Grand+Erie+District+School+Board

Our leader is @Sue Young - Teacher Consultant of Student Success Elementary The rest of our team includes: Grand Erie Professional Learning Group Project __ The Journey of Grand ____ Erie __ As we left the first face to face meeting for the PLP our team was simultaneously energized and overwhelmed. Our heads were spinning and on the drive home we chatted excitedly. Since then our journey has continued to be energizing and challenging.
 * @Mark Smith - LRT
 * @Mark Kolenc - Teacher Consultant of Student Success Secondary
 * @Lynda Kilpatrick - Teacher Consultant of Information Technology
 * Cam MacDonald - Intermediate Math Coach

Everyone’s schedules were busy. Very quickly it became apparent that we needed to carve out time to ensure our PLP work did not get put on a back burner. We set out weekly Elluminate sessions and planned face to face meetings for the year. Originally we had no idea where our path would lead us, but each time we met, we set objectives and goals for our next meeting. Over the course of this project, we built our personal knowledge of web 2.0 tools, as well as, our understanding of the need to move education forward to support our students as 21st century learners.

The Grand Erie PLP team immersed themselves in learning for the 21st century. Research and conversations covered topics such as:
 * Collaboration and the need for clearly defined norms
 * Learning communities - comfortable to take risks - not just teacher also student driven
 * Teacher efficacy and relevant PD opportunities-job embedded PD....relevant to teachers’ needs and wants.
 * Assessing student engagement
 * Standard participatory media tools within education-all -Blogs, wiki's, virtual learning environment, ning, learning management systems (eg moodle), difference between live@edu(microsoft) and google for educators, social networks (facebook, twitter, google buzz, my space, you tube, bookmarking-delicious).
 * Presentation tools eg glogster, prezi ..What is best?

We enjoyed the opportunity to collaborate in the PLP ning. The experienced voices, the questions and the conversation stretched our minds, giving us food for thought, helping us to forge our own opinions and values regarding the use of technology in the classroom.

We decided that all our work should align with board planning and initiatives. In the fall, Grand Erie was involved with IBM. This consultation service supported our board in creating a 5 year plan addressing the needs of 21st Century Learners. We purposefully incorporated the Board "why statement" into our project. (**//Our organization will improve student engagement and achievement by embedding technology into daily teaching and learning to ensure that education is a relevant, collaborative, and interactive experience//**//.)//

We asked ourselves, “How can we change the climate within our classrooms in order to foster collaboration through embedded use of emerging technologies in instruction?” The answer was to build networks and collaboration for 21st Century Learners. We thought that if we could build the use of collaborative networks then we could provide relevant professional learning and support among our teachers as the Board moved toward achieving its “why statement” goal.

We wanted to create a forum that was welcoming, safe, user friendly, non-judgmental, and supportive to help teachers move their practice forward one step at a time. As a Board we had made the commitment to moving forward. Technology is going to be integrated throughout our Board Improvement Plans and Curriculum PD, as well as, effectively embedded in classroom learning environments.

** We decided that we would build a Ning for Educators in Grand **** Erie ****. **


 * __ Implications for Educators. __**

A Grand Erie Ning would provide a space to assist educators in building 21st century learning environments. It will support educators as they embed tech tools into the curriculum, build digital citizenship with their students, collaborate and shift their thinking. It will build capacity as users share and reflect on information, resources, ideas and personal practice. It will allow participants to share beyond the walls of their school and participate in a PLC that is based on interest and personal passion.


 * THIS COLLABORATIVE SPACE WILL FOCUS ON FOUR PILLARS OF 21ST CENTURY LEARNING: **

How do we make what we teach interesting and relevant to our students, so they are engaged in learning? We do so through the integration of technology into our classroom environments. This group discussion area will provide a place where educators can talk about, share, question and ask for guidance when it comes to successfully integrating current technologies into their classrooms.
 * Tech Tools and Curriculum Ties:**

We have always promoted citizenship in our classrooms and the outside world. Citizenship now needs to be extended to the digital world. It is the same premise: respect and protect yourself, others and property. Citizenship encompasses character attributes and learning skills. In this group, we can discuss the many components of digital citizenship and how we can incorporate them into our classrooms.
 * Digital Citizenship:**

Today's world is all about collaboration. It is about sharing knowledge, learning and building consensus. When people work together, they get the added bonus of more than one mind. They bounce ideas off each other, and build on their own knowledge. This is a powerful learning experience and is actually called "the power of the collective." Collaboration, not only needs to be nurtured within the four walls of our classrooms, it goes beyond the boundaries of these walls. Today's technologies provide the opportunities to collaborate with others from all over the world. Collaboration also ties directly to student achievement and must be evaluated as a learning skill on the provincial report card. In this discussion group, ideas can be shared as to how to promote and manage collaboration in our classrooms today.
 * Collaboration:**

It is said that this generation of teachers will be the last generation that will have the choice of using technology in their classrooms. Shift happens...and it can be a little stressful. But it is necessary, especially when it comes to technology in this quickly changing world. This area is intended to house conversations about successes, challenges and our journeys into 21st century teaching and learning.
 * Shifts in Thinking:**


 * __ Tracking Information and Posts in the Ning __**

We will be able to track Ning use two ways. Through Google Analytic we will be able to see the number of people reading the Ning even if they are not making posts. “Lurking” is great, but we will encourage everyone to post their ideas to build the learning community. The second way to track information in the Ning will be through a priori model of data collection. By this method, we will track specific words or phrases. This information will be helpful to support PD planning and making connections for teachers.

Collaboration within the Ning is guided by the following norms: 1)This is a safe, non-judgmental environment to support reflective teaching practice and improve student achievement. 2) Positive intentions are always presumed. 3) Risk taking is encouraged.

These have been developed to support everyone’s use of the Ning. There are several ways for the PLP team to ensure that these norms are adhered to. Initially the PLP team will moderate the Ning. If any posts are inappropriate, the PLP team can redirect the conversation in the post or remove it. An email to the participant could be sent to remind them of the norms of the site. If negative posts persist, the participant could be removed from the Ning permanently since it is not a public site, and users need be invited into the space.

We have developed our Ning. We have shared it with our Board’s Executive Council. The response was very positive.

-Invite a cross section of teachers, representative of all divisions to discuss the 4 pillars of the Ning -Request that these teachers post a reflection into the Ning and respond to another post -Ask teachers to suggest others to be invited to the Ning
 * __ Next Steps: __**

-Invite a wider circle of teachers into the Ning -Craft letter to invite all educators to join the Grand Erie Ning -Track discussion threads -Use discussion to inform decisions regarding PD opportunities and further next steps.