November Learning Communities

In this episode, Elliot Washor, co-founder and co-director of The Big Picture Company in Providence, Rhode Island, tackles the question, "What is learning?" In large part, the answer to this question forms the philosophy of all Big Picture Schools. Once again, the 2008 Building Learning Communities Conference, will feature a pre-conference session hosted by the MET School, one of these Big Pictures Schools. Visit http://www.novemberlearning.com/blc for more details.

Jaw dropping. This sums up what we thought the first time we saw the three-dimensional model Zaki Tahari created of the recently-completed Washington International School library. Using a video game, a set of blueprints and a high level of motivation, Zaki created an absolutely stunning model that we know you will love. In this video podcast, Zaki and Pat Kyle, the school librarian, discuss this awesome project, complete with a walk through of the library. At the conclusion of the podcast, we also hear from Neil MacDonald of the Washington International School as he gives his account of how this project fits into the school’s International Baccalaureate program.

We invite you to listen to Dr. Yong Zhao from Michigan State University. This podcast was recorded at the Building Learning Communities Conference in Boston, MA July 2007.
 
In this keynote address, Dr. Zhao discusses Digital Citizenship in a Global Economy: The Internet Revolution and Its Implications for Education.

We invite you to listen to Dr. Mitchel Resnick from MIT Media Lab. This podcast was recorded at the Building Learning Communities Conference in Boston, MA July 2007.

In this keynote address, Dr. Resnick discusses Tools For Creative Thinking.

We invite you to listen to Professor Angela McFarlane from the University of Bristol. This podcast was recorded at the Building Learning Communities Conference in Boston, MA July 2007.

In this keynote address, Professor McFarlane discusses Online Communities of Learning: Lessons from the Worlds of Games and Play.

In this episode Alan interviews Professor Angela McFarlane, from the University of Bristol in the United Kingdom. This conversation was recorded in Belfast, Northern Ireland during the Xchange conference in June 2006.  Alan and Professor McFarlane discuss a variety of topics including designing more meaningful work for students and the digital divide.  We are honoured that Professor McFarlane will be a keynote speaker at this year’s Building Learning Communities conference July 16 through 20 in Boston. For more information visit our site: Novemberlearning.com.

In this episode Alan interviews Dr. Mitchel Resnick from the MIT Media Lab in Cambridge MA. Dr. Resnick discusses the work he is doing with the Lifelong Kindergarten Group at MIT in designing software for students that promotes creativity and critical thinking skills.  

Dr. Resnick will be a keynote speaker at this year’s Building Learning Communities Conference. As well, we are offering four pre-conference hands-on sessions at MIT to work directly with Dr. Resnick and his group.

In this episode, Brian Mull talks to Seth Bowers of Deerfield Public Schools in Illinois, who has been doing some exciting work with his teachers using blogs and instant messaging technology. Seth starts off by discussing a globalization project he was involved in, and he continues the conversation by highlighting other projects his school is working on and how the community has become an important role player in his school’s success.

In this podcast, Brian Mull talks to Bob Sprankle of Wells Elementary School about his third and fourth grade students’ experiences with podcasting.  The conversation includes the process Bob used in helping students develop their podcast prowess, the impact that their work has made on a larger community and Bob’s tips to help any teacher get started with their first educational podcast. Be sure to visit www.bobsprankle.com to hear examples of the work of these students.

In the final installment of our interview series with Dr. Yong Zhao from Michigan State University, Alan and Dr. Zhao discuss gaming theory and virtual learning environments for collaboration and connection.