Father, husband, Google Certified K-4 technology teacher leveraging social media in education. Blogger, workshop leader, lifelong learner, relentless optimist!
http://kjarrett.posterous.com/
Hi everyone,
I have an urgent request. One of my 4th grade teachers is trying to jump-start a class of struggling writers. She is looking for ideas, using techology or otherwise, to help her students:
We do happen to have a cart of spiffy-new Chromebooks at our disposal - opening up possibilities for collaboration (perhaps with older students?) and utilization of interactive web-based tools. These students know and can use Wordpress.
Suggestions? Comments? Questions? Invectives? Fire away...
And like I said, PLN, please don't fail me now!
-kj-
CC Image credit: vapour trail on Flickr
Everyone gets (and most of us send) emails like this:
"Check out this awesome website: [INSERT LINK]! It's great for [INSERT USAGE]!"
The links hit your inbox, you file them away, maybe add some to your favorites list, or if you're an uber-techie, you tag them in your Delicious or Diigo account for later reference. (Extra points if you share out the category via RSS.)
And ... that's where it ends. Lots of different people making lots of different collections scattered all over the place. In my old life as an I.T. project manager, we call those "multiple data stores." That's not a good thing, for obvious reasons including duplicated effort, link rot, and centralization/ease of access.
What if there was a better way?
I've been thinking about this for months. My current idea is to use a Posterous blog because once it's set up, ANYONE can email a link to it with a simple description. Teachers. Administrators. Parents. Students. Community members. Anyone. Find a link, write an email, press send. Done.
Except ... for the categorization part. We could have people include tags, or, have the person administering the Posterous blog (that would be me) assign them, but I'm not sure how to make the collection searchable by multiple tags. In other words, show all resources tagged 'Math,' 'Grade 2', and 'Interactive.'
Can this be done?
What I want is a system that ANYONE can use (hence it being email based), a system that facilitates categorization and looks like a million bucks, too.
Some things I've considered:
Thoughts? Comments? Suggestions?
Thanks in advance,
-kj-
CC Image credit: Barron on Flickr
Two awesome third grade teachers at my school want to start an in-class book club using a set of Kindles we got last year with money from our local education foundation. We have:
Anyone out there, particularly my library/media friends, done something like this before? My questions:
As technology facilitator, my role is to help make this happen and then get out of the way. If successful, the project could expand beyond this single classroom.
Thanks in advance for your help!
-kj-
"So, what is this hamster thing you bought?"
She opened the box, saw a laptop, and got even more confused, until I came home and explained what my Chromebook was all about!
(cool story bro)
Ran into an old work friend (from my prior life in Corporate America) and his wife via Facebook this morning. They are living with their children in Singapore. Their kids go to Singapore American School, where, it turns out, my Twitter/PLN colleague Susan Sedro is the Technology Coordinator.
Small world, eh?
Got to thinking about all my Twitter/PLN colleagues working at International schools. Kim Cofino. Sarah Sutter. Jeff Utecht. Julie Lindsay. There are more I'm sure.
Then I got to thinking about the metaphorical grass (which is known to in fact actually be greener) in international schools. I know this becuase I've followed (and admired) Susan's, Kim's, Sarah's, Jeff's and Julie's professional meanderings for as long as I can remember.
How cool, would it be, I thought ... to work in an international school?
So over dinner, I casually asked my wife (of 27 years) what she would think if, someday after our youngest was out of college, I got a job teaching overseas, and as a result I had to be gone for a year. Or more.
To my amazement, she was actually open to the suggestion. (Should I be worried?)
This is probably a really, really bad idea.
But it has me thinking.
What would it be like?
Could it work?
What do you think?
-kj-
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Having already had several email conversations about this, I thought it might be fun to have some sort of virtual meetup on the subject.
We could use Elluminate, BigMarker.com, or do a Google + hangout.
Would you take a moment to respond to this survey with your thoughts and availability? Once people have responded, we'll propose dates and times, probably before August 31st.
(Image credit: Lifehacker)
Got an email message from a friend of mine starting a new position this fall. He is an experienced classroom teacher (middle school math) that is VERY well versed with technology and putting students in charge of their own learning. His new school and assignment sounds challenging to say the least. He's asked me for advice. So, I'm asking YOU.
As I read his email, it sounded more to me like commentary of the school reform movement and the "failing schools" strategy of "fire everyone." Rather than get into a debate about all that, I'd like to stay focused on helping my friend with advice he can use right away.
Quotes from his email, with details changed to preserve anonymity:
My title is Technology Facilitator/ Trainer. My duties are still being worked out but I am responsible for technology purchases, technology PD, and curriculum. The school did not make AYP for so long that all teachers were fired and school model changed completely. It has been two years since this has happened and they are still hurt from the restructuring. Most of the faculty have less than four years teaching experience and are alternatively certified. The school is oozing with technology. They have a SMART board in every classroom. There are SMART response systems, document cameras and every teacher has their own laptop. There are also 10+ laptop carts to check out. The entire campus is wireless.
Despite all of the infrastructure, many do not use technology at all and those who do operate on a minimum level. There are ~ 100 faculty and ~ 1,500 students. Teachers of the same subject get common planning time so I am going to be able to meet with people then. My principal supports me 1,000% and is willing to make anything I suggest a requirement for teachers.
So, where do you begin?
I'll add my own thoughts shortly. Very few of the problems I see have to do with technology. Money sure isn't the issue, either.
-kj-
Over the summer, I'm volunteering my time to help an incoming 5th grader develop his Google SketchUp skills. Will be with him and his mom today, actually...
He's got a great imagination and a real eye for detail. (The creation above was one of the first things he built when I first showed him SketchUp. He's really into vehicles!)
I plan to explore the UI with him, deconstruct some models from the 3D Warehouse, and just play.
I've put together some links to get us started:
Thanks!
Father, husband, Google Certified K-4 technology teacher leveraging social media in education. Blogger, workshop leader, lifelong learner, relentless optimist!
Father, husband, Google Certified K-4 technology teacher leveraging social media in education. Blogger, workshop leader, lifelong learner, relentless optimist!
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