Education Technology Conference - Toronto, ON - Mar 2 & 3, 2011

I am looking forward to Chairing an upcoming Educational Technology conference in Toronto: 
http://educationtechnologysummit.com/conference/detailed-agenda.html

Check out the great list of speakers, which includes:  Elliot Soloway (Mich), Elizabeth Murphy (MUN), Therese Laferriere (Laval) and Ron Owsten (York). 

21st Century Knowing - More Like Canadian Idol than Jeopardy

Great new articles in the latest issue of Education Canada! One that really caught my attention was "Deans Speak Out" - Dennis Sumara talks about the difference between 20th and 21st century knowing. Well worth the read.

School Technology: Learning With Laptops, 6 Important Lessons from Maine

In School Tech: 6 Important Lessons From Maine’s Student Laptop Program, Sarah Kessler summarizes some key lessons learned from the statewide learning with laptops initiative in Maine: 

1. Treat Technology as a Tool, Not a Curriculum Area
2. Think Differently About Teaching
3. Decide to Do It, Not Pilot It
4. Concentrate on Current Curriculum Initiatives at First
5. Support Teachers as Much as Possible
6. Make Technology Part of Teachers’ Everyday Language, Too

Have your say - comment on whether there are key lessons that Sarah left out. 

Hockey and Community Engagement

A colleague passed this along because she knows how much time our family spends at the hockey rink.

What Can Canadians Conclude From the Struggle for Hockey Franchises?
Paul Cappon, President & CEO, Canadian Council on Learning


Learning across the life cycle comprises Learning to Do, Learning to Live Together, and Learning to Be, as well as the formal education characterized by Learning to Know.

Among important indicators in the Learning to Be dimension are those relating to participation in sports and in the cultural, social and recreational life of a community. When participation is high, learning conditions are better and individual opportunities for learning enhanced. 

Systemic Approach to Technology-Based School Innovation

A recent report published by OECD's Center for Educational Research and Innovation (CERI) is well worth a read:

OECD. (2010). Inspired by Technology, Driven by Pedagogy: A Systemic Approach To Technology-Based School Innovations. A Report by OECD’s Centre for Educational Research and Innovation (CERI); Educational Research and Innovation Division. Online: http://www.oecd.org/document/60/0,3343,en_2649_35845581_46156604_1_1_1_1,00.html


My thoughts: 

1. Systemic innovation: Our Education system must put wireless technology into the hands of every student and classroom teacher
   
2. Systemic Innovation: Our Education system must invest in high quality, continuous professional learning for leaders and teachers - we won't be able to stop! 
3. Systemic Innovation: Our Education system must reduce firewalls/filters between students and teachers and the vast online world of resources