Oh, the Places You'll Go

 

For my final project, I will share some of what I have learned in this course by creating a professional collaboration site which will include many of the resources I have discovered in my Libe 477 journey.  Many of my colleagues are also experiencing exciting professional development, and I would like to create a group site where we can post and share what we have learned.  By contributing to the site or by reading what others have posted, I am hoping that we can encourage staff members to make connections around similar interests.  

Another of my hopes is to have more teachers use Scholantis-SharePoint for schools, our new district technology, to create a website, and use some of the technology with their students.  As a newcomer to SharePoint myself, I have only just scratched the surface of its potential, but have found it very useful.  I recently used an onlinediscussion forum with my students to debate whether we should be eating genetically modified food, and found much greater participation with the activity than had I used a more traditional discussion format.  All of my students contributed an opinion on this topic and many students told me they enjoyed the activity.  It was a great way to personalize their learning.

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Scholantis - How to Use Featured Stories  

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Lately, I have sensed an increased interest in technology from some of the less "techno-savvy" members of staff, and I am hoping that this collaboration site will initiate conversations that will lead to increased use of technology.  I know from my own experience that each time I learned how to use a new technology, it increased my confidence and made me want to continue to learn more.  Many of my colleagues have been left behind in the educational technology frenzy and are intimidated and unsure where they could use it.  Using SharePoint  for the professional collaboration website will give teachers a reason to use the technology and will hopefully create some interest in using it.  Currently, only three of us have created a class website using SharePoint -- my goal is to promote it.

Ways to Promote Teacher Collaboration - Educational Leadership 

Before introducing and promoting the site, I would like it to give it a basic organization and include some items in each section.  So far, the Kalamalka staff collaboration site includes links to articles on topics such as blended learning, collaboration and ways to use twitter in the classroom.  I have also included YouTube clips on the flipped classroom approach, smart board basics and how to use Screenr.  I plan to create a wiki page for special topics such as professional development, smart board lessons and technology troubleshooting. 

My vice principal has already expressed interest in posting articles on the site for all to read, and I know my principal will do the same.  All in all, I hope to have enough information on the site to spark interest and to encourage collaboration within my school.  

Sources:

 http://inspirably.com/uploads/user/11354-competition-makes-us-faster-collaboration-makes-us-better.png

http://img.scoop.it/iMEXQ-o0BFWL2WhJLJiob4XXXL4j3HpexhjNOf_P3YmryPKwJ94QGRtDb3Sbc6KY

http://www.datafactz.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Top-10-Tips-for-Selecting-an-Offshore-SharePoint-Consultant.png

https://www.edutopia.org/pdfs/stw/edutopia-onlinelearning-mastering-online-discussion-board-facilitation.pdf

http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-leadership/mar11/vol68/num06/How-Can-We-Promote-Teacher-Collaboration%C2%A2.aspx