Comments on: PD on a Shoestring Budget via ISTE11

By: Jason

Jason — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 18:38:44 +0000

It is impressive that you had never missed any of the ISTE conferences. It is great to learn that many valuable information and think about sharing them with others. I think it is a great idea to be teaching this in schools. God bless on your venture.

By: Suzanne

Suzanne — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 15:09:58 +0000

That’s an excellent idea! For my staff, I think the ISTE videos might be overwhelming (we’re technology challenged). Your post made me think though – the most important part of PD is meeting the staff where they are and helping them to the next level right? So I think I might brainstorm a list of technology topics staff might be interested in, have the staff rank that list in order of which sessions they’d be willing to give up an hour for, and hold mini-PDs for them. Things like classroom website development, integrating technology successfully, etc.
Which topics, in your experiences, have come up regularly that teachers would be willing to give up time to learn about?

By: Gwyneth Jones

Gwyneth Jones — Sun, 24 Jul 2011 02:23:51 +0000

Just Brilliant, CathyJo! LOVE this idea!!

By: Julianne Kaye

Julianne Kaye — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 20:01:46 +0000

You always have the greatest blog posts. I didn’t get to attend ISTE this year and can’t wait to view some of the sessions I didn’t get to attend!

By: Cathy Arnold

Cathy Arnold — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 19:52:24 +0000

“Like” button please! Love the idea. Could really use this in the district I’m in now.

By: Fran Bullington

Fran Bullington — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 16:18:20 +0000

Love this idea, Cathy! I need to head over to the ISTE videos and see which ones apply to the PD we need this year in response to our HSTW visit.

By: Elysabeth

Elysabeth — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 06:56:47 +0000

I’m not a teacher but I think in any profession that this type of PD is very much needed. You have a great idea and I think you should run with it and hopefully you will get many doors opened to you and everyone is receptive. Now that we are going to be revamping the NCLB Act (hopefully it goes well and next school year there are some major changes of not teaching to the test, et cetera) there should be some monies opened up for this kind of thinking and creativity as well. Being that ISTE is all about new things to use in the classroom, I hate to say it but I think this should be a required PD workshop/whatever you need to call it and that the school districts should foot the bill – I mean after all they are only investing in producing the best teachers around and the most prepared by sending them to places like ISTE and other conferences of the sort. Go for it – E

Ma America, The Travelin’ Maven (Elysabeth Eldering)
Author of the JGDS, 50-state, mystery, trivia series

Where will the adventure take you next?

By: Tamara Cox

Tamara Cox — Sun, 17 Jul 2011 20:40:04 +0000

I LOVE this idea. I’m putting together a 21 things program for our school (possibly district wide) and I’ve been asked to lead 4 tech classes for our district this year. I know three of the topics already, blogging, web tools, and mobile learning, but wasn’t sure about the 4th. This would be a great option.

By: Carl Harvey

Carl Harvey — Sun, 17 Jul 2011 16:28:07 +0000

I think that’s a great idea Cathy. It would be great, too, if there was a way that you could capture a summary/reflection from discussions of each group to share with the entire staff. Something very short, but a way that everyone got a quick taste of the videos they didn’t see. Might encourage someone to go and watch some of the other videos on their own. You certainly are always thinking!