School of the Future

Windows 7 @ School of the Future

At about 8:30 this morning I received a call from Mr. Machos, the new Music Technology educator at the school, he asked me "did Windows 7 release today?" upon which I answered, "Yes of course", he then proceeded to count one, two, three, at which point the school's band, which meets at 8am every day, began to play The Final Countdown by Europe quite apporpriate since today was the day that Windows 7 officially launched.

Everyone has been talking about the launch our VP of Worldwide Education, Anthony Salcito, describes the value of Windows 7 very succinctly in his blog post and clues everyone into a couple of other key features that schools will find valuable.

 There's several blogs that you can go to in order to find out about Windows 7 specific to education, my favorite is my colleague Rob B's blog with 7 Things Teachers Will Like About Windows 7 (hope he doesn't mind if I borrow the first two tips)

 Posted from 7 Things Teachers Will Like About Windows 7 Blog:

1. Things work more quickly - starting up you PC is faster, if you let your machine go to sleep, or you are moving around school with a laptop, it resumes and is ready to work with little delay.  Critical for those first few minutes of class when you need to get the momentum going, launch the PowerPoint or web page and start class. If you connect to an LCD projector to display to your class, projecting just works, no delays.

2. Find things on your PC fast - just above the Start button is the Windows Search box.  If you don’t use your PC's search, I suggest you give this a try as it works, and it works fast.  So finding that assignment sheet you created last year (along with accompanying PowerPoint) that you want to tweak for a project (tomorrow!), or an email discussion you had with a parent two months ago, is all indexed and searched by Windows and  the results are presented in one result set - and fast!  See a short demo here.

We've been using Windows 7 on several laptops at the school, and next week I'll post some video about our Windows 7 installation on 3 year old UMPC's. I can tell you that the learners and educators at the school absolutely love Windows 7, and I'll definitley share our experiences using it on a daily basis in my weekly posts, stay tuned!

Tag you're it! Part 2

So some of you have looked at the previous post and I'd love to know who has taken the initiative to investigate this wonderful technology. I've just ordered some business cards with the Microsoft Tag on the back of them so someone who I would normally give my card to, would be able to simply click the Tag and it will take them to my blog or the schools website. The only other thing they need to do is download the app for their phone, and yes, it does work on the Iphone as well. www.getttag.mobi

So it's real simple, hopefully you'll be posting Tags everywhere in your school (provided you have not blocked any and all phone usage in your respective schools).

 Step 1: Log onto Microsoft Tag - www.microsoft.com/tag with your windows Live ID

Step 2: Once logged in click to create your customized Tag

Step 3: Self explanatory, fill in the appropriate text boxes and url info and click create

Step 4: Click under the Render column on your new tag and save the PDF as an image!

Step 5: Post in your favorite location, online, on a wall, on an LCD or on a PC in your labs! (p.s. this Tag is different than the first, click away!)

Tag you're it!

Every once in a while I come across a technology that I feel has immediate impact, sometimes directly related to the classroom, sometimes I see it as a tool districts could use to engage, promote and share what their district is doing in a 21st century fashion. May I introduce Microsoft Tag

Now, I have no doubt that some people vieiwng this post will say "what?" and others will get it immediately. Which are you? I'll say this, if you follow the above instructions you'll find that you can actually create your own Tags that can be posted around your school, on your website and even in print. After all, what's the point of all of us carrying around cell phones and PDA's if you can't figure out a way to integrate them into the fabric of education.

 In two days I'll return and post further instructions, but hopefully in two days many of you will have learned and thought about how Microsoft Tag can engage your learners, educators, parents and your community!

Is it getting cold in here?

I was sitting in my office the other day thinking of different programs that I'm presented with that I can offer to the Educators that infuse project based learning into their curriculum. It reminded me that this summer we spent an entire week with a group from NSDC (National Staff Development Council) going over different strategies and technics. One of the things I remember from that week was the priority placed on engaging learners in ways that they currently get engaged outside of school and that can be through gaming, social networks, or other digital outlets.

The Innovative Teachers Network is always providing educators with the latest in best practices, technology and content in one place and they recently posted this great interactive, project based curriculum called the Climate Mystery.    

 In keeping with true blog tradition, I'm not going to go into depth about what the Climate Mystery is hence the word 'mystery' :) I will say that infuses technology, science and climate change into an interactive website that provides educators with everything they would need to conduct a 16 week lesson, that culminates in the actual COP15 United Nations Summit being held in December.

We had some problems here at School of the Future with the site being blocked due to the 'gaming' nature of the lessons, but luckily I'm working closely with the System Engineer to get permission from the district to unblock the site!

So if you're interested, intrigued, or curious to solve a good mystery read on and login!

Green with.... Computing?

Tomoorrow I have the pleasure of presenting on NextGenWeb's webinar to education organizations around the country about the green aspects of our builidng.The School of the Future currently holds a Gold LEED certification (Leadership in Environment Energy and Design) and many people often ask how does this make a difference in the learning environment.

Tomorrow's webinar is short and sweet and touches on other green initiatives from other organizations.

Please join us if you're available!!

Invitaiton: September 8th Bill and Melinda Gate's Foundation present: Get Schooled

People often confuse the efforts of the Gates Foundation with the efforts at School of the Future. I can tell you that although they are not connected to our efforts there, we are always interested in Bill's focus and passion for education. This should be a very insightful program sure to illicit deep thought and questions surrounding education today, I'll be watching!

 Get Schooled: You Have the Right is a  five-year national initiative co-developed by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Viacom that creates a platform for corporate and community stakeholders to address the challenges facing America's public schools. 

On Sept. 8 at 8 p.m., more than 20 Viacom Networks will simultaneously air "Get Schooled"  a 30-minute special  featuring President Obama, Kelly Clarkson & LeBron James which highlights education challenges and breakthroughs experienced by three leading figures from the world of entertainment, sports and politics; along with the stories of three of their most trusted professional colleagues.   

For details visit the following websites:

Get Schooled.Com and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. 

Facebook users can also visit http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=111487844367#/billmelindagatesfoundation?ref=ts and http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=111487844367#/event.php?eid=111487844367&ref=ts

And so it begins....

The start of the first graduation class from School of the future! There's so much that has been going on since the end of summer and the start of the new year which officially begins September 8th that I don't know where to begin. In the interest of blog etiquette, I'll keep this short as I always intend to do.

Question - how many other schools are spending their summer in professional development? and of those, how many schools conduct relevant student centric PD? I know there are plenty of districts that conduct a lot of training in the summer, but often times it can just be the same old PD. This year our educators worked directly with the National Staff Development Council (NSDC) to develop their own customized summer PD. I have to say, the initial impact that the training provided was phenomenal.

There was a group of educators who spent 3 weeks planning their visit and then all the educators spent 5 days working with members from NSDC onsite to talk about and work through project based curriculum development, project planning and getting their classes and curriculum ready for the start of the new year. They provided hands on group activities that made the educators think about resources and strategies to make them successful, and since we have10 NEW educators this year, getting a leg up on the start of the school year is always a good thing.

They left us with several great resources which you can find on their site above!

 How do you guys do PD in your school? Any suggestions?

You gotta see this - NECC debut of newest Education applications for the classroomo

So if you missed NECC 2009 this year I'm sorry :) You missed the opportunity to see some great technologies debuted at the Microsoft booth this year. Given the economic difficulties all organizations are facing this year, NECC was not as crowded as years past, but there was still plenty of interest in improving education through the use of technology. 

At this years conference I had the pleasure of being the first person to show off the 1st Education application developed out of the School of the Future for the Microsoft Surface. Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, educators and learners, may I present Cell Explorer for the Microsoft Surface.

Cell Explorer was develped by our Microsoft Gold Partner VectorForm, with input directly from one of our Science Educators Mr. Earl Catagnus at the School of the Future. The application introduces learners to a lab activity focused on protein sythesis but with the ability for multiple learners to interact and learn at the same time, the Cell Explorer application will be used during the regular school year to compliment Mr. Catagnus's classroom instruction.

 Then once you expand the view of the cell by moving both of your hands outward, you're presnted with the the important components that make up the cell. You can then explore each component from the endoplasmic riticulum to the mitochandria.

But the best part of the application is in its ability to dive deeper into the DNA of the cell where learners can explore the actual replication of mRNA and its binding to tRNA! I'm not going to spoil it for everyone, instead I'm going to offer the application to Surface users around the world.

Have a Surface? Interested? Well then you're going to have to join the Innovative Teachers Network - Surface Community Website. I will post this application for free for a limited time for members that join the community. If you don't have a Surface, that's okay, please join the Innovative Teachers Network to find everything from curriculum to free applications for the classroom!!

 Please join ITN for this and more applications, and stay tuned for more great Surface apps from School of the Future!!!

School of the Future @ NECC 2009 June 28th - July 1

Well, actually not THE School of the Future, but just because it's the end of the year at School of the Future that doesn't mean that we're not continuing to have conversations around everything from innovative teaching to integrated technology.  I've been invited to attend NECC 2009, and Microsoft will be at booth # 1728 at the Washington Convention Center. This year we have a full schedule of events that include everything from hands on workshops to in-booth presentations on the latest Microsoft Classroom Tools, there's even a chance for you to win a laptop!  Stop by the booth and look for me along with several of my Microsoft colleagues to help you engage learners, integrate technology, and prepare you for 21st century learning. See you there!

But we don't feel like a failure....

Last week an event in Washington D.C hosted by the American Enterprise for Public Policy Research organization and commissioned by Microsoft unveiled the findings of data collection efforts by several education researchers. These finding were discussed in an open forum and not debated but presented to the general public for consumption and interpretation based upon information gathered at the school from learners, educators, parents and community members. Anthony Salcito, MSFT General Manager for US Education posted on his blog some insightful thoughts on why the School of the Future will continue its mission and vision of learning and sharing of best practices in curriculum and technology innovation. I highly recommend you read his post.

An account of this event was later published in an article by eschoolnews, and well, I'll say this, as one of the authors put it "journalists only know how to write in absolutes, either you're the villain or the hero...you're either a success or a failure....because that's what sells subscriptions...”

I suppose that's some comfort in the face of many ongoing challenges that still exist in education, not just at the School of the Future, in that many people are quick to judge effort based upon their need for immediate proof that money, time and effort are paying off. I've been at the school now for about 2 years, and the reality of the School of the Future is that we never expected that within 4 years a learner who walks through the doors bringing with them emotional, behavioral, social, economic, education and personal baggage would emerge triumphant after those 3-4 years of being at the school. More likely our learners gain a sense of worth, a sense of pride, and a sense of belonging that no test can evaluate, and no one individual can judge.

I've copied below a response to the eschoolnews article, by one of our learners who I presented the article to, in order to gain feedback as to how she felt when information is shared about her school that seems so far from the reality of her high school experience.

 What makes a school innovative? Is it huge leaps and bounds in education, or is it finding the right 'thing' that is engaging those, that have been forgotten. Some people may have forgotten why this School is so important to Microsoft and the School District of Philadelphia, luckily we have technology that can help us remember:

I am a third year learner here at School of the Future. I will be a part of the very first graduating class of 2010. There have been so many misconceptions of High School of The Future. When I got accepted into High School of the Future I was ready for change. I knew that the school wouldn’t be perfect but who is? I came from a elementary/middle school in the Chestnut hill area of Philadelphia, I represent the 25% of the schools population that comes from all over the city, and not just the “poorer families and neighborhoods” mentioned in the article. After reading that article I thought about how much my school really means to me. School of the Future is different from other schools in so many ways, and we have come a long way since the opening day! Although we are still growing, after all (Rome wasn’t built in a day), we have accomplished so many achievements. Learning at High School of the Future means learning in a fish bowl, unfortunately that gives people the opportunity to voice their negative opinions about how we should and should not be educated.

    I travel 1 and a half hours to get to school each and every day, and I wouldn’t change that for the world. When I come in the building I am greeted by teachers, and other staff members that love to come to work every day, believing that they are doing the right thing and educating us. No my school is not set up like most and no my grades aren’t the same. When I achieve an Advanced on a assignment or a test vs a traditional A+ I know that I have mastered the proper understanding of that subject, that means more to me then memorizing a few index cards. When I am in class I sit amongst 20 other learners who are just as eager to learn as I am and help each other when needed. Although the doors open around 9am and the school days ends around 4pm the learning doesn’t stop then, many students like myself are involved in extra curriculum activities like student government, cheerleading, cross country, and the year book club etc...

    There is not one student who attends High School of the Future who doesn’t know how to properly work a laptop computer whether it may be a tablet, dell, or gateway. I have used my laptop to teach others outside of school as well because I come from a continuous-relevant-and adaptive learning environment. The learning portal is designed to keep the learners on track no matter where they are, and also remind the parents what is going on with his or her child during school hours. My mother can check my GPA and missing assignments while she’s at work or on a plane, she can even she how many classes I have been late to. So there aren’t many things that I can hide without my parents knowing. The Philadelphia school district is very big and there is so much room to slip in-between the cracks and still pass by. School of the Future seems to be a safe haven within the district I come to school every day feeling safe no matter where my fellow peers come from, and there is no such thing as just doing okay or passing by here at S.O.T.F that’s why I have so much school pride. My teachers know me by first and last name they also care enough to know what my hobbies and dislikes are. You don’t get that anywhere, my teachers communicate with my parents when I’m doing good or bad and not just on annual report card conference days.

     It hurts my heart to hear people call my school a failure because I have already achieved great thing and I am not done yet! I have been trained to trouble shoot three different model computers; I have also been trained to give black history tours at a historical underground rail road museum that has been noticed nationwide. I have debated constitutional issues against other high school student my age and older in the tri state area, received acceptance to college internship programs through my school and not to mention proficient grades, and I still have one year to go. We have enough positive activity in my school to write a 12chapter book and when I walk down the aisle in June 2010 I will remember this article and further my education to become the best lawyer Philadelphia has seen all because of the School of The Future.

                                                                                                                                                     T.

Meet your fellow Innovators!

Progress takes time and cooperation

This past year the School of the Future has gone through a lot of transition, which in most cases is a natural progression when looking at Education Reform. Some people think we're trying to recreate the wheel while others would agree that the ground work for project based learning and innovative teaching has already been attempted and succeeded in some places, while failing in others.

I'm always searching for information on the Constructivist theory of learning to understand the thinking behind the original mission and vision of the school leadership and always find (go live.com!) more and more information that supports AND refutes the usage of different theories to educate urban youth. This week I stumbled across a good read that discusses everything from education reform to the theories behind constructivist learning and started to reflect on a discussion we just had during a Town Hall meeting at School of the Future with the district's Chief Acadmeic Officer Dr. Maria Pitre-Martin.

As is necessary in projects of this caliber, the need to reconnect and update leadership on your strides and setbacks was welcomed and nervously anticipated. Dr. Pitere graciously accepted the offer to sit one on one with all the Educators at the school to speak candidly about support for the School of the Future project. After an hour and half discussion about everything from parent expectations about the school and outcomes to curriculum mapping for more consistency in the development of project based learning curriculum, the overall outcome was support for the schools innovative ways of teaching and learning. Many questions were directly related to the way Educators look at the state standard and develop projects that engaged Learners vs. looking at core curriculum and trying to develop projects that meet the weekly assessments.  Afterwards many Educators were reinvigorated with the knowledge that their district supports new ways of engaging the youth of Philadelphia which is the ultimate goal of this School.

 What challenges have you faced in your schools? What things can we learn from other schools who have decided that education should not just be adequate for some but meaningful for all?

Innovation through Collaboration

I know you are doing cool stuff in your classroom- why not share it with your peers? Or perhaps you are looking for a way to connect with educators who are using technology to enhance their teaching and student learning. The Innovative Teachers Network (ITN) is a fantastic place to connect with teachers across the country. Not only can you find resources for your classroom and technology guides, but you can join or start a community to create a virtual team. Join ITN to check out the Virtual Classroom Tours to learn from others and The Forum page to see how teachers have been recognized for putting 21^st century learning into action.

Is Green the new Black?

I was about to write another post about the School of the Future being a green building and then I started wondering when being 'green' became so popular. As some Educators here at the school subscribe to the Constructivist Theory of learning, I myself had to gain an understanding of why being green is at the forefront of Education today. Don't worry, I'll try to keep this conversation short and succinct, but the objective will be to not only gain an understanding of WHY going green will help your schools but HOW going green has helped learning outcomes here at the school.

I don't know why I had this random thought, but let's start with the cliché "x is the new y" - this catchphrase is part of pop culture and can easily used or misused when it comes to discussing current events. I'd hope that talking about going green never becomes a catchphrase, because from what I've heard from many education customers around the country is that most districts are at least considering incorporating some green aspects into their new buildings. Let's get one thing straight though, this conversation around going green is not about us (adults) it's about the youth of today understanding the impact that going green will have upon their future and future generations.

"If we exclude nights, weekends, holidays, and summers, our nation’s children spend the better part of their waking hours at school for at least six months of the year. If we teach and model green behaviors and if we put things in place for them to be able to carry out these actions, then when they become the leaders of commerce and government, theoretically everything else will follow suit."

By A. Darin. (2009, March 14). What Schools Are Doing to Become More Green . The Epoch Times. Retrieved March 30, 2009, from http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/13696/ 

There have been quite a few articles written that reference the green aspects of School of the Future, and as a matter of fact we've just published our Green Brief that describes the many differences our building and technology employs to gain not only the Gold LEEDs (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification, but to enhance the engagement and learning that occurs by having invested in a building and a culture that embraces the idea of environmental change.

 There are a few examples of how going green can cut budgets by increasing the value over the life of a building or cutting the costs of building one. Once you start seeing the savings of those green buildings you can focus on increasing engagement in the classroom. The US stimulus package will offer some relief to struggling school districts, including Philadelphia, but the question about how to utilize the funding will always exist. Read this particular article that describes the affects that the stimulus funding may have on education, but only if the funding is used for its proposed purpose and that is to "enhance technology in education institutions".

 What do you think? Stimulus + Green Buildings = Savings for School Districts??

 More Green on the way...stay tuned!

Let's cut to the chase...OneNote Classroom Examples from School of the Future

I was updating the links in the previous post so you would be able to download the Handbook and the Toolkit, and then I said "why not share some examples of Educator Notebooks!" So here's the link to my Sky Drive, and in there you'll find the Handbook, Toolkit and examples of Edcuator Notebooks that have proven to be succesful. I have about a dozen of them, but I'll guage everyone's response as to whether or not I need to post more (I'll probably post them anyway!)

 Enjoy! Oh and if you're just learning OneNote here's a little something to show you how to!

-Tony