A Learning Network Proposal

The Mission of PDK is to provide service, research and leadership to our chapter constituents. Chapter XIV has been doing this for nearly 100 years. In recent times we have been struggling to clearly define the means for us to do this. One of the most desirable features, through the years, has been the chapter as a place to network with our colleagues. Scott McCloud, recently named PDK Emerging Leader, is an example of one of our fold, laboring in the area of school technology leadership. The educational landscape today is undergoing a major paradigm shift relative to the integration of technology and pedagogy. The shift is variously known as "Web 2.0" or in the educational sphere "21st Century Learning & Teaching Skills". We see this situation as an opportunity to serve as a "a hub of connectivity" as more and more of our colleagues learn about the transformation, use the tools that are emerging in personal and professional development and ultimately integrate the new skills in the teaching and learning that takes place in their professional lives. The new paradigm calls for reflection, systemic change, collaboration, innovation, and new learning communities. We see an opportunity for our chapter to extend leadership, service and research to colleagues in this region, in partnership with colleges and universities, Intermediate Units, school districts and their professional staff.

Let's get specific. Let's examine the Who, Why , What, When, Where, and How.

WHO - Our learning community would consist of professional educators who are just beginning to become aware of this paradigm shift and want to investigate it further, those who may have started down this road and are looking for traveling companions and a helping hand and those who are practitioners using their newly acquired skills in their work . That universe includes not just classroom teachers, but also, counselors, principals, superintendents, student teachers, pre-service teachers, IT personnel, the athletic director, the public relations person, parents, etc. Their is a place at the the table for all stakeholders as long as you are a card carrying "paradigm pioneer". Our learning network is not meant to replace any professional development plan at your work site. We hope it will compliment it and broaden your professional contacts with people of like minds. You need not be a member of PDK.

WHY - In future blog posts we will provide links that introduce you to this new learning environment and it's implications for not only the future of American education, but our place as a nation in a world that is becoming increasingly flat. The playing field has changed, will continue to change and we must understand our place and responsibility in that process. We are, of course, digital immigrants living in a world populated by young people who are digital natives. Our task is to work toward becoming naturalized digital citizens and educators. We are far behind many other parts of the world with regard to this shift. However, we can and will learn from our global friends. Our students say, "Do you believe in me"?

WHAT - The journey is a process. As is the case with all paradigm shifts of this magnitude, everyone goes back to zero. We must not only become proficient with new skills; we must reexamine our pedagogy in light of the shift. We must take a new look at things like constructivism, collaboration, cyber-learning, innovation, concept mapping, personal learning objects, literally the whole learning process. We must adopt new standards for students, teachers, administrators and community members and develop the assessment tools to measure our success. We must find innovative ways to further our professional development, such as through the PDK Chapter XIV Learning Network.
With respect to the tools, they seem to cluster in the following realms;

• Audio & Video Podcasting
• Blogging
• Drawing Charting & Mapping
• Photo & Photo Sharing
• Web Page Design
• Presentation
• RSS & Aggregators
• Social Bookmarking
• Social Networking
• Video & Video Sharing
• Wikis
• Calendars, Task Management & To Do Lists
• Online Productivity
• Quizzes & Polling
• Research
  
• Other Cool Tools

In future blogs we will offer exemplars in these realms and guide you through related online tutorials.

WHEN - We will begin the process once we have identified a cohort ready to join us.

WHERE - Most of the work will be online. There are no costs. We are hoping to organize a forum tentatively scheduled for Saturday March 14, 2009. Other face to face gatherings will be planned as needed.

HOW - We will aggressively recruit participants using our newsletter, our friends at the university level, IUs, school districts and other contacts. When we have a critical mass we will begin. We plan to use a blog to journal our work, reflect on what we are doing, introduce new topics and provide useful links to informative sites. Additionally, we will develop a wiki where we will to do most of our work and play. The process will be active, constructivist in nature with a goal of proceeding as far into Bloom's Revised Taxonomy as needed. We want to build our own personal learning networks. We don't believe in "drive by conferences". Any meetings will be part and parcel of the work being done on line and will be geared to extend ourselves into the next levels of learning and collaboration.

Our thinking at this point with regard to our spring forum goes as follows;

• Prior to attendance, participants will have begun their training prior to the forum by visiting the forum wiki.
  
• An overview of the Forum and it's progress to date will be given.
• Our keynote will be given by a superintendent who operates a world class digital district.
• Break out sessions will be given by presenters to participants who are currently using the 21st century tools in their classrooms or another professional functions i. e., principals blog, counselors wiki, public relations online newsletter, student blogging, class wikis, podcasts, concept maps, etc or would like to.
• Followed by a review and a look at future directions, all done on-line.

If you are interested in joining us or learning more about our learning network, email me at gdappel1@verizon.net.

This is a draft of my vision for us and what could become an announcement in our newsletter and the first blog post of the PDK Chapter XIV Learning Network if the Board gives the go ahead.

Please comment!!!