The following transcript was recorded on March 6, 2007 at the ISTE HQ Skypark during a meeting between ~70 University of Delaware educational technology students and Leslie Conery (SL: Meghan McLeod), Deputy CEO of ISTE (http://www.iste.org). The speaker was introduced by Jennifer Ragan-Fore (SL: Kittygloom Cassady), General Membership Program Director at ISTE. The educational technology instructor was Meredith Wesolowski (SL: Meredith Snookums).

Kittygloom Cassady: Welcome, everyone!

Kittygloom Cassady: Thank you for coming to today's presentation.

Kittygloom Cassady: I’m Kittygloom Cassady.

Kittygloom Cassady: In real-life, I'm Jennifer Ragan-Fore, ISTE's general membership program director.

Kittygloom Cassady: We were very pleased to be invited to talk with you today.

Kittygloom Cassady: I'd like to say thank you to Meredith for inviting us

Kittygloom Cassady: In a moment, I'll be introducing our speaker, but before I do, I want to give you some info about today's presentation and some of the tools we'll be using

Kittygloom Cassady: Our speaker will be making a presentation using our PowerPoint system here, but will stop for questions periodically.

Kittygloom Cassady: If you have trouble reading the type on your screen, you can enter "mouselook," which zooms in on whatever is in front of you.

Kittygloom Cassady: Simply go to "View" and then "Mouselook."

Kittygloom Cassady: Press escape to exit mouselook.

Kittygloom Cassady: Our speaker's comments will appear directly above your chat box along the bottom left of the screen. Keep an eye on that space throughout the presentation.

Kittygloom Cassady: Finally, the chairs you are sitting on right now are special "hand raise" chairs.

Kittygloom Cassady: So if you hit page up, it will animate your avatar to raise your hand.

Kittygloom Cassady: And if you hit page down, your hand will go down.

Kittygloom Cassady: Raising our hands will make it a little easier for us to control the conversation flow, and will make our transcript a little easier to follow afterwards.

Kittygloom Cassady: Any questions?

Kittygloom Cassady: Raise your hand! :)

Student 1: no

Kittygloom Cassady: Everyone want to try raising your hands?

Kittygloom Cassady: There's a seat up front if you don't have one

Kittygloom Cassady: If you'd like to make a comment or have a question as we go on, just raise your hand and we can pause to discuss.

Kittygloom Cassady: Ok.

Kittygloom Cassady: Without further adieu, I am pleased to introduce Meghan McLeod, who is ISTE's deputy CEO, Leslie Conery, in real life.

Kittygloom Cassady: Leslie is one of the major guiding forces behind ISTE, particularly ISTE's annual conference, the National Educational Computing Conference (NECC), and ISTE's overall operations in the Eugene Office.

Kittygloom Cassady: Leslie was also an elementary school teacher in real life.

Kittygloom Cassady: Join me in welcoming Meghan to the podium.

Student 2: ::clap, clap::

Student 1: clap

Meghan McLeod: Thank you Kittygloom

Meghan McLeod: I'm pleased to be able to "speak" with you today here in Second Life (SL).

Meghan McLeod: I understand that many of you are new to this environment. That's great.

Meghan McLeod: So am I. - This is the first time I have given a talk in this format

Meghan McLeod: and I am excited about the opportunity to try something new.

Meghan McLeod: In a rapidly changing world with new technologies being announced every day -

Meghan McLeod: teachers need to be able to put ourselves "out there" and try new things.

Meghan McLeod: Sometimes (often?) it doesn't work perfectly the first time. We learn as we go.

Meghan McLeod: And, in the process, model for our students what it means to be a life-long learner.

Meghan McLeod: We also model intellectual curiosity. This is worth fostering in students of all ages.

Meghan McLeod: Before we get started with the presentation,

Meghan McLeod: I would like to get to know a little more about you.

Meghan McLeod: How many of you use the internet on a daily basis?

Student 3: I do!

Student 1: me

Student 4: I do

Meghan McLeod: Please raise you hand

Meghan McLeod: Wow - That's all of you!

Meghan McLeod: I know you are in groups behind each avatar.

Meghan McLeod: If half, or more, of your group use the internet on a daily basis - raise your hand.

Meghan McLeod: Ok, now raise your hand if everyone in your group uses the internet almost every day.

Meghan McLeod: I'd like to hear from you what types of things you use the web for.

Student 3: email

Student 5: email

Student 6: instant message

Student 3: facebook

Student 7: research

Student 8: facebook

Student 7: IM

Student 9: email

Student 2: research, myspace

Student 10: email, research, IM

Student 7: weather reports

Student 9: IM

Student 11: email

Student 3: communication with teachers

Student 12: Instant message, email, weather

Student 12: directions

Student 3: finances

Student 13: information and research

Student 14: aim

Student 3: shopping

Student 11: i-search papers

Student 7: sharing pictures

Student 15: celebrity gossip

Meghan McLeod: lol

Student 16: Research, email, book buying

Student 8: shopping

Meghan McLeod: Great - that's an excellent list of real world uses of the internet

Meghan McLeod: Is anyone willing to share?

Meghan McLeod: Do you think students in high school do these same things?

Student 3: of course

Student 9: yes

Student 11: yes

Meghan McLeod: It sounds as if most of you do - any who don't?

Meghan McLeod: Raise your hand if your group thinks "Yes"

Meghan McLeod: Do you think children in upper elementary school do some of these things?

Student 9: yes

Student 17: yes

Student 15: yes

Meghan McLeod: You answered about high schools - what about elementary school kids?

Student 14: yes

Student 4: yes

Student 18: heck yes

Student 7: they play a lot of flash games

Meghan McLeod: Looks like lots of "yes" hands

Meghan McLeod: If so, raise your hand.

Meghan McLeod: Does anyone want to make a comment about children's access to the internet?

Student 17: should be monitored

Meghan McLeod: Go ahead and speak if you'd like to make an observation about kids use

Meghan McLeod: Thanks Beatrix

Student 11: blocking certain sites

Student 19: we need to teach them how to validate the information they see

Student 7: The kids in the class I work in right now like to look up pictures of celebrities on the school computers, not sure that should be allowed

Student 20: the kids I teach like to go on the internet during class and look up sports info

Student 8: what types of websites are appropriate

Student 3: Yahooligans

Student 2: it's important to make sure that children know that all sources of information on the internet are not necessary true

Student 14: discovery kids

Student 18: the ones we learn about in ed tech IV

Student 7: factmonster.com

Student 1: PBS kids

Meghan McLeod: Those are all great observations and when we talk about the NETS

Meghan McLeod: standards in a while - we'll address some of those concerns

Meghan McLeod: Thanks for being willing to speak up in this large group

Meghan McLeod: and share some of your thoughts

Meghan McLeod: Ok, let's move on to the formal part of my presentation.

Meghan McLeod: I have four major points I'd like to make today

Meghan McLeod: and then we'll have plenty of time for questions.

Meghan McLeod: I'll wait a few minutes for the PowerPoint to rez - so you can see

Meghan McLeod: Point 1 - Ready or not - We live in a digital world with digital kids.

Meghan McLeod: Point 2 - Learning environments must reflect this

Meghan McLeod: Point 3 - Much can be done with limited technology if you have a clear

Meghan McLeod: understanding of your teaching goals and desired learning outcomes.

Meghan McLeod: Point 4 - There are many places for help and support while you are still in

Meghan McLeod: school and once you become a classroom teacher.

Meghan McLeod: Related to Point 1 - I'd like to start my presentation today by having you think about

Meghan McLeod: what we know about the students you will be teaching.

Meghan McLeod: If you are able to see okay - will you please raise your hand

Meghan McLeod: I can't tell if the screen is blurry for you

Meghan McLeod: Ok - thanks!

Meghan McLeod: This slide comes from research reported by the U.S. Census Bureau in 2001.

Meghan McLeod: All the trend data we have says that these numbers will have changed by now

Meghan McLeod: and the percentages will be higher in each case.

Meghan McLeod: Notice that it is not just the middle and high school students who are using computers and the internet.

Meghan McLeod: In 2001 80.5 percent of all kindergarten through second graders was using computers.

Meghan McLeod: At the same time, half of the 8-10 year olds were using the web.

Meghan McLeod: And, as I said, every report I've seen since that time shows the numbers increasing.

Meghan McLeod: This data represents all demographics. Urban, suburban, and rural kids were all counted in the study.

Meghan McLeod: Children of wealthy parents and those who parents struggle to survive.

Meghan McLeod: Native English speakers and children in whose home English is the second language.

Meghan McLeod: These are the averages across all demographics.

Meghan McLeod: On this next slide you see a break down of the information from the previous chart.

Meghan McLeod: Notice that by the time kids are in 3-6th grade (8-12 yrs old)

Meghan McLeod: they are already using computers and the internet inside and outside of school.

Meghan McLeod: When you are thinking about whether or not it is important to know how

Meghan McLeod: to use technology as a teaching and learning tool for your students,

Meghan McLeod: you need to keep in mind the world for which you are preparing them and what they expect when they come to school.

Meghan McLeod: They bring different experiences than students not long before them.

Meghan McLeod: They are used to "Googling" the best place to find the new shoes they want,

Meghan McLeod: their local movie schedule, maps to friends' houses, or sports scores.

Meghan McLeod: These kids are coming to school with different experiences and expectations than the students I taught

Meghan McLeod: in fourth grade not all that long ago. My students loved using the limited technology

Meghan McLeod: we had available. However, they didn't expect it and neither did their parents.

Meghan McLeod: Times have changed and what it means to be a prepared teacher had changed.

Meghan McLeod: I'll give you a minute to read this slide before I tell you about where this information came from.

Meghan McLeod: This slide has summary statements from children who participated in NetDay SpeakUp Day.

Meghan McLeod: Speak Up Day is a project that coordinates teachers across the U.S.

Meghan McLeod: talking to their students about technology -- all on the same day.

Meghan McLeod: The teachers ask a pre-established set of questions and send in their student's responses.

Meghan McLeod: It's a combination of a massive survey of student opinions

Meghan McLeod: and a day that promotes teachers having the conversation with their classes.

Meghan McLeod: Based on the NetDay SpeakUp Day in 2003 data, we know kids expect

Meghan McLeod: their schools to supply access to technology and their teachers to be prepared to use it.

Meghan McLeod: These are the kids who will be entering your elementary school classrooms.

Meghan McLeod: Elementary school children typically come to school wanting to learn. They are full of enthusiasm, a desire to please, and inquiring minds. It's also the age where they form many of their habits of learning. It's important to them, and for them, that we a

Meghan McLeod: Point 2 - if you are going to actively engage your students, inspire them to learn, and give

Meghan McLeod: them the skills, knowledge, and habits of mind they need,

Meghan McLeod: then you must know how to use technology to enrich your classroom instruction,

Meghan McLeod: connect students to the world outside the classroom, and focus on those skills so important in the 21st Century.

Meghan McLeod: I'm talking about skills like creativity, innovation, communication, collaboration,

Meghan McLeod: critical thinking, problem-solving decision-making, intellectual curiosity, social responsibility, digital citizenship,

Meghan McLeod: ...You get the idea.

Meghan McLeod: These next two slides are old - over 10 years. But the message is still true.

Meghan McLeod: The world is different and teaching must be different than it was when you were in elementary school.

Meghan McLeod: I'll give you a few minutes to read this next slide.

Meghan McLeod: It's about the changes in pedagogy, what we know about learning styles,

Meghan McLeod: and the shift of focus necessary in classroom learning environments.

Meghan McLeod: Point 3 - We need qualified, technology proficient teachers.

Meghan McLeod: I'll wait a moment for you to read this next slide.

Meghan McLeod: Teachers need to be proficient at how to teach. That's first and foremost.

Meghan McLeod: However, if they only know how to teach in a non-digital environment,

Meghan McLeod: then they aren't providing their students with the full suite of tools and skills

Meghan McLeod: necessary to thrive in today's world. We need to change these trends.

Meghan McLeod: We're getting there, but still have a long way to go

Meghan McLeod: before classroom educators at all levels understand

Meghan McLeod: how they can best use technology to meet their teaching objectives.

Meghan McLeod: Classes like this one are important for starting you thinking

Meghan McLeod: about how to improve reading and math literacy using technology

Meghan McLeod: to engage, inspire, motivate and sometimes tutor students.

Meghan McLeod: Hopefully your methods courses in science and social studies

Meghan McLeod: also modeled how to bring those subjects alive for kids.

Meghan McLeod: There are wonderful science probes, software, and collaborative

Meghan McLeod: projects out there. Social studies leaves "memorizing the state

Meghan McLeod: capitals" in the dust with the opportunities for project-based

Meghan McLeod: learning, developing research skills, and new understandings

Meghan McLeod: of "community." An inexpensive video camera and a single shared

Meghan McLeod: computer can make "Our Community" come alive for kids.

Meghan McLeod: The important thing is to begin with the end in mind.

Meghan McLeod: Point 4 - There are many people and places to go to for support, including ISTE!

Meghan McLeod: I'll give you a moment to read these next two slides of ideas.

Meghan McLeod: Even if you end up in a school with limited access you can

Meghan McLeod: start with what you want the end result of your teaching to be.

Meghan McLeod: Use standards to help you focus.

Meghan McLeod: Take advantage of all the web had to offer to you and to your students.

Meghan McLeod: (Don't forget to teach digital citizenship and safety!)

Meghan McLeod: Learn from your peers (at least those you want to be most like)

Meghan McLeod: Consider joining ISTE so that you are part of a community of practice.

Meghan McLeod: You will get a monthly journal with classroom tested ideas,

Meghan McLeod: have access to webinars and other professional development,

Meghan McLeod: and be able to leap tall buildings in a single bound.

Meghan McLeod: Oh, wait - you can already do that in SL - never mind...

Meghan McLeod: And, once you have your big idea or learning goal in mind,

Meghan McLeod: check out the collaborative projects on the web to see if any of them spark ideas or provide engaging learning opportunities that match.

Meghan McLeod: Let's stop for a moment. I'd like to know if you have any questions at this point.

Meghan McLeod: If so - just raise your hand.

Meghan McLeod: If you don't have questions about what I've said so far - please raise your hand

Meghan McLeod: Great - It looks like you're good to go!

Meghan McLeod: Before I move on to a few projects of what people are doing

Meghan McLeod: around the world, I wanted to say something about the draft

Meghan McLeod: set of the revised NETS for Students. These are still in draft.

Meghan McLeod: Our plan is to release the new standards at NECC (National Educational Computing Conference) in June. Soon after we will have a short book, 20 pages, with the refreshed standards as well as profiles for what they look like in specific grade ranges.

Meghan McLeod: In other words, what should a student know and be able to do using technology

Meghan McLeod: by the time they leave second grade? Fifth grade? Eight grade? High school?

Meghan McLeod: We've moved away from a focus on using the tools to a focus on student learning

Meghan McLeod: and how technology tools support this learning. I send a copy of the draft standards

Meghan McLeod: to your professor, Ms. Snookums (LOL), so you can have a sneak peak into what will

Meghan McLeod: become the new National Educational Technology Standards.

Meghan McLeod: Now for some examples.

Meghan McLeod: I love this first story because it's a relatively simple use of technology

Meghan McLeod: to make a life-changing difference for kids with special needs.

Meghan McLeod: Podcasting is not expensive if you have

Meghan McLeod: a place to host the files. These kids in the UK create

Meghan McLeod: news broadcasts by writing the stories

Meghan McLeod: and practicing them over and over - listening

Meghan McLeod: to themselves - until they have a broadcast

Meghan McLeod: that communicates clearly to others. These

Meghan McLeod: are kids with speech difficulties and the teachers

Meghan McLeod: say they have noticed incredible engagement by the kids

Meghan McLeod: and improvement in their thinking skills and oral

Meghan McLeod: communication. Why not have your 3rd graders podcast

Meghan McLeod: the school news once a week? What a great way to

Meghan McLeod: communicate with parents and peers while

Meghan McLeod: developing writing, analytical thinking, and communication skills.

Meghan McLeod: I heard that some of you don't expect to start in

Meghan McLeod: schools that have rich resources. Don't think that means

Meghan McLeod: you shouldn't be making the most of technology. On an average,

Meghan McLeod: those schools receive more money for technology than schools

Meghan McLeod: with a wealthier parent-base. The new digital divide

Meghan McLeod: is less about having access to hardware and software,

Meghan McLeod: although that is still part of it,

Meghan McLeod: and more about access to teachers who know how to use it.

Meghan McLeod: Costa Rica is not a wealthy country but they realized

Meghan McLeod: the importance of changing their teaching and learning

Meghan McLeod: paradigms and it is paying off for their children.

Meghan McLeod: Global Kids is an online collaborative whose mission is

Meghan McLeod: to prepare urban youth to become global citizens and community leaders.

Meghan McLeod: ePals does classroom-to-classroom project sharing.

Meghan McLeod: They claim to be in 191 countries - not a bad representation!

Meghan McLeod: Rock our World does large scale collaborative projects around a specific theme.

Meghan McLeod: Global School Net is another great group doing collaborative projects around

Meghan McLeod: many curricular themes.

Meghan McLeod: iLEARN focuses more on issues of global understanding and tolerance.

Meghan McLeod: These are just a very few examples of collaborative projects. There are

Meghan McLeod: web sites full of teacher resources, help tools, web quests, and other

Meghan McLeod: helpful information for you and for your students.

Meghan McLeod: The point here is to say that just because you don't have access to a computer

Meghan McLeod: for every student - it' doesn't mean you can't do meaningful things with your students

Meghan McLeod: There are many projects out there that are free and they are looking for schools to participate

Meghan McLeod: I also hope you'll consider joining ISTE either as a student or once you

Meghan McLeod: get into the classroom. ISTE members are a community of people who understand

Meghan McLeod: that using technology as a learning tool isn't always easy and that we need to

Meghan McLeod: support one another, share best practices, tell our stories, and learn together

Meghan McLeod: in order to transform education.

Meghan McLeod: Some final thoughts....

Meghan McLeod: and....

Meghan McLeod: Thank you! This has been fun for me and I hope not too much reading for you! I look forward to any feedback you might have for us about how well this worked.

Meghan McLeod: Let's move on to questions. Do any of you have questions about

Meghan McLeod: What I've said, about ISTE, about the refreshed standards, or about the weather in Oregon?

Meghan McLeod: thanks!

Student 20: thank you! (applause)

Meghan McLeod: I like the claps better than the yawns - but both are good feedback

Student 3: thanks!

Student 21: thanks

Meghan McLeod: lol

Student 1: i have a short question

Student 11: Thank you!

Meghan McLeod: AthenaAnn

Student 13: Thanks!

Student 22: Thanks

Student 1: Do you have any fears about using this technology?

Meghan McLeod: I don't have fears but I do have "concerns"

Student 1: what are they?

Meghan McLeod: At the beginning of the talk many of you talked about access

Meghan McLeod: and about blocking sites

Meghan McLeod: This is one of the a NETS standards - teaching kids to be good digital

Meghan McLeod: citizens. Teaching them appropriate use of the technology

Meghan McLeod: and what isn't appropriate.

Meghan McLeod: Also - another one of the NETS addresses teaching students to think

Meghan McLeod: critically about their sources.

Meghan McLeod: Think about it

Meghan McLeod: Why is the computer different than other things kids used to read?

Student 11: it's not censored

Meghan McLeod: Why do you think this is more of an issue now?

Meghan McLeod: Anyone?

Student 9: because you can get any amount of information at any time

Meghan McLeod: Yes - what else?

Student 9: on any subject

Student 11: it's not censored

Student 20: there are creepy people on the internet with bad intentions!

Meghan McLeod: Yes! - and....

Student 7: because much of the information available can be edited by anyone

Meredith Snookums: sources are not always reliable

Student 8: to catch a predator makes me nervous

Meghan McLeod: You're hitting all the key points. ANYONE can be an author

Meghan McLeod: That's the most empowering concept of the technology for your students

Meghan McLeod: but it is also why you need to teach kids to think about their sources.

Meghan McLeod: Aideen - I think you had a question

Student 5: yes

Student 5: how does tech affect student interactions?

Meghan McLeod: Say more about your question -

Student 5: Especially if they spend too much time

Student 5: talking to people over the internet instead of face to face?

Meghan McLeod: Ah - it's true that parents and teachers need to monitor computer use of young children

Meghan McLeod: That was true when TV started as well - and when kids starting using electronic games

Meghan McLeod: instead of playing outside

Meghan McLeod: But when you think of social interaction at school and at home

Meghan McLeod: technology is a fabulous way to motivate kids and to support project work

Meghan McLeod: and that's project work that they might not have been as excited about in other contexts

Meghan McLeod: There are so many real-world collaborative projects kids can do

Meghan McLeod: video their neighborhood and write about who lives there

Meghan McLeod: studies of the history of your state

Meghan McLeod: all kinds of great project based learning.

Student 5: That's a good point.

Meghan McLeod: You'd be surprised how a talented teacher can get kids involved in meaningful publishing

Meghan McLeod: and interaction using these tools.

Meghan McLeod: I could say more.....but won't here. My fingers may not hold out!

Meghan McLeod: Other questions?

Student 23: thanks for everything

Meghan McLeod: It was fun to try this format with you. I've never presented when I couldn't see the people

Student 11: thank you!

Meghan McLeod: I was talking but you all have been great. Thank you!!

Student 7: thank you!

Student 1: I think I speak for everyone when I say THANK YOU so much. We appreciate it!

Kittygloom Cassady: Thanks, Meghan, and thank you, everyone, for attending today!

Kittygloom Cassady: You have been a great audience.

Kittygloom Cassady: If you are interested, there will be an educators' social on Thursday at 6 PM SLT here in ISTE's SkyPark.

Student 12: thanks to you

Meredith Snookums: Thank you

Kittygloom Cassady: We would be happy to have you join us--it's a fun way to meet other educators and students.

Kittygloom Cassady: Finally, I just would like to urge you to consider joining ISTE.

Kittygloom Cassady: We have special student memberships, and joining a professional association can be a really valuable experience at this point in your careers,

Kittygloom Cassady: both from a professional development standpoint, and from the standpoint of building your professional network.

Kittygloom Cassady: Send me an IM if you're interested in learning more.

Kittygloom Cassady: Thanks again!

The Northwest Area Computing Council has granted $10,000 to The Center for Advanced Technology in Education (CATE) at the University of Oregon to create a typology of learning objects found in Second Life and enlist content experts in a number of disciplines to test them out for description and cataloguing.  Partnership with Jeremy Kemp of San Jose State to use the Second Life - Moodle mashup known as SLoodle to create the tools used for this indexing of learning objects - large and small - is expected. The development of inworld tools to assist in the nomination, display, and use of the vetted Learning Objects is anticipated to begin within the next month. Please contact Jonathon Richter at jrichter@uoregon.edu to find out more about the project or to inquire about collaborative opportunities.

join the Salamander Project!

This Group in SL is for developing collaborative projects and building capacity for us to showcase and teach the wide array of affordances in SL that assist the teaching and learning processes.

Fees will be used ONLY for collaborative purposes.

Turn up the Heat!

OK. A blog. Wonder what I will do here? Maybe one of those stream of consciousness things.

Spent the last few days looking over what everybody else has already done on EduIsland. Some good looking buildings and spaces there already. I really appreciate the folks who have not done anything yet, since that is pretty much what I have done. Makes me feel a little better.

My goal for the MSU lot is to give students the opportunity to create instructional media in a virtual space. Experiment. Learn. Hopefully chat with passing educators. Wander around and look at what other folks are up to. My students will be undergrads with zero experience at this kind of thing. I hope the neighbors will not be bothered by our lack of sophistication.

Posted by Farley Scarborough on another listserv, and definitely worth repeating;

Second Life is a big place, though, with infinite possibilities. A one-hour
tour of Second Life, is like taking a one-hour tour of Paris.

If you are interested in learning more, you may want to flip through the
Second Life educator's highlights for 2006, compiled by Jeremy Kemp:

http://simteach.com/simteach12_06.pdf

If you are REALLY interested in learning more about educators' experiences
in Second Life and want to keep abreast of everything education-related
happening there, join the very lively Second Life Educators' (SLED) email
list:

https://lists.secondlife.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/educators

You might want to look at an article that was in Sunday's New York
Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/07/education/edlife/07innovation.html

(Umm. Please ignore the "brawny, bare-chested figure" in the lead of that
article, though. It's what comes after that paragraph that counts. *grins*)

Last but not least:

"101 uses for Second Life in the College Classroom" by Megan Conklin.
Written in 2005, it's old by internet standards. But it lists discussion and
study topics that are timeless. You may want to skip down to page 10 to
start:

http://trumpy.cs.elon.edu/metaverse/gst364Win2005/handout.pdf