids, as well as giving an online audience for his students' successes.


Fifth Grade Integrated Technology Classes

Sixth Grade Integrated Technology Classes

Seventh Grade Integrated Technology Classes

Eigth Grade Integrated Technology Classes

Keith's Public Gallery on Picasa




Want to know more?
You are invited to visit:
Student Technology Showcase (6th Annual)
Saturday, June 13, 2009

Note that Keith is entirely transparent in that he shares course syllabus, rubric, forms, etc. for his projects at each level. Good stuff.

Maine Tech Integrators List

A list is being compiled of Maine educators involved in using technology in schools. Please help by adding/updating your information as well as that of others your know. Also think about adding areas that you have expertise in and would be willing to share with others. Roles/titles are not important . . . only that individuals are promoting the use of technology in education in some way and are willing to share.

Edit List Here
Photo Credit

Revisiting 50 Ways to Encourage the Use of Technology by Maine Learners

Last year's original post.

Last year we brainstormed the following list. Care to discuss the ideas now? Disagree/agree? Change your mind? Any others that should be added? Are we using these approaches in Maine?

50 Ways to Encourage the Use of Technology by Maine Learners

1. Connect at where the learner is, not where we think they should be. (Jim Burke)
2. Use user-friendly applications (JB)
3. It is okay to ask for help and to make mistakes (Michael Richards)
4. Use common language not "geek-speak" (MR)
5. Incorporate technology into familiar situations (MR)
6. Provide compelling and meaningful reasons for learning and using technology (Cynthia Curry)
7. Students can become the handy ambassadors of technology usage. (Kern Kelley)
8. Do not be afraid. (Deborah White)
9. Model you own use of tech tools. (based on Will Richardson at ACTEM) (DW)
10. Remember the words of Ms. Frizzle from The Magic School Bus series, "Take chances, make mistakes, get messy!" (DW)
11. Remember what you feel like when YOU learn something new. (Ed Latham)
12. Include an atmosphere of fun and exploration in as many activities as you can. (EL)
13. Never underestimate the power of play. (EL)
14. Get comfortable with students being in charge of their learning with your role being to set things up and assist them on their journey. EL)

Added 7/15/08

15. There is almost nothing that you can do that will "break" your computer. (Mark Spahr)
16. Don't be afraid to play (see #15). (MS)
17. Usually, there is no step-by-step handout that shows you how to do it (see #16). (MS)
18. A great way to get teachers on board is to foster their personal use of the technology. (MS)
19. Your students probably know more about this stuff than you do- get over it and don't be afraid to let them teach you. (MS)

Added 7/16/08

20. Use it all of the time. (Sarah Sirois)
21. Let the students brainstorm ways to integrate. (SS)

Technology Integration Standards

Many of us know about the ISTE-NETS, the Maine Roadmap, and a myriad of other overviews for technology integration, but have you seen the Florida Center for Instructional Technology's Technology Integration Matrix? I like it because of its simplicity and that it gives real-life examples for each category.

Might a similar site for Maine be a good format for sharing our stories? What do you think?

Florida's Technology Integration Matrix
Technology Standards Resources at LIM Resources Wiki

Photo Credit

Technology Professional Development Brainstorming

I thought this was an excellent post on Maine Ideas in Education. Jeff Bailey and Mary Gamble are developing professional training for their staff, given some days during "late arrival" time at Mountain Valley High School. Their work presents issues we all have in trying to approach technology integration in an optimum manner. I particularly like Jeff's adaptation of Puentedura's Transformation model.

Technology Professional Development Brainstorming at Mountain Valley

How is professional development handled in your system?

Do you have any of the same questions as the Bailey/Gamble team?

50 Ways to Encourage the Use of Technology by Maine Learners

This is a brainstorming session. Simply add your ideas, feeling free to "piggyback" on earlier ideas. Perhaps at some point the list can be refined and consolidated into a list of 50.

As ideas are added in comments, I'll paste them in this post, giving credit to the originator.

Here's a start:

50 Ways to Encourage the Use of Technology by Maine Learners

1. Connect at where the learner is, not where we think they should be. (Jim Burke)
2. Use user-friendly applications (JB)
3. It is okay to ask for help and to make mistakes (Michael Richards)
4. Use common language not "geek-speak" (MR)
5. Incorporate technology into familiar situations (MR)
6. Provide compelling and meaningful reasons for learning and using technology (Cynthia Curry)
7. Students can become the handy ambassadors of technology usage. (Kern Kelley)
8. Do not be afraid. (Deborah White)
9. Model you own use of tech tools. (based on Will Richardson at ACTEM) (DW)
10. Remember the words of Ms. Frizzle from The Magic School Bus series, "Take chances, make mistakes, get messy!" (DW)
11. Remember what you feel like when YOU learn something new. (Ed Latham)
12. Include an atmosphere of fun and exploration in as many activities as you can. (EL)
13. Never underestimate the power of play. (EL)
14. Get comfortable with students being in charge of their learning with your role being to set things up and assist them on their journey. EL)
15. ?
16. ?
17. . .