Meeting+Minutes

Those present:
 * Back to Home**  **BLT Practices**   **Meeting Minutes**   **Thursday, 2 December, 2011**
 * Carey Kopeikin 2nd year PLP alum - US Math, coach
 * Tom Gilbert 1st year PLP - US Math, Computers, Sports Information
 * Lisa Cromley (co-clerk) PLP 3rd year PLP alum - 7th Grade History, English
 * Margaret Haviland 3rd year PLP fellow/alum - US History, Director of Teaching and Learning
 * Jeff Chang 1st year PLP - LS Library
 * Megan Rose PLP 3rd year PLP alum - 8th grade English, Int’l activities
 * Anny Ewing (co-clerk) 3rd year PLP alum - LS Spanish


 * Anny & Lisa:** This group was created to allow us to build on the learning we gained/are gaining from PLP and find ways to put it to use at Westtown. Some of us found PLP to be useful initially, but felt that the true value was in the collaborations we began to build here at Westtown during and in the aftermath of our PLP experience. This BLTP group is a way to continue the work we started under PLP without being part of that larger organization. The school has made a considerable investment in our training. We could serve a mentoring, coaching, teaching function among colleagues in our divisions. We may be called upon to serve as a faculty advisory group on school-wide issues such as the mobile device policy, online sharing about students, etc.

We introduced ourselves by sharing our PLP experience, Westtown roles, why we joined PLP and what we hope to gain from this group.

We shared what we are doing currently:
 * Tom Gilbert:** Computer Science uses 1-to-1 computers, lots of web-based learning; Geometry uses Moodle as an organizational tool; intereeste dis uses of technology for communication and collaboration.
 * Lisa Cromley:** benefited greatly from a PLP e-course last summer, building a personal learning network with other teachers in that course; uses Moodle as an organizational tool; frustrated with school's firewall inhibiting access to things she'd like to do with students.
 * Margaret Haviland:** had students use cell phones in class recently to text their parents and ask them whether they thought the Panic of 1819 was comparable to the current economic situation; took an e-course about teaching online courses, at the request of the administration; students will more and more be requesting alternative modes of delivering instruction-- Westtown needs to be ready (v. the World Language Department's charge to come up with a policy for granting credit for language study outside of Westtown's offerings);
 * Jeff Chang:** interested in learning new technologies; likes being connected with other learners who may be able to help speed his learning curve; also likes to find applications that may be useful to other people;
 * Megan Rose:** started with PLP because she has the impetus to innovate but didn't feel very tech savvy; interested in passion-based learning, and how we asses learning acquired through projects; is thinking of having students do something like the 55-word short story project, or something that could be shared via Twitter or text message;
 * Anny:** also took a PLP e-course last summer, learned more about some interesting tools, like blogs, Google Apps, VoiceThread, Wikis, digital video; has not yet foudn ways to implement in K-5 SPanish classroom, but is still mainly interested in using Web 2.0 to enhance communication and collaboration among colleagues; frustrated with lack of time to stay connected.

Random notes: Megan wants to try Margaret's cell phone activity with 7th grade. Should she ask permission or just go ahead? Jeff would love to see a website where colleagues share their expertise, as a go-to resource for finding someone who knows how to do something you want to do. Lisa sees value in taking what we've learned from PLP and finding ways to apply it within our own Westtown culture.

~One device per kid – personal ownership model Is it necessary for every student to have personal access to technology before we can use it in our classrooms? Can students share? use school devices? ~Protect kids by blocking or by education? So far we've protected students from inappropriate uses of technology by blocking access. It's time to protect by educating about appropriate uses. ~How can technology drive collaboration and community? ~How to use smart boards? Are we using them intelligently? ~Do we need to create from scratch, versus reuse from others? ~Data security issues driving artificial barriers? Are the security issues real? How can we honor security concerns and still make use of the resources and capabilities technology offers? ~Competition in the independent school market. ~Data sharing across systems, to various audiences, etc. Homework, discussion, grades, academic history,etc. on TeacherWeb vs.Moodle vs. MBP vs. ???. How to have it all in one place with different levels of access for different types of users?
 * Tom Gilbert's list of Issues raised by our conversation:**

We agreed to meet again in January: Possible dates are Thursday, January 12 or Thursday, January 26. Here's a Doodle to share your availability. We agreed to take turns providing snacks. Here's a Doodle to sign up for snack.