Monday, April 05, 2010

This Week's Live and Interactive Webinars

Below are this week's public, free, and interactive webinars through LearnCentral.org, the social learning network for education that I work on for Elluminate.

The time of the events below will show up automatically in your own time zone when you are registered in LearnCentral and when you have chosen your time zone in your profile. Event recordings are posted and available after the events if you aren't able to attend them live. Be on the lookout for Australia-time-friendly events as part of the new Australia Series!

A number of folks have emailed me looking for an easy calendar import / RSS feed for these events, and while the developer at LearnCentral are working on a good long-term solution, you'll find my Google Calendar "hack" at LearnCentral.tv.  Hope it helps!

I also hope you'll consider hosting your own public webinars using the LearnCentral public room--instructions are available by joining the "Host Your Own Webinar" group on the main announcement tab (http://www.learncentral.org/group/3432/host-your-own-webinars).

Monday, April 5th
  • CLASSROOM 2.0 & PBS WEBINAR SERIES
    5pm PDT (US) / 8pm EDT (US) / 12am (next day) GMT/UTC (intl times):
     "Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day." During this event, participants will learn about two new PBS projects: "Earth Days," a film by Robert Stone chronicling the history of the modern environmental movement, and Growing Greener Schools, a film and educational resources aimed at empowering students, teachers and parents to incorporate green ideas into both school buildings and classroom curricula.   
    Link:  http://www.classroom20.com/events/pbs-cr-20celebrating-the-40th

  • TL VIRTUAL CAFE SERIES
    5pm PDT (US) / 8pm EDT (US) / 12am (next day) GMT/UTC (intl times):
     "On Being a Change Agent." What it means to be a Change Agent in Educational Technology with special guests Ben Hazzard and Rodd Lucier, and hostess Gwyneth Jones.LearnCentral Link:  http://www.learncentral.org/event/61749
Tuesday, April 6th
  • 9am PDT (US) / 12pm EDT (US) / 4pm GMT/UTC (intl times):
    "Learning In 3d: Adding A New Dimension To Enterprise Learning And Collaboration" with Tony O'Driscoll and Karl M. Kapp.  This session provides attendees with insight into how Virtual Immersive Environments (VIEs) are being used in organizations to encourage learning and collaboration. Attendees will review case studies of effective VIE implementations, learn the right design archetypes for D learning environments and review a list of guiding principles for establishing a successful 3D learning environment.
    LearnCentral Link:  http://www.learncentral.org/event/62838 (advanced registration required)

  • 3pm PDT (US) / 6pm EDT (US) / 10pm GMT/UTC (intl times):
    "Mind & Cluster Mapping: Can You Digg It? Web Applications for Research" with Rochelle Rodrigo.  Good researchers are constantly processing their project, from brainstorming topics and foci to analyzing the connections between resources and their own ideas. Mind and cluster mapping technologies can be used to facilitate the research process as well as present the research product.  The goals of the event are to make faculty comfortable with, and knowledgeable about various web-based applications as well as a scaffolded research (assignment) process. LearnCentral Link:  http://www.learncentral.org/event/52301

  • FUTURE OF EDUCATION SERIES
    5pm PDT (US) / 8pm EDT (US) / 12am (next day) GMT/UTC (intl times):
    Join me as I interview Tony Wagner on his book "The Global Achievement Gap."   "Despite the best efforts of educators, our nation's schools are dangerously obsolete. Instead of teaching students to be critical thinkers and problem-solvers, we are asking them to memorize facts for multiple choice tests...  Education expert Tony Wagner has conducted scores of interviews with business leaders and observed hundreds of classes in some of the nation's most highly regarded public schools...  He explains how every American can work to overhaul our education system, and he shows us examples of dramatically different schools that teach all students new skills. In addition, through interviews with college graduates and people who work with them, Wagner discovers how teachers, parents, and employers can motivate the 'net' generation to excellence."
    LearnCentral Link:  http://www.learncentral.org/event/60491
Wednesday, April 7th
  • 9:30am PDT (US) / 12:30pm EDT (US) / 4:30pm GMT/UTC (intl times):
    "Shannon's Bright Ideas Center - LearnCentral Showcase." Want to get the most out of LearnCentral? Join us for a showcase of valuable features and a discussion on how to use them.  Discover other educators!  Manage Resources!  Work with Events!  Create and Join Groups of Interest!  LearnCentral Roadmap!  Gailene Nelson, founder and creator of LearnCentral community will be with us.  This will be your perfect opportunity to share your visions for LearnCentral with the creator and hopefully see those dreams become realities.  Co-Moderator and LearnCentral Guru Tammy Moore will be there in place of Shannon this week to showcase her success using LearnCentral and her Creative Whiteboard Lab.
    LearnCentral Link:  http://www.learncentral.org/event/63942

  • EDUCATION FOR A DIGITAL WORLD 2.0 SERIES
    11:30am PDT (US) / 2:30pm EDT (US) / 6:30pm GMT/UTC (
    intl times):
    "Towards implementation of eLearning at a multi-campus university" with
    Azra Naseem.  This session will present the case of Aga Khan University (AKU), to develop a nuanced understanding of the processes of eLearning implementation at a multi-campus university. The authors will describe the step-by-step processes, and identify successes and challenges from the perspective of faculty and staff members charged with initiating and implementing the use of eLearning at the University. The session will conclude with a number of implications, as well as guidelines for other universities opting for campus-wide eLearning.  30 minutes.
    LearnCentral Link:  http://www.learncentral.org/event/65705

  • EDUCATION FOR A DIGITAL WORLD 2.0 SERIES
    12pm PDT (US) / 3pm EDT (US) / 7pm GMT/UTC (
    intl times):
    "Internet as a Platform."
    Shawn Berney will present the upcoming collaborative effort titled "Internet as a Platform". This collaborative work includes contributions from Peter Rawsthorne and Iwona Sokalska. The presentation will highlight: 1) The impact of technology design on learning environments. 2) The impact of technology projects on educators, administrators and developers. 3) The tactics, strategies and processes that can help move technology projects into the fabric of our daily reality.  30 minutes.
    LearnCentral Link:  http://www.learncentral.org/event/65706

  • EDUCATION FOR A DIGITAL WORLD 2.0 SERIES
    12:30pm PDT (US) / 3:30pm EDT (US) / 7:30pm GMT/UTC (
    intl times):
    "Creating Online Assessments and Preparing Learners for Authentic Displays of Learning" with 
    Alice Bedard-Vorhees and Lisa Johnson.  This session examines how various strategies support the development of lower level knowledge and skills that ultimately allow successful learners to become “curators” of sources into final projects and papers with the wealth of resources available at this time. Furthermore, portfolios are a place where those artifacts of learning can be displayed, either within a course, or as a cornerstone assessment experience for program-level purposes. In exploring instructional assessments that move students along this spectrum from assessment to portfolio, the following categories are presented:  self-assessments and feedback loops, various activities that allow for student practice with faculty feedback, scaffolding, reflection,  the gamut of learning expectations embedded in research-based projects and papers.  30 minutes.
    LearnCentral Link:  http://www.learncentral.org/event/65714

  • 4pm PDT (US) / 7pm EDT (US) / 11pm GMT/UTC (intl times):
    "
    Setting up a Classroom Blog." Kim Caise and Lorna Costantini will demonstrate how to set up a classroom blog. The will cover the benefits of blogging in the classroom. Participants will create a classroom blog using Weebly for Education. Classroom management, user management, parent permission and content ideas will make up the 1 hour session. Participants attending the session will receive a 25% discount on a weebly for education pro account.
    LearnCentral Link:  http://www.learncentral.org/event/66994

  • CLASSROOM 2.0 & PBS WEBINAR SERIES
    5pm PDT (US) / 8pm EDT (US) / 12am (next day) GMT/UTC (intl times):
     "A Fresh Look at Teaching The Diary of Anne Frank."  During this event, participants will get a sneak peek at the all-new adaptation airing on MASTERPIECE and review educator materials created for middle school and high school. These materials include a teacher’s guide created in collaboration with the Holocaust education organization, Facing History & Ourselves, and special Resources for Youth, which offer concrete ways to take action against issues of intolerance as well as encourage self-expression through digital journaling options. Speakers include the author of the teacher's guide and an educator from Facing History and Ourselves.
    Link:  http://www.classroom20.com/events/pbs-cr-20a-fresh-look-at

  • MATH 2.0 SERIES
    6:30pm PDT (US) / 9:30pm EDT (US) / 1:30am (next day) GMT/UTC (intl times):
    "TextbookRevolution.org." Joshua Gay of TextbookRevolution.org presents this student-run project dedicated to open and free educational resources.
    LearnCentral Link:  http://www.learncentral.org/event/63031
Thursday, April 8th







  • THE AUSTRALIA SERIES
    4pm PDT (US) / 7pm EDT (US) / 11pm GMT/UTC (
    intl times):
    "An Edublogs 'Techie How To!' Session:  Feed Learning with a Hot Potato!" with 
    Jo Hart.  In this session we will take a look at and have a “play” with Hot Potatoes. Despite a comment from someone on Twitter recently that it is “very tired and outdated” I still use Hot Potatoes to make interactives for my students. It is easy to use; works well for many of the activities needed to develop reading and writing skills and; I can upload the products easily into the Learning Management System.
    LearnCentral Link:  http://www.learncentral.org/event/59850

  • 5pm PDT (US) / 8pm EDT (US) / 12am (next day) GMT/UTC (intl times):
    "Waking Students Up to Global Change."  Robert Principe, the Director of Educational Leadership, Hiatt Center for Social Justice Education, will discuss how Beaver Country Day School (BCDS) building on its long-standing commitment to diversity and social action, has moved to significantly increase the integration of this skill-based global learning into the learning culture of every classroom. This effort is driven by a focus on “providing opportunities for authentic learning experiences beyond the traditional classroom” where students can apply their intelligence, creativity, critical social thinking, and technology to engage real world issues.
    LearnCentral Link:  http://www.learncentral.org/event/62384
Friday, April 9th



  • 11:30am PDT (US) / 2:30pm EDT (US) / 6:30pm GMT/UTC (intl times):
    "Mobile Devices for Teaching & Learning."  
    Barbara Lindsey explores if, how, when and where these devices can be used for teaching and learning, in particular, for language, culture and civilization courses. Our guest for this session will be Travis Allen, currently a Kennesaw State University student, who created the iSchool Initiative in order to “advocate, support and implement technological advancement for students and educators in the 21st century”. We look forward to talking with Travis about his initiative and personal mobile learning experiences.
    LearnCentral Link:  http://www.learncentral.org/event/67233
Saturday, April 10th



  • LEARNING GAMES NETWORK SERIES
    9am PDT (US) / 12pm EDT (US) / 4pm GMT/UTC (
    intl times):
    "Choosing and Using Video Games in the Classroom: After-Game Reviews." The learning that takes place during gameplay can be dramatically enhanced by effective after-play synthesis and assimilation. Find ways to connect the dots in order to strengthen long-term learning. Building outward from the game itself is one of the most critical parts of game-based education.
    LearnCentral Link:  http://www.learncentral.org/event/58444

  • CLASSROOM 2.0 LIVE!
    9am PDT (US) / 12pm EDT (US) / 4pm GMT/UTC (
    intl times):
    "Preparing Effective Online Learners." Preparing Effective Online Learners with 
    David McGeary.
    LearnCentral Link:  http://www.learncentral.org/event/56481

  • LEARNING GAMES NETWORK SERIES
    10am PDT (US) / 1pm EDT (US) / 5pm GMT/UTC (
    intl times):
    "Designing eGames: Production Elements." Production elements are the icing on the cake of game design: 2D vs. 3D graphics; sound, music, dialogue. All of those pieces need to be added to the design document once the underlying structure of the game is established.
    LearnCentral Link:  http://www.learncentral.org/event/61838

Thanks for your attention, and see you online!


[Cross-posted from http://www.stevehargadon.com]