August 2009 Blog Posts (124)

5 Clues You’ve been Hacked and 8 Keys to Lock Down Your Computer

How do you know if your computer has been breached, hacked, cracked or otherwise compromised? If it won’t boot up or vomits up the Blue Screen of Death, it’s pretty obvious, but what if your intruder is more devious. Doesn’t want you to know he’s been there, so leaves none of the obvious signs?

Here are some clues:

* Applications… Continue

Added by Jacqui Murray on August 15, 2009 at 1:55pm — No Comments

Teaching Students How To Read a Textbook

We need to teach students how to read a textbook - since most only know how to read a novel. There are numerous ways to review the chapter/section prior to students actually reading the text.

Introduce the topic and look for background knowledge and misconceptions. .

One option is to use a strategy known as PLAN (Predict-Locate-Add-Note). First, students scan the chapter’s title, subtitles, key words, graphs/tables, etc. Next, students create a concept map and make note on which… Continue

Added by Christina on August 15, 2009 at 12:00pm — No Comments

You Make A Difference

Well, it is time to get another school year started. My students start Monday. I don't know about you, but my summer went by extremely fast. I wish you a productive year. When times get stressful and you wonder why you chose to become a teacher, remember that you may be the one personal that has a positive influence and made a difference in one of your student's life. All of your students will leave your class at the end of the semester or year a better person, because you cared. I know you all… Continue

Added by Donnie Smith on August 15, 2009 at 11:58am — No Comments

The Problem of Increasing Illiteracy Rates in the U.S.

I have recently completed a research paper that included the problem of illiteracy rates in the country.

As most know, across the country, literacy rates have dropped, as fewer and fewer people never learn to read or only have a basic reading level. According to an article in the USA Today (2009), U.S. Education Department has released a study, which found that 32 million adult Americans are unable to read basic text. We all know that literacy rates in the US have been dropping over… Continue

Added by Christina on August 15, 2009 at 11:57am — No Comments

Building Computers in Fifth Grade: Foundation for the next Linus Torvalds or Andy Hertzfeld

This year I am going to create a class for our after school program that shows students how to build computers from scratch using spare parts from other computers. I think working with the computer today is like rebuilding old cars of the past. Find parts for that Chevy and make it run better than it did before. No need for for new parts, go to the junk yard. Anyhow, I have been experimenting this year building thin clients and servers from computers that people throw away and thought this… Continue

Added by Joel Garcia on August 15, 2009 at 11:05am — No Comments

Web 2.0 Accessibility

As Ed Tech leaders promoting Web 2.0 in the educational environment, it is incumbent upon us to adopt an inclusive approach so that physically impaired learners have an equal opportunity to derive the same benefits from 21st Century technologies as non-impaired students. We need to raise awareness of this issue so that Web 2.0 developers and social networking sites begin to incorporate design elements that allow access to all learners regardless of physical ability.

Start by… Continue

Added by David Ligon on August 15, 2009 at 9:00am — No Comments

How I Dislike Agreeing with Someone With Whom I Usually Do Not Agree

Look, I am a small, petty person prone to grudges and outbursts against the follies of people who I believe are negatively affecting the quality of life for others -- especially when I believe they could be doing better (if only their intention was to do so).

Therefore, as a teacher, it's hard to like the job Arnold Schwarzenegger is doing as the governor of California in terms of the way he is captaining our educational agenda. It just doesn't seem to me as if he values… Continue

Added by Alan Sitomer on August 15, 2009 at 6:00am — 1 Comment

Social Learning Buzz Masks Deeper Dimensions Mitigating the confusion surrounding “Social Learning”

Article by Frank Ganis. distributed via White paper by the Gilfus Education Group

Foreword

It is our hope that by leveraging socially based technologies the education industry can shape a new educational technology paradigm that realizes the promises of true “Social Learning”.

By understanding its applications we can create a unique opportunity to improve student engagement, student retention, academic success and overall educational outcomes.

–… Continue

Added by Stephen Gilfus on August 14, 2009 at 1:14pm — No Comments

Online Discussion: 16 Quality, Timing, and Value Added Response Tips

Expertly facilitated online discussion is the driving force for community in e-learning classes. Creating norms for discussion quality and timing improve the dialog. This also helps the facilitator step back as students learn to deepen their online dialog.…

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Added by Dennis O'Connor on August 14, 2009 at 12:04am — No Comments

Musings on having a course Essential Question

For several years, I have used Essential Questions in my classroom. Many of these questions were changed when we changed units or in conjunction with projects. I was bothered because it seemed like I spent more time thinking of a new essential question for the next unit and we never really spent enough time on the previous Essential Question.

I, therefore, spent a great deal of time this summer reflecting on what I perceived the purpose of Essential Questions to be. I also reviewed… Continue

Added by Glen Westbroek on August 13, 2009 at 8:16pm — 4 Comments

Creative Ways in Writing Application Essays

School time is here and still there are some students that needs to apply for college. There are a lot of colleges and universities that they can choose from but for those who aren't that well-off, they can acquire scholarship exams offered by various schools and organizations. The dilemma is how will they get admitted in their chosen college and university? Writing the essay alone with an assigned topic is hard to do, much worse is if they are asked to do an essay that will best describe their… Continue

Added by Audrey Langdon on August 13, 2009 at 8:00pm — No Comments

New direct website to order Toolbox for Teachers and Mentors: Moving Madrichim to Mentor Teachers and Beyond

Friends and Colleagues,

Here's a new web address to directly order Toolbox for Teachers and Mentors: Moving Madrichim to Mentor Teachers and Beyond: http://toolboxforteachersandmentors.com

For those interested in reading our blog on mentoring Jewish students and teachers, here is that blog's web address:… Continue

Added by Richard D. Solomon, Ph.D. on August 13, 2009 at 7:14pm — No Comments

New Year

I am so excited for this new school year. The edTech department is growing and now we support 5 not 8 schools.

Added by Amanda E Duvall on August 13, 2009 at 2:23pm — No Comments

Virtual Learning: The next wave of the future?

I am currently attending the last day of the 3-day Vision 2020 Virtual Learning Grant Leadership Conference (August 11-13, 2009) here in Austin, Texas. It had been a very fruitful conference. I have learned several interesting and informative ideas that I will definitely use when I go back to my district in El Paso, Texas. Aside from knowing and understanding the depth of planning needed and the process involved to become successful, some of the highlights of the conference include, but not… Continue

Added by Sharo Dickerson on August 13, 2009 at 10:30am — No Comments

What Will The Teacher Fairy Put Under My Pillow?

I think there is an interesting parallel to be drawn between this recent TIME Magazine article titled, "Why Exercise Won't Make You Thin" and a longer school day and year.

Don't really have a clue as to what it is, but hey, I gotta type something right now, don't I? I mean if a blogger blogs in the forest and no one is there to comment... aw, forget it, I am WAY off… Continue

Added by Alan Sitomer on August 13, 2009 at 6:30am — 3 Comments

Learning Web 2.0 the Beginning

I am taking a course sponsored in my district on Web 2.0 tools. Though I feel comfortable dabbling in tech tools, I feel like a blind cat chasing it's tail. I know where the tail is, where it is going, but I'm geting dizzy chasing after it. While it is a part of me, I can't touch it, it keep one step ahead of me. Oh, I'm getting very dizzy but I can't help myself I've got to keep chasing it.

Finding one new tool leads to another gadget or widget, that opens the door to another new… Continue

Added by Artie O'Connor on August 12, 2009 at 7:12pm — 9 Comments

The Potential of Mobile Technology

During the TechEd 2009 conference, Hall Davidson delivered an interesting presentation on why cell phones should be utilized by students and teachers in the classroom.

According to Davidson, cell phones, and other sorts of mobile technology, will play a significant role in the 21st century classroom because they have become an important part of the lives of today’s students. These “mini” computers are the tools of choice for the so-called digital natives we teach.… Continue

Added by Shawn Roner on August 12, 2009 at 1:16pm — 3 Comments

Cost of Government Day

Yesterday was 'Cost of Government Day'. That's how many days the average workers works to pay off the total costs of federal, state and local government. Last year it was July 19th. In 2007, it was July 11. This year, it's 25 days later. Last year it was only 6 days later. I can't wait to see next year, with bailouts and more bailouts. What happens when it takes more than 365… Continue

Added by Jacqui Murray on August 12, 2009 at 12:46pm — No Comments

Students-centred teaching

Just posted a new entry under a new tab: Teaching is a serious business

First entry on: Student-centredeness, which grew out of a reflection on a blogpost by a fellow teacher.

If interested, head over and let me know what you think.…

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Added by Tamas Lorincz on August 12, 2009 at 12:23pm — No Comments

Walk a mile in a real teacher's moccasins!

I often make my way through this world as a consumer looking up and wondering, "Does the CEO of this company actually know that this is how his/her business is running right now?"

I mean do they fly commercial on their own airplanes like regular schmoes (I mean folks) like me do without warnings being sent to the flight crew that the big kahuna is on board so they better look sharp? Do they roll through their own drive-thru hungry for some dinner, have cable schedule… Continue

Added by Alan Sitomer on August 12, 2009 at 6:30am — 2 Comments