Apple

You need to bring an expert on a topic into your classroom, how do you find and bring them into your classroom? How do you find people and get them into your classroom?
 * Apple Q**


 * Conversation Starters**
 * Discuss the types of classroom projects that would require experts. Identify as much (or as little) about the project that you would like, including subject area, grade level, and topic.
 * What are the goals of the assigned question? What is the purpose of bringing in an "expert"?
 * Who do you classify as an "expert"?
 * What tools (tech and/or non-tech) are going to enable this to happen in an efficient, practical, and logical manner?
 * What role does the teacher take throughout the lesson? The technology coordinator? The students?

Use the conversation starters as a a framework (or develop your own framework) to answer your question. "Edit" this page and record your plan, actions, and results in the space below. Leverage your network to make this often talked about topic into an actionable item.
 * Make it Happen**

Using tools such as Facebook, Twitter, iTunes University and Skype, you can find and interact with "experts." You can locate virtual tours and users with whom to interface and create links. In the local community, you can put out a "want ad" to see if there are any resources within the community who might either have the expertise you need or connections to someone with that expertise.

The technology coordinator would serve as the technology guru to make sure that whether it's video conferencing or whatever technology is being used is actually functional when needed. The teacher would serve as a moderator in the classroom to make sure that the conference moves according to the agenda.

In an ideal environment, you can create a spirit of collaboration by having different groups using different technologies. One could be using Twitter moderated by one teacher whereas another class group or entire class could use Skype or iChat to interact with a different expert. In yet another group, they could be using iPods to review downloaded podcasts or classes from different experts regarding the topic at hand. Still another group of students could be blogging with an expert and creating a question/answer period. At the end, a wiki could be established to share their learned experiences and new information.

Twitter (search.twitter.com), Skype (including Skype for Schools) and the community
 * Resources** - What resources did you use? List and Link here!


 * Group Reflections -** Take some time to respond to this questions after completing your task.
 * What does the student experience in a classroom look like when the curriculum is integrated with technology that they use?
 * What support structures need to be in place for this classroom to exist, for the experiences to exist?
 * What is your ideal school look like where access to learning is not held in check by the classroom walls or the teacher itself?
 * Where does learning happen in the schools of the future?