Comments on: Tech Tools for Teams: Collaborate Using Twitter http://www.allthingsplc.info/wordpress/?p=82 All Information, No Commerce Mon, 30 Aug 2010 14:17:23 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Bill Ferriter http://www.allthingsplc.info/wordpress/?p=82&cpage=1#comment-685 Bill Ferriter Wed, 08 Apr 2009 20:12:42 +0000 http://www.allthingsplc.info/wordpress/?p=82#comment-685 Hey Sarah, Good to hear from you and glad that you're interested in districts that are using online tools to facilitate the work of their PLCs. I think we'll see more and more work in this area over the next few years. While I don't have any specific examples of "discussion boards" being used to connect teachers, I can share several examples of collaborative conversations between teachers using different digital tools. Perhaps the best example of work being done in a specific district would be this forum---some of which includes public blogging and some of which happens behind a password: http://community.saugususd.org/ I think what I like the best is how they are using tags to group all of the writing that is being done in specific categories. And here are three other conversations between groups of teachers that I've helped to facilitate using a tool called Voicethread: Wondering about Web 2.0 http://ed.voicethread.com/share/90321/ The Power of Professional Learning Communities http://ed.voicethread.com/share/113288/ How Schools are Killing Reading http://ed.voicethread.com/share/303482/ I think that one lesson I've learned over time is that focused conversations around a specific topic are far more productive than open-ended conversations that are always "on." I think the focused nature of conversations makes digital conversations seem more "doable" because they have set beginning and ending points. Also, focused conversations usually draw out more passionate participants that are willing to jump in and participate because they care so much about the content even if the technology doesn't appeal to them. Does any of this make sense? You can always email me directly at wferriter [at] hotmail [dot] com if you want to talk further. Bill Ferriter Hey Sarah,

Good to hear from you and glad that you’re interested in districts that are using online tools to facilitate the work of their PLCs. I think we’ll see more and more work in this area over the next few years.

While I don’t have any specific examples of “discussion boards” being used to connect teachers, I can share several examples of collaborative conversations between teachers using different digital tools.

Perhaps the best example of work being done in a specific district would be this forum—some of which includes public blogging and some of which happens behind a password:

http://community.saugususd.org/

I think what I like the best is how they are using tags to group all of the writing that is being done in specific categories.

And here are three other conversations between groups of teachers that I’ve helped to facilitate using a tool called Voicethread:

Wondering about Web 2.0
http://ed.voicethread.com/share/90321/

The Power of Professional Learning Communities
http://ed.voicethread.com/share/113288/

How Schools are Killing Reading
http://ed.voicethread.com/share/303482/

I think that one lesson I’ve learned over time is that focused conversations around a specific topic are far more productive than open-ended conversations that are always “on.” I think the focused nature of conversations makes digital conversations seem more “doable” because they have set beginning and ending points.

Also, focused conversations usually draw out more passionate participants that are willing to jump in and participate because they care so much about the content even if the technology doesn’t appeal to them.

Does any of this make sense?

You can always email me directly at wferriter [at] hotmail [dot] com if you want to talk further.

Bill Ferriter

]]> By: Sarah Zykanov http://www.allthingsplc.info/wordpress/?p=82&cpage=1#comment-684 Sarah Zykanov Mon, 06 Apr 2009 12:51:15 +0000 http://www.allthingsplc.info/wordpress/?p=82#comment-684 I am an ED.D candidate at the University of San Francisco. I am interested in finding a public school district that is using an online discussion board, forum to facilitate their PLC work. Ideally this will be a district that is willing to participate in a survey I am developing to examine how this forum is used and perceptions of teachers and administrators about the usefulness of the online space. Can you help me identify some districts that are using online forums to support their work and give me a contact name and email address? Please let me know if you would like additional information. Sarah Zykanov, Curriculum and Technology Integration Dominican University School of Education <Sarah.Zykanov@dominican.edu> I am an ED.D candidate at the University of San Francisco. I am interested in finding a public school district that is using an online discussion board, forum to facilitate their PLC work. Ideally this will be a district that is willing to participate in a survey I am developing to examine how this forum is used and perceptions of teachers and administrators about the usefulness of the online space.

Can you help me identify some districts that are using online forums to support their work and give me a contact name and email address? Please let me know if you would like additional information.

Sarah Zykanov, Curriculum and Technology Integration
Dominican University School of Education

]]> By: cartiman http://www.allthingsplc.info/wordpress/?p=82&cpage=1#comment-679 cartiman Fri, 27 Mar 2009 06:24:38 +0000 http://www.allthingsplc.info/wordpress/?p=82#comment-679 Thanks Your Information. Regards Thanks Your Information.
Regards

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