Educating the Dragon

I’ve just had my third conversation in as many weeks on this subject. Presentations, which all too often have been generously shared with numous folk around the glode via, qik, slideshare, youtube, teachertube have been magically appearing in other presentations, in other places presented by other people. Which, I guess, is fine and dandy if it has been shared under a creative commons license. However, it was my understanding that the old creative commons thing still had two restrictions. Firstly that the material is not reproduced or remixed  for profit but shared once more under the same attribution. Secondly, that the material is attributed to the original creator somewhere vaguely close to, or better yet, on the same slide as that material being used.

Perhaps there is more to this than my limited perspective. Please Edudcate the Dragon.

I only mention this now as a friends material appeared in a presentation some time ago with no reference or thanks to my friend as the author and creator of the material. I think that is just good manners to nod toward such people. Most of those who share on the web are doing sdo out of the goodness of their hearts, no monetary reward required. Just a nod and a bit of appreciation never cost anyone anything.

I heard of another presentation being delivered that appeared to, in the very least, be based on a Breathe Technology Workshop (whose material is not even being made available as open source).

I suppose that imitation is the highest form of flattery.   – or however the saying goes.

The day in Taupo was great. What a wonderful bunch of enthusiastic teachers. I wish they were at my school. Some of them had to put up with me all day and some of them are coming again tomorrow. IWB +Literacy was the session as well as IWB1. What a great couple of sessions. Beautiful lake too.

Click here for the podcast.

Neila Thompson (with a p) has been working with five and six year olds at Flaxmere Primary. She has had an iwb for 2 years and remains excited about using her board in the classroom.
"It’s amazing what you can do with five year olds and an iwb" she says.
The presence of an iwb in a classroom changes your perspective on teaching, challenges your pedagogy, motivates students and is a powerful tool in the school where formative practise and personalised learning are key.
A few helpful links:
Video converter
Sound converter

It has been a whole year since I began with Breathe Technology and I’ve not starved to death. In fact as we reviewed the year just gone and I think it has been a productive year. Some of our highlights have been the development of the regional training sessions (some areas are going better than others) and the promoting at conferences. I can’t believe the effort required to take a business from zero to being known throughout NZ as a quality provider of professional development.
A personal highlight of mine was the opportunity to deliver my first ‘In-House’ training ; a challenge and a joy at the same time.
My area this year has been extended to include Wellington and Taupo which I’m excited about… a few more nights away but greater opportunity to visit schools throughout New Zealand. Leave a comment if you think I might be in your area, I’d love to call in on my way through.
We have talked about the development and flexibility of the EHSAS contracts, that schools cluster together and identify their own PD focus. I’d love to hear from you if your school has been involved in this project.
How similar to ICTPD clusters are they?

I’m hoping that Dr Scott McLeod is not becoming immune to the potential of school reform through business. I’ve decided to publish my response to his post

Subscription via e-mail; Trying to reduce corporate PR pitches

by way of my post as, due to my excessive use of helpful links the comment was trapped by the anti-spam, which is a good thing really- I guess.

I think it such a shame when there is friction between business and schools. They both seem to loose out. I have been involved in a wonderful collaboration between business and schools for some years now here in New Zealand. Sitech Systems, now supported by BreatheTechnology set up a Champion School programme to

support the role out of IWBs across the country. This meant that 50 schools got reduced price technology and free ongoing professional development in return for being showcase schools. Through the ongoing professional development provided by the company I have had many encouraging encounters both in the education system as well as in business. Every year there is a conference where everyone come together to share ideas. Both the schools and the businesses involved have learnt heaps. Even the manufacturers in the USA, Interwrite have benefited. These schools have also gone on to pilot heaps of other technologies…

It is also a point of note that I have my blog and am reading yours as a direct result of this initiative.

No motive is pure in business, however I do feel that Sitech’s ethos does place the student’s (and teacher’s) development as a 21^st century learner front and centre.

 

Useful Links:

http://www.sitechsystems.co.nz/

http://www.breathetechnology.co.nz/

http://breathe.elearning.ac.nz/

http://educatingthedragon.edublogs.org/tag/championschools/