The Big CATS Team



The project is moving well and updated information can be found at;

The Big CATS Project....

Hosting our first web 2.0 "unconference"

TelePresence with QiYi Primary School in Beijing


Whispering Wind Academy and QiYi Primary have entered into an agreement to partner across the boundaries. We are currently pursuing a grant for Telepresence technology from Cisco to facilitate the partnership, and beyond.

Distancia is Growing - Summer '08 Orientation

Technology is Plenteous

Technology is plenteous but by committee decree, it must be split equally amongst all of thee.

We always want more software we can place in our dock, but when it comes to PD, we’re stuck in our clock.

The ohh’s and the ahh’s echo our halls, but understanding total support, sometimes slides off the wall.

We know that our kids exhibit differentiated thinking, but substantial change in practice requires more than quick blinking.

How do we wrestle this thing called technology, when our system prefers focusing on content specifics like biology.

Why we have to bust our schedules, dispose of old ways,

Project-based, thematic instruction, integrating technology tools, but hey….

I know we can do it, a teacher taught me,

The little red engine can drive all three.

The Curriculum, the Instruction, the Assessment you see.

Teachers are magical, they guide the world to,

Towards democracy and citizenship for all, not just for you.

So buckle your belt, help steer the plan,

We’re bringing big pipes through our project, the wireless WAN.

For teaching and learning is more than math, science, reading and writing too.

It is the essence of life in whatever we do.

Technology can help, if we use it just right,

It can also cause frowns if we choose not to be bright.

Technology is now part of how we approach life,

Including time to turn it off, and have a real chat with one’s wife.

3D Web

Web 3.0 Component - 3D Web


Well, as we get better with Web 2.0 (participatory web - podcasts, blogs, wikis, boards, collaborative apps, etc), there might be
a Web 3.0 function, forming around the bend. They are calling it "Second Life", or the "3D Web".

With its roots grounded in online gaming and virtual reality,
consortiums, individuals, teams, and organizations are starting to embrace it. Not much out there in K12 education (YET), other than "teen space"
type applications and communities. However, Ohio University and Harvard Law School, University of Michigan and many others are in it, then see what my daughter likes - see below. I love the "universal" currency concept
as exchange and economies unfold.





Now think 3D Web in K12....our kids already are!



After describing the proposed new Board Room to Jenna (6th grade), in 15 minutes she makes a little 3D layout and movie - note the flat panel displays, hanging from the ceiling (better tools and she could make better resolution). She said if I would email her a couple of pictures, she could make it more realistic....sigh....




Jenna's latest house design - I think I've seen over 100 designs for houses, gardens and cities....design, design, design.....hmmmhh....





Two Types of IT Directors/CTOs

There are typically two types of IT Directors (CTO's, Coordinators, etc.).

Lock Down Mentality - don't let teachers and students change the settings, install software (go Open Source), etc.. This type of IT Director has a Business Services mentality and considers his/her role as being efficiency and effectiveness in support.
Chaos Mentality - creates problems of its own, but employs a "freedom" type approach. Freedom to create and transform learning. This type of IT Director considers his/her role to be focused on transforming learning first, effectiveness second.

Which focus do you want - pick your poison. But remember, second order change requires bold leadership, or stick with the insanity you've already been doing. Guess which type of IT Director I am...;-)

What is the mentality of your IT Director - is that what you want? If it is, good, you'll get it. If it isn't, help your IT Director experience the joy and magic of teaching and learning. It's "a good thing".

Push Open Source

It use to be hard to get educational administration to understand and embrace Open Source. It has become a lot easier. Examples of the evolution to embrace this movement include: Open Source was a big thread of presentations and workshops at NECC 2006; at PVUSD, we now have in our Technology Plan (developed by a group of Principals, Teachers, Administrtors and Parents), the bold statement, to include and embrace Open Source everywhere possible and appropriate; PVUSD recently switched from a commercial web filtering system to SquidGuard, saving the district some $40,000 a year; the Arizona Department of Education, a historical "Microsoft Shop", has implemented their largest internet based initiative, IDEAL - and it's all Open Source, Sakai. Phoenix Union High School District, utilizes MyDesk. On the list goes.

The point is, Open Source tools and K12 is a match made in heaven. Do the economic math of just one application, say web filtering. Hundreds of schools districts times, say $10,000 a year over 5 years, and, you get the picture. Now look at other solutions - office productivity tools, online survey tools, operating systems, servers, etc.. K12 needs to move on this and Push Open Source.

Tap the Students

100% of our reason for being here, and 80% of the IT brain trust....

We’ve all said it and we all believe it - kids and students are 100 percent of the reason for being here. Yet, for IT, they are probably 80 percent of the brain trust. We don’t take advantage of this fact. So, tap this talent pool, create the magic and teach them by being Facilitators of Learning, not didactic instructors of this standard, or that objective. Weave academic content and 21st century skills into the process.
Several good models have already been produced. One worthy of careful consideration is GenYes. A program initially funded in the late 90;s by the U.S. Department of Education, it is now being implemented in some 40 states. Labeled by the U.S. Department of Ed as the only “exemplary” model of professionally developing teachers on technology, it’s a winner.

GenYes has an entire curriculum set for elementary, middle and high schools. Formal courses, or before/after school programs, all fully supported with past participants to help you get going. There are “teacher academy” angles, programs targeted for Girls (GIT), programs targeted for technical support, etc.. The point is, these kids, like all kids want to help.

Teachers know how to use aides, just get them out of only cleaning the blackboard. Make it real, let them show you how to integrate technology into the curriculum. Let them help support your technology, drive down your Total Cost of Ownership, and in the process they learn and help all of us learn, what skills are relevant and rigorous as we try to bring old school reading, writing and math to the front.

Online Environments

Get Educators into Online Collaboration Environments

We say we’re isolated, yet online collaboration tools exist....

Teachers are isolated to their rooms. Principals are isolated to their schools. Inservices, meetings, and the like, just put extra stress on the big time factor in our busy lives. Why not do what the students already practice? And yes, even some businesses are collaborating more and more online.
A whole series of tools, resources, solutions, whatever you want to call them, have begun to emerge with Web 2.0. Referred to as the Read/Write web, an evolution that allows us all to not just consume surfed web pages, but produce something back on the internet. The tools are called, podcasts, blogs, wikis, threaded bulletin boards or conferences, instant messaging, video conferences etc.. You can participate synchronously (online at the same time), or asynchronously (post and come back). But, they break down the barriers of time and distance. You can participate without leaving your school, your classroom, or your home.

All can participate, not just the loud or bold ones. Ideas become rampant, as peer review becomes the norm, rather than the exception. Imagine the possibilities of all three grade teachers, all Geometry teachers, all Principals, are provided and opportunity of inputting information, processing, then outputting. The record is kept, and the continual spiraling of thought and learning emerges. It’s powerful, and our choice is to participate, or remain isolated.

iPBL: Project-Based Learning with a Twist

Bring PBL into the 21st Century with Information Technology - iPBL.......

The research is clear on the goodness in education when students conduct Project-Based Learning, The learning becomes authentic, rigorous and sticks with them beyond any “testing”. So, why is PBL not done more in our schools? They’re hard, until teachers are developed on them, and have the time and support to get into the groove.
But, what remarkable demonstrations of learning they are. One of the best institutions I’ve encountered on PBL is High Tech High in San Diego. These folks take PBL to a whole new level, speaking it, living it and practicing it, continuously.
With that said, High Tech High is also starting to unfold what I believe is another dimension to PBL. Engrained throughout almost all of their PBL’s is IT, by the students, by the teachers. Not just portfolios, but digital portfolios. Not just web sites put together by students, but bona fide, marvelous presences on the web. Complete with rich, media literacy, blogs for student reflection, interactivity for users, etc..

It is clear that the world we live in and the world these students will produce in, will be dominated by projects. Schedules and deliverables - is there something else out there? It’s called production. Why not do it with the skills and tools these students will use to compete?

PBL’s are a “good thing”, and when done with IT, they bring out 21st century rigor and relevance, as iPBL

iPBL - copyright © 2006, ITjab, all rights reserved

Publish a Book

Students Publishing a Book

If you're in education leadership, no doubt you've heard about what we need to evolve to, especially in high school. It's called the three R's - Rigor, Relevance and Relationships. Well, here's a three R idea but with a 21st Century twist. Engage your students through a class, school, or district initiative to write their own book and distribute it online to a global audience. Use pen names for confidentiality if you worried about it.

Students will provide self-generated Rigor because they're writing to a Relevant audience (global), as they learn how to develop Relationships in this new world, their digital world. We're also nailing Digital Literacy and Web 2.0 technologies with this one; word and desktop publishing, graphical artwork, etc.. Visit the site - www.lulu.com - check out the tutorial. Don't like books, think muscial CD's, DVD movies, calendars, etc. - it's all there.

Think students, classroom projects, school/district focus - think charities, fund rasiers, etc. on the learning economics side. Every student publishing a book to the world, before graduation (ES, MS, and HS). Talk about academic content with 21st century skills. We've got to get beyond just writing a paper for the teacher to grade (let the world grade it), or posting student work on just the refrigerator (both good things, but it's the 21st century for these kids, and us).

While I'm not plugging it (everything in my booklet, and more, is available on this web site), you can check out the finished promotional side of this process (automatically generated online store) by seeing and clicking on the below graphic. Enjoy....;-)

BRIDGE

BRIDGE - a model of "bridging" the instructional day with the growing tendency of students to engage online at night.

A simple model that takes advantage of the tendency of students to go online at home, such as "MySpace". Make it mandatory that all homework, writing prompts, assignments, etc., be submitted online to the teacher through an authenticated portal, under the guise of something like a "Google Account". Then teachers email accounts don't get messy, there is structure to the environment, and with time, teachers can introduce the other online tools of portals and Learning Management Systems. These tools might include web links, streaming videos, online quizzes, moderated chat rooms, threaded discussions, etc.. It's a great way to increase the amount of completed homework, the quality of homework, and ease teachers into the digital world. Students get more focus on the good of online collaboration and productivity. Think about it. Don't have a portal, drop me a line - there are some great ones that are open source, it doesn't have to cost you an arm and a leg......

Bridge - copyright © 2006, ITjab, all rights reserved

To Open Source or Not in K12....

If you're serious, you ought to check out this space - www.k12opensource.com. They clearly lay out the pro's and con's, from functionality, cost of ownership and opportunity costs.

Code It or Lose It

Quick hurry, schools need their technology today,
Wait a minute I’m told, someone has to pay.
Not a problem, you see, we have the money,
Oh you simple minded Jeff, you have to code it right, honey.
Okay teach me, I’ll listen, I’ve got an MBA,
But this coding chokes my brain, in fact, keeps me at bay.
Silly, silly, boy, use 601, 508, or 001, we have many,
That’s not the problem, I know there are plenty.
I must first get quotes, times three, if required,
Oh no, I forgot that PO was retired.
The goods weren’t received by the end of the year,
I must now start again, I need speed, or a new gear.
The quotes I now have, the requisitions I make,
The PO I can get, but a lost goldenrod, makes a fake.
The fake must be signed, in two places no less,
I’m confused again, I must confess.
We now have the goods, and all things are a go,
But my budget is hosed, someone changed the ones to zeros.
I call to get straight, but the person has vacation,
I must now hold the paper, which slows the education.
Not to worry, you see, you just need a position,
It just bothers me greatly, because I do get addition.
I’m told to sign off as the invoice is in,
But who received what, when, I can only chagrin.
The budget has deducted, but property transfer was lax,
I only signed once, some pulp copies slipped through the cracks.
I now must chase this device, be it printer, palm or computer,
I need help once again, I must call in a tutor.
They’re all good people that try helping me,
But the workflow now chokes to the extent, I can’t see.
I was hired to lead our technology to beyond,
But, when it comes to business processes, I only wish for a wand.
A wand to make it all go away,
And leave me to vision, get outside of this fray.
For now, I will continue to develop flows that make sense,
And try to relieve shoulders from being so tense.
It’s not just poor Jeff, that’s the problem in here,
We need to redo our ways, and start it this year.
I have not the patience, nor time to bear fruit,
If you’re willing to help, then to you, I salute.
Study the process, critique our old ways,
Bring in the experts, straighten out this strange maze.
Show me why a man with the learning of me,
Can not submit to a system, a system of no glee.
We’ve settled for a job, with no end in sight,
Instead of reaching for greatness, and being willing to fight.
If not, I’ll plod, while shaking my head,
And keep wondering if the next code will get me ahead.
I thank all who are pleasant and continue to smile,
Because I’m starting to think, the problem is simply my style.

The "Break"

The message is clear, rest at the break as you bring in the new year.
But as I travel the sites, letting crews in here and there,
I wonder why this message, this message of cheer.
4, 8, 12, 15 or so, are working this “break”, to make sure all things a go.
Report cards must fly off the press and be stamped.
In time for families to begin with schedules un-cramped.
Should they take it again, or a new class to begin,
Is what Johnny needs good, or must he take it on chin.
Then before the dawn breaks, I must open another school,
I fumble the keys and code, or buzzz, I break yet another rule.
Our folks bring big pipes, so the technology can flow,
If it becomes choked, instruction receives such a blow.
Patches we must add to an information system,
The application is moving, sounds of hard drives make us glisten.
Next we must close the fiscals for year end,
Several teachers need their check, their money won’t lend.
So, off my staff goes to make the break good for all,
We do it cheerfully, because we help children stand tall.
A little girl showed me at Mascot today,
As she struggled to walk, her hip brace in the way.
Good folk are not here for the pay, nor to receive the good labels.
They’re not here to crank out fast fiber and cable.
We’re here to help a child, maybe two as we travel,
And succeed we will, or our plans will unravel.
So back to the girl, she made it to her room,
I watched and remembered, on her smile I did zoom.
She turned on the computer and I heard the reason for my break,
She liked the color of her self-made snake.
Whether our task is to bring data to you,
Whether our job is reading the wonders of Pooh,
We may fix doors, we may monitor IEP’s,
Our job may be facilitating all meetings with glee,
It matters not whether we break for the winter,
Or, if at that moment we blow dust from a slightly. abused printer.
We can drive the buses, getting kids to the right places,
Teach science and english, instruct Calculus to math aces,
We can clean the floors, place band aids on knees,
Or our duty may be herding kids through lines of burritos and cheese.
You may differentiate instruction, conduct projects for learning,
You may temporarily get defocused by the 80 point yearning.
But, I know deep down why you come back after break,
It’s how we feel about kids that make our hearts ache.
None of us are any better to the maker in the end,
But, to me you’re the best, my dear special friend.
Just remember that the little girl’s smile simply says it all,
A glorious smile she yields even while struggling the hall.
We have touched her heart, and yes, helped prompt her to smile,
Fine colleagues I salute you, again you go the extra mile.

What's all this rushin' fer', what's it all about?

Data driven instruction, just what does that mean,
Why it lets us focus on achievement and keep our plates clean.
Don’t insert fun, being carefree or chatter between bells,
Be true to academic standards, get in the game, feel the swell.
But what about citizenship, being one with enjoyed learning,
What say you, we must increase business earnings.
No, say I, there is a much better path,
One where we understand more than reading, writing and math.
It’s simple to do, but it’s more than seats in the bleachers,
It’s called unleashing the power and the magic of teachers.
Rules and regulations have stifled our thinking,
Quick, axe the mess, there can be no shrinking.
We owe it to children and kids the country over,
To stop and ponder a bit, and yes in the grass and the clover.
The simplest ideas are yet to be thought of,
It doesn’t take data to make learning a love.
A belief in the good of men, women, girls and boys,
To think, live and learn as we ravel in pure joys.
Take a breath and relax, our time here is too short,
Or we can crank out the data, yielding yet another report.
A report that celebrates, we have driven our instruction,
Towards what end, be careful, it’s a temporary seduction.
We can ratchet our kids up to be more productive machines,
And, we can manage our schedules to be extremely lean.
But the simple truth is, we know in our heart,
A good teacher to engage is where it must start.
Not the specific content one learns in education,
Rather, joyful learning, will yield the best nation.

GenYes and PVUSD

The first K12 school district in Arizona to fully explore GenYes - watch a vodcast snippet on what GenYes is in PVUSD

GenYes and PVUSD

(launches your iTunes and goes to PVUSD's space in iTunes U)

Partnership for 21st Century Skills

These folks sum it up pretty nice. I made a vodcast explaining their mission.

Link should take you to iTunes for the vodcast.

Have to have iTunes installed to enjoy the vodcast.

iPhones at PVUSD

I thought everyone was on board with our adventure with iPhone technology. Well, not everyone was totally ready and I guessed I pushed the edge....again.....;-(

Anyhooo, put together a blog on iPhone, built predominantly by an iPhone - jury is still out on whether we move forward, backward or stay stagnant on this one - stay tuned......

You Already Knew: But What Do You Do?