Audio Boo

I was asked to do a brief interview with my friend and colleague Dr. Clif Mims. We used Audioboo an app on the iPhone 3GS that will audio record and instantaneously post it online.

Enjoy the interview…

Twitter for Teacher Professional Development

Here is a google docs spreadsheet sharing ideas about how teachers use twitter for professional development.

Engaging teachers in meaningful Professional Development

I’m in the midst of revising a journal article on learner-centered professional devleopment, that is teacher professional development that meets the needs of the learners and is framed around the American Psychological Association’s Learner-centered Principles.

A video blog posted earlier this month on Clif Mims’ site by Mike Fisher echoes the notion of learner-centered professional development and meets learners where they are during PD.  I asked Mike to elaborate on specifically engaging teachers in meaningful PD and cultivating a ‘fearless curiousity’ for teachers to consider how to modify their instruction to better meet the needs of stduents. His response talks about beginning every PD session with an informal needs analysis to determine where the teachers are and what they’re hoping to get out of their experiences. An example is his Living Web wiki. Check it out…great resource!

As I try to connect formal PD- workshops, graduate courses, etc. and informal PD– especially Personal Learning Networks- the intuite comment that comes to mind is that PLNs are so appealing because: 1) teachers have ownership of the activities, 2) teachers determine their needs and seek information, resources and help to meet their needs, and 3) the ’space’ as Dr. Janette Hill frequently refered to in my graduate school days is expansive through media such as blogs, Twitter and Nings.

That being said, my heart and passion are for those that don’t have awareness of the PLN’s, the wonders that technology can bring to teachers’ learning and professional growth. Sure, if they come to a workshop or search for resources they’ll learn…but what about the ones that don’t know what they’re missing?