EdNet Monday AM

Breakfast intros were asked to be under 30 seconds and were given in alphabetical order - So, by the time we got around to the "s" folks I looked out at the audience and saw rows of "deer in the headlights". My opening statement had to get their attention right? So, I introduced myself and said "I am here to talk about SEX". It worked. I then went on to explain in hyperspeed about the work Ramapo Central is doing in Second Life and that I was here to share my experience and my vision. 28.562 seconds.

OPening Keynote was wonderful -
Keynote Address
Charles “Chuck” House, Executive Director, Media X at Stanford University
Media X is an innovation program at Stanford University that builds bridges among the best faculty and student scholars at Stanford and thought leaders from influential companies to address questions of real importance within both academia and industry. Media X is focused on innovation and using research to fuel ideas and new paradigms. Mr. House will discuss what global broadband will mean for US competitiveness; why 21st century skills will matter to schools; virtual worlds, telepresence and the learning environments coming down the pike; and much more in this exciting start to EdNET 2007. Chuck was funny, brilliant The best part of his talk centered upon looking at the state of 21st century literacies and the obstacles educators face in understanding how to reah the digital native and how to transfer the existing curriculum in an authetic manner to virtual environments that will engage our students without alienating our teachers, parents and administrators....or without creating a new generation of ADHD youth (I really wanted to address that but it was not my venue and not my arena--Note to self: Include a reference to Enraged or Engaged.
r. Terry N. Bishop, Superintendent of Schools, Colorado Springs (CO) School District 11
Dr. Annette T. Griffin, Superintendent, Carrollton-Farmers Branch (TX) Independent School District
John Q. Porter, Superintendent, Oklahoma City (OK) Public Schools
Paul G. Vallas, Superintendent, New Orleans Recovery School District
James Wilson, Superintendent, Fulton County (GA) Schools
Join the members of the EdNET Education Advisory Board as they discuss their perspectives on current issues and how their districts are handling today’s demands and tomorrow’s promise. This is an exciting opportunity for attendees to gain insight into the realities in the market and issues that these influential superintendents are wrestling with.

Right now I am listening to a panel discussing different (quite critical ) situations in districts throughout the country. NCLB and other issues are being examined in the light of the dichotomy they create - ESL , Special Ed - How are these teachers able to gain the "highly qualified" status - get certified in everything?

Schools trying to take new (rather unorthodox, YAY) approaches to dealing with critical school challenges are outlining approaches they are trying but I am still hearing much too much about standardized testing, remediation, and supplemental programs. They are treating the symptoms and ignoring the disease. EXCEPT for the gentleman on the panel who advocated early interventions and a new model of pedagogy beginning with pre-schoolers ---

FUNDING FOR NCLB is being touted as a major issue as is funding for intervention programs in general.

These schools are dealing with sever numbers of at risk students as well as poverty violence and the transient population.



LUNCH - Good.

Panel discussion: ransitions in Schools: Schools at the Tipping Point
Terry Crane, Ed.D., Senior Education Advisor, Infotech Strategies (moderator)
C. Jackson Grayson, Jr., Chairman and CEO, American Productivity and Quality Center (APQC)
Melendy Lovett, President, Education Technology, Texas Instruments, Incorporated
Tom Vander Ark, President, X PRIZE Foundation

Join us as this panel of specialists share their expertise regarding world class standards, benchmarking and performance improvement, and what the U.S. needs to do to ensure continued competitiveness in the future. Panelists will provide insight into the models that will help guide our schools, teachers and students to success.

The panelists are pretty heavy players - lots of experince here - ---resume's that would knock your socks off - Harvard, Stanford, Gates Foundation, blah blah blah

Grayson: APQC - non profit in Houston 12 million $ budget to help business improve. Just added K-12.
What's going to happen in the tipping point?

6 blockages to Tipping Up:

1. No process management
2. No system focus
3. Little systemic sharing
4.Very little empowerment