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Welcome to the EdSS 261 Wiki
Current Directions in Curriculum and Instruction June 25th - July 6, 2007


 * NOTE 1: I've now posted more complete answers to the question,** "What are you expecting of us?"
 * NOTE 2: I've posted the outline for a CTL sharing on what we did with podcasting.**



For Monday the 25th (Charlie) For Tuesday the 26th For Wednesday the 27th For Thursday the 28th P. Martin's [|Site]with podcasts. For Friday the 29th For Monday the 2nd For Tuesday the 3rd (Cubes.) For Thursday the 5th P. Martin Day For Friday the 6th

Who Are We?
Charlie Hannah Heidi Jenni Tara Dan Tim Laurie

Introduction
The Current Directions course is a launching platform for students new to the Masters Program and/or Fifth Year Certificate in Curriculum and Instruction of UVM's Department of Education. It is also a course where any student of educating children and teachers can become better informed of evolving trends in the design and organization of teaching and learning environments in school-based settings.

This summer's 261 will see the continued development and utilization of one of the newer evolving forms of Web 2.0 technology, called Wikispaces. A Wikispace is a virtual interactive on-line space where learners have full read and comment access to each other's postings. I want to use our [|Wiki] as a more traditional course syllabus. I also want it to become a communication center where we can connect with each other as we dig into and connect across course content. Finally, I'd like the Wiki to serve as a collaboration center where we can accomplish project work together and serve each other as critical friends, pushing our thinking and doing to deeper and perhaps even unexpected levels of action.

Three questions will establish the footings for work we will do in this course.
 * Where does knowledge of brain function direct us in the design of classroom learning environments?
 * How can we build differentiated teaching methods to better utilize children's learning strengths?
 * What skills do we need to develop to utilize technology to develop the classroom-based learning communities?

Our texts provide useful information relative to these questions. I'm excited to be embarking on this wiki adventure. I hope it becomes so with you.
 * 1) Zull, James E. (2002.) The Art of Changing The Brain. Sterling,VA: Stylus Publishing, LLC.
 * 2) Tomlinson, Carol Ann. (2001.) How To Differentiate Instruction in Mixed Ability Classrooms. Ed. 2. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.
 * 3) Richardson, Will. (2006.) Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, and Other Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.

Charlie Rathbone, Ph.D. 537 Waterman 802-656-4578 IM cbone60

Daily Schedule, Discussion Leaders, and Class Reactions
Use these pages to: Everyone reads all the assigned readings. Pairs of people will be responsible for leading discussion on the chapters each day. Preparation should focus on
 * find out what is due on each day,
 * to learn what will happen in class during this day, and
 * as a place to enter your reaction to class on that day.
 * //pulling out the big ideas//
 * //thinking about how to apply them to teaching and learning as you know it now//, and
 * //how to apply them to teaching and learning so more children are better served//.

Questions
We'll use this section to enter questions about the course itself or questions about course content. I will try to respond on a regular basis. Write the question here and I'll set up a page for my responses.