Educational Technology is Opening Minds With A New Set of Keys!

I am trying Edublogs, since that is what I am asking my students to use.  So, I will be posting there from this point on, or at least I think so…..http://cdkedplace.uniblogs.org/

I have been using wordpress and have now set one up using edublogs.  I decided the reflection for my college class should be done in edublogs this semester.  Previously I allowed them to select, but that presented all kinds of issues.  So, of course, I decided I need to create one in edublogs too so that I would know the differences.  Her is the link, not much there yet, http://cdkedplace.uniblogs.org/ I think having two may make me a crazy person.  I guess time will tell.  I am thinking this one for my random thoughts and the other for things related to my class.  hmmm…….

This morning on Twitter I discovered a new social networking site http://edubloggerworld.ning.com.  Lots of great stuff there!!

My blogging problem is time!!  Teaching online class is so darn time consuming, I neglect my own reflection.  I must vow to do better.

I was catching up a few K12 Online Conference http://k12onlineconference.org/ sessions and found a cool link off Bob Sprankle’s site. It is a free survey tool called fo.reca.st- Web 2/0 surveys for everybody. fo.reca.st surveys allow you to design online surveys, collect responses from the visitors of your blog or website, analyze them and finally present the survey results - all using only your web browser and for free.

To make your own survey and give this a try:
http://fo.reca.st/surveys/home

It seems pretty easy and you can even add graphics. I am not sure I like the way they spread things out and the default puts the graphic in the middle. I posted one on my Classroom 2.0 site for my students and Teachers from the Trenches to respond. Only two questions, but thought it would be a good way to give this a try.

The feedback is very simple and gives the percentage and number of responses. For example if you have 6 responses, 50%, 6/3. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to interpret the data. That is exactly what I need most of the time. I have used SurveyMonkey (http://www.surveymonkey.com/) and Zoomrang (http://www.zoomarang.com/) and one FHSU has purchased for faculty to use. All are good, and give much more detailed feedback. But sometimes you just need simple and quick. fo.reca.st surveys do that. Down and dirty, quick and easy. It is in Beta and they are developing new features, so not perfect, but really darn good in my opinion.

It was easy to post on my Classroom 2.0 site and now I assume it will be easy to put here too. Here is the link to my Classroom 2.0 site for my fall Instructional Technology for Elementary Teachers site. If you are reading this and happen to be a teacher, we would love to have you join in our discussions. http://tecs390fhsu.ning.com/

I have also posted a link to a little survey below and let me know what you think, it only has a few questions and should take only 2-3 minutes at most. Here is a link. By the way you can copy the code and embed as well.

Last week I did an iMovie workshop for the school district in Buhler, KS. Twenty-five participants and the cool part was they all arrived with a new Intel MacBook and already had a really good understanding of how to use them. Boy did that speed things along. I think this is the first time I have ever done a workshop with that many folks and actually had everyone finish the project. And the teacher assigned to help me, Billy Briggs, was just amazing, I think he knows more about iMovie than ten people know. Thank you Billy!! I am also including a cute little video that was made called No Doggies Left Behind. It is a spoof on NCLB. Apparently there are tons of prairie dogs near Buhler. The teachers told me they were not a favorite thing of the farmers, but they really are quite cute in my opinion.

Billy had just purchased a couple new cameras for his middle school kids to use in their video production class. They were Panasonic PV-GS80 Ultra-Compact Mini-DV Camcorder 32x Optical, Image Stabilizer, 2.7″ LCD and he purchased from Beach Camera from $229. What a deal! I was super impressed with these little camcorders. I wish I had bought them rather than the Canon ZR 800/850’s I just bought. The link to purchase is http://www.beachcamera.com/shop/product.aspx?sku=PNPVGS80
And I must mention how impressed I am that Buhler seems to be integrating technology the RIGHT way. They have put an Intel MacBook in the hands of every teacher and are providing an opportunity for the teachers to learn to use and become comfortable with the technology before they use with students. They seem to be increasing the number of computers teachers have access to using with students and the tech cadre’s are conducting are just nothing short of amazing. The only thing I saw missing, was every teacher needs an LCD projector put in their room after they complete the tech cadre training. Boy would that make a difference with the integration by the teachers. They do have access to using LCD projects on a checkout basis, but it is so much more convenient to have them mounted and there all the time.

Anyway Yippy Skippy to Buhler, their teachers, adminstration andthe tech integration specialist, Mary and Rosemary .

Apple One-to-One Training
I am in Houston, my husband is in Cancer Treatment at MD Anderson Cancer center (amazing place), so we travel here frequently. This morning I was killing time so I went to the Apple Store to play with the new iPhone. Sure do wish I had one!! Anyway, I had been on a roll of opening the new 08 iMovie and then closing and returning to using iMovie 06. So, I decided to give this One-to-One thing a try. Well I have to admit, what I learned in about an hour today was worth the price. But guess what, it lasts a whole year and I go can go again and learn more stuff. I figured it was worth it since my daughter lives about a block from the Apple Store in Kansas City. Here is the link to check out how it works: http://www.apple.com/retail/onetoone/

the new iMovie

Ok, so I learned a thing or two, and I think I might like the new features, but boy has Apple eliminated the elementary school classroom from iMovie 08. It does cool stuff, but not sure it is as simple and easy as 06 and not sure it will get used quite as much in elementary classrooms. SAD to say, but just not as easy. I just finished an Enhancing Education Through Technology Grant in 2nd, 3rd, 4th & 5th grades and I just can’t see the new iMovie being used much. Seems to me they could have added the new features without totally revamping the look of the interface. I am the biggest Apple fan around and have been using since 1984 when they came out, and I do think I am going to love the new iMovie, but in all truth, what is Apple thinking!!!

 No Doggies Left Behind: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Last evening the K12 Online Conference (http://k12onlineconference.org/) conducted a live chat using Elluminate (http://www.elluminate.com/) with David Warlick, clsoe to 20 participants in the session from around the world.  This session is recorded so if you were not able to participate live you can still see the converstion and access the presentation at http://k12onlineconference.org/?p=148.

I was very interested when he talked about the whole assessment piece and how ivy league schools are saying kids are coming to college very good a memorizing facts and taking standardized tests, but haven’t learned how to learn and have lost their creativity.  That is not the kind of student they want at their university.  I so agree with this and am excited to hear somebody is noticing.  I am not saying throw all assessment out the window, but right now in public education it is driving the bus and it is time to get off and take a side trip.

I mostly teach technology classes for pre-service teachers.  Education majors are generally good students and are overly concerned about grades. If they get 98 points, they want to know what they can do to get the 2 more points.  Get over it, and A is and A!!!

Another thing I find is that they are sure good test takers and expect to earn most grades through taking tests and writing papers.  My course seems to really unnerve many of them.  No tests, no papers, but have no fear, they are writing, writing and writing.  Reflection is a key in my course.  They also earn grades through projects.  For some this really upsets their apple cart, No test, how do I earn my grade!!!  It always amazes me when somebody asks that.  If I had my way it would be an all or nothing class, and hopefully they would learn to love the joy of just learning for the sake of learning.

This all worries me because these students will be classroom teachers soon and I do not want them to teach just like all the teachers they have had.  Hoop jumpers!  Lets bring creativity back into the classroom.  Maybe noodle pictures are a place to begin!!! Who said math has to be boring and hard and who made the rule that Sit & Get is the only way to get ready for the test.  I wanna know who decided these things.  As we all know whoever it is certainly is alive and well in most K-12 classrooms and at most universities.

Those of us out there on the edge and I know most participating in the K12 Online conference are the ones out there on the edge with me really are struggling to do it our way.  it is exhausting sometimes.

This semester my class is online, so these future teachers are taking it over the internet.  Not sure that is the best way, but have found some pretty good resources to direct them away from Sit & Get.  Still worries me though.

Wow, I am on a roll this morning for sure.  On a positive note, I do feel my students benefit from all the project based learning projects and such we complete, they they discover ideas and things they can implement in a classroom with children.  I know they are frustrated while in the process, but when the end of the semester arrives and they actually have a portfolio website live on the Internet, they are very proud to show it off. So I think I am moving the right direction.

Looking forward to the next session in this conference.  How you are too!! http://k12onlineconference.org/

His PRE-CONFERENCE KEYNOTE “Inventing the New Boundaries” was amazing.  I could hardly sleep last night waiting for this online conference to begin and the presentation this morning was worth the wait.  I even came to work before seven am to listen to the presentation and participate in the live chat. Here is a link to the presentation, etc. http://k12onlineconference.org/?p=144

It takes a bit to download, but worth the wait.  If you are interested in learning more about this conference or participating you can go to http://k12onlineconference.org for more information.  Over the next couple of weeks there are 40+ sessions and if last years conference was any indication, it will be worth every minute of your time.  Or at least it will if you want to learn something.

How about that, attending a technology conference, FREE, no travel, no motel, no nothing, just a computer, internet connection and your time. Ya gotta love it! I am actually requiring  my Instructional Technology class of future teachers to participate.
David makes me think, always!

I am so jealous, three Starbucks!!!  And real Starbucks, not makeshift ones.

I read his blog religiously and learn something new every time, He makes me question what I am teaching and makes me push myself as a teacher.

I agree with him that I too felt there was no reason to believe when I began teaching that my job would change much.  Unlike David, I did not feel prepared to teach my first year out of college, but quickly learned on my feet.  It was about my third year before I felt like any student was learning even one thing.

I remember mimeograph machines to make handouts and preparing those handouts on a typewriter.  Yes, I am that old, began teaching in fall 1975.  And with the entry of the Xerox machine, education jumped on the jet and change overnight.  But, I do think education has changed more in the last 10 years than in all the years before.

I agree with David that we are preparing kids for a world we have no clue about. And the kids we are teaching are not the students we think they are.  Higher Ed instructors for the most part are not ready for kids who cut their teeth on Text Messages, Facebook, video games, blogging, etc.  He talks about the fact that technology has continued to grow and kids have adapted to change, but education hasn’t.

His sons video using the Talk, Talk, Talk from Music Man is amazing.  “Ya gotta know the Territory!!”  Oh, my, I love it.  I want a copy of this to use as the in my Instructional Technology class.  Davids statement, “he is connected”.  YES!!!!  that is me screaming YES, YES, YES.

I love that he says, you won’t be learning from a five year old textbook!  We learn from sharing, we learn from each other.  His analogy of the train loading them up and sending them down the track in the same direction.  He is so right, we need side trips!!  The experience I remember most from  my school days are the side trips, for example, my journalism class was just a big side trip and made a difference for me.  I majored in journalism and became a teacher.
I find teaching at this level, the university level, to be lacking “side trip” for the most part.  In my Instructional Tech class I try to go beyond the boundaries, and man-o-day it is so hard.  Not really for me, but it does seem to work against me in the Ivory Tower of Higher Ed.

I have many students who flourish without the boundaries and then there are those that struggle without boundaries as David says.  My class is not much on a straight train track with everyone headed the same direction, it is always changing.  This drives some these future teachers nuts most of the time.  But they need to realize that in learning how to integrate technology into their content and classrooms, they must learn to be a risk taker, and be willing to fail and that change is good and often difficult.  I do belive we learn as much from our failures as our successes.

The power is in community, we are taking baby steps in my class by using a ning classroom 2.0 (http://tecs390fhsu.ning.com/) site to have discussions and share resources. Many teachers from around the country are helping us. But it is just a baby step. I can’t wait to enter the toddler stage. If you are a teacher and reading this, come join us in our sandbox.

My new position at the university is an area in the library and there are lots of those old books David talks about in here.  Lots of new stuff two, but I hate to admit it, I look for information in other places.  I use digital resources, like David said, reader directed. Boy, everybody needs to hear Davids presentation.  Don’t get me wrong, libraries are great places and serve a purpose, but “times they are a changing.”
He talks about how everything is made out of numbers these days, I hated math and was horrible at it as a student and even now as a 50 something.  There is a TV show on Friday night called Numbers and a math professor solves crimes using numbers.  It has really gotten my attention and made me think.  If somebody had taught me math in relationship to the real world, I might have been more successful.  Ok enough of my bird walk.

I love that David has filmed this Keynote presentation in a variety of locations.  It really speaks to learning anytime, anywhere, anyplace.

Man, he rides his bike 14 miles everyday.  WOW, I am impressed.

Is he using an iPhone, I want one!!!

David said:
“Information is independent of time and space. Today we can shape and reshape information, we can enable teachers to teach more effectively from a new information environment, we can make our students re-mixers of content, provoking more effective learning, it is so much within the grasp for those of us that are paying attention.”

I am pretty sure I am paying attention.

The blog he discusses at the end of the presentation can be located at: http://werenotafraid.com/dynamic/  it is amazing, give it a look.

Just the fact that 57% of teenagers have produced digital content makes me wonder how many teachers/professors have produced digital content, and PowerPoint doesn’t count.  Hmmm…….

Well it has been a whirlwind summer and I have been absolutely terrible about keeping up with my blogging.  I hope to be better beginning now.  No promises, but am going to try.

Last week was a challenge to say the least and I suspect next week will be even more of a challenge.  I have hired  a slew of student workers for the Technology Learning Commons and coming up with a schedule of when they can all work was my Saturday challenge.  On Friday when they were in for training, I asked them to all check their email this weekend and I would send the schedule and they should email me that they have seen it.  It is 2:45 on Sunday afternoon and I have only had a response from three out of 13. Hmmm…

The phone rang off the hook last week with calls about purchasing computers.  Nothing like waiting until the last minute.  The walk in business to the TLC seems to be about software.  They apparently have the impression that the computer should come with Microsoft Office installed.   And if it isn’t they think that we can install it for them free.  I would love to do that, but it is not legal.  They must have purchased. We can help if they show up with the software and a serial number, in other words proof of purchase, but that is about as far as we can go without breaking the law.

Then mid-week we were informed that HP had a screen shortage and was canceling orders and refunding money and Gateway was telling folks 6-8 weeks on shipping orders.  Of course, Apple ships same day thankfully.  Incoming Freshmen are in a panic that the world will come to an end on day one of classes if they don’t have their laptop.  So spent lots of time trying to put their minds at ease and calm them. Really had forgotten, freshmen worry about everything.

So it all begins tomorrow, I hope my student workers show up at their assigned time  and I hope we can be helpful to FHSU students this week.

A friend of mine, Kevin Honeycutt (http://kevinhoneycutt.org/) sent me an invite to join and education social network.  Kinda of a MySpace for teachers. If Kevin shares it, I know it is good.
Welcome to www.Classsroom20.com, the social networking site devoted to those interested in the practical application of computer technology (especially Web 2.0) in the classroom and in their own professional development. Especially we hope that those who feel they are “beginners” will find this a comfortable place to start being a part of the community dialog and to learn more.Once you join, please introduce yourself by going here. (http://classroom20.ning.com/)

I don’t have a ton of stuff posted to my site yet, but, I think this has real possibilities.  I have been having a conservation with a teacher in Germany for the past several days.  Very Cool!!!  Boy is he a wealth of resources. Here is my Classroom 2.0 site, check it out and explore a bit. Cyndi Classroom 2.0 site

What a delight they are, if you haven’t caught one (or more) of them yet, chek them out. http://www.apple.com/getamac/

I think the sad part is only Mac users get them. People who have never used a Mac don’t understand. I sure would like to have a sit down face to face with Steve Jobs. Apple does a great job and they have the best product on the market.

But their marketing and sales sucks!! Why do I say that?

1. Apple needs a tablet!! The university where I teach is basically wanting every student now to have a tablet. What is the deal, Apple invented the technology for tablets, they have a patent, but no product. Please Steve, help me out here!!! Here is what the policy says:

“Beginning Fall 2007, all new, on-campus students enrolled at FHSU will be required to use tablet computers so that they may take full advantage of the learning opportunities presented by the University. Apple computer users are not subject to the tablet requirement. The University strongly recommends but does not require current students to purchase tablet computers.” http://www.fhsu.edu/mobilecomputing/

2. Make it easier to buy a Mac. People want to walk into any store selling computers and be able to see and touch and play with one before they buy. If you live someplace that has CompUSA or an Apple Sore, great, but if you don’t live in a major city, Forget it, Internet is the only way. If you already know about Macs, that is fine, but let’s face that isn’t the majority of folks yet. Help me out here Steve!!!

More commercials besides, Mac/PC, I love them but please show everybody all the cool things you can do with the stuff like iLife that come on a Mac. Flood TV with commercials. Please Steve, show the world these great products.

3. Make Pages & Keynote a part of iLife and then there would be no need to purchase any additional software for most people.

4. And last, I’d like to meet with the developers of Pages. What is Pages you ask? It is Apples version of Publisher. And if you have never used PageMaker or InDesign, you probably will love it. Much better than Publisher for sure. But for those of us who cut our teeth on PageMaker, it just doesn’t cut it. Way too prescriptive, not enough design freedom. I know if you know about code and such you can actually go in and do some of the things, but what a pain that is, I want more design freedom. I like drag and drop, but it is over the limit!!! Steve help me out here!

OK, enough venting. My vent has come from spending the last two Saturdays at Freshmen enrollment answering questions from parents and incoming freshmen for fall 2007. YIKES!!!

All I can say is Buy a MAC!!!!

Forest Gump said it and USD 489 did it.  Until last Wednesday night they were a Mac district and the high school was even 1:1.  Stupidly they bid the technology and the Board of Education with the exception of my board member husband voted to go with bottom line dollar price rather than look at the whole picture.  I am so dissappointed in their lack of concern for our teachers, students and learning in the school system. Bob spend hours researching and talking to other schools districts.  One example is Henrico.  They were a Mac district, bid it when the lease was up and Dell was lowest. So, they went with cheap too.  Now a year into the Dell lease and the tech coordinator told Bob they are “Robbing Peter to Pay Paul” for increased tech support, repairs, virus protection and on and on.  He said they have spent more money already that they throught they were saving.  I am not sure why we could not learn from another districts mistakes and advice.  But, I guess learning the hard way is always has more impact.  Stupid is as stupid does!!!
A friend of mine is a technology integration specialist in another Kansas school district the same size as Hays and she even emailed all the Hays board members.  Here is what she had to say and it could not have been said better:

“My name is Mary Frazier.  I am a District Integration Technology Specialist in Buhler #313.  My husband, who provides tech support for the district, ran across this article last night.  http://www.macdailynews.com/index.php/weblog/comments/13327/
We are both surprised that Hays would consider changing platforms.  The price of Macs are always higher than Dells or other PC’s, just like a Cadillac compared to an economy car.
The Macs are loaded with fabulous software that I like to call their ‘creativity tools’.   Teachers who use the iLife software and iWork software  are creating awesome projects.  The standards and skills at each level are embedded within the project rather than isolated.  The Mac software is phenomenal for use in a project-based learning environment.  The tools are all integrated within one another:  ex.  If you want to create a video in iMovie, the pictures are stored in iPhoto and  the audio files are stored in iTunes.  From within iMovie these can be accessed without even opening the applications.  Apple has created all of their software to be intertwined like that.  Very innovative.
As far as tech support, the Macs require so much less than the PC’s.  I saw on the Internet where with the release of Vista, about 100,000 jobs in the US were created.  With the release of Mac’s new operating system, no new jobs were created.  What does that say?  Of course, that may have just been hype but here’s an interesting article comparing the 2 operating systems.  http://www.informationweek.com/news/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=196800670&pgno=1&queryText
And most importantly, let’s talk Professional Development.  I’m just guessing that your teachers had the proper professional development on the MAC’s from the beginning and that the PD has been ongoing.  Your teachers have had their laptops and the ongoing training for three years now.   Are they okay with throwing that all away and starting all over with much less software and many more virus opportunities?   I work with teachers using technology on a daily basis.  Teachers are very, very busy and technology isn’t their focus.  Student learning is their focus.  They don’t have time to learn a new operating system, new software, and be able to convert their current lessons to another format.  It is frustrating to teachers - I’ve been in the classroom for 28 years - to be expected to learn it all over again!  One new piece of software a year is plenty, especially if it is productivity software.   I just want to encourage you to make the right decision tonight.  You get just what you pay for.
Mary Frazier, Integration Technology Specialist”