Crash Course on ASCD – My Day 1
March 15, 2009
I am one of the lucky few who is currently attending the ASCD conference in Orlando. ASCD is a “nonprofit educational leadership association that develops programs, products, and services essential to the way educators learn, teach, and lead.” I am quickly learning that ASCD is the leading curriculum and professional development organization in the world. Apparently, they have a whopping 175,000 members from over 119 countries.
My initial impression of ASCD is that they “get it.” The conference theme was the excellent “Learning Beyond Boundaries.” There was also a focus on 21st Century Skills – and particularly how to inspire creativity in students.
I felt more comfortable at this conference than others ed tech conferences because it was centered around teaching and learning. Often times, education technology conferences seem disconnected from instruction.
The conference organizers have also been extremely friendly to mew media. The organizers created a Twitter tag, #ASCD09, and have been giving bloggers and members of the press equal conference privileges. The ASCD communications team is also doing their own live-blogging on the ASCD web site.
There was a variety of vendors at the conference including: technology; professional development; furniture; garment; publishers; and others.
The technology companies that attend ASCD are mostly established players with a demonstrated track record who are selling enterprise level solutions. The other unique aspect of the vendor crowd is that senior level executives were manning the booths that I visited.
While I only had the chance to attend one workshop today, I understand that they were a mixed bag.
The workshop that I attended was Borderless Learning: Using Technology to Connect Classrooms Worldwide. I was hoping this session would present a guidebook on “how to meet international partners.” Unfortunately, it went over the same tired Web 2.0 tools that I was already familiar with. One person asked the great question, “How do I connect with people in other countries?” The presenter’s answer was weak and uninformative.
I have been studying how to find international partner schools and the best examples that I have found are The Flat Classroom Project, the Global Education Collaborative, or Classroom 2.0. (There is also this great thread on Scott McLeod’s site with more ideas.)
One of my colleagues attended a session titled, Grading that Facilitates and Reflects Learning. The session was taught by Assistant Superintendent of Grand Island Public Schools, Stephen Burkholder. My colleague described the session as “excellent.” The overall idea was to stop using grades as punishments or as rewards – but instead to start using them to reflect what the students are learning. For example, instead of a grade for Reading, they may have rubric-based marks for Fluency, Decoding Strategies, and Comprehension.
Overall, it is wonderful to see an organization as large as the ASCD embrace global collaboration. Collaborative technologies create a wonderful channel to connect with like-minded individuals who are passionate about similar topics. Technology allows us to build Personal Learning Networks beyond boundaries. The ASCD is doing a great job of helping educators understand this trend and ready themselves for the massive changes underway.
2009 Chagrin Falls Education Technology Day
March 9, 2009
The 2009 Chagrin Falls Education Technology Day was a home run! We had a wonderful group of speakers from across the State come speak to us about how technology is transforming teaching and learning at their districts.
We learned about Web 2.0, Personal Productivity, Personal Learning Networks, Course Management Systems, 21st Century Skills, and just about every other important ed tech topic.
All of the materials are being shared on the Chagrin Falls wiki and 21st Century Learning wiki. If you want to read other great debriefs about this event, check out Lani Ritter Hall‘s blog, or Doug Jones “Jones’n”, Director of our education division.
There were two other elements of this day that have stuck with me.
1) This day created dialogue across the district and beyond about 21st Century Skills. I do not believe it would have been possible to attend this one-day event without shifting your outlook about the role of technology in education. Every teacher, administrators, and staff member was touched by something at this conference.
2) Sheryl Nussbaum-Beach remains one of the most inspirational figures in my life. Her energy and vision are contagious. She bravely asserts her point of view and pushes the envelope to extend everyone’s thinking. Here is an excerpt of an e-mail that I sent to her:
I strongly felt that your message was clear to every person in the auditorium. I heard MULTIPLE Superintendents say that they were totally on board with your message. I loved the quotes about technology at the end of your presentation. Everything you spoke about was extremely powerful, persuasive, and mind-changing.
I thought your workshop facilitation was one of the most mind-opening, fascinating, productive “work shops” that I have ever been a part of. We need more Sheryl’s in the world. You were dynamite. That event at Chagrin Falls certainly galvanized my interest in the role of technology in education. Since the first time I met you and stumbled around your blog, you have helped ignite a passion for 21st Century Learning and Personal Learning Networks in me as well. I will be forever grateful to you for this.
The Superintendent of Chardon Schools, Joe Bergant, has joined twitter and is driving change at his district as a result of this wonderful day!
Thank you to all the speakers and attendees for organizing a wonderful event. It is exciting and humbling to be part of a business that is helping drive so much positive change in our community.