The content of this BYOL has been developed during the past nine years of working with K-12 teachers to implement strategies for creating community using technology in both traditional and virtual learning environments. The importance of creating classroom and school communities has been highlighted by the National Research Council (2000) in How People Learn and Thomas Lickona's work with the Center for the 4th and 5th Rs.
 
By the end of the session participants will
- engage in several technology based community building activities;
- explore web-based resources for developing community;
- identify technology tools for facilitating developing community in both traditional and virtual learning environments;
- hear graduate students describe their success with using technology enhanced community building activities in their K-12 classrooms;
- use a Wiki to communicate their ideas for application and implementation of community building with technology in their specific teaching and learning environments.

Outline (for BYOL)

This session will start by activating participants' prior knowledge, develop using active learning to model community building activities, and conclude by engaging them in metacognitive reflection.

Participants will
-use a Wiki to brainstorm their prior understanding of what it means to be in community of learners with the goal of developing a working definition of community. (10 min.)
-in small groups, facilitated by session leaders, engage in a technology enhanced community building activity. (15 min.)
-listen to a podcast of graduate students describing their success with using technology enhanced community building activities in their K-12 classrooms. (5 min.)
-be involved in a large group debriefing using the What, So What, Now What model (recorded in Inspiration and an LCD projector). (10 min.)
-explore web based resource guide of community building activities/resources. (10 min.)
-use a Wiki to share their ideas for application and implementation of community building with technology in their specific teaching and learning environments. (10 min.)

Supporting Research

Boyer, E.L. (1995). The basic school. A community for learning. Princeton, NJ: The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.
Lickona, T. (1992). Educating for character: How our schools can teach respect and responsibility. New York, NY: Bantam Books.
National Research Council (NRC). (2000). How people learn: Brain, mind, experience, and school. Washington, DC: National Academy Press.

Presenter Background

Dr. Vivian Johnson is an Associate Professor in the Graduate School of Education at Hamline University, St. Paul. Dr. Johnson uses technology to enhance instruction in her face-to-face courses (Blackboard, Inspiration, etc), developed the curriculum for The Teaching and Technology Certificate Program (a 4-course graduate continuing studies certificate program for licensed teachers), has created courses ( Microworlds, Logo, NIH Image Processing) in a summer program for young women in grades 5-8, and is involved in technology-related professional development activities for K-16 teachers (Identify Changes, Exploring Possibilities and Developing Technology Skills (ICED), faculty development with faculty in the Graduate School of Education, NSF Integrated Instruction In-service Project,). She is a frequent presenter on the topics of technology integration and technology-related professional development at local (2002 TIES conference, state wide broadcasted keynote address for 1999 Minnesota Technology Week), regional (Midwest Education and Technology Conference 2002), and national conferences (NECC 2003, 2001, 1999, 1998, 1997).

Cara Hagen coordinates the Keyboarding for Computer Applications K-8 additional licensure program and the Teaching and Technology certificate at Hamline University’s Graduate School of Education. In addition to coordinating these two programs, she teaches several of the courses in these programs both on campus and in learning communities as well as acting as advisor to all students participating in either of these two programs. Cara is also the Technology Coordinator at Highland Catholic School, a K-8 parochial school in St. Paul where she has taught English and then computers for the past eighteen years. She has presented on topics of teaching with technology and technology integration at local and regional conferences including Hamline University’s Summer Literacy Institute (2005), Minnesota Catholic Educator’s Association Convention (2005), and TIES Educational Technology Conference (2006).

Scott Schwister is program coordinator of Graduate Continuing Studies in Hamline University's Graduate School of Education. An avid technologist, he co-teaches courses in Hamline's Keyboarding for Computer Applications K-8 additional licensure program and the Teaching and Technology certificate. He also produces Conversations in Education, a Hamline University Graduate School of Education podcast addressing current topics and trends in teaching and learning.

Prerequisites

Have a laptop.