Northbrook+Junior+High

= Welcome to Team Apex =

Julie Meierdirks - Foreign Language / Team Leader Karen Chvojka - Assistant Principal Annette Farmer - Media Specialist Jen Featherstone - Language Arts Andrew Genson - Science Katherine Sutton - Technology Support Specialist Karee Schwartz - Math
 * Meet our Team Members**:

Here's a look at some of the questions we've been pondering and discussing:



To inspire professional development through increased collaboration of all staff at NBJH thus meeting the 21st Century learning needs for our students
 * Project Overview:

Foster online collaboration and professional development for all staff
 * Goal
 * Awareness of 21st century skills
 * Development of a professional learning network (PLN)
 * Creation of an online presence (digital footprint)

Teachers will have
 * Outcomes
 * Engaged in online discussions
 * Joined and created groups based on student learning needs
 * Created transparent learning environments

PLP team will
 * Evaluation
 * Survey staff at the beginning, middle and end of the 2009-2010 school year
 * Use a web counter to track online contribution


 * Artifacts/Links
 * NBJH Ning (http://nbjh28.ning.com)


 * PLP Takeaways
 * 21st Century teachers are lifelong learners who foster communication, collaboration, critical thinking and creativity in order to meet the needs of our "digital native" students.
 * The growth of a Professional Learning Network should be self-directed and relevant to the individual learner.

What change were we hoping to create?
 * Engaged online discussions
 * Joined and created groups based on student learning needs
 * Created transparent learning environments

What goals did we have?
 * Awareness of 21st century skills
 * Development of a professional learning network (PLN)
 * Creation of an online presence (digital footprint)

What did we do to accomplish this?
 * NBJH Ning (http://nbjh28.ning.com)

What results will we see?
 * 21st Century teachers are lifelong learners who foster communication, collaboration, critical thinking and creativity in order to meet the needs of our "digital native" students.
 * The growth of a Professional Learning Network should be self-directed and relevant to the individual learner.

How will we evaluate if we accomplished our goals?
 * Survey staff at the beginning, middle and end of the 2009-2010 school year
 * Use a web counter to track online contribution

What changes do we expect for students?
 * Increased opportunities for exploration and utilization of 21st Century skills, facilitated by the self directed professional learning of the NBJH staff.

What steps will we take for the future?
 * Further developing the superstructure (professional learning practice) and the modules we want to put into it.
 * Recruiting more staff across disciplines to serve as authors/subject matter experts.
 * Use the subject matter experts as cross trainers for staff and students.
 * Broadcast tips and talents

What lessons have we learned?
 * Familiarity and exposure breeds willingness to try new things.
 * Provide opportunities for exploration so we are encouraging teachers to model the self learning concept for their students.
 * Everybody is at a different point in the learning curve including students
 * Provide helpful tools for all levels of learners
 * Make it fun and interesting (not about the tools) something they might be able to use outside of work