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=Welcome to your 2010EA743 Wiki=

Special Announcement for Grand Blanc Cohort:
Sheryl B. is making a 5 pm reservation for 6/15 at the [|Brickstreet Bar & Grill]. Directions and menu available on this link.

Link to [|NETS-A]
This wiki is for the use of the Grand Blanc # 5 and Macomb # 7 EdS cohorts during the summer 01 term, 2010, at Oakland University. The Home page will be used by the EA 743 instructor, Brian Clark, to post both required reading/viewing assignments as well as FYI items. The required readings/viewings will provide the basis of topical discussions during selected course meetings. Cohort members not in attendance will be expected to post their discussion contributions on the wiki by using the Home page Discussion tab. A wiki page has been created for each cohort member and can be accessed on the left by clicking on the names. Cohort members will use their pages to post links and provide evidence of completing the web 2.0 assignment.

Although I e-mailed the following EA 743/702 course overview a couple weeks ago. I am posting it here as a file just in case someone did not receive it. We will review the plan at our first meeting. Note: This file is specifically intended for the Macomb cohort.
 * __Course Overview__**

This file is specifically intended for the Grand Blanc cohort.

Our discussion question: ** Based on what you know about the forthcoming national core curriculum standards, what is your position about what is contained in them and what they may mean for the future of American education? ( I am anxious to hear what you have to say on this issue.) Obviously, our discussion will benefit from increasing our knowledge of the standards and of some of the discussions taking place about them. Therefore, I am asking that you access the following three links to read/view these materials: 1. Education Week's blog, [|Curriculum Matters], discusses the most recent draft of the Common Core Standards and, more important, provides you with a [|link to the standards] as they stand before a final review and publication in May. Familiarize yourself with the standards, especially those areas that are of most interest to you. At the bottom of the Curriculum Matters blog, there is a link to a Power Point with 27 slides that gives an overview of the standards. 2. An earlier Curriculum Matters blog provides links to a few [|divergent views] of the Common Core Standards. 3. Finally, a straight forward Ed Week article about the various [|unresolved issues] involved with the move to national standards. The following posts are related to our topic but are supplemental reading: FYI Here is a very recent Curriculum Issues blog that discusses the [|financial ripple effects] of the soon-to-be-published core curriculum standards. How might your district, school and/or classroom be affected by the advent of these standards? This Curriculum Matters blog has links to The Alliance for Excellence in Education, an organization that has collected information about all 50 states regarding their positions on the Common Core Curriculum Standards, as well as other interesting state data. You may want to check on Michigan's "[|flash cards] " and any other states of interest to you.
 * __Reading/Viewing Assignment for 1st Class__

Web 2.0 Assignment
Cohort members will demonstrate their ability to use web 2.0 tools by creating the following: 1. IGoogle homepage. 2. A minimum of six gadgets on their homepage, three of which must be related to their professional work. 3. A Google Reader on their home page with a minimum of six RSS Feeds on their homepage. 4. Their own del.i.cious account with four separate "tags" containing a minimum of one entry each. 5. A subscription to ASCD's free e-newsletter, SmartBrief, and one additional e-newsletter. 6. A minimum of three postings on their wiki page: a Link, File, and Widget (i.e. Video).

[|A short video that explains how to create your IGoogle Home Page.]

[|An introduction to IGoogle and Google Reader with links to get you started.]

[|Google Reader in Plain English (by Common Craft)]

[|RSS Feed in Plain English (by Common Craft]

[|A bit more detailed intro to Google Reader and RSS feeds].

The readings/viewings for the __second class__ meeting will focus on technology and its affect on education.
1. The first assignment is to [|view the presentation] that was given to the 2009 NEA convention by Dr. Scott McLeod. It is 22 minutes in length. You should also explore his [|web site] which is a rich, technology resource. If you've never viewed "Did You Know?" in the top right of his site, you'll want to check it out. (FYI) Also, place your cursor over "Features" located to the top left along the white stripe, and then scroll down to videos. You will find some interesting, short videos as you scroll through his collection. 2. On line learning, especially at the HS level, is predicted to greatly increase. Harvard professor, Clayton Christenson, has applied his disruptive innovations statistical model to public education and estimates that by 2019, 50% of HS courses will be taught on line. This link will connect you to a ten minute video about [|on line learning]. The [|Alliance for Excellence in Education] published this eight-page, Issue Brief in Feb. 2010, contending that on line learning will be part of the answer to three of the most pressing challenges facing American public education. 3. What do you believe to be the top five technology trends in education for 2010? Compare your thoughts to those presented in this Dec. 2009 article from [|T.H.E. Journal.] The 2009, [|K-12 Horizon Report] is another look into the future technology trends. Just read the Executive Summary (Pages 3-8) and then you can decide which trends you'd like to learn more about. (FYI) This brief video below is shared to simply encourage reflection on our individual attitudes toward technology as a teaching & learning tool. You'll have to "get past" the young man's "in your face" style to consider his message. (The video may stop & start at the beginning.) But, beware, this is a You Tube video and you may have to watch it in the privacy of your own home, using your personal web browser account, since your school district probably filters You Tube.



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===FYI - GVSU has just approved Michigan's first virtual charter school. Read this article from the [|Grand Rapids News] .=== FYI - [|Grand Rapids District] is proposing to increase the number of high school classes taught completely or partially on line. === FYI - Macomb cohort member, Brandon Slone has posted three brief videos of interest regarding technology and its implications for teachers and administrators. Simply click on Brandon's name in the left hand column to access them. FYI - Ed Week periodically makes available a collection of articles as they "Spotlight" a topic. This [|Spotlight] focuses on technology. You may find an article of particular interest. === FYI - There are many good blogs for educators available. This example is [|Free Technology for Teachers.] FYI - Curious about the status of technology use in America's public schools? Then you'll find the results of this [|2008 national survey] very interesting. FYI - A very popular tech resource for educators has been created by four, Michigan ISD's. Check out [|21 Things] all educators should know about technology. FYI - Former HS teacher, now "web 2.0 evangelist", [|Will Richardson] recently discussed his view regarding the challenge teachers face with mobile computing devices in their classrooms.

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FYI - We were speaking about the challenge teachers & schools face with the growth of [|student texting]. Here is an article from the new issue of Teacher Magazine about that topic.

FYI - Technology has always been a challenge for people as depicted in this short You Tube video. Of course, you can always call the "helpdesk". media type="youtube" key="pQHX-SjgQvQ" height="385" width="480"

**The readings/viewing for our __third class meeting__ will focus on teacher evaluation and related issues. The required readings are numbered and include some guiding questions. The FYI items are suggested reading for further development of your background knowledge on this topic.

FYI - The [|Michigan Dept. of Ed.] recently made public the complete contents of its application for the second round of federal RTTT funds. Section D, starting around p. 34 discusses the plan for implementing the new state law that mandates annual evaluations for all teachers & principals using multiple measures including student academic growth. The actual legislation affecting teacher evaluation is farther down on this page. **

1. [|The Center for American Progress], an influential, Washington think tank, published an important, June 2009, report on teacher evaluation with the catchy name, "So Long, Lake Wobegone?". If you are not familiar with story teller Garrison Keilor's "hometown", it is Lake Wobegone "where all the women are strong, the men are good looking, and all the children are above average". The report questions how it can be that almost all teachers are evaluated "above average". I draw your attention to the Executive Summary on pp. 1 & 2 and the recommendations pp.19 - 21.
 * Are there any teachers in your school/district who are far from "above average"? Are there teachers who should be assisted to improve or to find another line of work?**

2,a. You may have read [|Newsweek's March 15, 2010], cover story, "The Key to Saving American Education" that argued the "fix" involves "firing all bad teachers".



2,b. In contrast to the Newsweek article, here is a link to a Jan. 2010 paper that suggests [|fixing our dysfunctional education system] is the more productive approach to improving American public education. **Where do you stand in this debate over the best way to improve K-12 education?** (Additional required reading continues below with # 3.)

FYI - Now, ASCD presents its [|May, 2010, issue of Education Leadership] with the theme, "The Key to Changing the Teaching Profession". There are several articles of interest. BC



3. A first-year principal [|questions the effectiveness of her classroom observations] and asks if there aren't ways to enhance observations for the benefit of teacher development. **Is anything going on in your district/school to improve teacher observation and evaluation, both formative and summative?** (You may want to check back on this link to read the responses to her call for ideas, and maybe contribute your own posting.)

FYI - Back in Feb. 2010, the case of Central Falls (RI) HS gained a great deal of attention because the school board accepted the supt. recommendation to fire all of the teachers and the principal. This case represents two classic, educational debates: 1.) Should a school staff be held accountable for student achievement even in if the students live in poverty? 2. Is it too lengthy and expensive a process to dismiss a teacher who performs at an unacceptable level? This video depicts aspects of the debate over these and other issues.

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Here is the latest news on the Central Falls HS case as reported in [|USA Today] on May 16, 2010.

FYI - [|Walk Throughs] have been a popular approach for teacher supervision in recent years. But....what does the research have to say?

FYI - The Center for American Progress recently published a report on [|Peer Assisted Review]. This link provides a brief overview as well as a link to the entire report and to a lengthy panel discussion of PAR. This approach to teacher supervision involves teachers in the process. it has been used in a few districts for years, Toledo being the leader using PAR. Recently, there has been increased interest in PAR as districts seek better models for supervision.

FYI - [|Ken Peterson] is a long-time researcher & writer on teacher evaluation issues. His web site provides some good resources.

FYI - The New York state & city teachers' unions have just agreed to support a new teacher evaluation system that includes student achievement. This is not a performance pay plan but is intended to improve the process of terminating ineffective teachers. This [|NY Times article] provides information about the agreement.

FYI - The issue of **performance pay** for teachers is a hot topic since it is being tried in some parts of the country and is supported by the past and current administrations in Washington D.C. The [|May, 2010, issue of the Kappan] journal is devoted to articles on this topic. FYI - A group of recognized [|teacher leaders] was brought together to write their recommendations for performance pay. Their recommendations make for interesting reading. FYI - An 11,000 student district in CO has adopted a new [|performance pay system]. This Ed Week article provides details and is followed by numerous reader responses of interest. (Denver CO has had a performance pay system for a few years.) FYI - [|The Myth of Merit Pay] " is a recent Ed Week Commentary written by an experienced superintendent. He makes some interesting observations. Note the Ed Week Spotlight on Performance Pay that is accessible on the page in the black & brown insert box. It will provide links to several recent news articles on this topic.

FYI - Related to performance pay is the issue of motivation, what drives people to give their best performance. Author, Daniel Pink's latest book, Drive presents a very readable history of the research on human motivation. He is interviewed by Phi Delta Kappa in the [|May issue of EDge]. There are interesting implications in his work not only for performance pay but also student motivation. Educators found his previous book, A Whole New Mind, worth reading and I believe the same is true of Drive. If you prefer to listen to Daniel Pink present his findings on motivation, I have placed a video of his presentation to a TED conference below. It is 18 minutes long.

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FYI - This site in [|Washington state] is collecting teacher evaluation resources Although some of the resources are specific to Washington, others are of national interest. This is a good site to check out if you seek more info.

FYI - [|The Widget Effect] reports on a recent major study of teacher evaluation. This link is to the Executive Summary of that report.

Here are some selected resources on teacher evaluation: //Effective Teacher Evaluation, A Guide for Principals by K. Peterson (2006) Corwin Press. Enhancing Professional Practice, A Framework for Teaching 2nd ed.by C. Danielson (2007) ASCD (Her model is the basis for improvements being attempted by many districts. Also see the book listed below by Danielson & McGreal.) Dealilng With Difficult Teachers, 2nd ed., by T. Whitaker (2002) Eye on Education (He is a former principal and popular presenter.) The Skillful Leader, Confronting Mediocre Teaching by A. Platt et.al. (2000) Read About Press (Comprehensive, practice-oriented presentation.) // //Teacher Evaluation to Enhance Professional Practice// by C. Danielson & T. McGreal (2000) ASCD //Evaluating Teaching, A Guide to Current Thinking & Best Practice,2nd ed.// edited by J. Stronge (2006) Corwin Press (Contains good articles by many leaders in the field of teacher supervision & evaluation.) //Leadership for Learning, How to Help Teachers Succeed// by C. Glickman (2002) ASCD //( Presents a clear overview of his classic model of "differentiated supervision".) //

The [|State Board of Ed] has formally adopted recommendations for changing the financing of public education as well as some structural changes in public education. (5/11/10) The entire report can be viewed through this link. The [|Michigan Dept. of Ed] has completed its second RTTT application for federal funds. This time both state teachers' unions signed on as supporters although it is still up to each local union to decide whether or not to join their district's board of ed in support of the application's contents, which can be viewed in detail here.

FYI - Here is a[| Commentary] written by a teacher in response to the current reform agenda that includes 'fixing" public schools by firing a relatively few bad teachers and paying a relatively few teachers more money. Very worth a few minutes to read.

FYI - As mentioned above, here is the actual legislation that will change teacher evaluation in Michigan. This bill was passed into law Jan. 2010. See the state's RTTT Application Plan above to read more details of how the MDE plans to implement the new law. Sec. 1249. With the involvement of teachers and school administrators, the board of a school district or intermediate school district or board of directors of a public school academy shall adopt and implement for all teachers and school administrators a rigorous, transparent, and fair performance evaluation system that does all of the following: (a) Evaluates the teacher’s or school administrator’s job performance at least annually while providing timely and constructive feedback. (b) Establishes clear approaches to measuring student growth and provides teachers and school administrators with relevant data on student growth. (c) Evaluates a teacher’s or school administrator’s job performance, using multiple rating categories that take into account data on student growth as a significant factor. For these purposes, student growth shall be measured by national, state, or local assessments and other objective criteria. (d) Uses the evaluations, at a minimum, to inform decisions regarding all of the following: (i) The effectiveness of teachers and school administrators, ensuring that they are given ample opportunities for improvement. (ii) Promotion, retention, and development of teachers and school administrators, including providing relevant coaching, instruction support, or professional development. (iii) Whether to grant tenure or full certification, or both, to teachers and school administrators using rigorous standards and streamlined, transparent, and fair procedures. (iv) Removing ineffective tenured and untenured teachers and school administrators after they have had ample opportunities to improve, and ensuring that these decisions are made using rigorous standards and streamlined, transparent, and fair procedures.

Readings/viewings for our fourth meeting will address globalization and its ramifications for American public schools.
1. You heard Yong Zhao at the Research Symposium. Now, watch a [|short video] where he shares additional thoughts. Or, if you want to view Zhao's presentation, based on his book, given at this year's ASCD conference, see the video below. Also read this Sept., 2009, article by Zhao (see page icon immediately below) and share your reactions to it and at least one of his videos. You might also want to check out [|Zhao's web site]. F

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F 2. In his 2009 book, Catching Up or Leading the Way: American Education in the Age of Globalization, Yong Zhao presents three challenges faced by American education as a result of globalization. We will discuss these three challenges at the fourth meeting. If you are "discussing" on the wiki, how do you believe we should be addressing these challenges?

FYI - There are a number of global education resources available. Below are links to a few. [|National Council for the Social Studies] [|Asia Society]

[|The Center for Global Education] [|The Global Education Collaborative]

FYI - Here is a "contagious" speaker, an educational leader in India who took her students into the community to be the change they wanted in the world, to paraphrase Gandi. This video is worth nine minutes of your time and perhaps worth sharing with your students so they can "get to know" some Indian children learning and leading in their community.

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FYI - Phi Delta Kappa hosted a [|Global Education Summit] in 2007. One panelist was Yong Zhao. This is a very brief summary of what came out of this summit.

FYI - IB is a program that for many years has taken a global view of curriculum. There are some critics who view IB as anti-American. Check out this [|Washington Post blog]. Former Under Sec. of Education, and influential writer, Chester Finn, expresses his concern about the Chinese influence in our schools. Check out his [|National Review] opinion piece. Here is a link to a [|speech] about globalization give by an American business leader.

FYI - Emory University has a [|Globalization Website]. There is a discussion of why some on the left as well as some on the right oppose globalization. Click on "Issues" and then the appropriate question.

__Revisiting the Core Standards__ The [|May 19 issue] of Ed Week has an article about a recent meeting of numerous ed leaders who were brought together to discuss how the soon-to-be-published Core Standards can be translated into actual curricula. (Ed Week is currently the best way to keep up with the Core Standards that are scheduled to be released in their final form on June 2.)

FYI - On 5/20, PBS News Hour had this **special report on Detroit's schools** by its education reporter, John Merrow.

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__Revisiting Educator Evaluation__ Colorado's Democratic governor has just signed a[| new tenure law] that changes the process to evaluating tenured teachers. Might this be the direction for tenure law change in other states? The NEA, AASA, & NSBA have jointly published 11 principles for the development of [|alternative compensation plans]. This is significant since it marks a departure from the NEA's usual flat out rejection of alternative compensation plans such as performance pay. The question is often raised as to whether or not we can really identify what is good teaching. Researcher Robert Marzano believes we can. He speaks about his belief in this very brief video. He has become involved with [|IObservation], a commercially available set of tools intended to facilitate improved supervision and provide beneficial feedback to teachers about their performance. media type="youtube" key="IdfEm_wIEtM" height="385" width="480"

__Revisiting Sir Kenneth Robinson__ You may remember viewing a TED video of Ken Robinson speaking about education and creativity. (I have placed that video on my page of this wiki.) That presentation was made four years ago. Recently, Robinson was invited back to speak at a TED conference.

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__Have you heard about....__ [|Teach Like a Champion] is written by Doug Lemov, the director of Uncommon Schools, a successful charter schools operation. He presents 49 practices that he and his teachers have identified as effective classroom instructional techniques. The interest in this book has been growing among teachers across the country. It comes with a DVD of teachers using these techniques.

I "borrowed" this collection of Yong Zhao's video presentations from Nancy's wiki page. media type="custom" key="6241125"