edWeb.net

Freedom Writers Documentary Screening

2012-01-26T10:47:00.000-08:00

Lastnight we had the opportunity to attend a screening of the documentary “Stories froman Undeclared War,” the inspirational story of a group of people who in the midstof violence and hatred found the courage to change their lives, and the world. Their story is one that proves that thepower of the human spirit can overcome any obstacle. The documentary itself was incredible, giving viewers achance to really experience the emotion of Erin Gruwell and her students, andto hear their story from their perspective. It was amazing to watch a group of young adults who had beenwritten off beat the odds and become the voice of a generation.

Following thedocumentary, during a question and answer session, we got to hear two of the writersSue Ellen Alpizar and Tony Becerra,and Erin about talk about their experiences and how their lives were affected. Itwas great to see that years later they are still as passionate about theircause as they were in 1998.

Not only did wehave the privilege of viewing the documentary, but we had the chance to meetthe remarkable people behind the story. As inspiring as they are in the documentary, they are evenmore so in person. They are unbelievableindividuals and are as kind as they are driven. Through the Freedom Writers Foundation, Erin and the Writerscontinue to help students all over the country who like them had been given upon. Meeting Erin, Tony and SueEllen, and seeing the documentary was a touching experience for all of us. It was really a great night!

On a final note wehere at edWeb.net are proudand excited to be working with Erin and the Freedom Writers to produce a seriesof webinars about Freedom Writer teachers and their stories entitled theFreedom Writer's Teachers Diary. If you would like to join the community,you can do so at www.edWeb.net/freedomwriters. To find out more about the FreedomWriters and their story you can visit their website at www.freedomwritersfoundation.org.

Troubleshooting: What is it, and How do you do it?

2012-01-26T08:19:00.000-08:00

Presented by Anne Holmes, Chief Clinical Officer, Eden Autism Services
Sponsored by Summit Professional Education

View the webinar "Troubleshooting: What is it, and How do you do it?"

When teaching students with autism, it is sometimes difficult to figure out what is wrong when a student is not showing progress on his or her goals and objectives. In this webinar, Eden Autism Services’ Anne Holmes outlines a systematic process for assessing why a student with autism is not progressing. It may be that a student’s goals are too lofty or too basic. It may be that the student is not motivated to perform. However, it is our responsibility as educators to ensure that the learning of all of our students is maximized. Anne covers common problem areas such as motivation, attention, teaching style, and environment.

Visit the professional learning community Effective Strategies for Teaching Students with Autism.

The Teaching Students with Autism PLC is a place where you can post questions, start discussions, and get feedback from experts and peers on the issues and challlenge you face every day. Stay connected, share ideas, and get support from colleagues all over the country.

As a member of the community, you'll be invited to a free webinar and live chat each month on a new topic. You'll have access to all of the recorded webinars, presentations, lesson plans, and resources, providing you with an online learning center you can return to at any time. CE certificates are provided for attending and vewing the webinars.

About the Presenter
Anne Holmes is the Chief Clinical Officer of Eden Autism Services. She has over 30 years experience working with children and adults with autism and their families. At Eden Autism Services, one of Anne’s roles is to help public schools improve their services to children with autism. She has a Masters in Speech Pathology, and is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst.

Building Educational Apps

2012-01-25T09:11:00.000-08:00

Presented by Shannon Holden, Assistant Principal, Republic Middle School, MO

View the webinar "Building Educational Apps"

Many people in the educational community are beginning to discover that apps for mobile devices are the "next big thing". Recent surveys have revealed that people spend significantly more time (a ratio of 4:1) on their phone/tablet than they do on their "traditional" desktop or laptop. Many school districts are unpacking their new tablets and/or iPods with excitement, but then saying "What do we do now?" The answer lies in educational apps. Wouldn't it be great if you could build your OWN educational apps, and tailor them to the learning needs of YOUR students?

In this webinar, Shannon looks at "free" and "paid" app-building software - and discusses the pros and cons of each. He also lets you inside his app-making laboratory to unlock the secrets of building the perfect app.

Visit the professional learning community TechTools for the Classroom: Easy Ideas to Engage Students

The TechTools PLC is a place where you can post questions, start discussions, and get feedback from experts and peers on great technology tools to use in the classroom. Stay connected, share ideas, and get support from colleagues all across the country, and the world.

As a member of the community, you'll be invited to a free webinar and live chat each month on a different topic. You'l have access to all of the webinar recordings, presentations, and resources, providing you with an online learning center you can return to at any time. CE certificates are provided for attending and viewing the webinars.

About the Presenter
Shannon Holden has been a high school and middle school teacher and administrator in North Dakota, Texas, and Missouri for 20 years. Holden built a website, www.newteacherhelp.com in 2009 to help reduce the 50% five-year attrition rate for new teachers in the educational profession.

Deconstructing the Common Core Standards: Analyzing for Content, Level of Cognition & Context

2012-01-24T08:32:00.000-08:00

Presented by Jessica McCreary and Caitlin Hartman, Instructional Coaches for Action Learning Systems, with Jason Willoughby, Director for Action Learning Systems
Sponsored by Action Learning Systems

View the webinar
"Deconstructing the Common Core Standards: Analyzing for Content, Level of Cognition & Context"

The Common Core State Standards provide us with a unified approach to what our nation’s students will learn, but they do not tell us what needs to be done to teach the standards. In this webinar, you will learn a step-by-step system to better understand the Common Core Standards by breaking them down by content, level of cognition, and context. Find out how to determine the individual objectives in a standard, the level of rigor and thinking skills needed for a standard, the teaching strategies required to meet the standard, and how to contextually assess a standard. Jessica McCreary and Caitlin Hartman, Instructional Coaches with Action Learning Systems, join Jason Willoughby, Director at Action Learning Systems, to show you a process that will help you be successful in teaching the Common Core Standards.

Visit the professional learning community Implementing the Common Core State Standards

This community is a place where you can post questions, start discussions, and get feedback from experts and peers on understanding and implementing the Common Core State Standards. Stay connected, share ideas, and get support from colleagues all across the country on this vital topic.

As a member of the community, you'll be invited to a free webinar and live chat each month. You'll have access to all of the recorded webinars, presentations, and resources, providing you with an online learning center you can return to at any time. CE certificates are provided for attending and viewing the webinars.

About the Presenters
Jason Willoughby is the Director of Action Learning Systems. He is an award-winning elementary and secondary school teacher, and secondary school administrator. At Action Learning Systems, Jason coaches teachers, principals, and district administration in all aspects of school reform, including system-wide development, implementation, and analysis of standards-based curriculum, instruction, and assessments.
Jessica McCreary is an Instructional Coach for Action Learning Systems, specializing in mathematics. With 21 years in education service and six teaching credentials, she has taken on various K-12 roles, including bilingual teaching, teacher mentoring and coaching, principalship, and leadership in mathematics education.
Caitlin Hartman is an Instructional Coach for Action Learning Systems. Previously, she was an elementary teacher and a literacy coach at a bilingual school.

SIS Gradebook - Ideas for Set-Up

2012-01-20T06:29:00.000-08:00

Presented by Gail Palumbo, former Director of Curriculum and Technology, Montgomery Township Schools, NJ
Sponsored by Follett Software Company

View the webinar "SIS Gradebook - Ideas for Set-Up"

Watch this webinar for a discussion about the online Gradebook. What should be put into this online resource? Is it for just recording tests and written assessments? What about homework? What about presentations? What should be made visible to students and parents? Your decision as to the contents of this resource can impact students, parents and teachers.

Visit the professional learning community Using Your Student Data for Student Achievement

As a member of the community, you'll be invited to a free webinar and live chat each month on a different topic. You'll have access to all of the recorded webinars, presentations, and resources, providing you with an online learning center you can return to at any time.

The Student Data PLC is a place where you can post questions, start discussions, and get feedback from experts and peers on the issues and challenges you face in leveraging student data to improve teaching and learning. Stay connected, share ideas, and get support from colleagues all across the country.

About the Presenter
The program is presented and hosted by Gail Palumbo, former Director of Curriculum and Technology, Montgomery Township Schools (NJ), and national consultant for schools, districts, and corporations.

Understanding the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics

2012-01-19T09:34:00.000-08:00

Presented by Sara Delano Moore, Ph.D., Director of Mathematics and Science at ETA/Cuisenaire
Sponsored by ETA/Cuisenaire

View the webinar "Understanding the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics"

We kicked off our community’s webinar series on January 18th with a presentation on the structure of the CCSS in Mathematics. Sara Delano Moore, Ph. D., Director of Mathematics and Science at ETA/Cuisenaire explored how the standards are organized (both K – 8 and 9 – 12) as well as how they differ from current state standards. She also reviewed changes in language (e.g., domains instead of strands) and the new focus on understanding concepts in addition to procedural fluency. The partnership of Standards for Mathematical Practice and Standards for Mathematics Content in classroom instruction is a key element of our discussion.

Visit the professional learning community Implementing Common Core Standards in Math

As a member of this K-12 community, you'll be invited to a free webinar and live chat each month on a new topic. You'll have access to all of the recorded webinars, presentations, lesson plans, and resources, providing you with an online learning center you can return to at any time. CE certificates are provided for attending and viewing the webinars.

Administrators, Math Coaches, Math Specialists, Curriculum Coordinators, teachers of mathematics and paraprofessionals are all encouraged to participate and support each other during this transitional period. Questions and advice/sharing of ideas are strongly encouraged.

About the Presenter
Sara Delano Moore is the Director of Mathematics and Science at ETA/Cuisenaire. Dr. Moore earned her Ph.D. from the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, and also holds degrees from the University of Oxford (United Kingdom) and The Johns Hopkins University. She has taught mathematics and science in both public and private schools, and has served as Program Faculty Chair of the Middle Grades Teacher Education Program at the University of Kentucky. Dr. Moore’s writing can be found in national journals such as Mathematics Teaching in the Middle School, Science Scope, and Middle School Journal.

Resources for Online Tools and Strategies to Support Instruction

2012-01-19T09:23:00.000-08:00

Presented by Kathy Schrock
Sponsored by Follett Software Company

View the webinar "Resources for Online Tools and Strategies to Support Instruction"

With the teacher acting as the facilitator in the classroom, there are optimum conditions that need to be present in order for this to occur. This webinar presents some pedagogical models of teaching and learning that can easily meet these conditions and support the use of online tools.

Online tools are not necessarily Web 2.0 tools in the truest sense. Some of the tools covered in this presentation would be considered Web 2.0 tools with their real-time collaboration aspects and revision histories. Other tools presented may be online utilities to meet a specific need or meet a student’s goal.

During this webinar, you will be introduced to several tools in each of these categories: video editors, audio editors, image editors, word processors, cool stuff, web page creators, podcast creators, survey makers, media converters, mind mappers, and citation makers. The discussion focuses on why and when you might use each type and the strengths of the tools are emphasized.

Visit the professional learning community PD in Action!

The PD in Action Community will not only assist you in building a network of colleagues and mentors, but also assist you in continuing to refine and develop your practice through a collaborative professional development experience. Our community presents the opportunity for members to exchange ideas and discoveries, investigage and reflect on questions and concerns, examine and uncover effective ways to educate and motivate educators and students.

As a member of the community, you'll be invited to a free webinar and live chat each month. You'll have access to all of the recorded webinars, presentations, and resources, providing you with an online resource center you can return to at any time. CE certificates are provided for attending and viewing the webinars.

About the Presenter
Kathy has been a school district Director of Technology, an instructional technology specialist, an adjunct education professor, and a middle school, academic, museum, and public library librarian. She is currently teaching online graduate courses for Wilkes University, as part of the Wilkes-Discovery masters program in instructional media. She is the creator of Kathy Schrock's Guide for Educators.

BYOT aka BYOD: What You Need to Know Part II

2012-01-16T07:08:00.000-08:00

Presented by Gail Palumbo, former Director of Curriculum and Technology, Montgomery Township Schools, NJ

View the webinar "BYOT aka BYOD: What You Need to Know Part II"

In order to save money, more and more schools and businesses are allowing their students and employees to bring their own technology devices into their network. In Part II of this three part series, we look at Network access, Access Points, Types of Technologies, Equity, and begin a look at Curriculum Integration.

Visit the professional learning community Technology in Schools- What, Why and How?

As a member of the community, you'll be invited to a free webinar and live chat each month on a different topic. You have access to all of the recorded webinars, presentations, and resources, providing you with an online resource center you can return to at any time.

The Technology in Schools PLC is a forum for technology coordinators, directors of technology, technical staff, principals, superintendents, curriculum coordinators, librarians, teachers, and any educator with an interest in technology in schools.

About the Presenter
The program is presented and hosted by Gail Palumbo, former Director of Curriculum and Technology, Montgomery Township Schools (NJ), and national consultant for schools, districts, and corporations.

Learning Commons: The Relationship Between Learning Environments and Instructional Programs

2012-01-12T07:48:00.000-08:00

Presented by Michelle Luhtala, Head Librarian, New Canaan High School, CT
Sponsored by Follett Software Company

View the webinar "Learning Commons"

What if you could build your dream library? What would it look like? How can environment influence 21st century learning? What arrangement is the most conducive to student achievement? Can this be generalized? In this session, we explore the work of David Loertscher, Carol Koechlin and Learning Commons advocates.

Visit the professional learning community Emerging Tech: Using Technology to Advance Your School Library Program

As a member of the community, you'll be invited to a free webinar and live chat each month on a different topic. You'll have access to all of the webinar recordings and resource materials, providing you with an online resource library you can return to at any time. CE certificates are provided for attended and viewing the webinars. Emerging Tech began in July 2010 and now has an archive of more than 19 free webinars.

The Emerging Tech PLC is a place where you can post questions, start discussions, and get feedback from experts and peers on the issues and challenges of building and advocating for a school library program that is a critical support for teaching and learning in your school and district.

About the Presenter
Michelle Luhtala is the Head Librarian at New Canaan High School in New Canaan, CT. She is the winner of the Connecticut Library Assocation's 2010 Outstanding Librarian Award, the 2010 National School Library Program of the Year (NSLPY), and the winner of the 2011 "I Love My Librarian" Award.

Leadership for Mobile Learning

2012-01-12T07:38:00.000-08:00

Presented by Lucy Gray, Project Director for the Consortium for School Networking's Leadership for Mobile Learning initiative
Co-hosted by edWeb.net and CoSN
Sponsored by AT&T

View the webinar "Leadership for Mobile Learning"

Mobile learning is on the forefront of educational technology trends. View our community’s first webinar for valuable insight for education leaders who are trying to add mobile learning to their schools and districts. Lucy Gray, a project director for the Consortium for School Networking, kicked off our webinar series with an overview of CoSN’s Leadership for Mobile Learning initiative. Leadership, research and best practices for using mobile learning devices as effective teaching tools were highlighted along with practical resources to guide school administrators with mobile learning implementations.

Lucy also discussed CoSN’s newest set of case studies on districts pioneering mobile learning. Watch the recording for strategies and tools for the successful deployment of mobile learning technologies in school districts.

Visit the professional learning community Mobile Learning Explorations

Educators around the globe are considering the potential uses of mobiles in education, and this community will guide participants through issues pertaining to planning, implementation, policies, IT and effective pedagogy.

In a series of free webinars, live chats, and online discussions, our team of pioneering experts will bring the latest news, trends, case studies, and best practices to the edWeb community as we explore the potential of laptops, tablets, and other hand-held devices to enrich learning, to bridge the digital divide, and to extend learning beyond the traditional school day.

As a member of the community, you'll be invited to a free webinar and live chat each month that will touch on a different topic. You'll have access to all of the recorded webinars, presentations, and resources, providing you with an online learning center you can return to at any time. CE certificates are provided for attending and viewing the webinars.

With Mobile Learning Explorations, you stay connected and share ideas with colleagues all across the country, and the world.

About the Presenter
As the Project Director for the Consortium for School Networking’s Leadership for Mobile Learning initiative, Lucy is charged with developing tools and materials to support school leaders seeking to implement mobile learning programs. Prior to launching her own educational technology consulting firm, Lucy served in various capacities related to educational technology at the University of Chicago's Laboratory Schools, Urban Education Institute and Center for Elementary Mathematics and Science Education. For further information, please visit her web site located at Lucy Gray Consulting.

Your Mental Health

2012-01-12T07:23:00.000-08:00

Presented by Shannon Holden, Founder, newteacherhelp.com

View the webinar "Your Mental Health"

In this month's New Teacher Help webinar, Shannon discusses how to relieve stress, balancing personal and professional responsibilities, and how a positive attitude can be the key to your success. Join Shannon for a look at asking for help when you need it and how taking a break (without feeling guilty) can help you become a better teacher.

Visit the professional learning community New Teacher Help

The New Teacher Help PLC is a place where you can post questions, start discussions, and get feedback from experts and peers on the issues and challenges you facing starting out on a career in teaching. Stay connected, share ideas, and get support from other new teachers all across the country.

About the Presenter
Shannon Holden has been a high school and middle school teacher and administrator in North Dakota, Texas, and Missouri for 20 years. Holden built a website, www.newteacherhelp.com in 2009 to help reduce the 50% five-year attrition rate for new teachers in the educational profession.

Re-Invigorating Math Education with the Next Generation of Mathematics Education Video Games

2012-01-12T07:14:00.000-08:00

Presented by Keith Devlin, Mathematician at Stanford University, and NPR's Math Guy
Co-Hosted by edWeb.net and SIIA
Sponsored by BrainPOP

View the webinar
"Re-Invigorating Math Education with the Next Generation of Mathematics Education Video Games"

In Game-Based Learning's January webinar, Dr. Keith Devlin, a mathematician at Stanford University explains why video games are the ideal medium to teach math. Devlin, "The Math Guy" on National Public Radio and author of Mathematics Education for a New Era: Video Games as a Medium for Learning, started with an overview of the first generation of math games and today's second generation, and then focused on a new, third generation that will use new representations of mathematics native to the medium of video games. Devlin discussed design principles for, and shared examples of, these new kinds of games that focus on developing the mathematical thinking skills necessary for success in a global economy. View the recording to learn how the newest math games can help your students engage in mathematical thinking and truly understand the place of math in the real world.

Visit the professional learning community Game-Based Learning

The Game-Based Learning PLC is a place where you can post questions, start discussions, connect with experts in the field, and share ideas and experiences with peers all across the country, and the world.

This unique combination of webinars presented by leading experts, combined with a social networking community, creates a new way for the education community to connect and work together to help move forward faster with innovative new ideas about gaming and learning.

About the Presenter
Dr. Keith Devlin, a mathematician at Stanford University, is a co-founder and Executive Director of the university's H-STAR institute, a co-founder of the Stanford Media X research network, and a Senior Researcher at CSLI. He is "The Math Guy" on National Public Radio, a World Economic Forum Fellow, and a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Keith is the recipient of the Pythagoras Prize, the Peano Prize, the Carl Sagan Award, and the Joint Policy Board for Mathematics Communications Award. He has written 31 books and over 80 published research articles. Much of his current research is focused on the use of different media to teach and communicate mathematics to diverse audiences.

Happy New Year!

2011-12-30T08:00:00.000-08:00

We hope you’ve made a New Year’s resolution join an online professional learning community in 2012. It’s a great way to meet new colleagues and get new ideas you can immediately put into practice.

This month we’re launching a new community on Mobile Learning Explorations – co-hosted by edWeb.net and CoSN and sponsored by AT&T. We now have free professional learning communities that cover a variety of topics from New Teacher Help to Implementing the Common Core State Standards. Many thanks to our presenters, sponsors and partners for helping us create this new model for online PD.

Cathy Swan, Michelle Luhtala, and Lisa Nielsen
at the "I Love My Librarian Award" Ceremony

We launched our first edWeb PD program – Emerging Tech - with Michelle Luhtala, the head librarian at New Canaan High School. Michelle was just honored in December as one of the 2011 winners of the New York Times/Carnegie Corporation of NY “I Love My Librarian Award.” The ceremony was a moving tribute to the critical role that librarians play in our schools and communities – especially in hard times. We see that on edWeb every day. We launched our first PD program with librarians because we knew that if it didn’t work for librarians, it wouldn’t work for anyone. In our professional learning communities, librarians are often our most active and engaged participants, always seeking new information to help their teachers and students.

Thank you to all of you who are part of our growing community for your generous contributions, and for your willingness to provide helpful information for your peers.

We hope you make many new friends in 2012 – whether online or offline – and that your life and work are enriched by these connections!

The Idea of Collective Leadership

2011-12-22T07:15:00.000-08:00

Presented by Dr. Mari Pearlman, with guest Dr. Susan VanZant
Sponsored by NASSP

View the webinar "The Idea of Collective Leadership"

For the final webinar in the Learner-Centered Leadership 2011 series, we presented an interview with Dr. Susan VanZant, an award-winning California principal and school leadership consultant. Data-driven decision-making is her speciality, and she knows first-hand all of the challenges of moving a school or district to a new way to thinking and acting. We discussed how to get started, what to expect along the way, dealing with resistance, setting goals and establishing timelines, and sharing power and leadership responsibility.

Join the professional learning community Learner-Centered School Leadership: Creating a Culture of Evidence

School leaders must create the vision and foster the interactions among students, teachers, and staff members that lead to changes in performance and attitude. It is the determination and resolve of the leader—and his or her consistent use of the empirical evidence of performance to guide actions and decisions—that leads to exemplary performance in a school.

As a member of the community, you'll be invited to a free webinar and live chat each month on a different topic. You'll have access to all of the recorded webinars, presentations, and resources, providing you with an online resource center you can return to at any time.

The Learner-Centered School Leadership PLC is a unique and collaborative way for school leaders across the country to work together to explore this important topic.

About the Presenter

Dr. Mari Pearlman has written and presented extensively on the topic of the role of evidence-centered thinking in improving teaching and learning, and, in particular, the ways in which school leaders can use empirical evidence—data about instructional practices, student achievement results, and school culture—to change the conversation about a school’s learning results with faculty, staff, and students.

Facilitating Language and Communication in the Classroom Environment

2011-12-20T09:45:00.000-08:00

Presented by Anne Holmes, Chief Clinical Officer, Outreach, Eden Autism Services
Sponsored by Summit Professional Education

View the webinar "Facilitating Language and Communication in the Classroom Environment"

The speech, language and communication needs of students with autism vary from mutism to echolalia to disjointed conversations. Understanding the unique speech, language and communication deficits is the first step towards designing a classroom environment that supports good language and communication. In this webinar, Eden Autism Services’ Anne Holmes presents strategies that can be used to expand the language skills of students with autism. Anne outlines the various types of language deficits and then presents classroom therapy strategies that have been proven effective in practice. She covers strategies such as communication temptations, scripting, social stories, language expansion, using reinforcement to enhance communication, and Augmentative Alternative Communication.

Join a professional learning community on Teaching Students with Autism:

Effective Strategies for Grades PreK-5

Effective Strategies for Grades 6-12

As a member of the community, you'll be invited to a free webinar and live chat each month on a new topic. You'll have access to all of the recorded webinars, presentations, lesson plans, and resources, providing you with an online learning center you can return to at any time. CE certificates are provided for attending and viewing the webinars.

The Teaching Students with Autism PLC is a place where you can post questions, start discussions, and get feedback from experts and peers on the issues and challenge you face every day. Stay connected, share ideas, and get support from colleagues all over the country.

Presented by Eden Autism Services

Eden is a highly-respected school and service organization that provides lifespan services for individuals with autism including early intervention, a comprehensive preK-12 curriculum, and lifelong skills training.

edWeb.net and CoSN launch an online learning community for educators on mobile technology

2011-12-16T08:15:00.000-08:00

edWeb.net, a professional social network for the education community, and CoSN, the Consortium for School Networking, announce the launch of Mobile Learning Explorations, an online professional learning community that provides a forum for the education community to come together to learn about and discuss the implementation of mobile technology in education. The program will be sponsored by AT&T.

The use of mobile devices in education is expanding rapidly as a way to help reduce the digital divide and provide a more cost-effective way for schools to implement technology solutions. Mobile Learning Explorations will share the latest news and trends as well as case studies and best practices established by schools districts and organizations on the forefront of mobile learning. Pioneering experts will explore the potential of laptops, tablets, and other hand-held devices to enrich learning, to bridge the digital divide, and to extend learning beyond the traditional school day.

The community’s monthly webinar series will begin with its first live event on “Leadership for Mobile Learning” on Wednesday, January 11, 2012 at 4 PM EST. All webinars will be hosted by Lucy Gray, Project Director for the Consortium for School Networking’s Leadership for Mobile Learning initiative. Lucy is an Apple Distinguished Educator and Google Certified teacher, and previously served as a teacher for the Chicago Public Schools and for the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools. She currently works as an independent consultant, advising a variety of non-profit institutions and businesses on 21st century learning initiatives.

An online professional learning community provides educators with the ability to connect and share information with colleagues, in their own state and across the globe, to accelerate the implementation of effective mobile learning programs. There is no charge for educators to participate in the program, and through edWeb’s partnership with MCH Strategic Data, the program will be promoted to more than 3 million educators across the country.

Keith Krueger, CEO for the Consortium for School Networking (CoSN), commented, “As the National Education Technology Plan points out, educators can greatly benefit from online Communities of Practice, especially around emerging trends like mobile learning. CoSN is committed to helping educational leaders understand the educational potential of mobile learning, and the need for supportive leadership and policies. This series of webinars, as well as resources like CoSN’s Leadership for Mobile Learning (www.cosn.org/MobileLead), enable this much needed conversation.”

Kevin Carman, AT&T’s Associate Director of Education Field Marketing, added, “We are pleased to be part of edWeb’s ‘Mobile Learning Explorations’ professional learning program. The combination of informative monthly webinars with a collaborative community creates a powerful vehicle for helping more educators learn how to integrate mobile technology into their classrooms.”

Lisa Schmucki, founder and CEO of edWeb.net, commented, “This is such a great example of how collaboration within the education industry can provide information and resources to help educators move forward faster with innovation. CoSN is making it possible for us to provide educators with valuable information and case studies. And we are so thankful to AT&T for providing the support so this can be free online professional development that benefits the entire education community.

Educators and members of the education industry are invited to join Mobile Learning Explorations at www.edweb.net/mobile.

For more information on the program, contact Lynn Scott, Program Director, at lynn@edweb.net, 800-575-6015 ext 105.

Common Core State Standards 101

2011-12-16T08:05:00.000-08:00

Presented by Jason Willoughby and Kelly Smith
Sponsored by Action Learning Systems

View the webinar "Common Core State Standards 101"

This is the first webinar in the Implementing Common Core State Standards in the Classroom webinar series. “Common Core 101” is a foundational webinar that covers the background, development, and overall organization of the Common Core State Standards and why they have potential to transform American education. Action Learning System’s Jason Willoughby and Kelly Smith discuss the development of both the English Language Arts and Mathematics standards, and provide valuable knowledge on their organization and scope.

Join the professional learning community: Implementing the Common Core State Standards

As a member of the community, you'll be invited to a free webinar and live chat each month. You'll have access to all of the recorded webinars, presentations, and resources, providing you with an online learning center you can return to at any time. CE certificates are provided for attending and viewing the webinars.

This community is a place where you can post questions, start discussions, and get feedback from experts and peers on understanding and implementing the Common Core State Standards. Stay connected, share ideas, and get support from colleagues all across the country on this vital topic.

About the Presenters
Jason Willoughby is the Director of Action Learning Systems. Action Learning Systems is a national educational consultant company that partners with districts and schools to increase student achievement and close the achievement gap. Jason is an award-winning elementary and secondary school teacher, and secondary school administrator. At Action Learning Systems, Jason coaches teachers, principals, and district administration in all aspects of school reform, including system-wide development, implementation, and analysis of standards-based curriculum, instruction, and assessments.
Kelly Smith is Vice President of Action Learning Systems. She is a leader in assessment development and has served in leadership positions in multiple state assessment programs such as the Golden State Exams, California Learning Assessment System, and the California Assessment Program. As a teacher, curriculum specialist, and leader with Action Learning Systems, Kelly has developed curriculum, designed and trained on multiple professional development projects, and served as a model for instructional practice.

Digital Citizenship Part 2: Manners, Privacy & Security

2011-12-16T07:51:00.000-08:00

Presented by Michelle Luhtala
Sponsored by Follett Software Company

View the webinar "Digital Citizenship Part II"

How do you teach digital citizenship to a generation raised, in many cases, with multiple digital identities? In this session, we review privacy rights, and examine instructional tools and strategies for teaching students to be respectful, and security conscious contributors to online communities.

Join the professional learning community Emerging Tech: Using Technology to Advance Your School Library Program

As a member of the community, you'll be invited to a free webinar and live chat each month on a different topic. You'll have access to all of the webinar recordings and resource materials, providing you with an online resource library you can return to at any time. CE certificates are provided for attended and viewing the webinars. Emerging Tech began in July 2010 and now has an archive of more than 15 free webinars.

About Michelle Luhtala
Head Librarian, New Canaan High School
Winner, 2010 National School Library Program of the Year (NSLPY)
Winner, Connecticut Library Association's 2010 Outstanding Librarian Award

Winner, 2011 I Love My Librarian Award

Resources for Online Collaboration

2011-12-16T07:38:00.000-08:00

Presented by Kathy Schrock
Sponsored by Follett Software Company

View the webinar "Resources for Online Collaboration"

Problem based learning. Project based learning. Inquiry based learning. Challenge based learning. What do they have in common? Each of these learning models fall under the big umbrella of authentic learning—real-life projects that teach real-life skills. Collaborative groups are a component of these projects, too, and collaboration online enhances the process!

Online collaboration has never been easier! With faster networks and computers in conjunction with tons of online resources to pick from, the time is right to think about conducting collaborative projects with your students.

Some of the online resources covered in the presentation include sites to find collaborative projects to join. These are constantly updated sites, and cover all content areas and grade levels.

If you are thinking about developing your own authentic learning experience, there are certain aspects of project creation and implementation that should to be considered in order to make it successful. We cover some strategies to help you out!

In addition, ideas and tips for assessing online collaborative projects as well as tools that can be used to foster online collaboration are included in this webinar.

Join the professional learning community: PD in Action!

The PD in Action Community will not only assist you in building a network of colleagues and mentors, but also assist you in continuing to refine and develop your practice through a collaborative professional development experience. Our community presents the opportunity for members to exchange ideas and discoveries, investigage and reflect on questions and concerns, examine and uncover effective ways to educate and motivate educators and students.

As a member of the community, you'll be invited to a free webinar and live chat each month. You'll have access to all of the recorded webinars, presentations, and resources, providing you with an online resource center you can return to at any time. CE certificates are provided for attending and viewing the webinars.

About the Presenter
Kathy has been a school district Director of Technology, an instructional technology specialist, an adjunct education professor, and a middle school, academic, museum, and public library librarian. She is currently teaching online graduate courses for Wilkes University, as part of the Wilkes-Discovery masters program in instructional media. She is the creator of Kathy Schrock's Guide for Educators.

Integrating Commercial Off-The-Shelf Games Into the Classroom

2011-12-16T07:26:00.000-08:00

A webinar co-hosted by edWeb.net and SIIA
Sponsored by BrainPOP

View the webinar "Integrating Commercial Off-The-Shelf Games Into the Classroom"

The best educational curriculum seamlessly integrates content, interaction, and assessment into meaningful learning experiences built upon inquiry-based, student-centered, and authentic problem-solving instructional strategies. As it happens, that is exactly what many commercial games do, making their use for education an obvious choice. But this is easier said than done. In this webinar, the University of North Dakota’s Richard Van Eck provides a practical overview of how to integrate commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) games into the classroom. Richard provides an overview of the NeTQ technology integration model, which is compatible with inquiry-based curriculum of COTS games. He discusses how this model has been used by elementary, middle, and high school teachers to integrate games into the curriculum while meeting the requirements of real-world classrooms.

Presented by Richard N. Van Eck; Associate Professor & Graduate Director, Instructional Design & Technology, University of North Dakota, Department of Teaching & Learning

Join the professional learning community: Game-Based Learning

As a member of the community...

You'll be invited to a free webinar and live chat each month, with a new presenter and topic.
You have access to all of the recorded webinars, presentations, and resources, providing you with an online learning center you can return to at an time.
CE certificates are provided for attending and viewing the webinars.
You gain access to the edWeb Learning Games Database, a collaborative compilation of gaming resources and reviews.

The Game-Based Learning PLC is a place where you can post questions, start discussions, connect with experts in the field, and share ideas and experiences with peers all across the country, and the world.

Building Relationships

2011-12-14T10:06:00.000-08:00

A webinar hosted by edWeb.net
Presented by Shannon Holden

View the webinar "Building Relationships"

In this webinar, Shannon discussed how to create relationships with parents, students, administrators, and colleagues as well as why it's important to create and maintain these relationships. These relationships can increase parent involvement at your school. Shannon also discussed how to utilize your support staff (SRO, custodians, counselors, teacher aids, etc.) to support your classroom.

Join the professional learning community: New Teacher Help

This is a collaborative online community where new teachers can get advice, ideas, tips, and support - and also share experiences - on making a successful transition to the classroom.

The New Teacher Help PLC is a place where you can post questions, start discussions, and get feedback from experts and peers on the issues and challenges you facing starting out on a career in teaching. Stay connected, share ideas, and get support from other new teachers all across the country.

Presented by Shannon J. Holden
Shannon Holden has been a high school and middle school teacher and administrator in North Dakota, Texas, and Missouri for 20 years. Holden built a website, www.newteacherhelp.com in 2009 to help reduce the 50% five-year attrition rate for new teachers in the educational profession.

BYOT aka BYOD: What You Need to Know Part 1

2011-12-14T10:02:00.001-08:00

A new webinar hosted by edWeb.net
Presented by Gail Palumbo

View the webinar "BYOT aka BYOD: What You Need to Know Part 1"

"In order to save money, more and more schools and businesses are allowing their students and employees to bring their own technology devices into their network. This is also known as "consumerization of IT.” There are problems, however, with this initiative. The technology staff must address the need to support these diverse devices. The organizations must protect themselves from improper use of these technologies. Teachers must develop lesson plans that will make use of the various technical devices. Where do you need to start when preparing for a BYOT? How can you help teachers? What about the Tech Department?"

Join the professional learning community: Technology in Schools

The online collaborative community hosts a series of monthly webinars that talk about voice, video, and data hardware, software, and curriculum. The webinars cover purchasing considerations, but also, and importantly, how to integrate the latest technology into teaching and learning.

The Technology in Schools PLC is a forum for technology coordinators, directors of technology, technical staff, principals, superintendents, curriculum coordinators, librarians, teachers, and any educator with an interest in technology in schools.

The program is presented and hosted by Gail Palumbo, former Director of Curriculum and Technology, Montgomery Township Schools (NJ), and national consultant for schools, districts, and corporations.

Using Your Student Information System to Identify and Reduce Your At-Risk Population

2011-12-09T07:05:00.000-08:00

A new webinar hosted by edWeb.net

Sponsored by Follett Software Company

View the webinar "Using Your SIS to Identify and Reduce Your At-Risk Population"

"There is a great new trend," said Ann Ware, project director for the Consortium for School Networking’s Data-Driven Decision Making initiative. She cited the work of Project RED: Revolutionizing Education, which surveyed K-12 districts nationwide and found that one of the most effective uses of technology was in delivering targeted intervention to students. “Providing inventions and using technology to do so was the top factor in improving student performance,” Ware said.

Using predictive analytics software, teachers at Georgia’s Gwinnet County Public Schools soon will be able to see at a glance which students might need more help. Sinclaire Community College in Ohio has cut its student dropout rate in half. And the online American Public University System has watched its course completion rate steadily climb.

In this webinar we discussed addressing academic performance issues early, before they become too severe, is the best way to ensure that students achieve their full potential, remain in school, and graduate on time.

Join the professional learning community: Using Student Data for Student Achievement

This community provides administrators and educators at the school, district, and state level with a forum to share information, voice opinions, engage in a dialogue with peers, and gain support for using student data to improve teaching and learning. This is a unique and collaborative way for all members of the school community to work together to explore this important topic and support each other.

Each month, we host a free webinar followed by a “live chat." The conversation doesn't stop there, but continues in the online discussions, providing a forum for continuous dialogue and support. The webinars and all resources are archived in the community, creating a valuable resource center. This is a unique way for educators to work together and explore this important topic.

The program is presented and hosted by Gail Palumbo, former Director of Curriculum and Technology, Montgomery Township Schools (NJ), and national consultant for schools, districts, and corporations.

Using Blogging to Communicate with Students and Parents

2011-12-07T09:46:00.000-08:00

A new webinar hosted by edWeb.net

Presented by Shannon Holden, Assistant Principal, Republic, MO

View the webinar "Using Blogging to Communicate with Students and Parents"

In this webinar, Shannon Holden showed teachers and administrators how to use free blogging platforms such as WordPress and Blogger to communicate with students and parents. Skills such as posting assignments, class procedures, hyperlinks, pictures, and educational videos were discussed. Shannon also talked about adding in helpful screen shots, computer troubleshooting, and easy ways to save and update your blogs.

Visit the professional learning community TechTools for the Classroom: Easy Ideas to Engage Students

In this community and series of free webinars you'll gain new resources, free technology, and learn ways to integrate technology into the classroom in order to engage your students. In our series of free webinars, live chats, and online discussions, you'll collaborate with other teachers to share techniques that engage students by using technology. In this community you will:

Learn ways to integrate technology into your lessons.
Develop a repertoire of instructional strategies that utilize free software and other types of technology.
Integrate technology into your lessons, even though you may not have access to ANY technology at your school.
Gain access to rubrics and other methods to grade student multimedia projects.
Discover resources you can turn to for assistance when necessary.
Use free technology to prepare students for standardized tests and other common assessments.
Use technology to entice parents to become more involved in their student’s education.
Discover how you can use technology to make your lessons EASIER to create…not more difficult!
Use free techniques to help students access your interesting lessons from anywhere, including their mobile phones!
Use technology to teach your students 24 hours a day, seven days a week…even while you do other things!

Converse with others who are using technology in classrooms across the country, even in districts where access is limited. CE Certificate provided for webinar participation.

Common Core: New webinar series from edWeb.net and Action Learning Systems

2011-11-28T07:48:00.000-08:00

edWeb.net and Action Learning Systems, Inc. announce the creation of a professional learning community for K-12 educators on implementing the Common Core State Standards (CCSS).

With the Common Core State Standards adopted by 45 states, educators across the country are turning to the issues of implementing the standards in each state. The education experts at Action Learning Systems will be hosting an ongoing monthly series of free webinars on edWeb.net that will provide information and guidance on implementation. The community will be focused on issues from the teacher perspective, but is open to all K-12 educators. Issues to be covered include:

Understanding the CCSS
Deconstructing the CCSS
Creating Assessments for the CCSS
Lesson Structure and Sequence and the CCSS
Maximizing Academic Learning Time
Closing the Achievement Gap for our English Learners
The CCSS and Students with Disabilities
Student Engagement Strategies that work
Response to Intervention and the CCSS
The Role of CCSS and our Advanced Learners
Helping our Students understand the CCSS

An online professional learning community provides educators with the ability to connect and share information with colleagues in their own state and around the country, and will help accelerate the implementation of the Common Core State Standards.

There is no charge for educators to participate in the program, and through edWeb's partnership with MCH Strategic Data, the program will be promoted to more than 3 million K-12 educators across the country. According to Lisa Schmucki, founder and CEO of edWeb.net, "We want to create awareness of this exceptional free program that is being offered by Action Learning Systems. The program will provide ongoing support which is so critical for educators to get the information they need to be successful. This is a reflection of Action Learning System's commitment and support for professional development for K-12 educators."

Dr. Kit Marshall, president and CEO of Action Learning Systems, commented, "We are delighted to be able to combine edWeb's technology and expertise in running online communities with the knowledge and expertise of our professional development team to create an exceptional support program for K-12 educators faced with the challenge of integrating the Common Core State Standards into their curriculum."

Educators can join "Implementing the Common Core State Standards" at www.edweb.net/CCSS.

For more information on the program, contact Lynn Scott, Program Director, at lynn@edweb.net, 800-575-6015 ext 105.

edWeb passes 25,000 members

2011-11-25T07:33:00.000-08:00

edWeb.net passed 25,000 members on Thanksgiving Eve! Thank you to everyone who has helped to make this possible.

Here is a video from an edWeb member and school librarian. We are so glad we can make a difference for educators.

Gameful Thinking: How to Integrate Game Design Activities into Instruction to Support Critical Thinking and Deep Understanding

2011-11-18T07:24:00.000-08:00

A new webinar co-hosted by edWeb.net and SIIA
Sponsored by BrainPOP

View the Webinar

Alex Chisholm, Executive Director of Learning Games Network, and Gary Goldberger, President of FableVision, explore new ways to engage students in learning and research through game design activities. Building games with emerging technical tools like Game Salad, Scratch, and Gamestar Mechanic is a great way for students to explore their creativity and develop technical skills. Often, however, students rush straight to production without thinking through important design issues or about how to create meaningful experiences for players. Over the past decade, the Learning Games Network and FableVision have developed an instructional framework that enables teachers to integrate game design into their lesson plans across the curriculum. Exploring examples of student-designed games in math, science, engineering, history, and language arts, Chisholm and Goldberger walk through a new model for collaborative research and creative development between students and teachers. They demonstrate how designing a game and documenting and pitching a concept are innovative 21st Century skill building alternatives to the traditional research papers or classroom presentations.

Join the professional learning community: Game-Based Learning

This professional learning community explores how to integrate games into the learning process to provide higher engagement and achievement for students.

This innovative program provides a forum where educators, publishers, and game developers can come together to discuss guidelines and current practices, and most importantly, to share ideas to advance this emerging field.

Each month we host a free webinar that touches on a different aspect of integrating games into learning. Our presenters are among the leading innovators and game designers working in the industry.

The webinars are followed by a “live chat” discussion that is a great opportunity for all attendees to ask and answer questions and share ideas. The webinar recordings, presentations, and resources are all archived for reference in the community.

This unique combination of webinars presented by leading experts, combined with a social networking community, creates a new way for the education community to connect and work together to help move forward faster with innovative new ideas about gaming and learning.

CEU credits are provided for attending the webinars and viewing the recordings.

New Webinar: Power of the Parent Portal

2011-11-18T07:22:00.000-08:00

In our November Using Student Data for Student Achievement Webinar:

Research has shown that the best education for students is one that involves a strong relationship between Students, Teachers, and Parents. This triangle will provide the students with the help and support they need. Many schools do not have the relationship with parents that will foster a strong educational community. The Federal government is also mandating more parental communication in their new version of NCLB. Communication is the key. From grades to attendance records, class lists, calendars and community events, school officials say they are putting more information on the Internet to keep parents informed.

What should you communicate with parents? What data should be shared? What should not be on the Internet? Join us for this discussion and discover ways you can get your parents and community involved.

View the Recording of "Power of the Parent Portal"

About Using Student Data for Student Achievement

About the Presenter

The program is presented and hosted by Gail Palumbo, former Director of Curriculum and Technology, Montgomery Township Schools (NJ), and national consultant for schools, districts, and corporations.

Visit the community Using Student Data for Student Achievement at www.edweb.net/data.

New Webinar: Resources for Bloom's Digital Taxonomy

2011-11-17T08:49:00.000-08:00

In our November PD in Action Webinar

Kim Cofino, a 21st century classroom specialist, posed these three questions to think about when talking about the embedding of these skills into the curriculum:

How can teachers design curriculum that embeds technology in a meaningful way?
What tools should the classroom technology toolbox contain?
What are the management strategies to facilitate this connected classroom?

This webinar will focus on tools that the classroom toolbox should contain. Using Blooms Revised Taxonomy, digital tools at each of the six cognitive levels will be presented. The fifty-eight tools will be presented in three sections —Web 2.0 tools, Google tools, and iOS tools. Each cognitive level will also be broken down into the skills needed to master that level:

Remembering- bookmarking, basic searching, describing, highlighting, locating, listing, finding, recalling
Understanding- categorizing, subscribing, Boolean searching, commenting, explaining, annotating
Applying – executing, illustrating, uploading, operating, exhibiting, editing, interviewing, simulating, demonstrating
Analyzing – gathering, organizing, comparing, media clipping, outlining, structuring, surveying
Evaluating – critiquing, collaborating, networking, moderating
Creating – publishing, making, presenting, validating, storytelling, video editing, podcasting

View the Recording of "Resources for Bloom's Digital Taxonomy"

About PD in Action!

As educators, we all share a common goal: improve student learning. As a part of the PD in Action Community, educators will be able to discuss, explore, and encourage each other to share and exchange strategies, ideas, and proven teaching and learning practices, infusing appropriate technology in ways that matter and make sense.

The PD in Action Community will not only assist you in building a network of colleagues and mentors, but also assist you in continuing to refine and develop your practice through a collaborative professional development experience. Our community presents the opportunity for members to exchange ideas and discoveries, investigage and reflect on questions and concerns, examine and uncover effective ways to educate and motivate educators and students.

With monthly professional development webinars, follow-ups to the webinar, and an active community of library and classroom teachers, this community will be a vibrant and ever-growing collaborative space! Our community presents the opportunity for members to exchange ideas and discoveries, investigate and reflect on questions and concerns, and examine and uncover effective and creative ways to educate and motivate educators and students.

About the Presenter

Kathy Schrock is the host of the PD in Action Committee. Kathy has been a school district Director of Technology, an instructional technology specialist, an adjunct education professor, and a middle school, academic, museum, and public library librarian. She is currently teaching online graduate courses for Wilkes University, as part of the Wilkes-Discovery masters program in instructional media.

Visit the community PD in Action! at www.edweb.net/pdinaction.

New Webinar: Describe, Analyze, Predict - Path to Vision

2011-11-17T08:46:00.000-08:00

In our November Learner-Centered School Leadership Webinar

We have been talking about various aspects of evidence-centered school leadership for 10 months now in the Learner-Centered Leadership Community. In September and October, we talked quite specifically about the use of standardized-test score data to help guide instructional planning. In our November webinar we are going to talk about the cornerstone of any school’s approach to improved student learning outcomes: setting specific and measurable goals. This is both more difficult and much less often achieved by schools than it might seem. We will look at a step-by-step approach to choosing, articulating, and publishing such goals in your school and with your faculty colleagues. In December, we’ll connect goal setting with its critical companions, teamwork and performance data.

View the Recording of "Describe, Analyze, Predict - Path to Vision"

About Learner-Centered School Leadership

This innovative program, combining webinars with a social networking community, explores research-based answers to critical questions:

What makes a school leader successful in the era of accountability?
What kinds of leadership behaviors result in significant and sustained increases in student learning?

Explore the practical applications of research findings about “collective leadership”
Learn the power of evidence-based thinking and inquiry.
Learn to transform “data” into “information.”
Challenge each other and themselves about what they really know.
Create strategies to collect and use empirical evidence to drive new kinds of conversations with faculty and staff.

Collaboratively discover ways to use data to inquire, confirm, evaluate, and support real changes in a school’s instructional practice, student achievement, and school culture.

About the Presenter

Visit the community Learner-Centered School Leadership at www.edweb.net/schoolleadership.

New Webinar: Generalization- Why is it so Critical?

2011-11-16T08:29:00.000-08:00

In our November Teaching Students with Autism Webinar:

We discuss the importance of generalizing skills learned by students with autism, as it relates to true learning and using skills in the natural environment. Generalization seeks to incorporate skills learned in a particular setting into the student’s everyday life. It is often true that skills learned in the school setting do not carry over to other areas like the home. If a student is unable to utilize skills in a more functional way, there is no benefit to teaching those skills. Skills must be generalized for various materials, instructors, and settings. If a child is truly garnering educational benefit from his/her educational program, it is essential that they be able to generalize the skills learned.

View the Recording of "Generalization- Why is it so Critical?"

About Effective Strategies for Teaching Students with Autism

The program provides free monthly webinars and "live chats," free lesson plans, and online discussion forums to help teachers connect and collaborate on the best practices for supporting students with autism.

All of the webinars are recorded and archived in the community, so you can watch at any time if you are not able to attend the live event. CE credit is provided for attending the webinar or watching the recording and taking a short quiz.

The program addresses the specific needs and challenges of teaching young children and covers topics such as Letter Identification, Pre-Handwriting, Color Identification, Play, Object Association, Hand Washing, Dressing, Skip Counting, Sight Word Reading and much more!

As a member of the community, you can post questions and start discussions on topics to get feedback from the educational experts at Eden, and also from your peers who are dealing with similar issues.

Join this innovative program to connect with teachers all around the country – and the world – to expand your access to resources and support.

About the Presenter

Nina Finkler is the Director of Outreach Services for Eden Autism Services. Ms. Finkler is responsible for overseeing the organization’s outreach consultative, evaluation and training services as well as Eden’s behavior management program. She has worked in the field of autism for 20 years, including extensive practical application of applied behavior analysis, curriculum development, professional/parent training, consultation, and assessment. She holds a Master’s degree in Special Education from Rutgers University; and is a NJ licensed Learning Consultant and a Board Certified Behavior Analyst.

Visit the community Teaching Students with Autism on edWeb.net at www.edweb.net/eden1

New Webinar: Making Podcasts

2011-11-16T08:22:00.000-08:00

In our November TechTools Webinar:

Giving students the opportunity to create a podcast gives teachers a chance to learn from their students. When teachers create podcasts it gives them 24/7 access to their students ears. In this webinar we'll discuss how to make podcasts using FREE web-based resources, what sites will host your podcasts for free, and how to download the podcasts onto iPods or MP3 players.

View the Recording of "Making Podcasts."

About TechTools for the Classroom: Easy Ideas to Engage Students

Learn ways to integrate technology into your lessons.
Develop a repertoire of instructional strategies that utilize free software and other types of technology.
Integrate technology into your lessons, even though you may not have access to ANY technology at your school.
Gain access to rubrics and other methods to grade student multimedia projects.
Discover resources you can turn to for assistance when necessary.
Use free technology to prepare students for standardized tests and other common assessments.
Use technology to entice parents to become more involved in their student’s education.
Discover how you can use technology to make your lessons EASIER to create…not more difficult!
Use free techniques to help students access your interesting lessons from anywhere, including their mobile phones!
Use technology to teach your students 24 hours a day, seven days a week…even while you do other things!

Converse with others who are using technology in classrooms across the country, even in districts where access is limited. CE Certificate provided for webinar participation.

About the Presenter

Shannon Holden has been a high school and middle school teacher and administrator in North Dakota, Texas, and Missouri for 20 years. Holden built a website, www.newteacherhelp.com in 2009 to help reduce the 50% five-year attrition rate for new teachers in the educational profession.

Visit the community TechTools for the Classroom on edWeb.net at www.edweb.net/techtools

New Webinar: Being a Successful Coach

2011-11-09T09:04:00.000-08:00

In our November New Teacher Help Webinar:

Many new teachers are hired with the expectation that they coach a sport or sponsor an extra-curricular club... whether they want to or not. Shannon will show teachers how to run a successful sports program or club.

Topics covered will be: avoiding controversy during the "tryout/cut" process, building pride, excitement, and support for the program, coach & player conduct during games, how to pack an awesome first aid kit, avoiding confrontations with overbearing parents, transporting students safely, and fundraising.

View the Recording of "Being a Successful Coach"

About the Presenter

About New Teacher Help

The series of monthly webinars takes advantage of the power of social networking to help new teachers explore critical aspects of educating students. In a series of webinars, live chats, and online discussions, new (and even experienced teachers) will collaborate with each other on the challenges and rewards of teaching.

Learn ways to “set the tone” for a productive year of student learning.

Develop a repertoire of instructional strategies that result in higher levels of student engagement and achievement.

Establish yourself as the “authority figure” in the classroom.
Deal with students and parents who try to question your authority.
Discover resources you can turn to for assistance when necessary.
Develop techniques to increase communication and build relationships with students, parents, veteran teachers, administrators, and school support staff.
Access resources that will help you prepare students for standardized tests.

Visit the community New Teacher Help on edWeb.net at www.edweb.net/newteacherhelp.

New Webinar: AUP and ePolicy Protection

2011-11-09T08:20:00.000-08:00

In our November Technology in Schools Webinar:

Acceptable Use Policies are an integral part of the framework of information security policies. For this reason, an AUP must be concise and clear, while at the same time covering the most important points about what users are, and are not, allowed to do with the IT systems of an organization. It should refer users to the more comprehensive security policy or ePolicy. These policies not only protect the school and administration, but also the classroom teacher. This webinar will look at what is need to keep all protected, including the Classroom Teacher.

View of the Recording of AUP and ePolicy Protection

About the Presenter

The program is presented and hosted by Gail Palumbo, former Director of Curriculum and Technology, Montgomery Township Schools (NJ), and national consultant for schools, districts, and corporations.

About Technology in Schools

The community hosts a series of monthly webinars that talk about voice, video, and data hardware, software, and curriculum. The webinars will cover purchasing considerations, but also, and importantly, how to integrate the latest technology into teaching and learning.

Learn and collaborate with your peers about issues that relate to mobile devices, data collection, projectors/presenters, wireless connectivity, consumables, desktops and laptops, e-readers, social networking, distance learning, library management systems, student information systems, privacy and security, shared services, crisis management, clickers, telephones, student cell phone use, CIPA compliance, Internet service providers, technology for diverse and special needs students, virtual schools, home-school connection, professional development, and more.

The community is a forum for technology coordinators, directors of technology, technical staff, principals, superintendents, curriculum coordinators, librarians, teachers, and any educator with an interest in technology in schools.

For more about Technology in Schools, please visit www.edweb.net/technology.

Summary Report issued for edWeb.net Roundtable with industry leaders on online communities of practice for educators

2011-10-05T09:20:00.000-07:00

edWeb.net has just released a Summary Report for the Roundtable on Online Communities of Practice that was co-hosted by edWeb.net and Footsteps2Brilliance™ Washington, DC on August 25, 2011. The event drew leaders from many segments of the education industry to discuss the opportunities and challenges in creating online communities of practice for educators.

The event opened with a keynote presentation by Karen Cator, Director of Educational Technology for the U. S. Department of Education and Darren Cambridge, Senior Consultant for the American Institutes of Research, who spoke with the group about the U. S. Department of Education's Connected Online Communities of Practice (COCP) Project.

A panel of education leaders, representing different voices in education, were asked to describe their experiences creating online communities of practice, what their goals were, where they succeeded, what challenges they faced, and what they thought the key issues were for others engaged in similar activities.

Tom Carroll, President, National Commission on Teaching and America's Future (NCTAF)
Keith R. Krueger, CEO, Consortium for School Networking (CoSN)
Thomas P. McCool, Ed. D., President, Eden Autism Services
Susan Adelmann, Director of Business Strategy, Follett Software Company
Michelle Luhtala, Head Librarian, New Canaan High School
Ilene Rosenthal, Founder & CEO, Footsteps2Brilliance™
Shannon Holden, Assistant Principal, Republic Middle School

All of the presenters expressed strong belief in the potential for online communities to improve and transform the practice of teaching and learning, but many issues and challenges were raised about how this can actually come to pass.

Will online communities help teachers move beyond the role of individual artisans to interdependent learning teams?
How do we balance the participatory nature of communities with the potential need for moderation and curation?
What kinds of incentives and accreditation can we give to "connected educators" who create and engage in online communities of practice?
Are teachers too overwhelmed by a cycle of the "next big thing" in technology that they have become reluctant to adopt new tools?

These are just a few of the issues raised in the meeting. The overall conclusion, from the discussion, indicates that we are in the early stages of both using the technology that supports online communities and understanding the dynamics and values of communities created in response to the technology's promises. The challenges of access, education and training for users, community building and engagement, and integration of online communities of practice into the established world of scholarship and practice are formidable.

On the other hand, the technology and the communities it enables have proven to be inherently rewarding to users, as many roundtable participants noted. Online communities of practice can help teachers improve their individual practice, move the profession to a more collective teaching model, provide support for educators who are new to profession or face challenging teaching assignments, help associations be better advocates for their members, and help companies be better listeners about the products and services that are needed.

Lisa Schmucki, the founder and CEO of edWeb.net, added, "We hear so many positive comments from educators who join and create online communities. We are very thankful if we can play a part in bringing industry leaders together to help this movement move forward faster."

The edWeb.net Roundtable was sponsored by Follett Software Company and MCH Strategic Data.

Download the Summary Report at: http://tinyurl.com/roundtablesummary

For more information, contact: Lisa Schmucki, Founder and CEO, edWeb.net, lisa@edweb.net, 908-407-2755

BrainPOP signs on as the sponsor of edWeb.net’s Game-Based Learning community

2011-09-21T08:31:00.000-07:00

edWeb.net is delighted to announce that BrainPOP® has signed on as the exclusive sponsor of its "Game-Based Learning" professional learning community that was launched earlier this year. The vibrant community provides a forum for over 1,500 educators, publishers, and game developers to come together to discuss guidelines and current practices, and most importantly, to share ideas to advance this emerging field. This innovative program is co-hosted by edWeb.net and the Education Division of the Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA).

“BrainPOP is proud to sponsor this impressive cadre of experts in the field of game-based learning through edWeb,” said Avraham Kadar, M.D., Founder and CEO of BrainPOP. “We believe strongly in the long-term value of this frontier in digital education for both teachers and students. The exchange of knowledge and resources within a thriving community of educators and developers will strengthen the reach and effectiveness of game-based learning.”

edWeb.net’s Game-Based Learning program is built around a series of monthly webinars presented by leaders in the field of games and learning. The interactive webinars provide an opportunity for unprecedented collaboration, with "live chat" throughout every session for a more meaningful learning experience – then conversation continues 24/7 in the online discussion forums on edWeb.net.

All of edWeb’s Game-Based Learning webinars are archived for on-demand viewing by community members at any time. The library currently features six recorded one-hour webinars: Introduction to Gaming in the Classroom with Lee Wilson, the president of PCI Education and author of the SIIA report, Best Practices for Using Games & Simulations in the Classroom; Death of Textbooks, Emergence of Games with Dr. James M. Bower Ph.D., founder of Whyville.net and CEO of Numedeon Inc.; How Video Games May Transform Education (and Why We May Not Like It) with Richard N. Van Eck from the Department of Teaching & Learning at the University of North Dakota; Educate and Empower Youth Through Game-Making with E-Line Media’s founder and president Alan Gershenfeld; The Evolution of Learning Games & How To Identify Effective Games for Your Classroom with Co-founder and Lead-Designer Dan Norton from Filament Games; and Getting Skeptics on Board With Game-Based Learning with Thomas Hayward from Pearson.

Upcoming live sessions include: How Immersive Simulations Can Make Learning More Engaging & Assessments More Effective with Dr. Chris Dede, Professor of Learning Technologies at Harvard’s Graduate School of Education; How Computer Games Help Children Learn with Game Scientist David Williamson Shaffer from the Departments of Educational Psychology and Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Wisconsin-Madison; How Games Create Social Learning Opportunities for Students with Sokikom CEO Snehal Patel; and How To Use Project-Based Game Design to Support Teacher-Student Collaboration & Learning with Alex Chisholm, Executive Director and Co-founder of the Learning Games Network.

Lisa Schmucki, founder and CEO of edWeb.net, added, "We are pleased to have BrainPOP as the sponsor of this program. Our sponsors make it possible for edWeb to be free for all educators – which is critical for widespread collaboration. The Game-Based Learning community is forging so many new connections that can speed innovation and progress.”

Anyone interested in joining the Game-Based Learning community can sign up at www.edweb.net/gaming.

"Teaching Students with Autism" Receives Support from Summit Professional Education

2011-09-21T08:20:00.000-07:00

edWeb.net is delighted to announce that Summit Professional Education has signed on as the gold sponsor of its “Effective Strategies for Teaching Students with Autism” professional learning community. In a very short time, this community has become a valuable online support network for teachers who need help addressing the academic, social, and behavioral needs of their students with autism. This innovative program is co-hosted by edWeb.net and Eden Autism Services.

“Effective Strategies for Teaching Students with Autism” centers around a series of monthly webinars presented by Eden Autism Services, a highly-respected school and service organization that provides lifespan services for individuals with autism. The webinars provide continuing education credits and offer an opportunity for unprecedented collaboration, with "live chat" throughout every session for a more meaningful learning experience and continued conversation 24/7 in the online discussion forums on edWeb.net.

Every week, Eden Autism Services posts lesson plans in the community that are drawn from its extensive 5-volume school curriculum series. The combination of free webinars, lesson plans, and online community provide a way for teachers, all across the country, to receive support from the education specialists at Eden Autism Services, and to connect and share with other teacher on the best ways to support their students. The community provides an archive of resources for current and new members to use at any time.

Upcoming webinar topics include: Effective Transition from the Classroom to Adulthood, Toilet Training Students with Autism, Generalization: Why Is It So Critical?, Facilitating Language and Communication in the Classroom Environment, Troubleshooting: What is it, and How do you do it?, Utilizing the Principles of Reinforcement in a Classroom Environment, and Meeting the Needs of Students with Asperger’s in the Classroom Environment.

“Summit Professional Education is excited to be able to support and collaborate with Eden Autism Services on the support they are providing for teachers and schools. Online communities are a way to help teachers, who are often isolated in their practice, to get the professional and emotional support they need. We are looking at ways we can work together to provide even more resources for teachers,” said Ryan J. Stout, Director of Marketing for Summit Professional Education.

Lisa Schmucki, founder and CEO of edWeb.net, added, “Online communities are all about collaboration. We are always looking for new ways to connect members of the education community, and it is especially rewarding when we can help great organizations like Eden Autism Services and Summit Professional Education work together to support teachers and students.”

Teachers, administrators and other education professionals who would like to join the community, “Effective Strategies for Teaching Students with Autism,” can join up at www.edweb.net/eden1 (for grades preK-5) and www.edweb.net/eden2 (for grades 6 - 12).

New Survey Illustrates Education Industry's Use of Social Media

2011-07-27T07:19:00.000-07:00

One hundred eighty-two education executives report on the benefits and challenges of social media

A new survey and white paper, Social Media Marketing in Education, reveals why and how the education industry uses social media. The survey, issued by the Education Division of the Software & Information Industry Association, edWeb.net and MCH Strategic Data, offers insight into the social media tactics valued most by education executives.

Social media is growing rapidly in the education sphere. In a Survey of K-12 Educators on Social Networking and Content-Sharing Tools (2009), 61% of educators reported they had joined a social network. The education industry is joining a worldwide boom in social media spending--the Forrester U. S. Interactive Marketing Forecast 2009 - 2014 projects that social media spending will increase from $700 million to $3 billion by 2014.

Because of social media's heightened role in education, the Education Division of SIIA initiated this survey to understand more about how the industry is benefitting from its use. The survey reveals that brand awareness is considered the most effective use of social media, followed by increased customer loyalty, market knowledge and insight, and providing customer support. Although marketing spend is often heavily focused on lead generation and high ROI efforts, lead generation scored lower in effectiveness for social media.

Though many organizations are seeing gains, the survey also raises awareness about the challenges of using social media in the education industry. The biggest challenge, according to the executives surveyed, is tasking staff with social media management. Demonstrating social media's more indirect benefits and generating activity are other challenges faced by education industry organizations. "Rather than generate new leads, it is proving very effective at turning our existing customers into a community that educates us as a company and in turn markets us to their personal networks," said one of the respondents.

Karen Billings, Vice President of the Education Division of SIIA commented, "The adoption of social media is growing rapidly in education. We wanted to provide our members and the education industry with some measurement of how far along companies are in developing social media strategies, and some insights into what is working most effectively."

The survey was conducted in February of 2011 via an online survey to SIIA Education Division members, edWeb.net industry contacts, MCH education industry clients, and C. Blohm & Associates clients. Completed surveys were received from over 180 education industry companies.

A free copy of the report, Social Media Marketing in Education, can be downloaded at www.siia.net/estore or at www.edweb.net.

Eden Autism Services Launches an Online Community for Teachers

2011-07-27T07:07:00.000-07:00

Eden Autism Services, a nationally acclaimed organization specializing in educating children and adults with autism as well as providing workshops and training for families and educators has recently launched two communities on edWeb.net.

In today's electronic environment more and more teachers are turning to social media to connect with each other, share information and resources, and for mutual support. Eden realized that social networking is a great way to expand its outreach services across the country and that partnering with edWeb.net was the perfect vehicle to make this happen.

Tom McCool, President and Chief Executive Officer at Eden Autism Services, spoke before the House Committee of Foreign Affairs about the importance of increasing awareness and understanding of autism globally- and how edWeb.net is helping.

Click here to view Tom McCool's congressional testimony

"With the impact of social media today, we feel that it is vital for Eden be a part of this movement," says Anne Holmes, Chief Clinical Officer of Eden Autism Services. "edWeb allows us the opportunity to reach educators all across the country and all over the world."

Eden has launched two online communities entitled "Teaching Students with Autism" for grades preK-5 and for grades 6-12. These communities offer a program that includes posting lesson plans for teachers, facilitating online discussions, and presenting a series of free monthly webinars that also provide continuing education credits.

"It's gratifying to be able to provide this opportunity for Eden to share its more than 40 years of experience in the field of autism with such a large community," says Lisa Schmucki, founder and CEO of edWeb.net.

Currently, more than 2,400 members have joined Eden's online community.

When teachers join the online community they have an opportunity to introduce themselves to other members. All members of the community can post questions, start discussions on topics to get feedback from the educational experts at Eden, and also from their peers who are dealing with similar issues. It is especially helpful for those who are the only educator in their school or those who are new to the profession.

"In addition to the evaluation, consultation, training services and the 5-volume School Series Curriculum that Eden offers, we are thrilled to add yet another way to reach the autism community," said Holmes.

Eden has also just announced a Summer Live Chat Program that will add three extra sessions in August. Members of the "Teaching Students with Autism" communities will have the opportunity to spend time this summer learning from the professional services team at Eden Autism Services about how to work more effectively with students with autism.

For more information on the Teaching Students with Autism community, our webinar series, and Summer Live Chat program, please visit:

www.edweb.net/eden1 for Grades PreK-5 or

www.edweb.net/eden2 for Grades 6-12

edWeb.net launches the edWeb.net Consortium for Online Communities of Practice to help meet the goals of the National Education Technology Plan

2011-05-17T07:43:00.000-07:00

edWeb.net is excited to announce the creation of a coalition of edWeb.net organizations and community practitioners who are committed to growing active and engaged online communities of practice that help educators extend their personal learning and networking opportunities.

The edWeb.net Consortium for Online Communities of Practice has been created by edWeb.net in response to the goals and recommendations of the U.S. Department of Education’s National Education Technology Plan and the Connected Online Communities of Practice (COCP) Project.

The National Education Technology Plan recommends that educators, “Leverage social networking technologies and platforms to create communities of practice that provide career-long personal learning opportunities for educators within and across schools, pre-service preparation and in-service education institutions, and professional organizations.”

The edWeb.net Consortium will consist of both non-profit and for-profit organizations that have a high level of commitment to creating online communities that facilitate peer-to-peer professional networking and learning opportunities for educators.

edWeb.net serves the professional learning and networking needs of teachers, principals, librarians, new teachers, and any cohort of educators. edWeb.net is highly acclaimed for creating a strong sense of community, high levels of engagement, and rich discussions. edWeb.net Consortium members will work together to define the best practices that make these communities successful.

The founding members of the edWeb.net Consortium include the following organizations: NASSP, the National Commission on Teaching and America’s Future (NCTAF), Follett Software Company, the Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA), Eden Autism Services, K12TeacherStore.com, Big Deal Media, Footsteps2Brilliance, and MCH Strategic Data.

The edWeb.net Consortium will also include community practitioners. These are leading educators and industry executives who are serving as presenters, hosts, and facilitators of online communities. They are working on the front lines of connecting, engaging, and supporting educators in the growth and development of online learning networks.

edWeb.net facilitates the growth of online communities through our partnership with MCH Strategic Data, the owner of a national K-12 education database. Through the generosity and support of MCH, edWeb.net invites educators all across the U. S. to join the communities of our edWeb.net Consortium members.

The members of the edWeb.net Consortium have agreed to a set of guiding principles: to have a high level of commitment to building communities, to develop and share best practices that create a high level of engagement, and to share case study information with the COCP Project and the education community.

Online communities of practice can support a wide range of benefits for educators and provide the opportunity for collaboration with an extended range of stakeholders including retired educators, educational associations, education companies, and government and community leaders. Some of the benefits of online communities include the ability to:

• Share information and resources

• Increase professional knowledge and expertise

• Expand connections with peers and colleagues

• Learn from peers and experts

• Gain experience and comfort using technology

• Deliver professional development programs

• Plan events

• Improve communication skills

• Move forward faster with new initiatives

• Collaborate on best practices

• Identify educational needs and challenges

• Find support

• Mentor new teachers

Lisa Schmucki, founder and CEO of edWeb.net commented, “We learn so much every day from our members about the value of using social networks to help educators expand their personal learning networks. Educators are so thankful for the opportunity to connect with their peers anywhere in the country, or the world, to share information and ideas about how to improve teaching and learning. These networks help accelerate the accumulation of knowledge, the spread of ideas, and the implementation of new initiatives.”

Karen Billings, Vice President of the Education Division of SIIA added, “Our Game-Based Learning community on edWeb shows the value of this kind of heightened connectivity for our members, educators, game developers, and anyone with an interest in this emerging field. One of our key initiatives is to bring the voice of the educator to our members. Online communities are a great way to do that. We very pleased to be a member of the edWeb Consortium.”

To learn more about the National Education Technology Plan, go to: http://www.ed.gov/technology/netp-2010

To learn more about the Connected Online Communities of Practice Project, go to: http://edcocp.org

To learn more about the edWeb.net Consortium for Online Communities of Practice, contact Lisa Schmucki at 908-407-2755 or lisa@edweb.net.

New "eBooks Lunch & Learn" Live Chats for Educators and Publishers

2011-04-08T08:34:00.000-07:00

It's almost a forgone conclusion that eBooks are going to take their place alongside textbooks and possibly supplant them altogether. Still, a host of questions remains unanswered.

To help teachers, librarians, administrators, and publishers understand all of the issues that need to be addressed to speed adoption, Neal Goff, President of Egremont Associates and President-Elect of the Board of Directors of the Association of Educational Publishers, is launching a series of "Lunch & Learn" live chats to discuss eBooks.

The topic of this first session will be:
eBooks in Schools and Libraries: How, When, in What Formats - and at What Cost?
Friday, April 29, 12 noon - Eastern Daylight Time

To participate in the "eBooks Lunch & Learn" live chats, join the eBook community on edWeb - Exploring eBooks for K-12.

This series of live chats is co-sponsored by edWeb.net and the K12TeacherStore.com.

Game-Based Learning Webinar Series

2011-03-24T14:01:00.000-07:00

This innovative program will provide a forum where educators, publishers, and game developers can come together to discuss guidelines and current practices, and most importantly, to share ideas to advance this emerging field. Each month you’ll be invited to a free webinar that will touch on some aspect of integrating games into learning. The webinars are followed by a “live chat” discussion that is a great opportunity for all attendees to ask and answer questions and share ideas. CEU credits are provided.

Each month a new presenter will share ideas and information about gaming in the classroom. Our first webinar will be Tuesday, March 29th at 4PM Eastern Time. "An Introduction to Game-Based Learning" will be presented by Lee Wilson, President of PCI Education.

The conversation on game-based learning will continue on an ongoing basis in the social networking community on edWeb. The webinar recording, supporting documents and research, and bibliographic material are archived in the community for reference. This unique combination of webinars combined with a social networking community creates a new way for educators and other members of the education community to connect and work together to help move forward faster with innovative new ideas.

Join the Game-Based Learning community: www.edweb.net/gaming
Hosted by the Education Division of Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA)

Teaching Students with Autism Webinar Series

2011-03-15T06:24:00.000-07:00

Eden Autism Services has launched a new edWeb.net professional learning community for teachers who are working with students with autism. The program provides free monthly webinars and “live chats,” free lesson plans, and online discussion forums to help teachers connect and collaborate on the best practices for supporting students with autism. This is a new way for teachers to connect and share perspectives and experiences.

All of the webinars are recorded and archived in the community, so teachers can watch at any time if they are not able to attend the live event. CEU is provided for attending the webinar or watching the recording and taking a short quiz. Webinars will run once a month and be free to attend for all members of the Eden communities on edWeb.net. The first topic will be “Understanding the Unique Needs of Students with Autism” – highlighting the unique challenges and needs of students with autism and how they impact learning. Other topics include Effective Strategies for Paraprofessionals, Goal Selection for Students with Autism, Positive Behavior Support Strategies, Effective Transition from the Classroom to Adulthood, Establishing Play and Leisure Skills for Students with Autism, and many more.

There are two separate tracks for the program: Effective Strategies for Grades PreK to 5 and for Grades 6 to 12. Each community on edWeb will focus its discussion and lessons on the appropriate age group. The webinars will bring members from both communities together, once a month, to connect and collaborate across grade levels. Members of the community can post questions and start discussions on topics to get feedback from the educational experts at Eden, and also from peers who are dealing with similar issues. This new program will take advantage of the power of social networking to bring teachers together to expand access to resources, and to get feedback, mentoring, and support.

Each week, a new lesson plan will be posted for members of the community. Lesson plans will be targeted to each track and can be downloaded for free. The lesson plans come from the Eden School Series Curriculum – a 5-volume set including Cognitive, Self-Care Domestics, Speech and Language, Vocational, and Recreation and Leisure.

Eden is a highly-respected school and service organization based in Princeton, NJ that provides lifespan services for individuals with autism including early intervention, a comprehensive PreK-12 curriculum, and lifelong skills training. Lifespan services are at the core of Eden’s service continuum that ranges from early intervention programming to services for older adults with autism. Lifespan services are the vehicle by which individuals who have autism continue to learn and to grow – and to become active, contributing members of their communities.

To continue the discussion on edWeb, choose your track, and click to join:
PreK-5 www.edweb.net/eden1
Grades 6-12 www.edweb.net/eden2

edWeb Launches New Teacher Help Webinar Series

2011-03-14T07:43:00.000-07:00

Novice teachers are under more scrutiny than ever before. With standardized testing, emerging technologies, reduced budgets, and increased accountability, there is a sense of urgency for new teachers to develop the skills necessary to survive and thrive in the classroom. This innovative online program is designed to explore research-based answers to critical questions like these:

What can new teachers do to get their career off to a good start?
How can new hires avoid “career killer” situations that drive teachers out of the profession?
What kinds of teacher behaviors result in significant and sustained increases in student learning?

This innovative online professional development program will present a series of monthly webinars within an online networking community on edWeb that will provide a collaborative way for novice teachers to connect and share perspectives and experiences. Through this program, new teachers will:

Learn ways to “set the tone” for a productive year of student learning.
Develop a repertoire of instructional strategies that result in higher levels of student engagement and achievement.
Establish themselves as the “authority figure” in the classroom.
Deal with students and parents who try to question their authority.
Discover resources that they can turn to for assistance when necessary.
Develop techniques to increase communication and build relationships with students, parents, veteran teachers, administrators, and school support staff.
Access resources that will help them prepare students for standardized tests.

This new teacher program will take advantage of the power of social networking to bring “newbies” together to explore critical aspects of educating students. In the year-long series of webinars, live chat, and online discussions, novices will collaborate with each other in their articulation of teaching challenges and potential approaches to these challenges. The series will help new teachers learn how to think analytically about evidence as it reflects what is really happening in their schools—with student performance, with instructional practice, and with school culture.

Presented by Shannon J. Holden
Shannon Holden has been a high school and middle school teacher and administrator in North Dakota, Texas, and Missouri for 20 years. Holden built a website, www.newteacherhelp.com in 2009 to help reduce the 50% five-year attrition rate for new teachers in the educational profession. In his spare time, Shannon speaks to college students, teachers, and administrators across the Midwest about classroom management, maintaining positive relationships with parents, instructional strategies that engage students, and implementing technology in the classroom.

How the Program Works
New Teacher Help program participants join the edWeb community on New Teacher Help to participate in this free webinar series with other school leaders all across the country. Each month the program will provide a free monthly webinar followed by a “live chat” discussion. The community blog and discussion forums will continue the discussion in an asynchronous way on an ongoing basis. The webinar recording, supporting documents and research, and bibliographic material will be archived for reference in the community. Tools like a wiki can be used for collaborative policy and practices development. Polls will be used to clarify the perspectives and opinions of the group.

The program will run from March 2011 to February 2012.
For more information or to sign up, please visit http://www.edweb.net/newteacherhelp

Emerging Tech March Webinar: Microblogging

2011-03-01T11:16:00.000-08:00

We're on to Session 9 in our Emerging Technology webinar series. This month, Michelle Luhtala will be discussing "Microblogging" on Wednesday, March 9th at 4PM Eastern Time.

Microblogging is the practice of posting very short (200 characters or less) ongoing updates - statuses in Facebook, and tweets in Twitter, but there are others - Tumblr and Haiku are gaining popularity among students. Many say that microblogging is a narcissistic waste of time, and it can be just that. But with a purpose, it is a transformational communication tool. It's ability to connect you with, well, everyone on the grid is incredibly powerful. Just take a look at the developments in the Middle East over the past few months.

Even if you aren't a Twitter expert it can still change the way you learn and teach daily. We are not talking three professional development (PD) days per year anymore. We now have access to on-demand individualized PD 24/7. Exhausting? Definitely. Way cool? That, too.

The original plan was to discuss using Twitter with kids for tech support and instruction. The problem with this is that so many schools censor social media. So while we will touch on that, because seriously folks, change IS gonna come - and we want you to be prepared when it does, we will also talk about microblogging for professional growth and networking. We'll have some very cool examples!

Attend the Emerging Tech webinar on Microblogging:
http://www.instantpresenter.com/edWeb2

Check out the other webinars in the series and continue the discussion in our edWeb community Using Emerging Technology to Advance Your School Library Program sponsored by Follett Software Company.

edWeb.net launches a new professional development program for school leaders with a focus on creating a culture of evidence—sponsored by NASSP

2011-01-24T11:31:00.000-08:00

edWeb.net, a professional social network for the education community, announces the launch of a new professional development program for school leaders – Learner-Centered School Leadership: Creating a Culture of Evidence. The program is being sponsored by NASSP, The National Association of Secondary School Principals.

School leaders must create the vision and foster the interactions among students, teachers, and staff members that lead to changes in performance and attitude. It is the determination and resolve of the leader—and his or her consistent use of the empirical evidence of performance to guide actions and decisions—that leads to exemplary performance in a school. This innovative online program is designed to explore research-based answers to critical questions like these:

o What makes a school leader successful in the era of accountability?
o What kinds of leadership behaviors result in significant and sustained increases in student learning?

The program takes advantage of the power of social networking to bring principals together to explore critical aspects of the practice of “collective leadership.” In the yearlong series of webinars, live chat, and online discussions, principals will collaborate with each other in their articulation of leadership challenges and potential approaches to these challenges. The series will help school leaders learn how to think analytically about evidence as it reflects what is really happening in their schools—with student performance, with instructional practice, and with school culture.

The program is being presented by Dr. Mari Pearlman who has written and presented extensively on the topic of the role of evidence-centered thinking in improving teaching and learning, and, in particular, the ways in which school leaders can use empirical evidence—data about instructional practices, student achievement results, and school culture—to change the conversation about a school’s learning results with faculty, staff, and students.

Dr. Pearlman noted, “School leaders need to foster critical conversations with students, faculty, and parents, but they often don’t have anyone in their own peer group to talk with. A social networking medium like edWeb makes it possible to overcome the obstacles of geography and time and engage in substantive conversations about issues that face school leaders everywhere. It fosters collaborative relationships with peers that mitigate the feeling of isolation experienced by school leaders.”

Lisa Schmucki, founder and CEO of edWeb.net, added, “edWeb.net is evolving as an outstanding platform to provide professional development opportunities for educators. Mari Pearlman is an expert and dynamic speaker on issues of effective school leadership and we are so glad that edWeb can make it possible to extend the reach of her message to a wider audience over an extended period of time. We have people signed up from all over the world.”

School leaders are invited to join the program at:
www.edweb.net/schoolleadership

New Research on eBooks: K-12 Educators' Usage and Attitudes

2010-12-10T09:06:00.000-08:00

A new research report has just been released that surveys teachers and librarians to find out how they are using e-books, personally and in the classroom, and to identify purchasing, usage, attitudes, and trends.

The survey shows that school librarians are leading the way in bringing e-books into our nation's schools, in large part because they have funding available to support their e-book purchases. The top-line results show that 40% of K-12 teachers and 50% of school librarians have purchased e-books for either personal or professional use.

"Before we conducted this study," said Neal Goff, President of Egremont Associates, "the most basic information about K-12 educators' usage of e-books didn't seem to be available anywhere, and this is a fast-growing technology with very significant implications for the entire publishing industry."

Lisa Schmucki, founder and CEO of edWeb.net, said, "We are delighted to be a co-sponsor of this e-books survey. We have several discussions on edWeb on this topic and it is clear that educators are really struggling with deciding what hardware to buy and how to integrate e-books into the classroom and library. This is an area where collaboration between educators and publishing executives is critical."

The survey was conducted by educational consulting firm Egremont Associates, with support from co-sponsors edWeb.net, MCH Strategic Data, and TecKnoQuest Inc.

To down load a free executive summary, or purchase the full report, go to:
eBooks: K-12 Educators' Usage and Attitudes

Join the edWeb community Exploring E-Books for K-12 and receive a 30% discount on the full report. This is an online community where all members of the education community can share ideas, information, and get answers to questions on this important topic.

Is the DOE recommending social networks in education?

2010-12-07T09:09:00.000-08:00

Yes, it’s true, the National Education Technology Plan (just released in final form by the U. S. Dept. of Education) calls on educators to “leverage social networking technologies and platforms to create communities of practice that provide career-long personal learning opportunities for educators…”

My jaw dropped when I read this. Not because I am the founder of edWeb, network for educators (I couldn’t have asked for a better prescription than this report.), but because of the research we’ve conducted with K-12 educators on the subject of social networking in education. Social networks are currently a “persona non-grata” technology in schools.

In our research and in educators’ conversations on edWeb.net, we hear over and over about the frustration of not being able to access the kinds of advanced technologies, especially social networks, that are so ideal for student collaboration and creating communities of practice for educators. Trying to use emerging technology is a struggle, leaving educators searching for “work-arounds” to find tools that are not blocked by IT filters.

Our research also showed us that school librarians are the most tech-savvy of all educators. When we asked a national cross-section of educators if they had joined a social networking website, 70% of librarians said “yes” compared to 62% of teachers and 54% of principals.

Based on these results, we decided to launch our first professional development program on edWeb.net for librarians. The program – “Using Emerging Technology to Advance Your School Library Program” – features live webinars in combination with our edWeb social network to provide a truly collaborative, ongoing program that helps school librarians address the very issues that are brought to the forefront in the National Education Technology Plan.

The librarians who are participating write to us all the time to tell us how much they are learning and how much they appreciate the opportunity to collaborate with colleagues. Librarians, with their head start in using technology, have a tremendous opportunity to transform their role into “chief information officer” for their schools and districts.

I’m confident that the barriers to using social networks in schools are going to come down. Students go to bed with this technology every day. It is their life and their future. Librarians and educators who adopt this technology are discovering a new way to build communities of practice with colleagues that open up a world of information, new practices, and resources.

The National Education Technology Plan recognizes the need to embrace technology, not block it. Let’s take down the barriers to emerging technology in our schools.

How will you use the National Education Technology Plan to support your use of emerging technologies?

The “Using Emerging Technology to Advance Your School Library Program” community is sponsored by Follett Software Company.

Join edWeb to create professional learning communities.
Join the Emerging Tech Community of school librarians to learn more about integrating emerging technologies into your school library program.

District Administration Magazine Picks edWeb as Site-of-the-Week

2010-12-05T21:03:00.000-08:00

edWeb.net is delighted to announce that the editors of District Administration magazine have selected edWeb.net as this week's featured "Site of the Week."

District Administration is a widely-read publication for K12 superintendents and administrators and a prime source in the industry for top-quality journalism on the unique issues, challenges, and opportunities faced by K12 district executives.

edWeb.net provides an opportunity for anyone involved in education to create online professional learning communities. edWeb promotes participation and collaboration among its members with a wide range of easy-to-use tools like blogs, discussions, messaging, polling, and document archiving. edWeb is free for all educators, and makes it easy to create communities of practice to begin working toward a more collaborative approach to teaching and learning.

This is especially timely. The recently-released National Education Technology Plan calls for leveraging the power of social networks to improve teaching and learning. The goals and recommendations of the plan endorse using social networks to create communities of practice that help educators share tools and resources, evolve skills over time, tap into experts and best practices, and provide platforms for educators to design and develop resources with and for colleagues.

edWeb.net can help schools and districts achieve these goals.

Join edWeb and create a professional learning community at www.edweb.net.

Visit District Administration at www.districtadministration.com.

edWeb to present Education Talk Radio

2010-10-24T19:07:00.000-07:00

edWeb.net is delighted to announce that we will partnering with Education Talk Radio, hosted by Larry Jacobs, to bring you fascinating interviews with leaders in education.

We'll be talking with educators, librarians, administrators, industry leaders, and many others to bring you a wide range of perspectives on what's happening in education today.

In a world filled with blogging (like this one), discussion forums, video chats, and text messages, radio is an evergreen medium for keeping up with the latest information and news.

We'll have our website up soon. So stay tuned.

For an introduction to Education Talk Radio, here is my interview with Larry Jacobs on "Social Networking and Building Online Communities for Educations."

The National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) has selected edWeb.net as their platform to build online professional learning communities for school leaders

2010-09-20T19:02:00.000-07:00

edWeb.net and the National Association of Secondary Schools Principals (NASSP) have announced a collaboration to create online professional communities for school leaders.

The launch of the NASSP School Leadership Network on the edWeb.net platform comes at a time when principals reveal a readiness to participate in online discussions, as demonstrated in recent research conducted by edWeb.net and sponsored by MCH Strategic Data. “NASSP has spent the past several years watching the evolution of education communities online and gauging principals’ interest and participation,” said Bob Farrace, senior director for communications and development at NASSP, “We’re seeing increasing numbers of principals participate and we’re confident that we have the right platform on which to engage them.”

Lisa Schmucki, founder and CEO of edWeb.net, commented, “We are delighted to be working in partnership with NASSP to help principals connect. We see the power of connectivity on edWeb everyday and know this will give principals an exceptional new way to share information, challenges, opportunities, and results.”

This new collaboration also evolves The Long Conference, a longstanding middle level feature at the annual NASSP Conference established in memory of Forrest E. Long, an advocate of quality middle level education and founder of MCH Strategic Data. With financial support from the Long family, the conference aimed to engage principals in discussing and exchanging educational practices. That mission remains; only the medium has changed.

Peter Long, chairman of MCH Strategic Data and grandson of Forrest Long, commented, “My grandfather was both an educator and an innovator. He believed in the power of sharing information and ideas. I know that he would be cheering us on as we work with NASSP, in his memory, to transform The Long Conference into an online learning community.”

Principals and other school leaders can join the community by setting up an edWeb.net profile and visiting www.edWeb.net/principals.

New research on school principals and social networking in education

2010-09-09T15:00:00.000-07:00

A new research report - School Principals and Social Networking in Education: Practices, Policies, and Realities in 2010 - was conducted and co-sponsored by edWeb.net, IESD, Inc., MMS Education, and MCH Strategic Data.

The goal of the research study was to take a close look at the attitudes of school principals about social networking for their own personal use, with their colleagues, and within their school communities. Principals can play an important role in encouraging and training their teachers and staff to adopt new technologies, and in setting policies for the use of technology and the Internet in schools.

Social networking has rapidly become a popular way for people to connect all over the world. Yet schools are one of the last holdouts, where social networking sites are often banned for students, and often for teachers and staff, out of a concern about safety, privacy, confidentiality, and lack of knowledge about how best to ensure appropriate use.

At the same time, education reform initiatives from all corners—Federal and state programs, education research, and policy initiatives—are advocating the use of innovative and collaborative technology to drive improvements in teaching quality and student achievement.

The research was conducted in two phases: an online survey sent to a cross section of educators across the country in the fall of 2009, followed by an in-depth EDRoom online discussion with 12 principals who are currently using social networking in their professional lives.

Key findings:

Most principals who responded to the survey believe that social networking sites can provide value in education because they provide a way for educators to share information and resources with an extended community of educators, create professional learning communities, and improve school-wide communications with students and staff. About half of the surveyed principals felt that social networking is very valuable for these purposes.

Most of the principals in the discussion group thought that social networking and online collaboration tools would make a substantive change in students' educational experience. Specific types of changes they mentioned included: development of a more social/collaborative view of learning; improved motivation, engagement, and/or active involvement; creation of a connection to real-life learning.

None of the responding principals in the discussion group had school/district policies in place on social networking that were deemed adequate, suggesting the need for conversations and collaboration on establishing policies that can facilitate appropriate use of social networking in schools for educational purposes.

For a free copy of the report:

You can download a copy of the report at School Principals and Social Networking in Education

To request a copy by email, or for more information, send an email to survey@edweb.net.

edWeb.net Announces Winners of edWeb Innovation Grant Awards

2010-09-02T08:08:00.001-07:00

The edWeb Innovation Grant program provides grants of $500 to educators who are developing new models and best practices for using edWeb.net to provide online, collaborative professional development. The grant was created to help educators learn about new ideas and best practices for integrating an online, collaborative platform into professional development programs for educators.

The recipients of the $500 edWeb Innovation Grants are Kelly Daly and Amy Anders.

Kelly Daly, assistant principal, Banning Unified School District, Banning, California

Ms. Daly has coordinated a program that requires teachers to receive support from Technology Integration Coaches. The coaches are using an edWeb community to: provide a communication medium to share information, ideas, and best practices among each other; have a one-stop-shop for resources like weblinks, documents, and a calendar; and coaches are using edWeb to practice using Web 2.0 Tools with their mentees. Daly said, "The edWeb tools have been extremely beneficial for our coaches... I hope each school within our school district begins to extend faculty meetings and staff development with edWeb."

Amy Anders, house principal, Atascocita High School, Humble, Texas

Ms. Anders is the prgram director for A Career in Teaching-EPP and uses edWeb as a means of communication and learning with their educator preparation program candidates and interns. Anders plans on using edWeb to connect teachers, students, parents, and staff for everything from homework and announcements to connecting students across the world. Anders said, "No longer is the learning solely between the teacher and student...the learning is between all of us on our edWeb Community site."

Head over to www.edweb.net and start building your community!

edWeb.net Launches Online Community to Explore eBooks in K-12 Education

2010-08-26T11:47:00.000-07:00

A new community has been launched on edWeb where educators and industry executives can connect and collaborate about new technologies for the classroom.

Exploring eBooks for K-12 is sponsored by Neal Goff, founder of consulting firm Egremont Associates and former president of Weekly Reader. Neal's fascination with eBooks and their potential impact on education has led him to start this community. His hope for the community is that it will "enable its members to learn from and support each other... perhaps even influence the way educators use eBooks and educational publishers create them in the years to come."

In just a few days the community has had the quickest start out of any community on the edWeb! With over 130 members, including teachers, superintendents, media specialists, principals, tech directors, publishers, educational associates, and more, the blog has been abuzz these past few days. Members are joining from around the world to engage in dialogue that can help everyone in the community to understand eBooks and how to implement them in education.

Here's a bit of the Blog Buzz:

"I constantly seek new ways to engage students with reading for both school and pleasure. The arrival of ebooks and audio ebooks certainly provides a new avenue to explore." -Media Specialist

"This year I have the opprtunity to put together a proposal for using more technology with our Homebound students. These are students who need to be home for mostly medical reasons and a teacher goes to their home to deliver instruction. Traditonally this means getting work from the teacher and taking it to the student. Since this process can sometimes be time consuming the use of ebooks might be a way to help." -Instructional Technology Specialist

"I work for a publisher and we are interested in converting our pubs into ebooks. There seems to be quite a few file formats, some of which include, kindle, itunes, epub, google books. I have a few questions. First, is there one format that will work on all devices? Which format is most widely used?" -Industry Executive

"At this time with little to no budget, I'm not sure which direction it will be possible to take for our libraries. I can see possibilities for informational text but, I'm not sure that the population of either of my schools are ready to read eBooks for pleasure." -Teacher Librarian

"I'd love to learn more about how special and general ed teachers use eBooks to support learners with disabilities and students who have physical challenges." -Writer

"eReaders and eBooks have the potential to bring about a real change in education, but only if we can overcome the barriers to lending them in our libraries and distributing them as textbooks. In Australia we are still hung up on "which device" issues." -Educational Services

Anyone involved in education is invited to join the "Exploring eBooks for K-12" community at www.edweb.net/ebooks

Thanks to Follett Software Company for sponsoring our social webinar series on emerging technology for librarians

2010-07-17T00:39:00.000-07:00

Last week we had our first “social webinar” for librarians on “Using Emerging Technology to Advance Your School Library Program.”

Michelle Luhtala, our series host, gave an information-packed overview of the hybrid online/on-ground instructional programat her school that uses social media to engage and inspire both students and teachers. Throughout this series, Luhtala is sharing advice on how she got her program approved and implemented, and will provide demonstrations of how she is using a wide variety of collaborative and content-sharing technologies. Luhtala is the winner of the 2010 National School Library Program of the Year (NSLPY) and the Connecticut Library Association's 2010 Outstanding Librarian Award.

The “live chat” that went on during the presentation was a fascinating sidebar as participants shared their own thoughts, challenges, frustrations, and suggestions for using more collaborative technologies in schools.

We launched our program just a few weeks ago, and we have 400 librarians who have signed up for the program. The next webinar will be held on August 10th at 11am Eastern Time on “Millennials and Digital Brains.”

We are very thankful to Follett Software for their sponsorship of this program so it can be free for any librarian to join. Michael Campbell, marketing director, says the company’s sponsorship of our monthly series is a natural fit. “Follett Software has built its reputation on helping librarians play a key role in K-12 education. As the role of the school librarian is changing, we are adapting and evolving our products and services to support librarians in their jobs. We applaud edWeb.net’s mission, and are pleased to be the inaugural sponsor of what promises to be a compelling series of webinars.”

Librarians can participate in this free program by joining the edWeb community: Using Emerging Technology to Advance Your School Library Program.

Teachers Speak Out on Teaching in the Digital Age

2010-07-04T14:49:00.000-07:00

Watch the videos on the edWeb YouTube Channel!

edWeb.net helped the Association of Educational Publishers reach out to teachers for their Content in Context Conference that was held in June in Washington, DC. Teachers were asked to submit videos that answered three questions:

1.    What are you most in need of in order to teach effectively in the digital age?
2.    What one request would you make of those who create instructional materials to make them digital-classroom friendly?
3.    How would better digital technology and content in the classroom help you and your students?

Teachers responded enthusiastically and their entries were provocative and creative. Most of the teachers asked publishers to convert more of their materials to digital form that can be easily downloaded. Interactive whiteboards played prominently in many of the videos, and it's clear they are becoming central to classroom teaching in the same way the blackboard has been for generations. Many of the teachers involved their students in the productions with comical results.

Watch the videos on the edWeb YouTube Channel
Join the edWeb Community on Classrooms in the Digital Age

What kind of leader are you?

2010-06-28T18:55:00.000-07:00

This past weekend edWeb was a sponsor at the Curriculum Improvement Institute Conference that was held at the Hyatt in Philadelphia.

Over 350 school leaders and teachers from all over the country participated in sessions led by dynamic speakers who are the foremost thinkers and practitioners in education. Strands focused on leadership, curriculum and instruction, assessment, and 21st century learning.

Keynote speakers Grant Wiggins and Peg Portscheller kicked off the daily agenda. Cameron D. Evans, CTO for US Education/Microsoft, talked about the future of technology in education and showed a mesmerizing video of the latest advances in computing technology. Kevin Baird, CEO of Collaborative Learning, Inc., talked about how improvement requires changing people’s attitude, activities, and expectations. Dr. Mari Pearlman demonstrated how to practice evidence-based assessment.

With multiple strands and 40 speakers over 3 days, it was like an all-you-can-eat buffet where, much as you would like to, you just can't partake of it all.

If I had one "take-away" from the three days, the theme was leadership. The words of advice were wise ones whether talking about leading schools, leading companies, or leading any organization with purpose. There is no other "industry" in America that is under this level of pressure to reform and improve. What would we do if faced with the same challenges, with so much at stake?

What kind of leader are you? Are you a leader who:

Creates a vision and mission
Keeps the end in mind
Encourages participation
Enables others to act
Studies and analyzes the data
Relies on the evidence
Embraces and facilitates change
Understands the value of relationships
Models the way
Has the courage to do things differently
Believes in miracles

The three days ended with an inspiring talk by Dr. John Phillips, former Superintendent of the Year, Superintendent Emeritus of GA and TX districts. He spoke of his 40 years as an administrator that began in the South at the dawn of desegregation. His words were an inspiration to all:

"I believe in miracles. When students are trusted, respected, loved, and supported, miracles happen. When teachers are trusted, respected, loved, and supported, miracles happen. When principals are trusted, respected, loved, and supported, miracles happen."

This is a conference you don't want to miss. The next one will be in Chicago, June 24-26, 2011. For more information, join the Curriculum Improvement Community on edWeb.

Here are the slides from the workshop I gave on our latest research on educators and social networking:

Curriculum Improvement Conference Workshop

View more presentations from edWeb.net.

edWeb.net Receives Distinguished Achievement Award

2010-06-09T11:20:00.000-07:00

edWeb.net received a Distinguished Achievement Award last night at the AEP Awards Banquet.

The AEP Awards, from the Association of Educational Publishers, are nationally recognized by educators and administrators as a mark of outstanding quality and achievement and are one of the largest and longest-running recognition programs in the education industry.

edWeb.net received a Distinguished Achievement Award in the category of Technology & New Media - Social Media.

We are delighted and thankful to AEP for this recognition, and so thankful for the many friends and colleagues who have helped us reach this rewarding milestone. I also thank the many educators whose constant feedback helps us make edWeb better.

edWeb announces a new "social webinar" series for school librarians

2010-05-27T14:51:00.000-07:00

We are starting a new program on edWeb, a "social webinar" series, on "Using Emerging Technology to Advance Your School Library Program." The program will help school librarians use emerging technology, particularly free social media, to transform library instruction and service delivery.

The program will be hosted by Michelle Luhtala, Head Librarian, New Canaan High School and the winner of the 2010 National School Library Program of the Year (NSLPY) and the Connecticut Library Association's 2010 Outstanding Librarian Award.

Michelle will share advice on how she got her innovative program approved and implemented, as well as providing demonstrations of how she is using Facebook, YouTube, VoiceThread, Twitter, Moodle, Google Apps, and many more collaborative and content-sharing technologies.

The focus will be on student needs and pedagogical initiatives like responsive teaching and differentiation, and how social media in a school library program can favorably influence professional development. There will be examples of library assessment in all forms of social media, and how student responses have informed library instruction and program delivery.

The program will explore the correlation between social media and 21st century learning, and consider the value of more open access to social media websites in school districts. It will also show how “social libraries” raise community awareness and help increase school library budgets.

We are very excited about launching this program in a new format - a “social webinar” program format that will make participation in a webinar series more collaborative and interactive. The program will use the technology to teach about the technology.

The program evolved from the research we’ve conducted with educators on social networking. Our research showed that school librarians are further ahead of teachers and principals in their use of 21st century technology. We wanted to develop a program that would leverage that advantage and help librarians advance further, faster. Since school librarians play such a central role in providing information and resources for their school communities, we recognized that this would help these innovative uses of technology to spread faster. I could not be more delighted that Michelle Luhtala, the winner of the 2010 School Library of the Year Award, will be our program host and coach. She is a very dynamic and engaging presenter who is really pushing the boundaries of what a school library program can offer.

“Using Emerging Technology to Advance Your School Library Program” is a free program for school librarians. It will begin in June 2010 and run through May 2011. Librarians can sign up for the program by joining edWeb at www.edweb.net/emergingtech.

edWeb is offering sponsorship opportunities for education companies who would like to support this innovative program. Sponsors will have a unique opportunity to participate in the program and engage in dialogue with school librarians around the use of these new technologies. For more information, email info@edweb.net.

edWeb.net and the SIIA Education Division Announce Industry Partnership

2010-05-04T17:23:00.000-07:00

I am delighted to announce that edWeb.net and the SIIA Education Division have teamed up to reach out to educators and involve them in SIIA programs and initiatives that include the CODiE Award Program and the Vision K-20 Initiative.

SIIA’s Education Division serves and represents more than 150 member companies that provide software, digital content and other technologies that address educational needs. It has never been more important to promote an open dialogue among all the stakeholders in education to find the best solutions for supporting education goals.

We will be working with SIIA to create online communities with educators to create public interest and awareness for the Education Division’s key programs and initiatives, particularly in the area of educational technology.

I am delighted to work with SIIA to help them reach educators. This was a major reason we founded edWeb—to break down the silos and build collaboration among educators, administrators, associations, companies, and legislators. Through our edWeb community and also through our strategic partnership with MCH, Inc., we can help SIIA reach a high percentage of K-12 educators and use professional social networking to connect and get feedback to guide their key initiatives. This is critical if we are going to meet the challenges of integrating innovative technology in education.

AEP Teacher Video Challenge

2010-05-04T16:49:00.000-07:00

Keeping up with changes in technology and in the classroom is an ongoing challenge. As educational publishers strive to improve instructional materials for the classroom, it is more important than ever to hear from educators, in their own words, about what they need to teach effectively and to meet the needs of their students in the 21st century.

To bring educators’ voices into the conversation, the AEP has launched the Teacher Video Challenge in connection with their upcoming Content in Context Conference. AEP is teaming up with edWeb.net to reach out to educators and ask them to submit videos on three crucial questions:

1. What are you most in need of in order to teach effectively in the digital age?
2. What one request would you make of those who create instructional materials to make them digital-classroom friendly?
3. How would better digital technology and content in the classroom help you and your students?

I am delighted that the edWeb is working with AEP to help them reach educators through our edWeb community and also through our strategic partnership with MCH, Inc. Through our combined efforts, we are helping AEP reach more than 200,000 educators to encourage their participation in the Teacher Video Challenge. Social networks provide an entirely new channel to connect and get feedback from educators. This is critical if we are going to meet the challenges of providing a quality education for all students.

The Teacher Video Challenge: Classrooms in the Digital Age is collecting thoughts and opinions on digital resources and classroom technology from educators across the country and bring them directly to those companies and organizations responsible for developing learning materials and tools.

Teachers are creating and uploading their videos on YouTube, then submitting their entries on edWeb.net with blog post and a link to their YouTube video. The submission process uses these social media platforms to encourage teachers to use these 21st century communication tools.

Twenty videos will be showcased as part of AEP's Content in Context Conference in June, and all submissions will be archived on both the edWeb and AEP's YouTube channel.