Twittering at a Conference

No questions about it! Twitter has transformed my learning in the last few years. Having a constant stream of ideas, thoughts, resources and experts at my fingertips is invaluable for me these days. I continue to find new ways to make Twitter work for me, but also to contribute to the learning of others.

I want to share my experience of twittering from a conference (Curriculum Mapping), I attended last week. You might ask:

Why would you twitter at a conference?

Well… I am:

• picking out the main idea the presenter is trying to make
• summarizing and condensing what I am hearing
• trying to write concise
• by documenting the important points for me
• documenting in chronological order what is happening
• sharing with my Twitter followers the information that I am receiving
• disseminating ideas, thoughts, resources, discussions, questions, answers…
• allowing others, who are not physically present, to participate to a certain degree

Take a look at the following screenshots of my tweets from January 12-14 during the conference. Scroll down to the end to begin, since they are in reverse chronological order.

What is your impression? Are these kinds of tweets from a conference helpful? Do they give you an idea of the conference? Are they confusing/useful/useless? Do you tweet at conferences? What are some of the advantages you see/have experienced?

Upgrading your Curriculum Maps through Digital Literacy

Presented by Earl Nicholas

This session will examine currently available digital tools for bringing your Curriculum Mapping and classroom instruction further into our children’s world of the 21st Century

You can start Curriculum Mapping by simply writing in a a spreadsheet or you can use a company like Atlas Rubicon. To “upgrade” your map, start linking to outside resources:

• websites
• audio
• video
• interactive games

Earl went on showing attendees the video conferencing tool Skype, We “skyped” across the room for demonstration purposes.

Visual Thesaurus is a great example for using a web based tool for  student engagement, language literacy, higher level thinking skills etc.

All links to web sites, resources, video, audio, etc can be linked directly from the curriculum map.

Earl introduced Curriculum 21 Clearinghouse, part of the Curriculum 21 site:

http://curriculum21.com/

Curriculum 21 is the outgrowth of the work of a dynamic group of educators worldwide attempting to help colleagues transform curriculum and school designs to match the needs of 21st century learners. The impetus origniated from the Curriculum Mapping work developed by Dr. Heidi Hayes Jacobs. As we examined maps emerging across the United States and overseas it was evident that curriculum and instruction remains dated although both students and teachers recognize the need to become current and forward thinking in our planning.

Embed Google Earth placemarks directly into your map.

Google Earth

Creating Consensus Maps- Setting Direction in a School

Presenter:: Jeanne Tribuzzi

Beginning a curriculum mapping initiative is a perfect time for teachers and leaders to collaborate for the purpose of setting direction with curriculum, instruction and assessment. What has to happen in your school or district to design curriculum that supports the mission of the school or the needs f the students? Beginning with consensus and leadership can move the school in the desired direction. This session will share strategies for that work through the process of mapping.

Consensus Maps: Decide together what the curriculum will be

• Collaborating first to begin with Consensus Map
  • Collaborating first to come to consensus on the Non-Negotiable
  • Essential Maps, Consensus Maps, Collaborative Maps, Master Maps
• Leadership
  • includes teachers and administrators
  • which administrators will help facilitate and guide the work
  • what teachers will initially be involved? Representative group of everyone?
  • when will they meet?
  • a plan need to include: goals, time line, a way to monitor progress
  • SOMEONE has to provide LEADERSHIP!
• Teacher Collaboration
• Existing Curriculum & Standards
• Diary Mapping from the Core
• The Review Cycle
• 21st Century Curriculum

Essential Question:

How can teachers and administrator collaborate at the onset of the mapping work to create consensus maps?

Which Direction to go?

1. Glossary of Terms
2. Standards
3. school goals
4. determine beginning expectations
5. begin to develop a common language with which to create the curriculum maps
6. begin with a dialogue

Unwrapping Standards

"Unwrapping" Standards

image by Timothy Valentine

• Content can be found within the standard… look for nouns
• Skills can be found within standards… look for verbs (that can be measured, not “understand or “demonstrate”)

Consensus Map Components

• Content
• Skill
• Common Assessments
• Shared Resources
• Specific Academic Terms

Consistency vs Flexibility

Flexibility

• Determine where consistency in the curriculum is critical for success of the students
• determine where flexibility in the curriculum is just as important for the success of students

Bringing teachers together:

• learning credits or curriculum funds given to those who are willing to work
• subs provide coverage for teachers
• Curriculum Dialogue days included in school calendar
• Administrators and teachers created a vertical alignment to the basic beginning curricula
• After the School reimbursement
• Professional Study Days

What key elements are necessary for school improvement?

School Improvement

Four critical features:

1. Leaders and teachers pursue a clear shared purpose for all student’ learning
2. Leaders and teachers engage in collaborative activity to achieve the purpose
3. Leaders and teachers take collective responsibility for students learning
4. well articulated curriculum improves schools.

Agreements we must make to one Another

Agreement with Teachers

During the Meeting

• PPPP: Present, Punctual with Positive Participation

After the Meeting

• We must agree to support the work and not sabotage each other.

The Review Phases

1. Collaborate: Small group or everyone
2. Create: Create beginning Consensus Maps
3. Large Group Review: Bring everyone together to revise and finalize maps
4. Instruct & Map; Use the consensus Maps for instruction
5. Communicate & Review: Come back together to revise and improve
6. Continue the Cycle: Continue to add to and grow the curriculum by improving the maps