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Anytime Anywhere Learning Report 

The newsletter of the Anytime Anywhere Learning Foundation

 

December 2013                                Volume 10, Issue 2                        

 
Join Our Mailing List
In This Issue
1:1 HEADLINES
SHARE YOUR EXPERTISE
HAVE YOUR SAY
1:1 EDITORIALS
NEW AALF COURSE
LEARNING FROM OTHERS
1:1 IN THE CLASSROOM
ACTION RESEARCH
1:1 LEADERSHIP
ONLINE TOOLS
1:1 EVENTS


We post the most up-to-date 1:1 news on our website. Check back frequently!











CONTRIBUTING TO AALF

 

The AALF worldwide newsletter readership continues to grow. With this in mind, we would like to invite foundation members to contribute to the newsletter. We are currently looking for articles on the following themes:

 

Current Issues in 1:1 

Student Voice  

New Learning Spaces

Teaching Practices & 1:1

Learning Frameworks  

Research on 1:1 

Action Research on Innovative Practices (Teaching Practices, Professional Learning, Project-based Learning, etc.) 

  

If you have something you would like to contribute, please send a brief (50 word) article summary, along with your contact information, including your organization and title, to Justina Spencer (jspencer@aalf.org). We look forward to hearing from you!  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

AALF COACHING     

 AALF coaches provide support for educators at all levels and, working either individually or in expert teams, coaches and consultants support educators and policy makers at every phase of their 1:1 initiative.

 

For additional information regarding AALF coaching support, go to the Coaching and Mentoring Services page of our website, or contact Karen Ward at service@aalf.org    

 

 

 

  

  

 

 

 

 

WE'RE LOOKING FOR YOU! 

 

We're currently looking for new 1:1 coaches to join the AALF team! If you're interested, please send a resume, describing any coaching and other relevant experience. If you have questions, please don't hesitate to write us by clicking here!

 

 







SHARE YOUR EXPERTISE

Connected Students


What online collaboration tools or sites do you use when working with your PLC (Professional Learning Community)?  EdWeb.net, GoogleDocs, Edmodo, others? 
 

We're looking to compile a list of our readers' recommendations, so please send them here!


Thanks!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 





HAVE YOUR SAY

QuestionBoy


Do you do action research in your classroom?
 
Let us know by responding to our 10-second poll!

 

 Thanks for participating! 



 

 

  

  

















































































The Foundation thanks all its partners for their ongoing support.


 

 

Welcome to the December edition of the AALF newsletter!  

 

Once again we're pleased to bring you this edition of the Anytime Anywhere Learning Report.  

  

This month, we have a new editorial by Bruce Dixon, President of AALF, who writes about the good, the bad, and the ugly of current 1:1 movements. AALF Executive Director, Susan Einhorn, shares her thoughts on how the tools we have today can help us redefine mathematics teaching and learning. You'll also find an article by Karen Ward, who discusses reflective questions for educational coaches, and an article by Sharon Brown-Peters with details about the Global Social Entrepreneurship Summit at the American School of Bombay. We've compiled an article that outlines the ins and outs of action research in the classroom, as well as a provocative quote from the late Noble Prize winning author, Doris Lessing. Finally, this month we'll also be sharing an article from CEPTA concerning the use of digital media in the classroom.
 

As always, you'll also find some of our regular features: Have Your Say and Share Your Expertise as well as a list of upcoming Events that may be of particular interest to 1:1 educators.

 

Click on the link at the end of each article to read it in its entirety on our website. Please share your thoughts or add your stories to any of these articles. We would love to hear from you!

 

Enjoy!

 

Justina PictureJustina Spencer

AALF Communications

jspencer@aalf.org 

 

 

 

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HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM ALL OF US HERE AT AALF! 

snowman2 Wishing you and yours a very merry holiday season and a Happy New Year! Thank you so much for joining the conversation here at AALF throughout the year, we've enjoyed connecting with you and we look forward to more fascinating discussions in 2014! We wish you a new year filled with health, happiness, and new learning opportunities! 

THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY 
 
Dixon In this editorial, Bruce Dixon, President of the Anytime Anywhere Learning Foundation, reflects on the spectrum of issues he has encountered in the past month regarding 1:1 education: from inspiring new movements to disappointing setbacks to causes for celebration.

Click here to read Bruce's thoughts.


RETHINKING MATH BASICS IN A DIGITAL AGE
  
Susan Picture Susan Einhorn, Executive Director of the Anytime Anywhere Learning Foundation, reflects upon her experience at the Computer-Based Math conference last month and how ubiquitous technology has opened up new ways to develop mathematical thinking.

Click here to read Susan's thoughts!


NEW AALF ONLINE COURSE STARTS IN FEBRUARY! REGISTER SOON!!

WE'VE GOT LAPTOPS, NOW WHAT?! FOUNDATIONS FOR SUCCESS

Are you a teacher, instructional or technology coach, or administrator new to 1:1 teaching and learning? 
 
Are you moving to a school with a 1:1 program or is your school introducing 1:1 in the coming year? 
 
Are you wondering where to start? 
 
Start here!
 
AALF's new online course is designed for new or soon-to-be 1:1 educators who are asking: 
What are the common foundations implemented in highly effective 1:1 classrooms? 
Why are these foundations effective?
What are my next steps in designing and implementing these foundations?
 
 Participants will learn how to backwards map the vital classroom foundations, principles, and strategies that lead to well implemented and effective 1:1 learning.

The course will run from February 4-February 25, 2014.(In Australia/NZ, the dates are February 5-February 6, 2014).
 
Course participants will meet for four 75 minute sessions.  

Click here to read information on pricing, a detailed agenda for each session, information about course leader, Karen Ward, or to register.

 

 

JOIN OUR EDWEB COMMUNITY!

 We've set up an EdWeb community for our AALF members to connect with one another. We'd love to have you join the conversation!

Be sure to check out the 1:1 infographic "The Independent Learner" posted by a recent participant in our 'We've Got Laptops Now What?!' online course. It's sure to be incredibly helpful for all 1:1 educators.

 
CONVERSATION STARTING POINTS 

 
Get the conversation started with this month's quote from The Golden Notebook, by the late Noble Prize winning British author Doris Lessing, who passed away last month:

"Ideally, what should be said to every child, repeatedly, throughout his or her school life is something like this: 'You are in the process of being indoctrinated. We have not yet evolved a system of education that is not a system of indoctrination. We are sorry, but it is the best we can do. What you are being taught here is an amalgam of current prejudice and the choices of this particular culture. The slightest look at history will show how impermanent these must be. You are being taught by people who have been able to accommodate themselves to a regime of thought laid down by their predecessors. It is a self-perpetuating system. Those of you who are more robust and individual than others will be encouraged to leave and find ways of educating yourself - educating your own judgements. Those that stay must remember, always, and all the time, that they are being moulded and patterned to fit into the narrow and particular needs of this particular society."

 

Do you agree with Lessing? We'd love to hear what you think! Join the conversation and let us know!

 

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Do you have any particularly inspiring education quotes to share? Email us and we'll spread the word!

 

 

 

HOLIDAY GIFT IDEAS FOR 1:1 EDUCATORS
 
 We've compiled a list of books on technology and education that would make excellent holiday gifts for the 1:1 educator in your life! Or treat yourself to one of these books!
 
Click here to see the list. Happy holiday reading!
 
 
 
 
DIGITAL MEDIA IN THE 21ST CENTURY CLASSROOM
 
classroomIn this article, reprinted with permission from our friends at the California Educational Technology Professional Association (CETPA), author Harenda Goonetilleke shares  how digital media impacts learning and teaching practices and gives a detailed account of what this looks like in the classroom.
 
Click here to read the article! 
 
 
 
GLOBAL SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP SUMMIT:  
Promoting Student Innovators with Unreasonable Vision 
 
ASB logoSharon Brown-Peters, Tech Coordinator at the American School of Bombay, details the Global Social Entrepreneurship Summit in which participants will work in cross-school teams to create social entrepreneurial solutions-- innovations with an unreasonable vision-- to address issues of global significance. Students and teachers from across the globe are invited to participate!

Click here to learn more! 
 

 

ACTION RESEARCH: INSIGHT AND ADVICE   

Have you considered doing teacher action research in the classroom, but don't know where to begin? Here you'll find some helpful points on where to start, what to look for, and how to track your progress.

Click here to read more about action research!

And be sure to check out this video from AALF's 21 Steps to 21st Century Learning series featuring Esme Capp, Principal at Princes Hill Primary School in Victoria, Australia, and a strong proponent of action research. 

 

 

DEFENDING OUR PRACTICES: When considering the significance of small things... there are no small things!

chalkboard-teacher.jpg In this article, Karen Ward, Manager of Professional Development and Coaching services at AALF, discusses the importance of reflecting on your professional development practices and asking such questions as: How do I know my practices are working? Are my practices, and specifically this practice, supporting student academic growth and making a difference in this students life? Karen also shares the professional development and coaching model that AALF Professional Development Services abides by.

Click here to read more!

 
COME JOIN US ON SCOOP.IT!

scoop it Have you been following us? Come join the conversation! Scoop.it is an easy, visually appealing way to share pertinent ideas with followers who share common interests. Check out our Scoop.it page and see for yourself!

Here are some Scoop.it articles we've shared recently:
 

 

The latest language-learning trend has nothing to do with words 

  

Should We Teach Literature Students How To Analyze Texts Algorithmically?  

 

 
Do you have any suggestions for Scoop.it topics to follow? Or suggestions of other curatorial sites? Click here and share them with the AALF community!
 

 

 

 


EVENTS

 

Calendar Events

Check Events on the AALF website regularly to keep up-to-date on other events of interest to the 1:1 community.   

 

AALF EVENT:

 

February 4- March 4, 2012 
Participants will learn how to backwards map the vital classroom foundations, principles, and strategies that lead to well implemented and effective 1-to-1 learning.
 

 

OTHER NOTABLE EVENTS: 
 
December 14-17, 2013                                       
TIES Education Technology Conference
Minneapolis, Minnesota
TIES--made up of 48 Minnesota school districts--has been around for 46 years. Learn from and network with education technology practitioners and experts.

January 24-26, 2014
EduCon 2.6 
EduCon is an innovation conference where educators can come together, both in person and virtually, to discuss the future of schools. Every session will be an opportunity to discuss and debate ideas - from the very practical to the big dreams.

February 17, 2014 
Lausanne Learning- Winter Workshops
Sessions include: Mindfulness in Schools, Readers' Workshop & Discovery Learning with the Brain in Mind.

February 26, 27, 28 and March 1, 2014

ASB Un-Plugged 

ASB Un-Plugged is an all-in-one learning opportunity for audiences ranging from classroom teachers to technology directors and coordinators, from principals, superintendents and business managers to tech support teams. As you and your colleagues consider building a 21st century teaching and learning environment, enjoy ASB Un-Plugged's learning and networking opportunities.   

 

March 24-25, 2014

Sandbox Summit

Cambridge, Massachusetts

By creating a forum for conversation around play and technology, the Sandbox Summit strives to ensure that the next generation of players become active innovators, rather than passive users, of technology.    

   

May 1-2, 2014

2014 NSBA Minnetonka Technology Site Visit

Experience firsthand how technology accelerates learning with an overview of all Minnetonka Schools and Technology Integration E-12.   Explore technology in language immersion, early childhood, special education, and the arts.