21st+Century+Equation+NT

=Shift Happens: The 21st Century Equation=


 * Category**: Educator
 * Session Type**: Workshop
 * Session Thread(s):** Time Management, Professional Learning Environment, 21st Century


 * Introduction
 * Professional Development Your Way
 * WWW Professional Development
 * Did You Know?
 * Q & A
 * Resources

Professional Development Your Way
In the past, a person's professional learning environment (PLE) was built around formal course work, conferences, workshops, literature, and possibly a list-serv or two. Today, technology has flattened the world allowing for a richer PLE: management of time that is efficient and effective, connection to a global network of learners, access to informal and formal learning opportunities 24/7, and production of diverse, interactive content.

Our Approach

//Your Needs//

Functional: Instructional:

WWW Professional Development
One such transformative technologies for sustained professional development where you have complete control (WWW) is an RSS aggregator such as Google Reader.

It is the perfect addition to your PLE.

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What does it mean to you?
First and foremost, it allows you to manage the forest of information in a more efficient and effective way. By developing and implementing the use of a tool like Google Reader, you will have created an access point to the latest information from the various sites on the Web you find valuable. Just as important though, it gives you access to a global network.

Examples of Sites with RSS
 * 1) News ([|New York Times], [|Chicago Tribune], [|ESPN])
 * 2) Professional Magazines and Journals ([|Education Week], [|Teacher Magazine],
 * 3) Conferences ([|K12 Online Conference])
 * 4) Authors ([|Dan Pink])
 * 5) Blogs ([|Bud the Teacher] - Eng) ([|SMART Board Teacher Ideas])([|GBN Professional Learning Environment Blog])
 * 6) Wikis ( [|GBN Professional Development Wiki])
 * 7) Podcasts ([|SMART Board Lessons])
 * 8) [|Google and Yahoo Searches] (RSS for Top 10 list for any search)
 * 9) [|Google News Search] (RSS for search within news sites)
 * 10) [|Google Blog Search] (RSS for search within blogs)
 * 11) [|Anything you want!>]

Getting Setup with Google Reader
1. Go to Google and click Sign in (upper right corner) 2. If you haven't created an account yet, please do. If you have, please sign in 3. At the top of the page, click More > Reader 4. Let's begin adding Subscriptions

Did You Know?
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//Discussion Points//
 * What does this mean for your classroom?
 * What do you need from your instructional technology department?

Resources
[|A Starting Point] [|Google Apps for Educators] [|Partnership for 21st Century Skills]