All posts by markwcarbone

I have 36 years experience in K-12 education. I have been fortunate to work in many different roles including teacher, department head, ICT consultant, IT Manager and CIO. Personal interests include performing in the Venturi Winds woodwind quintet, the Cambridge Symphony and the KW Community Orchestra as well as composing and arranging music. Connect, Learn, Reflect & Share - make a difference today!

The Power of AB squared

March 6, 2014 markwcarbone 2 Comments

After hearing about this intriguing classroom collaboration project at EdCampWR, I was delighted to meet with elementary teacher Alison Bullock to learn more about this cross panel collaborative project with secondary teacher Andrew Bieronski.

The Learning Framework

The project framework is based on the new Ontario social studies curriculum. Alison’s grade 4 French immersion students will be partnered with Andrew’s grade 10 students. The grade 10’s will be mentoring with grade four students as they progress through a summative project which requires students:

create a physical structure of a museum artifact
produce audio guided tours in both English and French
generate a QR code linking to the audio files and
share about learning process

The Collaborating

The grade 10 students will provide mentorship to the grade 4 students as they research, plan and write the scripts needed for the audio guided tour files. Students will be collaborating through the WRDSB Google Apps for Educators (GAFE) environment. The role of the grade 10 students will be related to their civics and English courses.

All students, in both grades, will share about their experiences in this collaborative learning project through their blogs. Blogging platforms may include Google, WordPress or Weebly.

Bringing it all Together

As a conclusion to this learning process, the class museum will be created in the physical space in library, where all students connect for a grand finale. Projects will be displayed and the students of both classes involved will meet face to face.

This project is just getting underway. I look forward to following along this learning journey.

Note on the Title: I thought is was interesting that the two teachers involved in this project have the same initials. Given their interest in technology enabled learning and passions for forward thinking, I thought the notion of

was quite appropriate 🙂

~Mark

Digital Citizenship, Social Media

On or Off Line: a Perspective

March 3, 2014 markwcarbone 4 Comments

I happened to come across Aviva’s post yesterday, titled
online-offline-where-to-draw-the-line. Aviva makes that point that “students need a safe place to make mistakes, and I don’t know that social media provides this safe place.” Check out the comments from some of the readers [here].

We do live in interesting times for sure. Perhaps this is all a lesson in media literacy (& life). From my perspective, there are a few important points in the mix.

In my view blogs are indeed a social media tool. In today’s world, you DO have a voice through a variety of social media tools. One’s actions in a social media environment have reach and impact. This begs responsible and ethical use: do good, ask good questions, ‘poke’ at things in a respectful manner. It is likely safe to say that not all real life experiences will have these characteristics, and from this perspective, Aviva’s blog post raises a great point when considering the learning environment.

In response to Aviva’s post, Doug Peterson wrote a great blog post this morning called Learning about Social Media in which he makes a strong case for using blogs as an excellent entry point into this world. I certainly support Doug’s view that blogs are indeed an excellent starting point. I also think that the K12 educational experience needs to move beyond this. Our students live in a world where new online tools and platforms are ‘born’ all the time and having some appropriate experiences in new arenas is also important. I like the idea of gradual release of responsibility (age appropriate), and I am excited about the positive experiences I am seeing WRDSB students having within programs such as the Futures Forum Project (FFP).

I don’t think one can underestimate the power of positive role modelling. Do you see this as an opportunity for educators? or perhaps a responsibility? Either way, social media is here to stay. Reach, impact, connections, relationship building and establishing trust are all important aspects of this digital world in which we live, and important areas to develop in young people.

Great topic. Please weigh in. I welcome your thoughts on this discussion. Leave a comment or connect in some other way.

~Mark

21st century learning, Digital Citizenship

Digital Citizenship Remix

March 2, 2014 markwcarbone 1 Comment

Over the last few months, I have had the chance to participate in, listen to, and record a variety of discussions on digital citizenship. In each case, the discussion was rich and though provoking.

On Monday March 3rd, I am pulling 3 of these discussions together into a ‘remix’ for an internet radio broadcast 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. EST.

Why not sit down after dinner with a warm cup of coffee or tea, relax and listen to the conversation.

Join the radio broadcast [here] .

~Mark

21st century learning, Leadership Perspective, OSSEMOOC, ProfessionalLearning, Technology Enabled Learning

Mobile Learning with OSSEMOOC

February 26, 2014 markwcarbone 1 Comment

Last night I enjoyed the mobile learning session presented by Rob De Lorenzo as part of the OSSEMOOC professional learning series.

After the session I went the the chat transcript and picked out a few phrases that resonated with me. They are:

it is so important that community creates the learning
the “any’s” — anytime, anywhere, anyone, anything learning
love that idea – learning languages on social media.
The need for administrators to be involved in the process is critical.
technology empowerment of teachers is critical to reach our tech hungry students
The computer lab is an artifact. We’ve moved beyond the need for it.
Wifi is a game changer.
No need for uniform platform anymore – different tools for different tasks
let them bring the devices they are comfortable with.
You choose the device that will best let you do that”
No tech can replace carefully thought out lessons and teaching strategies!
mobile productivity

Which phrase(s) resonate with you? Why?

Now, an invitation, or perhaps a challenge depending on your viewpoint. Share your thoughts by leaving a comment on this post or consider writing a blog of your own to share your thinking. If you choose to blog, please share a link to your post.

Additional Resources
Listen to the archived recording of Mobile Learning .

~Mark

21st century learning, Leadership Perspective, OSSEMOOC, PD, ProfessionalLearning

EdCampWR: What next?

February 23, 2014 markwcarbone 2 Comments

Ed Camp Waterloo Region, held yesterday – Feb. 22, 2014, was an amazing day for many reasons. First off, a special thank you to organizers for arranging the day and bringing so many passionate educators together. Each of the sessions I attended had deep, meaningful and thought provoking discussion. I appreciated the openness of the educators who attended to share their thinking and insights with confidence.

The day also turned out to be a great example of connected learning. Many thanks to the educators who joined remotely and contributed to the discussion via twitter and text messages.

The day after a successful event like this always begs the question: So what next? I hope each of you will turn “what next?” into “what can I do?” Please consider:

how to keep the conversation going
demonstrate your connected learning
share through blogging, G+, twitter etc.
continue asking questions
nurture someone around you, bring them into the conversation
promote and attend other edcamps

Resources

Check out my Storify of EdCampWR tweets
Read Where to now? by Donna Fry
Join in the free professional connected learning with OSSEMOOC

Keep the learning going.

~Mark

21st century learning, Leadership Perspective, OSSEMOOC, PD, Technology Enabled Learning, TEL

Connected Learning: A Virtual EdCamp Experience

February 21, 2014 markwcarbone 1 Comment

Why not make your Saturday a great opportunity to learn. Would you like to learn from where ever you are? You just need an internet connection.

EdCampWR is happening Saturday Feb. 22 2014 at Ryerson PS. I will be attending in person and sharing my experience through video broadcasting of sessions and interviews.

Here is how you can learn virtually.

Learn more about Ed Camp Waterloo.

Where to watch: click here.

Follow the Twitter conversation

Make it a great learning day!

~Mark

21st century learning, OSAPAC, SAMR, TEL

OSAPAC Software: A SAMR Perspective

February 17, 2014 markwcarbone Leave a comment

Classroom educators working in publicly funded Ontario schools have access to a wide variety of provincially licensed software and digital resources. Full listings are at the OSAPAC web site.

The SAMR model describes four stages of using technology to support student learning as summarized in the chart below.

The SAMR model provides a well researched framework for planning and reflecting on the use of technology to enable new possibilities to support student learning. To this end, the OSAPAC committee is currently running a project to gather examples of using the SAMR approach specifically with OSAPAC licensed titles. Click [here] to learn about the details. I hope you will consider being involved in this project.

~Mark

Relate Resources

A list of my SAMR blog posts.

21st century learning, Tech

A New Device, A New Learning Opportunity

February 12, 2014 markwcarbone Leave a comment

In the last few months, I must have run across at least an article per week that begins something like this:

“How to replace your old computer with __________”. You fill in the blank with a device of your choice — laptop, netbook, tablet, iPad, smart phone … what ever.

What strikes me in the typical article, is the focus on this question:

How do I do take the list of old tasks and approaches on my old computer and duplicate them on my new device?

OK. Lets spin 180 degrees and land on a growth mindset perspective.

Why not explore a new technology device with curiosity. What can it do:

that my old computer couldn’t?
differently?
more efficiently?
easily?

Are you leveraging a opportunity with a new device? Maybe it is time to unlearn some old habits and be a curious explorer and learner.

~Mark

21st century learning, Leadership Perspective, SAMR, Technology Enabled Learning, TEL

SAMR: Fuelling a growth mindset

February 7, 2014 markwcarbone 1 Comment

The SAMR model has taken the technology enabled learning world by storm. Based on long term thorough research the model offers a new strategy to look at the relationship of technology and learning. The model describes four stages of using technology to support student learning as summarized in the chart below.

Let me say up front that I am a big believer in the SAMR research and methodology. You can read my other SAMR related blog posts here. However, I am concerned about the circulation of SAMR charts that slot apps and web tools to a stage on the SAMR chart.

The SAMR model is based on the notion of using technology to support learning in ways to deepen learning through opportunities not previously possible – that is, a change in practice. To my way of thinking, the SAMR framework needs to be internalized in one’s thinking so that you independently examine your lesson, practice, approach etc. It is NOT about just picking an app from the ‘R’ level and assuming “that is it”.

I think SAMR is a lens, a way of thinking about self improvement. It is a journey of reflection and getting to that better technology enabled learning place of practice consistently. As learning contexts change, reflection through the SAMR lens is necessary to keep one’s practice sharp.

Technology is changing at a torrid pace. New web based tools and apps are born every minute. Each choice of technology, app and use MUST factor in the context of the learning at hand and the needs of the students. Recognize that a learning moment is simply that – a moment in time, and worthy of professional reflection. Tomorrow, there will be new hardware, new apps and new web tools. The SAMR model will see us through these changes by helping us focus on best practice, reflection and a moving through a personal journey. Sometimes, being at an ‘S’ level might be just the right place to be – part of the journey.

Take the SAMR challenge today. Become familiar with the model and how it relates to learning and excellent instructional practice. Examine new possibilities for technology enabled learning. Challenge yourself. Reflect. Share what you experience and learn. Internalize it – make SAMR part of who you are!

~Mark

21st century learning, Leadership Perspective, Technology Enabled Learning

Educon2.6 Reflections

February 2, 2014 markwcarbone 1 Comment

Once again the annual Educon event was an amazing learning experience. I decided to share a couple of learning points by bringing a few reflection points through this video.