Alan November

Too many students are not sure how to separate fact from fiction on the Internet. The Internet can provide any version of the truth to support almost any belief. We can teach students how to read the “grammar” of the Internet and apply strategies to validate information on a website. This popular workshop provides step-by-step teaching tips that help students and teachers think critically about Internet information.

A powerful new culture of empowered teaching and fearless learning is emerging. Access to more timely information and communication tools can empower educators to focus on the individual learning needs of their students. These same tools can lead to more collegiality, build stronger community relationships and empower students to be more self-directed. This workshop presents clear examples of how this new culture has been achieved.

School design can have a significant impact on the culture of learning in your school. New models of school design are emerging that support a wide range of learning styles and take full advantage of global communications. Access to powerful technologies can free designers to build smaller, more intimate schools. Alan examines school models from around the US and UK to illustrate powerful new ways of creating learning spaces.

We now have tools to build and strengthen our learning communities. We have the opportunity to provide our students with authentic assessment relationships over the Web that can help dramatically improve student motivation. We can take advantage of the communication tools the Internet provides, such as blogs, IM, Skype, video conference or email. Research suggests many students are more willing to ask for help and accept criticism when they are online.

In an economy where global outsourcing is commonplace, students must be prepared to participate in an increasingly competitive job market. In many ways they are in competition with bright, energetic, hardworking students from all over the world. In this workshop Alan discusses some of the ways we can empower our students, help them build a strong work ethic and develop self-directed learning skills. We should not underestimate what our students are capable of achieving.

From Alan’s work as an educator on an island reform school to directing and alternative high school, much of his experience has focused on motivating at-risk students. Online communication can be a powerful tool for engaging students to be active learners. For example, students who never raise their hand in class can become eager to participate online. Many at-risk students are also more willing to accept criticism from an anonymous reviewer over the Internet. This workshop presents some creative ideas for using technological tools to help improve student motivation and focus on learning.

This workshop outlines essential skills for leadership and offers practical guidelines and creative solutions for building accountability into the planning process. Articulating vision and mission, managing change and aligning technology to primary goals are emphasized. A shift in planning from technology to the quality and application of information and communication is a critical next step.

This workshop targets the challenges beginning teachers and teacher educators often face. It explores critical skills teachers should know, such as information literacy. Practical ideas of moving curriculum and assessment to the Web are reviewed, along with suggestions on how to link students to primary sources, create authentic assessments and strengthen community support.

Data driven Web-based technologies can be a powerful tool to help manage and support standards. Technology can provide online-assessment, links to content-specific resources and activities, simulations, real time reporting to families, extensive portfolios of student work and much more. This workshop is designed to show how technologies can be aligned to support standards and how we can move beyond the standards.

Writing is an essential skill and a key to academic success. Technology can be harnessed to provide student writers with inspiration, boundless resource and an authentic audience. Students can publish their work or peer edit with anyone around the world. They can share ideas and projects in a global forum. Tapping into authentic audience can improve writing skills and motivation to write. This workshop is filled with hands on suggestions, websites and exercieses to get your students excited about writing.

This popular workshop provides a provocative and humorous look at ways to use technology to improve learning. Alan challenges participants to examine basic assumptions about how to move beyond flushing curriculum faster, to creating visions that provide students and communities with survival skills for a global economy. This workshop leads to a shift in thinking from technology to a focus on the quality of information and communication technology can offer.

Learning from primary resources can be far more meaningful than reading a textbook. Technology provides a mountain of primary resources, be it documents, museums or scientists at NASA. Learn how to effectively use these primary resources in your classroom and establish links to the outside community. Empower your students to become active participants in their learning and engaged researchers.