Classroom III

Professional development (PD) in our district is now being offered via a paid online service called PD360. I have not tried it, but our administrators had a need to offer more PD and again technology offered a solution. Is it going to make a difference? IMHO, it will impact many teachers and help them keep their license, but I like to be inspired when I participate in professional development, not just get the credits.Last night, Saturday at 10:30 am EST, it was 10:30 am Sunday in Kuala Lumpur, and Jeff Utecht was presenting to a group of administrators at EARCOS. I was watching TV and had my laptop flickering on the couch as I recovered from a day at the NC Pecan Harvest Festival in Whiteville, NC. I had just reinstalled Twitterific after deleting the crash-prone Twitter app that I had really gotten accustomed to and liked its features– Snitter. Immediately on launching Twitterific, Jeff Utecht tweeted the URL to Ustream.tv where he was preparing to speak at EARCOS. I clicked on the link and within seconds my computer screen and I traveled 2000 miles to a conference room- LIVE FROM KUALA LUMPUR. Now, this old redneck has never been to where ever Kuala Lumpur is and on my teacher’s salary will never be able to afford such an exciting journey. However, through the magic of Twitter and Ustream.TV and the imagination and creative use of technology by Jeff forty or more virtual participants logged in on the Ustream.tv http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/d2UhYkjs8SxZP3G1QOqmDA and watched and chatted. The video I have tried to embed here but could not make the embed work so I have hyperlinked to site. I did not stay up to participate in it because it was getting past my bedtime. I embedded it here so I can remember to view it. I think I can download it to my iPod video by converting the Flash video to .mov using several apps out there on the web. I have a road trip to Raleigh today so I plan to try to download this to view on the drive to Cary, NC.My point here is that PD has to fit my life. The days of sit and get, bored out of my head PD is over. I can participate on my time, in my home, on the couch and replay what is unclear to me. Then if I have a question, I can email, post comments on the Ustream.tv site, or even Skype Jeff (after pre-arranging a phone interview using email: which is considered “proper Skype etiquette”) Note to self- do not just Skype a call to folks anymore. I Skyped the presenter live at the World View Symposium and got some bad looks. I will not do that again. Made me look dumb too. Now, I just need to write up these activities and have them approved at real PD activities so I can earn my credits for renewal of my teacher licenses. I think I can print out the transcript of the chat room as proof of my participation. Maybe we could ask Jeff to email us certificates of participation? Anyone have any ideas on this?