November Learning: Expanding the Boundaries of Learning

Lisa Thumann

About Lisa Thumann
Senior Specialist in Technology Education CMSCE, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ

Formerly a K-6 technology teacher, Lisa Thumann has been with the Center for Mathematics, Science and Computer Education at Rutgers University for the last seven years. As the Center’s Senior Specialist in Educational Technology, Lisa facilitates professional development sessions on campus as well as travels throughout New Jersey going into districts helping teachers integrate technology into their classrooms. Her focus this year is her 21st Century Learning Initiative and helping teachers to develop and participate in their personal learning networks. Lisa presented this past July at BLC as well as at several Google Certified Teacher Academies, NJAET and NJECC annual conferences and presented with Liz Davis at the Educon 2.1 conference in January. You can read more about Lisa on her blog at http://www.ThumannResources.com.

Main Session Workshops

Twitter – Establishing your Personal Learning Network (presenting with Liz Davis)

Have you heard of Twitter? Are you wondering what all the fuss is about? Have you tried it and still don’t “get” it. In this session we will focus on the ways Twitter can be harnessed to build a rich and powerful learning community. We will discuss tips and tricks to leverage the potential of this network. Resources will be provided to help attendees set up their own networks during and/or after the session. Finally, we will capitalize on the face to face connections within the workshop to further enrich our Online learning community.

Twenty-Five Ed Tech Leaders to Follow (presenting with Liz Davis)

Whether your personal learning network (PLN) is overflowing or just starting to grow, this workshop will help you to refine your network to best suit your learning needs. We’ll lead you to interesting people who advocate for the effective use of technology to improve teaching and learning. These leaders will challenge your assumptions, answer your questions and make you think. If you’re not sure where to look for the right people, or if you just want to learn about some fresh voices, you’ll leave this session with inspiring additions to your personal learning network. These ed-tech leaders write blogs, maintain wikis, UStream their keynotes, publish their podcasts and more. You can find them all over the Cloud. Join us for a tour of the top twenty-five.

Goal! Define your goals and leverage your network to achieve them. (presenting with Liz Davis)

Dream Big! Do you want to connect with schools around the world? Do you envision a classroom of podcasters sharing their stories with a global audience? Do you see yourself as the keynote speaker at an educational technology conference? In this workshop we will dream big and work collaboratively to find the resources that can make your dreams come true. We will tap into the collective intelligence of the group to mine for information and support both online and off. We will envision a future where we’ve accomplished our goals and work backwards to layout the steps necessary to fulfill them. Bring your big ideas, your hopes and your dreams and be prepared to roll up your sleeves and get to work.