In my mid week blogs I like to make you area of resources, sites, and opportunities available to educators intent on bringing Twenty-first Century skills to their classroom. This week I would like to introduce you to ISTE’s SIGOL and an amazing opportunity! First, ISTE (International Society For Technology In Education) is the largest educational oragnization of its type in the world and is famous for conventions that number over 18,000 attendees and for its well known NETS standards. In fact, I will be facilitating an ISTE Webinar on May 12, 2010. Please consider this an invitation to join me! SIGOL (Online Learning Special Interest Group) is one of ISTE’s longest running and most exciting special interest groups. The other long time sponsor, Global SchoolNet, is excited about you taking part! As a SIGOL member, I invite you to consider an opportunity to be awarded for the hard work you may have actually already done! Please take a look and, as always, feel free to follow me on twitter (@mjgorman), I will return the favor and we can learn from each other. Also, you are invited to explore a wealth of free resources at my 21centuryedtech Wiki! Enjoy your week and please keep reading to learn about this awesome opportunity.
Have you and your students been involved in an original, online learning activity? Perhaps you have created a class wiki or blog, communicated with other schools, teleconferenced with an author, created an awesome online project, or initiated a creative use of educational technology on the web. If so, I encourage you to enter the 2010 SIGOL Online Learning Award competition. Since 1991, ISTE’s Online Learning Special Interest Group (SIGOL), has recognized creative teachers for their pioneering use of the web to provide innovative learning opportunities for school-aged students K–16. Read about past recipients. Any activity performed between February of 2009 and June 1, 2010 is eligible. The last day for submission is March 31, 2010. The awards, which will be announced shortly after, in April of 2010, include great professional development opportunities. This link provides more information about this exciting award.
The first place winner receives a $500 cash award, free conference registration worth $277 to ISTE’s annual conference and exposition in Denver Colorado, June 27—June 30, 2010, a one year ISTE membership worth $92 and a priceless invitation to present the project at ISTE’s annual conference. There are also two other great awards for both second and third place winners. While membership is not required, I recommend membership in ISTE, an excellent organization supporting technology integration and Twenty-first Century skills, and SIGOL which can be joined for free after paying registration for ISTE membership. Also take a look at the outstanding work being accomplished by the people at Global SchoolNet. It is a great site that wants to include you in some real neat online classroom projects! Please take a moment to read about this prestigious award offered by ISTE, SIGOL, and Global SchoolNet. Perhaps you are already facilitating a potential winner! As you consider, take the time to pass this posting on to others who may be interested!
Thanks for joining me for another week of 21st Century opportunities in education. Perhaps I will be learning about your unique web and online program when you present your winning entry at ISTE2010. Hope to see you there, and also online at SIGOL, a great ISTE community and Global SchoolNet, a place to connect your classroom to the world!. As always feel free to follow me on twitter (@mjgorman). I will return the favor and we can learn from each other. Also you are invited to explore a wealth of free resources at my 21centuryedtech Wiki! Enjoy your week! – Mike
21 st Century Educational Technology and Learning 