Networking, Productivity, and e-Learning for Dec. 14, 2009

1) Event planning online: 14 essential social media tools (cool stuff, really!): http://ow.ly/LHpC

2) Mobile education: http://ow.ly/L2uE Changing how, where, and when we learn.

3) Facebook: A platform for e-learning: http://ow.ly/KU6I

4) How Social Media is Simplifying Workplace Collaboration:http://ow.ly/KGk2

5) Top 100 tools for learning in 2009: http://ow.ly/KDlu

NCVPS on Twitter

What have we been tweeting about?

It’s all about the Kids – Bridging the New Digital Divide

[Guest blog by Jenifer Marquis, Instructional Technology Lead Teacher, Edgecombe County Public Schools.]

Let’s face it; everything we do in education should be about the kids. We know they are different these days. As Digital Natives, they have been immersed in Web 2.0 and other technologies since birth. Students today feel that technology is an integral part of their lives and they want it to be an integral part of their learning as well. Not only do students want to learn with new and innovative technologies, but they need access to teachers who are knowledgeable about e-learning, Web 2.0 tools, computer applications, handheld devices, and interactive technologies that can be used to engage them in learning. Today there is not only a need to bridge the Digital Divide as we once knew it, in the form of Internet access, but also the New Digital Divide which includes access to 21^st century teachers and innovative 21^st century tools. E-learning through NCVPS bridges the New Digital Divide in school districts across North Carolina by providing 21^st century learning opportunities using 21^st century tools.

As we provide e-learning opportunities for students in Edgecombe County through the North Carolina Virtual Public School, our focus is on developing lifelong learners who can use 21^st century technologies to access online learning throughout their lives. E-learning courses allow us to expand learning and teaching experiences beyond the Brick and Mortar walls of our schools. With our one-to-one laptop program, high school students in Edgecombe County have access to technology and curricular content through NCVPS, 24 hours a day, and 7 days a week. This is a winning combination for the students in Edgecombe County. And let’s face it; it’s all about the kids.

See our Edgecombe Kids in action as they talk about e-learning.

Top 100 Tools for Learning in 2009

Top 100 Tools for Learning 2009

View more documents from Jane Hart.

Are You Paying Attention?

Director's Blog for Dec. 9, 2009

21st Century Leaders and Learners:

Triple Threat Positions for Educators in the 21st Century

I've had an interesting few weeks around the country in Texas, Florida, and Georgia. One thing is for certain in my travels and amidst the conversations about blended learning and teaching - Educators will be in a triple threat positions in terms of blended learning services in the future.

First of all, face to face courses and virtual full courses are going to be in high demand. We know that the North Carolina Virtual Public School will encompass 20,000 students this spring of 2010. Nationally the movement has grown from 40,000 in the year 2000 to over 2.3 million students served in 2009 in the k-12 market. Pre-service teachers, current teachers, and retired teachers will all have chances to provide full course instruction in many different ways for state virtual schools, home face to face districts, and via vendors. Administrators will lead this revolution, and school support services will continue to provide blended counseling and guidance as to how these environments will work for student success. State virtual schools will continue to prosper, but also we will see blended models with vendors and content providers.

Director's Blog for Dec. 1, 2009

21st Century Leaders and Learners:

Check out our guest blog from Chief Technology Officer, Ken Buck, of Columbus County Schools this week here @ www.thevlc.org and/or our videocast from Chief Professional Learning and Communications Officer, Dave Edwards of the North Carolina Virtual Public School here at www.ncvps.org. Both of these pieces address the kinds of critical conversations educational leaders are having around blended learning in North Carolina school districts as we all head into the holiday season and towards serving North Carolina students this spring.

And now for more news and notes:

1.) Dr. Setser to serve on National Race to the Top panel Wednesday @ 4:00p.m. http://www.iitsec.org/

Feel free to tweet into the conversation at #ncrttt.

2.) NCVPS travels to the Halifax County School District this week in preparation for our January 2010 GO LIVE series. For more on GO LIVE - click here: http://www.ncvps.org/golive/index.htm

3.) Where does NCVPS stand nationally? 1.) Key roles in the State Virtual Leaders Alliance; 2.) NCVPS - 5th Largest Virtual School in Nation; 3.) Credit Recovery/Modular/ Blended Learning processes are recognized regionally and nationally.

4.) Want more evidence that virtual and blended learning are taking hold?