Technology Teacher

A REPLY to ANONYMOUS.. my reader

2012-01-22T16:25:00.000-05:00

The power of the internet is amazing.
How far reaching it is!

I need to explore all the aspects of this blog.

I do not know how to respond to a reader's comment.

Of course this reader posted the comment as anonymous,
so that makes it impossible, I guess.

This comment was regarding a long ago post
regarding my family reunion held in late July 2010.
This reader, knew someone in the family who had passed away.
A childhood friend.

I really wanted to answer that person making a comment,
but as anonymous, I could not.

It sounds like everything he/she mentioned
points to my husband's cousin being the person they knew.

I do have information on the family.
At this point, both the parents have passed away
and there is a brother alive and an adopted younger sister
that I can get into contact with if the viewer wants more information.

We don't want to lose that power!
Be sure to fight for the internet to stay "free."
See my most recent post if you missed it.

POWER OF THE INTERNET...

2012-01-22T16:23:00.000-05:00

The power of the internet is amazing.
How far reaching it is!

We don't want to lose that power!

I have recently been listening to comments from several persons
who know much more than I do about the internet.

They are fighting and asking us all to fight for the
DEFEAT of the PIPA/SOPA acts
that Congress is trying to push through
on behalf of the broadcast media.

Please view the following TED talks for more information.

I just love listening to TED talks.

The power of the internet....
it's amazing!
Do your part.

Cartoonize a Photo

2012-01-22T15:58:00.000-05:00

Cartoonize

This one is FUN,
and VERY EASY!

Just take any photo
that you already have
and press a button..
BINGO!
Your photo is cartoonized!

I started with a photo
of my two daughters with me
at the older daughter's wedding
on 11-11-11 @11 PM!

Then just for fun,
I did another one of the Bride.

Notice this bride photo didn't change as much.

How would you use this

with your students

for educational purposes?

Create a COMIC Strip

2012-01-22T15:33:00.000-05:00

Write Comics

This one is a little bit harder
to get going.
As you can see from my sample,
if you look closely
on the left of the 2nd screen
I did NOT get the old man
moved over to the right
before I saved it.
So spend some time with this.

Once again...
Fun for the students, but...
How would you use this
in your classroom for education?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Baby Girl!

2012-01-22T14:59:00.000-05:00

Just couldn't let today go by

without a SHOUT OUT

to my baby girl.

It's her BD today

and I am so proud of her.

So far on this blog I haven't
mentioned my children before.
I guess if I start blogging more
frequently, I will need
to include the others as well.

Changed Header Picture

2012-01-22T14:46:00.003-05:00

Did my new header make it to this post?
I thought it was going to change the previous post.

OH... you've got to save those changes
before they make it to the page!
Right!

Playing with Animation Programs

2012-01-22T14:17:00.032-05:00

This is a fun animation Program.
ODD CAST.com

This is the photo I started with:

First take any photo you already have.
Then you can adjust the area that you want to show
- mostly your face.
There are lots of options to change.
It's free and the students will love it.
I can't wait to show it to them.

How would you use this program
for education purposes?

This is the animation I ended up with:

Passwords are like underwear…

2010-08-22T03:28:00.002-04:00

From Taste of Tech by John Schinker blog post called What’s the Password…

When talking about passwords, I’m reminded of the adage that passwords are like underwear:

change them often
don’t share them with friends
the longer, the better
don’t leave them out where people can see them.

…here are a few tips for improving your password:

Don’t use your name, or the names of your spouse, children, or pets. Those are just too easy to guess.
Stay away from words that can be found in the dictionary. It’s pretty easy to do a “dictionary attack,” where hackers try all of the words and word combinations to try to get your password.
Mix upper- and lower-case. For the average password, changing some letters to upper-case will make the password 200 times harder to crack.
Use all of the characters. There are 102 keys on your keyboard, but only 26 letters. It’s okay to use punctuation, numbers, and even spaces in passwords. Throwing in some of these characters will make your password another 100 times harder to guess.
Use different passwords for different things. Our student records system uses different usernames and passwords from our network and email systems. In this case, that was very good. Whoever got access to these teachers’ accounts couldn’t access grades or attendance information.
Protect your email. Your email password is probably the most important one. Why? What happens when you go to an online site and you click the “I forgot my password” link? They email you a link that you can click on to reset your password. If someone has your email password, they can reset your passwords for many of the online services you use. So your Facebook / Twitter / Youtube / Flickr accounts might be in jeopardy if your email password is compromised.
Change your passwords. Certainly not every day. Probably not even every month. But once in a while, change your password. This is especially true if you school IT person just strongly suggested that you do so (hint, hint).

This is excellent advice for everyone. We do all have many different user names and passwords. It gets very complicated to have so many and to change them all the time, but it is a necessary evil.

What advice do you have about passwords?

Do you have a Horror Story about passwords and hacking into user accounts?

How did you solve it?

Technorati Tags: passwords,email,hackers,education,John Schinker

Where Do You Live?

2010-08-22T01:34:00.002-04:00

Do you live in the real world? the world of your students? in the World of Technology?

I just read the blog post of Shelley Terrell at Teacher Boot Camp where she posts this quote:

“For teachers who spend time there, blog-tweet world is like King Solomon’s Mines, full of riches and constantly replenished with new ideas and links. But most teachers don’t live there. This is sad perhaps, but it’s the truth.” by Ken Wilson

From Shelly’s blog post, she states …

No, I do not believe teachers who do not use technology are bad teachers, but this is what I believe….

If we are knowledge sharers, shouldn’t we continue to fill ourselves with knowledge?
If we want to inspire students to continue learning throughout their lives, then shouldn’t we continue to learn throughout our lives?
If we want motivated students who see learning as a journey, then shouldn’t we continue our journey?
If we want to motivate students to be the best in their fields, then shouldn’t we be the best in our fields?
If we want other educators to listen to our ideas, then shouldn’t we read about their ideas?
If we want support from our colleagues, then shouldn’t we support their workshops and projects?
If we want students to use digital media responsibly, then shouldn’t we give them access and show them how?
If we want students to not let technology overtake their lives, then shouldn’t we teach them how to balance themselves?
How can we teach balance, if we don’t have any social media in our diet?

Do you live anywhere near the world your students live in? (digitally?)

Are you willing to move closer to their world or at least visit their world to get a glimpse of it?

Tell me where you live and where you are willing to live?

Technorati Tags: Shelley Terrell,Teacher Boot Camp,digital world,education

Information Overload

2010-08-22T00:00:00.002-04:00

Eric Schmidt, CEO of Google summed up our new world perfectly last week:

We create as much information in two days now as we did from the dawn of man through 2003.

I, too, like everyone in this day and age, am overloaded with information. It is the start of a new school year with a new job description… an exciting prospect, but nevertheless, lots of new information for me and from me needs to be out there.

How do you cope with all the information that is out there, that you must learn or know about, and that you must disseminate to others?

Let me know.

Image from http://www.pamil-visions.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/information-overload-cartoon.jpg

Technorati Tags: information,overload,education,school

Family reunion 2010 – The Everlys … the greatest

2010-08-02T22:48:00.002-04:00

I know this post is not really education related as most of my posts are, but we just had a family reunion and it was the greatest!

I’ve heard that either you LOVE your family or you HATE your family. Usually there is not a lot of in-between.

I am so lucky.

I LOVE my family.

I have many families despite being an orphan of sorts.

This family reunion started on my husband’s mother’s side of the family, so I am not a biological member of the family, but they make everyone feel like a true family member.

The first Everly Family Reunion I was involved in was back in 1979. Everyone traveled to French Lick, Indiana to the major resort/hotel there. Most family members lived close by in Kentucky, Illinois and Indiana.

At that time the matriarch of the family Georgiana Cullen Everly was the eldest family member. Her husband Cecil Everly had passed away in 1959 – twenty years earlier.

The next family reunion was in 1985 in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Recently while on vacation in Nantucket, MA, my family had a spelling contest on how to spell MA [the long full way!]. Without looking, see if you can spell it correctly the first time!

At the Cape Cod Reunion Grandma Georgiana was not present. She had passed away not long after the reunion at French Lick, IN. It was quite a feat to get the whole family to go so far from home for a reunion. We also were very lucky to have a cousin (of my husband’s) with us at that reunion as shortly thereafter he passed away. Stowers Everly – The big C took him from us at a young age.

Then, after the death of the first of the children of Georgiana and Cecil Everly passed away in 1993 (Celeste Everly Valbert). One of Celeste’s daughters, Annie, decided it was VERY important that we continue these reunions and continue them often enough that we could still remember each other. She started a tradition of every other year planning a reunion. This. the first in a long line, was at Annie’s house in Illinois south of Chicago in the metropolis of Irwin (population 100 when the reunion was not in session!) just southeast of Kankakee, IL. Most of the activity at that reunion was centered around the swimming pool and lots of family talking and games.

1995 was in Kentucky Lake, KY. 1997 was at the Pocono Mountains in PA. 1999 was in Maggie Valley, NC. In 2001 we went back to French Lick, IN. 2003 we missed/postponed a year due to a spring wedding in St. Augustine, FL. 2004 we caught back up in the swing of things back in Kentucky – Barren State Park, I think. Then 2006 was in the Wisconsin Dells, WI before the big dam broke and thoroughly flooded that beautiful area soon thereafter. Then in 2008 we went back to Kentucky Lake, KY.

I guess you can see a theme here with Kentucky since that was the original home most of the lives of Georgiana & Cecil Everly and their 5 children: Celeste, Bill, Ruth, Garnet, and Wayne.

This year we went close to a previous reunion in Maggie Valley, NC to Western North Carolina in Brevard and Mills River, NC. Brevard is in Transylvania County and the land of the waterfalls. Mills River is the home of The V’Berts who were planning the event.

At times there were 28 Everlys attending this reunion, but not every Everly in the family was able to attend. We enjoyed those who made it, but missed those who were absent.

We had lots of fun and shared lots of history and reminiscing, catching up with events since the last reunion or the last time we saw these particular relatives. We participated in visits to the Biltmore Estate in nearby Asheville, NC, drove the Blue Ridge Parkway in the RV and saw lots of scenic spots including a hot brakes stop in the RV on the Blue Ridge Parkway coming down from the high elevations a little too fast, Picnicking on the Parkway, tubing, and sliding down Sliding Rock on their bums, looking at waterfalls, and visiting the Cradle of Forestry. We had dinner in downtown Asheville at the Mellow Mushroom with a party of 28 that got seated without a reservation in about 20 minutes even though the restaurant was packed. We had to break into smaller groups, but that made conversation a little more intimate. We had an elegant dinner at the Pisgah Inn at the top of the Blue Ridge Parkway (dinner at 5000 feet they say) with a scenic drive that was covered in dense fog on the way back down! One of the family groups took an extra 27 mile detour away and 27 miles back to the Pisgah Inn and got to see even more of the Parkway that they had intended! They certainly were hungry when they arrived! (And we were glad they made it safely there!)

Other times were spent playing Family Trivia and True Colors as a huge family group. We had so many Family Trivia questions submitted we didn’t have time to answer them all! We’ll save some for next time. There was a Family Time Line to fill in births, weddings, and deaths of family members. It made me realize how many of us there are/were and how close in age and birth dates some were.

The theme for the Reunion was Camp Club Valbert Everly Family Reunion 2010 so “campers” were encouraged with a blow of the whistle to listen up for the directions to the next event and had a checklist of activities to complete. These activities had to be verified by a different family member – no cheating! Unfortunately we all did not complete all activities, so we’ll have to have a repeat Camp Club Valbert Everly Reunion another year down the road.

We were honored to have Aunt Garnet and Aunt Ruth as the leading generation represented while Ethan and Everly Squires were the counterbalance as the latest following generation. Everly could truly say she was THE EVERLY at the Everly Reunion!

There’s lots more events, fun, and conversations that could be reported. Like the story about the canine representative Malie Love, the drive through the campgrounds by Jason and Lacey looking for Cherie & Jon’s camper, the lost camera in the Davidson River tubing expedition, the rained-out too-busy horseback riding expedition, the very local waterfalls, the deer sightings, the lack of golf outings and tennis games, and many more items. Write your stories and submit them to be added to the Everly Family Reunion Guide. I’m sure there are many more events I missed reporting.

I must end with a heartfelt thanks from Paul and I. We are so glad you all took the time, effort, and expense to be here. We understand those who couldn’t make it, but want you to know you were missed and we hope we see you next time. Remember to start making up those Everly Family Trivia Questions… RIGHT NOW!

We love you all!

Send your comments via Facebook, e-mail or comments here!

Technorati Tags: Everly,Family,Reunion,2010,Trvia,Love,Club Valbert

The Miracle is You…

2010-07-02T00:33:00.002-04:00

You really need to watch this excellent video…

I found this video on Ashley Tan’s blog.

It is amazing what can be done these days. As Ashley says…

What do you get when you combine biology with music, art and digital story telling?

This video…

Students will learn more and remember more when they get to put facts into their own generation’s style.

How do you allow your students to show their own learning styles along with their knowledge and understanding of the facts? Leave a comment.

Technorati Tags: Ashley Tan,Another dot in the blogospherer,learning styles,videos,education

Meryl Streep, Barnard Commencement Address

2010-06-30T01:06:00.002-04:00

This is 28 minutes long, so watch it when you have time. Meryl Streep really is quite entertaining. She makes you feel like you are her best friend and she is just talking to you personally. She is charming, witty, entertaining, funny, and serious, too.

I know that her talk is not really the type of thing I normally post about here on the site, but I still think it is education related. She explains how her life has developed and how one learns about life, living, and happiness. Those are all things that we all want and need. Those are all reasons that we continue in the field of education and the field of life.

Enjoy your 28 minutes… Share Meryl’s thoughts with those you love and care about. And remember, make your parents proud… And Parents, be proud of your children.

This, too, was presented to me via my blogger friend, Pat H.from Successful Teaching. She really has a good eye for finding the important things in life. Thanks.

Take time to enjoy your life, appreciate your life, and appreciate those around you, those special people.

Technorati Tags: commencement,Barnard,Meryl Streep,Pat H.,Successful Teaching,life

What motivates people?

2010-06-30T00:11:00.002-04:00

Thanks again to blogger friend Pat H. from Successful Teaching who has alerted me to …

This lively RSA Animate, adapted from Daniel Pink’s talk at the RSA, illustrates the hidden truths behind what really motivates us at home and in the workplace. In the talk Pink explains why larger financial rewards don’t always, in fact rarely, equal better performances on tasks. Pink’s idea that innovation should be rewarded more than performance on a standard task.

What motivates us at home and in the workplace? from Creating a Path for Learning in the 21st Century by bgaskins

So, how would you like to be compensated for your work? What work would you like to do so much that you would do it for free if you already had enough money to live? Leave a comment.

[As always, in my author quotes, the underlines, color changes, and bold type is mine, not the author’s!]

Technorati Tags: performance,compensation,Daniel Pink,Pat H.,Successful Teaching. digital footprint,bgaskins,RSA,motivation,rewards

Please, I don’t want to hear that.. I’m so glad it’s summer today!

2010-06-29T23:47:00.002-04:00

Thanks again to blogger friend Pat H. from Successful Teaching who has hit upon another favorite blog post she relayed to me!

(I have to admit, I had been WAY behind in reading my blogs and my recommended postings from fellow bloggers, but … WOW, Pat, you sure are hitting the nail on the head with me this month!)

Please mosey on over to Top 9 phrases teachers hate to hear. from The Chronicles of a Veteran Kindergarten Teacher by Cheeseboy, to read the details. Most of you can imagine the descriptions from just these sub titles.

I present to you, in full Cheeseboy regalia, the top 9 announcements teacher hate to hear:
9. "The PTA will be putting on a fund-raising assembly today."

8. "Today will be an inside recess day."

7. "It's Grandparents Day today!"

6. "The 6th (or any other grade) is using the gym today."

5. "The choices for lunch today are trout treasures or chili."

4. "It won't stop bleeding."

3. "I kicked my shoe over the fence at recess."

2. "Tomorrow is crazy hair day."

1. "I couldn't make it to the bathroom."

ENJOY!

What do you do to have fun rather than tear your hair out at the end of a BAD HAIR DAY at school? Leave a comment.

Technorati Tags: fun,education,K,Pat H.,Successful Teaching. digital footprint,Cheeseboy,The Chronicles of a Veteran Kindergarten Teacher

Digital Footprints… What do you know?

2010-06-29T23:26:00.002-04:00

Parents, students, teachers, EVERYONE should watch this video and discuss it!

Video compliments of …

Educational leaders in Hoover, Alabama, have created a superb "teaser" video for upcoming parent education classes on digital citizenship which will begin this fall. The 3 minute, 35 second video includes well-planned scenes depicting the choices as well as consequences involved with cell phone sexting.

Students of today need to understand their digital footprint and know what and how it impacts them, their lives, their future.

Thanks again to blogger friend Pat H. from Successful Teaching. who alerted me to this blog post Digital Citizenship video resources from Hoover, Alabama Schools and Common Sense Media from Moving @ Speed of Creativity by Wesley Fryer, one of my PLN bloggers that I read.

How are you teaching and guiding the students/children you are responsible for regarding their digital footprint? Leave a comment.

[As always, in my author quotes, the underlines, color changes, and bold type is mine, not the author’s!]

Technorati Tags: Wesley Fryer,Pat H.,Successful Teaching. digital footprint,sexting,education,cell phones,digital citizenship

Learning should come from within…

2010-06-29T23:04:00.003-04:00

I read a blog post suggested to me by fellow blogger friend Pat H. from Successful Teaching.The blog post, Reversing the Curriculum, was from the blog entitled Special Ed Changes.

The blogger got my interest immediately and I desperately wanted to share the first 2 videos with my readers.

I know I should keep on with my narrative here and make my point, but I don’t want to make you wait longer in your reading to see these two entertaining videos. When you finish them, we will continue with our narrative. (I’m just like a 5 year old!)

Here are those 2 videos.

and the 2nd video …

Watching these 2 engaging videos made me realize that it would be great if children could learn what they wanted, when they were ready, when they wanted, and in the order they wanted, much like the Montessori Method.

View this Montessori video as well. I know it is longer than the other videos, but try to finish it all the way to the end.

The discussion in this blog post centered on ...

When kids come to school at five (if kids should come to school at five in the first place) they have certain fascinations - hearing and telling stories, understanding signs, the physics which make their world work, hot and cold, animal behaviour. And great teachers do embrace much of this, but our school curriculum never does.
Instead of running with this natural learning curve, instead of meeting our students where they are, we focus all of our attention through the age of eight on a certain set of formalized learning systems which disinterest most kids, and are essentially impossible for many. We spend all of our time on complex symbolic codes (the alphabet, the numeral system) and on the operation of those code systems (phonics, spelling, arithmetic).
And, within three years, we have taken kids thrilled to start school and turned them into kids who'd rather be anywhere else.

In this age of technology and ever present information everywhere we are, why can we not let children learn as they are ready?

Why can’t children teach other children, teachers teach children, and children teach teachers?

I know, the tests… the accountability… I STILL think it can work.

See a very early blog post I made concerning my niece and nephew and their early PS-8 Montessori education.

What are you doing in your classroom that encourages creativity and allows children some say in their learning? Leave a comment.

[As always, in my author quotes, the underlines, color changes, and bold type is mine, not the author’s!]

Technorati Tags: learning,Montessori,Successful Teaching,Pat H,curriculum,education

Oxygen on the playground... a cute video

2010-06-29T16:34:00.002-04:00

While reading the blog The Whiteboard Blog, I found this charming little video that explains some of the reactions of Oxygen with other elements. I know for me it will solidify some of those concepts.

Kids will love it!

Students remember facts and concepts more easily when related to a story or some more memorable event.

Below is another video I found online about Oxygen.

This also makes me think about how in today’s school environment, facts are not the major component of education.

Or, I should say, in my opinion they are not.

Students, with the wealth of all information at their fingertips, do not need to memorize tons of facts to spout back to the teacher on a test.

Students need to know why the facts are important, why they are relevant to their lives, now and in the future.

How are you “testing” your students knowledge… by what they can do with a fact or by the fact alone?

Let us know your lessons, assessments, and ideas? Leave a comment.

Technorati Tags: oxygen,science,chemicals,facts,concepts,education,The Whiteboard Blog

Teaching 3rd grade math.. and more

2010-06-29T15:13:00.002-04:00

I read a blog post at Rebecca Zook’s Blog,Zook Tutoring, about “Building a better teacher.” She says…

…to teach math well, you need to know math, and you need to know how to teach. But there’s a third, separate body of knowledge – knowing how to teach math.

She states that there are special skills needed to teach to a classroom of 30 students, each at a different level, and each with a different learning style, etc.

In Green’s words, “Teaching, even teaching third-grade math, is extraordinarily specialized, requiring both intricate skills and complex knowledge about math. … Mathematicians need to understand a problem [not] only for themselves; math teachers need both to know the math and how 30 different minds might understand (or misunderstand) it.” Green describes, “At the heart of M.K.T. [“mathematical knowledge for teaching.”]… was an ability to step outside your own head. ‘Teaching depends on what other people think,’ Ball told me, ‘not what you think.’”

RIGHT ON!!! I think about this every day!

The foundation of my teaching philosophy is that each person’s brain is different, and my job is to help get math into your brain — even if it works completely different from mine.

This really makes each teacher’s job even more complex.

If everyone (or the people in charge of education and educational funding) knew how complex this job is, there would be more money spent on teachers and educating teachers properly.

Right now we are just turning out widgets (teachers) for the most part.

When a truly exceptional teacher comes along, it is a miracle. This person seems to know innately what it takes and isn’t teaching from what was learned at a teacher’s college.

An example of teaching what makes sense to each student is the Gallon Man.

I first learned about the Gallon Man when I was tutoring students, preparing them to take the state End of Grade tests. Some of the educational coaches for the students with disabilities taught me and also their students about the Gallon Man and other strategies to help them pass these tests.

Here is a drawing of the Gallon man. If you want to know more about it go to Rebecca Zook’s Blog,Zook Tutoring, to see the full explanation. See the G for gallon, Q for quarts, P for pints, C for cups and the 8 ounces.

Another strategy for these students was the multiplication chart.

Students are all given a piece of graph paper (and as many more as they need) to use for the EOG math tests.

Students are taught, by their coaches, how to lay out the multiplication tables grid. This helps those who don’t know their multiplication tables quickly to prepare an aid for getting those answers fairly easily.

Here is a color coded example.

Here is a plain example that students can recreate on the graph paper allotted to them.

Here is an example that shows that you only need to learn half of the tables.

These are all strategies for students to help them in math. Each student learns differently and each student can use or make aids that will help them learn best.

Teachers need to be able to find these strategies for each student. They also need to involve the students in finding these strategies, these ways to make sense of math.

Sal Kahn,The Kahn Academy, mentioned in an earlier post, agrees that students need to take time to understand what this learning concept means, not just do a problem and get the right answer. Once true understanding of the concept is earned, then the next step in math is easier, etc.

HOW do you make sure EACH of your students understands the concept? Leave a comment.

[As always, in my author quotes, the underlines, color changes, and bold type is mine, not the author’s!]

Technorati Tags: Sal Kahn,Khan Academy,Zook's Tutoring,Rebecca Zook,multiplication,math,strategies,students,education

Thanks to my PLN … Kahn Academy … UTube UNIVERSITY … IMHO

2010-06-28T02:38:00.002-04:00

I am SO LUCKY!

I have a great PLN (Personal Learning Network).

I have a huge list of blogs that I read.

Sometimes I read every single word; sometimes I scan the posts; sometimes, I feel like I am way behind in reading all the posts and so I (Gasp!) say I have read them (and click them READ) just to get my number of unread posts lower!

There, I have admitted it. It feels so good!

Dean Shareski,of Ideas and Thoughts blog, is someone who I have followed his blog posts for some time, and even followed him on Twitter (although I have to admit – Gasp! – that I am NOT a twitter guru or complete convert!)

Today I was catching up on some blog posts from those many blogs on my blogroll, and suddenly, I saw this post: The Kahn Academy.

I wasn’t sure I was going to watch the video, but something in the blog post piqued my curiosity. So I watched. And if you try it, you, too, should be glad you did.

Sal has such an unassuming quality to his manner of speaking that you immediately feel you know him, you like him, and you want to listen to him. These are the reasons his Kahn Academy is so successful and so valuable!

Thank you Sal!

(You see, I can call you by your first name because I feel like you are already my friend, even though we have never met, talked, or seen each other!)

Watch the video and then go on to attend the Kahn Academy and learn things you never thought you would ever understand!

Sal Khan at Gel 2010 (founder, the Khan Academy) from Gel Conference on Vimeo.

Technorati Tags: Sal Kahn,Kahn Academy,Salman Kahn,UTube,Dean Shareski,learning,videos,education,Gel 2010,PLN,Personal Learning Network

Technology Directors/Administrators…What?

2010-06-28T01:41:00.002-04:00

Once again, I found a wonderful blog post on Scott McLeod’s blog Dangerously Irrelevant.

It was titled Education needs geeks, but we need a special kind of geek who is one of us.

I cheer on this guest blogger, previously a classroom teacher, Don Watkins, who is now turned into a self-taught (mostly)Technology Guru.

“I read a web posting about replacing your technology coordinator/director with a building administrator.”

Don Watkins does not agree with this idea.

I loved his statement…

“My efforts have always been to knock down walls and to build bridges to places of opportunity for our students, our faculty, our administration and our community. I see my role and those of my fellow technology directors and now technology integrators, curriculum directors, curriculum specialists as people who can and do encourage innovation. We owe this to our various constituencies. We do not serve them well when we accept the status quo. When someone tells me that this or that can't be done I make it my business to prove them wrong.

Yes…that is my philosophy too ... When someone tells me that this or that can't be done I make it my business to prove them wrong.

My corollary is that I will not allow the computer to win.

My students and fellow teachers know this about me. I may not end up finding the most direct or the “right” way to get it done, but I WILL get it done. The computer is NOT smarter than a human brain with creativity!

We need more people with this CAN DO attitude. We need to teach our students this CAN DO attitude. Imagine where the world would be if everyone had a CAN DO attitude!

[As always, in my author quotes, the underlines, color changes, and bold type is mine, not the author’s. I do this so often, I should probably put a disclaimer to this effect at the bottom of every blog!]

Technorati Tags: education,technology tools,CAN DO

Terminator for Schools…

2010-06-28T01:15:00.002-04:00

I love this video and all school PTAs and parents and teachers will love it as well.

Something has to be done. We need to use our educational money wisely…but we need to get our priorities straight as well.

Many thanks to Scott Mcleod's blog Dangerously Irrelevant.

Hot for Teachers w/ Megan Fox and Brian Austin Green from Megan Fox

Technorati Tags: Terminator,Schools,education,cutbacks

Educational Change

2010-06-27T23:23:00.002-04:00

Over these summer months, we all need to reflect on our teaching in order to prepare for the next year of teaching. This video from Richard Bryne's Free Tech for Teachers should get your mind moving!

Technorati Tags: technology,change,education

Teacher Appreciation

2010-06-27T23:01:00.003-04:00

I found this song about Teacher Appreciation on Paul Blogush’s blog and thought others would enjoy it.

Most teachers, the good ones, do work hard and care…

THANKS to all of you!

Technorati Tags: teacher appreciation,song,thanks,education

The Power of UTube

2010-05-17T18:26:00.002-04:00

Wesley Fryer is one of my favorite bloggers to read.

I remember when his daughter posted a video on UTube about her comments on the inaugural speech made by President Obama. Wesley mentioned the reaction and the “fame” created by that posting.

His blog post is quite a good piece of writing and shows his concern for young Greyson. He gives a “lesson” to Greyson and his family about the internet and the pros and cons of notoriety. All students should learn this.

This is an excellent opportunity for those in education, and especially those in technology and education, to step up to the plate and teach the students we have influence over about these situations.

Learning at this moment when the “fame” is there is VERY IMPORTANT!

From a church talent show to the Ellen DeGeneres Show: YouTube fame for an Edmond 6th grader: Watch it and enjoy.

Here is his interview and performance on the Ellen DeGeneres show:

This is the world our students live in on a daily basis. Technology is out there everywhere.

I noticed that in the interview Greyson said he got a text from his mom that said to call her. He was able to accept that text and then excuse himself from the classroom, as he says, and call his mom from school, in the hallway outside his classroom. Obviously his school does not have a problem with cell phones and their use during the school day.

I would like to learn more about what school he attends and what their technology experiences are for all the students in the school.

Then, add to the technological experience that Gaga is on the phone talking with Ellen and Greyson on live TV. The only thing that could have been better is that there would have been video of her side of the conversation. Doesn’t she have Skype?

Teachers, technology experts, and interested learners, what lessons can you make from this opportune moment?

Leave a comment… What will you do or how will you use this as a learning experience for your students?

Technorati Tags: Lady Gaga,Greyson Chance,Ellen DeGeneres,"Paparazzi",technology tools,internet safety,lessons,education,technology,singing,Wesley Fryer,Utube

Can Duct Tape Fix Everything?

2010-04-06T03:51:00.003-04:00

This is an excellent piece of writing (even though I have only heard it, not read it.)

It is also quite a commentary on our society today.

Young girls and their body image….

It is so sad to hear what this girl did, but so wonderful to hear that she learned a mighty good lesson from her experience.
Hopefully young girls will have confidence in themselves so they don’t follow her unhappy experience.

This video came from the blog post at Stepping Outside of My Writing Comfort Zone .

As teachers, a mothers, and role models, women of these times must stand up and create positive confident young girls.

How do you as a teacher promote positive, confident, secure young women?

Technorati Tags: confidence,body image,positive,education,role model,duck tape,stepping outside of my writing comfort zone

I write because….

2010-04-06T03:03:00.007-04:00

This video would be helpful to show and then discuss in a classroom of students involved in writing. I found it at the ELA 101 blog.

If you cannot see the video link, pop on over to my blog site and find it there.

I have never thought of myself as a writer, but now that I have started this blog, I am a writer. I may not be the most concise writer, nor the best, but I am learning my craft.

As a teacher, I need to practice my writing skills so that I can model writing to my students.

There are many reasons to write, as demonstrated on the video.You need to ask yourself, and your students….

Why do you write?

Technorati Tags: writing,blogs,I write because,education,teachers

OK…let’s talk about the iPad!

2010-04-06T00:39:00.002-04:00

Everybody is talking about the iPad since it just debuted. It is so cool that everyone wishes he/she had one, I think. I just had to go to special site that I read about that allows you to put your own website on a simulation of the iPad to see how it shows up on the iPad.

My first look at it seemed pretty good. I guess I should try another website to see how it looks on the new iPad.

I read about this simulation of the iPad view from Amit at his website here.

If you are curious to know how your website design looks like on the 9.7” screen of an Apple iPad, you can either borrow your friend’s iPad for some time, order one for yourself from eBay (if you don’t live in the US) or just read this.

…

Open iPadPeek.com and type the URL of any website in the built-in Safari browser of the “virtual” iPad.

SOooo…. give it a try. It’s fun.

Will you get an iPad?

Why or why not?

Technorati Tags: iPad,iPadPeek.com,Amit,Digital Inspiration,testing,education

Tech for Tech’s sake… NO WAY!

2010-04-06T00:21:00.002-04:00

The quote below is from Jen W’s blog post. You should read her entire post.

“Chris Lehmann’s quote of “Technology must be like oxygen: ubiquitous, necessary, and invisible.”
(http://blog.discoveryeducation.com/pennsylvania/2010/02/23/school-20-creating-the-schools-we-need-chris-lehmann/)
But it seems, for many years, that we created a separate distinction, a specialness, a uniqueness towards Tech that might have been what is causing the separation now of acceptance, use, and comfortableness.”

Do you use Tech in your classroom? Why do you use it?

Do you use it for Tech’s sake or because it is the best way to present the material and the best way to engage the class?

How are you using TECHNOLOGY…AND WHY?

Technorati Tags: Jen W,Jenuinetech,Technology,Chris Lehmann

Temple Grandin…Autistic people are needed…they can succeed!

2010-04-05T23:54:00.003-04:00

This is a very inspiring talk by Temple Grandin who was diagnosed with autism as a child. She emphasizes how much the world needs the autistic people of the world. You must listen to her to understand.

If you can't see the video of the TED Talk here (especially if you are reading in a READER), click on over to my actual blog to view the TED Talk.

Our schools need to listen to her and all teachers need to listen to her. Maybe she should talk with President Obama about education reforms and funding for specific areas of education!

What did you learn about autism?

Technorati Tags: Temple Grandin,autism,education,TED Talks

Agents of Change... Are you one?

2010-04-05T23:12:00.002-04:00

This is a great slide show with lots of good thoughts and posters to share with those you work with and those who are needing encouragement to go along with change.

Field Guide For Change Agents

View more presentations from Rodd Lucier.

What changes are you making?

Technorati Tags: change,agents of change,Rodd Lucier,education

GAMING… the future of the world?

2010-04-02T13:35:00.005-04:00

WOW! Watch this video from TED and then think about the world and what needs changing and how it can be done.

Spring Break has arrived and…

here I am back at blogging for a bit.

As most TED Talks, this one is inspiring and makes us want to jump up and do whatever the speaker wants us to do.

I am not a gamer. I barely play “the Cow Game” or bowling on my Wii, but… I do have a Wii and I have experienced the games.

I know that this talk is about much more complicated and long term games.

As an educator, I have to think of the power of this mighty strategy.

Students from 5th grade through the end of high school have the opportunity through classes (with perfect attendance) to achieve over 10,000 hours in a setting/learning environment (or so Jane McGonigal states in her Ted Talk).

Gladwell says (or so Jane McGonigal says) that anyone who puts forth 10,000 hours in direct practice/learning about an area/subject will be a virtuoso, an expert, in that area.

Why are we not making our students virtuosos by the time they graduate from High School?

In describing her games, Jane McGonigal says gamers do have the ability to solve world problems. She is trying to develop games that will work to allow these gamers to become these future world citizens who can solve the world problems and allow our civilization to survive another century.

I like the idea of the game Jane made regarding the oil crisis.

I’m thinking about what would it take to get me involved in this gaming frenzy.

I love education. I believe in education. If there were a WORLD of EDUCATION game like there is a World of Warcraft game, would I play it? Would I come up with creative and viable solutions to the problems of education?

I’d like to think that every day I play the World of Education Game. That every day I am trying to make the world a better place through education. One minute, one student, one solution at a time.

The problem is that we need all the educators in the world involved in this game together, feeding off each other’s ideas and thoughts. There is a start to this GAME. It is the Internet, blogs, PLN, twitter, etc. We just need a little more organization.

Are you up to organizing this? Are you willing to collaborate? Are you willing to spend up to a “half-time job” working on this problem after you work at your full time job at school?

What ideas do you have?

Technorati Tags: World of Warcraft,WOW,gamers,gaming,education,Jane McGonigal,Gladwell,World of Education Game,PLN,twitter,blogs,virtuoso,10,000 hours,game,high school,TED Talks,educators,organization,Wii,playstation

Tutoring is fun and educational!

2010-01-03T20:13:00.002-05:00

It has been a VERY LONG TIME since my last post. WHY? I interviewed and was hired for a more permanent job.

I am a TUTOR!

This is the greatest job! I love it. Of course, being my usual self, I do “10 times as much” preparation for each lesson/student as is required. That’s just the way I am… I told the principal and lead teacher when they interviewed me that I was the best prospect because they would get “110% or more” work from me.

I really enjoy working with students with whom I can forge a longer term relationship. I was substituting at repetitive schools and getting to know the classes, teachers, and students at each school. That was fun and engaging. That wasn’t a bad thing, but it is nice to know the night before WHERE you will be at WHAT TIME in the morning!

My schedule is becoming engraved in my brain now. I started on December 2nd. Of course there was a Winter Break for a little over 2 weeks just barely 2 weeks into the position, so tomorrow AM will be back to a “real” schedule.

WHY am I telling everyone who reads my blog about this?

1) Any great ideas that you may have about how to tutor, what materials are great to use, and any hints about what NOT to do would be greatly appreciated.

One of the people in my PLN (Angela Maiers) has a mantra (actually she calls the entirety a manifesto, I believe) that says,

Sharing What You Know Matters.
Together We're Smarter

… So, if you have any advice or comments, I am open to them all.

AND 2) I want to reflect on what I am doing, what I want to do, and wonder about about what more can I do. (This will be in future posts.)

First, I will tell you something about my situation and how it all is working at my school. I know tutoring can be such an individual job. Every location, type of tutor, and every individual person in the job will do things differently.

At my school the tutors are hired to help improve students’ learning especially in the areas of Reading and Writing. That does not mean we don’t delve into math and other subjects as well. Our school has a high concentration of English as a Second Language Learners as well. Some of them are migrant workers’ children. Actually, most of those migrant families have left since the cold weather has shut down the jobs. Most of the ESL students’ first language is Spanish. I took Spanish in high school and college, but haven’t really had a chance to continue to use it. Of course it is rusty, but I am enjoying little insertions of my meager Spanish knowledge whenever I can. I think the students appreciate it.

We have, throughout the building according to a specific schedule for each of the grade levels, a program we call SMART Groups.

This is an acronym for Small Group Meeting of Academic Reading Team. At certain times of the day an entire grade level (1-5) is involved with SMART Groups. All grade level teachers, teacher assistants, ESL teachers, and tutors are working with students from a specific grade level. Depending on the grade level, students may be reading different materials or they might all be reading a certain text or book. The students have been grouped throughout the entire grade level according to abilities. This allows each teacher/tutor to focus on the skills that need to be learned by this particular group of students. Of course, there are specific goals and Essential Questions that need to be learned/answered by all students. Some students will be learning them in a different manner.

The lessons are planned by various teachers in each grade level depending on how that grade level differentiates the learning. There are approximately 16 different adults working with a unique group of students from that grade level. Usually several groups are meeting together in each classroom in various corners while some groups are meeting in teacher work rooms and special rooms available throughout the school. The groups usually include between five and eight students in each. These groupings allow for a great deal of individual attention and specific help for each ability level.

These groups are scheduled every week on Monday – Thursday. Fridays are a bit different. Also the tutors are not scheduled to work on certain days; i.e., like the last 2 days before Christmas Break there were NO SMART Groups. It was known in advance that the students would be doing unique holiday specific activities and it allowed the classroom teachers much more flexibility in their schedules. Also funding is limited so administration wants to get the most bang for their buck with these tutors. Of course days where there is no student attendance, but teacher workdays are also “freed up ” for the tutors.

That gets you up to speed, I hope, in how my days are going.

Monday through Thursday, I have a specific schedule as do all other “special” teachers and assistants. For example, first thing in the morning after attendance and lunch count, First Grade “MEETS.” I trek to the first grade hallway and coral my group. We go off to the closest teacher workroom to have our meeting. Generally we meet for approximately 35-45 minutes. At the end of our time together, I deliver the students back to their classrooms. Then I go on to the next grade level. This process continues throughout the day. Interspersed midday due to the lunch schedule, the middle hour or so is devoted to specific students in individual or very small groups for particular instruction. My schedule allows me about 40 minutes with a duo of 4th grade ESL students and then about 30 minutes with a 3rd grade ESL student. Then after the lunch schedule slows down, back to the grade level SMART Groups.

All materials are available for each grade level. Students will bring texts, or reading books, work books, worksheets, etc. with them that have been provided by their classroom teachers or the teacher will have an teacher assistant who prepares materials for the entire grade level as appropriate.

I have personally taken on the assignment of making up the vocabulary cards for the 4th grade.

Each tutor is generally associated with a particular grade level for additional help. In this method each tutor gets to know the grade level teachers and the grade level students better and can easily assist in many projects and skills daily, but especially this integration happens on Fridays.

On every Friday, each tutor assigned to a specific grade level works throughout the classes of that grade level as the teachers have requested or need assistance with varying tasks and groups of children. Sometimes it is allowing a ESL student to read aloud to an English Speaking adult to practice fluency (especially when there is no English Speaking adult in the home.) At this point, on Fridays especially, the subject matter is not always related to reading and writing. It can spill over to all subject areas.

Since my position started on December 2, it has not been a regular schedule with the excitement of the holidays and the winter break from school. I have gotten to know my students in the grade level classrooms fairly well. The students that I work with in midday and I also have forged great relationships. The relationships and work on Fridays with the grade level as a whole are taking longer to forge, but those students who have worked with me usually remember and smile at me when they see me in the hallways.

On Fridays, I am mostly working with the 2nd grade classes and teachers. I understand that the 2nd grade level has more students and especially more ESL students. Thus there is a need for an extra tutor in this area. There is a tutor assigned to work solely with the Kindergarten classes (and they do not have SMART Groups.) I am not sure how her schedule works. Then there are 5 other tutors each assigned to a grade level (1-5). AND then there is Mrs.. V – that’s me!

Hopefully, I have adequately explained the general routine and schedule. In my next post, I will continue with the “meat” of the tutoring - what do I get to teach and more about my students. Of course, I cannot name any student specifically, but I can tell you positive traits and great positive happenings.

I love my new job. I love my students. I love working with all the teachers and professional staff at my new school. They are becoming a great school family.

Oops…I forgot to tell the story of my new “roommate.” I’ll keep you in suspense and tell you at the start of the next post.

Technorati Tags: tutor,tutoring,ESL,Angela Maiers,education. SMART Groups

Great National Geographic video

2009-11-20T19:51:00.005-05:00

An amazing story and short video from National Geographic photographer Paul Nicklen about a 12-foot leopard seal in the Antarctic.

I found this video/story because an online friend Pat H sent it from this blog she reads. THANKS, Pat!

We can always be amazed and learn something, no matter what our age, profession, or interests!

Seeing this video reminds me of a blog post I recently read (and that I mentioned in this blog here) that said s"Students should be allowed to tell their classmates every day ... What they learned since yesterday…".

Well, this is what I learned most recently.

What are you encouraging your students to learn….every day?

Technorati Tags: National Geographic,learning,education,Paul Nicklen,Pat H,leopard seal

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS FOR TEACHERS

2009-11-14T21:56:00.002-05:00

Over at A Difference by Darren Kuropatwa there was discussion that was similar to my recent post of Learning Now. At least it reminded me of that post.
Darren talks about reading George Polya’s 10 Commandments for Teachers and how that has affected his teaching.

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS FOR TEACHERS

In chapter 14 of Mathematical Discovery Polya lists his Ten Commandments For Teachers. They have been a guiding light for me as a teacher since I first read them.

1. Be interested in your subject.
2. Know your subject.
3. Know about the ways of learning: The best way to learn anything is to discover it by yourself.
4. Try to read the faces of your students, try to see their expectations and difficulties, put yourself in their place.
5. Give them not only information, but "know-how," attitudes of mind, the habit of methodical work.
6. Let them learn guessing.
7. Let them learn proving.
8. Look out for such features of the problem at hand as may be useful in solving the problems to come — try to disclose the general pattern that lies behind the present concrete situation.
9. Do not give away your whole secret at once — let the students guess before you tell it — let them find out by themselves as much as is feasible.
10. Suggest it, do not force it down their throats.

Darren continues

Polya identifies the single most powerful and infallible teaching method: "If the teacher is bored by what he is teaching it is a certainty that all his students will be too." I believe the inverse is also true: If a teacher is interested in what they are teaching their students will be too. Actually, "interest" by itself may not be enough; passion is a virus. There is a contagion in passion that can be passed on. I would rewrite Polya's first commandment as: "Be passionate about your subject." If you can't do that then I guess interest will have to do but if you don't have even that, do something else.

Passion for teaching is very important. Passion for learning is very important. Teachers must show a passion for what they are teaching.

When students see that teachers are passionate about their subject, passionate about learning, then the students will see a reason to learn.

Teachers who are passionate about learning do not always get every page of the curriculum finished, but their students can carry on the learning on their own, for the rest of their lives.

Rather than making good marks on a true-false/multiple choice test at the end of each grade, students progress should be measured by how well they know how to learn, how well they can compete for the job that they have a passion for, how well they can convey that passion to their customers when they have that job. These are true measures of learning and value. We are not trying to prepare our students of the 21st century to be able to spout facts verbatim when asked. We are preparing them for their futures, their lives, their livelihoods.

If we, as teachers, can ignite a passion in our students to learn, to know how to learn, to know when it is necessary to learn more, we have succeeded as teachers, no matter what the test scores say.

How do you show

your passion for life,

for learning, and for teaching

so that your students know

its importance

in their own lives?

[As always, in my author quotes, the underlines, color changes, and bold type is mine, not the author’s!]

Technorati Tags: learning,passions,life,education,Darren Kuropatwa,George Polya

Fall …. Sunset in the Mountains

2009-11-14T18:03:00.001-05:00

Either I am getting wobbly with my hands, my camera is set wrong, or my camera is dying a slow death… Nevertheless, I persevered and got an interesting fall sunset photo… or two. It was beautiful and the weather is beautiful, cool, but nowhere near COLD.

Enjoy these last beautiful days of the fall season before the winter winds arrive with snowflakes…Probably not here, but perhaps where you live!

Technorati Tags: fall,leaves,winds,snow,sunset,enjoy

Learning Now

2009-11-14T16:39:00.002-05:00

Angela Maiers has an excellent post on her site about Learning Now.
It is a “new” way of starting the day in the classroom.

As students walk into the classroom, the following opening question is posted:

What have you learned since yesterday?

Students need to be excited about their learning and realize how much they have learned and how much there is out there to learn.

Learning is not an endeavor just for school. It is learning that fuels our lives. It brings the outside to the inside of the classroom and vice versa. Learning is perpetual, continuous, and requires us to be active. Learning – as we know it, and as we wish our students to know it - is infectious and contagious. It is PASSION-DRIVEN! Passion-driven learning is not contained in boxes, covered in textbooks and will not be reduced to checks on a list. It must be experienced.

We are always talking about being Lifelong Learners,” but that phrase, that name, is not just a bunch of fancy words. It should have meaning.
Until we can get students excited about learning and excited about their learning, we have not done our job.
There will not always be a teacher there next to them to tell them what to do next. Students need to develop this love of learning and excitement to want to know more.

The Learning Now opening not only lights a spark of excitement and energy, it sets the tone, the expectation, and it extends the invitation to "Join the Learning Club, ' which is how we frame the rest of the day as we spend our time together figuring out how to make sense of this amazing world and the people that inhabit it. How far can we take it?

This is a wonderful way to start the day. I wish that all classrooms were started this way…

How can you develop

this energy,

this passion,

into your classroom?

Let me know.

[As always, in my author quotes, the underlines, color changes, and bold type is mine, not the author’s!]

Technorati Tags: passion,energy,learning,excitement,Angela Maiers,Learning Now,education

Sleep, Sleep, Sleep

2009-11-07T19:52:00.002-05:00

Those of you who know me well, know I love a good nap/sleep, although I like to wait until late at night and sleep into the day… This is a fun slide show about the benefits of sleep!

ENJOY!
Rest your brain!

Technorati Tags: rest,sleep,education,brain

One Writer's Beginnings

2009-11-07T15:39:00.000-05:00

I just found out about a family member's new blog and I had to write about it. My husband's cousin's wife... my cousin-in-law, I will call her. (Usually I just call her Portia.)

Recently, I applied for a position, part-time, teaching 5th grade writing and social studies. In my usual over-the-top research and enthusisam for any subject that gets my attention, I began researching various writing sites. How to teach writing... to the elementary school student. These days, at least here in NC, there is a push that teachers must also be writers themselves. How else can you teach a student to write if you don't know how to write and haven't experienced writer's block, etc., yourself?

I have never really been a writer, in the past.

I say that with 137 blog posts to my credit, but I don't feel many of those posts are really writing.

I just sit down at the computer and start typing - whatever comes into my mind. I don't "craft" the writing, certainly not like my "cousin-in-law" does. Portia has a way with words. I have no idea how long she takes to write these posts and podcasts, but they are really good.

Now, I am thinking, if I had gotten that job, could I have called upon Portia to be a guest speaker to my students? To ask her to talk about how she decides upon her topics, her words, her ideas. Yes, I could have and I would have, now that I know this fact about her.

So, as Portia comments about the internet, blogs, Facebook, and podcasts, etc. the current modes of communication of our children and even some of us oldsters, her comment has hit pay dirt.

I have made a new friend on the internet, that was already someone I knew, but I didn't really "know."

So tell your friends and family about what you are doing when you start. Don't be afraid. There will plenty of support from the Right People!

When you have time and the inclination, stop on by Portia's new blog..

One Writer's Beginnings
...Reading, Writing, and a Little Bit More/

Where do Goldfish Come From?

2009-10-27T17:20:00.002-04:00

Many of you readers are familiar with Lee and Sacha Lefever and their Common Craft videos that explain many concepts in simple and easy to understand terms.

Apparently Lee grew up in NC, my new home state, and that is where the Blue Ridge Koi/Goldfish fish farms were started.

In this entertaining and educational video, that I originally found on on Richard Bryne’s blog, Lee tells the story.

Enjoy watching.

How can your students make a video or use the strategy of the Common Craft video to “teach” a concept that they are required to learn by your state’s benchmarks/learning standards?
Let me hear your ideas.

Technorati Tags: Common Craft,Lee Lefever,Sacha Lefever,goldfish,koi,education,videos,benchmarks,learning standards

Wordle and a WORD WALL

2009-10-27T16:49:00.002-04:00

Another blog I read involved an Instructional Coach and Consultant observing various NC classrooms. Here is a video he made showing a classroom with a WORDLE - Word Wall .

Just another idea for using the visual to help in education!

How could you use Wordle in your classroom?

Technorati Tags: Wordle,Word Wall,education

Technology advances – In time for Christmas?

2009-10-27T15:50:00.002-04:00

Reading one of my favorite educational blogs Top 20 Hot Christmas Toys and what you can learn at T+L I found this video which shows the beginning use of brain waves and physical responses like blinking an eye techniques which will soon be incorporated into many devices.

I can easily see how this will help the handicapped and elderly, but I am thinking what impact will this have on education and learning?
What do you think?

Technorati Tags: technology tools,robots,Christmas,toys,brain waves,handicapped,elderly,education,technology

IDEA PAINT – what a great idea!

2009-10-27T15:33:00.003-04:00

I just read a wonderful, inspiring blog post. You can tell that I am a teacher and easily amused. Teachers frequently like “techy” ideas, artistic ideas, and office supply ideas…. so listen to this.

Angela Maiers over at Angela Maiers Educational Services – Putting Learning and Learners First had a great blog post entitled IdeaPaint - Let Your Students Make Their Mark.

The videos tell the story completely, but I, too, want some of this at my house! I wonder how much it costs and where you can get it. It is an idea that is just in time. Schools and parents of young children, especially, will love this; businesses can also use this concept.

Now I want to know if you can get it in other colors!

Watch the videos and ENOY!

Where would/could you use this paint?

Technorati Tags: white boards,paint,Angela Maiers,education,fun,IdeaPaint,Dwell on Design

LEARN NC ONLINE Conference 2009

2009-10-01T23:41:00.002-04:00

I had a wonderful learning experience today and all from the comfort and privacy of my home!

I participated in the LearnNC Online Conference 2009. Peruse the agenda here. Later, you can view the taped portions of the afternoon online conference. All conference sessions are to be archived on LEARN NC website and posted here when they're ready. Also all handouts are available. This was an all day conference for those attending in person, but only the afternoon was available online.

For me, one of the most interesting parts was the discussion about PBL (Project Based Learning) by a high school science teacher, Kelly Yonce. Kelly had been a typical teacher for 5 years and then found out about PBL. She started teaching in that manner in all her classes and now has been doing for at least 4 years. She clearly states that it is a different way of teaching and takes a lot of preparation and constant revising, but she feels her students truly understand the concepts she is teaching rather than just spitting back definitions on a test. Read about her here.

There was another session that was full of interesting tools and sites that are all FREE. These sites are mentioned in a blog entitled Instructify which is “published” by LearnNC.

This was an excellent way for me to learn from home and at my own pace. I could listen and participate online and then I can also review everything and print out or review the handouts from online at any time after the conference. It makes learning convenient and suited to my needs today.

Thanks LEARN NC!

Technorati Tags: LEARN NC,Instructify,LearnNC Online Conference 2009,education,tools,PBL

21st Century Schools

2009-10-01T23:05:00.002-04:00

A very interesting video from Clif Mim's blog states

Stephen Heppell’s video about 21st century schools provokes you to consider what lies ahead. Wes Fryer states that this video “makes a strong case for blended learning where the learning connection between home and school is seamless.”

What more can I say?

Well, here is a bit more on the subject from the ITSC website, another video of Stephen Heppell.

"If we teach today's students as we taught yesterday's, we rob them of tomorrow." - John Dewey

Keep your eyes on this site for future information re: ISTE 2010 February 14,15, 16, 2010 in Portland Oregon.

Technorati Tags: ISTE,Stephen Heppell,Wesley Fryer,21st Century,future,schools,education

Teaching vs. Learning

2009-09-23T23:33:00.002-04:00

I just read a blog post at Modite by Rebecca Thorman entitled Become an expert quickly.

Rebecca Thorman supports my philosophy about Learning…

Teaching something gels the concepts in your brain so much better than just hearing about it or doing it.

Teaching makes you think about the whole idea and synthesize it, make it understandable to others. Teaching what you have learned is the best way to know what you learned.

Rebecca says

So tell me, how well can you explain what you do? How well do you understand your passion? Could you teach someone else to do it?

Doing is just not enough. Rebecca says

When you do something like send a pitch, for example, you’re learning. You’re testing your ideas and theories through the reaction you receive, the resulting outcome. In this paradigm, it’s okay to fail, you discover through trial and error, and through persistence and hard work, you win.

Teaching makes you think through what you think you know. In explaining and teaching the concept to someone else, you have to understand all aspects of the subject matter, from many different angles.

Rebecca agrees that there is a difference between learning and teaching. In learning…

But there’s an entire level of awesomeness missing. And you can only ascend to the next level by then teaching someone what you have learned. Because then you’re testing your values, ideas and theories with another person’s values, ideas and theories. You understand the underlying challenge more by defining it for another. Teaching – good teaching – requires you to exchange knowledge, not simply impart it. Learning is individual. Teaching is collaborative.

So, when you teach something, you get something back that makes you even understand the concepts better. It confirms what you thought you learned - what you thought you knew about the subject OR maybe it confirms that you were wrong and you have to change your knowledge.

Teaching is sharing knowledge, sharing empathy, sharing ideas. It’s pushing you to understand with entirely different lenses. Just like your body needs both cardio and strength training, your mind needs both learning and teaching.

Teaching is the definitive learning experience. And it’s the quickest way to expertise.

How do you provide experiences for your students to not only Learn, but teach what they learn?
Share your ideas.

[As always, in my author quotes, the underlines, color changes, and bold type is mine, not the author’s!]

Technorati Tags: learning,education,teaching,knowledge,Modite,Rebecca Thorman

Art online

2009-09-20T23:42:00.005-04:00

I read a blog post at Teachers Love SmartBoards about SMARTBoards and Creating Original Artwork that mentions an online drawing program in Beta called ArtPad. This can be used on a SmartBoard but also on an individual computer.

I worked with the program and made a drawing, but when I saved the link for my artwork, I could not find it.

You also have the option of e-mailing your drawing to friends. At this point it has not yet been e-mailed to me. I will update if I get it in an e-mail.

I made a screen shot and copied it into Paint and it is shown here. When you are on the site, you can have the experience of the drawing from beginning to end replayed.

Below are the links to my drawings:
#1 http://artpad.art.com/?kq14ofy5hng
#2 http://artpad.art.com/?kqaxe31jxncw

Please comment if you can find/see them. Perhaps there is something wrong on my computer. I have been having problems with the Java applets.

If this program works properly, then it would be a fun way, especially for younger students, to make art.

Technorati Tags: Teachers Love SmartBoards,ArtPad,art,drawing,online,education

Learner experts or Content experts?

2009-09-20T23:09:00.005-04:00

Should teachers be Experts in Knowledge of their Subject Matter or Experts in How to Teach Students?

Most people would agree that there should be some of each type of Expert in every teacher. But the question is which is most important? Also which is most important at what levels of teaching?

In the past, from my experience, and perhaps from a current perspective of how teachers are taught in college, I surmise the following levels of expertise:

Elementary school teachers are to be knowledgeable in HOW to Teach. It is thought that the knowledge that elementary teachers are presenting to their students is knowledge that every educated person knows if they have received a college degree. Thus, more of their time in the teacher education degree in college is spent on teaching methods, or on teaching methods related to specific subjects.

High school teachers have had more emphasis prior to teaching certification on being very knowledgeable in their Subject Matter field of teaching, but not to the degree that they are an expert. They need to know beyond high school knowledge of the subject matter, and probably a thorough college level knowledge of their subject matter, but still not an expert.

In college teaching situations, professors need to be true experts in their fields to be respected and able to present the level of material that is necessary for a college level class. Unfortunately many times in college lower level courses, it is teaching assistants that do most of the “teaching.”

In this current day of Information Overload and Access to Instant Information, is this expertise of knowledge of subject matter as important or more important than knowledge of HOW to TEACH?

Are teachers merely the Information Dispensers, the Information Curators, the Information Inspirers, or the Information Extenders?

(I need to work on that word Extenders. There is a better word that I am not coming up with at this time. Feel free to comment to me about a better term. Maybe Information Facilitators?)

From Ashley Tan’s blog, Another dot in the blogosphere, he writes about this question in Innovation in educational technology. Ashley says":

Polivka offers some answers to his question. But I think the best one is that teachers often see themselves as content experts instead of learning experts.

Education as an industry is full of people who are content experts, and severely lacking people who are learning experts. Or more specifically, learner experts. I don’t mean people who know and adhere to theories about learning. I mean people who really get the whole process, and are passionate about it, from the learner’s perspective. People who love the thrill of learning, the way kids in kindergarten love it, and want everyone to have that sort of joy again. People who want to learn, and want others to learn, and want everyone to apply that learning, with the same exuberance that hobbyists do. What makes learning work and why? What makes learning exciting, interesting, rewarding? We need more people who are experts in those things, because whatever products they create will reflect it.

It’s time to relearn teaching.

Teachers should be facilitators of learning, Information Facilitators, not just Information Dispensers.

How do you make learning fun, exciting, interesting, and rewarding to the learner?

[As always, in my author quotes, the underlines, color changes, and bold type is mine, not the author’s!]

Technorati Tags: learning,education,content,how to learn,learner's perspective,facilitators,Ashley Tan,Another Dot in the Blogosphere,Polivka

Each one, Teach one

2009-09-20T22:20:00.002-04:00

From Each one, teach one by Ashley Tan at his blog Another Dot in the Blososphere. Ashley says

Karl Kapp shares his thoughts on how students can become better learners. They should teach.

Kapp calls this approach the “each one, teach one” method. Catchy name for something that I am sure progressive educators practice but might not label as such. Perhaps he should trademark it!

I agree that as students learn something, they learn it more clearly when they teach it to someone else.

Teaching a concept requires students to understand the concept and to formulate how to make someone else understand it. Now, students may not think about various learner strategies and how to teach all students in the class, but they will be able to reach certain students because they are coming at the learning from a student’s perspective which most of the time a teacher cannot do. I know many teachers try to get this perspective, but, of course, students are best at this!

How do you allow your students to teach the lesson?

Technorati Tags: Ashley Tan,Another Dot in the Blogospherer,Teach,students,education,each one teach one,Karl Kapp

Birds on the Wires Make Music

2009-09-20T22:08:00.003-04:00

I found this on Bird’s eye view a blog post by Ashley Tan at Another dot in the blogosphere.

Birds on the Wires from Jarbas Agnelli on Vimeo.

Looking at something from a little different perspective.

How often do we encourage our students to come up with a different answer to our questions?

To think about the assignments in a different way than we had ever intended?

What do you do that allows different answers to your questions?

Technorati Tags: Bird's eye view,Ashley Tan,Another Dot in the Blogospherer,individuality,education,different

GLOGSTER.com …POSTERS here we come!

2009-09-13T16:28:00.001-04:00

One of my Diigo groups posted this bookmark and I decided to try it out!

Glogster is a poster making application. I only made one (see below) but it was a lot of fun. I know you can import photos, probably drawings too, add text to them, save them, and also you can publish them to the web if you want or keep them private. I could embed the code for this one into my blog as well.

I didn’t quite like the way my text laid out on the speech bubble, but perhaps I could have played around with it a little more. I am not sure if there were alignment adjustments available. I know there were font size and color adjustments. I think the number of fonts is limited.

Overall, for a free tool, I think it is worth a project or two. Besides if the kids like it, they can use it also on their own time and perfect their technology skills!

I always love it when a student takes something we use/do in class and then goes home or in study hall extends the lesson further by using it for their own purposes! Authentic learning!

What fun, yet educational tools do you introduce to your students?

Technorati Tags: GLOGSTER,Diigo,education,poster,technology,tools

PPT2YOUTUBE.. making a flash movie

2009-09-13T04:17:00.002-04:00

If you read yesterday’s post, PowerPoint into AuthorSTREAM, you will know what I am doing here… trying the competition’s way to insert a video into your blog.

I think that this video might be too big for a blog. The file is certainly much larger than the AuthorSTREAM file was and certainly bigger than the original PowerPoint File was. This file is 6 min 41 seconds long.

It is the same file that I used yesterday, but I made it into a MP4 file at 640 x 480 with 30 frames per second. Those are the recommended statistics or parameters to make the best video.

When I inserted it into Windows Live Writer, where I have been composing my blog posts lately, it seemed to take a VERY long time, but perhaps it was being converted into UTube video style. We will see how long it takes and if it is able to be posted to my blog, or if it will be too large. I think it took about 10 minutes or so to get it formatted into the Live Writer blog composer.

So, if you see a video, it is OK. If you do not see a video, go through to my actual blog if you are in a reader. Sometimes videos, etc. don’t show up in the reader.

I think it is working right, but I wonder when you look at my blog how long it will take to start.

This is so much fun! You’d think I was a kid in a toy store! I AM!

Lifelong Learner! – that’s me!

Technorati Tags: lifelong learners,Power Point,AuthorSTREAM,videos,PPT2YOUTUBE,education,technology tools

PowerPoint into AuthorSTREAM

2009-09-13T00:21:00.002-04:00

I made a comment on a NING that I am a member of and someone commented back to me that if I was so “gung-ho” on technology, I should check out the following platform. So I did.

I have been playing with one of my PowerPoint presentations ever since. My presentation had audio on each slide that the student was able to click on to listen. That way the student could listen to the audio on a page as many times as necessary for that student to understand what was being learned.

Either my original audio was VERY POOR quality (which it may well have been) or the click as you go audio did not translate to this platform. Thus, I spent a little time re-recording the audio in one fell swoop in a higher audio quality (which took up more space), but the sound carried through to the Authorstream platform. It is not click as you go for either the slide movement or the sound, but it is adequately slow speed for a young learner, I believe.

Living and Non-Living Things

Uploaded on authorSTREAM by fivbert | Upload your own presentation

Here’s the actual comment back to me:

With your strong interest in Technology, I recommend you take a look at Wiziq's virtual classroom and authorstream's power point presentation platform. Both are web based platforms, have a bunch of features and free basic service.

I have not yet had a chance to try the other product he mentions. Another day, more fun!

How could you use this platform to engage your students? If your students are old enough and savvy enough, how could they use these technologies?

Technorati Tags: Power Point,presentations,AuthorSTREAM,Wizig's virtual classroom,education,technology

Just Wash Your Hands

2009-09-12T20:24:00.002-04:00

This is a video created by Bill Nye Tells Kids to Wash Their Hands that I found in Richard Byrne’s blog post where he says:

It’s a quick music video reminding kids to wash their hands to prevent the spread of germs.
The video goes nicely with these ten videos that I linked to last week.
The video also goes well with these lesson plans about preventing the spread of germs.

SO….Just Wash Your Hands!
[As always, in my author quotes, the underlines, color changes, and bold type is mine, not the author’s!]

Technorati Tags: Richard Bryne,Free Technology for Teachers,germs,wash your hands,Bill Nye,education

PLNs = Personal Learning Networks

2009-09-12T01:54:00.002-04:00

Jeremy Biddle, jbiddle, over at Lutheran Educators wrote a post about PLNs - Personal Learning Networks. He created a VoiceThread video to explain it.

http://voicethread.com/share/603588/

Everyone should have one. Most of us have started ours already, but may not have realized it. Now we just have to constantly improve it, add to it, and learn from it.

Who is in your PLN?

How do you increase your PLN?

Happy Learning!

Technorati Tags: PLN,Personal Learning Network,Jeremy Biddle,Lutheran Educators,VoiceThread,education,technology

How we learn… most important

2009-09-12T01:38:00.002-04:00

“Our culture lies. They say they want to encourage and reward individuality and creativity, but in practice they try to hammer down the pointy parts, and shame off the different parts.” – Sandra Dodd

Leo Babauta of Zen Habits wrote an interesting post entitled Education Needs to Be Turned on Its Head.
Leo says, and I agree:

What we learn in school isn’t nearly as important as how we learn, because how to learn is the lesson of school.

In other words, find problems that interest you, and figure out how to solve them.

Schools and learning need to be working to teach students how to learn, how to learn independently.

As a parent, my goal for my children always was to make them independent. We, as parents, are always teaching our children something new so that they will be able to live on their own without us, their parents.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tagtagainep19/3764366994

It is the same way with schools and learning. Students need to be prepared for their own lives, their futures, when they have to think on their own, when the teacher is not there dictating what needs to be done or learned and how to do it.

Sometimes, you’ll have to solve problems that aren’t so interesting, just to solve problems that do interest you. That’s OK. That’s how things work.

And here’s a secret: we already know how to do this. From birth. This method of learning is innate in all of us. It’s built in.

http://www.flickr.com/groups/funpictureswithkids

So let’s allow students to use their natural curiosity to learn the skills they need.

Teachers should be facilitators of learning, not dictators.

How do you facilitate learning in your classroom?

Technorati Tags: learning,education,facilitators,dictators,Leo Babauta,Zen Habits

[As always, in my author quotes, the underlines, color changes, and bold type is mine, not the author’s!]

Flickr

2009-09-12T00:44:00.005-04:00

Small CC photo below from:
http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=creative+commons

http://www.flickr.com/ has a selection of photos that are creative commons photos.

There are really some striking photos in the collection. When you need just the right image and don’t know where to find it, try FLICKR – Creative Commons images. You can right click on these photos and go to “COPY with url” and the information regarding that photo will be added to wherever you are going to place the photo. This is most helpful to teach students the importance of giving credit where credit is due, even if it is allowed to be used. This picture above was from Everyone’s photos with the description Creative Commons.

ALOE BLOSSOMS MACRO (CREATIVE COMMONS PROJECT)http://www.flickr.com/photos/grope4mac/3547437152

There is also a group called Flickr- Creative Commons- Free Pictures. The photo below was from this group.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ryall/219441351/in/pool-creative_commons-_free_pictures

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikebaird/2960091638
The picture above is from the collection Flickriver - Most interesting photos from Creative Commons- Free Pictures pool.
With this photo I had a little bit more trouble getting it inserted into my blog. I am not sure why, but am glad it finally worked.

So make use of appropriate photos and be sure to add the appropriate information regarding copyright.

And teach your students to do the same!

Technorati Tags: Flickr,photos,copyright,crative commons,education,technology

Student Blogging Guidelines

2009-09-07T16:27:00.003-04:00

Many schools in this 21st Century are adding blogging to the writing experiences of their students. It can be an experience that makes students more aware of the global connectedness of the world in this day and age and provide an outlet for their writing spirit. It makes a purpose to their writing, a reason to write so others can understand what you are saying, a reason to use correct spelling, punctuation, and grammar, etc., not just another assignment.

Student Blogging Guidelines by Kim Cofino at Always Learning reminds us of several items to think about before opening up our children to this opportunity on the web. Her school developed these for 3, 4, 5th graders last year and has now posted them for K-12 students as well. They are well worth perusing.

Student Blogging Guidelines
As a student blogger at ISB, you are expected to follow these blogging guidelines below. Use the questions in italics to help you decide what is appropriate to post on your blog.
1. Only post things that you would want everyone (in school, at home, in other countries) to know.
Ask yourself: Is this something I want everyone to see?

2. Do not share personal information.
Ask yourself: Could someone find me (in real life) based on this information?

3. Think before you post.
Ask yourself: What could be the consequences of this post?

4. Know who you’re communicating with.
Ask yourself: Who is going to look at this, and how are they going to interpret my words?

5. Consider your audience and that you’re representing ISB.
Ask yourself: Do I have a good reason/purpose to do this?

6. Know how to give constructive feedback.
Ask yourself: What will I cause by writing this post?

7. Treat other people the way you want to be treated.
Ask yourself: Would I want someone to say this to me?

8. Use appropriate language and proper grammar and spelling.
Ask yourself: Would I want this post to be graded for proper grammar and spelling?

9. Only post information that you can verify is true (no gossiping).
Ask yourself: Is this inappropriate, immature or bullying?

10. Anytime you use media from another source, be sure to properly cite the creator of the original work.
Ask yourself: Who is the original creator of this work?

Commenting Guidelines
As a blogger, you will be commenting on other people’s work regularly. Good comments:
are constructive, but not hurtful;
consider the author and the purpose of the post;
are always related to the content of the post;
include personal connections to what the author wrote;
answer a question, or add meaningful information to the content topic;
follow the writing process. Comments are a published piece of writing.

Even adult bloggers can learn some hints for themselves about how to act when blogging online.

Blogwalker also has some timely Tips for New Bloggers that you also might want to check here.

If you do have a class of bloggers just starting or continuing to develop their blogging skills, please check out this Blogging Challenge by Sue Wyatt. It may be too late to join, but it can still be an excellent opportunity to learn how to comment on someone else’s blog – an important skill.

A teacher might not send her students to this following site because it is more written for adult media consultant bloggers, but the tips included here at 7 Habits of Highly Effective Blogs can be adapted to use for students as well.

I just posted comments to a class of 1st grade bloggers and 5th grade bloggers. The 1st grade bloggers posts were edited by the teacher, as many would not yet be readable, but I can hardly wait for the year to progress to see how the students are learning to write. There will be amazing differences, especially in the 1st grade blogs!

Do you have your own personal blog?

Do you have a professional blog for education?

Do you encourage your students to blog, even if they are in 1st grade?

Do you need someone to read those blogs?

Ask your twitter community. That is how I found out.

Technorati Tags: blogs,Kim Cofino,ALways Learning,Sue Wyatt,blogging,guidelines,7 Habits of Highly Effective Blggers,Kami Watson Huyse,comments,twitter

Getting to Know Your Students

2009-09-07T15:56:00.002-04:00

Matthew Needleman at Creating Lifelong Learners wrote a recent post entitled Back to School Week- It’s a Marathon Not a Sprint.

He writes about how many teachers prepare “Getting to Know You” activities for the first few days/week of school. He makes the point though that you will need to wait throughout the year, the long haul, to really truly “Get to Know” your students.

And it is a life long journey. Sometimes, you see your former students after many years. You wonder what happened to that “cute little girl” or that “rambunctious little boy”? You may see them “All Grown Up’” and can see glints of their former selves. OR they are completely different.

Just remember, you have an influence on their life and you need to be sure that influence is a positive one. One that will help them become “All that they can be!”

A little extra time spent helping them, doing something special for them, making the lesson come alive to them, creating a love of learning can have a lasting effect on them, their self-esteem, and their future.

As Matthew concludes:

So, if you think you’re going to get to know your students during the first day, first week, or even first month of school, remember it’s a marathon and not a sprint and keep yourself open to getting to know who they are all year. Knowing who they are helps you know how to reach them. And the ones who are hardest to reach need you the most.

What will you do to get to know your students?

Will you remember them long after they leave your classroom?

Will you recognize the Person they have become in later years?

What positive effect will they remember from your class?

[As always, in my author quotes, the underlines, color changes, and bold type is mine, not the author’s!]

Technorati Tags: Matthew Needleman,Creating Lifelong Learners,marathon,sprint,Getting to Know,self-esteem,influence,Back To School,students

Photo Effects FUN!

2009-09-07T15:06:00.004-04:00

This photo was made to look like a Polaroid photo and a caption was added working from the online site 29 Photo Effects and Tools for your Blog and Presentations and Personal Pictures – Online Photo.

http://www.tuxpi.com/

You can even make posters!

I used this shot of my older daughter Jenny (L) visiting with cousins at SeaWorld this summer.

Students always enjoy making something special when they are working on a project.

How can you use this in the classroom?

What skills would your students need?

Please share some.

Technorati Tags: photos,fun,education,tuxpi.com,SeaWorld

How has learning changed? – a nifty picture evaluation

2009-09-05T01:34:00.002-04:00

I just “found” Paul Bogush over at Blogush thanks to my friend and PLN member Pat H (aka Loonyhiker) at Successful Teaching.

You should all follow Pat. She has lots of knowledge and follows the best people.

Anyways, Paul Bogush shows a nifty picture response to class evaluation. See the picture below.

Notice that the student expects to be able to continue after this year’s class with this newer style of learning.
This “evaluation” is just one example of the innovative and creative examples that Paul shows his students in the classroom.
His students know that (as he states in his Intro to Class -- First Day Song) you might notice that the teacher is a bit different. These kids feel wanted, accepted, and motivated to learn in more creative methods.

Listen here: First Day Song

Sure he could just be blogging about the best and brightest of his class “teaching” experiences, but I think not. He is a bit shy to boast (So I’ll do it for him!), but I think he is the kind of teacher I’d want for my own children. (My children are all grown up now, but still…you understand what I mean!)

I’m so glad I “found” him and can’t wait to see what new thoughts and ideas and conversations he comes up with on his blog. It will never be dull over there at Blogush!

What do you do that is unique, welcoming, or allows for individual differences in your classroom to make the students feel accepted?

Tell us and show us.

Technorati Tags: loonyhiker,Successful Teaching,Pat H,Blogush,Paul Bogush,education,First Day Song,evaluation

Wordle – We Can!

2009-09-03T02:36:00.004-04:00

Just had to showcase this wonderful Wordle from Kathy Cassidy’s Grade One class blog.

A great use of a Wordle.
Every class, every child should be able to make one of these themselves. Think of the self-esteem created here!

Do you know what Wordle is?

You take some text, whatever words you want to use, (the text from a blog post, the text from the Declaration of Independence, the text from a story a child wrote, or the text from a book, etc.) Then you insert the text into the “Magic Wordle Maker," (click on the link Wordle to get to the website) and Voila! You have a Wordle that makes words that appear most often in the text bigger than words that appear less often. There are also tricks you can use to add special effects and finagle the way it looks and works!

By the way, did you know that the maker of Wordle, Jonathan Feinberg, listened to educators? Teachers were cautious using Wordle with students because there are some Wordles that others have made that may not be acceptable to children viewing. Now when you go to Wordle, you automatically get to the "Create a Wordle" page, not the page that showcases the most recent examples of Wordles that have been made!

How have you used Wordle in your classroom, with your colleagues/teachers, in your blog, in a presentation to other teachers/administrators?

Please share those.

Technorati Tags: Wordle,teachers,first grade,Kathy Cassidy,education

Teacher’s Guide to Web 2.0 at School Illustrated

2009-09-03T02:12:00.003-04:00

Sacha Chua is a wonderful blogger, friend, and part of my PLN (Personal Learning Network). Sacha and I have only met via the internet, but I feel like I “know” her. I feel like she is in “my circle of friends.” I don’t really remember how I “found” her on the internet.

She is not in education, in the teacher sort of way, but she is an educator by teaching others the things she knows or has learned, and, of course, she’s a lifelong learner, as well.

She works for IBM and works on some stuff that I know nothing about called Drupal and emacs. She is very smart. a great writer, and a great presenter, plus a cat lover, social connector, gardener, seamstress, and improv wannabe/learner. She has so many interests that it makes me dizzy just thinking of all the areas she dabbles in. (Many areas are much more than a dabble, believe me!) She’s just an all around great person.

First, let me warn you that Sacha has a way with pictures… bet you thought I was going to say “way with words!” She has that “way with words,” too, but she uses as few words as necessary and many drawings, simple drawings, handmade drawings, not fancy worked over images. Her few words and simple drawings have a mighty impact. I guess what she really does is get to the “heart” of things - the meat of the matter. She always makes an idea seem so easy to learn, as well.

Please enjoy the SlideShare presentation Sacha made for teachers.

A Teacher's Guide To Web 2.0 at School

View more documents from Sacha Chua.

When you have a chance, wander over to her blog. She always has a lot to say.

Now tell me what did Sacha tell you that you didn’t know before?
What did Sacha make you realize you already knew, but just hadn’t realized it yet?
Did Sacha make you just a little bit more interested in Web 2.0 tools?

Technorati Tags: Sacha Chua,Living an Awesome Life,teachers without Borders,web 2.0,education

PROMISES…Dear Teacher

2009-09-02T23:02:00.003-04:00

In an earlier post A Letter to the Teachers of My Children by Shelley at Teach Paperless, I made comments regarding a letter from parents to the teachers.
Now here is a poem by Angela Maiers entitled:

Dear Teacher - The PROMISE Poem

PROMISES
by Angela Maiers

Dear Teacher,

Love me,
Make me feel special,
Make me feel included,
Make me feel valued,

Smile for me,
Tell me that you’re happy to see me,
Tell me that you’re happy to teach me,
Tell me that you’re happy I am here.

Involve me,
Tell me about our work together
Tell me how I can be of help and mean it genuinely

Notice me,
See all of me,
See my emotions, my laughter, my curiosity, my anticipation
See my right, and I will work on the “wrongs”

Teach me,
PLEEZE don’t just tell me what you know
Show me what I need to know,
Show me how to do it well

Help Me,
Help me when it gets hard,
Help me persevere,
Help me know it matters

Excite Me,
I came to you in love with learning
Keep me excited!
Show me the fun
Show me your fire and passion

Promise Me,
Promise me that you can.
Promise me that you will.
Promise me that you are ready to…

Love me, help me, engage me, excite me, and teach me
I'm Ready
I want to learn.
I want to know.
I want to be your student.

I PROMISE
I will return the favor
I will reward you with my attention, my focus, my heart
I will show you what I can do
I will show you who I can be

PROMISE ME?

I know I could link back to her website to see the poem and only quote a few lines here, but I just love seeing it all laid out here together.

Besides, this way I can highlight the words I want to (as my regular readers know!)
Thanks Angela, this poem is a keeper for sure!
Do you write poetry or prose…
… that tells your students…

what you expect of them and…

what you will give them in return?

Please let me see it.
Thanks!
Photo on Flickr by verrosassi4
[As always, in my author quotes, the underlines, color changes, and bold type is mine, not the author’s!]

Technorati Tags: Angela Maiers,Promise Me,expectations,promises,education,Teach Paperless

The Flow of our lives…

2009-09-02T22:22:00.002-04:00

The Flow from Journeys by Diane - a retired (just this year!) librarian makes each one of us think about what we are doing, how we are living, and how our teaching is changing.

Photo from Marie Coleman, whose photograph and comments suggested the topic of the Journeys posting.
Diane from Journeys says

To "go with the flow" is generally understood to mean moving in concert with prevailing trends.

How many of us as teachers or education professionals are “going with the flow,” especially in regards to technology and digital pedagogy?
Are we really in favor of technology and digital pedagogy or just following the crowd?
Do we truly believe these tools will increase students’ understanding and abilities?
Or are some of us ignoring these newer strategies and just going with the Old Flow of our teaching profession. Some of us will soon be retiring; so why bother with changing the flow and learning new techniques and strategies?
We need to take time out of our busy lives to think a little about this.
Are we just going with the flow?
Should we stand up and make a ripple?
Diane remembers how

Senator Robert F. Kennedy described a powerful yet positive current in a speech at the Day of Affirmation, University of Capetown, South Africa:
"Few will have the greatness to bend history itself; but each of us can work to change a small portion of events, and in the total of all those acts will be written the history of this generation...
It is from the numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is shaped. Each time a man (or a woman) stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he (or she) sends a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance."

Diane says..

The flow can be a positive or a negative. How we deal with life's currents is, fundamentally, a very personal decision.

Diane ends her blog post with this quote that reminds us all

“In the long run, we shape our lives, and we shape ourselves. The process never ends until we die. And the choices we make are ultimately our own responsibility.” -Eleanor Roosevelt

Are you “just going with the flow” or “making ripples?”
Tell me what you are doing?
[As always, in my author quotes, the underlines, color changes, and bold type is mine, not the author’s!]

Technorati Tags: flow,education,technology tools,Robert F. Kennedy,Eleanor Roosevelt,ripples,Journeys

Roads less traveled…Character Development

2009-09-02T21:49:00.003-04:00

In an article for Change.org's Education Blog entitled Character Development- Opportunity Costs and Roads Less Traveled by Bruce Smith, he states:

One of the first things you learn studying economics is that you can't have it all. Opportunity costs, they call it: given finite amounts of time and other resources, pursuing any course of action means doing without certain things. English classes typically find this concept in Robert Frost's "The Road Not Taken"..."And sorry I could not travel both/And be one traveler."

Bruce Smith says there are 2 roads for schools to take:

the roads of content and character…

Conventional schools devote vast amounts of time to content, to academic knowledge and skills. Everywhere you look, people are declaring what every Nth grader should know. Endless hours are spent drilling…

Covering content requires so much time partially due to students' resistance, but also because the amount of information keeps increasing exponentially. Not to mention, what little time isn't spent on instruction is consumed with assessing how well students have ingested the material. In a manner reminiscent of weeds, homework and tests become so prevalent as to choke nearly all the life out of learning.

He continues that this is a

most unfortunate consequence…

this fixation on academics means discounting character development, a truly critical function of education. In most schools, things like integrity, initiative, persistence and responsibility are supposed to develop spontaneously, a happy side effect of regular academic instruction.

Yet character development takes at least as much time as academics, and is too important to simply squeeze in on the side. Acquiring decision-making, problem-solving and interpersonal skills takes practice. Self-discipline, goal-setting, flexibility and resourcefulness are hamstrung when students are busy assimilating knowledge others have deemed important.

Overexposure to content means a relative neglect of character development—but does the opposite hold true?

There will always be gaps in people's learning—always opportunity costs, always roads we cannot take.

The good news is, gaps in knowledge can be filled with relative ease by those of strong character.

The increasing amount of information to be absorbed/learned is overwhelming. No one can know everything they need to know in this day and age. Thus, the internet can be the friend of all, but especially of the student (even the lifelong learner!)

If we teach students a love of learning, a curiosity for learning, and skills for information seeking, their need for learning will win!

Nashworld wrote on his blog about the importance of play. He also mentions how the natural curiosity of babies, young learners, allows them to learn many things on their own in their own little worlds.

True, certain opportunities need to be in place, but all babies learn. Some babies learn certain facts and other babies learn other facts depending upon what they have in their environments and what they are allowed to experience, and how they are encouraged. The knowledge they learn does depend on the environment they are put into, the opportunities that they can be exposed to, but they still are learning. (Unfortunately, for some, their experiences may be negative learning experiences depending upon their situations.)

What do you think is more important…

… academics or character development?

How do you balance these two skill sets?

[As always, in my author quotes, the underlines, color changes, and bold type is mine, not the author’s!]

Technorati Tags: academics,character development,change.org education,learnaing,babies,play,opportunity costs,Bruce Smith,Nashworld

Literacy Revolution or More Illiteracy?

2009-09-02T21:05:00.002-04:00

Are We Seeing More Illiteracy, Or a Literary Revolution?

from Change.org's Education Blog by Mike Smith

[Photo credit: Shareski]
Mike Smith wonders if there really is more writing going on than ever before!
I think he has a great point here.
If teachers are using the opportunities the internet and blogging allow, just possibly there is more writing going on today.
I just wrote comments to a class of first grade bloggers. (You can too… go to Kathy Cassidy’s class blog.)
Now today their writing is not spelled well (or for some spelled at all – the teacher was the editor so we could understand what was said!), but I can’t wait to see their writing as it progresses over the school year.
These students have an audience and they will have a reason to learn to write --- an audience of more than their parents and their teacher. As students grow in ability and age their writing will take them many places.
These quotes taken from the blog post at Change.org Education seem to agree with my thoughts:

Clive Thompson discusses a potentially huge paradigm shift, asking whether we're seeing a literary revolution rather than increased illiteracy that's aided by Facebook, texting, and "dehydrated language."

Andrea Lunsford, professor of writing and rhetoric at Stanford, suggests that young people write far more than any previous generation. Having collected and analyzed 15,000 writing samples she concludes "we're in the midst of a literacy revolution the likes of which we haven't seen since Greek civilization."

Literacy is doing more than just grow in one direction: It's exploding and branching off into completely new directions.

What are you doing with your students to encourage more writing?
How do they like it?
[As always, in my author quotes, the underlines, color changes, and bold type is mine, not the author’s!]

Technorati Tags: writing,education,Kathy Cassidy,change.org Education,Mike Smith,literacy revolution,illiteracy,texting,Facebook,language

Inspiration to Keep on Teaching… that Fire!

2009-08-31T21:41:00.002-04:00

I have to thank my PLN friend, and fellow blogger, Pat H of Successful Teaching AKA the “Loonyhiker” for alerting me to this Wonderful Blog Post by Mike Rush at Teacher Food.

I enjoyed his posts so much, I even wrote him a comment. (I know I should comment more, but I am too shy to comment much!)

He seems to be a relatively new blogger and seems to be a “more experienced” teacher like me. His posts are awesome. He has a great future career as a writer, IMHO. So, therefore, I HAD TO write a COMMENT!

Please go over to his blog and read his posts. Your day will be much brighter after reading just one post!

I decided I had “poured out my heart” to Mike, a bit, in my comment to him, as well as compliment his writing skills. Therefore, for my own benefit, I decided to post my comment to him here on my own blog. I hope it tells my readers a little bit more about me, the person behind these blogs.

Mike,
Your blog is Very Special! You are a GREAT writer! I am completely in awe of what you have written.
I was not sure how long you have been writing this blog. This "starting" post does not have a date.
You have already made a difference in the lives of teachers, at least one (me), and I am sure in many others who have read your words and quoted you.
I am one of those "old farts of teachers" who taught right out of college, then "retired" to have my children and be a stay at home mom (back in the day), and then slowly after many hours of substituting, volunteering, and tutoring, got back into the classroom.
Then I moved into a completely new area of the country. I thought I was "really retired," but the economy took a dive and so did my investments. I need to work in some capacity.
Also, I was missing being "in the thick of things!"
My grown son gave me 1 year of "retirement" before I would get back to work, but it took me almost 2 years!
So far, in this economy, I have not yet gotten a permanent position. I still have "the fire" within me to make a difference and desperately want to be in the classroom. I taught 4th grade, then 1st grade, then computer lab. I am truly a computer geek, despite my advanced years!
I graduated from college and got my teaching certificate 38 years ago. I've only got about 12 years of teaching "credits" and some of those are in private schools, so they "don't count" to some entities.
Nevertheless, I still feel like I've got that "new teacher" fire in me. When most of my peers are retiring and playing with grandchildren, traveling the world, or just relaxing, I want to be back in the classroom.
So I will keep "fighting the fight" to get a permanent position and also know that my work as a substitute, tutor, and interim teacher is valuable work.
I am an excellent teacher and there is a place for me!
They may have to put me in the grave to get me away from teaching in some form!
So keep on with the writing. It helps someone every day to read it!

So, Thanks, Mike, for writing and inspiring me!

Who inspires you?

What keeps you in the classroom, day after day?

Tell us about it, please.

Technorati Tags: retirement,teaching fire,Mike Rush,Teacher Food,education,loonyhiker,Pat H,Successful Teaching

Moving at the speed of YOU

2009-08-31T04:41:00.002-04:00

Michael Fisher has a blog entitled Digigogy, A New Digital Pedagogy.

In his description or explanation of this blog he states:

Digigogy is a paradigm shift.

Where pedagogy is about methods to instruct, Digigogy is about those methods, but with a technological frame. From hardware to software, from tech ed theory to application, Digigogy is about reframing our methods in the future of instruction. The new way of learning is a complete tear down and rebuild of traditional teaching, where learning is a joint effort and roles are reborn. Beyond the desks...beyond the walls...beyond the school. The new classroom is orbital, and scenic, and here. This blog is intended to be a launching pad...

I enjoy following his thoughts and ideas. Recently, his story (Please read the full account) was about his father-in-law reminiscing about an early career job at age 16 in England. Until the new worker learned how to do his task (and do it well), the team he worked on would be held back by the slowest (newest) one in the group.

“In essence,” the supervisor said, “we will move at the speed of you.”

…While my father-in-law was just relaying a story from his youth, I thought this story spoke volumes about teaching and learning, both with students in the classroom and with adults in professional development. (How often have we been in learning situations where the teacher or staff developer moved at the speed of “themselves?”)
How often do we REALLY support each other to ensure quality for all? How often do we share our tips and tricks at a level that brings everyone to a collective expertise? How often do we facilitate that level of support in our students, enabling them to help and guide each other?
As someone who is in schools often working with teachers, I thought that this story underscored the importance of positivity, collegiality, and generosity. To tell someone that we will “move at the speed of YOU” is huge. It’s a relationship and trust building practice that helps to sustain the work we do for the long haul. It benefits everybody, most importantly, our students.

Many of us, blogging away about technology, forget that everyone else is not on the same page as we are. When we provide in-service training to others, it is easy for us to forget that these “students” of ours could be “kindergartners” in the realm of technology use. We need to move to where our learners are and work to get them up to speed at their own individual rates. The same is also true in the classroom for our students.

An interesting sidelight to this thought, is that sometimes the teachers are the “Technology Kindergartners” and the students in the classroom are the “Technology Instructors.” This presents a hard position for most teachers. Teachers are used to being the sage, not the learner. Teachers need to be humble and realize that they are no longer “the sage on the stage”, but are lifelong learners, who may have students teaching them new information.

As Michael Fisher says

a complete tear down and rebuild of traditional teaching, where learning is a joint effort and roles are reborn. Beyond the desks...beyond the walls...beyond the school.

It is hard for many teachers to adjust to this new role.

Can you adjust your role?

Can you be a “learner” to your students if they are the sage?

[As always, in my author quotes, the underlines, color changes, and bold type is mine, not the author’s!]

Technorati Tags: digigogy,learner,sage,teacher,student,Michael Fisher,education,teachint,learning,professional development

Learning the names of the states & more…

2009-08-31T04:04:00.002-04:00

David Warlick of 2 Cents Worth always has interesting and thought-provoking ideas.

Please take the time to read David’s full post on this subject. In brief, he says

The bottom line of this ramble is that students armed with answers about science, technology, engineering, and math will not be able to compete or contribute to a global economy. It will be students who can can observe their environment, understand it, and inventively find ways to participate and contribute.

So we need to be teaching our students more than “just the facts, M’am.”

Students need to be challenged to take the facts, understand the meaning of these facts, create something new from the facts, and develop insights from learning these facts to contribute something of value to the world around them, not matter how small or big that world is.

A student does not have to be a grad student, a college senior, a high school senior, a middle school student, or even a fifth grader to create something of value to his world.

EVERY student at EVERY AGE can contribute to his world.

What are your students contributing to their worlds?

[As always, in my author quotes, the underlines, color changes, and bold type is mine, not the author’s!]

Technorati Tags: contribution,learning,education,David Warlick,2 Cents Worth,facts

Children See…Children Do

2009-08-31T03:48:00.002-04:00

This video can be upsetting.

Parents are not always aware of how much TEACHING they are doing to their children by just “being themselves” in everyday life.

Please make sure more parents realize children are always watching… so be careful what they see you doing, saying, acting, and re-acting.

This video and message is also a good one for teachers, as well.

If you treat students in a healthy, respectful manner, students will learn to treat their classmates more respectfully, at least when they are around you. Hopefully, then it will become more of a habit for them in their own daily life.

All of life is a learning experience – whether or not you’re teaching the curriculum!

Remember… the children are watching… you!

Technorati Tags: children,watch,habits,learning education,education,parents

Online Safety 3.0- Empowering and Protecting Youth

2009-08-31T03:35:00.002-04:00

Dean Shareski of Ideas and Thoughts shared his delicious link to Online Safety 3.0- Empowering and Protecting Youth.

All adults should read about Internet Safety 3.0 whether you are a parent, teacher, grandparent, or citizen of the world.

The internet is here to stay until the next better idea comes along.

In the meantime, we need to allow it to be used in a safe manner, NOT shut down and hidden away. Students need to know how to use it and how to use it properly. How to use it for their increased knowledge. It is the way these students of today and the future are going to learn. Why not make it a great learning experience for them? Let their proper use of the internet empower them. Students are using it on their own when they are OUT of school. Why not teach them in school how to be savvy internet users?

The article states:

Both the Internet and the way young people use technology are constantly changing, but Internet safety messages change very slowly if at all.

…To be relevant to young people, its intended beneficiaries, Net safety needs to respect youth agency, embrace the technologies they love, use social media in the instruction process, and address the positive reasons for safe use of social technology. It’s not safety from bad outcomes but safety for positive ones.

…Online Safety 3.0 enables youth enrichment and empowerment.

…We need to move on to Version 3.0 because…

1. We know more about youth risk online.
2. We know more about how youth use digital media.
3. Online safety needs to be seen in the context of participatory culture and democracy.

How can you, as a parent, teacher, administrator, or other responsible adult teach students of today the use of the internet to empower them?

Start to find out the answer by reading this article…NOW!

[As always, in my author quotes, the underlines, color changes, and bold type is mine, not the author’s!]

Technorati Tags: internet safety,social media,Dean Shareski,Ideas and Thoughts,Online Safety 3.0- Empowering and Protecting Youth,education

Letter to the teachers of my children…

2009-08-31T03:09:00.002-04:00

A Letter to the Teachers of My Children by Shelley at Teach Paperless brought a lot of parents’ concerns to the the forefront.

Unfortunately, not all parents, teachers, and administrators are on that same page. Many teachers would be upset with receiving a letter from someone stating the “facts” like Shelley did.

What am I talking about?

Well, first, you must go over to Shelley’s post and read the entire letter.

He wants challenges in his children’s education, he wants engaged learning in his children’s education, he wants teachers to know his children, AND he wants his children’s current abilities to be acknowledged, encouraged, and broadened.

This is what we all want (or what we should want if we are involved and care about now and the future) for “our children” -- the children of the world of today!

Why don’t you write a letter to your child’s teacher, or if you do not have children in school, write a letter to all ALL teachers?

Technorati Tags: letter to teacher,Shelley,Teach Paperless

KNOWERS (Talkers) or DOERS (Implementers)?

2009-08-31T02:54:00.002-04:00

Beth Holmes of The 21st Century Centurion wrote Is There Satisfaction in Knowing Without Doing?

She came to this question because

“Bob Sprankle, co-founder of the Seedlings Social Network and author of the Bit by Bit blog and podcasts published a fascinating little survey that posed an intriguing question: Are You Satisfied with the Pace of Change?”

She states:

I know that we continue to "see" traditional schools because our our profession is deeply ensnared in the abyss of the "knowing- doing gap." This common organizational phenomenon is described by J. Pfeffer and R.I. Sutton(1999) in their informative book, The Knowing Doing Gap : How Smart Companies Turn Knowledge into Action. Very simply, the authors confront education's #1 PROBLEM:
"WHY do educators know so much and do so little about the pace of change?"

In a nutshell, the field of education is engorged with knowledge experts - but it is painfully short on doers who implement knowledge and do so to promote organizational change. The authors correctly note that the most destructive aspect of the knowing-doing gap is the substitution of TALKING ACTIVITIES for action.

Until our profession begins full implementation of our collective knowledge, I doubt we will enjoy the satisfaction of a job well done.

So are you a KNOWER (Talker) or a DOER (Implementer)?

Guess I need to stop blogging so much and Start Doing Something More…

I am trying to get a job, so I can be a DOER! I can be an implementer in my classroom, in my job in education.

[As always, in my author quotes, the underlines, color changes, and bold type is mine, not the author’s!]

Technorati Tags: knower,doer,talker,implementer,change,Bob Sprankle,Beth Holmes,21st Century Centurion

Why Integrate Technology?

2009-08-31T01:51:00.002-04:00

Reading along over the summer from Taste of Tech by John Schinker about their Teachers Without Borders - Canada team's visit to Africa, I found a wonderful video talk given to the teachers in Kenya about Integrating Technology made by Zac Chase. In his talk, Zac emphasized

“If I share with you my idea, you cannot own it until you add to it.”

He also states

Learning must be…

1) Active

2) Collaborative

3) Integrated into your students’ lives

4) Evaluative

and 5) Inspirational

Although the video was taken on a handheld Flip video camera and is not going to win awards at the Film Festival in Cannes, the message is the most important part… and that should win awards!

Please have a listen here.

Is learning in your classroom ---Active, Collaborative, Integrated into your students’ lives, Evaluative, and Inspirational?

Technorati Tags: integrate,active,collaborative,evaluative,inspirational,Zac Chase,Taste of Tech,John Schinker,Teachers without Borders,technology tools,education

Teacher 2 Learn SONG

2009-08-27T04:54:00.002-04:00

Everyone needs to go to this site…and listen to this song.

I wish I had the knowledge to embed it to play right here from my blog.

Anyone who knows how to do that, let me know how to do it!

This song was written by Kevin Honeycutt. Follow him on Twitter or check out his website.

I had seen him on Twitter, when he was traveling around the country giving some talks, I guess. He was talking about writing a song or something…

Well give a listen … Great intro to the PD of the first day of school and all the normal “Do you Believe in me?” type videos!

It is on http://drop.io./ccy64yj

If that link doesn’t work, check out the song here: ccy64yj

Technorati Tags: Kevin Honeycutt,Song,Teacher 2 Learn,education

2nd ZOHO WRITER Blog POST

2009-08-27T01:07:00.005-04:00

2ND TRY

In Zoho, I found a tab where I can look at HTML Code, so I will see if I can fix my link there. (I did it! See the link below. You can click on it and it will take you directly to the correct page!)

Sorry if you think you are going crazy reading the same thing... You are... almost!

I am using Zoho Writer, to try it out to see what type of blog post it makes....

...Here is the link to where I started on this Zoho saga.

Free technology for Teachers by Richard Bryne

Free technology for Teachers by Richard Bryne (See, I fixed it! I did it! You can click on it and it will take you directly to the correct page!)

I wonder how it will look in my actual blog post on Blogger. (Great!)

COMMENT:

I am editing this again in Blogger. (If you notice that there are parts missing, you are right...I did not want to post all of the previous post. (Some people will stop reading my posts for that very reason!)

I did want to show that by editing html (like the little I know how to accomplish in Windows Live Writer and in Blogger) I can make the links look proper and now I know how to fix that in Zoho Writer.

It was also interesting that when I directly posted into my blog from Zoho, there were the double spacings between paragraphs.

Without making any changes (I think!) when I re-posted the revised version from Blogger, the extra paragraph spaces were eliminated from the post. Interesting.

You learn something new every day, I hope!

ZOHO WRITER Blog POST

2009-08-27T00:35:00.007-04:00

I am using Zoho Writer, to try it out to see what type of blog post it makes. That was one of the features that Zoho Writer has promoted.

Reading a recent blog post by Richard Bryne reminded me all about the Zoho product line which I signed up for some time ago and then never used it. (Richard's post about a different Zoho product, Zoho Meeting, started me on this path, but I will blog about that product later.)

Now I wonder how to insert a link to the blog (from Richard Bryne) that I was reading. I have to (am choosing to try to) learn to use this new program, Zoho Writer, for my blog posting.

Here is the link to where I started on this Zoho saga.

Free technology for Teachers by Richard Bryne

http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2009/08/zoho-meeting-could-be-good-for-online.html

I wonder how it will look in my actual blog post on Blogger.

Currently I am using Windows Live Writer to write my blogs. I have only started using it in the past month. I think it has contributed to the volume of blog posts that I have made in this last month. My productivity for blog posting has really increased.

In Windows Live Writer, there are at least 2 tabs at the bottom of the page where you are typing your post. If you go to the Source tab, you can insert a link that will be embedded into certain words if you know how to write the source code.

I am a new blogger and very limited on how to write source code. Therefore, I like simplicity. So far, using Windows Live Writer with my 1 or 2 skills in embedding code is the extent of my expertise.

Will my title of this document turn into the title of this blog post? (COMMENT: YES, posted from Blogger.)

We will soon see when I post this blog entry.

Another question that I wonder about when using Windows Live Writer is that when I post to Blogger, there are Technorati tags, but there are no Blogger tags.

Usually then I go to where I edit blogger posts and then add my tags. This way there are two lists of tags at the bottom of each blog. I am not sure if that is necessary or not. I just want to be sure to have the right tags for searchability, both for those on the web looking for topics and for me in my own personal blog.

That is a problem with the web today.

There are so many products out there that one can get bogged down in trying them all or not knowing which product works best for you. I am especially susceptible to FREE products!

Also I am thinking that the shift to CLOUD COMPUTING is the wave of the future. I know some people are afraid of it because they worry about losing documents or not having access to documents if the internet connection is down. All of these are valid concerns.

These items are both topics for more blog posts.

I am anxious to post this and see how it looks on my blog.

Ready!Set!GO!

If you know how to answer any of my many questions in this blog post, those of you who are more expert bloggers, ... ANSWER ME! Please!

COMMENT: (made using Blogger editing - after the original post was made from Zoho Writer)

After posting this from Zoho Writer (which was quite easily actually. A tab that said SHARE and then a item that said "share to blog"), I decided to leave it as is, except for correcting some typos.

Also I had made new paragraphs in Zoho Writer and they left 2 lines of space between every paragraph. It made my blog post very long.

The link for the blog that started me on this journey is just as a regular link in a text document. I do not like how that looks.

Here (in Blogger) I am working with the html code to make the link look nice.

Free technology for Teachers by Richard Bryne This looks so much nicer.

Motivation & Higher Order Thinking Skills

2009-08-25T04:29:00.002-04:00

WOW! Where does Larry Ferlazzo get his energy? He posts so much, so often, and all of it is Excellent!

Larry’s recent post discusses the TED talk by Daniel Pink “On The Surprising Science of Motivation” and Pink’s latest book A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future.

Larry summarizes in his own words:

Pink basically says …that extrinsic rewards do work — for mechanical work that doesn’t require much higher-order thinking. But he says research says that it will not work for anything that requires higher-order thinking skills and creativity.

He goes on to relate:

This analysis mirrors my own experience in the classroom. In Have You Ever Taught A Class That Got “Out Of Control”? I shared the challenges I faced last year in using extrinsic motivation … and then moving them back toward intrinsic motivation…

However, students clearly did not start doing their highest quality work until they were “weaned” off the point system and began to gain what Pink calls “autonomy, mastery, and purpose.” Pink says that those are the three essential elements in generating higher-order thinking skills.

I haven’t yet had a chance to watch the video, but encourage everyone as well as myself to watch it.

Then I challenge each of you:

How do you motivate your students?

Can you motivate your students without using Higher Order Thinking Skills and Creativity?

[As always, in my author quotes, the underlines, color changes, and bold type is mine, not the author’s!]

Technorati Tags: Daniel Pink,higher order thinking skills,creativity,motivation,Larry Ferlazzo

Engaged Learning

2009-08-25T03:57:00.002-04:00

David Warlick over at 2 Cents Worth is always thinking. In his recent blog post he asks the question:

“What is the difference between 20th century learning and 21st century learning?”

He talks about the definition(s)of learning:

First of all, I would characterize formal learning, in the pre-digital/industrial time as:

listening,
watching,
remembering

In a time of information scarcity, when our futures were fairly predictably, being educated was characterized by what you know.

In the digital age, where information is abundant (overwhelming) and the future is always a BIG question, I think that learning expands out of listening, watching, and remembering to include:

questioning,
engaging,
proving (and disproving),
Constructing (inventing)
teaching

He says usually engagement is used with the obligation/responsibility of the teacher, not the student. He says the verb engage should be used with the students:

I’ve had to work on the engaging part. It’s a term that I usually do not like to hear. …when I usually hear the term engage the students, it appears to be a verb … linked to the teacher — that the teacher’s job is to engage the students. What I like better is to attach the verb to the students. The students will engage with their information environment (textbook, whiteboard, Internet) to learn through questioning, experimentation, discovery, and construction.

Our goal with students should always be to engage the students and the students need to become engaged with their learning.

How do you engage your students with their learning?

[As always, in my author quotes, the underlines, color changes, and bold type is mine, not the author’s!]

Technorati Tags: David Warlick,2 Cents Worth,engagement,learning,education,digital age,industrial age