Rants of Jeff

THANK YOU

2011-09-17T03:38:00.000-07:00

Greetings to you, Please if for any reason you find this mail offensive you can ignore it and do accept my apology for any inconveniences this mail most have cost you to read, I don't want you to feel sorry for me, because I believe everyone will die someday my name is MR. ALI MALIK a United Arab Emirate and a merchant in Dubai, I have been diagnosed with esophageal cancer. It has defiled all

RE: Final Payment Approval

2011-09-16T05:51:00.001-07:00

Dear,Sir/MadamRe: Final Payment / ApprovalThe Federal government of Nigeria through the Ministry of Finance signed a payment agreement with UniCredit (www.unicredit.eu) to pay all outstanding debtors.You are hereby requested to contact me immediately for your further details as regards to your payment.Regards,Dr (Mrs) Ngozi Okonjo-IwealaMinister of Financehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/

March4Schools

2009-06-27T09:48:00.000-07:00

Not on the Test

2009-06-22T19:51:00.001-07:00

Rutgers University - Part 1

2009-06-22T02:10:00.000-07:00

Rutgers University - Part 2

2009-06-22T02:09:00.001-07:00

YackPack Walkie Talkie

2009-06-21T17:21:00.001-07:00

Blue and Tube

2009-06-06T23:22:00.001-07:00

What can happen after dark

eLearning Research and please whack TAPBI

2009-06-06T16:50:00.005-07:00

(http://rantsofjeff.blogspot.com) - Research on the efficacy of eLearning at the secondary level, and a call to the Arizona Legislature to allow all Local Education Agencies to be able to compete in this market space.eLearning - submitted January, 2007 to PVUSD Leadership

Colliding Forces

2009-06-06T16:45:00.003-07:00

I submitted this to our leadership in March, 2008. It was distributed to all Principals. Hard pill to swallow, but it might be accurate.Colliding Forces

Trying to Integrate

2009-06-06T16:41:00.002-07:00

I've been trying to pull together my content from multiple places. Ran across this one - 5 years old now, but still applicable.Analog MindsNeed iTunes

Keynote at 2009 AASBO Convention

2009-06-05T21:27:00.005-07:00

This iTunes U/K12 (e.g., pTUNES for PVUSD) provides a vodcast of a keynote I did for the Spring 2009, Arizona Association of School Business Officials (AASBO). The conference was primarily the Support Services administrators with a sprinkling of Business Services and Human Resources administrators. My take away - educational technology folks, like me, are not doing a good enough job of sharing

pTUNES - Cox 2009 Technology in Education Award

2009-06-05T21:25:00.004-07:00

We were honored recently to receive the 2009 Cox Technology In Education Award. A vodcast in iTunes U/K12 (we call it pTUNES), is presented below. You'll need iTunes installed on your computer. Don't know what iTunes U/K12 is? Probably ought to check it out - the K12 space is trying to ramp up like the significant content available in iTunes U. Launch iTunes, go to Store, go to iTunes U and

Graduations 2009 - Streamed Live

2009-06-05T20:44:00.004-07:00

In 2009 we had all 6 high schools broadcast live and then tape delay their graduations. It was very slick - friends and family from 15 states and 7 foreign countries dialed in live. So many thank you's - it was really nice that people from far away got to cheer their graduate on. Below is from Paradise Valley High School.

Mash up between PVUSD Data Warehouse and Google Apps

2009-06-05T19:07:00.009-07:00

This posting demonstrates the potential of linking live data from PVUSD's Data Warehouse (pDAT) with the built in charting capabilities of Google Apps as delivered through pvLearners.

Pivot Tables through pvLearners Sheets

2009-06-05T19:01:00.006-07:00

Feel free to explore the "pivot table" analytics of a Gadget. Drag and drop "slicers" onto the table to get a different view. Select the tools at the bottom of the window to select table only, graph on top of table, etc.. Some of the graphic links are a bit "buggy", but the functionality is definitely getting there.

pDAT and Google

2009-06-05T19:00:00.006-07:00

pTUNES vodcast on the potential gain of merging pDAT with pvlearners tools through Google API's. You need iTunes to play the vodcast.

LMC and DLC

2009-06-03T08:23:00.002-07:00

Dreamed up thinking about the Digital Learning Center and the Library Media Centers.

MEC 09 Podcast on pTUNES

2009-05-30T11:50:00.004-07:00

Listen to Podcast (Interview of Jeff Billings talking about pTUNES - Cox 2009 Technology In Education Award)

2008-2009 REACH Awards

2009-05-23T11:27:00.007-07:00

Culmination of PVUSD's 2008-2009 REACH Awards. Broadcast live, but on-demand viewable below. Great evening....great event....will be even better next year, now that we know what we're doing.....;-)2008-09 REACH Awards

What we can do with an iPod Touch....

2009-04-25T20:05:00.002-07:00

Thinking a bit....

2008-12-26T16:43:00.002-07:00

Gcast

2008-11-09T12:49:00.004-07:00

Podcasting from your iPhone (guess you could use old technology, like a cell phone, but why). Podcast, then pick it up with Google Reader on the iPhone....sweet....teachers and students podcasters through mobile broadband.Subscribe Free Add to my Page

Primary online

2008-10-27T16:05:00.001-07:00

K-2 students online in Pennsylvania using webcams chat and DIBELS assessment thru phone.

NACOL keynote October 2008 phoenix

2008-10-27T09:30:00.001-07:00

European Union -creativity may be europes last competitive edge

TED Talks - Bold Exploration Leadership

2008-08-24T09:58:00.002-07:00

This will give you a perspective warp....Water on the moon???? This guy is betting his life on it.

2008-08-24T09:03:00.001-07:00

Do Schools Kill Creativity?

Great Quote from District Administration Magazine

2008-07-04T08:46:00.004-07:00

We're going after the below with, REACH (pvreach.blogspot.com), nuff said:"An alarming reality for K12: Despite the radical transformation of data storage and information access, there has been no associated transformation of K12 education. Alarmingly, there may be no sector of society where technology has had less impact. That's because K12 education persists in operating on the premise that to

First Experience with Google Translators

2008-06-26T18:11:00.003-07:00

Had my first intercontinental A/V experience with Beijing. Principal at Qiyi Primary who didn't speak English. And me, who didn't speak Chinese. But, we giggled, tried to talk in our language slower and louder, as if that would somehow make it easier for the other to understand, and prodded forward. Walking around with MacBook w/camera, showing this or that, pausing to use Google Translators

Ahhh......

2008-06-26T18:10:00.003-07:00

The Big CATS Team

2008-05-30T12:16:00.003-07:00

The project is moving well and updated information can be found at;The Big CATS Project....

Hosting our first web 2.0 "unconference"

2008-05-30T12:09:00.002-07:00

TelePresence with QiYi Primary School in Beijing

2008-05-30T12:08:00.005-07:00

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

2008-05-30T12:06:00.002-07:00

Technology is Plenteous

2008-05-29T17:26:00.002-07:00

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

3D Web

2008-05-29T16:57:00.003-07:00

Web 3.0 Component - 3D WebWell, as we get better with Web 2.0 (participatory web - podcasts, blogs, wikis, boards, collaborative apps, etc), there might bea 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,

Two Types of IT Directors/CTOs

2008-05-29T16:54:00.005-07:00

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

Push Open Source

2008-05-29T16:53:00.002-07:00

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

Tap the Students

2008-05-29T16:52:00.001-07:00

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

Online Environments

2008-05-29T16:51:00.001-07:00

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

iPBL: Project-Based Learning with a Twist

2008-05-29T16:50:00.001-07:00

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

Publish a Book

2008-05-29T16:20:00.003-07:00

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

BRIDGE

2008-05-29T16:19:00.001-07:00

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,

To Open Source or Not in K12....

2008-05-29T13:38:00.001-07:00

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

2008-05-29T13:37:00.002-07:00

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

The "Break"

2008-05-29T13:36:00.001-07:00

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

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

2008-05-29T13:35:00.003-07:00

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,

GenYes and PVUSD

2008-05-29T13:34:00.002-07:00

The first K12 school district in Arizona to fully explore GenYes - watch a vodcast snippet on what GenYes is in PVUSDGenYes and PVUSD(launches your iTunes and goes to PVUSD's space in iTunes U)

Partnership for 21st Century Skills

2008-05-29T13:30:00.004-07:00

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

2008-05-10T16:05:00.005-07:00

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......