Last night I started a new Ning for 1:1 Learning Environments – http://1to1learningenvironments.ning.com/ There are many schools now considering going down the 1:1 laptop path, whether they are part of the netbook trial here in Victoria or doing it on their own, just as my college is.
Learning about the new machines
When we first considered the 1:1 laptop initiative for our Year 7s, there were many things to think about, from hardware and software, how the students and teachers were going to use them, storage and care, and so on. We had to work quickly as we were a brand new college starting up and we only had one term to set things up. In reality it was even less time for me as I only officially began at the school in late November, giving me 4 weeks to get things ready!
I used my PLN, Professional Learning Network, to help me find out what other schools did, their challenges and their successes. I had many educators offering support and advice, Patrick Woessner, being one of them.
I am hoping that the new 1:1 Learning Environment Ning will help educators connect with others who are either thinking of going down this road or well on their way.
A couple of posts ago I reflected on three themes – CREATE, COMMUNICATE & COLLABORATE. I like the way the Wollongong Catholic Education Office have captures this in a clean and simple presentation.
Our cat has been with us now for nearly 10 years. He is a lovely cat and full of personality. He was taken to emergency care last weekend after he came home damaged from a fight with another cat. He has used up so many of his lives and has become quite a regular visitor to the Vet. He is well again..until next time!
Whilst looking for a new photo to use for one of my avatars, i came across a way to blog from Flickr straight to my blog.
Just for fun I have decided to use a photo of my dog. He is cute, naughty, hairy but very lovable. I swear he thinks he is human, or is it that I treat him like a human (child)!!
Anyway, thought I would test this out and perhaps use it in a different way next time.
In a couple of weeks time it will be one whole year since we (WMR Ultranet Coaches) organised and held the NOW Online Conference. It was a great event and we had some wonderful presenters talking about three main themes – CREATE, COLLABORATE and COMMUNICATE.
NOW 2008
These themes are still strong ones that are being explored in schools and educational forums. Earlier this evening I was looking through recent tweets on Twitter and came across one from klbeasley and it made me think back to these three themes.
The three Cs
So what has happened over the last 12 months? How have we moved on and helped our students become creators of new knowledge, communicate their ideas and understandings, and collaborate with others at school and beyond school?
Even though I am no longer an Ultranet Coach, I have seen and heard of some gains within my region, although still feel that there are many competing priorities for schools that often it is difficult to make the big gains.
Now that I am working within one school I have been able to watch some of these themes being explored by our teachers. Like other schools, we too have had many priorities, one of which is starting everything from scratch. Being a greenfields school there was a lot to establish – curriculum, policies, vision, uniform, and so on. However, I am pleased that with time and the right understanding of how ICT can be used to leverage learning, we are moving forward.
Our 5/6s have just recently made links with an International School in Bangkok, whilst our Year 7 have just recently live blogged with Anne Mirtschin’s Year 7s at Hawkesdale P-12. We are hopeful these links will be developed over the next term.
We are still learning and still experimenting with these themes and technologies but it is happening
