Cyberbullying: information and advice

Do we know what constitutes cyberbullying and how prevalent it is? Marilyn Campbell is a highly-regarded researcher in this area (and rightly so!)। In a recent publication, Cyber bullying and young people: treatment principles not simplistic advice, Marilyn outlines cyberbullying, its prevalence and what to do about it in the context of a whole-of-community approach. This is well-written with up-to-date, practical advice.

Marilyn also co-authored another easy-to-read, valuable article with Desmond Butler and Sally Kift recently called A school’s duty to provide a safe learning environment: does this include cyberbullying? This article examines the legal issues in relation to a school’s responsibility. A must read for every school leader!

The Australian government commissioned two studies on covert bullying as

• The Australian covert bullying prevalence study, Edith Cowan University, looks at the prevalence and impact on Australian schools.
• The second study, Behind the scenes: insights into the human dimension of covert bullying was conducted by the University of South Australia in conjunction with Flinders University highlights the complexity of cyberbullying in the complex parallel world of cyberspace by collecting real-life experiences.

What's education.au up to?

Well, there seems to be quite a lot of activity at education.au recently (or maybe I've just noticed!)

• Teacher professional learning: planning for change The promise of ICT transforming teaching and learning relies heavily on professional learning. An education.au survey found that only 27% of teachers use ICT effectively in the classroom! So, the recommendations include the development of a national professional learning strategy based on research evidence, development of national ICT standards.

• What does 21st century learning look like? A one-day seminar with opportunities to find out more about what this might mean for the learning environment and what might be the impact on schooling. When: 11 Sept. Where: Australian Technology Park

• Annual report on emerging technologies: planning for change ‘The focus is on recommending actions that will support an environment that normalises change.’ The recommendations that are of interest (to me!) are #1 implement an ICT in teaching and learning continuum to enable a smooth transition for learners through the education sectors; #3 plan a program of research around the use of ICT [This is sort of like futurelab which is focused on promoting innovation in education by encouraging exchange of ideas and a place to experiment. Check out the research articles.]; #7 develop a strategy for professional learning based on sound research; and #8 implement an ICT competency framework for teachers. Challenges! Of course there are but these are best described by the Horizon report 2009 K-12 edition.

Great ideas, makes perfect sense but I reckon by the time all this happens, ‘new and emerging’ will be a thing of the past!

Dialogic teaching

Using interactive whiteboards in the classroom is a great opportunity to embrace talking for learning in the classroom as students express opinions, talk about issues and ideas, build confidence and extend their thinking skills.

Here are some links to interesting information to inspire and motivate:

• Talking to learn: dialogue in the classroom: NSW Institute of Teachers The digest
• Dialogic literacy webpage
• Dialogic teaching in science classrooms leaflet
• Using interactive whiteboards for dialogic teaching slideshare
• Guidance for introducing dialogic teaching: a guide to planning and implementing dialogic teaching

21st century educators, work and students

Friday afternoon is a good time to kick back and relax thinking about the wins of the week. Why not spend some time thinking about the powerful influences on education in the 21st century? Here are some things to excite and inspire - or at the very least interest you.

• The 21st century educator: creating a personal learning network “The kind of questioning, collaborative, active, lateral rather than hierarchical pedagogy that participatory media both forces and enables is not the kind of change that takes place quickly or at all in public schools.” Howard Reingold, Smart mobs

This is only one quote from an incredibly interesting look at 21st century teaching and learning, personal learning networks and technology tools.
This presentation is on slideshare. If you haven’t had a chance to explore the presentations uploaded to this site yet, set some time aside … there’s lots to learn!

• Shoulder pads are out! Working from home is outré! Enter the Digital nomad. “Wireless internet has develop a new kind of colleague – the digital nomad. They work wherever they can find a wireless Web connection and then reach their co-workers via instant messaging, Twitter, Facebook, email and more.” The Washington Post (story and video).Seems to me DER NSW is getting us moving in a direction where students are preparing for this emerging world of work!

• How teenagers consume media was an instant hit on the internet just recently. Why? Well I’m not sure … the article was written by a 15-year-old and whilst this cannot be considered to be representative it nonetheless a really interesting insight in how teenagers consume media.

This document has been published at Scribd, a place to upload and share your documents. Not been there before? Take a few minutes to trawl and see what’s of interest. I just found one … Reinventing Edison, maybe not something you’re interested in though.

Connected learning

Mark Treadwell: At the Connected Learning conference last week, Mark made great use of narrative to describe the ‘most dramatic paradigm shift of all’, the Internet-based paradigm. He argues that we have reached our upper limit in the book-based paradigm. Also of interest is his stuff on thinking, Thinking 101 where he explores What is thinking?, how the brain works, Socratic questioning and much more.

Trudy Sweeney: At the same conference, Trudy touched on her work which I think is most interesting, i.e. Interactive whiteboard developmental framework which give technical and pedagogical indicators through the stages of ICT integration. There is a neat description of her study to develop this model published in the Australian Educational Computing journal (Vol. 23 No. 2 pp. 24-31). It captures teacher practices at different levels of sophistication that would allow teachers to identify their professional learning needs. She also draws on the NSW model of Quality Teaching making this a most interesting framework.

TED talks is always a great sources of the new and very interesting – the latest big GASP is Pattie Mae’s wearable device with projector, Sixth sense on TED talks. If this is achievable then …

NSWIT, The digest, Talking to learn: Dialogue in the classroom promotes lengthy interactions between a teacher and a student or group of students for collaborative and mutual support, the importance of dialogue and interactions to help students build understanding, explore ideas and develop thinking skills. Well worth a read!

Creativity, imagination and innovation

Anyone caught the interviews with Ken Robinson on ABC, 7:30 report over the last two nights?
Most interesting ideas on driving innovation in education and developing creativity and thinking skills - ideas such as promoting diversity, not conformity and allowing children time to play, socialise, explore and let their imaginations run wild are worth thinking about.

• 7:30 report (16 and 17 June)
  
• TED Ideas worth spreading
  

Forty years on ...

Did you know that it has been forty years since the first moonlanding in 1969! Much has changed since then and some things have stayed the same. It’s worth reflecting on.

For example:

• What sort of educational technology was in place in schools then? How far have we come?
• What content was taught and how was this delivered?

Watch the video of the moonlanding ... and think about:

• What could have happened if NASA forgto the parachute?
• What were the challenges for the astronauts?
• What opportunities were provide for us by the space program?
  

In looking back, it’s quite incredible this was possible in 1969 - space technology was a sharp focus for many years but not so much now - we are much more focused on global issues of climate change and economic crisis.

Times have changed – how are these social changes reflected in education?

What is the role of digital interactive technologies in promoting student learning, particularly in relation to learning with laptops?

Ladies and gentleman - this is our moon shot - let's not screw it up!

Starry messenger

Four hundred years ago, Galileo Galilei stared out into the night sky, very much as the ancients had. However, this was different as Galileo was aided by a powerful instrument – the telescope. Rapid developments in optics technology lead to new and interesting ways of viewing the very small and the very large. And so, this development in technology paved the way to some remarkable and astounding discoveries.

From what he saw, Galileo gained a better understanding of our position in the universe; he discovered craters and mountains on the moon; the existence of Jupiter’s moons; and he saw even more stars out there than we ever thought possible! These discoveries forever changed our view of the world. Like the telescope, laptop computers will influence the education of students for many years to come in all sorts of ways that we are yet to be certain about.

We too live in a rapidly changing world where digital technologies enhance, influence and empower much of what we do. At work, study or play, digital technologies are interwoven in to the very fabric of our lives. Mobile phone, global positioning devices, mp3 players and the internet are just a few examples that are in everyday use.

Within our communities, students and their families expect that interactive digital technologies to be an integral part of school education. NSW public schools are fortunate to have access to the best resources, including interactive classrooms with interactive whiteboards and videoconferencing facilities enabling students to communicate and collaborate within their classroom, between classrooms and beyond extending opportunities for active and interactive participation in a contemporary learning environment.

Now with wireless-enabled laptops being provided over the next four years, our senior students and secondary teachers have the very best information technologies for their educational and working lives.

The Laptops for Learning Program represents an unprecedented and significant investment by the Labor Government in personal learning technologies signaling our entry into the digital education revolution. It is fitting that this revolution coincides with the International Year of Astronomy as we celebrate the birth and achievements of an outstanding human, Galileo.

Videoconference in the classroom and beyond!

Videoconferencing - what great technology!
In October 2008, a group of students facilitated discussions between world leaders in urban planning in two of the world's largest cities in India and China, and experts in impacts in global climate change.

Read all about it! TV to VC: an amazing journey!