NEWSLETTER: Preparing Students

IN THIS ISSUE:

• Building a PLN
• IN THE CLASSROOM: Knowing Your Students
• The Electronic Resume
• NEW Resource
• SPECIAL! $10 Off All Courses

With the rampant speed at which technology impacts options in teaching and learning it is no longer appropriate to just believe that we must teach 21st century skills. This is now an absolute. Our students are using technology and if we are not also doing so then we cannot claim to be adequately preparing them.

In this newsletter Michael Smith, school superintendent, purports that paper resumes have outlived their usefulness. One way for us to discover and connect with alternatives (build our Personal Learning Network or PLN) is by networking with other professionals while exploring the world outside of education. For example, if you haven’t yet set-up a free LinkedIn account for yourself, go ahead and do it now: http://LinkedIn.com I’ll wait. Seriously. I’ve found clients and contractors through this venue and even reconnected with lost aquaintances and friends. If you’d like to view a sample, visit my Linked In profile here: http://linkedin.com/in/ellenpaxton.

IN THE CLASSROOM: Knowing Your Students

In order to prepare students we must first get to know them. As I’ve recently been volunteering in a new environment I needed a way to understand who these learners are so that I can best tailor beneficial learning experiences. It was in the middle of these thought-bursts that I remembered the Paragon Learning Style Inventory (www.oswego.edu/plsi/) from Professional Learning Board’s online Accommodating All Learners class. The PLSI is a Meyers-Briggs learning style assessment for use with students age 9 and above.

As it has been years since I’ve been in a classroom, I was intrigued by the sudents’ response to the assessment process and surprised by the results. The group loved the activity (perhaps because it was all about them?). And, as for the results? The students were actually a very homogeneous group. There learning styles were also polar opposite from MY preferred style.

Needless to say I’m so glad that we took the time to do this activity as the results will guide my decisions and adjustments to instruction. Together, we’ll have both a stronger teaching and learning experience.

The Electronic Resume.
by Michael Smith
http://www.principalspage.com/theblog/archives/the-electronic-resume

NEW Resource: C-Span Video Library
http://www.c-spanvideo.org/videoLibrary/ C-SPAN is now making publicly available an index to the online archive of its recordings of the House and Senate proceedings. The C-SPAN Congressional Chronicle is an index to the C-SPAN video recordings of the House and Senate floor proceedings. The video recordings are matched with the text of the Congressional Record as soon as the Record is available. It only includes members who appeared on the floor to deliver or insert their remarks. The text included is what the member submitted. Each appearance has a video link where users can watch and listen to the actual remarks.

Now & Later
One way you might increase your own level of technical comfort and competence is by taking online classes. Self-study classes can start immediately while you complete them at your convenience 24/7. Faciliated classes start the first Monday of each month and have an instructor who guides you through relevant course material and classroom tips.Through April 4th, enroll in ANY Professional Learning Board course and TAKE $10 OFF.
Choose any class including . . .

• Learn practical Spanish for use in your classroom and with parents.
• Teaching Gifted Learners (This one is considered an RTI: Response to Interventions course!)

Save today, learn later.

1. Go to http://TeacherLearningBoard.com
2. Pick a self-study, facilitated or graduate course
3. Use coupon code: march10
4. Get $10 OFF!

Nearly all colleges have online class offerings. In fact, students today can be enrolled in and even graduate from a college without ever setting foot on the campus. Is this good or bad? I’d argue that it may be both and that at the same time, it doesn’t matter as it is what it is.

Please consider your own Education Technology I.Q. ask yourself “How am I preparing students to learn online?”, “Have I taken any online classes?”, “How do I put assignments up onto the web?”, and most importantly “What can I do to increase my comfort level or competency with technology?”

Wishing you and yours a great spring break!

Ellen Paxton

P.s. Thanks for telling your friends about Professional Learning Board and this newsletter by going to http://k12teacherstaffdevelopment.com/tell/tell.php.