Presented by:

Greg Taranto                                                  Mark Abbondanza

Principal                                                         Principal
Canonsburg Middle School                         North Strabane Intermediate School
 
                                        Canon-McMillan School District
 
 
 
Two Driving Forces
1. Digital Natives
 
 
 
 
2.    Digital Educators
 

Prensky, M. (2001, October).  Digital natives, digital immigrants.  On the

Horizon, 9(5), 1-2. 
• Opening the Lines of Communication with Blogs
• B Examples
o  Sixth Grade Team USS Enterprise  
 
o  Science 8 Blog
 
 Incorporation of Web 2.0 tools
 Communication/Learning Tool for Students & Parents
 Promote Digital Literacy Skills
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
• Building a Virtual Community with Wikis
 
o English
o Language Arts
o Science
 
• "I love Language Arts this year. Last year I didn't do
  so good in Language Arts. "
• 8th Grade Language Arts Student
 
• "This is so cool.  My old school didn't do this.  It's  
  fun." 
• 7th Grade Language Arts Student
•  
Importance of Support
• Promotes use of new means to support today’s digital
learners

• Provides Necessary Guidance – NOT obstacles

• Outlines Expectations of ALL Stakeholders

o Teachers
o Students
o Parents
Support System
 Administrative Regulation
o Define Academic Social Networking
o Extension of Internet Policy
o Promote Digital Citizenship

 Student Guidlines 
o  Importance of “Private” Virtual Space
o Focus on the Learning Topic
o “Text” Slang vs. Conventions of English

 Student Contract
o “Virtual” Expectations
o Define/Establish Rules & Consequences
o Parent Acknowledgement
Closure
• Establish Purpose

• Establish District Support

• Apply Guidelines

• Create Dynamic/Learner-Centered Learning

Experiences
  
Johnson, L., Levine, A., Smith, R., an Smyhe2009).
Taranto, G., & Abbondanza, M.  (2009, December). 
Academic social networking: Powering students back
up in school.   Principal Leadership.
 
 

Contact Information:
Greg Taranto                              Mark Abbondanza
tarantog@cmsd.k12.pa.us        abbondanzam@cmsd.k12.pa.us
Skype: g.taranto                         Skype: markabbondanza