Meeting+Minutes+2+13

MEETING MINUTES FEBRUARY 13, 2009
8:30 - Introductions Individual information. Including everyone's technology comfort and usage level.

8:57 - Digesting the article "Turning on the Lights" by [|Marc Prensky.] Jim Janssen asked us to mark a Lighning bolt next to those ideas we were excited about question mark next to those things we wondered about An exclamation point next to those items we agreed with. Group discussion.

9:06 - Discussion of article as a larger group What did people appreciate about the article What caused people concern about the article.
 * The "non-engagement" crisis (boredom of students)
 * Student's access to information and it's effects.
 * Parent involvement in change (parent survey?)
 * Student input and investment in change.

9:29 - A second article from Marc Prensky "The role of Tech in the Classroom." Mark article similarly to the first article we read.

9:34 - Small group discussion of second article

9:38 - Full group digestion of the second Prensky article.
 * inquiry based learning with tech. (teacher centered, constructivist)
 * not a content question, but a pedagogy question.
 * what is this author's concept of how the teacher should behave.
 * get out of presentation mode!
 * scaffolded instruction
 * Students in charge of their learning - Teachers supporting that.
 * where does this take teacher inservice?
 * Administration support.
 * Impact and influence of R4.
 * COMMON THEMES - student centered instruction and student collaboration at a distance.

10:00 - Break

10:12 - Current technology 8th grade assessment instrument (with levity)
 * how is assessment used, how is it reported out
 * an idea of student performance.
 * Assessement driving instruction at the 8th grade level!!!
 * what assessments are needed? Elementary? High school?
 * examples of other assessments that are out there... Sample questions from online assessment

10:30 - Summarize where we have been and where our discussion has taken us...
 * How are standards related to our tech instruction WHEN resources are a challenge.
 * What will serve kids for the future?

10:48 - A video from "The Office" How PowerPoint is so very effective!!!

10:55 - Keeping both tasks in mind - REVISION OF STANDARDS AND THEIR ASSESSMENT 11:22 - Next meeting is: FEB 24, 11:30-3:30 Closing comments...
 * An investigation of current standards, and their developmental process.
 * National standards were used to develop WSR standards
 * Relationship of resources to standards and assessment discussed in detail.
 * Accountability for these standards? Given resource challenges.
 * COMPARISON OF 15 YEARS OF READING PROGRESS TO WHERE WE ARE AT WITH TECH...
 * WSR IS NOT OF ONE MIND YET...

Meeting adjourned 11:30

Respectfully submitted: Paul Mugan