Thursday, April 30, 2015

"Remember always that you have not only the right to be an individual; you have an obligation to be one. You cannot make any useful contribution in life unless you do this." - Eleanor Roosevelt

This quote, so well-known, is maybe a litmus test for us when we hear the political and policy debates about education. Education is often touted as necessary for our strength and "competitiveness" for nations, but is education driven by large-scale standardized testing and compliance/conformance models really strength-building? Perhaps that's the language used to sell us political programs that have large financial benefits for the companies that provide the tests, but is it what we really believe will strengthen our children and their capacity to contribute to their family, their culture, their society, and ultimately, their (and our) world?

There are those who believe that for students learning to work together is more important than building their individual strength and capability. This shouldn't be an either/or discussion, but it is through helping a child develop individual capacity, and confidence to use that capacity in relationship to others, that would produce real community. 

I might also suggest that there is a commercialized version of individualism--where we believe that we are expressing our individuality by virtue of what products or brands we consume or display--that masks the true individuality that comes from finding ways to grow our talents and skills. Sadly, I know a lot of youth who leave high school convinced they are good at expressing their individuality, but believe they are not good learners, or don't have something they are really good at (perhaps the majority?). That they need to continue to consume commercially to maintain that sense of individuality might give us a likely motive for the perpetuation of our existing education narratives.

Tuesday, April 28, 2015

"Nine tenths of education is encouragement." - Anatole France

As the parent of four children, there are certain counterpoints (or tensions) that I feel I am balancing as I work to help my children:  structure and freedom, play and self-discipline, being outward-looking and having an inward focus....

I am inclined to think that most people would say that the counterpoint to encouragement is punishment, but I don't agree. For me, punishment seems to be a short-cut, a way of simplifying and avoiding the longer discussions that would understand why something happened and then would allow (and help the child deal navigate) the natural consequences of their behavior or action. Punishment feels like it's a way of soothing the frustration or anger of the adult more than helping the growth of the child--a frustration and anger that usually indicate something is amiss with the adult, actually, and not the child.

The counterpoint to encouragement, for me, is modeling. My ultimate goal is influencing the child while respecting his or her agency, and encouragement is a huge part of that. True encouragement, not exaggerated praising. "You're capable; I'm confident you can figure this out." The counterpoint to me is not punishment, but in part the absence of verbal encouragement; or more directly, not speaking encouragement, but showing through my own actions that one can learn and improve, that one can face difficulties and challenges. There are times (many) for encouragement, and there are times when modeling is a more powerful lesson.

I remember, with clarity, moments when someone has said a single encouraging sentence to me that I will remember the rest of my life. I also remember, with equal clarity, the way in which watching how someone else lives their life--without them saying anything or attempting to draw a lesson for me--changed how I have thought about my own potential. It's easy to speak words, and their effects are usually immediate; it's much harder to live the principles, and the lessons that we teach through modeling often take longer to manifest themselves.  

Monday, April 27, 2015

Join Us This Thursday for "The Emerging Future: Technology and Learning" (Must Register)

Join us this Thursday, April 30th, 2015 for the online Library 2.015 Spring Summit - The Emerging Future: Technology and Learning, a three-hour conversation about technology issues and trends in the future of library and information services with an amazing set of guest panelists and presenters. Our Spring Summit will be held from 12pm - 3pm US Pacific / 3pm - 6pm US Eastern (see in your own time zone).

The Summit is free, but you must to register to attend live or to watch the recordings: click HERE to do so.
With technology changing so rapidly, how can libraries, organizations, and individuals stay abreast of the economic, social, and ethical ramifications of innovations and prepare successfully for the future? 
The Spring Summit has been inspired by and orchestrated in partnership with Library 2.0 founding sponsor, the San Jose State University School of Information (http://ischool.sjsu.edu). Inspired by a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) on the future of the information profession that was offered by the San José State University (SJSU) School of Information last fall, Dr. Sandra Hirsh, director of the SJSU School of Information, and Steve Hargadon, founder of The Learning Revolution, have worked with SJSU lecturer Dr. Sue Alman to develop this special event.

The Summit will present key issues faced by information professionals and educators, and provide a forum to learn about and discuss ways to prepare for the future, both professionally and organizationally. The event will be divided into three hours, with opening and closing keynote panels and one hour of quick topic presentations. The fuller event description and presenter bios can be accessed at http://www.library20.com/spring2015.


PART 1: Chasing Storms or Rainbows? 
Our opening panel looks at the effects of emerging technologies on current and future learning trends.


Panelists:
Miguel Figueroa (Director, Center for the Future of Libraries at the American Library Association)
Dan Cohen (Executive Director, Digital Public Library of America)
Jason Swanson (Director of Strategic Foresight at KnowledgeWorks)
Casey McCoy (Stonewall Book Award Committee)


PART 2: In the Know 

Presenters:
Samantha Adams Becker (Senior Director of Communications, New Media Consortium)A drill down on the key impact areas of new technologies
Tina Jagersen (School of Information, San Jose State University): How to stay up to date with new technologies
Mary Alice Ball (Senior Program Officer, Institute of Museum and Library Services)How to plan and fund new technologies


PART 3: The Here and Now
Our closing panel discussion on technology and social media trends, with an even summary by Dr. Sue Alman at the end.


Panelists:
Jen Jumba (Librarian at Cuyahoga County Public Library)
Sarah Gillespie Swanson (Assistant Director for Information Literacy at Davidson College)
Joyce Valenza (Director MLIS Program, Assistant Professor at Rutgers University, SC&I)


Links:
The Spring Summit is designed to complement the fifth annual Library 2.015 Worldwide Virtual Conference, which will be held on October 20th, 2015.

Events + News - The Emerging Future on Thursday - Educational Podcasting - Global Education Day - Less is More Lesson from Finland

To subscribe to this newsletter, please sign up at LearningRevolution.com. Please share this newsletter with your friends and colleagues!

LearningRevolution.com

Two Week Calendar

All events are listed in US-Eastern Time. To become an event partner and have your events listed here, please email amy@learningrevolution.com. For a full calendar of all upcoming events and conferences, click here.

Library 2.015 Spring Summit: This Week!

Spring Summit

Learning Revolution Events

Library 2.015 Spring Summit - The Emerging Future: Technology and Learning, April 30th, 2015

The technology landscape changes rapidly, and these changes have economic, social, and ethical significance for individuals, organizations, and the entire world. The Emerging Future: Technology and Learning brings focus to the planning skills that are needed, the issues that are involved, and the current trends as we explore the potential impact of technological innovations. These interactive sessions on future technology trends will present key issues faced by information professionals and educators. A goal of the Spring Summit is to provide a forum to discuss ways to prepare for your personal and organization’s future. Register for free today at http://library2015spring.eventbrite.com/?aff=newsletter.


2015 ISTE Unplugged Events, June 26th - July 1st

Thanks to our generous friends at ISTE.org, our NINTH annual set of extra-curricular events at the ISTE conference this year will launch on the Friday before ISTE (June 26th) with an all-day open Maker Day--expect lots of table, activities, and fun for all ages, geared toward education. Saturday's all-day unconference features special guest Audrey Watters again this year, and huge shout-out to this year's unconference and evening party sponsor, StudyBlue and Shutterfly. Sunday is our fourth annual Global Education Summit, a three-hour event + connecting party you don't want to miss. The Bloggers' Cafe will be open Friday - Wednesday, and we're really hoping to add an education slam poetry event still. Stay tuned for all events at http://www.ISTEunplugged.com, which also has Facebook event links for each activity.


Library 2.015 Worldwide Virtual Conference: Tools, Skills & Competencies, October 20th

The fifth annual global conversation about the future of libraries is scheduled for Tuesday, October 20th, 2015. The conference will be held entirely online and is free to attend. Everyone is invited to participate in this open forum designed to foster collaboration and knowledge sharing among information professionals worldwide. The Call for Proposals will open May 1st, immediately following the Library 2.015 Spring Summit. See this year's conference strands and plan to get your proposal in early. We are looking forward to the fifth year of this this momentous event, and to your participation!


Learning Revolution Blog Posts

Check out or subscribe to our new curated blog of posts from around the web that are focused on the disruptions taking place in teaching and learning: blog.learningrevolution.com. If we've missed a story, send it to blog@learningrevolution.com.

Partner Announcements

Global Education Day at ISTE 2015, June 28th in Philadelphia, PA

Join Lucy Gray, Steve Hargadon, VIF International Education and many members of the Global Education Conference community on Sunday, June 28th from 2-5 PM at the Philadelphia Convention Center (Room 103BC) for a special face-to-face meeting. This meet up for educators will take place at the International Society for Technology in Education Conference (ISTE). It is a free gathering for those interested in global collaboration who will be in the Philadelphia area at the end of June 2015. Please pass this information on to any potentially interested colleagues and register soon as spaces are limited!

This participatory event will feature:

  • Inspirational ignite talks by noted educators and organizations working to connect classrooms
  • Round-table discussions in which educators will showcase specific examples of global projects
  • A global resource cool tools duel in which attendees will share the best resources and tools for creating global experiences for students.
The event is open to the first 400 people that register. Registration is free and required. You do not need to present your ticket at the door, but we will be checking in registrants this year. Anyone is allowed to attend; for profits must be a sponsor of our conference in order to speak, facilitate a roundtable or distribute materials. If you would like to give an ignite talk, facilitate a roundtable discussion or present during our cool tools duel at this event, please sign up here as well. Please note that we are not in a position to fund travel for participants. For additional information, take a look at our digital flyer. You can also join our group within the Global Education Conference Network.

Partner Spotlight

NROC

NROC (pronounced 'en-rock') is a community-guided, non-profit project focused on new models of digital content development, distribution, and use. We are education leaders from state and system institutions nationwide who represent more than 6 million U.S. students from middle school to college. NROC is emblematic of an approach defined by four shared beliefs: NETWORK- Everyone benefits when institutions work together. RESOURCES- People are empowered by high-quality, multimedia content and applications. OPEN- Membership keeps costs low for institutions, and free for individuals. COLLEGE AND CAREER- We are committed to helping students peruse academic and life success. More than 10 years since it began, NROC has become a movement. Join us and help guide the future of education. More information at http://www.thenrocproject.org/.

Interested in becoming a Learning Revolution Partner? Please fill out a Partner Application today.

See you online!

Steve
Steve Hargadon
www.stevehargadon.com

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"It is difficult to get a man to understand something, when his salary depends upon his not understanding it." - Upton Sinclair.

This has been a favorite quote of mine for years. In taking care of my dad last year, I discovered he had a copy of it taped on the wall of his kitchen. It's a reminder of the human frailty around personal interest and seeing things clearly, and it's an argument for consciously building cultural structures that openly and carefully address the temptations of power and control.

I'm reading Buckminster Fuller's Grunch of Giants ("parsing" may be a better word than "reading" in this context) and it raises all kinds of questions about how you help bring a society to a higher level of conscious awareness when the accumulation and retention of power and privilege are such motivating factors. From my view, it can't be some kind of intellectual conclusion that is mandated onto the general populace, it has to be a set of ideas that resonate across economic and cultural boundaries, and have the ability to regenerate with each new generation.

We have lots of voices arguing about education and reform; who is speaking to you with clarity and power right now around what learning means as part of being human? 

Thursday, April 23, 2015

"Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid." - Unknown

The above quote is often attributed to Albert Einstein, but the incredibly extensive investigation documented at http://quoteinvestigator.com/2013/04/06/fish-climb/ seems to indicate that he never said it. Two quick notes on that:

  1. If you're famous, people will give you all sorts of additional credit. :)
  2. That this animal allegory has been used since 1898 many times to describe deficiencies in how we think about education, means that it does a good job of reminding us that standardization is not the ultimate measure of others' talents.
When I talk about the "inherent worth and value of every child," this is language that resonates with those who consider themselves religious or spiritual; however, it's not the language of science. In a purely scientific worldview, we accept that talent and IQ are not spread evenly among the population, and we're comfortable with (or maybe not always comfortable with, but accepting of) the idea that some percentage of our students will fail or drop out because they just aren't that smart or that capable. Most of us see the boundaries between where science ends and morality begins pretty clearly when we get to practices like eugenics, but don't feel the same moral urgency when measuring intelligence or capability.

I think this is a mistake. As someone who believes in the importance of both science and spirituality, I'm troubled when I see hubris on either side. Science has brought us incredible advances, but what is often seen as settled science is shown later to have been a misreading of the evidence; as well there are no more profound feelings for me than those that come from believing in the divine, and yet religion is often used as an excuse for exploitative and even barbaric behavior. I cannot explain, scientifically, my belief in the inherent worth and value of every person, but I do know that when I act as if that is true, I not only feel better about who I am, but I believe those who are treated that way are more likely to experience their own growth and development.

Wednesday, April 22, 2015

"Almost all education has a political motive." - Bertrand Russell

The fuller quote is:
Almost all education has a political motive: it aims at strengthening some group, national or religious or even social, in the competition with other groups. It is this motive, in the main, which determines the subjects taught, the knowledge offered and the knowledge withheld, and also decides what mental habits the pupils are expected to acquire. Hardly anything is done to foster the inward growth of mind and spirit; in fact, those who have had the most education are very often atrophied in their mental and spiritual life.

- Bertrand Russell
I don't think we're unaware of this concept of education having a motive--it's just that we are so conditioned to speaking about the virtues of education that we suppress the deeper understanding that mandated schooling reflects forces of power and control. What we read in history about other cultures we resist applying to our own circumstance.

A willingness to build the capacity of individuals--who then will be in a position to innovate, work together, and build things of worth and value--is a form of generational trust. It's a willingness to believe in the strength and potential of others; and the opposite, believing we know and should tell the next generation what problems they will face and how they should solve them, is a sign of narcissistic control. I'd argue this is the same pervasive narcissism which seems willing to be the source of many of the problems that our students are now inheriting.

If we really want to help our kids, we will focus on their "inward growth of mind and spirit." 

Tuesday, April 21, 2015

"I suppose it is because nearly all children go to school nowadays, and have things arranged for them, that they seem so forlornly unable to produce their own ideas." - Agatha Christie

This quote is echoed in the writings of lots of accomplished people--often in the form of how they needed to overcome schooling to accomplish their life's work. I think it reflects the cognitive dissonance we have about the school experience--believing that we are trying to draw out the unique best in each child, but also believing that the path to do so is through memorization and compliance. The Yin and the Yang of learning, growth and structure, often get reduced in the practice of institutionalized behavior as caricatures of their fuller selves.

The huge inherent dilemma with institutionalization is that codified practices ultimately bend toward that which benefits those with power and privilege, and not necessarily (or usually?) to the individual that the institution claims it is serving. I don't think many of us are under the illusion that food companies are there to help us make healthy eating choices; rather, they are for-profit companies that reward profitable (and usually not healthy) behavior. The same is true of the financial industry; do we really think that banks want our financial independence? Education as an institution faces the same dynamic: no matter the nobility of the individuals working inside the system, that most students leave school that system believing they are not good learners is an output that helps maintain the benefits of those who depend on people eating unhealthy food, or their making bad financial choices.

At some deeper level we understand this. Most of us have memories of those who really helped us think better, or find something we really cared about, or become good at something hard. Those who care enough about others to help them grow and change and develop are usually outliers to the institutionalized system. We develop systems because we want to systematize good practice, but don't realize how much those systems then develop their own agenda, and to paraphrase Ivan Illich, in order to maintain their existence, perpetuate the very problems they were designed to solve.

If we want children to be able to produce their own ideas, to help build a healthy next generation, we have to be willing to question institutional practices and those who benefit from those practices. This isn't radical behavior, it's just a recognition of the dangers of how institutions end up becoming protections for powerful, one-sided behavior. There is a lot more money to be made in education when things are standardized, commodified, and centrally-controlled... but that's not really why we are here, is it?

Monday, April 20, 2015

Events + News - Library 2.0 Spring Summit - Free-Range Kids - Testing "Chaos" and Opting Out - Student Debt - Will College Survive?

To subscribe to this newsletter, please sign up at LearningRevolution.com. Please share this newsletter with your friends and colleagues!

LearningRevolution.com

Two Week Calendar

All events are listed in US-Eastern Time. To become an event partner and have your events listed here, please email amy@learningrevolution.com. For a full calendar of all upcoming events and conferences, click here.

Library 2.015 Spring Summit

Spring Summit

Learning Revolution Events

Library 2.015 Spring Summit - The Emerging Future: Technology and Learning, April 30th, 2015

The technology landscape changes rapidly, and these changes have economic, social, and ethical significance for individuals, organizations, and the entire world. The Emerging Future: Technology and Learning brings focus to the planning skills that are needed, the issues that are involved, and the current trends as we explore the potential impact of technological innovations. These interactive sessions on future technology trends will present key issues faced by information professionals and educators. A goal of the Spring Summit is to provide a forum to discuss ways to prepare for your personal and organization’s future. Register for free today at http://library2015spring.eventbrite.com/?aff=newsletter.

2015 ISTE Unplugged Events, June 26th - July 1st

Thanks to our generous friends at ISTE.org, our NINTH annual set of extra-curricular events at the ISTE conference this year will launch on the Friday before ISTE (June 26th) with an all-day open Maker Day--expect lots of table, activities, and fun for all ages, geared toward education. Saturday's all-day unconference features special guest Audrey Watters again this year, and huge shout-out to this year's unconference and evening party sponsor, StudyBlue and Shutterfly. Sunday is our fourth annual Global Education Summit, a three-hour event + connecting party you don't want to miss. The Bloggers' Cafe will be open Friday - Wednesday, and we're really hoping to add an education slam poetry event still. Stay tuned for all events at http://www.ISTEunplugged.com, which also has Facebook event links for each activity.

Library 2.015 Worldwide Virtual Conference: Tools, Skills & Competencies, October 20th

The fifth annual global conversation about the future of libraries is scheduled for Tuesday, October 20th, 2015. The conference will be held entirely online and is free to attend. Everyone is invited to participate in this open forum designed to foster collaboration and knowledge sharing among information professionals worldwide. The Call for Proposals will open May 1st, immediately following the Library 2.015 Spring Summit. See this year's conference strands and plan to get your proposal in early. We are looking forward to the fifth year of this this momentous event, and to your participation!

Learning Revolution Blog Posts

Check out or subscribe to our new curated blog of posts from around the web that are focused on the disruptions taking place in teaching and learning: blog.learningrevolution.com. If we've missed a story, send it to blog@learningrevolution.com.

Partner Spotlight

Kyusa
Kyusa is a registered NGO in Uganda that empowers youth especially school dropouts to turn their passions into sustainable careers. This is done through the development of skills in ICT, employable skills as well as entrepreneurship. This is coupled with free online learning, career based mentoring and apprenticeship. At the end of the program, the youth are empowered to start their own ventures and equipped to thrive in the labour market.90% of the youth that go through the program are able to successfully launch and scale their ventures with in three to six months after the program. More information at http://www.kyusa.weebly.com/.

Interested in becoming a Learning Revolution Partner? Please fill out a Partner Application today.

See you online!
Steve
Steve Hargadon
www.stevehargadon.com
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"Human beings are curious by nature." - Aristotle

This question of our inherent nature is at the heart of how we think about teaching, learning, and formal education. Can and will children learn on their own? Is curiosity the main component to learning, or is it disciplined activity? Of course, both are important, but which one we emphasize depends on another fundamental question about our inherent nature: are we individuals with unique, inherent value and potential; or are we part of a collective which needs to shape our nature? Most of us probably hold some balance of beliefs: children are naturally curious but need help in refining their thinking abilities, and there is a balance between individual freedoms and society's larger interests.

From my perspective, the big mistake is to find fault with others who have reached different conclusions about these most important human questions.

Monday, April 13, 2015

We have to stop pretending...

Responding to Scott McLeod challenge.

When it comes to education, I say we have to stop pretending…
  • That it's OK for the majority of students to leave high school believing they are not good learners;
  • That it is OK to believe anything less than in the inherent worth and value of every child;
  • That schooling as it now exists is about increasing individual learning capability and not actually about enforcing compliance and conformance;
  • That it's OK that politicians, the elite, and business-people have more influence over education than local parents, teachers, and the students themselves;
  • That students are not capable of directing their own learning, and that this isn't the ultimate goal of education.

From Scott:  Please join us. When it comes to education, what are 5 things that we have to stop pretending? Post on your blog, tag 5 others, and share using the #makeschooldifferent hashtag. Feel free to also put the URL of your post in the comments area so others can find it!

From Me: Add the hashtag #reclaimlearning.

Events + News - #TLChat LIVE! - NMC Preview - Students in Charge - iSchool Initiative

To subscribe to this newsletter, please sign up at LearningRevolution.com. Please share this newsletter with your friends and colleagues!

LearningRevolution.com

Two Week Calendar

  • Monday, April 13th at 8pm TL Virtual Cafe - #TLChat LIVE!, Second Monday of each month is the Teacher Librarian Twitter Chat. Follow #TLChat on Twitter to participate.
  • Tuesday, April 14th at 11am 2015 NMC Summer Conference Preview, Join the NMC and our panel of 2015 NMC Summer Conference presenters on Tuesday, April 14th at 8am PT / 10am CT / 11am ET (check for local time). For the 2015 NMC Summer Conference Preview of the NMC On the Horizon series on April 14th, we're highlighting the 2015 NMC Summer Conference with a range of keynote, featured session, Idea Lab, and preconference workshop panelists. The NMC Summer Conference is a one-of-a-kind event, attracting highly skilled professionals interested in the integration of emerging technologies into teaching, learning, and creative inquiry. NMC Summer Conference presenters are thought leaders within the education industry at colleges and universities, schools, museums, libraries, organizations, and companies. They are the people pushing the envelope to infuse innovation and creativity into learning experiences worldwide. This one-hour session will be held in the Business Hangouts On Air platform and broadcasted live on YouTube. Participation is free for all attendees.
  • Thursday, April 16th at 7pm #GraphiteChat on Twitter: Weaving Tech into Teaching with Project-Based Learning, This live, one-hour discussion will be hosted by the Graphite handle @graphite and facilitated by Tanner Higgin, senior manager of education content for Common Sense Education (@fearv). We'll focus on the awesome and inspiring ways teachers like you use technology and project-based learning to foster meaningful learning experiences. Please join us live, include #GraphiteChat in your tweet, and share great project-based learning (#PBL) resources, activities, tips, tricks, and lessons learned. Those who follow along will get a chance to win Graphite apparel!
  • Saturday, April 18th at 9am in NYC EdCamp IB, EdCamp IB is a free unconference dedicated to teaching and learning in the four programs of the International Baccalaureate. Whether you teach our littlest learners in the PYP or the oldest DP students, EdCamp IB is an opportunity to share the best of IB education with other IB teachers. While EdCamp IB will be focusing on education in the IB programs, this event is open to all educators who would like to learn with us. More information here.
  • Saturday, April 18th at 12pm CR20 LIVE: Susan Oxnevad on ThingLink, Classroom 2.0 LIVE is an opportunity to gather with other member of the community in regular "live" web meetings. Details to join the webinar at http://live.classroom20.com. You can follow us on Twitter at #liveclass20.
  • Sunday, April 19th at 7pm TechEducator Podcast: YouTube Creative Studio, Learn how to harness the power of the FREE YouTube creative studio. In todays episode, we will walk you through the process of uploading a video and turning it into a dynamic lesson plan using the YouTube Creative Suite of Tools found FREE on your Google Powered Device. More information here.
  • Monday, April 20th at 8pm TL News Night LIVE!, This is a LIVE show presented in news show format featuring a Wrap up of “This Month in School Libraries” and deeper discussion of topical school library issues with special guest experts. Did we mention it was LIVE?
  • Friday, April 24th at 3pm Starting to Homeschool: What Will We Do Now That We're Learning at Home?, We will explore types of curricula, classroom options for nontraditional learners, learning by doing, and unschooling as ongoing teaching and learning activities. We will also discuss favorite online resources, books, and activities for learning, with a focus on materials that empower learners to work things out on their own. A strong push for unfettered play and free time for children will also be presented. Add yourself to our email list to get the Webinar URL!
  • Sunday, April 26th at 7pm TechEducator Podcast: 10 Ways to be a Rock Star Teacher in your Classroom, Are you interested in creating dynamic hands on lesson plans that leave your students wanting to come back to class the next day? In todays show, we will share and demonstrate tips and tricks to creating the perfect project based, blended learning lessons for students of all ages and grade levels. More information here.

All events are listed in US-Eastern Time. To become an event partner and have your events listed here, please email amy@learningrevolution.com. For a full calendar of all upcoming events and conferences, click here.

Library 2.015 Spring Summit

Spring Summit

Learning Revolution Events

Library 2.015 Spring Summit - The Emerging Future: Technology and Learning, April 30th, 2015

The technology landscape changes rapidly, and these changes have economic, social, and ethical significance for individuals, organizations, and the entire world. The Emerging Future: Technology and Learning brings focus to the planning skills that are needed, the issues that are involved, and the current trends as we explore the potential impact of technological innovations. These interactive sessions on future technology trends will present key issues faced by information professionals and educators. A goal of the Spring Summit is to provide a forum to discuss ways to prepare for your personal and organization’s future. Register for free today at http://library2015spring.eventbrite.com/?aff=newsletter.


2015 ISTE Unplugged Events, June 26th - July 1st

Thanks to our generous friends at ISTE.org, our NINTH annual set of extra-curricular events at the ISTE conference this year will launch on the Friday before ISTE (June 26th) with an all-day open Maker Day--expect lots of table, activities, and fun for all ages, geared toward education. Saturday's all-day unconference features special guest Audrey Watters again this year, and huge shout-out to this year's unconference and evening party sponsor, StudyBlue and Shutterfly. Sunday is our fourth annual Global Education Summit, a three-hour event + connecting party you don't want to miss. The Bloggers' Cafe will be open Friday - Wednesday, and we're really hoping to add an education slam poetry event still. Stay tuned for all events at http://www.ISTEunplugged.com, which also has Facebook event links for each activity.


Library 2.015 Worldwide Virtual Conference: Tools, Skills & Competencies, October 20th

The fifth annual global conversation about the future of libraries is scheduled for Tuesday, October 20th, 2015. The conference will be held entirely online and is free to attend. Everyone is invited to participate in this open forum designed to foster collaboration and knowledge sharing among information professionals worldwide. The Call for Proposals will open May 1st, immediately following the Library 2.015 Spring Summit. See this year's conference strands and plan to get your proposal in early. We are looking forward to the fifth year of this this momentous event, and to your participation!


Learning Revolution Blog Posts

Check out or subscribe to our new curated blog of posts from around the web that are focused on the disruptions taking place in teaching and learning: blog.learningrevolution.com. If we've missed a story, send it to blog@learningrevolution.com.

Partner Spotlight

iSchool Initiative

The iSchool Initiative vision is to revolutionize the American education system through technology and promote a new, creative culture of lifelong learning. To motivate teachers and administrators while also acclimating them to the Digital Learning Revolution (DLR), iSchool Initiative (iSi) first introduced the students-teaching-teachers approach to Professional Development (PD). This technique supplies answers as to why more technology should be incorporated in the classroom while simultaneously instructing teachers how to optimally use mobile devices. More information at http://www.ischoolinitiative.org/.

Interested in becoming a Learning Revolution Partner? Please fill out a Partner Application today.

See you online!

Steve
Steve Hargadon
www.stevehargadon.com

Twitter Facebook Google YouTube

Thursday, April 09, 2015

Events + News - New Curated "Revolution" Blog - NMC Preview - Games for Change - The Modern University is Failing...

To subscribe to this newsletter, please sign up at LearningRevolution.com. Please share this newsletter with your friends and colleagues!

LearningRevolution.com

Two Week Calendar

  • Saturday, April 11th at 12pm CR20 LIVE: Discovery Education Network Virtual Field Trips and Free Resources with Kyle Schutt, Classroom 2.0 LIVE is an opportunity to gather with other member of the community in regular "live" web meetings. Details to join the webinar at http://live.classroom20.com. You can follow us on Twitter at #liveclass20.
  • Monday, April 13th at 8pm TL Virtual Cafe - #TLChat LIVE!, Second Monday of each month is the Teacher Librarian Twitter Chat. Follow #TLChat on Twitter to participate.
  • Tuesday, April 14th at 11am 2015 NMC Summer Conference Preview, Join the NMC and our panel of 2015 NMC Summer Conference presenters on Tuesday, April 14th at 8am PT / 10am CT / 11am ET (check for local time). For the 2015 NMC Summer Conference Preview of the NMC On the Horizon series on April 14th, we're highlighting the 2015 NMC Summer Conference with a range of keynote, featured session, Idea Lab, and preconference workshop panelists. The NMC Summer Conference is a one-of-a-kind event, attracting highly skilled professionals interested in the integration of emerging technologies into teaching, learning, and creative inquiry. NMC Summer Conference presenters are thought leaders within the education industry at colleges and universities, schools, museums, libraries, organizations, and companies. They are the people pushing the envelope to infuse innovation and creativity into learning experiences worldwide. This one-hour session will be held in the Business Hangouts On Air platform and broadcasted live on YouTube. Participation is free for all attendees.
  • Saturday, April 18th at 12pm CR20 LIVE: Susan Oxnevad on ThingLink, Classroom 2.0 LIVE is an opportunity to gather with other member of the community in regular "live" web meetings. Details to join the webinar at http://live.classroom20.com. You can follow us on Twitter at #liveclass20.
  • Sunday, April 19th at 7pm TechEducator Podcast: YouTube Creative Studio, Learn how to harness the power of the FREE YouTube creative studio. In todays episode, we will walk you through the process of uploading a video and turning it into a dynamic lesson plan using the YouTube Creative Suite of Tools found FREE on your Google Powered Device. More information here.
  • Monday, April 20th at 8pm TL News Night LIVE!, This is a LIVE show presented in news show format featuring a Wrap up of “This Month in School Libraries” and deeper discussion of topical school library issues with special guest experts. Did we mention it was LIVE?

All events are listed in US-Eastern Time. To become an event partner and have your events listed here, please email amy@learningrevolution.com. For a full calendar of all upcoming events and conferences, click here.

Library 2.015 Spring Summit

Spring Summit

Learning Revolution Events

Library 2.015 Spring Summit - The Emerging Future: Technology and Learning, April 30th, 2015

The technology landscape changes rapidly, and these changes have economic, social, and ethical significance for individuals, organizations, and the entire world. The Emerging Future: Technology and Learning brings focus to the planning skills that are needed, the issues that are involved, and the current trends as we explore the potential impact of technological innovations. These interactive sessions on future technology trends will present key issues faced by information professionals and educators. A goal of the Spring Summit is to provide a forum to discuss ways to prepare for your personal and organization’s future. Register for free today at http://library2015spring.eventbrite.com/?aff=newsletter.


2015 ISTE Unplugged Events, June 26th - July 1st

Thanks to our generous friends at ISTE.org, our NINTH annual set of extra-curricular events at the ISTE conference this year will launch on the Friday before ISTE (June 26th) with an all-day open Maker Day--expect lots of table, activities, and fun for all ages, geared toward education. Saturday's all-day unconference features special guest Audrey Watters again this year, and huge shout-out to this year's unconference and evening party sponsor, StudyBlue and Shutterfly. Sunday is our fourth annual Global Education Summit, a three-hour event + connecting party you don't want to miss. The Bloggers' Cafe will be open Friday - Wednesday, and we're really hoping to add an education slam poetry event still. Stay tuned for all events at http://www.ISTEunplugged.com, which also has Facebook event links for each activity.


Library 2.015 Worldwide Virtual Conference: Tools, Skills & Competencies, October 20th

The fifth annual global conversation about the future of libraries is scheduled for Tuesday, October 20th, 2015. The conference will be held entirely online and is free to attend. Everyone is invited to participate in this open forum designed to foster collaboration and knowledge sharing among information professionals worldwide. The Call for Proposals will open May 1st, immediately following the Library 2.015 Spring Summit. See this year's conference strands and plan to get your proposal in early. We are looking forward to the fifth year of this this momentous event, and to your participation!

Partner Announcement: The 12th Annual Games for Change Festival

The Games for Change Festival (April 21-23 & 25) is the largest gaming event in New York City and the leading international event uniting game creators with others who believe in the positive impact of games. Learning games are always a cornerstone of the Festival, and this year, we’re proud to present related programming and talks from leaders in the sector, such Angry Birds maker Rovio, PBS, the Joan Ganz Cooney Center, and top-notch educational game developers. The full schedule is online, with great talks, innovative games, and countless networking opportunities, including one-on-one consultations with experts, speed networking, and more. Register now with the code 10lrev and save 10% on passes. Regular registration ends on 4/10, after which ticket prices go up!: http://2015gamesforchangefestival.eventbrite.com/.


Learning Revolution Blog

Check out or subscribe to our new curated blog of posts from around the web that are focused on the disruptions taking place in teaching and learning: blog.learningrevolution.com. If we've missed a story, send it to blog@learningrevolution.com.

Partner Spotlight

iNACOL

The mission of the International Association for K-12 Online Learning (iNACOL) is to ensure all students have access to a world-class education and quality blended and online learning opportunities that prepare them for a lifetime of success. iNACOL is a non-profit organization focused on research; developing policy for student-centered education to ensure equity and access; developing quality standards for emerging learning models using online, blended, and competency-based education; and supporting the ongoing professional development of classroom, school, district and state leaders for new learning models. More information at http://www.inacol.org/.

Interested in becoming a Learning Revolution Partner? Please fill out a Partner Application today.

See you online!

Steve
Steve Hargadon
www.stevehargadon.com

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Wednesday, April 01, 2015

Register Now for the (Online) Library 2.0 Spring Summit - "The Emerging Future"

Join us on April 30th, 2015 for the free, online Library 2.015 Spring Summit - The Emerging Future: Technology and Learning, a three-hour conversation about technology issues and trends in the future of library and information services. The Spring Summit will be held from 12pm - 3pm US Pacific / 3pm - 6pm US Eastern.

The Spring Summit has been inspired by and orchestrated in partnership with Library 2.0 founding sponsor, the San Jose State University School of Information. In order to attend the summit or watch the recordings, you need to RSVP at http://library2015spring.eventbrite.com/?aff=lib20promo.

The technology landscape changes rapidly, and these changes have economic, social, and ethical significance for individuals, organizations, and the entire world. The Emerging Future: Technology and Learning brings focus to the planning skills that are needed, the issues that are involved, and the current trends as we explore the potential impact of technological innovations.

This interactive session on future technology trends will present key issues faced by information professionals and educators. A goal of the Spring Summit is to provide a forum to learn about and discuss ways to prepare for the future, both professionally and organizationally.
Part 1: Chasing Storms or Rainbows?
Panelists: Dan Cohen, Miguel Figueroa, Mark A. Matienzo, and Jason Swanson

An opening panel looks at the effects of emerging technologies on current and future learning trends.

Part 2: In the Know
Mary Alice Ball: How to plan and fund new technologies
Tina Jagersen: How to stay up to date with new technologies
Samantha Adams Becker: A drill down on the key impact areas of new technologies

Part 3: The Here and Now
Panelists: Jen Jumba, Sarah Gillespie Swanson, and Joyce Valenza

A closing panel discussion on technology and social media trends.

The Spring Summit is designed to complement the fifth annual Library 2.015 Worldwide Virtual Conference, which will be held on October 20th, 2015.