Alan Levine's 50 Web 2.0 Ways To Tell a Story
Jason Ohler's Digital and Traditional Storytelling
Digital Storytelling Resources
Idea Generators
Writing Prompts
Storyboarding Resources
Video Resources
Saturday, October 13, 2007
21st Century Skills in Maine
This past summer Maine joined the National Partnership for 21st Century Skills.
While many people are celebrating this initiative, Gary Stager has another take on it. He argues that there is nothing new to these skills, that they've always been important, and aren't anything that couldn't be done without computers. He also points out that this is being sponsored and pushed by large corporations who also support NCLB. Read Stager's article, "Apparently This Group of Tech Execs Has as Crystal Ball," here.
What do you think? Does Stager have a point or is this perhaps just an example of keynote speaker opportunism? How legitimate is the Partnership? Is it yet another of a long history of glossy attempts by large corporations to further their interests in the marketplace while failing to consider our disintegrating culture and lack of an adequate social safety net for our citizens?
Twenty-first Century Skills Resources
While many people are celebrating this initiative, Gary Stager has another take on it. He argues that there is nothing new to these skills, that they've always been important, and aren't anything that couldn't be done without computers. He also points out that this is being sponsored and pushed by large corporations who also support NCLB. Read Stager's article, "Apparently This Group of Tech Execs Has as Crystal Ball," here.
What do you think? Does Stager have a point or is this perhaps just an example of keynote speaker opportunism? How legitimate is the Partnership? Is it yet another of a long history of glossy attempts by large corporations to further their interests in the marketplace while failing to consider our disintegrating culture and lack of an adequate social safety net for our citizens?
Twenty-first Century Skills Resources
Rhythm
I've been watching a fascinating show on Ovation TV with George Martin called Rhythm of Life.
The idea is that there is rhythm everywhere there is life. Rhythm in everything.
Confession: I've always thought that the arts should be considered the true "basics" of school curriculum instead of reading, 'riting, and 'rithmetic.
What do you think - is a sense of rhythm important in children's lives? Is a sense of rhythm important in adult lives?
One obvious change that has taken place in my lifetime is that schedules are not cast in stone to the degree that they were in Pleasantville. The family eating together at a set time every evening is much less common now than a couple of generations ago. We now have cable, VCR's and DVD's and TIVO's that can shift programming times that wasn't possible earlier. The number of choices has expanded at an exponential rate so that the type of common daily experiences that tie together our culture has changed radically . . . and perhaps decreased. How does this effect community and human character?
A couple other questions: Is there a rhythm in digital technology and our online experiences? If there is a rhythm, how is it different?
Rhythm Resources
The idea is that there is rhythm everywhere there is life. Rhythm in everything.
Confession: I've always thought that the arts should be considered the true "basics" of school curriculum instead of reading, 'riting, and 'rithmetic.
What do you think - is a sense of rhythm important in children's lives? Is a sense of rhythm important in adult lives?
One obvious change that has taken place in my lifetime is that schedules are not cast in stone to the degree that they were in Pleasantville. The family eating together at a set time every evening is much less common now than a couple of generations ago. We now have cable, VCR's and DVD's and TIVO's that can shift programming times that wasn't possible earlier. The number of choices has expanded at an exponential rate so that the type of common daily experiences that tie together our culture has changed radically . . . and perhaps decreased. How does this effect community and human character?
A couple other questions: Is there a rhythm in digital technology and our online experiences? If there is a rhythm, how is it different?
Rhythm Resources
Technology Education Blog . . .
Check out Scott Hall's comments on the ACTEM 2007 conference at his blog called Technology Education.
Technorati Tags: ACTEM MAINEd07
Technorati Tags: ACTEM MAINEd07
Friday, October 12, 2007
Sharon's Share
Check out Sharon's Share Blog (Sharon Betts) for reviews and information on this year's ACTEM Conference.
Technorati Tags: ACTEM MAINEd07
The Cool Cat Teacher
Check out the Cool Cat Teacher Blog. Vicki A. Davis has information from her sessions at the ACTEM Conference.
Technorati Tags: ACTEM MAINEd07
Web 2.0 with Becky & Olga - Blogs & Wikis
I am still on the floor in a room that is overflowing with delightful educators, checking out a presentation of web 2.0 tools by Becky Ranks and Olga LaPlante. We are watching a TeacherTube vid by a lady called Allanah.
Email to Friend
Becky is presenting some down-to-earth examples of blogs created by teachers and students.
Olga speaks of the advantages of RSS and blogs.
More: Blogging in Education
Next . . . review the advantages of wikis.
More: Wiki Resources
Skype
Viewed a Bob Spankle talk on Podcasting
More: Podcasting and Education
Examples of VoiceThread
Animoto
Think.com
More: Online Classroom Environments
Technorati Tags: ACTEM MAINEd07
Email to FriendBecky is presenting some down-to-earth examples of blogs created by teachers and students.
Olga speaks of the advantages of RSS and blogs.
More: Blogging in Education
Next . . . review the advantages of wikis.
More: Wiki Resources
Skype
Viewed a Bob Spankle talk on Podcasting
More: Podcasting and Education
Examples of VoiceThread
Animoto
Think.com
More: Online Classroom Environments
Technorati Tags: ACTEM MAINEd07
More of a comment
by Olga LaPlante
When Will Richardson was talking about teaching students to how to use iPhones, and networking, and that expecting each student by a certain date not to have one of those toys in their pocket at all times, and riding in a wireless cloud to search for information was simply put unreasonable - well, am I misreading this, but what about overdependence on these toys - remember, like a tamagotchi that dies when left unattended for a few hours? I am overreacting? Am I missing some other essential skills that are being developed even though on the surface it looks like we are just using those toys to rely on someone to have answers ready for us?
Technorati Tags: ACTEM MAINEd07
When Will Richardson was talking about teaching students to how to use iPhones, and networking, and that expecting each student by a certain date not to have one of those toys in their pocket at all times, and riding in a wireless cloud to search for information was simply put unreasonable - well, am I misreading this, but what about overdependence on these toys - remember, like a tamagotchi that dies when left unattended for a few hours? I am overreacting? Am I missing some other essential skills that are being developed even though on the surface it looks like we are just using those toys to rely on someone to have answers ready for us?
Technorati Tags: ACTEM MAINEd07
Arrogance vs Supreme Confidence?
by Ed Latham
If you have ever been taught something by a very experienced person with many insights, you may have been left with some extreme feelings. As soon as we approach an "authority" we naturally start measuring up the content to find its personal worth. There is a more subtle assessment that is made as well. As soon as we establish that the content being offered is worthwhile, there seems to be a natural inclination for people to establish whether the presenter is being arrogant or is very confident in the material. Many people do not see things black or white, and frequently we leave training opportunities with a feeling that people are somewhere in between. I have attended many presentations and in the debriefing conversations I have listened and participated in sharing sessions with peers in which the most heated feelings were centered around the presentation rather than the content. What actions or attitudes help us to delineate between arrogance and confidence? Here are some definitions to soak up first...
Arrogance
Confidence
We are all presenters in our positions as educators. In our professional development experiences we have all run into presenters that almost exemplify either extreme. I think that by discussing these positive and negative traits, many of us can internalize and start analyzing how we come across to other people. What traits do confident presenters give off that arrogant ones do not and vice versa?
Today is the 20th annual ACTEM conference and people will be seeing many presenters. Grab all the content and experience you can get from this great experience, but I ask you to look at the traits the presenters have and try to relate those to your overall feelings during your reflections later this evening. Why did this presenter leave you feeling upbeat, angry, disappointed, energized or may you just felt lost?
No presenter starts out their morning saying, "Well they paid me a boat load of cash so I might as well go out there and tick some people off today .... hmmm how might I do that?" So with that in mind, please DO NOT post any specific names or "That guy that presented the snake dancing thing.." Instead keep your posts concentrating on the properties of the presentations that left you feeling that the presenter was arrogant or confident.
I am anxious to learn from everyone how we all view these two feelings that presenters often leave us with!
Technorati Tags: ACTEM MAINEd07
If you have ever been taught something by a very experienced person with many insights, you may have been left with some extreme feelings. As soon as we approach an "authority" we naturally start measuring up the content to find its personal worth. There is a more subtle assessment that is made as well. As soon as we establish that the content being offered is worthwhile, there seems to be a natural inclination for people to establish whether the presenter is being arrogant or is very confident in the material. Many people do not see things black or white, and frequently we leave training opportunities with a feeling that people are somewhere in between. I have attended many presentations and in the debriefing conversations I have listened and participated in sharing sessions with peers in which the most heated feelings were centered around the presentation rather than the content. What actions or attitudes help us to delineate between arrogance and confidence? Here are some definitions to soak up first...
Arrogance
Confidence
We are all presenters in our positions as educators. In our professional development experiences we have all run into presenters that almost exemplify either extreme. I think that by discussing these positive and negative traits, many of us can internalize and start analyzing how we come across to other people. What traits do confident presenters give off that arrogant ones do not and vice versa?
Today is the 20th annual ACTEM conference and people will be seeing many presenters. Grab all the content and experience you can get from this great experience, but I ask you to look at the traits the presenters have and try to relate those to your overall feelings during your reflections later this evening. Why did this presenter leave you feeling upbeat, angry, disappointed, energized or may you just felt lost?
No presenter starts out their morning saying, "Well they paid me a boat load of cash so I might as well go out there and tick some people off today .... hmmm how might I do that?" So with that in mind, please DO NOT post any specific names or "That guy that presented the snake dancing thing.." Instead keep your posts concentrating on the properties of the presentations that left you feeling that the presenter was arrogant or confident.
I am anxious to learn from everyone how we all view these two feelings that presenters often leave us with!
Technorati Tags: ACTEM MAINEd07
ACTEM 2007 Conference Notes to Share - Friday
This is a space for comments on the ACTEM MaineEducation 2007 Technology Conference. Click on "comments" below and share your observations and thoughts.
A Web of Connections: Why the Read/Write Web Changes Everything
Technorati Tags: ACTEM MAINEd07
A Web of Connections: Why the Read/Write Web Changes Everything
Technorati Tags: ACTEM MAINEd07
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Just a thought...
by Olga LaPlante
I am sitting here at the ACTEM Pre-conference workshop, listening to people presenting high school stuff - suggesting some techniques, but also providing a lot of research data.
One of the presenters said, “We know more about what our students CAN’T do, and very little about what they CAN do.”
This is very true - I think back to this past spring, and the art show by the PATHS students. They had their work for show and sale downstairs at the PATHS building. I went there in the hope to find some piece of art that I would both like and be able to afford. What I found was beautiful talented work by one of my former French language students, - I had no idea! Not only she did a good job, but she actually painted in the style I so much enjoy. We actually had much more in common than I could have ever imagined, and would not have known otherwise!
Message - it’s important to connect beyond classroom and textbook. It’s often a matter of time, though. Thinking outside the box can help use class time to discover students’ talents, interests and such.
Technorati Tags: ACTEM MAINEd07
I am sitting here at the ACTEM Pre-conference workshop, listening to people presenting high school stuff - suggesting some techniques, but also providing a lot of research data.
One of the presenters said, “We know more about what our students CAN’T do, and very little about what they CAN do.”
This is very true - I think back to this past spring, and the art show by the PATHS students. They had their work for show and sale downstairs at the PATHS building. I went there in the hope to find some piece of art that I would both like and be able to afford. What I found was beautiful talented work by one of my former French language students, - I had no idea! Not only she did a good job, but she actually painted in the style I so much enjoy. We actually had much more in common than I could have ever imagined, and would not have known otherwise!
Message - it’s important to connect beyond classroom and textbook. It’s often a matter of time, though. Thinking outside the box can help use class time to discover students’ talents, interests and such.
Technorati Tags: ACTEM MAINEd07
CAST - Universal Design for Learning at ACTEM Pre-Conference
I'm blogging from the CAST presentation. Fascinating! We are working through neural paths and strategies used that are dependent on a question asked about a visual. Aside: Check out MusicNotes Player software.
We are now looking at representations of 3-dimensional space in 2 dimensions. Hmmmmm. . .reminds me of SketchUp.
Point: Focus on strengths of students rather than their weaknesses.
Analyzing Visual . . . Multiple Ways
What is here?
Do you see this? Tracking.
What is happening here? Comes from within.
Multiple Means of Engagement, Marco Torres, FlickSchool
Remember the three Principles
Multiple Means of Expression to increase recognition
Multiple Means of Expression to expand strategic abilities
Multiple Means of Engagement to enhance involvement
Story written in 1902: Monkey's Paw. Vocabulary is an issue for students. How do we approach? Many methods of working on this are being presented.
Resources: “Be Careful What You Wish For” PowerPoint;
Supporting, Engaging and Enhancing Comprehension for Students in High School (SEEC)
Little Known Features of Microsoft Word
Read, Write, Think
Web 2.0 Tools: diigo and Voice Thread
Supporting Literacy: Transforming Text
Resources: FireFox w/ ClickSpeak
Supported Reading Software; Etext Resources on the Web Commercial Etext;
Audacity – Text to MP3
Audacity online tutorial:
http://www.guidesandtutorials.com/audacity-tutorial.html
CAST: Teaching every Student
CAST eText Resources (Word)
CAST Math Resources (Word)
Supporting High School Math: Representation, Expression & Engagement
Resources: Interactivate!
Email to Friend
Feel free to comment below by clicking the "comments" link. What are your thoughts?
Technorati Tags: ACTEM MAINEd07
We are now looking at representations of 3-dimensional space in 2 dimensions. Hmmmmm. . .reminds me of SketchUp.
Point: Focus on strengths of students rather than their weaknesses.
Analyzing Visual . . . Multiple Ways
What is here?
Do you see this? Tracking.
What is happening here? Comes from within.
Multiple Means of Engagement, Marco Torres, FlickSchool
Remember the three Principles
Multiple Means of Expression to increase recognition
Multiple Means of Expression to expand strategic abilities
Multiple Means of Engagement to enhance involvement
Story written in 1902: Monkey's Paw. Vocabulary is an issue for students. How do we approach? Many methods of working on this are being presented.
Resources: “Be Careful What You Wish For” PowerPoint;
Supporting, Engaging and Enhancing Comprehension for Students in High School (SEEC)
Little Known Features of Microsoft Word
Read, Write, Think
Web 2.0 Tools: diigo and Voice Thread
Supporting Literacy: Transforming Text
Resources: FireFox w/ ClickSpeak
Supported Reading Software; Etext Resources on the Web Commercial Etext;
Audacity – Text to MP3
Audacity online tutorial:
http://www.guidesandtutorials.com/audacity-tutorial.html
CAST: Teaching every Student
CAST eText Resources (Word)
CAST Math Resources (Word)
Supporting High School Math: Representation, Expression & Engagement
Resources: Interactivate!
Email to FriendFeel free to comment below by clicking the "comments" link. What are your thoughts?
Technorati Tags: ACTEM MAINEd07
Design your own training retreat!
by Ed Latham
Every year there are many professional development activities that teachers can go to and learn things. After every one of those, I have had debriefing with peers about the goods/bads/uglys from that experience and that reflection time is great. How often do you actually get to act on that reflection though? Well, here is your chance. Some of the people that read this blog are very influential people that help set up trainings, presentations, and retreats all over the state of Maine. They would love to hear from us about what things we value at trainings. Many teachers have stated they want "something they can actually bring back to their classroom". That is a great ambition, but specific suggestions are much more helpful in getting teachers what they want. Some people may not be sure what to ask for. Please offer anything you want as there are absolutely no negative consequences to posting your wish list. Realize that every single one of the presentation directors out there want to provide the best learning resource for teachers to use. They need input from you so PLEASE post your ideas!
Technorati Tags: ACTEM MAINEd07
Every year there are many professional development activities that teachers can go to and learn things. After every one of those, I have had debriefing with peers about the goods/bads/uglys from that experience and that reflection time is great. How often do you actually get to act on that reflection though? Well, here is your chance. Some of the people that read this blog are very influential people that help set up trainings, presentations, and retreats all over the state of Maine. They would love to hear from us about what things we value at trainings. Many teachers have stated they want "something they can actually bring back to their classroom". That is a great ambition, but specific suggestions are much more helpful in getting teachers what they want. Some people may not be sure what to ask for. Please offer anything you want as there are absolutely no negative consequences to posting your wish list. Realize that every single one of the presentation directors out there want to provide the best learning resource for teachers to use. They need input from you so PLEASE post your ideas!
Technorati Tags: ACTEM MAINEd07
ACTEM Conference 2007 Chatter - Pre-Conference
This is a space for comments on the ACTEM MaineEducation 2007 Technology Conference. Click on "comments" below and share your observations and thoughts.
Technorati Tags: ACTEM MAINEd07
Technorati Tags: ACTEM MAINEd07
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Caravan
cara·van· (kar′É™ van′) (noun) 1.a company of travelers, esp. of merchants or pilgrims traveling together for safety, as through a desert. 2. a number of vehicles traveling together. 3. a large covered vehicle for passengers, circus animals, gypsies, etc.; van. 4. Brit. a mobile home or trailer
The first thing that comes to mind when I hear the word caravan, other than the Dodge Caravan, is the vision of the travelers on the silk road with perhaps a few camels thrown in for good measure. Dangers lurk everywhere.
But at Oxford Hills Middle School, a team of teachers has a tradition of using the caravan theme as a way of exploring countries around the world. Yesterday and today I have been presenting new tools that help to empower students and teachers in their explorations. This includes tools that help to find, evaluate, organize, process and present information.
It works like this: I spend a couple days in the classroom of one of the teachers on the team. As the kids cycle through his classroom from other classes on the team, I get the opportunity to not only show them some of these powerful tools, but the teacher gets to see the presentation 5 times. I'll also attend a planning period with all teachers on the team to repeat the work one more time. Doing this repeatedly creates a critical mass of people on the team who are fluent in the tools and thus greatly improves the chances of it being seriously used for curriculum projects. A simple model for encouraging integration.
The agenda for sessions included:
1. How to make a PDF and attach it to an email.
2. The wonders of MARVEL - making use of it for the Caravan Project
3. The Powers of Noteshare - how to use it for the Caravan Project
4. Setting up back-up server access for students.
Great fun! The kids are so quick to pick it up . . . and are enthusiastic to start making use of it in their projects.
Making a PDF on a Mac
MARVEL - Maine's Virtual Library
Noteshare Resources
Teaching in 1947 . . . "The Fun They Had"
Read "The Fun They Had" by Isaac Isimov, and then view this old teacher training film. Discuss.
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Character Series: Humility
"Keep me away from the wisdom which does not cry, the philosophy which does not laugh and the greatness which does not bow before children." ~ Kahlil GibranHow do we model humility?
"Once the game is over, the king and the pawn go back in the same box." ~ Italian proverb
Humility Resources
Character Series: Responsibility
“Be the change you want to see in the world.” ~ Mahatma GandhiAre we teaching our children to be responsible?
“You are not only responsible for what you say, but also for what you do not say” ~ Martin Luther
Responsibility Resources
Rights and Responsibilities Resources
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
