Podcast #49 NMSA08: The Conference!
Items & Events
- NMSA Annual Conference, October 30 – November 1 (Video sample) Watch the video invitation on the main page of NMSA’s website. (4 days …)
- Ohio Middle School Association’s Annual Conference, February 19-20, 2009 in Sandusky, OH. Presenter information is posted on the page. Download now and get it it in to your administration while they’re too confused and dazed with the opening of school’s events to say, “No.” (You could argue . . . )
- Michigan Internet Technology Chief Bruce Umpstead talks about using technology in education in a podcast here at Inside Michigan Education that proposes some ways to incorporate technology in your classroom and get the community to support it. (Interesting how he admits IT people in districts are actively blocking the iTunes U software.)
- Canadian National Middle Years Conference, November 5, 6, & 7 in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
- The Michigan Department of Education has posted new proposed Tech Standards for K-12 and opened a Zoomerang survey page for posting comments and replies. You can get to the proposed standards directly here and you can go to the survey page here. No one will stop you at the front door of the survey if you’re not in the Great State of Michigan, so have at.
- PBS has turned the Media Infusion board to a middle school teacher for the month of October! You can read her insights and postings to the world about middle school at the Media Infusion website. Rebecca Lawson is a frequent contributor to the MiddleTalk listserv hosted by NMSA. Membership in the listserv is open to NMSA membership and you can get more detailed information here at the webpage.
- The New England League of Middle Schools has a whole bevy of professional development planned for the 2008-2009 school year and you can access it here.
- ADVISORY IDEAS NEEDED: NELMS is putting together an Advisory Resource page with lessons for you to use. They are asking for submissions here by January 1, 2009. If your entry is used, you will be entered in a raffle for a 3 day NELMS conference ticket.
- Are you a member of the National Middle School Association? You are eligible to join MiddleTalk, a listserv for middle school teachers that engages in middle level “shop talk.” Sign up here.
- Research Summary Posted: Vocabulary Teaching and Learning Across Disciplines is now available at NMSA.
- Join the gang going to NMSA’s Annual Conference by signing up at the Ning site and connecting with other Conference goers: NMSA08 Please do sign up and connect with other conference attendees. Of course, you’re always welcome to post here too . . .
- There’s a new research document on counselors in middle schools and the importance they play in our students’ lives. The research summary details the importance of each student knowing one adult well and how to do that before the counselor’s role can become multifaceted. In a way, think of them being the ultimate super Advisory teacher first then counselor. Check it out here.
- If you get a chance to visit Second Life, zip over to the ISTE island for their speaker series on Tuesdays & Thursdays. This Tuesday’s topic is Open Sim as Prototyping (TBA). It begins at 6:00 pm Pacific and is scheduled to end at 7:00 pm pst.
- Denver Weather Watch is now on patrol! Get your National Weather Service information before you go.
- Bring a laptop, or if into weightlifting, a desktop to create an e-conference experience.
- Entertainment: Mutton Busting
Advisory Idea:
- Sum up your week in 3 words. Get creative with a camera and video tape your three words for a montage. Air it in house, on the team, or just in your own advisory. Good Morning America might be interested in it for their weekend edition. Could be a way to blow off some steam after state testing.
- Depending on your comfort level in dealing with election politics (Canadian politics can be ruthless) you could have the kids list a number of issues they find important (they don’t have to share) and then have them take the ABC News political identifier quiz. Reference these: Harlem voters, Rick Mercer, Kids in Parliament, Voter turnout discussion,
Tech Sandboxes
Come play in the Tech Sandboxes located throughout the Convention Center. Each Tech Sandbox will be a place to get your hands on and learn about a particular digital or Web tool for teaching and learning.
Tech Sandboxes are hosted by practitioners and experts who can talk about and show you how they have used the tool for teaching and learning. These practitioners and experts are also eager to give you a chance to get your hands on the technology to learn and ask questions.
Look for these Tech Sandboxes:
- Web 2.0 for Professional Development—Ning, Second Life, MiddleTalk (NMSA’s listserve), and the Middle School Portal.
- Tandberg —Video conferencing and student/teacher-prepared curricula.
- SchoolTube —Video studio.
- Promethean —Interactive whiteboards and student-response devices. (Also check out Promethean Planet )
- PBS Teachers —Free resources, online community, and professional development. (Check out Rebecca Lawson’s blog on PBS Teachers.)
- ePals —The new interactive gateway for middle level educators.
- Curriki —Chat places and curriculum sharing for teachers. (Contact Christine Loew)
- Tabula Digita – innovative, effective educational gaming for stand alone teaching or to support and enhance existing curriculum and materials.”
Topics
The 35th Annual Conference (NMSA08) features more than 400 sessions in 40 topic areas, including:
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Concurrent Sessions Strands List
Choose a strand to see the list of related sessions.
< Return to concurrent sessions main page
Assessment and Evaluation to Ensure Student Achievement
Components of the Curriculum
Courageous, Collaborative Leadership
Integrating the Curriculum
Professional Preparation Advisory Board
Relationships that Foster Learning and Social Growth
Research
Research Advisory Board
Safe and Healthy Learning Communities
Structures that Support Student Learning
Teacher Quality
Teaching and Learning for Student Success
Technology
Understanding Our Students and Ourselves
Sessions:
There seems to be no way to print out a list of sessions with descriptions. Bummer.
Thoughts:
How many people will microblog?
Ning= 30 members. What is their definition of success?
FaceBook – can’t see it unless you are a member.
BetaMax issue
October 26, 2008 @ 9:16 pm
Hey guys,
A quick word on the Ning and the number of folks on it. I helped set up the Ning for NMSA08 and would like to give a little background if I can. I don’t think we’re entirely sure how things are going to go with this project. For the NECC 2008 conference, there are over 2200 people signed up for the Ning and discussions about many of the sessions available. My personal view is that a number even half that is a success for our Ning. I’m hoping that the Conference itself will be a big draw for folks to visit the site. There are lots of things set up for the site which I feel can be very powerful for those who attend as well as those who do not.
We’re hoping for folks to share pictures, videos, and discussions about the conference. A quick visit over to http://www.necc2008.org should give you an idea of how the Ning CAN work. I think part of the idea is to give NMSA a step in the right direction for the digital age. Yes, we’re dealing with a large number of digital immigrants. Yes, NECC is a technology oriented organization where NMSA doesn’t have the same level of focus there. I’m really hoping to see the numbers jump during the conference and see some discussion AFTER the conference as well. I know you guys will be keeping notes of the sessions you attend, we’d love to have you share those on the Ning as well as here. Thanks a bunch for the Conference overview!
October 28, 2008 @ 5:12 pm
Hey Todd,
I went over to the site and it is very impressive the conversation that is continuing after the San Antonio conference. I know ISTE still has the Alamo sim still up and running and folks are still walking through the exhibit. I can see the NMSA Ning as a good way to continue conversations between conference attendees long after the conference is over. How is NMSA planning to get people to either migrate to the Ning site or get a Ning ID and sign up on the site? Will there be wireless access at the keynote for folks to follow up on announcements from platform (i.e. ePals)? I’m picturing all the teachers in the “Keynote Class” suddenly going to their laptops and iPhones to get access instead of paying attention in class, hehe.
October 29, 2008 @ 5:23 am
Shawn,
I’m not entirely sure how they’re going to tackle access at the Conference. I unfortunately won’t be in Denver this year (I have a planning session with Will Richardson and Howard Pitler for some PD modules for NC’s Teacher Academy). I’m hoping discussion of the Ning will be widespread enough to get some folks involved, either through the Tech Sandboxes, some kind of handout, multiple announcements, etc. Wi-Fi access at the Conference could make or break the Ning this year. If nothing else, I’m excited about the potential and learning a few things to tackle for next year if we don’t get the response I’m hoping for. And you KNOW that teachers would NEVER stop paying attention in a class…especially not middle school teachers 🙂 Enjoy Denver and keep us posted!