February+7


 * Sharing**

//Questions to frame the conversation:// The // **BIG QUESTIONS** // to answer:
 * Technology Tools: Sharing**
 * 1) What are the "affordances" and "constraints" of the technology? In other words, what does the technology allow us to do or prevent us from doing? The answers to this question might be "messy." This fundamental understanding is important to answer the next questions...
 * 2) What new skills do we need to teach students?
 * 3) What will I need to do differently in terms of how I teach in the classroom? How will teaching and learning look different?
 * 4) How does the technology help me to foster creativity, innovation and some of the other 21st century skills?
 * 5) What are some ways I can use this technology in my classroom?


 * Further Discussion of the Application Project**
 * What is your topic?
 * Is your outline complete?
 * What tool will you choose to use for your virtual binding?
 * What are your next steps?

//For reference:// How to Grow A Textbook
 * Start with an outline
 * Grab a virtual binding
 * Unpack and publish your traditional documents
 * Grab a few solid updating tools
 * Grab books for solid, more stable content
 * Grab databases and database essays, articles and chapters
 * Grab the right search tools
 * Grab your own presentations and shop for the best of others
 * Grab a couple of pathfinders
 * Grab some film
 * Grab some open source curriculum
 * Grab some student work
 * Grab some other stuff - see below


 * For Thursday, February 9**


 * Read** chapters 5 and 6 in the //Rethinking Education...// text. After reading the two chapters, visit the Discussion Forum. Pull from the chapter a passage, paragraph, sentence, etc. that provoked your thinking. Write a short reflection on how it engaged your thinking in general. Please post your contribution prior to class Thursday evening. If you can, revisit the forum and engage in a conversation with your classmates on the topics for the week. We will spend some time Thursday discussing the chapters and connecting the ideas with the tools you have been working on as well as our earlier discussions about the kind of education we need for 2012 and beyond. Since we missed class last Thursday, be prepared to discuss chapters 3-6 on Thursday, February 9.


 * Post** one interesting article/finding from the Internet, etc for next class to your Google+ stream.


 * Application Project**: Having chosen your topic, developed an outline and set up your virtual binding, determine your next steps. How will your digital textbook chapter represent your knowledge of new technology tools for learning? For reference: How to Grow A Textbook blog post.

** Next Meeting: Thursday, February 9 - 7:00 - 9:00 PM** ** New Topic: //Rethinking Education// Chapters 3-6/Choose a new technology tool to explore (either Google or Web 2.0)**