Jul 18
2009

I wanted to share this video I created and posted on YouYube this week which expresses part of the message I shared in the training I conducted this week in Ellicottville, New York. As a high school social studies teacher of at risk students, I see my students struggle in my course content every year. Using Moodle this past year, I have added an online component and turned my classroom into a hybrid course. I still see my kids the same number of days and my classroom really looks just as it did before, but I have extended learning beyond the walls and class time.

As an inclusion teacher it is also critical for me to be able to differentiate and provide additional resources. My Mastery Review Lab has allowed me to do that while transforming my class and teaching into a much more enjoyable and engaging learning experience for my students. I have also incorporated my podcasts and other resources to this online classroom.

I believe this is a good thing for students and education. I also believe that it is going to happen whether teachers are involved or not. Districts are looking at “off the shelf” programs to provide credit recovery and address similar issues. I strongly believe that teachers should be involved in creating the “hybrid high school” which aligns with their teaching and courses.

As I am sure you can imagine, not all of my fellow educators share my view. It is also amazing to me to see so many districts spend “big” stimulus bucks to buy these prepackaged products as opposed to creating their “own” programs with their teachers to permanently and meaningfully transform their programs.

This transformation can occur with the teachers we have. It is not that difficult. With a little training we can all do this! If we don’t, the face of education will change in any event. We need to be part of the solution.I love my hybrid high school classes and so do my students. Online learning in a hybrid format improves results! Research is available to support it, but if you are teaching this way, you already know it. Students must be engaged;online learning provides them some choice and control, while strengthening the 21st Century skills needed for the future.

If you have not considered this as of yet, let’s talk about it, shall we? This train will arrive, if it is not already here. If we don’t get on board, it will leave the station without us!

Sue Palmer

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Jul 16
2009

Today I gave a series of presentations at the High Schools New Face Conference in Ellicottville called “Hybrid High School- K12 Online Learning Applications wherein I discussed the concept of hybrid online instruction which I am using in my classroom. Most participants were new to the idea and it was interesting to see the reaction.

This is the first of my presentations where I am providing an online extension of the presentation which takes place after the fact. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive. The “hands on” approach may actually allow teachers and administrators to really learn the benefits.

As a teacher, I am not surprised with the recent studies which show the benefit of online learning added to the current classroom program. We really learn best by doing! That pedagogy also reinforces the need to be creative with students who have difficulty mastering content. Online learning is “active” learning.

I also wanted to share this video from TED which also supports my experience and belief that our students really need us to be the “guides” for instruction. They “learn” on their own after we provide structure, motivation, information, and feedback.

Thanks to all who attended the conference. For more info on the presentation, see www.spalmeronline.com.

I just love this story. What can we learn from it?

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Jul 11
2009

The last couple of weeks have been very frustrating for me and have reminded me of my initial reaction to the structure of our current education system when I joined it from the business world in 2002. I felt and recently am reminded of the “disconnect” our system has created from the world outside of education. For so many reasons many of us are so clueless as to what is happening in the world around us and the skill sets really required for student success in that world. In my view this disconnect starts at the top as administrators, products of the system they direct and many times even more disconnected as a result of their distance from the students and classrooms they manage, “lead” in so many cases by imposing and suggesting solutions which in themselves lack a sense of understanding of the present and future.

It is so easy for educators to disconnect with the world we serve. We are isolated, protected, and as a result can be unmotivated to change.

If I sound frustrated, I am. This profession and system has in it the power and responsibility to build the future. We are building it whether we like it or not. Our education system molds it and how we do so directly determines the result.

How can we do this if we remain so disonnected? How can we do this is we really do not know what is going on out there and in the future?

The kids know. Some of the teachers and administrators know. Have the courage to listen to them!

If we don’t get it right, what is the point?

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Jul 7
2009

boy and bicycle
Yesterday I launched a new moodle which I plan to use for training. I am teally excited about the concept as I will be using it as an additional resource for teachers and administrators who attend my talks or training. My goal is to give attendees an opportunity to experience what I am talking about, process the info and extend the training and learning beyond the presentation. Because I will be in essence continuing the presentation beyond the session, I will be charging a fee based upon the number of attendees in the space. I will provide additional info and experiences as well as email feed back for the activities completed.

I really believe we can incorporate online learning to professional development as well as the k-12 level. Experiencing it through these presentations will be a big help!

Check it out at www.spalmeronline.com !

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Jul 6
2009

presentation1
I was asked to give a keynote talk in June at the Erie1 BOCES Tech Leadership conference for administrators. I really enjoyed the opportunity to give my perspective on incorporating tech into the classroom to enhance student success. I wanted to send the message that even teachers like myself, with little tech background can incorporate these tools into the classroom. If I can do it, so can they!

I am a big believer in enhancing the traditional classroom experience through use of tech. This year my student year- end survey clearly reinforced my belief that students are engaged when you add technology to the mix! The school day is extended by adding podcasts and online learning opportunities.

My students particularly raved about the online additions I created in Moodle! I will be presenting this month on my online learning program. (More on that later)

Podcasts, wikis, and even more traditional tech like Microsoft Publisher can get the students engaged and make learning fun. :)

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