"School Used Student Laptop Webcams to Spy on Them at School and Home"
Essential Question: What is an appropriate use of monitoring for schools?
Discussion Starter:
Five Things Teachers Should Know about Student Privacy
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
EPIC: Student Privacy
Friday, February 19, 2010
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Are We Being Enslaved by Our Machines?
"The human dilemma is as it has always been, and it is a delusion to believe that the technological changes of our era have rendered irrelevant the wisdom of the ages and the sages." ~Neil Postman
From Jason Ohler's site:
Twenty Five Questions to Ask About Technology
See Technology's Effects
"In the past, we experienced technological change in the manner of sleep-walkers. Our unspoken slogan has been "technology über alles," and we have been willing to shape our lives to fit the requirements of technology, not the requirements of culture. This is a form of stupidity, especially in an age of vast technological change. We need to proceed with our eyes wide open so that we may use technology rather than be used by it." ~ Neil Postman
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
What Motivates Us?
Webinar: Dan Pink Discussing His New Book Drive
Date: Wednesday, February 17th, 2010
Time: 5pm Pacific / 8pm Eastern / 1am GMT (next day) (international times here)
Duration: 1 hour
Amazon: Drive: The Surprising Truth about What Motivates Us
The Motivation Tool Chest
Date: Wednesday, February 17th, 2010
Time: 5pm Pacific / 8pm Eastern / 1am GMT (next day) (international times here)
Duration: 1 hour
Amazon: Drive: The Surprising Truth about What Motivates Us
The Motivation Tool Chest
Online Schooling
Five Habits for Effective Online Classes
Tips for Effective Online Teaching
Issac Asimov: "The Fun They Had" . . .
"Margie did so with a sigh. She was thinking about the old schools they had when her grandfather's grandfather was a little boy. All the kids from the whole neighborhood came, laughing and shouting in the schoolyard, sitting together in the schoolroom, going home together at the end of the day. They learned the same things, so they could help one another on the homework and talk about it.And the teachers were people...
The mechanical teacher was flashing on the screen: "When we add the fractions 1/2 and 1/4..."
Margie was thinking about how the kids must have loved it in the old days. She was thinking about the fun they had."
Wind Power
Essential Question: Is wind power a safe, viable option for helping to meet some of Maine's energy needs?
PBS: Wind Power Lesson
Wind Power Gathers Speed
How to Make a Wind Vane
Offshore Windfarms in the United States?
Wind Power WebQuest
A Wind Farm in Your Neighborhood?
Wind Projects in Maine
Wikipedia: Wind Power in Maine
Union of Concerned Scientists: How Wind Energy Works
Union of Concerned Scientists: Clean Energy
U.S. Department of Energy: Wind Energy Basics
Wind Power at LIM Resources (Add, delete, modify as needed)
PBS: Wind Power Lesson
Wind Power Gathers Speed
How to Make a Wind Vane
Offshore Windfarms in the United States?
Wind Power WebQuest
A Wind Farm in Your Neighborhood?
Wind Projects in Maine
Wikipedia: Wind Power in Maine
Union of Concerned Scientists: How Wind Energy Works
Union of Concerned Scientists: Clean Energy
U.S. Department of Energy: Wind Energy Basics
Wind Power at LIM Resources (Add, delete, modify as needed)
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Learning in the Valley
Last week I had the wonderful opportunity of spending two days in the St. John Valley of Maine. The specific purpose was the St. John Valley Technology Training where I worked with fellow regional mentors and participants from around the region on looking at ways of making technology work for us in classrooms.
I loved it there. Very down-to-earth and caring people everywhere. I learned that in Fort Kent, Les Miserable had just been produced and performed by a collaboration of the University and local high school. I learned about Ployes and had an opportunity to savor this delicacy at a local restaurant. I also visited Ed Latham's solar home on the outskirts of Frenchville to gain a better understanding of the challenges of making choices which leave a small footprint on the earth's limited resources and eco-system.
We met at Wisdom Middle/High School in St. Agatha for the workshops. Students were spending the day in Fort Kent for a school-wide wellness day. Watching students enthusiastically head out and then return later in the day warmed the heart. Teachers from around the region gathered to investigate the possibilities that computer technology offers in helping in meeting classroom goals. Again, there was an ever-present atmosphere of openness and enthusiasm. Loved it.
Childhood & Play
"He was not the Model Boy of the village. He knew the model boy very well though--and loathed him." ~The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
Are there valid reasons for having more unstructured time during childhood?In Defense of Childhood
Play: Essentials for All Children
Where Do the Children Play?
Monday, February 15, 2010
Friday, February 12, 2010
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Monday, February 1, 2010
February MLTI Webinars
The schedule and registration for February 2010 webinars are now available. Please forward, print, blog, twitter, etc and share this information with as many co-workers as possible.
February 2010 Webcast Schedule
February 2 - Navigating the Real World II
February 4 - Making Meaning: Presenting Reality – Tools to analyze data.
February 11 - Research Process: Structuring a Research Project – using tools online and on the MLTI laptop to plan, organize and carry out research projects.
February 25 - Writing Process: Drafting, Revising, and Editing (lots of tools and resources to talk about here as well as techniques and strategies).
Navigating the Real World II (February 2nd)
In partnership with Wri2me (What's Really Important to ME), MLTI is hosting a webinar titled Navigating the Real World. Navigating the Real World is a printed annual publication that will be distributed in late April to all Maine high school students and many 8th graders as well. At its companion web site, NavigatingTheRealWorld.org, you can view a substantial number of interviews. In this webinar you will learn how you and your students can use the site as a resource. You will also learn how your students can do interviews and post them at NavigatingTheRealWorld.org for the benefit of others and as a resource for the printed annual. We want their help to gather the stories from a broad range of Maine people.
Presenting Reality: Tools to Analyze Data (February 4th) Facilitated by Phil Brookhouse
Data exists in many forms. In the classroom, students come in contact with data and we try to provide opportunities for them to construct meaning from all that data. In this webinar, we will look at some fundamental principles behind data and technology integration. An overview of data entry, data manipulation and data analysis will be provided by looking at spreadsheets, probeware, and databases in the framework of learning. As in other webinars in this series, we will look at “why to” rather than “how to,” and examine some of the philosophy behind the way we use the technology.
Registration Information
Regularly scheduled webcasts are held each Thursday at both 3:15 pm and 7:15 pm (with the exception of Navigating the Real World, which is Tuesday February 2nd). To learn more about these webcasts, please visit: http://maine121.org
February 2010 Webcast Schedule
February 2 - Navigating the Real World II
February 4 - Making Meaning: Presenting Reality – Tools to analyze data.
February 11 - Research Process: Structuring a Research Project – using tools online and on the MLTI laptop to plan, organize and carry out research projects.
February 25 - Writing Process: Drafting, Revising, and Editing (lots of tools and resources to talk about here as well as techniques and strategies).
Navigating the Real World II (February 2nd)
In partnership with Wri2me (What's Really Important to ME), MLTI is hosting a webinar titled Navigating the Real World. Navigating the Real World is a printed annual publication that will be distributed in late April to all Maine high school students and many 8th graders as well. At its companion web site, NavigatingTheRealWorld.org, you can view a substantial number of interviews. In this webinar you will learn how you and your students can use the site as a resource. You will also learn how your students can do interviews and post them at NavigatingTheRealWorld.org for the benefit of others and as a resource for the printed annual. We want their help to gather the stories from a broad range of Maine people.
Presenting Reality: Tools to Analyze Data (February 4th) Facilitated by Phil Brookhouse
Data exists in many forms. In the classroom, students come in contact with data and we try to provide opportunities for them to construct meaning from all that data. In this webinar, we will look at some fundamental principles behind data and technology integration. An overview of data entry, data manipulation and data analysis will be provided by looking at spreadsheets, probeware, and databases in the framework of learning. As in other webinars in this series, we will look at “why to” rather than “how to,” and examine some of the philosophy behind the way we use the technology.
Registration Information
Regularly scheduled webcasts are held each Thursday at both 3:15 pm and 7:15 pm (with the exception of Navigating the Real World, which is Tuesday February 2nd). To learn more about these webcasts, please visit: http://maine121.org
Opportunity for the Fearful
Reposted - from Tora Johnson
Do you know of teachers who have had trouble incorporating the MLTI laptops into their curriculum because they lack basic computer skills or are fearful of using computers? The Education Program at the University of Maine at Machias, with funding from the National Science Foundation, is planning a special workshop and technical support program especially for them, and they need to hear from interested teachers!
The Education Program at the University of Maine at Machias will hold a pilot project (pending final approval of funding) to help middle and high school teachers overcome these hurdles and add computer activities into their curriculum in meaningful ways.
The T3 program is free, and participating teachers will receive CEUs and stipends.
Participants will...
· Join a supportive learning community of their peers
· Attend a four-day workshop in Machias in late June with free room and board (families may come along for an affordable daily rate, though we cannot provide childcare)
· Learn and apply basic laptop skills and related educational theory
· Work with patient, experienced instructors in a fun and relaxed learning environment
· Develop a modest plan for using the laptops to support some curriculum goals for the coming year
· Receive on-going support in implementing laptop activities, including on-site visits when needed
· Earn Continuing Education Units and a total of $1,200 in stipends
Any interested teachers must contact Tora Johnson at tjohnson@maine.edu or 207-255-1214 with the following information:
· Teacher's name
· School
· Grade(s)
· Discipline(s)
· Mailing address
· Email address (if they use email)
· Phone number
· Availability for each of the two possible dates for the workshop: June 21 - 24 or June 28 - July 1 (Please indicate if you are available for either or both set of dates)
When NSF confirms funding, teachers will be asked to submit a brief application. For the pilot program, there will be room for only 12 middle and high school teachers. If the program is a success, additional funding will be requested for a larger effort.
Note that this opportunity is strictly for teachers who lack computer skills and/or are fearful of working with the MLTI laptops in the classroom. It is not appropriate for technically savvy teachers.
If you personally are not interested in this experience (or perhaps you are just too tech savvy!) please forward this opportunity to anyone you feel qualifies/may be interested.
Do you know of teachers who have had trouble incorporating the MLTI laptops into their curriculum because they lack basic computer skills or are fearful of using computers? The Education Program at the University of Maine at Machias, with funding from the National Science Foundation, is planning a special workshop and technical support program especially for them, and they need to hear from interested teachers!
The Education Program at the University of Maine at Machias will hold a pilot project (pending final approval of funding) to help middle and high school teachers overcome these hurdles and add computer activities into their curriculum in meaningful ways.
The T3 program is free, and participating teachers will receive CEUs and stipends.
Participants will...
· Join a supportive learning community of their peers
· Attend a four-day workshop in Machias in late June with free room and board (families may come along for an affordable daily rate, though we cannot provide childcare)
· Learn and apply basic laptop skills and related educational theory
· Work with patient, experienced instructors in a fun and relaxed learning environment
· Develop a modest plan for using the laptops to support some curriculum goals for the coming year
· Receive on-going support in implementing laptop activities, including on-site visits when needed
· Earn Continuing Education Units and a total of $1,200 in stipends
Any interested teachers must contact Tora Johnson at tjohnson@maine.edu or 207-255-1214 with the following information:
· Teacher's name
· School
· Grade(s)
· Discipline(s)
· Mailing address
· Email address (if they use email)
· Phone number
· Availability for each of the two possible dates for the workshop: June 21 - 24 or June 28 - July 1 (Please indicate if you are available for either or both set of dates)
When NSF confirms funding, teachers will be asked to submit a brief application. For the pilot program, there will be room for only 12 middle and high school teachers. If the program is a success, additional funding will be requested for a larger effort.
Note that this opportunity is strictly for teachers who lack computer skills and/or are fearful of working with the MLTI laptops in the classroom. It is not appropriate for technically savvy teachers.
If you personally are not interested in this experience (or perhaps you are just too tech savvy!) please forward this opportunity to anyone you feel qualifies/may be interested.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Maine Broadband News
Check out this new blog by Karl Beiser that gives updates on broadband networks in Maine.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Everyday Words
In my capacity as a MARTI trainer, I just got back from working with Joan Parker and a group of Oxford Hills Adult Education students on a new English class that focuses on personal stories. It is a diverse group with unique individuals who will be sharing, collaborating, and publishing in many ways, including online. Check out our fledgling Google website here.
Everyday Words
Everyday Words
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