News Literacy Program

President Obama has declared October, 2009 National Information Literacy Awareness Month.
As the proclamation declares, "Rather than merely possessing data, we must also learn the skills necessary to acquire, collate, and evaluate information for any situation.... to help in our day-to-day decisionmaking."

Another worthwhile link to check out is the News Literacy Project created by a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist to offer an innovative program in helping middle and high school students "sort fact from fiction in the digital age."

Benjamin Zander Keynote @ BLC 09, July 29, 2009

Brief notes re: Opening keynote is Benjamin Zander, conductor of the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra and author of The ARt of Possiblility. I am thrilled to see and hear him, having read his book, heard his TED presentation and know his enthusiastic view of life!
Being at this conference, day 1, is quite overwhelming and full of terrific energy. HOT outside and another hot inside. Cathy, Margaret Kelley and I are expecting great things for our learning and our collaborative network expansion. youth orchestra of the Americas in town and will be performing at the Hatch Shell tonight and we get to go and experience that as well.
coming here "opens my mind" for 1000 attendees.
BZ talks about leadership in the informal sense - not the old male centered, hierarchical, closed form
artists usually allowed to 'serve' the economic institutions and provide emotional response to what is. artist in each one of us to transform self and others.
BZ left formal school at age 15, studied music in Italy, and was sent to London to 'see' a philosopher thanks to his mother's decision of his needing more education. Think of one's own problem during this presentation to realize own transformation over the 2 hour presentation.
"new leader masterful in creating and holding distinctions" - BZ; "one buttock playing" - student's gradual reduction of impulses over time in learning to 'play' the piano; eduction is opening up of new categories not transfering of info. choose your response to anything- resignation, anger, or possibility.
out of the box thinking - 9 dot game without taking pen off paper needs to have you go out of box to accomplish task. what assumptions am I making that I don't know I am making ( ex. 'using the whole sheet of paper....) every org. needs someone noticing what assumptions are being made and be able to say so.
framemaker - creating new frameworks to solve problems
rhythm of transformtion is lighter, brighter, and more lively/faster (than the rhythm of expectation) we are going into a new world - what kind of world do you want and who do you need to be for the journey
BZ talked about starting each of his classes for motivated international students by giving each student an A and then assigning each student the writing of an essay about where they will be in a year's time. this allows for the possibility of living into the A; afterall the A is an invention, whay not invent something more possible, more promising. having a perfect life is all invented so become an inventor.
when you make a mistake raise your arms and shout "How fascinating!"

The Future is Now: Presentation

Take a look at this 7 minute compelling video by Dr. Richard Miller of Rutgers, and the New Humanities students of today who are expected to participate as collaborators and creators in today's read-and-write-web. The Future is Now: Presentation to the RU Board of Governors

Technology Integration Through Teacher Training - Action Research Proposal

Check out this SlideShare Presentation:

Technology Integration Through Teacher Training - Action Research Proposal

View more presentations from Marc Stephens.

Remember Bob Sprankle?

If you read Web Literacy for Educators, you may recall that Alan November put in his acknowledgements Bob Sprankle from Wells, ME. Both having Alan refer to Bob's impact for his learning and having Bob so nearby had me wanting to know more. But of course, I got sidetracked in my searching for Bob and only now have I once again seen Bob's name come across my screen at his blog, http://bobsprankle.com/bitbybit_wordpress/
I paused long enough to read his April 9 post Line up for the future, and the wisdom shared by 4th graders. Worth a read!

Just heard Alan November!

The Literacy Integration Team along with many who participated in the PLC on Web Literacy for Educators and other colleagues were able to attend SES sessions offered by Alan November on 3/20/09. He didn't disappoint! Those of us already familiar with his views on providing grammar for the internet appreciated seeing some of his pointers we had read about put into action and elaborated on.
I have already begun creating some glossary terms for web literacy in wordle formats to post in our library. Our PLC had discussed how it would be useful to develop a glossary of terms for common understanding and use for all learners - kids and adults alike.
Looking forward to being able to work with Alan and his ideas more through the upcoming summer conference in Boston as well as potentially having him come onsite to build capacity for our colleagues, many of whom are already excited by his approaches and suggestions.

PLC group