September 2007 Blog Posts (162)

Starting Up Blogmeister Again

Midwestern temperatures are finally beginning to fall, making life a little more bearable for kids in our, old un-airconditioned building in Hannibal, Missouri. I just started this year's group of kid bloggers in Classblogmeister, and already the delight is evident in their eyes. They want to write in their blogs and I'm happy to see it, to take this attraction and use it to help them hone their communication skills, blend… Continue

Added by Terry Smith on September 9, 2007 at 7:08pm — 1 Comment

Great Motivation !

Well, it looks like I put my time on the eliptical and bike machines to good use this summer. I just finished

reading Will Richardson's book Blogs, Wikis and Podcasts. I know, I'm a little late getting to it. Now, I'm comfortable learning about the topics discussed in here already, but what I think makes this book so terrific is… Continue

Added by Scott Besterman on September 9, 2007 at 6:10pm — 1 Comment

9/9/07 LOLcats (otherwise known as Kitty Kaptchas)

LOLcats according to Wikipedia. Love 'em or hate 'em? I think they're pretty funny and addicting. What do you think? Every so often you might run across a crude one or a bad word in a caption, so be careful and always browse under adult supervision! The best collection seems to be at I Can Has Cheezburger? Some say LOLcats really originated from…

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Added by L. Suzanne Shanks on September 9, 2007 at 10:30am — No Comments

Labs Episode 5 :: Blogs, Podcasts, Youtube, UStream, Second Life, Croquet and MORE !

Greenbush Labs over the past 2 years has been there for them all !

Added by Rich White on September 9, 2007 at 10:00am — No Comments

Doonesbury, September 9, 2007

Greetings, Friends,

For fun - and incisiveness - take a look at the Doonesbury cartoon dated September 9, 2007. A copy of it can be found here: www.uclick.com/client/nyt/db among other places (you may have to search archives after today).

Cheers,

Caren

Added by Caren Levine on September 9, 2007 at 7:38am — 1 Comment

9/8/07 Teachable Moments In & Out of the Classroom

This week found me teaching blogging and internet safety. It was my first attempt to blog with kids; I'll see as I grade their posts this weekend how it really went. Maybe it was boring to introduce themselves and what they learned this

week about blogs and blogging; I'm still learning myself. My hope was that--minimum--they got some good practice writing strong paragraphs to a prompt ~~so I can justify the activity to my Web 1.0 administrators~~. I don't want to keep giving… Continue

Added by L. Suzanne Shanks on September 8, 2007 at 9:30am — No Comments

Do You Twitter?

I've been experimenting for about three weeks with a microblogging tool called Twitter.You've probably already heard of it, or maybe you're even using it. What are your experiences with Twitter? Do you use a different microblogging tool? What do you think of it? I've heard great things about how educators are tweeting for much more than "What are you doing now?" -- the web site's motto. Teachers and tech professionals all over the world are sharing…

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Added by L. Suzanne Shanks on September 8, 2007 at 8:29am — 2 Comments

Knowledge management - the tipping point - Mavens, Relaters and Evangelists

I recommended "BLINK" in a post back in Feb 2006 - http://tinyurl.com/2xqukw

Below is a great video covering Blink among other great topics surrounding the subject of knowledge management, change, and… Continue

Added by Rich White on September 8, 2007 at 7:53am — 2 Comments

Teaching Solo

Today was the day that was making me shake in my boots because I was thrown right into teaching by myself the second day around. My co-operating teacher had some personal family matters to attend to so I had to come up with a lesson and teach. There was a subsititute because I technically cannot stay in the classroom alone. I do not know many of the students so I decided to modify a mini-lesson prepared by one of my classmates in college to give to the middle school students. I call it the Hand… Continue

Added by Jacqueline Marien on September 7, 2007 at 7:00pm — 1 Comment

Using Vernier Probes in Science

I had the opportunity to have students in my Eighth Grade Science class explore the differences between temperatures in various types of water this week. Using Vernier Temperature probes and LabPros they measured temperature change as ice melted, as ice with salt added melted, and water without anything added. I was impressed with how well the Vernier Temperature probes worked for us. In addition, I was thrilled to see the engagement of students. Each student was actively involved and very… Continue

Added by Glen Westbroek on September 7, 2007 at 5:11pm — No Comments

New and Curious!

Even though its Friday and the end of our first week, I am very excited about my new class and finally participating with 2.0. Last year students took photos weekly as part of their classroom jobs . Many of the shots were stunning and we edited or deleted (after much discussion) until we had a collection of 300 photos which highlighted our activities for the year. Examples of their work include playground games, snow people, art projects, our medieval feast, and silent reading. The photos… Continue

Added by rob bauman on September 7, 2007 at 1:25pm — No Comments

Digital El Paso Project

I have recently posted two podcast on my Bytespeed website regarding El Paso Texas' attempt to create a public wifi network.

I spoke with two of the major players, who discuss how EL Paso is doing it, what are the obstacles, and how they plan to over come them.

The El Paso project is interesting because it differs from most public wifi projects in a number of significant ways.

Check… Continue

Added by Tim Holt on September 7, 2007 at 10:22am — No Comments

'Concert for Max' - Benefit for Max Merritt - 21 October 2007 - Palais Theatre Melbourne!

2007 - you just never know what will happen.

For those that read my blog, connect with me on myspace, facebook, Ning, Xanga and Twitter, you will I am sure have noticed, a number of mentions of the benefit concert for Max and the banner, with his pic, that takes you to the myspace I and my son Zane created and manage on behalf of those organising the concert. Our contribution to a man we admire and care about deeply.

It is one of those times, when friends and those who care…

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Added by Jacinta Gascoigne on September 7, 2007 at 9:33am — No Comments

Convert your online videos easily!

I´ve created a screencast about how to convert online videos by means of Web 2.0 app ConvertTube. Check it… Continue

Added by Hans Feldmeier on September 6, 2007 at 11:50pm — 1 Comment

They have what?

I've back in school since mid-August, but the nearby San Diego City School district just started. Our local public radio station, KPBS, did a three part series on the subject of Classroom 2.0 this week. The topics incuded wireless tech, high-tech distractions, and virtual schools. It is interesting to see what others are using and some of the issues involved.

http://www.kpbs.org/news/education/classroom

Added by Adina Sullivan on September 6, 2007 at 8:19pm — No Comments

Video, Instruction and Problem-Solving

What are your three words?…

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Added by Lee Ann Spillane on September 6, 2007 at 7:27pm — No Comments

Feds in The Classroom: DANGER Will Robinson!

I've posted a podcast on my page by Neal McClusky detailing reasons we should scrap NCLB. Making educational decisions as far away from the classroom as possible surely doesn't continue to make sense to grassroots America, does it? The Federal government as educational policy maker is the biggest WMD (Weapon of Mass Destruction) I can ever imagine! Save our Nation; take back our classrooms! …

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Added by Randy Rivers on September 6, 2007 at 6:57pm — No Comments

Second Day at Peekskill Middle School

September sixth was an exciting day as it was my second day but the first day for the students. As I prepared myself during prep first period, I just kept telling myself that I could not give an impression of nervousness or fear otherwise, the students would eat me alive. The bell rang at 8 :30 and class began at 8:32. There were some students who remembered me from my observation last semester. That was a warm feeling. Most of the day consisted of handing out paperwork, looking at the…

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Added by Jacqueline Marien on September 6, 2007 at 6:30pm — 1 Comment

Web 2.0 Applications

One of the biggest problems with web 2.0 apps is the user interface. There are no standards for navagation button placements or naming conventions. Each 2.0 application we use often has a different look and feel. Compare this to wordprocessing programs or spreadsheets, most have a very familiar look. In contrast to web 2.0 programs, it is easy to intuit you way through new word processors of spreadsheet programs. Compare Open Office to MS Word, very simular. Is there a solution?

Added by gerry davis on September 6, 2007 at 10:04am — No Comments

Preparing for Student Teaching

The past two days have been busy with setting up the classroom with Ms. Bolden as well as attending meetings such as union meetings, superintendent conference, tenure meeting, team meeting within my area of study. When I arrived at Peekskill, an hour early, better to be an hour early than a second late, I was filled mixed emotions. I was excited, nervous, and terrified. It finally dawned on me when I pulled into my parkinf spot that this was the next big step in completing my undergraduate… Continue

Added by Jacqueline Marien on September 5, 2007 at 3:45pm — 1 Comment