Rich's Sharing Spot

How Education is Being Changed by Technology

2012-01-25T16:24:00.000-08:00

This Guest post is by Christine Kane from internet service providers,she is a graduate of Communication and Journalism. She enjoys writing about awide-variety of subjects for different blogs. She can be reached via email at:Christi.Kane00 @ gmail.com.

When you think of a school setting what comes to mind? Ifyou went to school anytime during the 1990’s or earlier you likely think ofsitting in a classroom with your textbooks, pencils, notebooks, and backpacks.However if you’re a child of the 2000 era then your view of a traditionalschool setting is probably a little bit different. Technology has seeped intomore and more aspects of the traditional school setting and slowly changed themto fit the emerging trends.

1. FromLibraries to the Internet

Before we had access to anything andeverything at the touch of our fingers people did actually do research in booksat libraries. However now that finding something is as easy as typing the topicinto a search engine, it makes poring through books looking for the perfectmorsels of information seem tedious and outdated.

2. Onlinecourses versus classroom setting

When online courses initially began beingoffered it was seen as a cop out, something that wasn’t nearly as challengingas a traditional class setting. However online education has taken the world bystorm and now it’s become more the norm than the exception. It even helps cutback on spending for traditional schools, making it a win-win for everyone.

3. Tabletstaking over textbooks

Anyone who went to school before laptopsand tablets took hold can attest to hauling around heavy backpacks laden withcolossal textbooks. However more and more schools are adopting the practice ofissuing each student their own laptop or tablet on secure networks so that theycan submit homework and do research online.

4. Lecturesbring in YouTube

With the implementation of things likeYouTube it has become easier than ever to make lectures more exciting bysupplementing them with different short video clips. This is especially truefor subjects like history because teachers can bring up all kinds of videos,such as old presidential campaigns or clips from movies. Being able to break upthe monotony of lecturing helps keeps students more focused and engaged, andenables them to get more out of the whole learning experience.

5. Shiftin students

Before computers, tablets, and smartphonesbecame the norm students came to classes ready to learn how to use computers,type, etc. However now children are exposed at a younger age to technology andmany come into schools already being quite proficient with computers in everyform. Students are becoming better at multi-tasking earlier on because of thisconstant exposure to computers, the internet, social media, and even videogames.

Technology has been changing education steadily over theyears, but recently has taken an even stronger hold in how the school systemswork. We can only expect technology to continue to strengthen its footholds ineducation as it continues to grow.

The Adventures of Annie and Her Boys: Phillip Island

2012-01-21T07:45:00.000-08:00

Years ago, 1967-68 to be exact, I was a Fulbright ExchangeTeacher in Australia.It was a wonderful year of making new friends and taking in the sights of theland down under. This year I was contacted by Annie Tunheim from Denver Colorado.Her husband is an art teacher and she shared with me they would spend a year in

Australia

.Chris will be teaching in small town just south of Sydney. Annie begins blogging about the yearin Aussie land a few months before they departed. She is a marvelous writer andI know you will enjoy reading her blog The Adventure of Annie and Her Boys.

The Adventures of Annie and Her Boys: Phillip Island: We left Wilsons Prom, my heart full of wombats, and drove over to Phillip Island. On the way there, we stopped and saw the pelican feeding ...

The Technological Influence on Population Growth Trends

2011-12-16T09:06:00.000-08:00

After my last post 7Billion: How Did We Get So Big So Fast?, I heard from Elaine Hirsch. Shehas been working on a paper about technological influences on populationgrowth. Voila, a guest post from Elaine Hirsch elainehi86@gmail.com. Elaine gives us anacademic look at technology and population growth.

The greatest single factor in the history of human population growth has beendevelopments in technology and the associated social changes arising from it.From the first development of tools to the development of agriculture and thelater rise of industry, technology has expanded the resources available for thesupport of large populations. A commonly-topic covered in PhD programs ineconomics or sociology, many academics have been looking at how the currenttechnological landscape will affect population growth. However, the current erademonstrates how technology can also provide social influences that can reducethe rate of population growth.

The first important fact to consider is that technological growth helps drive population which itself helps drivetechnological progress. This is due to the ability of technologicalimprovements to increase the agricultural productivity of both individuals andsocieties, and thus allowed for a boom in available resources which providedsustenance for a larger population. Furthermore, efficiencies in agricultureallowed people to pursue other trades in academics and philosophy which helpedset the foundation for many more innovations to come.

The first major era of population growth came with the rise of tool making.These were extremely simple tools, allowing the use of fire, sharpened weaponsand the use of wood as a tool material. The earliest shaped stone axes may havebeen developed over 1.8 million years ago, by Homo Erectus. Spears made iteasier to fend and hunt wild animals, while fire provided light, heat, and moreimportantly, the ability to cook and preserve food. This allowed early groupsto support larger populations, albeit still nomadic ones.

The development of agriculture and the subsequent rise of sedentary populationsresulted in the next surge of population growth. With the development ofurbanization, agriculture allowed for the rise of specialized classes, such asscribes and metalworkers that earlier societies were not able to support. Thisallowed for increased population growth and reduced the average death rate.With the rise of larger urban and semi urban populations, the birth rateincreased in addition to an increased average lifespan.

The rise of industry, such as mass production and mass transit systems wasembodied by the invention of the train and railroad. These transformationsvastly increased the reach of urbanization, the value of specialization, andthe freedom to support non-agricultural workers. It was in this period that thegreatest increase in human population growth occurred. In more advancednations, the trend had also been shifting towards urbanized, as opposed to rural andpastoral populations.

The long-term trend as we transition from the industrial age to the informationage today has manifested a reversal of traditional trends of increasingpopulation growth. In nations such as Japan and Germany, non-immigrationrelated population growth is actually entering negative territory. Thus,technological and social change is now having a retarding effect on populationgrowth, especially in the developed world.

The rise and fall of population growth rates is inextricably tied withtechnological developments. As they drive both the economy and society, transformationsin technology will continue to have a central impact on population growth. Thechallenge for the future will be to accommodate for an increasing (albeit at aslower rate) population but more importantly devising a way to take care of anoverall aging global population.

7 Billion: How Did We Get So Big So Fast?

2011-11-02T09:00:00.000-07:00

I first saw the 7 Billion video as a post from Phil Wagner on google+. Do you have concerns about the population on our planet? Most of us do. This video will give you a picture of where population growth is taking place. It was just over two centuries ago that the global population was 1 billion - in 1804. I think you will find this youtube video very interesting.

Teaching with Technology: Innovative Instruction or Wasting Time?

2011-10-25T20:13:00.001-07:00

Here is another technology guest post. This one comes from Elaine Hirsch – elainehi86@gmail.com .

When you think about the term "educational technology," you probably think about computer labs and digital presentations. You probably don't think of simple things like pens and overhead projectors, and you may not think about tablet computers and social media. However, all of these things are educational technologies. This range of examples illustrates that educational technology is a changing field that will continue to alter both what and how students learn. However, whether in elementary school or PhD programs online, only when used in conjunction with appropriate teaching methods can educational technology really make education more effective.

Educational Technology Then and Now

While "educational technology" may be a rather new term, teachers have always used technology, and that technology has always affected what and how students learn. Before mass-produced writing tools were widely available, students learned the techniques involved with writing using quill and ink. Next, they learned to use pens and pencils when writing by hand. Since the advent and spread of the typewriter, we have had typing classes. Film projectors, overheads, computers, iPads, and calculators are also all examples of educational technology. As new technologies are created, what educational technology is in particular will continue to change.

However, today's use of classroom technology is significantly different from educational technology in the past in one key way: today's educational technology is more social than ever before, and indeed this is proving to be a point of controversy. When teachers integrate technologies like Facebook, blogs, YouTube and text messaging into their classrooms, parents and administrators wonder how instructors could be using these technologies to do any real teaching. Aren't teachers just allowing kids to waist time?

Administrators and parents often go to great lengths to ensure "time-wasting" sites like Facebook are blocked within school networks and make sure cell phones stay off during the school day. Restrictions like these are much to the chagrin of teachers who insist students are actually learning using these technologies.

Resolving the Controversy

The solution to this controversy, surprisingly, comes from looking not at what technologies teachers use but at how they use them. If technology is used appropriately, it can greatly enhance learning. In fact, the learning needed to succeed in the 21st century working world isn't possible without educational technology. If students don't learn how to use computers and even social networking sites effectively, they won't be able to communicate with coworkers and bosses or do research when they enter the real world.

Further, with so many of today's students being exposed to technology at home long before they come to school, learning via technologies such as video games, blogs, and online activities can help students better understand concepts and become more engaged in what they learn. In fact, Facebook can be successfully integrated into the classroom in a number of ways that would engage at-risk students as well as better facilitate most other students' learning as well.

However, teachers also cannot teach effectively when they use technology for technology's own sake. Instead, they must harness the power of technology to present information in a useful and education-centered way. Allowing students to text, play on Facebook, or blog during class is obviously pretty pointless unless students are doing it in conjunction with a lesson. For example, English teachers could have students compose text messages as part of a grammar lesson, showing students how texting grammar works in the context of a text message but not an academic paper. Lessons like this can be hugely effective. Simply turning a blind eye while students text their friends is not.

Whether they are using computer labs or Facebook, teachers need to embrace educational technology to be effective, but they must embrace it in the context of good pedagogy. Technology without substance is just as ineffective a teaching tool as substance without technology is to this digitally native generation.

Let’s hear from you. Innovative Instruction or Wasting Time?

The Great American Teach-Off

2011-10-11T08:15:00.000-07:00

GOOD is hosting the Great American Teach-Off.
Ten inspiring teachers are competing for one $10,000 CLASSROOM GRANT and it's up to you to decide who will win! From October 3 through October 30, we'll upload a new video every Monday at 9AM (PST) from the finalists. Come back here each week to watch teachers responding to questions about education, then vote for your favorite educator to advance.
http://www.good.is/great-american-teach-off-voting

Yes, I do have a favorite but the most importantly we need your vote.

My favorite:
Pernille Ripp
Grade 5 at West Middleton Elementary School, Middleton, WI
Pernille Ripp is a fifth grade teacher in Middleton, Wisconsin. Passionate about having students find their voice, she gets to have the best job in the world. She blogs fervently about education at www.mrspripp.blogspot.com.

Help Pernille win $10,000 for her school and classroom! Vote today and each day until Oct. 30, 2011

"The world we have created is a product of our thinking. It cannot be changed without changing our thinking."
-Albert Einstein
"If a child can’t learn the way we teach, maybe we should teach the way they learn."
-Ignacio ‘Nacho’ Estrada

Technology and Prioritizing Relationships

2011-09-10T05:32:00.000-07:00

In reading my last two posts, you know I believe that building relationships with your students is paramount for a teacher to maximize the learning of his/her students. I am delighted to have LindseyWright lindswright@gmail.com with a guest post on technology and relationships.

The current climate seems to both embrace technology as an essential element of society and revile it as the death knell of human bonding and relationships. It's sparked debates about how many hours children should spend online, whetheror not social media are actually connecting us to others or isolating us further, and how extensive a role technology should play in education.

While the first two points are perhaps best addressed by parents, the last has become as much the domain of teachers, administrators, and the government. Arguments run the gamut from encouraging high school graduates to take onlinecollege courses to espousing avoidance of technology in the classroom in favor of traditional learning techniques. However, both of these arguments(admittedly extremes) fail to take into account the role that technology is intended to play in learning relationships. Rather than usurping therelationship between student and teacher, technology should be a tool toenhance that learning connection and develop stronger classroom bonds. Inshort, it is meant to foster a love of learning in students that will continueinto adulthood.

Active vs. Passive Learning

To see the role technology should play in the relationship between student andteacher, it's first essential to understand the difference between passive and active learning. As noted by Norman Herr, Professor of Science Education at California State University,both types of learning are essential to the classroom, but the depth oflearning varies between them.

A passive learning experience is typically characterized by lectures and note-taking. Rather than exploring new points of inquiry, the passive learner is viewed as an empty vessel to be filled with information presumably to be reproduced on a test. In contrast, the active learning experience is one in which student and teacher engage in a relationship based upon mutual inquiry and discussion. Rather than simply learning information by rote, the active learneris able to restructure that information to create new meaning and understanddeeper relationships between different elements.

Instead of lectures, teachers use brief instructional periods to provide basic information that forms the basis for ongoing active inquiry on the part of the student or class. By the end of a course, active learners should be well-versed in the subject matter, able to understand deeper meanings based upon that information, and build upon the material in future study.

The primary difference between passive and active learning, Herr notes, lies in the relationship dynamic between student, teacher, and material. In passive learning, the relationship between these disparate parts is minimal at best. However, in an active learning experience students and teachers meet over the material. In other words, students and teachers engage in a discussion about the subject matter that builds a relationship based on academic inquiry andmutual respect. Students develop confidence in their abilities to understandand work with the material, and teachers gain new insights into the different learning styles of students, as well as gain from their new perspectives on the material itself. A genuine learning relationship is fostered that will serve students throughout their educational careers.

Technology and the Active Learner

Numerous studies by the US Department of Education on the role technology plays in the classroom have shown repeatedly that the proper use of technology in education fosters active learning. This doesn't mean technology should always be used arbitrarily, but that effective use of educational technology facilitates learning and the relationship that's meant to develop between student, teacher, and material.

The studies suggest technology should be used in an educational context tofoster understanding of topics, promote independent inquiry, and develop peer collaboration. In short, technology should be used in a meaningful way. To suggest one example, students could perform an Internet scavenger hunt (that is, do research) for information about the subject under study. Students could then collaborate in groups to create presentations about particular aspects of the topic, with each presentation to be followed by class discussion of that specific element.

In such an activity, the teacher would monitor the use of technology, discuss findings with students, and provide research guidance as needed. Rather than passively enduring a lecture, students would be engaged in acquiring information themselves and developing a stronger relationship with both the teacher and peers based upon sharing what they've learned. This is active learning in action, facilitated by simple and suitable use of technology.

Many fear technology is creating automatons incapable of interacting withothers, but study after study demonstrates technology actually enhances education and the relationships that exist between students, their peers, and teachers. Rather than harming the educational system and the learning relationships upon which it depends, technology when properly used can enhance these relationships and create engaged learners eager to teach each other and interact with teachers as they discover their own ability to learn for themselves.

Photo: eyebeam's photostream

This is RELATIONSHIP BUILDING

2011-09-03T10:03:00.000-07:00

My last post was on relationships trumping data. I was not saying to forget data because it is a tool that successful teachers learn how and when to use. I was saying that relationships are more important to student learning than data. I now have a wonderful example of what I was trying to convey. Mrs. Ripp is one dynamic fifth grade teacher in Madison Wis. She knows that to maximizing student learning she must connect with her students and build personal relationships. Look at the activity she has for her students on the first day of school. Do you think these kids will be jumping out of bed on day two just to see what will be happening at school? Wouldn’t you love to be in this classroom? What relationship building activities have or did you plan for the first week of school? Wishing all teachers and students an exciting, engaging year of learning!

Relationships Trump Data

2011-06-28T11:42:00.000-07:00

Those of us growing up in the card-playing era of Bridge and Pinochle really understand the value of trump cards. These cards rule in other words they have the most value. To be successful at these cards games you must not only having trump cards but also knowing how to play them. I see the same connection with the ingredients that make for successful students learning in our classrooms. Most of us as parents and educators would agree that planning, curriculum, data, organization, and relationships are essential elements successful teachers use to assist students with their learning. As an educator, my mantra over the years has been that to maximize our effectiveness as teachers we must make connections and build relationships with our students. As a principal, my charge to teachers was to have their students tightly bonded as a family unit by the end of the first three weeks of school. It is so affirming when one’s belief is validated by others and especially in this day and age of research based demands. Valerie Strauss of the Washington Post offers a new report from the Consortium on Chicago School Research at the University of Chicago giving key findings on the value of relationships in school. Others in education feel the same. Salman Khan on the Forbes Names You Need to Know: Khan Academy video has this quote, “Internet-based video lessons are great to help ….., but it takes a relationship with a real teacher to educate deeply.” This is why I believe the relationships you build with your students to be the number one factor in their successful learning while in your classroom. I observe most schools today living in a data driven mode. What do you think will promote the following: a warm, supportive classroom climate; students taking responsibility for their own learning; an environment where students feel safe, take risks, and make mistakes; a place where play in valued; honesty and openness is observed between students and teacher; and most importantly students that are happy and enjoy coming to school; data or relationships? The answer comes to me loud and clear: RELATIONSHIPS!

How would you rate relationships on your value scale? I look forward to your comments.

To help with building relationships @tombarrett offers this google doc: “20 Interesting Ways to Get to Know Your New Class”.

PS: As I am finishing this post on relationships, what should appear in my google reader? Mrs. Ripp aka @4thGrdTeach posting this: “Kids Shouldn’t Feel Like Tourists: How Every Classroom Should Be a Tribe”. This feels, smells, and taste like relationships to me. What is your take?

Summer Fun and Technology

2011-06-20T09:08:00.000-07:00

Kevin Jarrett is a dynamo technology teacher in Northfield, NJ. He loves kids and technology. This is a perfect combo for connecting with his students. Knowing that learning doesn’t stop at the classroom door or when summer vacation comes along, Kevin is busy creating a fabulous site for kids to use during the summer. Here is the title of his recent post: Summer’s here. You’ve got plans. Amplify the fun with technology! He is creating a place to share FREE technology tools so that kids and their families can use the technology they have to create wonderful digital memories of the Summer of 2011. What an awesome idea. Don’t you just love teachers with passion!
Check out the summer tech fun at: http://tiny.cc/t7fp2 and then share it with your family. The first post is coming soon and he guarantees it to be a hit!
Photo Flickr - Creative Commons

Your Birthday Can = Clean Water For Someone

2011-05-28T06:31:00.000-07:00

When I first came across Nathan Hidajat and the plans he had for his eighth birthday, I was touched by this young boy’s desire and commitment to help others obtain clean water.
Nathan Hidajat, a second grader at St. Cecilia School in Iowa, has something different planned for his recent eighth birthday. He is dedicating his birthday to a campaign to raise money to get people clean water. His goal of $1000 is to help 50 people have clean water for the next 20 years. Instead of a party or gifts, he is asking for donations to the cause.
I was moved but did not make a contribution at the time thinking I will come back later to make my donation. Before getting back to Nathan’s web site, I am checking my google reader and find this from Digital Literacy Resource/e-Learning Today TV via Tips, Tools and Technology for Educators.

Nathan Hidajat Charity
· Little boy who is dedicating his birthday to a campaign to raise money to get people clean water. His goal of $1000 is to help 50 people have clean water for the next 20 years. Instead of a party or gifts, he is asking for donations to the cause.
· Donors will see their name on the Donors page of the website that Nathan’s parents helped him make. They will also receive a signed picture from Nathan, mailed using stamps from his own savings.
· In his plan, he states that for every $100 of his goal reached, he will play the piano, another passion along with drawing, at the retirement home in his area.
· This is a great example of how a little bit can go a long way. This young child is already passing on his generosity and kindness to the people around him. More acts like this in the world will hopefully make a lot more people more generous too!
Through exploring e-Learning Today TV, I come across what I think is the source of the inspiration for Nathan Hidajat’s birthday charity project. It is Charity:Water and Scott Harrison. This is a must view video from Omaha of Scott giving history of Charity:Water.

Scott Harrison - charity: water from Big Omaha on Vimeo.

10 Pictures of Longs Creek Elemenatry School

2011-04-15T13:06:00.000-07:00

I followed the five easy steps suggested by Cale Birk, principal of South Kamloops Secondary School BC Canada, as he called for educators to post 10 pictures of our school. This sharing will give us an idea of what learning environments look like. Here are my pictures of Longs Creek Elementary, a K-5 school, in San Antonio, Texas.

The front view of the Longs Creek

The view as you enter the school The commons area

The first grade hallway

A Flat Stanley project bulletin board

4th Grade "Got Milk" writing project

3rd grade brochure project

The Library

2nd grade Leaping Into Books project board

2nd grade work displayed

I found it difficult to limit my picture selection to ten pictures. In keeping with the request, I reluctantly followed the directions. As visitors come and go at our school, the most often heard comment is, “This feels like a happy school”. I cherish that observation. Schools should be happy places. It should be a vibrant place where students are living, loving, and learning. Remember children are little people. They deserve the same respect and attention that is given to adults. Thanks for viewing the Longs Creek picture tour.

How do you feel after the tour? Will you be next to share a 10 picture tour of your school?

ISTE11 Newbie Project

2011-02-20T10:17:00.000-08:00

Beth Still, a passionate educator, from Scottsbluff Nebraska started the ISTE Newbie Project in 2009. She started the project to show the value and power of a Personal Learning Network (PLN). Each year for the Newbie project, Beth finds someone that has not attended an ISTE conference and organizes a fund-raising campaign to raise money to help that person attend the conference. Look at the first two selections she made: Richard Byrne and Jason Schrage. You can see she has a great eye for educators that are making a difference with kids! Richard and Jason are both social studies teachers. They are making a difference not only with kids, but they are also making significant contributions to educators’ worldwide.

This year Beth has chosen George Couros, a principal from Stony Plain, Alberta Canada. Here is what she has to say about this year’s selection:
I had a feeling I would face some tough questions about why I selected an administrator to be the Newbie for 2011 and my personal learning network did not let me down. Over the past 5 months quite a few people have asked me to defend my choice. Since this project would not be possible without your financial support I am more than happy to explain my reasoning. I cannot emphasize enough that I really believe in George and his ability to have a positive impact on education. He is a role model for both teachers and administrators. He is passionate about sharing, learning, teaching, and communicating and I believe he deserves the opportunity to attend ISTE. If you believe in either this project or in George Couros please click here to make a donation to help send him to Philadelphia this summer.
The magic equations to make this year’s Newbie project successful:

A Small Donation From All = The Project Goal

Add your support to the Newbie project by making a comment.

My Tech Teacher Was A Fifth Grader

2011-02-05T12:39:00.000-08:00

photo © 2007 faceless b more info (via: Wylio)

I have read it on twitter and seen it in many blogs: Let’s let the students take the lead with teaching some of the Web 2.0 tools. It recently happened in a large suburban San Antonio, Texas school district, North East ISD. Each semester the district sponsors a Saturday staff development day called Super Saturday. The technology session included the GT class of Mrs. Kimberly Ball from Wetmore Elementary School. These fifth graders were very excited about having the opportunity to present to teachers. They were so pumped in fact that they spent hours on their own time during the weekends creating a web site titled “Teachers Come to Learn”. The Saturday before the Super Saturday presentation, the fifth graders held a class for the teachers of Wetmore. According to their principal, Wilbert Morgan, the Wetmore teachers increased their knowledge of web 2.0 tools and enjoyed being taught by their own students. This was an excellent ice breaker for the students and they were now prepared for the twenty NEISD teachers that had signed up for the Web 2.0 technology class that include: Animoto, Voicethread, and Weebly. During the Web 2.0 class, with coaching and assistance from the fifth grade students, teachers logged on and created their own accounts for Animoto, Voicethread, and Weebly. During the class the teachers also created a short animoto video and voicethread. They also received instruction on setting up blogs for their students on Weebly. This was a terrific day for the Wetmore GT class and they can be very proud of the quality presentation given to the NEISD teachers. This was certainly a win-win for students and teachers.
A short video from class

What are your experiences of students teaching a tech class for teachers? I would enjoy hearing from you.

Reform Symposuim January 8, 2011

2011-01-02T05:12:00.000-08:00

I attended the July Reform Symposium 2010 and could not have been more pleased with the weeklong presentations. I expect the same from the one-day conference on Saturday January 8, 2011. Mark you calendars and don’t miss this educational experience. The following outstanding educators have planned this free conference just for you: Shelly Terrell, Chris Rogers, Kelly Tenkely, Greta Sandler, Lisa Dabbs, and Melissa Tran.

This worldwide education conference will take place on January 8 (and 9th depending on your location), 2011. The conference is free to attend from the comfort of your home or anywhere you have Internet access! The Reform Symposium offers the opportunity to connect and learn with educators and professionals in the field of education worldwide. Over 2,400 educators from 59 countries attended our last conference in July! This year the conference will focus on interactive presentations that help teachers with creating engaging classrooms and lessons, building relationships with students, improving literacy, working with interactive whiteboards, and much more! We look forward to 2 keynote speakers, 18 presentations, an open discussion on classroom management, a panel discussion on parental engagement, a mentor program, and an open lab for hands-on support in helping you continue your professional development in online educator communities. You have never attended a conference quite like this one! Join us by registering below for the conference and start connecting and participating now! View the linked video for help.

Home « The Reform Symposium

Check out these videos for a sampling of the presentations:

Joan Young

Pernille Ripp

Kyle Pace

Let’s get ready for a fabulous day of learning and sharing. I’ll see you on Elluminate Saturday January 8, 2011. Share this exciting news with those in your PLN.

Hans Rosling's The Joy of Stats

2010-12-19T05:39:00.000-08:00

I saw this terrific video last week and thought this is a must share item. Like some many thoughts that race through one’s head, it was in and out as I moved on to something else. Checking my Google Reader this morning, I read Larry Ferlazz’s post “You Can’t Miss This Video”. There it was again “200 Countries, 200 Years, 4 Minutes” by Hans Rosling. My best learning takes place with a visual presentation, therefore this piece of work really appealed to me. I think you will find the information most interesting.

Hans Rosling's famous lectures combine enormous quantities of public data with a sport's commentator's style to reveal the story of the world's past, present and future development. Now he explores stats in a way he has never done before - using augmented reality animation. In this spectacular section of 'The Joy of Stats' he tells the story of the world in 200 countries over 200 years using 120,000 numbers - in just four minutes. Plotting life expectancy against income for every country since 1810, Hans shows how the world we live in is radically different from the world most of us imagine.

I find this presentation most fascinating! Extrapolating this presentation into the future, what are the implications for education? I would enjoy reading your comments.

Fear and George Couros

2010-12-05T11:10:00.000-08:00

George Couros “The Principal of Change” wrote a short article on fear for his December 1st posting. He had just returned from a conference, which included a session with Will Richardson. A question from the session ignited a reflection in George: “What’s one fear you’re going to have to overcome to lead your school forward?” He then went on to list twelve fears that drive him.

I can relate to all twelve, but his last, “fear that our students and staff are not having fun” really resonated with me. I envision my primary mission/goal, as a principal to be fostering an environment where fun and enjoyment of learning is maximized. My reasoning is this: teachers do their best instruction when they are happy, relaxed, and connected with their students, and student learning is optimized when they are enjoying the content they are exploring. Creating such a school climate can be a challenge given the federal, state, and district directives schools must follow. Not to mention the crazy standardized testing cycle education is involved in as we race to the top.

The following are my email contributions to our staff and the district elementary principals to foster a positive learning climate for students of our school and district:

Good Friday Morning LC Cowboy Staff,

As the holidays bring the close of another year. I have this fear. Will another year go by without you discovering, or for some of you rediscovering, the JOY of this profession?

Our students are so alive. Catch their energy. Enjoy what they have to teach you. This will bring the focus back to the real center of your work. THE KIDS.

Sling some fish with your class today. Hey, it's “80 Days @ LC”. Have some fun!

Ashley, Jennifer, Jillian, Danielle, and Jennifer, (our student teachers)
It’s your last day with the Cowboys. Thank you for learning with us. Hope you enjoyed your time here. Have we helped you discover the JOY of teaching? I sure hope so.

Wishing everyone a weekend filled with happiness and good times.

Rich

After writing the Fear email to the staff, George’s message continued to race through my mind. How would my peers react to the Fear message? Would they reflect on what fear drives them. I felt compelled to share the post on Fear with the other 45 elementary principals in the school district. This is so out of character for quiet me. Stepping out of my comfort zone, I sent the following email:

Good Morning Peers,

One of the blogs I follow is “The Principal of Change” written by George Couros. George says, “I am a K-12 Principal in Stony Plain, Alberta, Canada, who wants to help and inspire others to find their passion.” I would say his outstanding sharing on twitter and his blog postings are touching and inspiring educators around the world.

I am sharing his December 1 posting titled “Fear” at The Principal of Change. After reading his short post, I encourage you to answer his question. What fear drives you?

It is 80s Day at Longs Creek, and we are having a blast. I hope your day follows the same pattern.

Rich Cantrell
Longs Creek

I am delighted to say, I have had a few responses from my peers. Let’s hope George’s message brings reflection for them and a refocus on what is most important in their efforts with students and staff.

Have you added to George’s list of “What fear drives you”? Why not now? The Principal of Change

Passionfruit

2010-11-13T06:21:00.000-08:00

Last week I posted about passion and passionate educators after reading Silvia Tolisano tweets on passion and watching her video titled Passion in Education …make a difference! Little did I know that passion was now a huge buzz subject on my PLN? I guess I’ve been more focused on activities at school than I realized. Angela Maiers has been featuring guest bloggers on the topic Passion Driven Conversations. I invite you to visit her page and check out the list of guest bloggers like Larry Frelazzo and George Couros. You will find some great reading.
My PLN has many individuals that would qualify as passionate educators. In putting together my list of passionate educators last week, I know I could not include everyone that qualified. I listed the names of those that first came to mind. In doing so, I left off one outstanding educator in Melbourne, Australia - Jenny Luca. I really enjoy her School’s out Friday postings. She also posts on Learning happens. If you read this week’s post of Learning happens, you will see a passionate educator in action. Jenny participated in a ‘camp’ program called Creative Communication. She was working with 21 very special girls who have all made an effort to extend their thinking and contemplate how we communicate in today’s world. One outcome of the time with Jenny was an online publication called passionfruit. Here you will see the efforts of some passionate students.

What do you think of the new online publication passionfruit?

Passion in Education

2010-11-07T08:23:00.000-08:00

I cannot get the word passion out of my head after watching Silvia Tolisano’s video, Passion In Education. We have all know teachers that could accomplish the most unimaginable task or project. Most of these same teachers seem to turn around students placed in their class that lacked any desire or love for school or learning. You have known some I’m sure. It is a marvelous, awe-inspiring experience to be around them when they are working with children. What do they possess that allows them to make that connection with kids that others seem to be lacking? I submit that the main quality missing is a passion for learning and love of the students and subject in which they are teaching.

I’m still trying to have a more complete understanding of the meaning of passion. I’ve read Merriam-Webster online dictionary, which offers the following synonym discussion of PASSION:
passion, fervor, ardor, enthusiasm, zeal mean intense emotion compelling action. passion applies to an emotion that is deeply stirring or ungovernable . fervor implies a warm and steady emotion . ardor suggests warm and excited feeling likely to be fitful or short-lived . enthusiasm applies to lively or eager interest in or admiration for a proposal, cause, or activity . zeal implies energetic and unflagging pursuit of an aim or devotion to a cause .

I have watched Silvia Tolisano’s video Passion In Education.

Passion in Education from langwitches on Vimeo.

As I continue to wrap my brain around passion and education, I begin to think of my PLN. Yes, an excellent means of illustrating passion in education would be to offer examples of people who are passionate about education. I know that students develop a greater understanding when given examples. I pull a list of PLN members. Whoa, I find it very difficult to make choices but do offer the following names: Silva Tolisano @langwiches, Kelly Tenkely @ktenkely, Kevin Jarrett @kjarrett, Vicki Davis @coolcatteacher, Edna Sackson @whatedsaid, Kathleen McGeady @kathmcgeady, Pernille Ripp @4thGrdTeach, Karen Keenan @2ndgradeteach, George Couros @gcouros, and Chris Wejr @Mr.Wejr.

After checking these web pages my understanding of passion in education is much more complete and I know yours will be also. Have you found your passion? Sir Ken Robinson says, “Finding your passion changes everything.” I would love to hear your comments on passion.

Dr. Mitras - New Experiements in Self-Teaching

2010-10-31T18:22:00.000-07:00

This is my post from June 30, 2010. Edna Sackson from the What Ed Said blog once again has my mind buzzing with a fascinating set of ideas and values dealing with education. She has introduced me to Dr. Sugata Mitra and his data on technology, children, and learning with children in India. The Hole In The Wall Project shows us the power of what children can learn if they have access to technology. The links below will reveal Dr. Mitra’s work and expand your thinking on children with access to technology. Exciting material!

http://www.hole-in-the-wall.com/news15.html

Now because of the post of Kim Cofino on her blog Always Learning we have an update on the work of Dr. Sugata Mitra. This scientist from India started his Hole-in-the-Wall project in 1999. He began by simply embedding a computer in the wall of a slump area of New Delhi. The idea really began in 1988 when Mitra wrote a short paper expressing the idea that maybe children are capable of learning a whole bunch of things on their own with computers.
In September 2010 Dr. Sugata Mitra gave a TED talk titled New Experiments in Self-Teaching. It is truly amazing to see what Mitra has done with his basis idea that given the opportunity children can teach themselves and each other things not thought possible by the educational community. I guarantee you will be fascinated with Dr. Mitra’s TED talk.

What do you think of Dr. Sugata Mitra’s work? What implication does this have for your teaching? Will this affect your teaching style? I would enjoy hearing your thoughts.

The Edutainer

2010-10-17T05:36:00.000-07:00

I would like to give credit to the person that tweeted about The Edutainer but short-term memory has left me. Saw the tweet and was off to Amazon. The book just arrived and I found the first chapter most enjoyable. Just taking time to stop and blog a short introduction to The Edutainer – Connecting the Art and Science of Teaching – by Brad Johnson and Tammy Maxson McElory. These two are veteran teachers who understand the lives of contemporary classroom practitioners. It appears from the acknowledgments of the book that a great deal of their information came from the state of Georgia USA. A cleaver table of contents reveals: Edutainer Program, Act I: The Vision, Act II: The Rehearsal, and Act III: The Performance.
Passages I highlighted from Edutainer Program:
The foreword from Dr. Joe Richardson
Utilizing live theater as a metaphor, they argue that teaching, like acting, embraces elements of both science and art: the stage is to the actor as the classroom is to the teacher.
Great emphasis is place upon students assuming responsibility for their own learning.
Likening the classroom to the stage moves us to another level, away from the boundaries that suggest limits and narrow perspectives, to a different sort of arena where we see new possibilities, where imagination and creative impulses flourish and are encouraged.
The Edutainer would be a good resource book across all grade levels and should find its way into teacher training programs as well as staff development initiatives.
From the Introduction
· Research suggests that students are most successful when they “feel” connected to the teacher and classmates.
· Educators in the twenty-first century must take a different approach to teaching if we are to prepare students for an ever-changing world.
· The story behind the edutainer concept is base upon the collaborative effort of the authors’ more than thirty years of combined teaching experience at the K-12 and collegiate level within public and independent school systems.
Scene 1: Connecting Education with the Twenty-First Century
As a visionary, the Edutainer understands that culture plays an important role in shaping our lives.
Embracing these cultural influences not only makes learning more engaging, but also makes it more relevant as well.
Students today often seek to “be” understood rather than seeking to understand others.
However, the Edutainer embraces interaction with parents because it is beneficial for the student and her.
Research even suggests that collegiality among teachers has a positive correlation with student success.
The purpose of this section is to give you strategies to building a collegial relationship with your administration.
Remember, the Edutainer doesn’t just think outside the box, she threw the box away.

With just one chapter read, I can see this light reading educational book would be beneficial to all educators. Now I need to end this blog and get back to The Edutainer. Scene Two – Director’s Chair begins with this quote: “Leadership is about responsibility and action, not title or position.”

Are you an Edutainer? Do you know an Edutainer? Wouldn’t you like to be in a classroom lead by an Edutainer? Would love to hear your comments.

2010-10-10T05:31:00.000-07:00

A 21st Century Education documentary film from the New Learning Institute sharing educational innovators. Empowering Young Learners is Stephen Heppell describing his vision for schools and learning as he travels around London. Other documentaries in this series feature Alan November, Elliot Solaway and Cathie Norris, and Yong Zhao. They are all looking to change our views on the model we presently have of schools. You can feel their passion for students and education and hopefully you will be inspired to make changes in the way you deliver lessons to your students.

Public Education Today

2010-10-03T11:39:00.000-07:00

I am or have been the following: parent, grandparent, teacher, school administrator, school board member, small business owner, and life long learner. These are my qualifications to give a view of public education in America. I believe many individuals and groups offering opinions have an ulterior motive for the view they share. I also believe there is and has been for a number of years a group or number of groups in America trying to privatize education. Their reasons are varied and for many they are self serving. Let’s leave that for another writing.

It appears, if you can believe the media, public education in America has failed and must be replaced with some type of system that runs education as a business. The belief that is being touted is that if a school is making money then they obviously know what they are doing and are doing it well. If not, they are a failure and need to close shop. Although this movement has been gaining strength for a number of years, I believe the coming election in America has given politicians and private business groups the platform they have been looking for to launch a major attack on public education. A well planned media blitz including the movie “Waiting for Superman”, NBC’s Education Nation, along with major news magazines, and TV personalities jumping on the band wagon campaigning for moving away from public education and looking to the private sector to be the savior of our children’s education.

You might think I would be excited to see the likes of Grassroots Education Movement (GEMHYC) with there video “The Inconvenient Truth Behind Waiting for Superman”. Not so. Although many of the individuals, I believe, are very sincere, there may be hidden agendas there also. Unfortunately the politics of education runs very deep and we must look carefully at all sides of this issue.

Public education in America has been one of the major factors behind our rise to a leadership role in the world today. Are there problems in public education? Yes. Do we need to see major changes in public education? Yes. Do we abandon public education in America and move in another direction? No. The New Yorker magazine published an article recently that is much more in line with my thinking. The writer states, “In education, we would do well to appreciate what our country has built, and to try to fix what is undeniably wrong without declaring the entire system to be broken.” Also consider the post on the blog Schools Matter with an article written my Stephen Krashen. The financing of public schools in America certainly plays a critical role in improving public education. Maybe the crisis in American is over blown. Give it some thought. Yes, Finland has a fine education system in place but take a look at the homogeneous make-up of that country. Now compare it to the ethnic and cultural make-up of the melting pot of the world. A huge difference wouldn’t you say? Do you think this might make a difference in test scores being ripped by the proponents backing the move to privatize our public schools?

The solutions to the problems of public education in America will not come easily or quickly. There is no simple fix but there is a plethora of exciting changes taking place in classrooms around the world that will bring about needed changes to improve the lives and education of our precious children, the future decisions makers and leaders of our planet. We in education are the solution! Wake up teachers and educators! With the technology available today, a passion for learning, and an enthusiastic, positive attitude we can make the difference one classroom at a time. Yes, entire school systems may change but it will be the result of a spark provided by one individual. Collaborating with others in our field is so easy today and so necessary if we are to make the critical changes to save public education. I offer the following educators as proof that this is already happening: George Couros, Edna Sackson, Kelly Tenkely, Kevin Jarrett, Vicki Davis, Kathleen McGeady, Pernille Ripp, Chris Wejr, Paul Fuller, Karen Ditzler, Jenny Luca, Richard Byrne, Tom Barrett, Lee Kolbert, Dean Shareski, Tania Sheko, Cory Plough, Silvia Tolisano, Angela Maiers, Karyn Keenan, Jason Bell, Shannon Miller, Kelly Hines, Beth Still, Colette Cassinelli, and Sue Waters.
Are you ready to make your contribution to improving education? Let’s start with your classroom. The educators listed above are leading the way and would love to have you on board for this exciting journey of improving education one classroom at a time.

The 21st Century Teacher

2010-09-19T05:24:00.000-07:00

The September 2010 edition of the Teacher Net Gazette has a compelling article on the changing role of today’s teacher. Dr. Brad Johnson and Tammy Maxson McElroy have written a powerful piece titled “The Changing Role of the Teacher in the 21st Century”.
Here are a few statements from the article:

This means that children entering kindergarten today have been exposed to more information than their grandparents were two years after graduating high school.

This innovative educator of today utilizes authentic relationships and relevant teaching to connect education with the real world.

One major difference between the antiquated teacher role and the changing teacher role of today is the involvement of everyone in the educational community.

The effective teacher has to be the ‘thermostat’ that controls the environment of the classroom.

The changing role of the teacher means to move away from the isolation of the past and embrace the collegiality, expertise, and support of colleagues.

The changing role of the teacher includes reaching beyond the walls of the school.

With the release of the movie “Waiting for Superman” this month and recent articles in Time Magazine, the public is focusing more than ever on public education in America. I believe this article to be a must read for educators and parents with young children. Those of us in public education need to look closely at the words of Dr. Johnson and Ms. McElroy as we reflect on our relationship with our students and parents. I invite your comments on “The Changing Role of the Teacher in the 21st Century”.

Photo: flickr by my_new_wintercoat

Teacher Web Pages

2010-09-11T08:50:00.000-07:00

We have a great group of teachers at Longs Creek Elementary School in San Antonio Texas. The teachers know that for students to maximize their potential they must be excited and engaged about learning in and out of school. Knowing that their students love technology, the staff has gone back to the drawing board to create more engaging pages on their teacher webs. I am very proud of the efforts they are putting forth to connect with their students and parents. They are also very interested in connecting with other classes around the world by way of Skype to become 21st century global learners. If you are interested in skyping with one of our classes, log on to our web site and contact a specific teacher or contact me direct rcantr@neisd.net . Give the area of interest and age group you would be interested in skyping with and I’ll pass your name along to one of our teachers.
Here are a few of the teacher's web pages for you to view:
Lisa Carnazzo – Second Grade Teacher
Tami Jordan – Third Grade Teacher
Wendy Pleak – Kinder Teacher
Amanda Peet – First Grade Teacher
Jennifer Growcock – Fourth Grade Teacher
April Blackler – Fifth Grade Teacher
Mrs. Blackler has posted a video on her student blog page that I want to share with you. What video could not be more fitting than “We Are In This Together” by Ben Lee.
We look forward to a year of learning, laughing, and living. Hope you enjoy the video.

Life Long Learning Made Easier

2010-09-05T07:38:00.000-07:00

The picture at the right is a plaque that hangs outside by office at school. Back in the 60s with the decoupage craze in full bloom, I created this plaque to remind me of one of my goals in education. Little did I know the impact this statement would have on my life! During my educational career I have experienced the following transitions: purple ditto machines to the zerox copiers, Underwood typewriters to computers, crank phone on the wall to the iphone in my pocket, USPS (snail mail) to twitter, Dick and Jane readers to http://www.starfall.com/ My, have I seen changes in communication, technology, and education!
Now is the time for all educators to take a critical look at their own professional development. Kathleen McGeady @kathmcgeady and Edna Sackson @whatedsaid, along with technology of the day, have created the solution for making it much easier for one to be a life long learner. I read a blog today written by Mrs. Ripp at 4thGrdTeach. She challenges those who say one of their goals in teaching is to make life long learners of their students. Listen up Mrs. Ripp at 4thGrdTeach. Maybe you can’t promises to make life long learners out of your students in one year, but they may be well on their way if you introduce our students to Kathleen McGeady list of technologies: twitter, blogs, google reader, podcasts, skype, and wikis/nings.
Read Kathleen McGeady’s post “Here are my 10 tops ways to engage in Professional Development in 2010” @ Integrating Technology in the Primary Classroom.

Digital Story Telling

2010-08-29T06:34:00.000-07:00

I have been interested in digital story telling for many reasons but the most important reason is because I believe it connects with students and increase their learning. Confucius had this to say way before the digital age:
I hear and I forget.
I see and I remember.
I do and I understand.
What better way to hear, see, and do than digital story telling?
Wikipedia - Digital Story Telling under Uses in Primary and Secondary Education: "Teachers can incorporate digital storytelling into their instruction for several reasons. Two reasons include 1) to incorporate multimedia into their curriculum and 2) Teachers can also introduce storytelling in combination with social networking in order to increase global participation, collaboration, and communication skills. Moreover, digital storytelling is a way to incorporate and teach the twenty-first century student the twenty-first century technology skills such as information literacy, visual literacy, global awareness, communication and technology literacy."

A recent tweet by @langwitches, Silvia Tolisano a teacher of teachers in my eyes, told about digital storytelling at Kauai Pacific School. My interest in the activity was rekindled after seeing what early school age children were doing with digital story telling. What an exciting tool to use with students as they begin to read and write. I challenge you to watch this video from http://futureschools.ning.com/ and not see the immense value of digital story telling for children of any age.
Find more videos like this on Schools of the Future

For more information on digital story telling Silvia Tolisano slide show “Digital Story Telling – Tools for Educators on http://www.slideshare.net/ . She made this presentation at the Teacher2Teacher Conference in 2010. Silvia’s web site is http://www.globallyconnectedlearning.com/ .

Digital Natives Restless

2010-08-22T04:44:00.000-07:00

The following is a note I wrote to Kathleen McGeady, a primary school teacher from Geelong Australia, after reading the Digital Native story in The Age, an Australian newspaper.

Kathleen, not only are the digital natives restless, I believe the entire educational community is restless. Digital classrooms are essential for our students to receive the quality education necessary for them to be productive citizen when they become adults. There appears to be a ground swell movement going on with this issue. While governments and individual states are moving toward digital classrooms, the most effective advancements are coming from individual classroom teachers like yourself and your teaching buddy, Kelly Jordan. Other issues, I feel are equally important for our students to be productive citizens as adult are global awareness and civic/humanitarian responsibility for one another. From following your blogs and classroom activities the last few month, I have the feeling you would agree. A couple of activities/programs that have touched our elementary/primary students are Pennies for Peace and Read to Feed. Pennies for Peace is a program started by Greg Mortenson author of Three Cups of Tea. http://www.penniesforpeace.org/ .

Read to Feed is sponsored by Heifer International, a long established global humanitarian effort. http://bit.ly/aSNB3t

Just sharing these two ideas with you and Kelly and offering the highest of praise to you two. As teachers, you are not only touching the lives of children but also modeling for educators throughout the world. Kathleen and Kelley, I wish you all the best as you finish out term III.

Read the Digital Natives are Restless story for yourself: http://bit.ly/anb5rW

for the love of learning: John Spencer on Accountability

2010-08-14T07:41:00.000-07:00

for the love of learning: John Spencer on Accountability

SXSW Panel on Social Media

2010-08-14T04:58:00.000-07:00

Social Media is playing an ever-changing role in our society today. Schools are no exception. Richard Byrne needs you help! He would like to have a panel discussion on the emerging role of social media in schools at 2011 SXSW. Read his post on Free Technology for Teachers and vote for the selection of this panel. Don’t delay vote today!

South by Southwest, commonly referred to as SXSW, is a huge technology, business, and entertainment conference held in Texas every March. This year, I submitted a proposal to host an education discussion panel. The panel is comprised of myself, Steven Anderson, Cory Plough, Mary Beth Hertz, Kyle Pace, and a moderator yet to be named. The panel discussion will focus on the emerging role of social media in schools. It could be a great opportunity to reach a non-education audience with our message of why schools need to embrace social media.In order for this panel to happen we need your votes. SXSW picks panels through a crowd-sourcing process. To vote please visit our proposal page and vote us up. You will need to register to vote. On behalf of Steven, Cory, Mary Beth, Kyle, and myself, thank you.

2010 Reform Syposium July 31- August 1, 2010

2010-08-01T19:38:00.000-07:00

I just completed a fabulous weekend of educational technology by participating in The 2010 Reform Symposium. Where did this wonderful experience take place and at what cost? Let me share a little secret with you. Location: the comfort of my home, in my office with plenty of coffee at hand. Cost: $0.00 FREE. Impossible you say! Not so because of the following terrific, industrious people in my PLN: Shelly Terrell - @shellterrell, Chris Rogers - @MrROg3rs, Kelly Tenkely - @ktenkely, and Jason Bedell - @jasontbedell. They worked with Steve Hargadon and Elluminate who hosted the symposium/conference. A sampling of presentations titles: Identity Day – Revealing the Passion of Our Students, It’s Not the Tool, It’s How You Use It, Second Life in Education, Using Word Clouds to Integrate Reading and Writing, Creating a Personal Learning Network, Skype Around the World, Back-channeling in the classroom, Student Redefine School, Abolishing and Replacing Grading, and Who Needs Bricks and Mortar. These and many other presentations were delivered by close to 40 dynamic technology individuals for all over the world. Yes, I said the WORLD. Not only were the presenters from worldwide locations, fifty-seven countries were represented at the event. This experience was worth at least five years of professional staff development and all at no cost in the comfort of my office.This experience is still available to you. Why not get a global view of technology and great tips on tech programs and example of their uses. The archives for most session are available on the 2010 Reform Symposium web site. Don’t miss out and share this information with you friends. You will be a hero at your school, I promise. http://reformsymposium.com/

Looking Ahead at Social Learning

2010-07-29T09:36:00.000-07:00

Andrew Barras (Educational Stormfront) has posted another very interesting blog on Social Learning for the next ten years.

AKA crudbasher says:
I really liked this article. Basically the authors are predicting how learning will change in the next 10 years. Interestingly they aren’t talking about this in the context of education, but in the context of workplace continuing education. I think that industry will take the lead on innovative learning techniques in the future.
It’s important to remember that learning can happen without schools. If schools want to remain relevant they have to come up with a better reason than “we have all the information here”. That isn’t true anymore.

Read More @ http://bit.ly/blX4FQ
Image from Social Learning Playbook

How to Ignite Intellectual Curiosity in Students

2010-07-27T09:57:00.000-07:00

The web, magazines, newspapers are all a buzz about student's declining creative. If you have read my blog you know that I share many of the views of Sir Ken Robinson. Kids come to school with abundant creativity but by third grade many have lost much of that spark of creativity they had. Ben Johnson’s article “How to Ignite Intellectual Curiosity in Students” in edutopia may offer some reasons. Give it a read and offer comments:

Ben Johnson 7/26/10
I personally have never seen a student that was not curious about something. I have seen many students who have suppressed their curiosity when they enter school to such an extent as to be nearly undetectable, but it is still there. Human beings are hardwired to be curious and being curious is a major activity of childhood and young adulthood (and yet recently more and more students would rather be curious-looking).
Want to read more: http://www.edutopia.org/blog/igniting-student-curiousity-inquiry-method

Learning Today Blog - Post by Amanda Kenuam

2010-07-18T16:21:00.000-07:00

On the Learning Today Blog, Amanda Kenuam, has an excellent post titled Web 3.0, Networked Literacy, and Information Fluency | #ISTE10. She reports on information from Gary Hayes (Web 3.0 & Social Media Counts), Jeff Utecht (Networked Literacy), Anglea Maiers (21st Century Teaching and Learning), plus tidbits from #ISTE10 and ebc10. Wonderful reading for all in education!
http://bit.ly/dofMSl
Love to hear your comments on the Learning Today Blog post of Amanda Kenuam.

Myths and Opportunities: Technology in the Classroom - Alan November

2010-07-17T13:44:00.000-07:00

Last fall I viewed an Alan November video “Myths and Opportunities: Technology in the Classroom”. Two comments by November that spoke to me were: kids need to make contributions in the real world community and let students have more control of their learning. Along with being inspired, the video challenge my thinking about teachers and their control of student learning.
Today Kyle Pace sent the following RT: Awesome...RT @mbteach: So inspired by this video of/by Alan November http://vimeo.com/3930740
I took a second look at the video and continue to be impressed with its content. What about you?

Myths and Opportunities: Technology in the Classroom by Alan November from Brian Mull on Vimeo.

New Children's Book - Riley's Lost Tooth

2010-07-14T19:57:00.000-07:00

As a husband, I certainly have the right to do a little bragging on my wife. Diane's second children's book was released in the spring of 2010. The book is titled Riley's Lost Tooth and was written for our granddaughter as a Valentine's gift the year she lost her first tooth. As with her first book, Goodbye Baby Max, the illustrator is Heather Castles. The illustrations have been captivating to those reading both of the books. Do you have a child or grand child soon to be losing their first tooth? Riley's Lost Tooth might be just the perfect gift to say I love you.

ISTE 2010 - Ian Jukes & Lee Crockett on Education the Next 10 Years

2010-07-12T04:53:00.000-07:00

I did not attend ISTE 2010 in person but did try to follow on twitter and Elluminate. Even from a distance, I found the conference to be full of energy and excitement. Recordings from this event can be found at ISTE Unplugged. www.isteunplugged.com/ In reading Andrew Barra’s blog “Education Storm Front” I was introduced to Ian Jukes and Lee Crockett's session on a look at education for the next 10 years. I would rates this a must view for all of you in education. The beginning of the presentation also has an excellent history of computers going back to 1947 in Philadelphia. I encourage you to set aside 55 minutes to watch is dynamic presentation!

http://www.istevision.org/viewsession.php?id=120&c=w

Children With Technology

2010-06-30T05:06:00.000-07:00

Edna from the whatedsaid blog once again has my mind buzzing with a fascinating set of ideas and values dealing with education. She has introduced me to Dr. Sugata Mitra and his data on technology, children, and learning with children in India. The Hole In The Wall Project shows us the power of what children can learn if they have access to technology. The links below will reveal Dr. Mitra’s work and expand your thinking on children with access to technology. Exciting material!

http://bit.ly/at7MIG

http://bit.ly/beai9V

http://bit.ly/cVGPRL

Image from Hole In The Wall Project web page.

Relationships & Technology

2010-06-29T09:59:00.000-07:00

I want to share from a blog I follow “Realizing Your Personal Legend” written by Mike Mansour. The title of his article was “Tribute to a Non-tech Principal”. Mike has served with his principal, Mr. Connelly, for six years. He has a great deal of respect and admiration for his principal even though he is not up to speed with his tech skills.
Technology his changing many aspects of our society from the way children access information to the way teachers need to plan for lessons that will be engaging to their students. I would say Mike and I are both techies but we agree on something that is more important that technology. Mike has expressed it this way, “Mr. Connelly was a great principal because of the relationships he built with our families and the atmosphere of excellence he fostered among the staff.” RELATIONSHIPS
The teachers where I serve continue to hear these words from me each August as we begin another school year. “The most important thing to accomplish with your students the first few weeks of school is to make connections and build relationships.” They know I believe that more significant learning will take place with each child with whom they have a personal relationship.
As educators, let’s be more accepting of our peers. Many teachers that are struggling with learning technology have mastered the relationship piece. I challenge you to embrace them, hold their hand, and show them respect and patience as you model technology for them.
Here is a link to Mike Monsur’s complete article: http://bit.ly/bTLI7t

Priceless Education

2010-06-14T18:28:00.000-07:00

How have I missed this youtube video from Lanwithes/Silva for so long? First published in December 2008, it still has a fresh message for all of us in education. Will you deliver a Priceless Education to your students? Making connections and building relationship as we change the world one student at a time!

Daniel Pink Interview

2010-06-06T05:53:00.000-07:00

Interview of Daniel Pink from Andrew Keen:
According to Daniel Pink, the author of the New York Times best-selling Drive, the great shift of the early 21st century is from left to right. Rather than a political change, however, Pink's shift is all about the brain. The 21st century, he argues, represents the triumph of our creative right brain skills over the more procedural thinking of our left brain.

So when I met with Pink on a rainy afternoon in Washington earlier this month, I began by asking him whether the new hegemony of right brain skills would represent a new golden age of creativity for both artists and ordinary people. –Andrew Keen
http://bit.ly/djAw7n

Winning vs Success from John Wooden

2010-06-05T07:16:00.000-07:00

On June 4, 2010 we lost a wonderful gentleman and college basketball icon. John Wooden was the head basketball coach at UCLA from 1967-1973. During that time he won 620 games. At one point in time, he won 88 games in a row. He was called the Wizard of Westwood and built one of the greatest dynasties in all of sports. Winning was not his GOAL in basketball or life. Listen to his TED talk on Winning vs Success. Words for all of us to live by!

Eating to Starve Cancer

2010-05-29T06:21:00.000-07:00

William Li presentation at TED Feb. 2010: Can we eat to starve cancer?
William Li presents a new way to think about treating cancer and other diseases: anti-angiogenesis, preventing the growth of blood vessels that feed a tumor. The crucial first (and best) step: Eating cancer-fighting foods that cut off the supply lines and beat cancer at its own game.

Sir Ken and A Revolution in Education

2010-05-25T18:07:00.000-07:00

Sir Ken (Robinson) Again - Speaking in Long Beach California in February 2010 at a TED conference. Education Listen Up!

A Quiet Sunday Morning

2010-05-23T08:29:00.000-07:00

Technology is essential in our fast pace world of today. It allows us to explore, to learn, to share, to complete tasks, to keep us touch with friends and family. Also essential for all of us is a good quiet morning with nature and the out of doors. It can be as simple as a Sunday morning on the patio. May you have a great relaxing day soon.

Patio and Flowers on PhotoPeach

Sir Ken In Nanaimo

2010-05-22T09:48:00.000-07:00

Sharing a small part of an article from Chris Wejr's blog, The Wejr Board. This blog is titled "Summary: Sir Ken Robinson in Nanaimo". Chris is a principal at Kent Elementary School in Agassiz, B.C. Canada. You know how I love Sir Ken's comments on education!
“We often punish people by taking away the things they enjoy doing.”
“Human life is not linear but our education systems are; human life is inherently creative.”
“We are in a state of cultural evolution.”
Flowers came to life in Death Valley following the extremely rare rainfall in 2005.
“Analogy of gardening: Gardeners do not grow plants – plants grow themselves. Gardeners provide the optimal environment for plants to flourish (sunlight/shade, water, heat, etc). One environment can cause one type of plant to flourish while another to die or become dormant. In Death Valley in 2005, it rained 7 inches. In an environment that was supposedly ‘dead’ of plant life, under the right conditions, a beautiful layer of flowers formed. Under the right environment, people flourish.”
“Education must be personalized, not standardized.”

A Celebration of Student Learning

2010-05-14T07:00:00.000-07:00

Just discovered LiveBinders. Yes, I know I'm a little on the slow side. Sooo much to discover on the net. Always searching, Always learning, Always sharing

Web 2.0 Projects – a Celebration of Student Learning

Educating Students for the 21st Century

2010-04-26T18:07:00.000-07:00

I love Education Stromfront by crudbasher
Here is his post of April 26, 2010 on Why 'Educating Students for the 21st Century' is a False Promise (and what we can do about it)

This may not be your view point but I hoped the video causes you to begin thinking about what we need to change to be providing our students with a gobal education for the 21st century.

Real Time Communication & Education

2010-04-22T17:31:00.000-07:00

140 Character Conference held in NY April 20/21 2010

The conference was a worldwide gathering of people interested in the effects of the real-time Internet on both business and people. I was especially interested to hear this topic discussed as it relates to education. I enjoyed listening to a panel including a PLN member, Kevin Jarrett. The discussion title was Real Time Communication and Education. For those that missed the session here is a video replay.
http://www.ippio.com/view_video.php?viewkey=f1ce381cf1f9184a807a

Greg Mortenson and Edutopia Webinar

2010-04-20T19:23:00.000-07:00

Edutopia is funded by the George Lucas Educational Foundation. Last week Greg Mortenson, author of Three Cups of Tea, was the guest speaker on a webinar presented by Edutopia. I'm sharing Greg's message on my "Spot" because I believe so strongly in education being the major solution for greater peace in our world. The webinar is one hour long but I promise you will enjoy every minute of Greg's talk.

Here is my email from Edutopia:
Dear Rich, Thanks so much for registering for our April 15th webinar with best-selling author, Greg Mortenson on service learning. We were thrilled, Greg especially, that so many school classrooms and assemblies attended the webinar. For those of you who were not able to attend, the full archive, in its entirety, is now available for your use. We hope you continue sharing this event and Greg’s message of service learning with your students and colleagues through this archive. All materials from the webinar, along with additional resources and opportunities to continue the conversation, are available at edutopia.org/webinar-april.

Longs Creek Elementary School San Antonio Texas

2010-04-16T02:10:00.000-07:00

From the Express News 4/11/2010

Stellar schools in San Antonio are not relegated to one part of town.
And while the neighborhood, size, wealth and ethnic make-up of successful schools in the San Antonio area may vary, there are several things they have in common: Strong leadership, almost fanatically dedicated faculty and staff, a focus on small learning groups, high expectations and a lot of hard work.
Children at Risk, a Houston-based advocacy group, is releasing its second round of annual school rankings for the San Antonio metro area Monday and gave the Express-News a sneak peek.
Researchers used a wide array of indicators, including test scores, participation in advanced courses, graduation rates and class sizes to rank 374 of the area's elementary, middle and high schools from best to worst.
The system, based on 2008-09 data, gives a boost to schools with a lot of low-income kids and leaves out some schools with insufficient data.
Hats Off
To the
Longs Creek
Staff!!!!
#28 of 257 Campuses

Wild Flowers of South Texas

2010-04-10T09:47:00.000-07:00

This has been a fantastic year for wild flowers in South Texas. Pictures from a recent trip south of San Antonio on Hwy 16 toward Poteet.

South Texas Wild Flowers April 2010 on PhotoPeach

Kids and Failure

2010-04-05T17:24:00.000-07:00

A lessosn here for Teachers and Parents
Kids can Learn a Lot from Failure
Posted by crudbasher 4/5/10
I really agree with this article I saw in the Sydney Morning Herald. The article states that if we don’t let kids fail once in a while, it give them unrealistic expectations for life.
As a college teacher I saw this a whole lot. Many of my students were not concerned with doing their best because they always got what they wanted regardless of their effort. They had what I call a “blinding acceptance of mediocrity”.
I think back on my life and can clearly remember times I failed. It seems to stay with you and help motivate you to better things.
I wonder what effect failure had on these people?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2dbeJkY6QGk&feature=player_embedded

Social Media Creates Open Education

2010-04-02T14:58:00.001-07:00

Ewan McIntosh from Scotland speaking at a LIFT Conference. The title of his presentation is Social Media Creates Open Education. He believes student write because they have an audience. In the classroom it is often an audience of one - the teacher.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8lFrW4CSuI&feature=player_embedded

A Vision of Future Learning Management Systems

2010-03-31T02:14:00.000-07:00

A Vision of Future Learning Management Systems from Education Stormfront by crudbasher
Sharing from Andrew Barrass

Can We Not Individulalize Students' Education?

2010-03-25T17:20:00.000-07:00

I am following Kelly Tenkely on twitter. She is a technology teacher from the Denver area with a passion for kids and learning! Her writings and postings will cause you to take a second look at what is happening in education today - her chosen passionate profession.
From her new blog Dreams of Education March 24, 2010 A Vanilla Education
The focus of schools today really isn’t learning. The focus is standardizing the student population. What we are left with is an educational system that is vanilla. Don’t get me wrong, vanilla has its place in the world. Vanilla makes an excellent base, you can add almost anything to it and it is only enhanced. But we aren’t really enhancing it with anything are we? We are stopping at vanilla. We are standardizing learning until each of our students is popped out the other end looking exactly the same. This isn’t really what this global, connected society calls for, is it? What it calls for is innovation and creativity, anything but vanilla. Yet in our schools, we strip it all away and pass students through making sure that they reach certain standards and pass certain tests. Where is the individualization, the flavor?

It seems to me, that in this world where everything else can be individualized, education should be individualized as well......... Standardizing is not the answer in education. We don’t need a group of people who can do exactly the same thing, the same way. We need a society that has many talents. I am afraid that right now we are losing the great talent to standards. Students don’t feel that they measure up, so they give up and drop out. It isn’t that they aren’t brilliant and don’t measure up somewhere, they just don’t fit in the standardized school box. These kids are still getting “Left Behind”.

With the tools we have available to us today, how could we begin to offer customized learning?

Thank you Kelly for this thought provoking post.

Earth Hour 2010

2010-03-25T02:14:00.000-07:00

From Miss McMillan's Blog by McTeach
This Saturday, March 27th, the entire world will come together to fight climate change one darkened light bulb at a time. What started in Sydney in 2007 as one city making a statement against global warming has become a world-wide phenomenon. Last year more than 4,000 cities around the world, including San Francisco, turned out their lights for one hour demonstrating the idea that anyone and everyone can make a difference. Will you join us this Saturday?
To learn more, visit EarthHour.org.

Video Learning to Change, Changing to Learn

2010-03-17T14:24:00.000-07:00

They just keep coming. Here is another video about CHANGE in SCHOOLS. Learning to Change, Changing to Learn posted on Education Stormfront by crudbasher:

Inspire Teachers

2010-03-15T07:18:00.000-07:00

From the Imagine it Project - Inspire Teachers
"The great hope for the future rests with the quality of our teachers."

Bill Clark, "Our idea of education should sit soundly upon the foundation of asking questions - not answering them."
http://www.imagineitproject.com/?p=881

http://www.imagineitproject.com/?p=901
http://www.imagineitproject.com/?p=879
http://www.imagineitproject.com/?p=270

Teachers: Let's Look @ Kinder

2010-03-14T06:00:00.000-07:00

After kindergarten, labels get hung on learners like an albatross and too many of them give up and become negative self-fulfilling prophecies: “I didn’t think I could do it, either.” How sad!

What can we do? Bring some of the fun back to learning. Break some of the rules….especially the ones you think you can get away with: more collaborative group work, answer fewer questions but ask more, let them teach you, give them the tools to show what they know.
Say, “Look!” more often., “Hey, everyone, look at this!”
When the lights start going back on in their eyes, you’ll know it’s working.

The above writing taken from "Teacher Rebot Camp" by Shelly Terrell.
http://bit.ly/aIOVXS

Spring Break

2010-03-12T01:32:00.000-08:00

Educators: A time to focus on family and self - A time to recharge your battery - Prepare yourself so that you can give your students the best your have to offer as you finish out the school year.

Have fun kids. See you in a week.

Annoucement for Riley's Lost Tooth

2010-03-10T19:37:00.000-08:00

There is big time excitement around the Cantrell house these days. Diane's second children's picture book Riley's Lost Tooth will have a launch and book sign on March 27. If you live in the San Antonio Texas area, we would love to see you at the launch. The book is now available on Amazon.

Why Do We Connect?

2010-03-08T16:37:00.000-08:00

This was posted on Teacher Reboot Camp by Shelly Terrell presently in Germany teaching online technology and English.

YikeBike

2010-03-06T20:15:00.000-08:00

Move over Segway ... Here comes the Yike Bike!
http://www.yikebike.com/site/gallery/video/yikebike-discovery-channel
Check out this bike. The coolest bike around. Will it become an urban wonderful?

Gotta Keep Reading

2010-03-06T05:47:00.000-08:00

Posted by Larry Ferlazzo's on his Website of the Day. Educators: following Larry is a must. I know you will enjoy this video on reading. Sit back relax and enjoy.

Flatclassroom Project

2010-02-27T15:22:00.000-08:00

This information was taken from the Flatclassroom Wiki:
What is a Flat Classroom™?

The concept of a 'flat classroom' is based on the constructivist principle of a multi-modal learning environment that is student-centered and a level playing field for teacher to student and student to teacher interaction.

What is the Flat Classroom™ Project?

The Flat Classroom™ Project is a global collaborative project that joins together middle and senior high school students. This project is part of the emerging tend in internationally-aware schools to embrace a holistic and constructivist educational approach to work collaboratively with others around the world in order to create students who are competitive and globally-minded. The project was co-founded by
Vicki Davis (Westwood Schools, USA) and Julie Lindsay(Beijing (BISS) International School, China) in 2006when Julie (then in Bangladesh) and Vicki joined their classrooms together for the first time to study and emulate the emerging flattened learning environment. The Flat Classroom Project 2006 is was featured in Chapter 13, 'If it's not happening it's because you're not doing it', of the latest edition of Thomas Friedman's book, The World is Flat' upon which it was based. (pages 501-503)

One of the main goals of the project is to 'flatten' or lower the classroom walls so that instead of each class working isolated and alone, 2 or more classes are joined virtually to become one large classroom. This is done through the Internet using Web 2.0 tools such as Wikispaces and Ning.

The Project uses Web 2.0 tools to make communication and interaction between students and teachers from all participating classrooms easier. The topics studied and discussed are real-world scenarios based on 'The World is Flat' by Thomas Friedman.

This is just one of thousands of innovative programs taking place in the world today that will have a major empact on the revolution happening in education.

A Flat Classroom Workshop just concluded in Mumbai February 27, 2010. Video will soon be available but until then here is a video from a conference in Qatar 2009.

“Our school system was invented in the late 1800s, and little has changed. Can you imagine if the medical profession ran this way?” – Linda Darling-Hammond.

Become Change At Your School

Skiing @ the Capitol In Austin Texas

2010-02-24T18:16:00.000-08:00

Wednesday, February 24, 2010. A rare snow day in the Texas capitol.

Abby Sunderland's Solo Sailing Adventure

2010-02-21T04:25:00.000-08:00

I'm following another 16 year old girl hoping to become the youngest person to complete a circumnavigation of the globe. She is Abby Sunderland from Thousand Oaks California.

In her words:It has been my dream since I was 13 years old and began single-handing, to one day sail solo around the world. I am 16 years old and this blog will contain the story of my attempt to become the world's youngest solo circumnavigator.

Abby with her boat, Wild Eyes, left in January 2010 from Marina Del Rey, California. Because of mechanical problems, she restarted her trip from Cabo San Lucas, Mexico in February. Yesterday, Feb. 20th Abby crossed the equator headed for the Horn, the southern tip of South America.

Learn more about Abby at her web site: http://abbysunderland.com/

Follow Abby on her blog: http://soloround.blogspot.com/

Jessica Watson Sails Solo Around The World

2010-02-20T06:09:00.000-08:00

http://sixtyminutes.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=876505

I am following the adventures of Jessica Watson, a sixteen year old Queensland, Australian, girl who is attempting a solo circumnavigation of the globe. She left Sydney in September 2009. Her journey so far has taken her over 11,000 miles through some of the most dangerous waters the oceans have to offer as she passed around the southern tip of South America. The voyage of 230 days at sea is expected to end back in Sydney in June 2010. You can follow Jesscia's posts at:
http://www.youngestround.blogspot.com/
I'll share Abbby Sunderland adventure on the next blog.

We Are Digital Learners

2010-02-16T18:33:00.000-08:00

The challenge for public education in our world today is monumental. To meet the needs of the young people of this world, education and business must work together to transform education. Technology is certainly a key factor in the transformation that will take place if we are to be successful.

The Girl Effect

2010-02-13T12:42:00.000-08:00

The World Has Many Problems! Want to help bring about a change?

Snow Day In Dallas

2010-02-13T12:20:00.000-08:00

Snow Day in Dallas for Riley
Granddaughter and Grandson Enjoyed a Snow Day

Riley's Lost Tooth

2010-02-13T08:42:00.000-08:00

New Children's Book by Diane Cantrell

Enjoy the Book Trailer

2010-02-06T20:04:00.000-08:00

http://www.wordle.net/show/wrdl/1636634/Sarah_&_Jeremy