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

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

The Power of UTube

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

Scientific Method Rap…?

Awesome video to introduce

                          the Scientific Method.

Hey did you know that when you embed a UTube video you can change certain things? 

On the right side of the box where you copy the embed code, there is a button called customize. You can change the size, and the colors of the “control panel” at the bottom of the video. There’s a couple of other options as well.

I never knew this until I watched the video I just posted previous to this post.  I found a comment by teacher Sean Nash from Saint Joseph High School at the website where I found that video.  A student had been enthralled by the pink “control panel” at the bottom of the video and wondered how to do it.  Sean replied.  At first I didn’t know what Sean was talking about, but then when I saw this video, I tried it before I copied the embed code and “Voila!”

This video on Scientific Method might be a great INTRO to the school before an assembly on the topic of Science Fair Projects.

Technorati Tags: UTube,videos,Science Fair Projects,scientific method,embed code,Sean Nash

Wedding Aisle Dance

HOW can I get this to go along with Technology and Education?!!

The skills that were necessary to video this "dance" and upload it to UTube... were learned somewhere!

We need more freedom like this!

Watch the video here.