How Has the Literature Search Contributed to My Study?

At this point, the only "literature" I've read ABOUT iPod use has been the Wall Street Journal article (title: The Boss Puts the iPod to Work" ). But that article has proven to be quite powerful in terms of my thinking about how to apply iPod technology to staff development. One approach is to build capacity within our department when it comes to delivering the Application level trainings of our "High Yield Stategies" offereings. This is because there are a lot of modeling and metacognitive pieces to these sessions, and sometimes it takes a while to become more comfortable with articulating one's thinking (in the form of a think-aloud). Another possibility may be to offer video vignettes to participants so that they can review what they have seen. Since the Application level of High Yield Strategies (along with our soon-to-be-developed High Yield Focus Modules) zero in on processes, what better way to review a process seen at a workshop than to have access to video podcasts (from the workshop) that demonstrate these processes. Participants can then review what they want -- whenever they want it.

My AR Question

Here is my AR Question: How can iPod technology be applied to the curriculum mapping process when utilized as a vehicle for helping our clients to align classroom literacy activities with state standards across all content areas?
At the present time, I'm learning all I can about the process of curriculum mapping because it is seems to be an effective way to help us work smarter instead of harder when it comes to preparing our students to meet rigorous content standards applied to REAL curriculum content. Publishers of test prep stuff may not be happy with my focus, but it has been my experience (at Nova Middle when we followed Heidi Hayes Jacobs's mapping process in creating our Reading Dept. maps) that mapping frees teachers to feel confident that what they are doing aligns with district and state expectations while giving teachers the freedom to choose selections and strategies with which they are most comfortable (reminds me of the Way of the Beaver).
IPod technology has the potential to fit into this process in a number of ways. First, schools can view parts of the process in action in the form of podcasts. Then there is the potential for accessing podcasts from ASCD and other organizations that can help us continuously learn more and apply our growing knowledge to our maps (maps are dynamic and not static). Since curriculum mapping IS a process, I think that viewing that process is an important part of assisting our clients in learning how to map -- and in the follow-up to any mapping workshop -- potentially much more effective than just reading about mapping or attending a training alone. I am reminded, once more, of the Oct. 25th Wall Street Journal article entitled "The Boss Puts The iPod to Work" where iPods are used as a staff development tool. So, that's where I'm going with my action research.

Thoughts for a Short Week

I've been out of town, so this has been a short week (holidays Tuesday and tomorrow). However, at my High Yield Application workshop this morning, one of the participants had a private conversation with me about the power of video in showing teachers modeling pieces and what it looks like to explicily teach a strategy to students. We talked about having some of the modeling pieces in our trainings videoed (like David Hyerle did in his Visual Tools materials).
(Note to self: I need to look at our video camera with a serious eye to seeing whether it has the mic and the firewire and, if it doesn't, then I need to find one that does (so I can get moving with this aspect of podcast staff development).

QUESTION: Can Blogs be used as Asynchronous Learning Communities?

We're currently working on a series of 3-hour high-yield strategy training modules that will be delivered at school sites. We would like to incorporate a learning community follow-up activity into each 3-hour module; however, considering the challenges often involved at the school level when trying to get a group of teachers to all meet in synchronous time, we have begun to think about the possibility of formatting a blog space for the specific purpose of hosting a cyber learning community. Any thoughts or suggestions on how to structure the blog or how to ensure quality participation? Thanks. :-)