Archive for the ‘schoolreform’ Category:


Standards Mapping the Common Core to Everyday Instruction and Teaching

These are my notes from the Gary Sacket’s presentation, “Standards Mapping the Common Core to Everyday Instruction and Teaching” at the February 7, 2012 Oklahoma Technology Association / Encycl-Media Conference. He is with the Gary Sacket Aurora Learning Community Association (ALCA). MY THOUGHTS AND COMMENTS ARE IN ALL CAPS. The official session description was: Discover

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Visioning New Schools with David Warlick

These are my notes from David Warlick‘s opening keynote at the February 7, 2012 Oklahoma Technology Association / Encycl-Media Conference. MY THOUGHTS AND COMMENTS ARE IN ALL CAPS. Master learners today and master teachers must model lifelong learning – that is one of the best ways to develop students who are lifelong learners Handouts /

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Anywhere, Anytime Learning by Janet Barresi

These are my notes from Oklahoma state superintendent Janet Barresi‘s opening comments at the February 7, 2012 Oklahoma Technology Association / Encycl-Media Conference. MY THOUGHTS AND COMMENTS ARE IN ALL CAPS. I want to talk to you about anywhere, anytime learning Fundamental question: What is the value of a book? – the glue binding and

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Common Core Transition Ideas via Marzano

(cross-posted from Professional Development Reflections from Yukon PS) On January 26, 2012, we attended a full-day workshop about “Common Core Transition” led by Jan Hough with Marzano Research Lab. These are some of our takeaways from the day. Handouts from Jan’s session are available on the OSSBA website. Writing Across the Curriculum One of the

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Transition to Common Core Standards by Jan Hoegh @marzanoresearch (2 of 2) #ocic12

These are my afternoon notes from Jan K. Hoegh’s presentation on 24 January 2012 in Oklahoma City for the Oklahoma Curriculum Improvement Commission. (This is the link to my morning notes.) Jan is a consultant for the Marzano Research Lab. (@marzanoresearch on Twitter – Jan is not on Twitter yet.) MY THOUGHTS AND COMMENTS ARE

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Transition to Common Core Standards by Jan Hoegh @marzanoresearch (1 of 2)

These are my morning notes from Jan K. Hoegh’s presentation on 24 January 2012 in Oklahoma City for the Oklahoma Curriculum Improvement Commission. Jan is a consultant for the Marzano Research Lab. (@marzanoresearch on Twitter – Jan is not on Twitter yet.) MY THOUGHTS AND COMMENTS ARE IN ALL CAPS. The official description of this

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Teacher Leader Effectiveness (TLE) and the Tulsa Model #oaesp12

These are my notes from Michael Barlow, Dr. Cassandra Funderburk, Cindy Taylor, Talia Shaw and Linda Hendrick’s presentation, “Teacher Leader Effectiveness (TLE) and the Tulsa Model” at the Oklahoma Association of Elementary School Principals (OAESP) mid-winter conference on January 20, 2012, in Oklahoma City. The conference is sponsored and organized by the Cooperative Council for

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Introduction to the Common Core State Standards by Karen Robertson

These are my notes from Karen Robertson‘s presentation on January 9, 2012, for the school board of Yukon Public Schools providing an introduction to the Common Core State Standards. Karen is the Executive Director of Curriculum and Assessment at Yukon Public Schools in Oklahoma. Common Core state standards initiative – state-led and developed common core

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The Dangerous Nexus of Cyber Charter Schools & For-Profit Curriculum Companies

On November 13, 2011, Ali Carr-Chellman (@aac3 on Twitter) shared an important and courageous message at TEDxPSU. Her 13.5 minute message was titled, “A Closer Look at Cyber Charter Schools.” Among other things, Ali challenges us to question the growing nexus between non-profit “cyber charter schools” and for-profit curriculum companies. As we continue hear different

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Standardized Test Results Obfuscate Real Learning

As 2011 draws to a close I’m organizing, sharing, and tagging a variety of photos I took this past fall with my iPhone on Flickr. In the past at times like these I’ve tended to upload large bunches of photos and skip the process of individually labeling photos. Instead, I’ve just organized photos in sets

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Podcast386: Implementing 1:1 Classrooms in Grand View Schools, Oklahoma

This podcast is a a recording of Cheryl Beaman and Michelle Barnes’ presentation, “Implementing 1:1 Classrooms” at the 2011 Innovative Learning Institute in Norman, Oklahoma, on November 10th. This annual conference is hosted by the K-20 Center at the University of Oklahoma. Cheryl Beaman is the director of technology for Grandview Public Schools, and Michelle Barnes is

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Resources for Going 1:1 in School

I received an email recently from an educator in Iowa, whose school is considering a 1:1 learning project. He asked about resources to help them decide which device to select for different grade levels, and for research connecting 1:1 computing to improved student achievement. My three best recommendations for organizations which provide helpful information about

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Ask Your School Board Members to Take Your State Standardized Tests

For years I’ve wished our state elected officials were required to take the same “exit” level standardized tests our students are coerced to take in public schools. I’ve not only wished our elected officials would take them: I’ve wanted those officials’ test results to be published and shared. The reason for this is simple: Much

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Advocating for Balanced Content Filtering in Oklahoma City Public Schools

(cross-posted from balancedfiltering.org) Today I had an opportunity to meet with the superintendent and CIO of Oklahoma City Public Schools to discuss my concerns as a parent in the district about the overblocking of Internet websites. I had heard a great deal from other people about the district’s policies and the reasons for those policies,

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Help Needed from Urban Educators: Are Evernote, GDocs & Edmodo Blocked for Your Students?

If you work in a large school district (defined by student population, say 40,000 students or more) I need your help with a quick survey. I met with the superintendent and CIO of our school district in Oklahoma today, and will have an opportunity this evening to address our school board for three minutes as

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Pennsylvania Newspaper Article / School Tech Director Misrepresents CIPA

(cross-posted from balancedfiltering.org) Update 11/16: Note the original title of this article has been changed, my intent in writing this is not to personally attack the reporter who wrote the article, but rather call attention to these issues which desperately need clarifying in our communities. Update 11/17: After reaching out to the newspaper reporter via

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Dewey on Book Work and Opportunities for Mistakes

Here is a quotation worth considering in our communications landscape awash in information: From “Democracy and education: an introduction to the philosophy of education” by John Dewey, published in 1916. In Chapter Fifteen: “Play and Work in the Curriculum” he wrote: Doubtless the fact that children normally engage in play and work out of school

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American Teacher Documentary: An Answer to Waiting for Superman

A new two hour documentary film was released in select U.S. theaters this fall about teaching and public education: American Teacher. It’s a direct response to last year’s “Waiting for Superman” movie, which (among other things) cast teacher unions as demons in educational improvement debates. See my October 2010 post, “Waiting For Superman: A Good

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Karl Fisch at the 2011 Innovative Learning Institute

These are my notes from Karl Fisch’s luncheon keynote at the November 10, 2011, Innovative Learning Institute hosted by the K-20 Center at the University of Oklahoma. MY THOUGHTS AND COMMENTS ARE IN ALL CAPS. Links from Karl’s breakout sessions are available on Google Sites. This session is available as a no-edit audio podcast via

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Janet Barresi’s ODLA 2011 Keynote

These are my notes from Janet Barresi‘s luncheon keynote presentation on November 9, 2011, at the fall Oklahoma Distance Learning Association (ODLA) conference. Dr. Barresi is the Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction. (AN ELECTED OFFICE IN OUR STATE, SHE TOOK OFFICE IN JANUARY 2011.) MY THOUGHTS ARE IN ALL CAPS. HER PRESENTATION WAS SHARED WITH

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