Warlick's CoLearners

Fredericton, NB, Canada

Notes from Jeff:
We expect to have around 120 technology mentors, administrators, district learning specialists and classroom teachers with us over the two days.
The focus on the divided sessions will be primarily on web 2.0 tools, although there will also be some basic tech skills builders for less experienced teachers who will attend.
The tentative schedule is below. It will all take place at the Crowne Plaza Lord Beaverbrook Hotel on Queen Street in Fredericton. The hotel has wireless access. All attendees will have laptops (all 7000 New Brunswick teachers have been issued a laptop)...

SEE BACKGROUND INFO FOR AREA BELOW

They are asking for a breakfast meeting with management on Wednesday morning

Correspondence of planning with Jeff Wipple

1. Your suggestions for the Keynotes on Day 1 & 2 - we want to focus on web 2.0 and building a vision for the future of education - do you have any suggestions as to what you might prefer to do out of your repertoire? (I enjoyed the "Literacy and Learning in the 21st Century" in Memphis last summer...but we are open to your suggestions)

The Literacy & Learning presentation makes a lot of sense to me as an opening keynote address, because reference is made throughout the address to a new, more collaborative information landscape. But the purpose of the address is to tie all of this new web to the old literacy, the three Rs. As you recall, I explore what it means to be a reader when information is networked, what it means to be a processor of information when information is digital, and what it means to be a communicator when we are all overwhelmed by content. This would serve as a transition between the old information landscape that we're all familiar with and the new web of information.

On the second day, folks will have had some exposure to Web 2.0. So I would suggest another presentation that I've done as a keynote, "Flat World, Flat Web, Flat Classrooms". It startes out with some "World is Flat" ideas and an increasingly cooperative world. Then makes some comparisons between a heirarchical web (Web 1) and the more cooperative web (web 2), and some of the impacts had by the new web. This would probably be a good place to introduce folks to Mashups. Finally, flat classroom. What happens to teaching and learning, we we all have access to the same content. I would also, likely, include some info about video games and education, and how elements that make video games so compelling, might be used to make flat classrooms more compelling.

2. Your participation in a possible panel / roundtable discussion on the "21st Century Classroom"

This would be great. I would also love to Podcast this. This is another issue that we/you might explore (if you haven't already), podcasting as much of the conference as possible so that it is not only available to educators who can not attend, but also available to attendees after the conference is over. There is simply so much that can be done to extend conference events today.

3. Two Divided Session suggestions that you might lead Friday afternoon to follow on the keynotes (encouraging basic applications of web 2.0 in the classroom)

The two that I would suggest are Wikis and RSS. I do a great RSS presentation that is guaranteed to have teachers on the edges of their seats ;-) Also, I've done a Wiki session twice now that seemed to be highly successful. So how do those two topics strike you.

Title: Magic Glue and the Web: RSS

Presenter: David Warlick, The Landmark Project

Description: The nature of information has changed dramatically since the advent of the World Wide Web. However, that change has accelerated during the past two years, thanks to a family of web tools that are so changing the way that we think about information that it is increasingly called, Web 2.0. These tools include blogging, podcasting, social networks, and wikis, to mention only a few. However, the real magic of the New Web, the glue that holds it all together, is a simple, yet fundamentally revolutionary concept usually called RSS. Learn about this concept and how it can be used to manage instructional materials in brand new ways. Prepare to be on the edges of your seats.

Title: The Art & Technique of Wikis

Presenter: David Warlick, The Landmark Project

Description: Originally invented in 1995, wikis have recently emerged as the poster-child of the Web 2.0 movement. This session will provide a general overview of the wiki style, ranging from small group collaborations, to global collaborations, to global encyclopedias. Participants will learn about the characteristics of wikis, how to operate and manage them, and a variety of classroom applications. Come learn how to create a wiki site - for free.

SCHEDULE:
Thursday: 10:30-12:00 - Keynote - Literacy and Learning
Friday: 8:45-10:00 - Keynote - Flattening Worlds
10:30-11:30 - Divided Session
12:30-1:30 - Divided Session
2:00-3:00 - Divided Session

A LITTLE BACKGROUND: New Brunswick has had a history of support technology in education. In the 90's the Liberal Government brought in public access to the internet and government services to schools and libraries. This was a federal pilot started in New Brunswick. As part of this effort the federal government assisted in providing high speed access to all of our schools (There is still about 4% of hard to reach schools without highspeed). During this time we had mentor teacher program (seconded teachers who had demonstrated the ability to integrate technology) we free up from their teaching responsibilities and offered school based PD support. We placed pods of computers for writing and research in classes and implemented LAN in schools, We also had a program called GrassRoots that encouraged teachers to organise collaborative projects. Teachers in turm received cash resources to purcase items for their class and schools. To support these projects the province implemented a provincial email system, free web space and student email and adequate server space.

In 2000 the government changed and we had a Conservative government that took great interest in the State of Maine 1 to 1 Laptop Project. They brough in a research/pilot dedicated notebook 1 to 1 for students project (currently in year three). We started in 3 schools in 3 of our 9 school districts with middle schools grades 7 and 8. In the research phase we had dedicated technology integration mentors and technicians in each school.

This school year we expanded to all nine school district, and the orginal research classes have moved to high school. So in the provinces we have 3 highschools, 13 middle schools and 2 elementary school with exploratory 1 to 1 classes. As well we have provided all teachers with a personal notebook. To support this effort all districts were provided with a team of mentors and additional technicians. We have a PD budget and have offered provincial level PD and the districts have funds to offer PD and release teachers. With the mentors and teachers having access to technology we have made great headway.

In October the government again changed. We have a new Liberal Government. They have not yet sat in the legislature or delivered a budget. SO right now we do not know what is going to happen with the 1 to 1 projects or the Mentor PD support for teachers. At the time you arrive the government will just be in the position of tabling a budget.

Along with the above effort with notebook project we also are highly involved in supporting provincial, national and international collaboration between students and teachers. We also are in our 11th year of developing online high school courses available and English and French. We are able to offer these courses free to NB Students and do sell the course ware internationally to China and India. We have a Department Portal and are developing a portal for students and parents.

New Brunswick is small, population just shy of one million. We are similar in look and feel to Maine. What we have accomplished so far has been through the tireless efforts of a small and mighty team.

The current goverment seem keen on innovation and supporting it, but seem to be trying to figure out what that means to them. When you meet with them, it will be an opportunity to explain the role technology plays for our students and how these tools play a key role in their approach to learn and how they will need to work and communicate now and in the future.