November Learning: Expanding the Boundaries of Learning

Carol James

About Carol James
Co-Director Center for Innovative Education, Kean University, Union, NJ

Carol James is the Co-Founder and Co-Director of the Center for Innovative Education (CIE) at Kean University. The Center is the K-12 outreach arm of the University and provides the most comprehensive university-based professional development in New Jersey. The CIE focuses on 21st century learning approaches to learning and teaching.

Carol has over 20 years experience in designing and conducting educational technology professional development and implementing instructional technology at the local and state level. She was the Senior Technology Specialist for the New Jersey Statewide Systemic Initiative at Rutgers University, Associate Director of Revitalizing Science Teaching Using Remote Sensing Technology (RST)2 Meteorology and Watershed Program at Ramapo College, Project Director of Special Science Teams at Rutgers University and Co-Director and developer of the Academy for Teaching and Learning at Rutgers University. She had also had the honor and privilege of being an NEA Christa McAuliffe Fellow.

Main Session Workshops

New Jersey’s Virtual Learning Community: Preparing Our Student for Success! (presenting with Mike Davino)

Are you wondering if your state will ever shift education into the 21st century? Come hear the story of how New Jersey is creating Virtual Learning Communities to support its “21st Century New Jersey Schools” initiative through a “Statewide Systemic Model for Continuous Professional Learning and Growth.” This blended model includes online learning, the use of Web 2.0 tools, virtual and face-to-face professional learning communities and value-added on-site training opportunities rolled out in three phases:

• Phase I (2009) – Awareness and Familiarization
• Phase 2 (2010) – Critical Transformations
• Phase 3 (2011) – Sustaining the Change

The process began last year with revisions to the state’s core curriculum content standards to include 21st Century Skills and Global Education. At the same time, a statewide pilot was developed by the Center for Innovative Education at Kean University that used the power of social networking tools to develop online professional learning networks across the state. Educators from K-20, educational organizations and the Department of Education, were given the opportunity to develop a deep understanding of the literacies and pedagogies necessary to leverage powerful emerging technologies for personal, professional and classroom learning. Social networking sites, such as Ning, Blogs, Wikis, Delicious and Twitter were used to create virtual learning environments.

Come to this session and learn about the outcomes of the pilot program, how it fits into the overall state initiative and where it’s going in the future.