DSS Blog
Alchemy Systems and Editure Professional Development Form Strategic Partnership to Enhance K-12 Offerings
Austin, TX, July 2010 - Editure Professional Development, Inc. has entered into a strategic partnership with Alchemy Systems, LP to provide one of the most comprehensive professional development and technology offerings to K-12 schools. The combined partnership currently provides products and services to over 12,500 schools around the world. This extensive expertise and experience will allow the combined team to offer an unparalleled level of service to K-12 customers in the United States.
Ahead in the Cloud
It’s not about a product … it’s about an approach. The ideal professional development, even for specific training on a particular piece of hardware or software, expands the conversation to consider the culture of the school itself. In professional development that goes beyond the tradtional expectations, teachers do more than implement a new tool; they grow their interactions with their students, their peers and the world itself.
Summer Learning with DSS
Last week I was very fortunate to have the opportunity to participate in the 8th annual Generation Connection (TGC) in Gainesville, Florida. TGC is a one-week travelling day camp that brings together senior citizens and young people (8-12) to engage in a variety of educational, cultural, and sporting activities. The learning experiences ranged from an up-close encounter with water buffaloes to a wonderful tubing experience down the Ichetucknee River.
PS 334 PSA Process & Videos: 2009-2010
The following PSAs were created by two third grade classes working in small groups which researched, storyboarded and scripted their pieces working with their teachers, Ms. Cutler & Ms. Kirksey, and me. Once the shooting scripts were ready, the teachers recruited some bigwigs from the New York entertainment community (who also happen to be 3rd grade parents at The Anderson School*) to collaborate on the productions. Students directed the productions, made decisions about shooting, collaborated on editing, and in one case filmed a documentary that I edited with them.
Giving Students a Voice: Digital Storytelling
What do you get when you combine pictures, text and voice recording? Digital story telling. Some of the schools I work in were looking for software to use when the school Internet is slow or on the occasions when the Internet is not working? My answer this spring has been Photostory3, a free software download from Microsoft. I have used the...
Franklin K. Lane Voicethread Tutorials
Recently, Dan Storchan, who is managing our team of consultants at DSS, came to visit me in action at Franklin K. Lane High School. When Dan saw students creating online tutorials for their integrated algebra regents exam using Voicethread, he discreetly pulled out his Flip video camera and started shooting. What he captured lead us to develop the following video, where FKL students and their teacher, explain the benefits of this process in their own words.
Our 'Creating A Culture of Innovation' Workshop Was a Tremendous Success
What does it look like when technology positively impacts the daily practice of a learning community? Participants gathered together with AUSSIE consultant Sandy Scragg to explore case studies of schools that have transformed their culture by integrating shared learning and communication innovations (e.g. Google Apps) and talk about...
Alan November & Digital School Solutions Conduct Workshop for NYC Network Leaders, Principals, and Innovation Teams
On 3/17, DSS consultants and Alan November facilitated a lively hands-on workshop at the NYC United Federation of Teachers head office. The guiding question was “Who owns the learning?” The goal was to help participants rethink the role of school leaders, librarians/media specialists, classroom teachers, and students as they begin to build (or evolve)...
Educon 2.2 Reflection
During the last week of January, I had an opportunity to attend EduCon 2.2, which is “both a conversation and a conference.” It’s a conference that generates lots of questions and really maximizes the collective knowledge and experience of its participants or “co-facilitators” most with some connection to education and technology.
US DOE Study Finds that Good Teaching can be Enhanced with New Technology
Less class time means more learning. Upon first consideration, that might not make much sense, but the conditions are clear according to the latest research release by the Center for Technology and Learning. Department of Education's Office of Policy and Program Studies Service. To maximize content knowledge and change practices, the key is...
