Living and Learning in Central Oregon

Today is a tech training day for admins. Up on our screen is a slideshow that asks the question “A day without technology…” Each slide has an answer to that question that highlights just how we use technology and don’t even think about it.

Example:

A day without technology is…

…a day without phone systems.
…a day without online learning.

What are your thoughts? Please add your comments below.

Last Friday we had a discussion among our district leadership around the concept what being a world class school district really means. It was one of those times where we could share our thoughts in a very honest, non-threatening way. We did not come up with an answer but generated many ideas that will be revisited over the course of the year. So what does world class mean? Here is one idea that a small district in TN:

• At Home with HomeLink: Free Internet Access Connects Families and Schools | Edutopia

  how one small town is trying to make their schools world class

  tags: BLPwordclass

  • The Greeneville City Schools system has a logo that features a compass, a globe, and two phrases that aren’t often uttered in the same breath: “small town” and “world class.” In this context, at least, the words aren’t a paradox. They’re an expression of a community’s commitment to educational excellence.

    The 15,500 residents of Greenville, nestled in the foothills of Tennessee’s Unaka Mountains, support their 2,726 K-12 students with uncommon fervor and focus. Parents, philanthropists, taxpayers, and teachers all pitch in to ensure excellent programs, top-notch instruction, and a state-of-the-art learning environment, despite the school district’s small-town budget.

  • “We honestly believe that if we’re not preparing our students to effectively use technology, it’s the same as if we’d never taught them to add, because the world of technology for them is like a hammer for a carpenter — it’s just ubiquitous,” says Larry Jones, the lead technician and network administrator for Greeneville schools.

My attempt at using text speech in the title of this blog post was probably pretty lame so sorry for trying to be bilingual. I just read http://www.edutopia.org/text-messaging-teaching-tool . It is about texting in the classroom and how some people are worried that it is having a negative effect on our kids.  I will admit that I cannot text. I do not own an iphone or a blackberry so my text messages take very long to compose with a regular phone keypad.  But my lack of text messaging skill doesn’t mean I don’t understand the popularity and usefulness of this tool.

Is text speak going to ruin the English language? Doubt it.  Especially if we can use it to our advantage as Cindy Rigsbee did. I would encourage you to read the Edutopia article and then consider if you are going to try to hold back the texting tidal wave or if you are going to try to use it to help further teaching and learning.

My opinion – Because we have so many kids owning and using cell phones I think we are missing the boat on accessing their teaching and learning potential.  Is there a way to use cell phones as personal response systems using something like Jott?  Don’t know the answer to that.  What are your thoughts and ideas.

Yesterday I worked with some high school teachers who are creating on line classes for the Oregon Virtual School District. They are using moodle to build their classes. The temptation was to dive right in and teach moodle but instead I took some time to discuss the revised Bloom’s taxonomy and 21st Century skills and how their online classes should not just become online worksheets.

Then today I came upon H.S.I. – Historical Scene Investigations. What a unique method of capitalizing on a popular TV theme while having students use some of those revised Bloom’s skills. Thanks to Kevin Jarrett for twittering this site.

this is a modification of the video done at by college students in Kansas.  The one think I like about this one is that the camera is not move as fast – the original almost makes me sick with how fast the camera moves.  Both however are thought provoking.  This video that I plan on sharing with my teachers and administrators.

This question was recently asked to some middle school students in the area by our local newspaper.  They printed the responses of six of the students and ALL of them said they accessed some sort of internet/web resource to keep up on current events.  Google, YouTube, email, and MySpace were just some of the sources of information they used to keep up on the headlines. 

 Question – as teachers are we using these resources to keep current?  Are we using them to communicate and teach?

On October 24, 1861 Chief Justice Stephen Field, of California, transmitted the first transcontinental telegraph.  The message was sent to President Abraham Lincoln. 

I can’t help but find this interesting for a number of reasons.  First, I was talking with my sister yesterday on my cell phone. It was such a beautiful day I was outside for a noon walk.  As I was walking and talking a very loud truck drove by and I wondered if that driver ever considered that the noise from his truck was not only being heard by me but by someone 3,000 miles away.  It was just an interesting and random thought I had.  Second, could Lincoln have ever imagined that the telegraph message he received from Field was just the beginning? did he ever think that 150 years later we would be video conferencing with people half way around the world?  If Lincoln was unable to imagine that occuring what are we unable to imagine? In 150 years what will we be doing?  Man, I wish I could be around to see it!

Do cell phones have a place in schools?  Can they help build 21^st Century learning skills? I can remember a few years ago worrying about cell phones in the school. How as a principal could I control their use? I quickly realized I could not completely control their use.  Because guess what, almost every kid has one and if they do not have one now they will have one very soon.  So what do we do as teachers?  Do we waste our time trying to police them or do we figure out ways to use them in useful ways to promote teaching and learning? Now I am not advocating kids being on their phones during class time but this is a technology I don’t think we are not currently utilizing to support instruction. Can it be used?  I recently brought up the topic of cell phone to the Hartman staff.  At the time I was just talking off the top of my head and no ideas or tangible thoughts on the subject.  But one of the today’s presentations at the k12 Online Conference talks about cell phones in the schools.   

Question – As a high school teacher is this a technology that you should look into accessing to communicate with your students and parents?  I do not have the answer to that.  But at least I think it is something to investigate and consider. 

Visit http://k12onlineconference.org/?p=152 to watch the presentation and to visit the website the presenter has set up.

Laptop With a Mission Widens Its Audience – New York Times

They are not $100 but $188 is still pretty cheap.  And the laptop that was designed for only 3rd world kids is now available to all – you just have to buy two, one for you and one for a poor child.  For $400 you give one and you get one.  Follow the above link to learn more and to see this laptop in action.

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