What sells you on learning?
Jan 1st, 2009 by Cathy Jo Nelson
"This is so boring..."
I’ve said it before and I’m saying it again, I HATE “sit and get” type learning (professional development or k12 classroom learning.) I’ve been asked to help plan and perhaps present a session on the American Association of School Librarians Standards for the 21st Century Learner.
What makes conference sessions good?
So listed below are my initial thoughts for this session. Sometimes sessions that will be about standards read in the confernece guides like a dull and boring meeting, while other sessions appear much more flashy and exciting things to choose. So my task is to make it interesting, relevant, and “sexy” or alluring to those who would normally blow it off. When I presented last year at Educon with Joyce Valenza and Carolyn Foote, we realized before that conference the “library-related” session would have to be promoted in this way, as we were up against some heavy hitters in educational technology student-focused engaged learning (like Will Richardson, Konrad Glowgowski, Chris Lehmann, Sylvia Martinez, and others, just to name a few,) so we titled our session Extreme Makeover Library Edition: Learn How to “Pimp” Your Library and Embrace 21st Century Change or something to that effect (session wiki available here.) Pimp has become such a 21st century word to describe here and now, perhaps even the future. (It’s embarassing, isn’t it? Tell the truth–how many of you have heard teens use it?)
How can I get attendees to choose this?
So I turn to my PLN–ask for your input. I don’t know how much control (if any) I have on what goes in the conference book, especially since session proposals were due some time ago (and at that time I was not a part of this session), but I do have some ideas for how to make the session be more interesting and meaningful.
Please read through my plan below and tell me what you think. Then respond to the outline below, and tell me some ways to “promote” it so that it draws attendees no matter WHAT the conference book says. I’m open to any and all ideas.
Plan of Implementation:
Icebreaker–a few funny pictures of how it was, how it is now….(maybe I’ll throw in pimp picture and how that has changed….)
1) Start with audience interactivity two ways–1) a mobility poll: audience members move to a space in the room that represents a continuum of their comfort level with technologies kids use, and then 2) seated either a cell phone interactive quiz or Activotes/Promethean board if equipment can be secured…
2) An overview of the AASL Standards for the 21st Century Learner
3) Then have a panel of experts (TBA) each give a brief synopsis of their thoughts (–where we are, where we as a whole need to go.)
4) Q/A from the audience
Attribution:
www.flickr.com/photos/70021771@N00/94923278
Cathy,
In one of the videos about how to prevent death by powerpoint, the presenter put up images, had audience guess what they meant. It might also be fun to have people react to statistics relevant to education & literacy.
I like your mobility poll – give the areas funny names or cartoon avatars to represent different levels of comfort. Be careful, though, not to offend delicate egos!
Maybe talk about tools…and use examples like pencils or clothespins to shake up their thinking.
I’ll keep thinking about this and let you know if I have any brainstorms.
Cathy,
I’m with you…I hate sit and get. With all the research that is out there on adult learning, it is important to mix it up. I like using mind mapping software to get people to interact and brainstorm as to how they currently use technology with their students. It helps to open their minds and reassure them that they are already doing many things right before showing them more possibilities.