Mission and Vision Statements

We are at a point where we begin to think seriously about our learning vision statement. The mission statement should be the current NCHS mission statement. Agree?

There is an overarching strategic vision for technology application which encompasses the learning vision, but which is more generally formulated for all aspects of technology in the school building. This, too must be addressed as we look at goals and develop ways to reverse engineer our way to their fruition.

I have posted in the Program Planning and Evaluation page of the wiki some thoughts to get us started. As mentioned there, the National Educational Computing Conference (NECC) has published new lists of standards (2008) for teachers. Meantime please share your thoughts through the wiki or here at the blog.

Fortes in Fide

What is this "Web 2.0"?

The term "Web 2.0" is widely used to describe a major paradigm shift regarding the Internet. It's implications are vast and apply in many sectors, especially the business community. Our glossary is a good place to get an idea of the concept. Our focus is clearly on the impact of Web 2.0 concepts on education. Therefore, in order to promote more clarity and cause less confusion, i will use the term "21st century teaching and learning skills" or simply, "21st century skills".

Steve Hargadon in his blog gives us a great overview of what is going on. See what you think.

Sue Summerford presents her Classroom Hotlist as a reference to the the breadth of the movement. Kind of overwhelming; isn't it?

Related Links:
Wiki as Textbook
Wikis at Boston College
Web 2.0 & Social Networking

Fortes in Fide

Some Major Assumptions for Consideration

• The plan we for see for NCHS is to be world class and distinguish the type of education provided at NCHS.
  
• Patrick J. Finn's work:
  First, there is empowering education, which leads to powerful literacy, the kind of literacy that leads to positions of power and authority. Second, there is domesticating education, which leads to functional literacy, literacy that makes a person productive and dependable, not troublesome.
  
• The Web 2.0 paradigm shift is real, powerful, pervasive and viral.
• No plan for technology usage in teaching and learning can ignore Web 2.0.
  
• The plan must be collaborative in nature with all members participating as a community. This is essential for shared ownership and enduring commitment.
  
• All participants must be reasonably well grounded in the 21st century teaching and learning skills implicit in Web 2.0.
• The creative process and the participants work must model a 21st century teaching , learning process.
• Our group is disparate in nature, but each member brings unique and important insights to the table. Many members have worked for years in the Information Science and Technology fields and are well aquainted with 21st century digital tools. We will find strength in the diversity of the group.
• Both the blog and the wiki serve important functions in our working process.
• The moderator authority stems for the committee leadership and the consent of the members.
  

Fortes in Fide

A Suggested Committee Process

We face an interesting dilemma. On the one hand we are asked to make recommendations concerning an important aspect of our school's future educational modus operandi.

That might be fine if we all had a fine working knowledge of the 21st Century teaching and learning skills that are being employed around the world right know ( I suggest a brief look at the "Glossary" in our wiki). The paradigm shift in the web, sometimes referred to Web 2.0, is profound. We do, however have time and school support. We can deliberate the issues using the very 21st Century teaching and learning skills we will be promoting.

To complicate matters even more, much of the work we must do is much more in serial form than parallel. Early major decisions, i.,e. "1-1 computing" or another stratagem, will be of major impact on later recommendations. What a wonderful opportunity we have!

Therefore, I recommend a kind of "just in time" approach to learning the basic tools and background acquisition; while at the same time working our way systematically through the plan development.

Our next blog post, for instance, will introduce us to something called "The Google Notebook"; it's elements and uses. This will be the first entry in the wiki Toolbox. Simultaneously, we will begin a hard examination of the notion-1-1 Computing.

Seven of us are wiki writers and a lesser number has joined the blog. Remember, you must join Google to use Blogger. Let me know if you have any "member" issues.

Fortes in Fide!

Getting Underway

We have each been asked to volunteer our time and talents to create and recommend a Technology Plan for NCHS. We have been asked to give a three year commitment to this task and to phase the development of the program over a three year period.

The chair of the committee is Trudy Van Kirk, Director of Business Development at Rodata, Inc. I am assuming Frank Orga, President of NCHS is a co-chair. We had an organizational meeting at North on April 23rd. Present were Joe Brosky, Winfield Craig, Paul Lamping, Jim Lenkner, Jason Lucia, George Appel and Greg Schmidt - co-chair by phone. Other members were unable to attend. i.e.; Lou Lazzarro, Laura McGinnis, Walt Quinn, Will Ryan and Nick Valadja. After introductions we explored planning strategies. It was strongly agreed that we have been presented with an opportunity to develop and recommend a world class plan to NCHS.

I suggested that we should utilize 21st century technology tools by using a wiki to develop the plan primarily because of it's collaborative quality and a blog to journal the process. The committee approved; thus this blog and our planning wiki. The wiki is a "Wetpaint" wiki and requires your subscribing to visit it. Much of our work can be done online.

I have looked at over 90 technology plans on the web and found a Guide that seems to fit the bill for our use. Register for the site and download the pdf. I have developed the wiki to this point using that guide. The wiki serves as a kind of "learning platform" for our committee's work; aptly described by Trudy as 'reverse engineering".

My plan is to use blog posts to think out loud, put forth ideas and document each major step in the process. I humbly ask committee members to frequently visit this blog, particularly between meetings, comment on posts, make suggestions, criticize and provide guidance for me so that I may reflect the will of the committee in my service to the committee.

Trudy suggested that we meet the 4th Wednesday of each month at 5 PM at North. Our next meeting then would be May 28th.

Fortes in Fide!