I am facilitating 3 1.5-hour presentations. The catchy titles of the sessions are the Next-Generation Library (I am just going to talk about Shannon M. Miller for 90 minutes. That should convince anyone of what a dedicated librarian can do. 
), Transforming Your School With Open-Source Software, and Improving Classroom Communication and Efficiency With Moodle.
Now, sessions at most of the conferences that I have attended, awesome unconferences notwithstanding, have been fairly dull. Most have been lecture or PowerPoint-based. I am thrilled to offer professional development on a wide-range of subjects, but I cannot utilize a pedagogical strategy in my professional development session that I would not bring into my own classroom. So, I am going to try to change the mold a little.
I experimented with using typewith.me (an Etherpad clone) as a backchannel and conversation tool at #ntcamp. It was awesome. I am going to setup some discussion points on a typewith.me page to use as a backchannel and to facilitate dialogue. The URLs, if you’re interested, are:
I have already emailed those educators who preregistered for my sessions encouraging them to bring laptops or Internet-connected devices. The library session is the one that I am most concerned about because KIPP schools do not hire librarians. A friend told me that their libraries often just resemble a room full of books. So, I am going to be trying to convince teachers and principals about the value of a librarian and how to get the most out of a library when they most likely do not even have one. They way that I plan on structuring the session is by doing a lot of group brainstorming and sharing about things like preconceived notions of what a library/librarian is/does, what is 21st century information literacy, what should a library/librarian do that you have not seen in the past, etc… These ideas will be discussed both in the typewith.me document and in live discussion. Then, we will make a collaborative job description of what a next-generation librarian should do, and a collaborative vision for what a modern library should look like. If I can, I would like to Skype in Shannon M. Miller, Jerry Blumengarten, and maybe a few other outstanding librarians who really epitomize what a modern librarian should be.
In the open-source session, we will be starting with a philosophical discussion about open-source because utilized open-source really requires a shift in the way we think and act. From what I understand, the people with whom I will be working are coming from a very Windows-based environment, both in terms of technology that students and teachers use, and in terms of infrastructure (servers, Sharepoint, etc…). Then, I have burned Live CDs of Ubuntu 10.04, Ubuntu Netbook Remix, Xubuntu, and Linux Mint. I am going to have the participants who bring laptops test drive a different version of Linux to use during the session. They will be able to get a feel for it as well as try out Open Office, Audacity, and some other great open-source programs.
Lastly, in the Moodle session, we will again begin with a foundational discussion about how a CMS can be useful in both online and blended environments before we dive right in and play. We will be creating a Moodle course together as a class and then experimenting with several of the activities. Time permitting, participants will be able to practice designing and creating their own courses.
I am quite excited. Are these sessions you would want to go to? What would you change or add?
Also, I love speaking to, meeting, and working with educators. If you can cover my travel costs, I’ll go anywhere in the world. If you have a school function or conference in Europe, that would be even better. I need a reason to take my wife on vacation to Europe.
