Webinar #2 - SLMC Hub Engagement

by Joanna Schimizzi 5 years ago

1) Please reply directly to this discussion prompt. 

2) Please continue the conversation by replying to at least one other person.

 

How might your involvement in GoOpenNC help you to 

  • demonstrate leadership in your school, 

  • promote effective instructional practices, and/or

  • facilitate inquiry based instruction?

By being an early-adopter I will be able to promote the resource to teachers at my school, hopefully by a brief presentation at our January faculty meeting (December agenda is set.), and by introducing it to my MTAC at our December meeting. I'll be able to promote collaboration and demonstrate to teachers how OER can help them meet instructional goals and put them in touch with other educators who succeed at inquiry based learning and PBL.

Stacy Hersey 5 years ago

I like the focus you put on collaboration since this is a struggle for all of us.  We sometimes have difficulty finding time to collaborate within the building but this platform does make it easier to collaborate on our schedule with others across the state. 

Stacey, you are right about finding the time.  I also find it difficult to ensure that the teachers understand that the collaboration will eventually maximise their time, rather than increase time spent on tasks in lessons.

AMY HAHN 5 years ago

I agree, Stacy,   collaboration is a struggle but I think with a tool like GoOpenNC we will be able to get into more classrooms.

Promoting collaboration is what I am really excited about. This platform will definitely help with that.

Stacy Hersey 5 years ago

I plan on having some PD at my school to introduce the platform to my teachers. I have already had the opportunity to have a discussion with my students about copyright and plan to continue this in the future. It would be easy to use this platform to guide the teachers through an inquiry based lesson on how to evaluate resources while also exposing them to all the resources available. 

Yes. I'd like to offer DLCs for participating in a PD on using the platform, but our district is so strict about what they will approve and they seem to be keeping the criteria "secret." They just keep saying "write it up and we'll see if it meets the criteria." If I know what the criteria ARE, I can make sure it does!

Jen Baker 5 years ago

That sounds frustrating! Do they give feedback to ones that didn't meet these mysterious criteria? 

Thomas Wall 5 years ago

I hate that for you.  I think with this, it is a no brainer and also doesn't cost anything.

SONDRA AYSCUE 5 years ago

We have several folks in our district that have done evaluations in the platform and I was excited to see a rubric for the evaluation.  I look forward to session 3 where we will be asked to evaluate a resource.  I think PD should definitely include teachers evaluating resources and they examine ones they potentially would use or remix.  

I would like to see how you design your PD for teachers.  I am very much a strict direction kind of person when we start exposing teachers to new PD/resources.  Seeing what others do for their teachers is of great interest to me.

Jen Baker 5 years ago

Having experience on this platform will help make me one of the go-to people for #GoOpenNC at our school as our teachers begin exploring it. I will be able to share peer-reviewed lessons with them which already have digital and media literacy built in, which will help them see the benefit of these practices. Having had experience reviewing lessons and resources on this platform, I will be seen as someone who can help teachers tweak their lesson plans to make them more engaging or to incorporate literacy or inquiry elements. 

VANESSA LAIL 5 years ago

I think it is a great point that seeing the media and literacy strands already woven in will help teachers see the benefit. It's an automatic advertisement!

KAREN PUCKETT 5 years ago

It's great to integrate  literacy and inquiry skills into lessons at all grade levels.  I look forward to showing the teachers at my school all of the #GoOpenNC resources.

Jodi Freeze 5 years ago

I tend to be the go-to at my school for software (Blackboard, Canvas, e-mail, etc.), so I also want to be the go-to for this new platform!

JILL COLEMAN 5 years ago

I like that you are presenting yourself as the go to person.  I wish that more teachers would view their media person in that light.  This resource may help with this collaboration.

BITSY GRIFFIN 5 years ago

I agree about the Go-To part! This is just another reason schools nee LMCs in the house!

AMANDA VERNON 4 years, 11 months ago

I agree, I feel like getting the first look with help us step out and work with teachers to explore the resource.  My teachers come to me for ideas sometimes and this can help me more when trying to do that.

SONDRA AYSCUE 5 years ago

How might your involvement in GoOpenNC help you to 

  • demonstrate leadership in your school
    Currently I am working with the SLMCs in my district to grow their leadership roles in their schools and develop their role in classroom instruction, whether it be in a classroom or media space, through modeling lessons, co-teaching, and providing professional development.

  • promote effective instructional practices, and/or
    I very much like that this virtual space provides for development and sharing of ideas outside of our school setting and all across the state.

  • facilitate inquiry based instruction?
    There are so many opportunities for teachers to share and collaborate and encourage each other by sharing how they offer students learning activities that promote and foster the 4 Cs.  Leading teachers through this virtual space and promoting the use of the resources found here will offer lessons and activities that are developed with students in mind.

Ellen Bryson 5 years ago

Having a position like yours, administration-level, will be a great way for you to implement these resources as a go-to place for great lessons!

Jennifer Parks 5 years ago

I agree about having a robust virtual space! I have a lot of great teachers in my building, but it will be really valuable to reach out to teachers across the state to see what great things are happening in their schools and libraries.

VANESSA LAIL 5 years ago

Involvement in this process will prepare me to be a key person in the "roll-out" of PD and orientation events when we start introducing our teachers to this resource. I will be able to be a guide as they complete their exploration of the new resources available in the platform. I will also have a foundation to prepare me for collaboration with teachers on lessons incorporating these resources. By using the rubrics to evaluate resources and working together to remix the lessons for our students, my colleagues and I will be able to meet our students needs, add inquiry elements, and personalize lessons. 

LAUREN HUSKEY 5 years ago

I agree Vanessa.  We will be able to assist with PD in our schools and districts which will assist us in becoming instructional leaders.  It will also help encourage collaboration with teachers and other SLMCs.

LAUREN HUSKEY 5 years ago

Being involved in GoOpenNC will held me be a leader because I will be able to share this resource with teachers in my building, and with other SLMCs in my district.  My early access will help me become familiar with navigating resources so that I can help teachers.  Also, having access to the resources will assist me in collaboration and in finding resources for my instruction.

GABRIELLE LAMB 5 years ago

My instructional coach and I were just talking about how we may want to go through resources and select ones for each ELA standard. Many of our teachers are overwhelmed as it is and we want this to be something they truly see as worthwhile. By doing some early legwork for them, it may help them see how easy it is to use.

Angel Murdock 5 years ago

I agree about overwhelmed teachers.  Searching for new lessons and resources on the internet is so time-consuming, and often requires a lot of tweaking.  This platform will narrow the results and provide direct alignment to standards so the only changes we will need to make will be to meet the needs of our specific students!

I love the idea of going through and selecting resources specifically for each standard. By doing the legwork and presenting vetted resources for teachers, we can attempt to alleviate some of the burdens teachers already have with planning (or lack thereof), instruction, parents, observations, grading, etc. We can bring a lesson idea to them and help them see that this is not just "one more thing" added to their plate. I am a believer in once you convince one, that word of mouth goes a long way with those who might ordinarily automatically reject "something new." Show them the vision and you will have believers!

I agree that I don't want teachers to see this as "one more thing." I am worried some teachers may be turned off or uninterested for just that reason since they have their go-to places for resources. I'm hoping those that are truly innovative will be willing to try and spread the word to others! 

AMANDA JACOBS 5 years ago

I love this idea too and, as a former classroom teacher, I can see how I would benefit from this resource. However, I am a bit concerned that some veteran teachers will say we have already spent lots of time doing something similar on another platform in the past and wonder what happened to those resources. They would like reassurance that these resources will remain for a while-state funding? 

BEVERLY LITKE 5 years ago

This is an excellent idea!  What a great gift to present to teachers!  I'm the only one in my buildling at present who's involved in this, so I may have to bring in my literacy coach.  I don't really spend much time working with her, so this would be a great way for us to collaborate on resources for our teachers.

SANDRA ROSS 5 years ago

Lauren, maybe we can do something together to help our SLMCs earn DLCs.

MINDY MCKEE 5 years ago

I will be happy to help you share this resource with all of our CCS SLMCs.  

AMANDA VERNON 4 years, 11 months ago

I agree, it will force us to step out and show what we have learned.

Thomas Wall 5 years ago

The way I demostrate leadership in my school is to show the latest resources for teachers and also being involved in many innocitives across the state such as the North Carolina Digital Coaching Network and this Go Open NC.  I am always willing to show that I want to colloborate on lessons and not just the babysitter or Mr. Fix It.

I would love to promote this tool next semester as a way for teachers to explore new ideas and hopefully open the door to more colloboration.  I am also going to try to present to my other Media Brothers and Sisters at a future meeting.  This is great and another tool in the tool bag.

 

LEIGH GRAHAM 5 years ago

I agree that it is important that we be willing to collobarate on lessons so we're not just seen as the babysitters.   That happens a lot to me as well.  By rolling out this new resource, it will be beneficial to show that we are willing to learn new platforms to assist.   

BEVERLY LITKE 5 years ago

Yes, it will be helpful to take the lead in an area so vital to instruction in our buildings!

Amanda McCall 5 years ago

In my district, I think I would present to teachers from my school over the summer as well. They have had MANY new programs this year and are totally overwhelmed right now. If I can do some of the legwork over the next few months by going in and finding some resources for each grade, I think they will be much more open to it when given direction over the summer.

Thomas Wall 5 years ago

I don't mind doing things over the summer when teachers have a fresh perspective on new ideas.  I have tried this over the last few summers with mixed results.  My principal doesn't mind, but I have to stress strictly voluntary.  Many teachers do want to get started early before the madness hits.

ALLISON FERRER 5 years ago

I appreciate you bringing up the fact that teachers are overwhelmed this year with so many new things. I think that it is really important for us to gauge how our teachers are feeling before introducing another new thing. I'm thinking that I will look for resources that allow for collaboration for 3rd or 4th quarter and just present those targeted resources to them as suggestions. However, if they see the resources they may want to learn more and ask for help to explore them. 

BEVERLY LITKE 5 years ago

That's a good way to introduce "another thing" to teachers.  If they can truly see the value and ease of use, there will be more buy-in.  Handing them a few resources at a time in bite-size pieces may be the best way to go at first.

JAIME AXTHELM 5 years ago

I agree that this will be a great tool to help us support collaboration with other teachers.  It sounds like you are in a similar situation of wanting to work with other teachers and them often dragging their feet to do so.

KAREN PUCKETT 5 years ago

Demonstrate leadership in your school

As the staff person who initially received OER training, I will attend grade level meetings and other PD opportunities to share this resource with my school.

Promote effective instructional practices

As part of the training on OER, I will focus primarily on fair use and digital literacy when using this resource.

Facilitate inquiry based instruction

When utilizing and adding resources to the platform, I will seek opportunities to collaborate in inquiry based instruction with my school team.

LEIGH GRAHAM 5 years ago

Since I carry various title and many roles (yearbook adviser, broadcast instructor, PBL facilitator, etc., etc.) I would like to use my involvement in GoOpenNC to help bring some of the focus back to my origianl job as Media Specialist and the Media Center as a place to gain great resources.   I hope to provide a future PD on the GoOpenNC site and use it to assist staff.   

NATALIE SHEARIN 5 years ago

I understand completely that there are so many hats to wear! I think you are on target with being able to use GoOpenNC to get the focus of your job back on track for yourself and your school! Good Luck! I also look forward to providing PD on GoOpenNC!!!! :) Like it!

NATALIE SHEARIN 5 years ago

Im excited about being a part of this initiative go get this started. Although I still have questions myself, creating a base of folks across the state that I can turn to puts my mind at ease for helping to be a leader in my school. I'm also excited about collaborating with others in our district in hopes to provide PD on GoOpenNC across the district at various schools. I know that my teachers will find it overwhelming to learn something new but I hope to be able to use GoOpen to help them find instructional resources that we can co-teach with. The PBL instruction will be a part of the collaboration and sharing of the resources with all grade levels.

MELISSA GARWOOD 5 years ago

Yes, knowing that we have wonderful colleagues in the state to turn to puts my mind at ease as well.  I'd like to know even though I don't have all the answers, there are those out there that can and will help.  

Ellen Bryson 5 years ago

1. By giving my staff PD on this topic and teaching them how this will help their lives be easier and richer in the classroom, I will be seen as a leader for new resources.

2. To promote effective instructional practices or facilititate inquiry based instruction, I can use this resource to role model new ways to teach using hands-on methods, group thinking, creativity and critical thinking by having teachers work through their subject area on the website. I can make a lesson for teachers having them use inquiry based instruction methods to have them explore the resources.

 

GABRIELLE LAMB 5 years ago

I am the only person in my building and the only media coordinator in the district who is participating in the platform right now, so my plan is to share some things with other media coordinators at our next district PD and then share with building staff at a faculty meeting or PLC groups after the first of the year. One of our school goals is to do more inquiry based instruction and I think this is a step towards that. My fear is that this will be seen as "one more thing" that teachers have to do. I understand where they are coming from, but I also want to help get them in the mindset that this is a highly beneficial resource to make their lives easier.

KRISTY SARTAIN 5 years ago

I am in the same boat as you, but I think I'm the only person in my county (although it is small) participating.  

My hope is that if we present it to teachers as a better way to find lesson plans and resources, they may see it as a benefit instead of a requirement. But I understand how they might feel about yet another thing they'll have to learn how to use. 

Angela Causby 5 years ago

I fear the same and know that there will be that response from some.  I think this this platform has the potential to be useful on so many levels.  I look forward to possibilities of collaboration and seeing what others are doing across the state.  

KRISTY SARTAIN 5 years ago

1) I already lead Technology PD for teachers at the school level. This will add to my list of options I can teach to teachers and possibly even lead district-wide trainings. 

2) I love the idea of curated lesson plans. The availability of GoOpenNc makes my heart sing. So many teachers pay for lessons because they don't have access to GOOD resources. This will be a huge change for the better for teachers. 

3) I feel like most PD should be inquiry-based. "Here's the stuff. Here's how you *could* use it in your classroom. Now take what I've presented and make it your own." By being able to remix lesson plans and tweak them to fit your own classroom, we are really modeling what inquiry-based instruction should look like. 

BITSY GRIFFIN 5 years ago

I feel like most PD should be inquiry-based. "Here's the stuff. Here's how you *could* use it in your classroom. Now take what I've presented and make it your own." By being able to remix lesson plans and tweak them to fit your own classroom, we are really modeling what inquiry-based instruction should look like. 

Yes, yes, yes!

Love this about "inquiry-based" PD. We are trying some new and different things at our school this year to try to be more engaging and useful for staff.

 I will hold PD for my staff demonstrating the use of GoOpen and promote the resources. I hope to do a breif intro after Christmas and then more indepth PD to finish up the school year.   I like the collaboration aspect as it will help me show teachers how they can use these resources to meet their instructional goals.

Angel Murdock 5 years ago

Once I am more familiar with the platform and resources it has to offer, I will share it with my Science and Social Studies teachers.  My district has a very scripted curriculum for both Math and ELA, so they will not be very active on the site.

My hope is to find lessons and resources that I can take to PLTs to offer to collaborate and help them find resources they can use with our without me.

Angela Causby 5 years ago

I am most excited about sharing with Science and Social Studies as they typically are the ones left to curate their own resources. I think that this could be a great asset and would provide me with the opportunity to assist in anyway I can, whether that means with me present or not.

Angela Causby 5 years ago

I plan to use GoOpenNC as part of my pd training next  semester.  As this is my first year in my new school, I am excited to be able to share this and see how my new staff reacts.  I am looking for ways to make myself part of their instructional practice like I was at my previous school.  The ability to have resources at my fingertips that can potentially be used for collaboration is exciting especially since I moved to high school from middle school.  I am also high school PLC lead for my county this year and this has been something we have discussed at our PLC meeting briefly.  I look forward to seeing how this tool can be used to best assist with future collaboration.  I am hopeful that people will see this platform as a way to share and enhance lessons and teaching.  

For me, being involved in GoOpenNC offers the opportunity to be a subject matter expert for additional resources offered by our state and further enhances our leadership roles within our schools. SLMCs have a wealth of knowledge and skills to contribute to the educational environment, and by having this additional resource in our back pocket, we are even more valuable to teachers and even administration. The OERs offer us tools to use when collaborating with our colleagues - we have the skills to create engaging lessons for and with our teachers and bridge gaps between the media center and the classroom while promoting inquiry based learning opportunities. I am super excited about the opportunity to bring these additional resources to my school!

ALLISON FERRER 5 years ago

Amen! I agree with you about how this resource can really help us bridge the gap. I'm excited that we have our own hub where we can share these resources because I think it will help us all save time in finding collaboration opportunities. I sometimes feel a little overwhelmed when trying to figure out on my own how to encourage inquiry and collaboration directly related to all 6 grade levels in the building.

SANDRA ROSS 5 years ago

Every month I give a brief presentation at our faculty meeting.  GoOpenNC is going to really interest our teachers and I can't wait to be able to share it with them.  I also like the ideas I've read on here about using this information for PD for DLCs.

MATTIE PERRY 5 years ago

Hi Sandra, I agree with you on having a brief presentation at a faculty meeting, small school meeting or at a PLC meeting. I think it would be great to use the ISTE video from Slide 7 from Webniar 2 to gave the teacher/students attention. What are you thoughts?

Amanda McCall 5 years ago

My involvement in the adoption of GoOpenNC early on will definitely help demonstrate leadership in that I can be a point of contact for other teachers to go to when trying to utilize this resource. I will be able to provide PD on how the system works and why they should take the time to become familar with it.

I think the fact that we can go on the Hub and add comments to other resources regarding ideas or questions we may have helps to promote effective instructional practices. An educator may put a resource up there but not realize possible extensions that would be good to do or ways to incorporate other subjects to get more "bang for their buck" in regards to teaching. It's a resource that will improve all educators instructional practices if used correctly.

STACY MORGAN 5 years ago

I agree with you "if used correctly" statement. If teachers truly do buy into rating, remixing, etc. that will make GoOpenNC an exceptional resource that is curated by and for NC educators. 

MINDY MCKEE 5 years ago

This early access to GoOpenNC will allow me to demonstrate leadership in my school by learning the platform and offering  PD to the teachers in my building when it goes live.  I would also like to share this platform with other SLMCs in my district.  I look forward to finding new resources that will enhance my instruction in the Media Center and the AIG classroom.    

MATTIE PERRY 5 years ago

I look forrdward in having Professional Development at my school and sharing the platform to my teachers. I plan to continue sharing with classes on copywirght and effective practices for the 21st centuny. Also, I think it would be best to collabrate with teachers and support staff in faciliating Inquiry based instrudtion.

MELISSA GARWOOD 5 years ago

Being one of the first to use and then train staff in my school demonstrates leadership in my school.  These resouces can be used and remixed to meet the needs of students.  

ALLISON FERRER 5 years ago

At my school, I have noticed that teachers are more willing to try something that I am using myself. By participating early, I will be able to find resources that allow for collaboration and present those to the teachers during PLCs. I'll also get to see resources our hub/group posts that already foster inquiry based instruction and remix those to fit our needs. In return, this will allow me to better help teachers navigate the platform and learn how to easily remix resources while giving proper credit. I can see this resource being a huge time and wallet saver. 

 

BITSY GRIFFIN 5 years ago

Allison! This is a fabulous leadership opportunity for you since your staff already see the value in tech with which you are involved!

Naomie Sasser 5 years ago

I introduced GoOpenNC to the leadership team, MTAC, and Veteran Mentors. In addition, I have created a google classroom where I am downloading resources for teachers pacing guides. During PLC's, I am requesting topics that need additional support 2nd semester.

Being involved ettarly with GoOpen NC will help me demonstrate leadership in my school by being someone who knows a little something already. I can be the "go-to" person in our building for those who are trying it out and have questions. It will also help me by knowing which staff members are open to trying something new. I think by seeing lessons/resources/ideas provided by others on the platform, teachers can see effective practices demonstrated and evaluate their own practice. I think my involvement with GoOpen NC will help me with effective practices and inquirt based instruction by seeing what others are doing and how I can tweak something to fit me. Since I am only in my 2nd year as the Media Specialist, I am still learning a lot all the time.

KATHLEEN RUTAN 5 years ago

We do tend to be the go-to person for just about everything, don't we!  At least if we get this under our belts, we will be able to answer their questions with confidence.  I am only in my second year as a media specialist, still completing my masters.  Some of those teachers think we know everything.  ;-)

Michelle Green 5 years ago

 

  • demonstrate leadership in your school, 

    • I feel that my involvement, while a bit behind our ITF,  will still show my leadership by actively using the site to work with and share resources with the teachers.  As I am already collaborating with many of the teachers, this will enhance our collaboration and activities with each other. 

  • promote effective instructional practices, and/or

    • Finding resources that are appropriate, effective and within copyright will be helpful and effective for all.  

  • facilitate inquiry based instruction?

    • I feel that the way the lessons are given allows the teachers and myself to tailor the lessons towards the best way to encourage inquiry based lessons.  They will be able to differentiate and adjust for their own classes. I feel that the ultimate goal and focus of myself and the teachers will be to utilize this to see the instruction grow and evolve with the lessons.

BEVERLY LITKE 5 years ago

-demonstrate leadership: As an early adopter, I will have already spent time with this resource before the release, giving me an advantage and ability to answer questions and lead PD.

-promote effective instructional practices: Direct teachers to quality lesson resources that are peer-reviewed by fellow NC educators aligned to our standards.

-facilitate inquiry based instruction: Share lessons with information/media literacy integrated with core content.  This should appeal to teachers!

STACY MORGAN 5 years ago

As a media coordinator, I regularly do PD for teachers at my school. As teachers are always on the lookout for great resources, I think GoOpenNC will be something they can be excited about. I think teachers will enjoy that the resources can be rated and remixed so that they can find something that truly works for their students. I will try to do a professional development session on this sometime during the second semester of this school year. 

I feel that it is a great way to provide additional resources for teachers hopping to Teachers Pay Teachers.  TPT doesn't honor copyright and the teachers don't honor their agreement with TNT.

Continuing with discussions on Instructional Practices with teachers in a way that they will respect.

Inquiry based instruction - Hopefully all teachers can begin to mirror their peers that already incorporate more engaging activities.

I agree with you on the use of TPT and the loopholes following through with the copyright as the resources are continually shared among teachers.  Hopefully, GoOpenNC will be a platform where as media coordinators, we can play a role in bringing an awareness towards copyrighted materials.

Michelle Green 5 years ago

We are having this discussion with many teachers right now.  I feelt that this can definietly help me to reinforce and encourage the usage and the availability of items within this platform.

KATHLEEN RUTAN 5 years ago

I am hoping to figure this out enough to share it with the teachers at my school.  It is a lot to take in in such a short time. This would be a great collaboration tool between the library and the classroom.  I am also hoping to find lessons that I could use with the students in the library.  

I have been presenting PDs with the teachers during their planning times.  This platform would be good to present during one or more of those times.  I think my staff do better when they are in smaller groups, even though it will make more work for me.

PAMELA PHELPS 5 years ago

I'm excited to share the GoOpen resources with our media coordinators at the next professional development day in February. I really like our evaluation sheet and think this will help me promote effective instructional practices and leave valuable comments. This resource will allow teachers to search for exacely what they need and read peer reviewed comments.

Jodi Freeze 5 years ago

The role of the SLMC is changing and we have to stay actively engaged in all subject areas and collaborate with our teachers to ensure that the media center remains the center of the school. Having early access to GoOpenNC will not only allow me to share this resource with staff, but to learn how to use it so that I am, myself, a GoOpenNC resource. 

Jennifer Parks 5 years ago

I think this experience will help me demonstrate leadership in my school by ensuring that librarians are represented in easily available resources for teachers. Finding time to plan with teachers can be really difficult, so being able to share and remix resources online asynchronously will be a great way to maximize time.

I'm also excited to learn more about evaluating and organizing digital resources. There is so much out there that is high quality, it can just be hard to find, so collecting it all in one platform is really valuable.
 

I feel like being a part of GoOpenNC will help me better prepare to share resources with my colleagues and is a valuable tool for collaboration and staff development ideas. Networking with other librarians is also a great benefit of this platform.

JAIME AXTHELM 5 years ago

I really like the fact that I am able to get an early look at everything to be able to really prep the rest of my teachers for what they will be able to do with GoOpenNC.  It will allow me to work with PLCs or individual teachers to further what they are already doing in their classrooms.  The idea of being able to collaborate with teachers across NC from the comfort of my own computer is also really great!  Coming from my last years in the classroom where I was the only teacher of my content in my grade level I found it especially difficult to plan when I didn't have a think partner to work through things with.  This would have been a huge support to help me with that or at least get a jump on a lesson and then remix to what would fit to my students.

AMANDA JACOBS 5 years ago

By being involved in GoOpenNC, I hope to demonstrate leadership through sharing and collaborating with classroom teachers. I hope to show them how to access applicable resources and lessons as well as facilitate their own leadership by having them input their own lessons. I also hope to promote discernment of resources by encouraging them to analyze and possibly remix lessons they view and share. If used, this could encourage collaboration within our school, county, and state and allow teachers to personalize their lessons to align to standards, imporove upon the lessons, and access ready-made resources.

Being in the forefront on the deployment of open source resources and helping teachers understand and practice resource sharing puts the LMC people in the limelight and makes us leaders promoting open sharing that is already being done in disciplines such as computer science, engineering, and medicine.  While advocating for such a change, I think as media coordinators we can play a critical leadership role in training our teachers on the ethical use of both creating and using the resources for instructional and professional development purposes. The creation of worldwide web is an open source phenomena and people have built on it for information to be shared in unique ways. Our next step in this process should be to focus on how to build and modify the resources that we share on the platform.  This will make us true leaders in the field.  This process is constantly happening in the field of computer science with newer programs and applications emerging all the time. Academic institutions post lectures, recordings, and course materials on CourserA for the public use.  We can go a step further in our future goals to make GoOpenNC a resource sharing platform for both instruction and student learning.

My involvement in GoOpen NC will help me be an effective instructional partner in integrating information and technology standards into teaching and learning. Being part of the GoOpenNC cohort will provide opportunities to identify resources, integrate Big 6 concepts, and work collaboratively 100% with teachers through the instructional and evaluation processes of student learning.

JILL COLEMAN 5 years ago

I hope to introduce and promote this concept at our School Leadership Team meeting.  After that I would involve the entire faculty in the conversation. This resource is a great way for teachers to work with others and gain strategies that have been proven effective.  Collaboration would be the main objective.

Nelda Smith 5 years ago

As a librarian and technology contact, I share digital tools with my teachers. I think they will like seeing how the lessons here already align with the standards. I love being in on the ground floor of this so that I can offer support and collaboration from the beginning. I know of two others in my school who are already in the platform and together we should be able to introducte this to teachers at an upcoming faculty meeting.  

Tara Gold 5 years ago

I also love that it is aligned with our NC standards! We focus so much on those, but so many materials out there either don't work with what we're teaching or need to re-worked to include the necessary standards. I also love that we can search for specific standards that might be more challenging to cover.

Jody Timmins 5 years ago

Our new teachers rely a lot on the standards-aligned lessons provided by our district curriculum department, which are often modified from DPI materials. I hope that GoOpenNC is integrated into those networks so that teachers face minimal barriers to accessing this content. They need standards-aligned lessons and they need them to be accessible easily and quickly.

Tara Gold 5 years ago

GoOpenNC will help me to provide a resource for teachers in all subject areas that connects them to others who have already "invented the wheel." It also allows me to start a conversation with teachers about creative commons and a collaborative attitude toward sharing lesson materials. I think it would be especially helpful with new teachers or when we are building new units/curriculum.

Jody Timmins 5 years ago

Yes, I think that new teachers are often some of the best collaborators with media specialists. They haven't already identified their set of favorite resources, and they're open to trying new ideas because they aren't already invested in existing plans.

Our district curriculum department is slowly updating its links to lessons to support individual standards in all disciplines. The curriculum folks rely heavily on DPI lessons, so I hope that GoOpenNC will become a standard part of the new lessons designed there, and will be promoted heavily to district-level leaders.

Jody Timmins 5 years ago

Any time media coordinators integrate information literacy concepts into grade-level lessons, it increases staff awareness of our ability to support them instructionally. So this platform, by making that element of lesson planning explicit, provides a great means for gently leading teachers to integrate "their" standards with "our" standards in a friction-free way. The teachers in our building are also increasingly aware of copyright issues and the importance of digital citizeship, and so being able to introduce them to this platfrom through PD at the PLC or building level will meet a direct need they have.

We are lucky to have a robust Digital Learning Team in our building, and I anticipate that this platform will be taken up by the team (which includes me, thanks to my principal's awareness of how vital the leadership of media coordinators is, in the digital learning world). I do think we should look at where staff awareness of NC WiseOwl is robust, and where it needs to grow, because that's another resource with strong state support that often falls off grade-level teachers' radar. The tendency just to Google for resources is strong. One way I can demonstrate my leadership in the building is by making folks aware of this new platform and by making access to it as seamless as possible.

AMANDA VERNON 5 years ago

I will be able to demonstrated leadership by introducing this new tool to my staff either at a staff meeting or in PLC.  This introduction will lead to discussion about using resources correctly and copyright.  Hopefully I will be able to compile some resources that will enable me to collaborate better with classroom teachers.  

How might your involvement in GoOpenNC help you to 

  • demonstrate leadership in your school?  I have already started talking with the instructional coach at my school about PD to introduce this to our staff. 

  • promote effective instructional practices? Introducing this will provide opportunities to revisit conversations on copyright and also curriculum alignment. I'm looking forward to being able to take lessons and make them even better by remixing. This idea of having resources that are so easy to update and improve as we learn new things is really appealing to me. 

  • facilitate inquiry based instruction? By remixing we can take lessons that are not inquiry and tweak them to be more open-ended. The platform is ideal for putting new ideas out there to a large audience. But the more lessons we remix and improve the more likely someone who maybe never considered a more inquiry-based idea will come across it and try it. 

TARA FLOYD 5 years ago

My involvement in GoOpenNC will help me to demonstrate leadership in my school by being a go-to person for various content for different subject areas.  I will be able to promote this resource and hold a professional learning session to acclimate teachers to this resource.  I can promote effective instruction practices by using these resources as a gateway to collaborating with teachers.  When asked about various resources that they can use I direct teachers to GoOpenNC.  

AMY RALPH 5 years ago

Being involved in GoOpenNC can help me to show leadership because I am helping to develop a statewide program that will be avaliable to assist teachers. SLMC have the opportunity to add our own resources for inqury based learning lessons. We can also view teachers created lessons. When viewing teacher created materials we can suggest intergration with school library lessons. We can suggest ideas to team teach with teachers. We can also help teachers by suggesting resources and possibly providing print materials as needed based on their instructional needs. 

AMANDA WARD 5 years ago

I like your point about suggesting integration with library lessons. This has been an area of need in my building and this year I put it in my PDP that I would collaborate on at least one lesson with one classroom teacher. :)

AMANDA WARD 5 years ago

How might your involvement in GoOpenNC help you to demonstrate leadership in your school: My involvement in GoOpenNC is the first at my school and will help me to demonstrate leadership by presenting what I have learned at a faculty and/or grade level meeting. I also hope to get teachers excited about this resource and what it will mean to them and their practice!

Sharon Hart 5 years ago

Being a part of this cohort, learning how to navigate and utilize this tool will address for me a standard on my evaluation tool. This will also correlate to me presenting it to the MTAC team and creating in-house PD to my staff. I will also share with my media PLT. As far as instructional practices and facilitating instruction, anytime a tool is offering quality standards based resources/ideas, lessons, etc.. is free and correlated to what is going on in MY World it is of value, and I believe that after sharing with my staff, and assisting them in finding lessons, resources, ect... to help them with their needs - I will be a Rock Star.

AMY HAHN 5 years ago

I see GoOpenNC as a major tool to help me encourage collaboration with all subject areas.  As an MC people, forget we are also teachers and I work hard to share with all grade levels and subjects not just checkout books all day.   GoOpenNc will be another tool that will help me get into the classroom and enhance the lesson.    I will be able to help them polish their lessons and locate another way of teaching a subject. 

Jessyca Morgan 5 years ago

I feel that the collaboration piece is key! It is exciting to find new ways to collaborate with teachers as I am on a fixed schedule. 

CAROL MCFADDEN 5 years ago

Providing Staff PD will demonstrate leadership in the building as well as introduce teachers to quality lessons involving instructional practices and inquiry based learning. Accessing and contributing to this platform will hopefully encourage teachers to share ideas and activity that happens within their classrooms with those outside their team and hopefully outside their schools and districts.

Jessyca Morgan 5 years ago

My involvement in GoOpenNC will help me demostrate leadership by being able to provide PD to my teachers about the platform. This will also then give teachers a place to find lessons and resources and be able to collaborate with other professionals. 

AMANDA VERNON 4 years, 11 months ago

My involvement with GoOpenNC will help me show my leadership skills.  I can present this at meetings and work with individuals to help them discover new lessons.

My hope is that this process will help me to discover some lessons that will help me promote effective instructional practices.  I am hoping this will help in my collaboration with classroom teachers.

I have been wanting to do more inquiry based instruction with my students.  It will make it so much easier if some of the lessons are preplanned.

TAMELA CORDEIRO 4 years, 11 months ago

Yes, Amanda, I agree 100% with your statement about preplanned inquiry-based lessons! Sometimes, it is hard to incorporate something new if you don't have a couple of examples to follow. Being able to find inquiry-based lessons, or any other type of lesson with a new methodology, is one of the great advantages of using GoOpenNC!

TAMELA CORDEIRO 4 years, 11 months ago

I think that my involvement in GoOpenNC will help me demonstrate leadership in my school by affording me the opportunity to introduce this resource to the teachers in my school. There is one other teacher from my school involved in this initiative, but the rest of the teachers in our school know little to nothing about OER, so my role as our media coordinator will be to introduce this and encourage teachers to use it.

I think this will help me promote effective instructional practices and facilitate inquiry based instruction because it will allow me to introduce one place that teachers can visit to help them find standards-aligned lessons and ideas. Hopefully, even the best teachers will be able to look at GoOpenNC and find one or two things to add to their teacher toolbox.