Learning to Change - Changing to Learn

"The U.S. Department of Commerce ranked 55 industry sectors by their level of IT intensiveness. Education ranked 55th, the lowest, below coal mining."

"The illiterates of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn." --Alvin Toffler

Onlline Learning in Gaston County

Check out Chris Hall's online learning page for Gaston County!

Online Fair at Cuthbertson High School in Union County

Read about the online learning fair at Cuthbertson High School in Union County!

Director's Blog: Are you ready to GO LIVE?

21st Century Leaders and Learners:

We are pleased to announce our new Website for "Getting Organized to Lead Virtual Innovation" (GO LIVE) @ http://sites.google.com/site/ncvpsgolive/. This site is shaped by the wonderful efforts of local districts in North Carolina over the past two and a half years, as well as our trips to Alexander and Halifax counties this Fall to sharpen the message. We also include best in class resources for you across NCVPS classic, modular, mobile, and blended solutions for student success. In addition, we have listed resources of forward thinkers of our day such as Tom Vander Ark’s Five Learning breakthroughs of the next 10 years http://www.varpartners.net/?p=1457.

An introductory vidcast is provided on our website at www.ncvps.org, and we encourage you to contribute to the site by clicking our "solutions form" https://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?hl=en&formkey=dDJfVDZ0Q2N3Z25yN0plUGhuODhId3c6MA or by following the discussion this week on twitter using the hashtag #golivemcs.

In addition to these channels, we will be face-to-face in Montgomery County, North Carolina for a live session this Thursday with their district presenting solutions and challenges across the topics of leadership for innovation, curriculum and instruction for blended learning, 21st century systems and technology, and change management and leadership for 21st Century Professionals and Environments.

Much of the site is inspired by North Carolina school districts’ and schools’ contributions toward leading "blended learning". We invite you to join us to continue the collaborative wave of the virtual advantage of NCVPS, www.ncvps.org, and Learn and Earn Online, www.nclearnandearn.gov!

Dr. Bryan Setser
Executive Director

Tweeting at the Mid-Year Retreat 2010

NCVPS Mid-Year Retreat - Part 1

Dr. Bryan Setser discusses how Leadership for Innovation and Curriculum & Instruction impact virtual learning in North Carolina.

Invitation to "Blended Learning Solutions"

21st Century Leaders and Learners:

NCVPS and Learn and Earn Online will be hosting a "blended learning solutions" parade next week in Montgomery County, North Carolina with Dr. Donna Peters and her team at Montgomery County Schools. Due to travel budgets, you are welcome to register virtually for the event here: https://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?hl=en&formkey=dDV0b0JHUV9sSnpNSzdRbWhNODRLSUE6MA

or send an email to dlourcey@dpi.state.nc.us with your:

Last Name
First Name
LEA/District
School
Position
Which sessions will you attend?
Who will be attending virtually with you?

The agenda is as follows:

9:00-10:00: District and BOE Solutions Parade Kick-off--Leading for Innovation
10:15-11:15: Professionals and Environments with Learn and Earn Online integration
11:15-12:30: Lunch and Networking
12:30-1:30: Curriculum and Instruction
1:45-2:45: Technology and Systems
3:00-4:00: Breakout Session: Q & A with Respective Stakeholders

You can also follow along on www.twitter.com at hashtag #gomcs

Here's hoping you'll join us next week on the web!

Director's Blog: Are you a thrasher?

Are you a thrasher?

Once a fashion model and prankster on the television show Punked, Ashton Kutcher is leading the social media wave called "thrash". The definition of "thrash" is the wake of a moving target, and I can’t help but think of the term’s applications for educators after the time I’ve just spent with many of the best in class "thrashers" in our business in Austin, Texas.

I am also compelled to compare these leaders and learners with how we work and “thrash" in North Carolina. Many leaders in our state talk about creating a legacy, but thrash is a perpetual legacy created on the waves of Google, Face book, Twitter, Four Square, Linkedin and various other electronic communications channels. It does not wait for the right conference to network, the right demonstration to come to a district and/or school, or for a final center or building to be built in your honor. Rather, it assumes that the “thrasher" learns, works, and leaves many legacy tentacles across the expanse of the net.

The wrong conversation is whether or not to block social media at the workplace and/or school site. The right conversation is how to capitalize on the "thrash" that these amazing tools create for educators. Teachers can follow a hash tag on Algebra I best practices throughout the state. Superintendents and principals can follow gurus who plug them into solutions for their schools and districts on Face book. Yet, most impressive about this past week, CTOs and CIOs can follow the delicate balance between innovation and security and come up with some amazing learning management, social media, data warehouse, and learning strategies that open safe, secure, and innovative doors for students.

Watch the new trailer for Two Million Minutes

Students spend two million minutes in high school. How do the Big 3 stack up against each other? The film Two Million Minutes examines how students in India, China, and America use their two million minutes.

What the trailer for this provocative film:

Director's Blog: Partners Not Predators: Why do State Virtual Schools Lead the Way?

I've had the pleasure over the last few years of leading the North Carolina Virtual Public School and partnering with world class providers and vendors on behalf of North Carolina districts, schools, and students. In the past few weeks, I have seen some decision making in three states around the country that baffle me as to the research, track record, and success of state virtual schools. The decision making really boils down to two issues. First, do these states really believe that a state virtual school is not a partner in the future of educating children in their state? Second, are they willing to make a decision on behalf of a predator in terms of "a one size fits all e-learning solution"? The response to both questions is a critical discussion for state, district, and school leaders as we work on "blending instruction" and then ultimately "transforming education" in our nation.

Let's begin this discussion by defining the term "partner". I have been so blessed to work with Florida Virtual, Idaho Digital Learning, Mississippi Virtual, Virtual Virginia, Aventa, Wimba, Blackboard, Moodle, IBM, Second Life, Discovery, Active Worlds, Emantras, Lockheed Martin, and a host of others over the past two years that really get the key understanding of bended education - it is about transforming teaching and learning not just about the cool tools and technology. When districts, schools, and students interact with state virtual schools they not only get the advantages of these partner relationships, but they gain insights into free tools and processes as well on the web. State virtual schools work with state standards. They provide "teacher led" instruction. They understand the "real culture" of "leaders" and "support staff" and partner with them on solutions for delivering, leading, and supporting blended learning. In short, they are so much more than a "one stop solution for content". State virtual schools are partners.

Now let's shift our focus to the "predators" I see on the national landscape. Any provider and/or vendor who promises to do it cheaper, faster, and better needs the same vetting process one would use for any major curriculum decision. What is the research behind their promises? Where is the competitive data? What results are present? Who have you consulted in terms of their claims? A phone call to your state virtual school is a good place to start. In many cases, you'll find what we find in North Carolina - that there is a room at the table for both state virtual schools and partners for school districts. However, there is no room for "predators" trying to sell a product in tough economic times. These predators will claim when pressed that they are not responsible for "staying around" to support the content. They will also tell you, as they have me in private, that they are often not aligned to state standards and not relying on certified teachers in your state to deliver the content.