Jenni Clark

This web carol says it all...

I wonder as I wander all over the net,
If people who write ed tech blogs still forget
That teachers may blog in a workshop and then
Be hampered by tugs between time and the pen.

If we really want to see students who write
On wikis and blogs both in class and at night,
We need to find tools and resources just right
To save teachers time and not force them to fight…

For access to places both simple and safe
So parents and principals never will chafe.
For computers in classrooms that do operate
And home Internet access all over the state.

I wonder as I wander the ed tech blog’sphere
If we preach to the choir– the wise few who come here.
If perhaps it’s the people who show the most fear
Whom we should address with our efforts sincere.

The greatest of gifts we could wrap just might be
Bringing visitors into our midst so they see
The passion of teachers and hopes yet to be
With classes that thrive aboard blogs and wikis.

So to each other we should blog no more,
Instead bring in parents and VIPs galore
To see what the tools of web 2 have in store
For learners not limited to our own shores.

I wonder as I wander if I could invite
Just one parent or maybe a blog neophyte
To comment right here and see the bright light
Of learning not just so that each answer is "right."

Of asking more questions than knowing it all
Of seeking for answers outside the school walls
With peers side by side or in a world virtual
Where loving to learn is the beckoning call.

So speak up and ask what these wiki things are
And how children write blogs from both near and afar
And how you can help make this vision a star
For us all to follow and wander no more

Dealing with the "right now"

I have not been checking in with this blog and finding and linking to new content as I would like.  I am afraid that life is happening and I have so much to attend to as a working wife and mother. I am dealing more with the "right now" and less with the "what could be". With 2 boys in middle school, our life is very busy.  When I have logged on to the internet, I have found that it is more for an escape than for work right now.  I am completely hooked on my iPod and have downloaded several workouts and other self-help podcasts.  Now I have to hit the road and exercise.  I know it will make me feel better but so does sleeping until 6:15.

I am taking a long look at the direction I wanted to take my class this year and I am not happy with it.  I started wanting to dive into authentic research and we have done some meaningful work with graphs and timelines and their functions and uses.  In an effort to familiarize my group with the wonderful novel, James and the Giant Peach, by Roald Dahl, I have found myself wanting to go into another direction.  We started last week and I am finding so many other curricular connections that I believe are more appealing to kids so I think I am going to ride this wave for a little while.  If you are a parent of one of my students, please bear with me on this journey. 

Today, I am meeting with my colleagues in gifted ed.  We have already found Tapped In, an online community building resource that will make collaboration so much easier.  We are also moving into wikis and getting the framework for these laid out so our kids can jump in.

Before too long we will be starting the 2nd grade child find procedures that the state requires.  I am always curious to find out who will show us some sparkle.  The process is tedious but worth it.

Digital Storytelling

Bernajean Porter says that there are 6 elements to digital storytelling...

Living Your Story
Unfolding Lessons Learning
Developing Creative Tension
Economizing the Story Told
Showing NOT Telling
Developing Craftsmanship

I love the idea that no one touches the technology until the writing is THERE.  Have you seen some of the stories that are told this way.  Incredible.  I want to do this on the elementary level.

Marc Prensky

Loving what I am reading from Marc Prensky...here are a few nuggets I have to share.

Engaged learning is active and passionate.

Kids today are 'powering down" for school.

Engagement is more important than content.

Content will not help students to learn throughout their lives, engagement will.

Teachers are used to content first.  Kids need engagement first.

Does a child with ADD look engaged or ticked?

We are all teachers and we are all learners.

Use technology whether you have mastered it or not.  The kids will help you figure it out.

New site design...dive in

I totally redesigned my school's web site.  The idea was to make it really clean and professional looking.  I use Microsoft Publisher and it is very easy.  However, I was positive that I had checked everything before I published to the web but there are some major things wrong.  Note to self...get copy of MSP to put on the laptop.  I could so work on it from home!  We recently got wireless access for our house and I love working from wherever!

Anyway, I mention the problems with our site because it is occurances like this shut down people who do not want to stick with a new technological issue.  I don't mind because it becomes a learning opportunity for me.  I always learn something new from something I have screwed up. For others, when the tech doesn't work, the door slams shut and will not open again.  Why is this?  Why do some people dive in to technology and others run from it?

I will have to run to fix the site tomorrow....when it is fixed, I wll post a link.

Microsoft Student

Just downloaded Microsoft Student.....free!  Have you seen it?  Let me know how you like it.

Optional Assignment...

I just had an interesting conversation with my son about his summer reading/writing assignment.  Both of them are supposed to read, Roll Of Thunder, Hear My Cry and then choose three characters to analyze.  They have read about 20 pages each.  Neither one is interested in finishing this assignment.  I am concerned.

I suggested that we design My Space pages for the characters about which they want to write.  My son was apprehensive.  "Mom, do you know her?  I think I have to type the report.  I just want to do what everyone else is going to do....."  Ewww.  It sounds like fun to me.  We will see how it turns out.

Citing, giving props and instant info

I have been thinking about the importance of citing sources when using the internet as a resource.  I am especially impressed with the instant cite information provided by Answers.com.  In case you don't know about them, Answers.com is a search engine that provides only academic results.  Dictionary, almanac, encyclopedia, journal type of results.  I thought Google was the be all and the end all but I think I am going to have to change my stance with my students.  I made a special point to drive this home with them..."Why does Mrs. Clark just LOVE Google?"  They would hollar back..."Because it puts stuff in order for you by the most popular!!!!"  And we would all jump up and down and celebrate because we could not be bothered to click on the other pages of our search results....not enough minutes in our computer lab time.  However, this did not take into consideration the possibility of Google bombing.....if you don't believe me, just try doing a search for failure in Google ( I cite Patrick Crispen with that nugget of internet joy.  I heard him talk about Google two years ago at the AETC.)

So many people are making so much information available to the masses. I appreciate the information that I am absorbing.  I am trying to give props where I need to as I write.  It does not bother me to slow down and find the right link to give the proper credit.  Last year, I did an enrichment lesson that connected dreams and Dr. Martin Luther King.  I made a PowerPoint and started looking around for images.  I came across this really great looking piece of art...on Google Images, of course.  Digging a little deeper, I found the site and an email address.  I sent a message requesting permission to post the image in my PowerPoint.  The artist was truly grateful that I took the time....probably no more than  5 minutes total....to search for the right image, find the site and to ask permission and move forward.  Could I have right clicked and forgotten about it?  Sure!  Am I glad I didn't?  You bet.  The artist wrote back and was so grateful that I had asked permission to use her work....not to mention, no one had ever connected it to Dr. King!  I had created a teachable moment without even planning it....aren't those the best ones?

Just thinking about my own children....they need the info instantly, it is on the web...right click, copy.....right click,paste, save, print and turn in......is there a problem?   Not to them.  There is to me because....wait for it....it is really good.....I HAD A TEACHER THAT MADE ME REALIZE IT WAS IMPORTANT TO CITE MY SOURCES.  That was back in the days of index cards....please tell me they still aren't using index cards at the middle and high school level!  I will be checking into this because they both have a paper due on the first day of school.  Seventh grade, here they come.  Why do I feel like some real learning is about to start 

Diggin' TypePad

Just in case you got here through my other site at Blogger, thanks for visiting!  I think I am going to like it here at TypePad.  Granted, this is not a free site, but the differences seem to be worth it for now.  I especially like the categories.  I can put each post into a specific category, create new ones, and store the post in more than one if I want.  I have been envious of this capability in other blogs and now I have it for my very own.

Alabama

I was very proud to learn about the progress our state is making in the area of technology in education. First of all, we have the Alabama Virtual Library.  Here is a description from the site:

The Alabama Virtual Library provides all students, teachers, and citizens of the State of Alabama with online access to essential library and information resources. It is primarily a group of online databases that have magazine, journal, and newspaper articles for research. Through the AVL, an equitable core of information sources are available to every student and citizen in Alabama, raising the level of excellence in schools and communities across the state.

Secondly, there is the ACCESS program (Alabama Connecting Classrooms, Educators, & Students Statewide). Here is the descriptioin from the Alabama Supercomputer Authority

For the past 6 months, the ACCESS project, has been facilitating videoconferencing and distance learning throughout the state. ACCESS is a pilot project that is poised to become a major force in Alabama education.

Right now, schools are chosen by a competitive grant process which is a good start. At the AETC, governor Riley told us the that possibility of funding this program for all schools is a real possibility....it would take less than one percent of the total budget....and this is an election year so it just might happen. I don't support most of Mr. Riley's politics, but I will say this. Alabama is very fortunate to have a governor that understands the importance and necessity of technology in education so I guess that is the third reason I am proud of our state.

Lastly, we have ALEX, The Alabama Learning Exchange. Here is a site where teacher's can connect and share information, lesson plans and much more. When you create an account, you get a personal workspace where you can browse and save lesson plans and teaching ideas. Collaboration is the key to success in education. We, as teachers, have plenty to share and plenty to learn.

I am proud of the progress we are making in the field of technology in education. My prediction is that we will be rising in the national ranks very soon as a result of the investments we are making today.

Tags: alabama, virtual, library, ACCESS, ALEX, education