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Great Quote from District Administration Magazine
"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 have school, you must physically co-locate teachers, students and curriculum materials. Teachers and students are assigned to stand-alone, self-contained school buildings that house paltry collections of mostly outdated curriculum materials. With rare exceptions, digital technologies and interactive communications are still largely peripheral to the primary activities of the typical school day. The premise that co-location is required is invalid, and we need to stop spending inordinate amounts of time, energy and money to maintain it as our fundamental operational structure."
http://www.districtadministration.com/viewarticle.aspx?articleid=1060
First Experience with Google Translators
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.
Technology is Plenteous
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.
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".
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
• 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.
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
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
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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....
Code It or Lose It
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.
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"
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.
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?
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.
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
GenYes and PVUSD
(launches your iTunes and goes to PVUSD's space in iTunes U)
Partnership for 21st Century Skills
Link should take you to iTunes for the vodcast.
Have to have iTunes installed to enjoy the vodcast.
iPhones at PVUSD
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......