Teacher Sabrina Stevens Shupe, who founded the Failing Schools Project to help empower teachers and students in low-performing schools, discusses in this blog post the six characteristics that are common to schools that are being considered for turnaround or are undergoing the reform. Shupe, who has worked in struggling schools in Denver and Philadelphia, has found that labeling schools “needs improvement” and emphasizing high-stakes testing over learning creates a toxic culture and actually perpetuates the cycle of failure.
Read the full story: Teacher Magazine (free registration)/Living in Dialogue blog
There are several technology tools that teachers should use within weeks after school begins, according to an elementary-school computer teacher. Mary Beth Hertz suggests — with the help of subscribers to her Twitter feed — that teachers use programs called QuickieQ and AnswerGarden to survey students and their parents on the first day back at school. She also suggests the social-networking site Twiducate, which is designed especially for students. Hertz also includes information about Prezi, which can be used to create classroom presentations similar to PowerPoint.
To read the full story and access all the resources: Edutopia.org/Mary Beth Hertz’s blog
An Ohio high school has named six students as communications interns to write blogs about their senior-year experiences on the school district’s website. The students will maintain the website and update their blogs two to three times per week. Educators devised the school project amid the growing popularity of social media.
Read the full story at Middletown Journal (Ohio)
I have been thinking about this for some time now and at ISTE Conference in Denver in late June I pre-ordered the new book RETOOL Your School; The Educators Essentail Guide to Google’s Free Power Apps.” It arrive a week or so ago, as usual, I flipped through it, got excited, then was off to something else that needed doing. Today, I really sat down and took a good look at the book. I was enthralled with Chapter 1, How Google Transformed a School. OK, so I am hooked now. Actually, I think Hook, Line and Sinker would be more accurate. 
http://www.isteconnects.org/2010/08/08/retool-your-school-with-free-google-apps/
Collaborative means that students work together, view each others’ work, and/or are included in all class conversations. There are so many ways to share information and enable collaboration these days, it only makes sense to include them in my pre-service technology class. Remember, my students are all going to classrooms teachers very soon.
I have not done a ton with collaborative projects and such in my class because the minute I bring up collaborative projects, the whining begins and I usually buckle under pressure. Well not this semester! I have been researching ways to collaborate and here are a few ideas.
Do you have suggestions or ideas for collaboration and collaborative type projects I might try with these soon to be teachers.
- Google Docs: (http://docs.google.com) I have used it off and on for this or that, but haven’t really gotten invested in Google Docs. I think the new shared folder feature in Google Docs could be quite useful. I am really swamped with email and worry I might miss something important from a student, I am thinking I could create a shared folder for each class and it might keep me more organized. It is even possible add folders within a shared folder. I plan to use Google Docs for creating online forms/surveys, maybe even a way to take attendance. I am in a 1:1 laptop situation, so that might work. We do a peer review of their portfolio website, I think this might make that task much easier. Just need to figure out exactly how to set it up!!
- WallWisher: (http://www.wallwisher.com) I been seeing lots and lots of teachers using WallWisher lately, I think I could use it for discussing key concepts and ideas, then I will embed the “wall” my the course page for that week of my website. Looks easy and is a great way to share thoughts and view them in an interactive environment. I think my students might just really get into this.
- Twitter: (http://twitter.com/cyndidannerkuhn) I have been using Twitter for quite a long while now and I love it. For me, Twitter is my professional development every day when it is convenient for me. But I have discovered that convincing my pre-service teachers that Twitter is useful has been a huge struggle, so, I am looking for ideas of how I can “turn on” these education majors to the power of Twitter. Yesterday in day one of class, I mentioned Twitter and there was a huge growl from the class, and it was clear they were not excited and dreading it. HELP, ideas please……
- Delicious: (http://delicious.com/cyndidannerkuhn) I have been using delicious for years and couldn’t get along without it. But my personal delicious site is a bit of a mess these days. I do lots of professional development workshops and am constantly demonstrating how to use it. I just created one especially for my Honors section of my tech class that will be using iPads http://www.delicious.com/coeksuipad. I told my students to tag anything relevant to our iPad experiment in our class. I think maybe I need to make a delicious feed for my regular sections of DED 318 that is not iPad specific and have all of them (160+ students) tagging sites to it? In the past I have had each student create their own delicious account, which I may still do toward the end, but maybe a collaborative one would be more effective in the long run. It might do a better job of getting the point across.
- Google Reader: (http://reader.google.com) I have a Google reader account and it is useful, but I just read about Google Reader “bundles”.” They can subscribe to just one feed with all the blogs I suggest or even that they suggest. I have to think about this one some more and do a little more research before I jump in neck deep. I tend to jump before I look, get me in hot water sometimes.
- My Blog: Technology Bites, Bytes & Nibbles: (http://www.technologybitsbytesnibbles.info/) If I can get them to subscribe, I really hate to require it, it needs to be a choice. But if they do subscribe or I include it in the Google Reader Bundle, they will receive daily (well I miss a day now & then) with resources and new technology stuff I find. This is another way for students to stay informed.
- Podcast: I think it is time I have a podcast. We just got a server with Podcast Producer and I am so excited. Not that I could not have created podcasts before, but now, I am more motivated, everything I have learned about Podcast Producer just makes the entire process seem so much easier.
So for now, those are a few of my goals for my Technology for Teaching and Learning class of soon to be teachers this fall. I guess time will tell how many of them are successful. I would appreciate any advice or suggestions you might have.
Darren Cannell (http://twitter.com/dcannell), an assistant principal in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan in Canada. He and his family will be embarking on a worldwide trip, traveling to 35 countries starting in September, and that as part of his travels, his 2nd grade son will be blogging about it.
His son’s blog can be followed 
http://daxjournal.darrencannell.com/
His blog had a Google map showing all the places they will be visiting. What a trip, wish I was going, but I am looking forward to following his adventures on his blog. A 2nd grader blogging, wow and Kudos to Mom and Dad!!
Daxtin’s Travel Journal
Starting on September 2o, 2010 Daxtin and his family will be travelling around the world this journal will be about this eight month journey.
By Bob Lenz, Edutopia
I am writing this blog post on the new Apple iPad while on a plane returning from the Newschools Venture Fund Community of Practice and Summit in Washington DC. There, at the nation’s capital, a gathering of education entrepreneurs from across the country explored the themes of technology and innovation.
We learned about strategies, about people, and about organizations that are trying to leverage the use of digital technology to improve learning outcomes for youth — particularly those who come from disadvantaged backgrounds.
To read the full story, CLICK HERE
Wesley Fryer has a very interesting post today about his six year old, iPods and books. It is worth your time to read.
Over the years our family has purchased various iPod models, and we tend to pass them down by age. Currently, this means my six year old daughter is the proud owner of a 2 GB second generation iPod Nano purchased in 2006. That was payment for her sister’s work (who was then about to enter kindergarten) in helping me lead a multi-day workshop about podcasting with Garageband for teachers in College Station, Texas. Although Rachel is VERY cognizant of her iPod’s limitations (it won’t play videos) she is also VERY proud of it and loves to use it. Being in a family of readers who not only read paper books and eBooks, but also listen to AudioBooks, Rachel has naturally decided she wants to listen to AudioBooks as well – and she recently realized should COULD do that on her iPod Nano. Last night she announced her desire to buy some AudioBooks in advance of an upcoming car trip to visit family in Kansas, so we explored the iTunes Store together and discovered two suitable titles which caught her interest.
To read the full story, CLICK HERE
I teach a technology class to future teachers (5 sections of about 30 students each + 1 small honors class) at Kansas State University in the College of Education. In fact, every education major has me for this class, I am the only one that teaches it. Good or bad, it does make for consistency.
Anyway, in the fall, I will now teach an Honors section and I just learned (yesterday) that my request to have an iPad for each of the students in my Honors class has likely been granted. Yippy Skippy! I am so excited. These students will have the iPad checked out to them for the entire semester. How cool is that!
Of course, there is a catch, first, I have to include information about how they will be utilized in my syllabus (by tomorrow) as well as, the fact that my students and I will be doing lots & lots of digging, playing and experimenting on how they can be used productively in the classroom by teachers, students, and administrators as well as personally. Ultimately I hope my students can write an publish an article about he experiment and even present at a conference.
So far, this is what I am thinking for my syllabus, I have begged and borrowed from many sources. It is too long, so looking for help in condensing it into something very concise. If you have suggestions, ideas, thought, please comment below.
Very, Very–ROUGH DRAFT
As we move education toward the future, there needs to be a balance between past, present and future, it is essential. Each student in the honors section of DED 318, fall 2010 will receive an iPad to use during the fall semester. Clearly, the iPad is poised to revolutionize the classroom in an abundance of ways. The iPad is likely change textbooks, note taking, turn classrooms paperless classroom, studying and reviewing, student interest level, and may help to individualized curriculum. The iPad will provide the chance to move into becoming 21st century as learners and teachers. The iPad will be in your (my students) hands 24/7 and you will experience “living” with the tech.
There’s an app for every student, every learner, any minute of the day. Ken Robinson and his book “The Element” comes to mind when I think of having students discover their gifts and specialties…..finding…”their element.” And, the iPad is a tool that can do just that…help students/teachers find their element.
The iPad is so new that we have more questions than answers at this point. Our research during the fall semester will try to answer the many, many questions about iPads in the Classroom.
- Where does the iPad fit in education? i.e. K12 and higher education
- Where does the iPad fit in each grade level and content are of K-12 classrooms?
- What is the iPads potential to change education?
- What are the stumbling blocks for school, students and teachers?
- What can the iPad be used for in the classroom? Is it a better method or not?
- What apps are available for use in the classroom?
- How will iPads have an impact on reading or the way we teach reading? Or any content area?
- Can the iPad move us forward to a paperless environment?
- Can the ipad move us forward in meeting 21st century skills?
- How about Project Based Learning, Differentiated Instruction?
- Is it cost effective and could it help save money in a school?
- Is the iPad constructed to hold up to the rigors of use by elementary students?
Resources for additional information
apptivities: Its applications of apps for learning: This website is the response to our challenge at the ADE Summer Institute 2010 at Full Sail University, Orlando, Florida. Our Challenge: Support teachers in using mobile applications effectively to improve student learning. Our Solution: The apptivities website at http://www.apptivities.org/ We ask our ADE (Apple Distinguished Educators) colleagues to contribute your apptivities, a specific learning activity using apps on mobile devices. A key part of our vision for apptivities is to provide media resources that give a “view” into best practices in the classroom. apptivities: Models for successful instructional practices with mobile devices
It’s the application of apps for learning.
This blog is from a teacher who began using ipad in their classroom last April when they first shipped. There are links to the previous post about the experience. 7 Reasons Why the iPad is Going to Change Education
iPads in Education 1:1 with first through 5th graders
Measuring the Potential for iPads in Education
Where does the iPad fit in education? from Ed Galaxy Blog
iPad in the Classroom, a running discussion on Classroom 2.0 site
The Potential of the iPad to Change Education
Wired Educator: An iPad in Every Classroom: First Impressions of Apple’s Tablet in Education
iPad in the Classroom All things related to the iPad™ in schools
This picture was made using green screen and PhotoBooth. Kevin Honeycutt, Mike Cook and others from ESSDACK built this VW Bus out of plywood. It was also used and the check-in desk and Podcasting studio during the conference!! In fact, this is what Kevin was working on when I interrupted and had him SKYPE into my class and talk to my summer tech class of pre-sercvice teachers.
Link to Photos from Kevin from the conference
I just returned from the Podstock 2010 conference in Old Town Wichita. It was AMAZING. I mean amazing. I presented two sessions, Celebrate Kansas Voices and the first session I did, Changing the Face of Teaching one Teacher at a Time was packed out the door. That is a bit unnerving for sure. But what a great group of teachers, it truly was the audience that made my session interesting, they had questions, and shared resources and had opinions. It was a rich discussion. Such fun!!
Actually, as I was walking from my hotel room in the very cool Hotel at Old Town that morning to the conference facility across the street, I was thinking to myself, “I sure hope nobody shows at my session, so I can to one of theother sessions. Man, there were so many good sessions. I am feeling very honored needless to say.
I do think it speaks more to the conference organizers Kevin Honeycutt and ESSDACK, for having the right variety and number of sessions for the number of folks in attendance. Podstock is just a different kind of tech conference. There is tons & tons to learn from the sessions, but more from the people. The conversations are so very rich. It is not overwhelming or high pressure. I don’t know about you, and I do love to attend ISTE, but ISTE is somewhat overwhelming, just because of the size. Podstock is small by comparison. I think the intimacy is what makes it so darn powerful. There really is the opportunity to get to know and talk to everyone at the conference. I met so many teachers that I now feel connect to. My PLN just grew, which means I grew and have more people to call on for help when I need to.
Everyone was sharing resources and things from sessions via Plurk. So even if you weren’t in the session, you could get the resources. My Plurk handle is (cyndidannerkuhn). I have been a Plurk user for some time, but, I always considered myself more into Twitter (cyndidannerkuhn). BUT, this experience really showed me the power of the conversations that can take place in Plurk. I think tomorrow in my summer class of Pre-service teachers, I will show Plurk in-depth, usually I do Twitter in-depth and just mention Plurk.
So, please be watching for the shout-out on both about 2:00 Monday and help my very apprehensive pre-service teachers learn about Plurk and Twitter and the power of a PLN.
I brought a friend with me to Podstock, Cathie Klein, teacher, Seaman High School, 9th grade center. Cathines teachs a career life skills type class. She had never been to a tech conference before and during our 2+ hour drive home we talked about the conference non-stop and how she could convince her administration that more teachers from her school needed to attend Podstock next summer. She told me about all the ideas she learned to integrate into her classroom this fall. We were going a hundred miles a minute (talking, not driving). Anyway, it is so exciting the impact this had on us both.
I wish more tech coordinators and administrators would attend Podstock next July 15-16. It would be an eye-opener for them for sure. I am sure it would hlep them move forward with technology in their schools. At the very least, it might give them a new perspective and get the conversation started.
My wheels are turning! I am trying to think of a way I could make PODSTOCK2011 a required part of my summer technology class. It would be such a rich experience for my pre-service teachers to come learn and become a part of the conversations with these amazing teachers. Not sure how to make it happen, but clearly, I am going to be doing some serious researching, thinking and likely arm twisting. If you have ideas or suggestions, please post them in comments.
So, I guess, what I am really trying to say is, mark your calendars for July 15 & 16 next year and plan to attend Podstock 2011. Join the Ning at http://podstock.ning.com/ so you can keep up on developments. You will be glad you did!! I PROMISE.
Links and Resources for Podstock2010 (I will keep adding more as I find them)
Podstock, or What’s a New Yorker doing at a Kansas regional ed tech conference?
Wallwisher site with tons of resource
Voicethread, the Power of Plurk
Digital Revolution on Wallwisher
Plurker with Podstock resources
Kimberly Wrights Website (Mayor of Podstock or was it Podsock?)
Diigo Bookmarks from Karin Bell
from Have Fun Teaching Blog Cross posted with permission.
is…The ULTIMATE SHOWDOWN…Back to School Supplies for teachers, parents and kids. All of the back to school supply list prices compared for Wal-Mart and Target. It is usually between July and August that these mega superstores release amazingly low prices on back to school items for kids. Keep reading below to find the results!!!
| Item | Price | Store | Outcome |
| 2 Pocket Folder | $0.15 | Wal-Mart | Tied |
| $0.15 | Target | Tied | |
| 1 Inch Binder | $1.87 | Wal-Mart | Loser |
| $0.99 | Target | Winner | |
| Calculator | $1.00 | Wal-Mart | Tied |
| $1.00 | Target | Tied | |
| Highlighters | $1.50 | Wal-Mart | Winner |
| $1.74 | Target | Loser | |
| Trapper Keeper | $10 | Wal-Mart | Loser |
| $9.99 | Target | Winner | |
| 1 Subject Notebook | $0.15 | Wal-Mart | Tied |
| $0.15 | Target | Tied | |
| 10 Pack of Pens | $1.00 | Wal-Mart | Loser |
| $0.50 | Target | Winner | |
| 24 Pack of Pencils | $0.94 | Wal-Mart | Tied |
| $0.94 | Target | Tied | |
| 6 Large Erasers | $2.00 | Wal-Mart | Winner |
| $2.74 | Target | Loser | |
| Elmers School Glue | $0.25 | Wal-Mart | Tied |
| $0.25 | Target | Tied | |
| 2 Elmers Glue Sticks | $0.25 | Wal-Mart | Tied |
| $0.25 | Target | Tied | |
| Box of Crayola Crayons | $0.25 | Wal-Mart | Tied |
| $0.25 | Target | Tied | |
| Colored Pencils | $1.00 | Wal-Mart | Tied |
| $1.00 | Target | Tied | |
| Markers | $1.00 | Wal-Mart | Tied |
| $1.00 | Target | Tied | |
| 100 Index Cards | $0.44 | Wal-Mart | Tied |
| $0.44 | Target | Tied | |
| 4 Expo Markers | $3.48 | Wal-Mart | Winner |
| $3.49 | Target | Loser | |
| Scissors | $0.74 | Wal-Mart | Winner |
| $0.79 | Target | Loser | |
| Standard Backpack | $9.00 | Wal-Mart | Loser |
| $8.99 | Target | Winner | |
| Lunchbox | $3.00 | Wal-Mart | Winner |
| $3.79 | Target | Loser | |
| 150 Sheets of Paper | $0.75 | Wal-Mart | Tied |
| $0.75 | Target | Ti |
Back to School Supplies Shopping Calculator
- 5 Wins
- 4 Losses
- 11 Ties
- Total Spent on Back to School Supplies at Wal-Mart = $38.77
Target:
- 4 Wins
- 5 Losses
- 11 Ties
- Total Spent on Back to School Supplies at Target = $39.20
Thanks to Alice Barr’s blog, View From My Window from Maine for this resource. I was reading an article on her blog and noticed a widget on the side. Follow my videos on VodPod, it is kinda of like a a BlogRoll for videos. Of course, I had to check it out. I think I will be adding this feature to my blog. Looks pretty slick.
What’s Vodpod?
We think people find the best videos on the web, not computers. So we’ve made it easy to build your own video channel to share with the world, and to tune in to channels made by other members who share your interests or tastes.
The Basics
-
Build Your Channel
Get your very own video channel up and running in seconds, using any video from any video sharing site — YouTube, Hulu, CNN, and literally tens of thousands more.
- Tune In
Subscribe to other channels and get a video feed customized for you. We’ll help you find the channels you like with our categories, leaderboards and channel recommendations.
School Principal touts the POWER of PD through PLN’s. Deciphering the coder, PLN stand for Personal Learning Network and of course PD stands for Professional Development. And to top it off a tech savvy principal!! No how often do you see all three of those in the same sentence?
Wesley Fryer, Moving at the Speed of Creativity Blog passed this on and apparently it was passed by another Principal Eric Sheninger on his blog Principal Reflections. Actually I am familiar with Eric, he has a great site about PLN’s , Twitter Help For Educators and has all his teaching involved. Eric also started a Ning site some time ago called The Educator’s PLN, The Personal Learning Network for educators. If want to hook up with educators using a PLN, this is a good place to begin.
H/T Miguel Guhlin or on Plurk http://www.plurk.com/mguhlin/
This grew from an article in the Washington Post: Ravitch on teachers and her critics.
Well, I am just honored with learning that I am #17 in a list of Top 100 Tech Ed Blogs by First in Education. The list is quite a nice list of links and descriptions to excellent blogs. Would be a great place to find Ed Tech blogs to read. I think this list will be my starting list for my pre-service teachers to explore. THey certainly need to get in the habit of reading teacher and technology blogs regularly as well as writing thrmselves. But one step at a time.
Good read for incorporating into new writing policy at school.
Another great publication by Jeff Utech: Blogs-as-Web-Based-Portfolios
The purpose of this PDF is to help schools looking at adopting Web Based Portfolios (WBP) as a form of assessment with students over a period of time. By adopting a web-based platform as a container in which to house portfolio content, schools give students a web-based vehicle with endless possibilities to create, collaborate and communicate their learning to the world.
Lifehacker.com has an excellent article titled How to Stay Safe on Public Wi-Fi Networks. The article covers setting up and automating all the right settings on Mac as well as Windows. It is really good and explains thins with pictures quite clearly. Even though Macs are more secure and far less prone to viruses, trojans, and unauthorized access, we should always be serious about our computer security. Read the article by clicking here. I recommend passing it on to all your friends!
OK, I am frustrated, I just installed Safari 5 on mylaptop. Generally, I use Firefox as my primary browser and my WordPress Blog, (This one) looks fine, but in Safari 5, it is only showing one column and the second column, specifically the right column is thrown to the bottom of the page. What is up with that, anybody out there got a solution? HELP
by Wesley Fryer, Moving at the Speed of Creativity
On June 15th, 2010, President Obama addressed the nation about the oil spill in the gulf. Following the address, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs answered questions submitted by thousands of people worldwide who used the free website Google Moderator. To date on the page, “Gulf Coast Oil Leak: What Are Your Suggestions?” 15,835 people have submitted 7,468 suggestions and cast 106,190 votes.
I’ve used Google Moderator in face-to-face workshops, videoconferences, and online webinars with good results. It’s free, and very similar to the commercial service UserVoice which ISTE used this year to solicit input for keynotes this week in Denver.
To Read the FULL story from Wesley’s blog, CLICK HERE
This is an excellent series. Certainly it is worth your time to read and much of it should be passed on to administrators, teachers, parents, school board members and absolutely pass it on to IT & Tech directors. Koodos to Michael!!
by Michael Zimmer from the blog: The Pursuit of Technology Integration Happiness
1. Technology integration is THE ANSWER to improving test scores.
2. New teachers have a better understanding of how to integrate technology integration in schools.
3. Current teachers have no desire to learn how to integrate technology in their classrooms.
4. Integrating technology is too expensive for my school to afford.
5. I don’t have time to learn how to integrate technology in the classroom.
6. There can’t possibly be any technology to integrate in the subject matter that I teach.
7. I have to know EVERYTHING about the technology before I can integrate it.
8. My students have a better understanding of the technology, and that is embarrassing.
Crossed posted with permission from the blog The Pursuit of Technology Integration Happiness
by Michael Zimmer
My First Blog Series – Common Misconceptions
Posted: 01 Jun 2010 11:46 AM PDT by Michael Zimmer
I have been wanting to start a blog “series.” One that centers on a specific topic and will have a post (hopefully daily) related to that topic. My new job this year as a TIS (Technology Integration Specialist) has opened my eyes to a ton of ideas and thoughts about the common misconceptions of technology integration that we face in education. Technology is a growing tool in education. One that we as educators need to have a better grasp of in order to effectively integrate it into our classrooms. So, what are those common misconceptions?
8 Common Misconceptions about Technology Integration in Education
1.) Technology integration is THE ANSWER to improving test scores.
2.) New teachers have a better understanding of how to integrate technology integration in schools.
3.) Current teachers have no desire to learn how to integrate technology in their classrooms.
4.) Integrating technology is too expensive for my school to afford.
5.) I don’t have time to learn how to integrate technology in the classroom.
6.) There can’t possibly be any technology to integrate in the subject matter that I teach.
7.) I have to know EVERYTHING about the technology before I can integrate it.
8.) My students have a better understanding of the technology, and that is embarrassing.
What I plan to do is write a post about each of these common misconceptions. If you have an article, blog post, or experience that you would like me to share in my postings, please share a link with me so that I can include it. You can leave it in the comment section or Tweet me a link on Twitter.
Have you experienced or even thought about these common misconceptions yourself?
Crossed posted with permission from the blog The Pursuit of Technology Integration Happiness
by Michael Zimmer
The Power and Point of using Prezi in the classroom | learningblog.org.
Paul Hill has a really great Prezi Presentation about using the tool in your classroom. Worth a look for sure.
