NaBloPoMo Day 11: Live Video Web Conferencing in a face to face class?

Ok, so one of my assignments at work has been to develop an online course about a tool we provide for doing live Video Web Conferencing. I have been uncertain as to how exactly your average classroom teacher would use this. Two things have changed my vision on it.

I was with the State Technology Specialist last Friday and he said to me: "You guys (meaning me and my colleagues) shouldn't be teaching Word Processing. You should be on the cutting edge."

I realize that developing a course on collaborating via web conferencing would definitely be more cutting edge than teaching Word Processing.

Secondly, and this came today. One of the folks involved in using the software and a real advocate for the software invited me to watch her train a teacher on the software. The teacher was using some of my friends materials and she conducted a couple of authentic review type questions. She used the software the way I have seen people use a clicker system. She asked questions. Allowed kids to chat about their ideas for an answer and then submit an answer. One of the major things I noticed was that all the kids were engaged and working. But yet again, I don't think technology inherently made it engaging. It was good quality content. But all in all It was terrific! The kids were engaged and we had a great time. I really think I can see where to use this better now.

Lessons from the "Street"

Some of you folks may have noticed a trend on Google this week. Well, the street hit 40. It's hard for me to believe it, but Big Bird is older than me.

This radio broadcast reminded me of the great lessons I learned from Sesame Street.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120245506

or click here to listen directly.

The Berlin Wall

This morning on my drive to work I heard an interesting broadcast about a recreation of the Berlin Wall done at Utah Valley University. I couldn't find the archive of it, but UVU's Website has a description of the event. It's hard to believe it's been 20 years.

http://uvu.edu/blogs/newsroom/2009/11/09/uvu-high-school-students-to-reenact-tearing-down-of-berlin-wall/

Sunday Dinner

Sunday Dinner is a big deal around this house. Every week on Saturday Mom asks me. So... What do you want to eat tomorrow? Then begins the pomp. We travel out to the store to buy a cut of meat that will work. Choose our style of potatoes ( I was raised in Idaho it isn't dinner if there aren't potatoes) and then scramble our brains for a vegatables and invariably decide on green beans.

This week! Pork Spare Ribs, Baked Potatoes and green beans! It's fun though because making Sunday Dinner an event is very important to my mom and know she's teaching my kids how to set a table properly and eat with manners. If it weren't for her I am afraid my wife and I and our insanely busy schedule would be teaching the kids that a nice dinner is one where you have an actual paper plate instead of just a paper towel to hold your pizza.

I'll sure be glad though when my wonderful wife will be done with school and may have time to cook full on Dominican meals again! Pernil, arroz con habichuelas y tostones!

Fall leaves

Today was the day I chose to get caught up on the fall yard work. I figured it was going to be the last day I would be able to get much done before it got too cold, too wet and too snowy to work. I really did get a lot done. I have been borrowing a neighbors garden spot to supplement my own. We planted 'taters and corn this year. This will be the last year I will be able to do that since the neighbor passed away and his children will be selling the home. He was in 89 years old when he passed away and I lived next door for 4 years. Oddly enough he was killed in an auto accident. I will really miss him. Seeing him out working his garden better than I could my one row of it was amazing. I think this will be my last year for gardens for awhile. My job now has me too busy during the summer months to keep up with it. It's one of the things I really miss about being a classroom teacher. Having solid time in the summer to work on the yard.

C-Forum

I attended C-Forum today and learned a lot about Promethean Boards and a little about the new my.uen blog tool. I learned the blog tool because I took notes with it.

here's my post:
Today we have been learning all about the benefits of the Promethean Interactive whiteboards. There are some very useful tools and I have seen some people create some truly interactive and exceptional, but I still have one problem with them. This isn't just with Promethean, but with all whiteboards. I think they deflect funds and focus away from one to one computing with the emphasis on generative learning, to a center stage with an emphasis on compliant learning.

Now, I don't want to take away from the good things that are done with them, I just feel that the nature of the tool places the emphasis on the front of the room and having everyone come to the same conclusions.

NABLOPOMO Day 5: Teachers

Ok, I figured out a norm I need to share with teachers. When I teach from now on. I am going to tell all the teachers they aren't allowed to denigrate themselves or belittle themselves. I have watched teachers who are in all ways completely competent belittle themselves when it comes to their level of expertise on a computer program.

Why do teachers adults behave in ways that they would never allow in students? I would never let a student just choose not to learn something or try or opt out. I wouldn't let them sit back and coast, or if I do allow that kind of behavior when working with adults why don't I allow it with teachers?

There's room for a lot there, but anyway! No more bad mouthing ourselves. We are learning! We are learners! We are competent and capable!