Nebraska Educational Technology Association Podcast

Bernajean Porter’s workshop continues in this episode of the NETA podcast.

 Bernajean Porter - Part 2 [23:35m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Bernajean, an educator for over 35 years, is internationally re-known to educators for her belief that technology can accelerate kids-of-all-ages rediscovering their joy and personal success as learners. Her philosophy of work uses cutting edge organizational processes for building local capacity to translate the power of technology’s potential into actual classroom practices for ALL students. Bernajean’s enthusiasm and vivacious presentations create an energetic climate for all learners. When it comes to doing the hard or impossible things now necessary in schools to ensure students having out-of-this-world possibilities, Bernajean’s personal motto of “Da Um Jeitinho”- there is ALWAYS a way – sets the tone for her dedicated long, term work with educators and students to increase creativity, personal voice and tap into their potential for extra H.O.T. results.

Starting as a English / Social Studies classroom teacher, Bernajean developed newspaper and writing clubs, founded a city-wide debate tournament and hosted multiple speech contests for her middle school students to hone as well as channel their communication skills. After completing her Master’s degree in Education Technology and Curriculum Instruction from Cambridge, MA, Bernajean served for seven years as Colorado’s Senior State Technology Consultant. She has been on presidential advisory boards to establish national technology programs, recognized by ISTE as Consultant of the Year, directed state-wide initiatives, and participated in multiple technology literacy challenge (TLCG) and Gates grant trainings / technology impact assessments. Bernajean’s work uses the application of systems thinking and chaos theory to deal with the challenges of change and re-culturing efforts in education today.

 Bernajean Porter - Part 1 [67:49m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

One remembers 10% of what they hear, 20% of what they see, and 30% of what they experience. Visuals are important to learners in several ways. The most obvious is their immersion in a highly visual world in which they will need to become informed consumers, communicators, and composers/producers with multimedia. The research says that visuals play an important role in problem-solving, thinking, and understanding complex, academic concepts.

 Cheryl Lemke - Visual Learning: An Accelerant [61:11m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Cheryl Lemke, Metiri Group. Learning is highly personal, but research shows that collaborative/social learning is more effective than competitive or individual learning for critical thinking. High tech tools serve as an extension to the student’s thinking — a place to explore ideas, research questions, test hypotheses, compose thoughts, and come to conclusions - in other words, to learn. Social networking and authenticity are two highly effective accelerators to learning.

 Standard Podcast [55:47m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

In this episode, Will Richardson continues his presentation - “A Web of Connections: Continuing the Conversation”.

 Will Richardson - Keynote Follow Up Session [33:34m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Will Richardson is known internationally for his work with educators and students to understand and implement instructional technologies and, more specifically, the tools of the Read/Write Web into their schools, classrooms and communities. A former public school educator for 22 years, Will’s own Weblog (Weblogg-ed.com) is a leading resource for the creation and implementation of Web 2.0 technologies on the K-12 level. His is a leading voice for school reform in the context of the fundamental changes these new technologies are bringing to all aspects of life.

His critically acclaimed, best-selling book Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts and Other Powerful Tools for Classrooms (March 2006, Corwin Press) is already being used by tens of thousands of teachers to reinvent their practice. His keynotes, presentations and workshops to audiences around the world communicate a fresh and inspiring vision of what schools can and must become.

He is a national advisory board member for the George Lucas Education Foundation, an adjunct instructor at Seton Hall University where he co-teaches with Alan November, and a monthly columnist for District Administration Magazine. He is a founding partner of the Connective Learning Group which is dedicated to assisting educators contextualize and implement Read/Write Web tools into their schools and classrooms.

 Will Richardson - NETA 2008 [54:08m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Welcome to the NETA 2008 podcast. In this first episode of this years conference you’ll hear our formal welcome as well as award presentations from our contests.

 Opening Session - NETA 2008 [24:19m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download