Network Comparison

1. Network Comparison Edutopia Facebook Page and Epsilen Project Share EDLD 5362 By Janet Kelly Cohort 13/ ET 8027 Dr. Sheryl Abshire

2. Edutopia Facebook Group • The George Lucas Education Foundation • Our Mission • “The George Lucas Educational Foundation is dedicated to improving the K-12 learning process by using digital media to document, disseminate, and advocate for innovative, replicable strategies that prepare students to thrive in their future education, careers, and adult lives.” • From: http://www.edutopia.org/mission-vision

3. EDUTOPIA - An internationallybased group • “Edutopiais the tangible embodiment of our vision. Through the Edutopia.org Web site, we spread the word about ideal, interactive learning environments and enable others to adapt these successes locally. Edutopia.org contains a deep archive of continually updated best practices, from classroom tips to recommendations for district wide change. Allied with a dedicated audience that actively contributes success stories from the field, our mission relies on input and participation from schools and communities”. • From: http://www.edutopia.org/mission-vision

4. FACEBOOK GroupAdvantages • Can find others in my area and post opportunities for professional development and collaboration • “The single biggest advantage in online learning programs is interactivity they offer” (Arsham, 2002). • Can share insights, videos, comments, and trends. This helps by making learning about web resources interactive with other educators. Teachers can learn about what other teachers are doing on a regular basis that is successful for them. • Can provide encouragement and feedback to others and they can do the same for me.

5. FACEBOOK GroupAdvantages • Other education groups and politically active education groups have “liked” the group so they are also able to post on Edutopia wall – their blogs, etc. One group is Phi Delta Kappa, another is Stop Bullying Now • They share resources such as websites, articles, software programs, professional development opportunities, seminars and conferences • Keeps me innovative and abreast of the latest • Can download videos on iTunes and alert me to available webinars such as a recent one on authentic assessment.

6. Epsilen Project Share • Engaging Learning AroundShared Digital Content • “The Texas Education Agency (TEA) is proud to announce a new initiative that will explore the development and delivery of high quality professional development in an interactive and engaging learning environment. Project Share utilizes a collection of Web 2.0 tools and applications to provide professional development resources for teachers across the state and build professional learning communities where educators can collaborate and participate in online learning opportunities” From http://projectsharetexas.org/

7. Epsilen Project ShareAdvantages • My mentor, Julie Turner, has created a website site within the Epsilen platform • This allows her to show what courses (Professional Development) she is taking • It also shows what Professional Learning communities she has joined • Available are all the links to all the websites that BISD is currently utilizing such as Google Apps, Project Share: Aware, Texas Virtual Network, the Khan Academy, and Eduphoria • This website is “designed to provide students [teachers] with a ‘self-help’ learning resource to complement traditional textbooks” (Arsham, 2002).

8. Epsilen Project ShareAdvantages • My mentor has five professional learning communities that she belongs to: • ESC 20 Project Share Administrators • Instructional Technology Administrators special Interest group • ESC 20- Aware User Group • SXSW.edu • On TRACK Advocates

9. Epsilen Project ShareAdvantages • Also can subscribe to a monthly newsletter with information for utilization and updates to the site • “Just as Web 2.0 encourages the use of tools to engage and promote problem solving in authentic contexts, Web 2.0 should be used authentically to enable educators to understand and become comfortable with the tools and their potential as preparation for using them in their classrooms“ (Solomon & Schrum, 2007, p. 103).

10. Epsilen Project ShareAdvantages • The Project Share software most importantly, provides an avenue for collaboration among teachers. As Dr. Sheryl Abshire pointed out in the EDLD 5362 week three lectures, a network can be used to collaborate on lesson plans, best practices, and professional development activities. This collaboration has the “potential to strengthen education by sharing experiences and expertise” (S. Abshire, personal communication, April 21,2011).

11. Epsilen Project ShareAdvantages • Turner also uses the website for in-district professional development. She used the network to create a tutorial on the district’s new Acceptable Use Policy that ended in a quiz for the teachers. This served two purposes – to teach the teachers how to use Project Share and to make sure the teachers understood the new AUP (Roscorla, 2011).

12. Bibliography • Arsham, H. (2002, March). Impact of the internet on learning and teaching. Retrieved April 12, 2011, from United States Distance Learning Association Journal: http://www.usdla.org/html/journal/MAR02_Issue/article01.html • Pitler, H., Hubbell, E., Kuhn, M., & Malenoski, K. (2007). Using technology with classroom instruction that works. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development. • Roscorla, T. (2011, January 13). Texas takes steps toward digital collaboration. Retrieved April 22, 2011, from www.Convergemag.com: http://www.convergemag.com/training/Texas-Digital-Collaboration.html • Solomon, G., & Schrum, L. (2007). Web 2.0: new tools, new schools. Eugene, OR: International Society for Technology in Education.