Wicked Decent Learning Podcast: Don't Be That Guy!WDL Blog
Essential Question: What makes a good colleague?
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Colleagues
Wicked Decent Learning Podcast: Don't Be That Guy!WDL Blog
Essential Question: What makes a good colleague?
Gaming from an Educator's Perspective
Live Blogging with Mark Spahr
PDF slides from today's #mlticastine08 EduGaming workshop: http://tinyurl.com/69x22n - http://tinyurl.com/6ygyjv - http://tinyurl.com/55wyo7
Do your own "Live Blogging" by using CoverItLive.
PDF slides from today's #mlticastine08 EduGaming workshop: http://tinyurl.com/69x22n - http://tinyurl.com/6ygyjv - http://tinyurl.com/55wyo7
Do your own "Live Blogging" by using CoverItLive.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Characters
Randy Judkins both entertained and inspired us with his performance tonight.
His question:
Who has made a difference in your life?
The essential question: How do we make a difference in someone's life?
Related resources:
Randy Judkins Home Page
EduEyeView Blog Post on Randy's Keynote
Who
Biography
Autobiography
Character
Process
Diversity
Other Institute news: Mark Spahr will be live blogging sessions at the conference. Check it out here.
Tell us (comment) . . . who DID make a difference in your life?
Photo Credit: Sarah Sutter
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Monday, July 21, 2008
MLTI Castine 08
"Airborne for Beyond Creativity" MLTI Summer Institute in Castine
Wednesday, July 23 – Friday, July 25
Maine Maritime Academy, Castine
Many of us are looking forward to the happenings at the 2008 MLTI Summer Institute. Beyond being there physically, there will be some options on joining in online.
Sarah Sutter has suggested MLTICastine08 for a tag. Let's go with it. I've added it to this post in the labels section.
The Tech4Me Ning will be carrying ongoing connections to institute activities. There is an opportunity to easily join.
There is a Wiki for you to add links and resources. If you are blogging, podcasting, ustream channeling, back channeling, etc., feel free to list your links in order to spread the word.
Also feel free to add your links in comments here on this blog as well as at EduEyeView.
View Larger Map
Wednesday, July 23 – Friday, July 25
Maine Maritime Academy, Castine
Many of us are looking forward to the happenings at the 2008 MLTI Summer Institute. Beyond being there physically, there will be some options on joining in online.
Sarah Sutter has suggested MLTICastine08 for a tag. Let's go with it. I've added it to this post in the labels section.
The Tech4Me Ning will be carrying ongoing connections to institute activities. There is an opportunity to easily join.
There is a Wiki for you to add links and resources. If you are blogging, podcasting, ustream channeling, back channeling, etc., feel free to list your links in order to spread the word.
Also feel free to add your links in comments here on this blog as well as at EduEyeView.
View Larger Map
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Creative Process
ASCD - A New Compact to Educate the Whole Child
Wikipedia: Creativity
Creativity Models
The Creative Process
Earlier Posts on the Arts
Essential Question: How can use of the creative process be encouraged in our schools?
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Politics and the Classroom
There is an excellent discussion on Wicked Decent Learning this week on the issues of discussing controversial topics in the classroom. Let Jeff & Dan spark your thoughts on these issues . . . and then consider the questions and resources below."Conflict is the gadfly of thought. It stirs us to observation and memory. It instigates to invention. It shocks us out of sheep-like passivity, and sets us at noting and contriving . . . conflict is a "sine qua non" of reflection and ingenuity. " ~ John Dewey, 1922.
Download "It's an Election Year, Kids"
WDL Podcast
WDL Blog
Question: Should controversial topics be part of what goes on in the classroom?
Essential Question: If so, what guidelines need to be considered?
Edutopia: Politics: Elephants, Donkeys, and Teens
Ethics Scoreboard: Professions & Institutions - Politics, Ethics and Arrogance in the Classroom
For Your Consideration: Teaching Controversial Issues
Controversial Issues in the Classroom (pdf)
Managing Hot Moments in the Classroom
Monday, July 14, 2008
Team Learning - Dialogue
What is the difference between discussion and dialogue?
How do we promote dialogue in teams?
Review of the Fifth Discipline
Dialogue on Dialogue: Our Process
Robert Hargrove on Dialogue
Dialogue from Peter Senge's Perspective
Team Learning: More than Group Thinking
Process Skills at LIM Resources
Active Listening at LIM Resources
"The discipline of team learning involves mastering the practices of dialogue and discussion. In discussion (a word with the same roots as percussion and concussion) views are presented and defended and the team searches for the best view to support decisions. Participants in a discussion often want to win and see their view prevail. While dialogue and discussion can be complementary, most teams can't distinguish between them. The original meaning of the word dialogue, according to physicist David Bohm, suggests a free flow of meaning between people. Bohm contends that in dialogue a group accesses a "larger pool of common meaning" that can't be accessed by individuals alone. The purpose of dialogue, then, is to go beyond the understanding held by each team member, and to explore complex issues creatively from many points of view. After dialogue, decisions must be made and thus comes the need for discussion, where action is the focus." -- Peter Senge
How do we promote dialogue in teams?
Review of the Fifth Discipline
Dialogue on Dialogue: Our Process
Robert Hargrove on Dialogue
Dialogue from Peter Senge's Perspective
Team Learning: More than Group Thinking
Process Skills at LIM Resources
Active Listening at LIM Resources
Revisiting 50 Ways to Encourage the Use of Technology by Maine Learners
Last year's original post.
Last year we brainstormed the following list. Care to discuss the ideas now? Disagree/agree? Change your mind? Any others that should be added? Are we using these approaches in Maine?
50 Ways to Encourage the Use of Technology by Maine Learners
1. Connect at where the learner is, not where we think they should be. (Jim Burke)
2. Use user-friendly applications (JB)
3. It is okay to ask for help and to make mistakes (Michael Richards)
4. Use common language not "geek-speak" (MR)
5. Incorporate technology into familiar situations (MR)
6. Provide compelling and meaningful reasons for learning and using technology (Cynthia Curry)
7. Students can become the handy ambassadors of technology usage. (Kern Kelley)
8. Do not be afraid. (Deborah White)
9. Model you own use of tech tools. (based on Will Richardson at ACTEM) (DW)
10. Remember the words of Ms. Frizzle from The Magic School Bus series, "Take chances, make mistakes, get messy!" (DW)
11. Remember what you feel like when YOU learn something new. (Ed Latham)
12. Include an atmosphere of fun and exploration in as many activities as you can. (EL)
13. Never underestimate the power of play. (EL)
14. Get comfortable with students being in charge of their learning with your role being to set things up and assist them on their journey. EL)
Added 7/15/08
15. There is almost nothing that you can do that will "break" your computer. (Mark Spahr)
16. Don't be afraid to play (see #15). (MS)
17. Usually, there is no step-by-step handout that shows you how to do it (see #16). (MS)
18. A great way to get teachers on board is to foster their personal use of the technology. (MS)
19. Your students probably know more about this stuff than you do- get over it and don't be afraid to let them teach you. (MS)
Added 7/16/08
20. Use it all of the time. (Sarah Sirois)
21. Let the students brainstorm ways to integrate. (SS)
Last year we brainstormed the following list. Care to discuss the ideas now? Disagree/agree? Change your mind? Any others that should be added? Are we using these approaches in Maine?
50 Ways to Encourage the Use of Technology by Maine Learners
1. Connect at where the learner is, not where we think they should be. (Jim Burke)
2. Use user-friendly applications (JB)
3. It is okay to ask for help and to make mistakes (Michael Richards)
4. Use common language not "geek-speak" (MR)
5. Incorporate technology into familiar situations (MR)
6. Provide compelling and meaningful reasons for learning and using technology (Cynthia Curry)
7. Students can become the handy ambassadors of technology usage. (Kern Kelley)
8. Do not be afraid. (Deborah White)
9. Model you own use of tech tools. (based on Will Richardson at ACTEM) (DW)
10. Remember the words of Ms. Frizzle from The Magic School Bus series, "Take chances, make mistakes, get messy!" (DW)
11. Remember what you feel like when YOU learn something new. (Ed Latham)
12. Include an atmosphere of fun and exploration in as many activities as you can. (EL)
13. Never underestimate the power of play. (EL)
14. Get comfortable with students being in charge of their learning with your role being to set things up and assist them on their journey. EL)
Added 7/15/08
15. There is almost nothing that you can do that will "break" your computer. (Mark Spahr)
16. Don't be afraid to play (see #15). (MS)
17. Usually, there is no step-by-step handout that shows you how to do it (see #16). (MS)
18. A great way to get teachers on board is to foster their personal use of the technology. (MS)
19. Your students probably know more about this stuff than you do- get over it and don't be afraid to let them teach you. (MS)
Added 7/16/08
20. Use it all of the time. (Sarah Sirois)
21. Let the students brainstorm ways to integrate. (SS)
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Global Collaboration
by Becky Ranks
My last post from NECC centers on the Keynote address on Tuesday. Lester Holt from NBC News interviewed two Canadian educators, Jim Carleton and Mali Bickley who are involved with numerous collaborations with classes from all over the world. It was a very moving presentation as they have participated in projects that have sent student made peace pigeons to Hiroshimaand have raised funds to build a high school for very needy students in Sierra Leone. NBC is involved as they have released their historical video archives for teaching and learning through a website called Hotchalk. There are numerous resources out there for global collaboration projects and many were highlighted in this keynote address.
iEARN (International Education and Resource Network) is the world's largest non-profit global network that enables teachers and youth to use the Internet and other technologies to collaborate on projects that enhance learning and make a difference in the world.
Another is:TakingITGlobal.org, an online community that connects youth to find inspiration, access information, get involved, and take action in their local and global communities. It's the world's most popular online community for young people interested in making a difference, with hundreds of thousands of unique visitors each month.
There are so many unique ways to make connections and have students realize that they can make a difference, so I hope that this will inspire everyone to look further. Start small and collaborate with students in your own district, and then think bigger to connect with students across our country and then the world.
My last post from NECC centers on the Keynote address on Tuesday. Lester Holt from NBC News interviewed two Canadian educators, Jim Carleton and Mali Bickley who are involved with numerous collaborations with classes from all over the world. It was a very moving presentation as they have participated in projects that have sent student made peace pigeons to Hiroshimaand have raised funds to build a high school for very needy students in Sierra Leone. NBC is involved as they have released their historical video archives for teaching and learning through a website called Hotchalk. There are numerous resources out there for global collaboration projects and many were highlighted in this keynote address.iEARN (International Education and Resource Network) is the world's largest non-profit global network that enables teachers and youth to use the Internet and other technologies to collaborate on projects that enhance learning and make a difference in the world.
Another is:TakingITGlobal.org, an online community that connects youth to find inspiration, access information, get involved, and take action in their local and global communities. It's the world's most popular online community for young people interested in making a difference, with hundreds of thousands of unique visitors each month.
There are so many unique ways to make connections and have students realize that they can make a difference, so I hope that this will inspire everyone to look further. Start small and collaborate with students in your own district, and then think bigger to connect with students across our country and then the world.
Monday, June 30, 2008
EdTech Action Network
by Becky RanksToday I am writing very briefly. For those of us who care about technology and its connection to teaching and learning in our schools in Maine, it’s time for political action. Here at NECC they have made it very easy to voice our opinions about the need for continued federal funding for technology. I am including a message from the ETAN website that explains their mission.
Join a growing number of educators across the nation who are “Making Their Voice Heard” in support of education technology. ETAN provides a forum for educators and others to engage in the political process and project a unified voice in support of a common cause – improving teaching and learning through the systemic use of technology. ETAN’s mission is to influence public policy-makers at the federal, state and local levels and to increase public investment in the competitiveness of America's classrooms and students.
So, all who read this go to the ETAN site and put in your zip code. It is so easy. They have written a letter for us that will be sent to our Maine legislators, and all you have to do is fill out a quick form and send. It’s a small thing to do that will have a large impact on our schools. I am also including a photo here of the Blogger’s Café, a very busy and thriving environment in the middle of NECC.
FOSSED 2008
by Deborah White
If you missed this year's FOSSED 2008 (Free and Open Source Software in Education), you might want to check out my impressions of the sessions I attended. Hopefully, it will inspire you to register for FOSSED 2009!
If you missed this year's FOSSED 2008 (Free and Open Source Software in Education), you might want to check out my impressions of the sessions I attended. Hopefully, it will inspire you to register for FOSSED 2009!
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Constructivist Consortium at NECC
by Becky Ranks
Today I am in San Antonio, Texas at the first day of NECC. I am attending an event that really is not connected with NECC, but is a very wonderful opportunity to work with teachers from all over the country and the world. It’s called the Constructivist Consortium with Gary Stager. One hundred twenty five teachers are crammed…and I mean crammed into the little Casa Rio Restaurant in downtown San Antonio. We are about to embark on a journey of constructivist learning. At this point of the day we are watching a video of Seymour Papert debating school reform and defending the use of technology in classrooms. His vision has long been in the forefront of our discussions of professional development opportunities in Maine. He sees technology as a medium for learning…comparing it to the arts and clay as a medium for the sculptor. It makes it possible for learning to happen in a creative expressive way especially in the areas of math and science.
Some of the wonderful software we are using today: Kidspiration, Inspired Data, Microworlds EX,Animation-ish, and Stationary Studio from FableVision. At ten o’clock we are handed all of this great software and set loose to construct and create. Everyone is doing something wonderful and different. We have all day just to play and learn….what an opportunity. Could we use this as a model for professional development in Maine? Sometimes I think we do too much talking and do not give teachers the time to “construct” and “create”. But in doing this we then have to think does this kind of learning fit every learner? Some people need more direction and purpose for what they are doing, while others would flourish and thrive in this open-ended environment. Lisa Foster, Gardiner Regional Middle School’s Technology Integrator is my partner today and we are spending this 100 degree day inside in a room buzzing with creativity.
Everyone, at some point in time, should attend a national conference as it refreshes, enriches, and inspires. A whole day to just think, construct, and create is a gift worth giving. Next year NECC will be held in Washington DC…a much closer venue to New Englanders. I would highly recommend thinking about attending and do it early as this event, a pre-NECC event, sold out in two days. I hope to add another post or two this week. See you then!!
Today I am in San Antonio, Texas at the first day of NECC. I am attending an event that really is not connected with NECC, but is a very wonderful opportunity to work with teachers from all over the country and the world. It’s called the Constructivist Consortium with Gary Stager. One hundred twenty five teachers are crammed…and I mean crammed into the little Casa Rio Restaurant in downtown San Antonio. We are about to embark on a journey of constructivist learning. At this point of the day we are watching a video of Seymour Papert debating school reform and defending the use of technology in classrooms. His vision has long been in the forefront of our discussions of professional development opportunities in Maine. He sees technology as a medium for learning…comparing it to the arts and clay as a medium for the sculptor. It makes it possible for learning to happen in a creative expressive way especially in the areas of math and science.
Some of the wonderful software we are using today: Kidspiration, Inspired Data, Microworlds EX,Animation-ish, and Stationary Studio from FableVision. At ten o’clock we are handed all of this great software and set loose to construct and create. Everyone is doing something wonderful and different. We have all day just to play and learn….what an opportunity. Could we use this as a model for professional development in Maine? Sometimes I think we do too much talking and do not give teachers the time to “construct” and “create”. But in doing this we then have to think does this kind of learning fit every learner? Some people need more direction and purpose for what they are doing, while others would flourish and thrive in this open-ended environment. Lisa Foster, Gardiner Regional Middle School’s Technology Integrator is my partner today and we are spending this 100 degree day inside in a room buzzing with creativity.
Everyone, at some point in time, should attend a national conference as it refreshes, enriches, and inspires. A whole day to just think, construct, and create is a gift worth giving. Next year NECC will be held in Washington DC…a much closer venue to New Englanders. I would highly recommend thinking about attending and do it early as this event, a pre-NECC event, sold out in two days. I hope to add another post or two this week. See you then!!
Thursday, June 26, 2008
A Car that runs on water .... GREAT... or is it really?
by Ed Latham
I stumbled across a bunch of videos lately when I was searching for alternative fuels. I would offer links, but if you simply go to You Tube and enter in "Cars that run on water" or "h20 cars" you will see a bunch of videos. In one of the videos from Reutors, a Japanese model has 1 hour of run time at 80KM (50 mph) on one liter of water (roughly 1/3 gallon) which would equate to 150 miles per gallon. On the surface this sounds great! Many of the videos suggest that the water does not even need to be cleaned. Water is everywhere right?
Those of you over 40 years old, could you please think back to your teen years and quote me the price of bottled water? Unless your family was in the rich upper class, you did not even see bottled water on standard supermarket shelves. In fact, the industry only started bottling water in plastic bottles in 1968 and that really started things off. Buying bottled water instead of drinking tap water really only took off in the late 80s and early 90s. Effectively, we might say that buying bottled water 20 years ago was a joke or novelty.
Look around you now. Go to any park in any city and you will find a good chunk of people toting around some water. Go to any professional conference and bottles of crystal clear water are usually present. Certainly, bottled water is increasing it's importance in much of American culture. After all, both Coke and Pepsi companies report that sales of bottled water continue to reach record levels through 2006.
How about our gas consumption? Before the gas crisis of the early 70s many people considered gas to be inexpensive and plentiful. In 1973 when things exploded, oil was up to a whooping $12/barrel and our country felt like it was being strangled. I know inflation has a role in comparing prices from one time period to another, but look at the price now for oil. Just do a quick search on internet for today's price. At the pump we can see the direct cost for us to drive around, and currently that is running around $4 US / gallon. People are complaining everywhere in America about the prices while Europeans sit back and sort of chuckle thinking it is about time for us to pay for our consumption rates. I do not mean to slip into a US consumption bashing (later article maybe) but I did want to highlight that people are starting to feel some anxiety about gas prices. Do we feel the same about water?
Lets do the math that no one thinks about. A 16 oz bottle of water sells for approximately $1 US on average. 16oz is 1/8th of a gallon. Some simple math gets us to $8 a gallon for water!!!! Something must be wrong with my math ... let me double check ... hmmmm. Nope, everything checks out. We pay $8 a gallon to drink water and no one complains at all, but almost everyone complains about $4 a gallon for the ability to drive around?
I would like to note that bottled water prices in the last 5 years or so have started a growth pattern that is far from a linear growth. This implies that we will be paying tons more for water if current trends continue. And we want to take this resource and put it into our cars?
Some would argue that water is everywhere and it is free to scoop up. Try that at your local town water reservoir and tell me how much the fine was. Couldn't we collect rain? Well, people could currently cut down on their water taxes in many cities by collecting rain, but how often does that happen. Even if we did, is your region experiencing droughts more and more each 5 year increment?
I love the idea of a cheap renewable fuel source. I worry about water, the key to our survival, being one of those sources. With the voracious appetite of the Amearican consumers and an apparent lack of concern where the products come from, I can envision us driving ourselves into some scary situations.
I don't think we talk much about water in this country. I would like to hear other's thoughts about water. Is it something we need to be aware of? How many were aware of the political tensions between Canada and American in the last few years of the issue to access fresh water? Are we aware of how others around the world view water as a resource? I would love to hear from different parts of the world about their culture's views on water. After all this typing, I think I need to go get a drink.
I stumbled across a bunch of videos lately when I was searching for alternative fuels. I would offer links, but if you simply go to You Tube and enter in "Cars that run on water" or "h20 cars" you will see a bunch of videos. In one of the videos from Reutors, a Japanese model has 1 hour of run time at 80KM (50 mph) on one liter of water (roughly 1/3 gallon) which would equate to 150 miles per gallon. On the surface this sounds great! Many of the videos suggest that the water does not even need to be cleaned. Water is everywhere right?
Those of you over 40 years old, could you please think back to your teen years and quote me the price of bottled water? Unless your family was in the rich upper class, you did not even see bottled water on standard supermarket shelves. In fact, the industry only started bottling water in plastic bottles in 1968 and that really started things off. Buying bottled water instead of drinking tap water really only took off in the late 80s and early 90s. Effectively, we might say that buying bottled water 20 years ago was a joke or novelty.
Look around you now. Go to any park in any city and you will find a good chunk of people toting around some water. Go to any professional conference and bottles of crystal clear water are usually present. Certainly, bottled water is increasing it's importance in much of American culture. After all, both Coke and Pepsi companies report that sales of bottled water continue to reach record levels through 2006.
How about our gas consumption? Before the gas crisis of the early 70s many people considered gas to be inexpensive and plentiful. In 1973 when things exploded, oil was up to a whooping $12/barrel and our country felt like it was being strangled. I know inflation has a role in comparing prices from one time period to another, but look at the price now for oil. Just do a quick search on internet for today's price. At the pump we can see the direct cost for us to drive around, and currently that is running around $4 US / gallon. People are complaining everywhere in America about the prices while Europeans sit back and sort of chuckle thinking it is about time for us to pay for our consumption rates. I do not mean to slip into a US consumption bashing (later article maybe) but I did want to highlight that people are starting to feel some anxiety about gas prices. Do we feel the same about water?
Lets do the math that no one thinks about. A 16 oz bottle of water sells for approximately $1 US on average. 16oz is 1/8th of a gallon. Some simple math gets us to $8 a gallon for water!!!! Something must be wrong with my math ... let me double check ... hmmmm. Nope, everything checks out. We pay $8 a gallon to drink water and no one complains at all, but almost everyone complains about $4 a gallon for the ability to drive around?
I would like to note that bottled water prices in the last 5 years or so have started a growth pattern that is far from a linear growth. This implies that we will be paying tons more for water if current trends continue. And we want to take this resource and put it into our cars?
Some would argue that water is everywhere and it is free to scoop up. Try that at your local town water reservoir and tell me how much the fine was. Couldn't we collect rain? Well, people could currently cut down on their water taxes in many cities by collecting rain, but how often does that happen. Even if we did, is your region experiencing droughts more and more each 5 year increment?
I love the idea of a cheap renewable fuel source. I worry about water, the key to our survival, being one of those sources. With the voracious appetite of the Amearican consumers and an apparent lack of concern where the products come from, I can envision us driving ourselves into some scary situations.
I don't think we talk much about water in this country. I would like to hear other's thoughts about water. Is it something we need to be aware of? How many were aware of the political tensions between Canada and American in the last few years of the issue to access fresh water? Are we aware of how others around the world view water as a resource? I would love to hear from different parts of the world about their culture's views on water. After all this typing, I think I need to go get a drink.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
