Maine Learning Technology Initiative

Welcome back from what I hope was a sunny and warm spring break! I hope you’ll be able to join RSU 57 Principal Kevin Perkins and me at 4 PM tomorrow for the fifth free live webinar on Mass Customized Learning. The conversation will center on Chapter 8 of Chuck Schwahn’s and Bea McGarvey’s book Inevitable. We’ll be talking about the metaphor of Weight Bearing Walls and how applying this can help educational leaders move toward mass customization while remaining accountable for the learning, supervision, and safety needs of learners.

To register for the webinar just head on over to maine121.org, select webcasts, and then select the April 24 4:00PM link. See you there!

The next MLTI Principals webinar is tomorrow afternoon at 4 PM. I’ll be joined by Lori Lodge Curriculum Coordinator at RSU57 , Chuck Schwahn, co-author of Inevitable, and Steve Garton, Coordinator of Educational Technology for MDOE and MLTI.

The topic this month will be chapters 6 and 7 of Inevitable, A shared and Concrete Vision of Mass Customized Learning.

So, gather your colleagues, grab your favorite digital device, a phone, and join us for what promises to be another interesting and informative hour of conversation!

Please click on the Webcasts tab to register. We have upgraded to a new registration system, allowing you to register directly in Adobe Connect, making the whole webinar process smoother and easier! If you have any questions, please contact Juanita Dickson. Click on the time you wish to participate in and you will be directed to an online registration form. Please type your email address carefully as all information will be sent to that address. After registering you will receive a confirmation email with a log in link – please use that link to log into the webinar prior to the start time.

Welcome back from February Break. Here’s hoping it was full, but not too full!

Please join us Tuesday, February 28th, at 4:00 PM when Mike Muir from Auburn and Bill Zima from MSAD #75 will join me to chat about Mass Customized Learning, Best Practices and Today’s Students. The topic is related to Chapters 4 & 5 of McGarvey’s and Schwahn’s book Inevitable for those who are reading, or have read it. Mike and Bill will be sharing how their districts and schools are actively engaging students and faculty with exciting programs and practices. (iPads and Standards Based Education) Join us for what promises to be an hour filled with ideas and resources you can use back at your schools!

Please click on the Webcasts tab to register. We have upgraded to a new registration system, allowing you to register directly in Adobe Connect, making the whole webinar process smoother and easier! If you have any questions, please contact Juanita Dickson. Click on the time you wish to participate in and you will be directed to an online registration form.  Please type your email address carefully as all information will be sent to that address. After registering you will receive a confirmation email with a log in link – please use that link to log into the webinar prior to the start time.

Last month the conversation started off with Author Bea McGarvey and DOE Superintendent of Instruction Don Siviski talking about Mass Customized Learning and its implications for Standards Based Education here in Maine. There was even a surprise visit from Commissioner Bowen!

This month, on Tuesday January 24th, the conversation continues with the second webinar focusing on Chapters 2 and 3 of the book and looking more closely at some of the questions raised by participants in the first webinar. Come join Bea, Don, Principal Bill Zima, and me as we continue the conversation.

Please click on the Webcasts tab to register. This webinar will take place at 4:00pm on January 24, 2012.

What is Mass Customized Learning? Has its time come? Is it Inevitable in Maine, across the nation, and around the world? Join Chris Toy and guest speaker Bea McGarvey, Co-Author of Inevitable as we kick off this year’s MLTI Principals Webinar which will focus Bea’s book.  Each month we will take up and discuss a key aspect of Inevitable.

Principal Webinars will continue to feature and discuss a key aspect of “Inevitable” for the 2011-2012 year.These Webinars will occur on the 4th Tuesday of each month at 4:00pm (exception in December due to holidays).

Each participant that registers for the December 13, 2011 webinar will receive a link to download the introduction and first chapter of “Inevitable”.

The Commissioner of Education has provided all Superintendents with copies of “Inevitable” with a suggestion that they read it and make copies available to their administrators. Administrators should check with their superintendents for a free copy.

Learn more about Bea McGarvey

To register for this December 13, 2011 webinar, please visit the Webcasts Page and follow the directions for registration or click here to access online registration directly. (This webinar was originally scheduled for December 12th)

Effective School Leadership for Learning with Technology. Do You Know It When You See It? facilitated by Chris Toy
Principal’s Webinar
June 28, 2011 at 4:00pm

National research and our experience in Maine establishes that the quality of leadership in schools is THE single most important factor in determining the ultimate success and sustainability of the effective use of technology in learning. Come join Technology Integrator Mike Arsenault and Principal Bruce Brann from Harrison Middle School, and Principal John Keane from Leonard Middle School in Old Town as we talk about their perspectives and ideas about this key topic.

Gather your leadership colleagues together, fire up your MLTI laptops, and join us on the the 28th!
To register for this webinar, select the Webcasts tab at the top of the http://maine121.org page and select the time to be directed to online registration. This webinar will be offered at 4:00pm.

Do You Know It When You See It? facilitated by Chris Toy
Principal’s Webinar
May 24, 2011 at 4:00pm

What does it look like when teachers are effectively using technology for learning? Be sure to join us at 4:00pm on Tuesday May 24th for the MLTI Principal’s Webinar. The topic will be “Do You Know It When You See It? The ISTE NETS-T Standards for Teachers”.

Join us for a conversation with four Maine colleagues: Special guests will be Crystal Priest – District Technology Coordinator in MSAD #4, ACTEM President, and newly appointed Apple Distinguished Educator; Kevin Harrington – Principal of Piscataquis Community Secondary Schoo in Guilfordl; Dr. Mike Muir – Multiple Pathways Leader, Auburn School District and Director and Maine’s virtual project-based program for at-risk youth; and Ernie Easter – Classroom teacher for grades 7 & 8, self contained classroom, teaching all subjects and MLTI Teacher Leader for the New Sweden School.

Gather your leadership colleagues together, fire up your MLTI laptops, and join us on the the 24th!
To register for this webinar, select the Webcasts tab at the top of the http://maine121.org page and select the time to be directed to online registration.

Be sure to join us on Tuesday April 26th from 4-5 PM for this month’s MLTI Principal’s Webinar. The topic will be Students Learning Effectively With Technology Do you Know It When You See It? ISTE NETS for Students. We’ll be joined by Auburn Middle School Principal, Jim Hand, Auburn Tech Integrator Carl Bucciantini, and Mt. Ararat High School Principal Craig King.

We’ll also have the opportunity to learn more about Auburn’s iPad mobile learning project with kindergarten students!

It should be an interesting and informative hour!

Head on over to maine121.org, select webcasts from the top menu, then scroll down to April 26, 4:00 to register.

Thanks to Brad Edwards, Michael Corey,  Mike Muir and Edward Little High School recent graduate Jonathan Robinson for joining me for this month’s MLTI Principal’s Webinar about online learning.

After a brief announcement about MLTI’s Rice Bowl Challenge by Steve Garton,  http://www.maine.gov/mlti/ricebowl/ Tech Integrator Brad Edwards kicked things off with a great overview of the whys and wherefores of online learning. He shared some excellent resources including links to a recent document from the Maine Heritage Policy Center’s report to the new governor on digital learning and technology  http://www.mainepolicy.org/2011/01/schools-for-maines-future-the-promise-of-digital-learning/ as well as sites about online schools, resources, and tools. Brad advised principals whose schools did not yet have policies and plans for developing online learning to work with their leadership teams on this rapidly expanding aspect of learning in Maine.

IT Director Michael Corey shared the Acton School’s extensive collection of over 850 (and growing!) online resources. In addition to giving specific examples of how elementary and middle school teachers use Acton’s “Kid’s Corner” to enhance teaching and learning, Michael let everyone know that the whole collection is freely available to all educators and students. Here’s the link. http://www.acton.k12.me.us/ He’s interested in connecting with other schools to share ideas for sharing and managing the growing number of online learning resources.

Project Director Mike Muir shared an exciting new statewide project known as Maine’s Virtual Project-Based Learning Program. http://maine.citadelgroup.net Mike described the program as being aimed at students who are at-risk and dropouts. It is designed to be a program that provides students with the opportunity to earn a diploma from their community’s high school while working on standards-based projects at home but in the virtual school. Jonathan Robinson, a recent graduate from the program described why the project-based program worked for him. Mike wrapped up by inviting any schools interested in learning more about Maine’s Project-Based Virtual Learning Program to contact him at mmuir@maine.edu

There were some great questions and conversations throughout the hour. To get a recording of the webinar and transcripts of the conversation among the participants just go to http://maine121.org/?page_id=410 and select Webcasts, then Archives.

Be sure to save 4:00 Tuesday, February 22, 2011 for the next MLTI Principal’s Webinar.  The topic will be Social Networking and Web 2.0 – Leveraging Online Resources For Student and Adult Learning.