September 2009 Blog Posts (134)

Do you use one of these platforms? Your input would be greatly appreciated!

Hi everyone -- am doing research into virtual worlds and am comparing platforms. If you have user, publisher and/or administrator experience of one of these platforms -- please get in touch and I'll send you some questions to answer. Thanks in advance for any help you can provide!

Open Cobalt

Vastpark

Open Sim

Project Wonderland

If you use Second Life with learners, I'd be very interested in your reasons why you chose Second Life over other… Continue

Added by KerryJ on September 17, 2009 at 2:14am — No Comments

Pushing Change

Added by Kevin on September 16, 2009 at 11:28pm — 2 Comments

Telepresence (this is just too cool!)

Educause’s recent ‘7 things you should know about …’ brief on Telepresence is fascinating.

“Beam me into that classroom, Mr. Scott!”

It’s kind of hard to believe that this technology may become relatively commonplace before long. Telepresence currently requires expensive sophisticated equipment, but like most technology it will become more affordable over time. It is entirely feasible that in the next 5 to 10 years this technology will become increasingly… Continue

Added by Kelly Walsh on September 16, 2009 at 12:38pm — No Comments

Talking about hardware

The class session where I discussed the elements of hardware seemed to go well enough, but not nearly as stellar as I'd hoped. I really feel like the text does a good job of covering the content - giving students a baseline understanding of the content - while in class we discuss some of the major points of the subject in class.…

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Added by Dave Eveland on September 16, 2009 at 9:15am — No Comments

The "Uhm, Hey... Dude" Name Game

Let's face it, I am at a HUGE disadvantage when it comes to names.

First off, there are about a ba-zillion new ones I need to learn. This always takes a lot of effort and a few weeks. Kids, they have about 6-10 new names they must learn at school at the start of a new year -- the names of their new teachers. Me, I have scores and scores and scores of them I must learn.

It's a challenge every year... learn all the names as fast as you can. However,… Continue

Added by Alan Sitomer on September 16, 2009 at 6:30am — 1 Comment

animation

I love the book report animations that Doug Valentine has posted in the videos (Hot Dog...) Can anyone tell me how he did that? Is it a software program or freeware or a website. What a great idea!

Added by Grace Gorman on September 15, 2009 at 9:33am — No Comments

New Car Used Car Salespeople

I just scored a new car this past weekend -- had to do it. (Hey, I live in L.A., the land of cars and when it's time, it's time). But what is so remarkable, is that the salesperson lied to me and I still bought the car from him.

And not just one salesperson lied to me -- at ever dealership I visited, I was lied to. No matter make, type, design or whatever, I've just experienced firsthand how it's an industry filled with people who believe that they are allowed to tell their… Continue

Added by Alan Sitomer on September 15, 2009 at 6:30am — No Comments

Grading... a thing most un-fun

While I don't have the greatest desire to do grading - I do like seeing the thinking process of students - the inner workings as it were. I was always fascinated by the big picture so cogs and wheels and remember my first understanding of what a cog was - it was from Mr. Cogswell of the Jetson's cartoon show. That grew into an appreciation and an awe for the pictures of the inside of Big… Continue

Added by Dave Eveland on September 14, 2009 at 10:18pm — No Comments

Josh Shipp wants to help you avoid the 5 mistakes almost everyone makes in communicating with teens

Josh Shipp, the popular youth speaker and dispenser of wisdom to teens, has launched a new project called Hey Josh for Grown-ups.

Josh has put together a really good, high quality curriculum for parents, teachers, scout leaders, youth pastors---just about anyone who works with teens. Oh, and it's free.

Here's the scoop from Josh:

Maybe you’re a parent of a teen, maybe you're a teacher, a… Continue

Added by Derek Baird on September 14, 2009 at 5:00pm — No Comments

Journal entry - Inventories

What did the PLSI confirm?

I really already knew most of this stuff partially because these kind of tests before, sometimes for fun sometimes for a class, and partially because some of this stuff is really obvious to me.

What did the PLSI reveal to you that you did not know before - or didn't know as well?

It told me I was 50/50 on the feeler/thinker part. But when i went through and changed some of my more iffy answers it put me as a "feeler" and I can't say that I think… Continue

Added by Erin Davis on September 14, 2009 at 8:53am — 1 Comment

How has Your PLN Helped you do Your Job

Some of you may have read on my 2 Cents Worth blog that I am working on a new book. I would like part of the book to be stories of how educators have used their personal learning networks to help them do their jobs. Your story may be just what I am looking for.

So, if you have… Continue

Added by David Warlick on September 14, 2009 at 7:30am — No Comments

Survey Results - What Internet technologies will your peers be introducing in the classroom this year?

Online documents, blogs, and wikis rise to the top of survey responses, followed closely by video and podcasting technologies.

First, thank you to everyone who participated in our brief survey over the last few weeks. The survey asked “What types of Internet technologies would you like to try … in the classroom for the first time this fall?” I had a few dozen responses, which makes for a nice little sampling that provides useful and informative feedback.

The… Continue

Added by Kelly Walsh on September 14, 2009 at 6:30am — No Comments

Is it just me or...

Is it just me, or does everyone else, when getting ready to attend a faculty or department meeting, prepare themselves for these stellar events by figuring out what they are going to read just in case the meeting devolves into a complete waste of time?

Is it just me, or does everyone else think that all these face piercings that kids today wear look like they really hurt when initially installed?

Is it just me, or does everyone else think that student desks… Continue

Added by Alan Sitomer on September 14, 2009 at 6:30am — No Comments

Education Technology Blog

Updates on www.educationtechnologyblog.com this week include new tools like Schmoop, iCyte, and To Read Next. Also check out teacher resources from SimpleK12 and NeoK12, and learn how to get a year's free premium account from Smilebox. Go to www.educationtechnologyblog.com for more information and updates.

Added by Jonathan Wylie on September 13, 2009 at 10:00pm — No Comments

"Pimp that Project" Presentation Resources for Students (and Teachers)

Reposted from Meg's Notebook

There are now a slew of web applications which students and teachers can take advantage of to create online slideshows, videos, and webinars, and to share them publicly or privately. These tools can provide a platform for delivering the perfect compliment to projects and presentations, and for creating a sharing, online community of similar interests and content. We've listed a few of the web-based video /… Continue

Added by Meg H on September 13, 2009 at 8:30pm — 1 Comment

Homework and Practice

I'm currently doing some thinking and researching into the area of homework and practice. I've done some research into what is the expected amount of these things as well as the different amounts for the different age levels and abilities of students. I'm curious about the thoughts of some other teachers... what is the homework policy for the students in your classroom? How much and what kind of work do you expect your students to complete on their own? Any thoughts on this topic would be great!

Added by Andrea Krueger on September 13, 2009 at 7:48pm — No Comments

Getting Students to Read

First, do not force students to read Everyone knows that kids will not do/like what is forced upon them. In addition, do not over whelm students with a list of books to read. Even students who like to read would become frustrated with all that reading and stop. In addition, having student read something above or below their reading level can be frustrating and or boring.

Allowing student time for independent reading every Friday - reading things related to your content area, such as… Continue

Added by Christina on September 13, 2009 at 1:54pm — No Comments

Should Teachers Be Judged on Student Performances

This goes along with the merit pay idea. If teachers are judged based just on student test score it sounds like a good idea. Some students do well in the class but poorly on the test even though they know the material. However, at times we do end up with students who do not care, doing nothing while waiting until they turn 16 to drop out. In the mean time, they make learning harder on the other students since the teacher is interrupted by this student(s).

I came across an article on… Continue

Added by Christina on September 13, 2009 at 1:52pm — No Comments

We survived Obama chat with students

This article summed it up quite nicely:

Whew, thank goodness we survived.

From all indications, school children who heard President Obama's speech last Tuesday have made it to the other side.

There haven't been reports of teams of child therapists rushing to schools to help children deal with trauma. I'm happy to announce the kids are OK and appear to be back in the routine of being children.

I can't speak for some parents and… Continue

Added by Christina on September 13, 2009 at 1:48pm — 2 Comments

New Media Literacy: Relevance and Challenges

The concept of Technology Literacy became immediately relevant for me last year as I was filling out the 2008-09 ADE Educational Technology Survey required for our district to receive funding under the Title II-D/EETT program. I had to answer the following questions:

Q40: How many 8th grade students in your school/district would be classified as technologically literate according to the following definition:

"Technology literacy is the ability to responsibly use… Continue

Added by David Ligon on September 13, 2009 at 4:30am — No Comments