Fwd: Register NOW! NELMS Summer Institute

-- Gary Ackerman, Ph.D.

Begin forwarded message:

From: nelms@nelms.org
Date: June 19, 2014 at 9:46:33 AM EDT
To: "Dr. Gary L. Ackerman" <gary@hackscience.net>
Subject: Register NOW! NELMS Summer Institute
Reply-To: NELMS <nelms@nelms.org>

NELMS Summer Institute
Professional Development for you and family fun too!

NELMS Summer Institute coming in July

This year's NELMS Summer Institute will be held at The North Conway Grand Hotel in North Conway, NH on July 28 & 29, 2014. The theme of this year's conference is "Learn from the Best to Become the Best".
Spotlight School Educators will lead the four sessions over two days.
Session topics are:
• Advisory
• Transitions
• Technology
• Culture & Climate

 

Session Descriptions

Positive School Climate & Culture = Student Success
Just what is a positive school climate & culture? Does it REALLY help our students learn more and be more engaged in their learning? How can you tell if your school has a positive climate/culture… or a negative one? What can we do to change a negative climate/culture? Lots of questions that we will examine.  We will look for answers to during this interactive and personalized session. Research, assessments, activities, resources - all will be available to help you help your school and students move in a positive direction!
Workshop presenter:
Christina deGroff, Guidance Counselor, Medomak Middle School, Waldoboro, ME
 

Strategies to Help Students Transition to Middle School
Will there be more homework? What if I can't find the bathroom? What if I get lost? These are only some of the questions soon-to-be middle school students are thinking about in the months leading up to the start of middle school. Come help your students form realistic expectations of what middle school will be like and engage in building a positive systematic transition program that addresses the needs of all students and stakeholders.
Workshop presenters:
Dr. Andrew Anderson, Principal, Barrington Middle School, Barrington, R.I.
Wendy Parente, Assistant Principal, Barrington Middle School, Barrington, R.I.
 

Creating Collaborative Communities: 
Connecting Students Through Guidance Supports and Awesome Advisory Activities
Come experience our multi-age advisory.  Our dynamic program fosters collaboration and builds community, through teambuilding and Quaglia "Aspiration" theme based activities.  We create a community of caring, engaged students and supportive staff.  Our guidance program is an integral component in sustaining positive climate and culture changes using "Dream Mapping," to set individual short and long term goals.  Our counselors offer Professional Development to ensure each student is connected. Come see the resources we use to connect to each student.
Workshop presenters:
Ginny Hahn, Emily Hayden, Kelly Wass 
Ginny teaches 7th grade science and math.
Emily is SMS and SHS counselor. 
Kelly teaches 7th grade  Eng/LA and SS.
 

12 Continuing Education hours will be provided. Graduate credit is available.
For more information and/or to register please click here.
 

Find out what there is to do in the North Conway region by clicking here.

 

NELMS Summer Institute
July 28 & 29, 2014
North Conway, NH
To learn more
click here
 

NELMS & Keys to Literacy Summer Literacy Institute
August 4–7, 2014
Keys to Literacy Training Center
Rowley, MA
To learn more
click here
 

Rick Wormeli
Standards-based Assessment and Grading
Sept. 23 & 24, 2014
Clarion Hotel & Conference Center Northampton, MA
To learn more
click here

Join us on Facebook and Twitter

©2012 New England League of Middle Schools.. All Rights Reserved

 

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Fwd: Last chance to register for 1:1 Digital Learning Institute

-- Gary Ackerman, Ph.D.

Begin forwarded message:

From: nelms@nelms.org
Date: June 11, 2014 at 9:14:24 AM EDT
To: "Dr. Gary L. Ackerman" <gary@hackscience.net>
Subject: Last chance to register for 1:1 Digital Learning Institute
Reply-To: NELMS <nelms@nelms.org>

1:1 Digital Learning Institute
Time is running out!
Register now to reserve your place

Digital 1:1 learning has revolutionized the learning experience, empowering teachers to personalize learning and connect students to the world like never before. An effective 1:1 program goes far beyond the purchase of laptops or tablets—yet, many schools don't know where to begin. The 1:1 Digital Learning Institute will provide participants the knowledge and confidence to develop a vision and plan for implementing or sustaining their school or district technology initiative.

You can find complete information at http://1to1digitallearninginstitute.wordpress.com/.
As well you can find a registration page here.

We hope you will consider joining us in Kennebunk, Maine on June 26 & 27.
Sincerely,
Brenda Needham,
Executive Director of NELMS

 

NELMS Summer Institute
July 28 & 29, 2014
North Conway, NH
To learn more
click here

Summer Literacy Institute
August 4–7, 2014
Rowley, MA
To learn more
click here

Rick Wormeli
Sept. 23 & 24, 2014
Northampton, MA
To learn more
click here

Join us on Facebook and Twitter

©2012 New England League of Middle Schools.. All Rights Reserved

 

You are currently subscribed to nelms as: gary@hackscience.net Add nelms@nelms.org to your email address book to ensure delivery Forward to a Friend  |  Manage Subscription  |   Subscribe  |   Unsubscribe

Technology Acceptance Model

Technology leaders in much of the "real-world" (the world outside K-12) designs and evaluates IT projects according to the technology acceptance model (TAM) which posits that the decision to use technology for a strategic or logistic function depends on three factors:

• Perceived ease of use
• Perceived usefulness
• Perceived social norms 

Basically, if and thinks a system is easy and useful and if he or she believes others expect it to be used, then that individual will begin and continue using technology.

Notice, also, the perceptions of the user is the relevant factor. If I as a technology-geek think a system is easy to use, but my users do not, then the system is unlikely to be used. As I see Chromebooks replacing laptops in schools, I am hearing teachers say, "it is so much easier to use because it boots up and students are online in no time." Such comments indicate increased ease of use.

The perceptions of usefulness are largely defined for educators in terms of what they are expected to teach. Access to drill-and-practice sites associated with textbooks may be perceived as useful by one teachers whereas tools for collaboration may be perceived as useful to another. I want my children in the classroom where collaboration is valued over drill-and-practice, but the judgement of the teacher will determine how useful technology is in any situation.

Social norms are based largely on observations of others who are judged to be important. A principal who says, "you must use computers in your classroom," but who never stumbles when setting up PowerPoint for a faculty meeting will not increase the social norm. A teacher in the same grade who has students engaged and excited about a technology project and shares her success will increase the social norm.

As we enter the summer season and update and upgrade technology, keep in mind TAM. If you cannot see a direct connection between what you are doing with technology and how it will increase one of the three TAM factors, then don't waste your time.

Fwd: NELMS Summer Institute coming in July

-- Gary Ackerman, Ph.D.

Begin forwarded message:

From: nelms@nelms.org
Date: June 5, 2014 at 11:16:56 AM EDT
To: "Dr. Gary L. Ackerman" <gary@hackscience.net>
Subject: NELMS Summer Institute coming in July
Reply-To: NELMS <nelms@nelms.org>

NELMS Summer Institute
Professional Development for you and family fun too!

NELMS Summer Institute coming in July

This year's NELMS Summer Institute will be held at The North Conway Grand Hotel in North Conway, NH on July 28 & 29, 2014. The theme of this year's conference is "Learn from the Best to Become the Best".
Spotlight School Educators will lead the four sessions over two days.
Session topics are:
• Advisory
• Transitions
• Technology
• Culture & Climate

 

Session Descriptions

Positive School Climate & Culture = Student Success
Just what is a positive school climate & culture? Does it REALLY help our students learn more and be more engaged in their learning? How can you tell if your school has a positive climate/culture… or a negative one? What can we do to change a negative climate/culture? Lots of questions that we will examine.  We will look for answers to during this interactive and personalized session. Research, assessments, activities, resources - all will be available to help you help your school and students move in a positive direction!
Workshop presenter:
Christina deGroff, Guidance Counselor, Medomak Middle School, Waldoboro, ME
 

Strategies to Help Students Transition to Middle School
Will there be more homework? What if I can't find the bathroom? What if I get lost? These are only some of the questions soon-to-be middle school students are thinking about in the months leading up to the start of middle school. Come help your students form realistic expectations of what middle school will be like and engage in building a positive systematic transition program that addresses the needs of all students and stakeholders.
Workshop presenters:
Dr. Andrew Anderson, Principal, Barrington Middle School, Barrington, R.I.
Wendy Parente, Assistant Principal, Barrington Middle School, Barrington, R.I.
 

Creating Collaborative Communities: 
Connecting Students Through Guidance Supports and Awesome Advisory Activities
Come experience our multi-age advisory.  Our dynamic program fosters collaboration and builds community, through teambuilding and Quaglia "Aspiration" theme based activities.  We create a community of caring, engaged students and supportive staff.  Our guidance program is an integral component in sustaining positive climate and culture changes using "Dream Mapping," to set individual short and long term goals.  Our counselors offer Professional Development to ensure each student is connected. Come see the resources we use to connect to each student.
Workshop presenters:
Ginny Hahn, Emily Hayden, Kelly Wass 
Ginny teaches 7th grade science and math. 
Emily is SMS and SHS counselor. 
Kelly teaches 7th grade  Eng/LA and SS.
 

12 Continuing Education hours will be provided. Graduate credit is available.
For more information and/or to register please click here.
 

Find out what there is to do in the North Conway region by clicking here.

 

1:1 Technology Learning Institute
June 26 & 27, 2014
Kennebunk, ME
To learn more
click here
To register
click here
 

NELMS Summer Institute
July 28 & 29, 2014
North Conway, NH
To learn more
click here

Join us on Facebook and Twitter

©2012 New England League of Middle Schools.. All Rights Reserved

 

You are currently subscribed to nelms as: gary@hackscience.net Add nelms@nelms.org to your email address book to ensure delivery Forward to a Friend  |  Manage Subscription  |   Subscribe  |   Unsubscribe

Four Philosophies of Technology

Technological anarchy takes a “free-market” approach to technology. Any and all technologies are perceived as good strategies for achieving economic and political goals. The Industrial Revolution is presented as a period during which technological anarchy reigned.

Technophilia is a “technology-loving.” Individuals and cultures demonstrating this philosophy will adopt technologies with little regard to the problems caused by the technologies. Americans’ use of automobiles despite the effect of problems of pollution and destruction of city neighborhoods is an example of technophilia.

Technphobia is “technology-hating.” Individuals and cultures demonstrating this philosophy oppose excessive effects of technology through de-technologizing human endeavors.

Appropriate technology is the philosophy that dominates when technology matures. It is marked by five characteristics:

1.  Technology “preserves diversity;”
2. It “promotes benign interactions between humans, their machines, and the biosphere;”
3.  It is “thermodynamically sound;”
4.  The costs are “balanced;”
5. It “promotes human development.”