ESUs #1 and 8 Administrators' Retreat at Niobrara

Mike and Katie were glad to share O'Neill's journey in 24/7 Learning during break-out sessions with the administrators from ESU #1 and #8 at their annual retreat.

Summer Professional Development- Technology Institute

A Summer Technology Institute is being held this June 9-10 in Norfolk, NE. This is a great opportunity for us to work on our tech skills without traveling a long distance from home!.

You can read more about it here:

http://teachers.esu7.org/institute/

Take note that registration is by phone only. There will NOT be any on-line registration.

Call the ESU 1 at (402) 287-2061 to speak to Wendy, Sarah or Joleen. You will be officially registered for the workshop once ESU 1 receives your check or purchase order.

Newest Mini-Documentary on OPS 24/7 Learning

Keshia and Taylor decided to produce their documentary final project for TANN Digital Media class on O'Neill's 24/7 Learning Initiative from its inception until now. Watch their finished project here:

http://ops.esu8.org/~katiemorrow/student_shelves/Digital_Media_Project_Samples/Entries/2008/5/9_24_7_Learning_.html

ScreenNation Challenge "HomeTown Claim to Fame"

STUDENTS between the ages of 13 and 18!
We need YOU to show the world two things:
#1- Your talents at moviemaking
#2- The awesome things about our hometown, O'Neill!

Prizes are top-notch and you have plenty of time to create a project that fits the project guidelines. So all you need to do is stop in to see Mrs. Morrow to get a plan for equipment check-out and start making your film!

In the meantime, here is the website to start gathering project ideas:
http://screennation.afi.com/Challenge.aspx?challenge=36

I can't wait to hear from you as to your ideas!

Seniors' Laptop Check-in

"This is the hardest part about my entire senior year."
~direct quote from a HS senior upon laptop check-in

I truly felt like the Grinch as I collected laptops from seniors the last couple of days. For the most part the giving up of their MacBook was like giving up a close personal friend that these seniors have had for the past semester. There are still a few students who haven't been convinced that this is the best tool to enhance their learning, but the majority of the students had overwhelmingly positive feedback. Seniors were asked to complete an online survey to help us better plan for next year, full 7-12 deployment. Some of the quotes from the students included:

* "Allows the kids to expand their learning in both directions."
* "I enjoyed it and it especially motivated me to take notes and study."
* "I really felt that the laptops have encourage students to get out there and really think outside the box when it came to homework."
* "I thought that it really made me more organized and on time. Thanks."
* "I have really enjoyed having the MacBooks, it has made learning fun."
* "I thought that the laptops were well used by most of the students and by having them gave us better opportunities to express what we've learned in a new way."

Suggestions for improvement included the following:
* More strict and less strict monitoring (both ends of the spectrum!)
* Concerns for underclassmen abuse
* Encouraging teachers to use them more and be better trained on the technology
* More project-based learning, more online learning activities
* Find a way to make them less distracting

On a 5-pt. scale (5 being the laptop helped improve the area a LOT) students ranked the effect of the laptop to them personally in a variety of areas. The results were incredibly slanted towards student improvement, with the highest areas improved being student creativity (4.44 average), collaboration (4.16), and overall improvement of learning (4.11). Even working on homework averaged a 4.04 rating from the senior students surveyed. (See chart at beginning of post.) All in all, our 24/7 Learning Student Pilot can be deemed a success. Thank you to all the students and teachers who have made it so. And here's to a great future of continued improvement in student learning at O'Neill Public Schools.

Student Bloggers!

http://brett-rashs-blog.blogspot.com/

Check out Brett's blog and check back in often. As an already-published author, (http://www.amazon.com/Dragon-Lords-Brett-Rash/dp/0595438423/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1209581833&sr=8-1) Brett is now writing in another voice and channel for all to learn from. Web 2.0 - The Read/Write Web - is a place where all student authors and artists can share their voice.

O'Neill Public Teachers @ NETA 2008

The annual pilgrimage to Omaha for NETA took place last week, April 23-25th. The theme this year was "Digital Transformers Goin' Global." Encarta defines a transformer in the following way: somebody or something that effects a transformation. The teacher participants, although only representative of the larger staff and administration of the district, truly are "transformers"-- trying to bring back ideas and strategies for continuing the positive transformation at O'Neill Public Schools into a Center for 24/7 Learning. Some of the highlights and/or positive comments from OHS teachers who attended NETA 2008 include the following:

~ "I enjoyed seeing the different ways to use iMovie with students in the areas of reading/ language arts, etc. (book talks, digital storytelling, bringing reports to life, etc. there are so many possibilities with this!)"

~ "The best advice that I heard: Don’t try to come up with really cool projects- Let the kids come up with the stuff!"

~ "I attended the Photoshop Elements: Elementary Project Ideas workshop and LOVED IT. We learned simple animation in photoshop and how to manipulate layers to create language arts projects. There were also some art projects that can be done using photoshop that I found really interesting."

~ "Keys for Managing a 1:1 classroom:
1. Set clear expectations
2. Motivate appropriate computer use by having less attractive options up your sleeve.
3. Make clear that computer use in your class is a privilege.
4. Arrange your desks to facilitate monitoring.
5. Practice proximity - move around the room a lot!
6. Read student behavior.
7. Make technology use part of your lesson - and close the lid when needed!
8. Monitor closely, but pick your battles.
9. Create activities and projects that appeal to students
10. Embrace the power of immediate feedback.
11. BE CONSISTENT!!!!!!"
~ "I am always inspired by NETA...every year in a different way..."

~ "Dr. Tim Tyson scored points with the video presentations his students share with others."

~ "I really liked seeing
how other teachers were using technology in
their classrooms, and got some good ideas
to try in mine. I'm going to have my students
make podcasts with their research papers, and
then possibly video them when they give their
presentation and turn that into an imovie."

O'Neill's 24/7 Learning Initiative was featured again as Katie Morrow represented our school in a panel discussion on 1 to 1 Learning with the following description:

"It's about teaching and learning. A 1 to 1 learning program is about creating a 21st century learning environment that engages students. Students learn better when they are engaged, and research on what engages todays students points to technology. 1 to 1 learning matches how todays students interact and learn. Come hear this panel of schools who have created their own 1 to 1 learning environments."

Let's keep right on with the Digital Transformations!