David Ligon's Blog (9)

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I thoroughly enjoyed being a part of the festivities and workshops at ISTE2010 in Denver this year. The most memorable part of the event for me was connection with people. It was exhilirating to collectively brainstorm with the best minds in the field on educational issues facing us today while we consider what's over the horizon.

Sitting around the blogger's cafe' with friends, listening to Chris Lehmann's jokes, debating ideas out in the open--not in some closed door session…

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I was tasked with preparing some resources for a presentation recently on the idea of using Twitter in our school district. I went back through my first 500 tweets on Twitter to compile this list, which I used at the meeting. Since then I keep receiving inquiries on the subject and decided to post the links here for now so that I will have a location to direct educators for the resources (until I get my Diigo account set up):…

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The concept of Technology Literacy became immediately relevant for me last year as I was filling out the 2008-09 ADE Educational Technology Survey required for our district to receive funding under the Title II-D/EETT program. I had to answer the following questions:



Q40: How many 8th grade students in your school/district would be classified as technologically literate according to the following definition:



"Technology literacy is the ability to responsibly use… Continue

As our district embarks upon Web 2.0 implementation for our 21st Century learning enviroments, we are looking for the right tools to engage our digital learners. There is a company called Daden Limited in the UK which has created an Apollo 11 Tranquility Base Simulation in Second Life. I had recently learned about this sim region from one of my PLN colleagues on… Continue

Today marked a turning point in the history of our school district. We officially implemented a progressive social media policy which now allows us to begin offering Web 2.0 integration into our curriculum. Things began to change with a new district leadership team last year who fostered a belief in 21st Century technology. On the Friday before the semester started this year we held a rally where our Superintendent showed teachers A Vision of K-12… Continue

As Ed Tech leaders promoting Web 2.0 in the educational environment, it is incumbent upon us to adopt an inclusive approach so that physically impaired learners have an equal opportunity to derive the same benefits from 21st Century technologies as non-impaired students. We need to raise awareness of this issue so that Web 2.0 developers and social networking sites begin to incorporate design elements that allow access to all learners regardless of physical ability.



Start by… Continue

The following commentary discusses my viewpoint on 21st Century Teaching and Learning, based on responses to a PLN survey conducted by Lucy Gray, Technology Integration Specialist at the University of Chicago, on August 8, 2009.



What is your personal definition of 21st century learning and/or teaching?

21st Century learning is the process whereby digital natives utilize the power of modern technology to learn anything, anytime, anywhere. Classrooms are no longer… Continue

The concept of branding is an essential part of social media and web 2.0 literacy. The way in which an individual or business presents themselves online through a variety of online venues is absolutely essential to how viewers will perceive them. This can have either positive or negative consequences depending on how one's web 2.0 brand comes across. Case in point, in the latest issue of Government Technology an article entitled "The Trouble with Twitter and other social networks" depicts an… Continue