Classroom III

Cold drizzling rain and cloudy skies met me and our dog Gavin on the Sunday, the last day of Thanksgiving vacation. The weather ran us back into warmth of comfortable couch and my MacBook. While checking my email, I glanced at the list of articles in summarized in the New York Times. I subscribe to their daily email feeds on a few topics that that generally find interesting and thought provoking.This morning, I read an article that warmed my heart and got me to thinking about why I teach. Let me just say, it is complicated. This article has a great phrase that I plan to steal: ‘crackjack’.Let’s ask the question: Is Your (our) school- crackjack? If not, then why.The New York Times: Reference Search for ‘crackerjack’

crackerjackJump to:Dictionary| Thesaurus| WordNetBack To TopDictionary crack·er·jack (krăk’ər-jăk’) pronunciation also crack·a·jack (krăk’ə-)adj. Slang.Of excellent quality or ability; fine.[Probably from CRACK, first-rate + JACK.]crackerjack crack’er·jack’ n.logo The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2007. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. See crackerjack on Answers.com

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The radio alarm clock and wake-up timer on my old-school TV came on as programmed precisely at 6:00 a.m.  I took the dog out in the 35ish degree morning air as he sniffed his way across the edge of the frost covered lawn. The sound of a few early travelers rushing who-knows-where was clearly audible in the cold. The trip was short- Gavin was ready to head back inside for the warmth of the couch and snuggling under my fleece jacket. Coffee would be nice about now. My wife is able to rest. She came down with a nasty cold Thursday, and has been coughing and sneezing ever since. Today, we are attending a grave side service at 1:20 p.m., and then we will be going to Wilmington to eat out. We are celebrating 30 years of marriage today. It seems like yesterday. My words just can not describe it. All the joy, excitement, ups and downs, families, friends and more.

I love my wife. It is a great day to have off so I can spend time with her.

Got to turn off this computer!

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Professional development (PD) in our district is now being offered via a paid online service called PD360. I have not tried it, but our administrators had a need to offer more PD and again technology offered a solution. Is it going to make a difference? IMHO, it will impact many teachers and help them keep their license, but I like to be inspired when I participate in professional development, not just get the credits.Last night, Saturday at 10:30 am EST, it was 10:30 am Sunday in Kuala Lumpur, and Jeff Utecht was presenting to a group of administrators at EARCOS. I was watching TV and had my laptop flickering on the couch as I recovered from a day at the NC Pecan Harvest Festival in Whiteville, NC. I had just reinstalled Twitterific after deleting the crash-prone Twitter app that I had really gotten accustomed to and liked its features– Snitter. Immediately on launching Twitterific, Jeff Utecht tweeted the URL to Ustream.tv where he was preparing to speak at EARCOS. I clicked on the link and within seconds my computer screen and I traveled 2000 miles to a conference room- LIVE FROM KUALA LUMPUR. Now, this old redneck has never been to where ever Kuala Lumpur is and on my teacher’s salary will never be able to afford such an exciting journey. However, through the magic of Twitter and Ustream.TV and the imagination and creative use of technology by Jeff forty or more virtual participants logged in on the Ustream.tv http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/d2UhYkjs8SxZP3G1QOqmDA and watched and chatted. The video I have tried to embed here but could not make the embed work so I have hyperlinked to site. I did not stay up to participate in it because it was getting past my bedtime. I embedded it here so I can remember to view it. I think I can download it to my iPod video by converting the Flash video to .mov using several apps out there on the web. I have a road trip to Raleigh today so I plan to try to download this to view on the drive to Cary, NC.My point here is that PD has to fit my life. The days of sit and get, bored out of my head PD is over. I can participate on my time, in my home, on the couch and replay what is unclear to me. Then if I have a question, I can email, post comments on the Ustream.tv site, or even Skype Jeff (after pre-arranging a phone interview using email: which is considered “proper Skype etiquette”) Note to self- do not just Skype a call to folks anymore. I Skyped the presenter live at the World View Symposium and got some bad looks. I will not do that again. Made me look dumb too. Now, I just need to write up these activities and have them approved at real PD activities so I can earn my credits for renewal of my teacher licenses. I think I can print out the transcript of the chat room as proof of my participation. Maybe we could ask Jeff to email us certificates of participation? Anyone have any ideas on this?

This past week, I have been exploring the new and or enhanced features for teaching included in Apple’s latest operating system upgrade- Leopard. In this post, I attempt to hash-out my thoughts on the new features that I am still shaking my head over. My only complaint about Leopard for educators and students is the price. $13 is about 10% off retail. Hello!!! Apple- you are killing me here. (I know bootleg copies are against the law, so I am not going to say anything else)

I opted to upgrade instead of a clean install. Brad Stocks, our network engineer for our school system recommended a clean install like he had done on his MacBook Pro. The process took a few hours, but I just started the installation and taught my classes. I walked by every time I had a chance and looked for error messages. When no error messages appeared I was happy as a kid at Christmas. Now, I read the first paragraph in the READ ME doc, and threw it in the trash can. Reading those documents just makes you sit in front of the screen and ring your hands like a mad man. I am from the just do it camp and if the install fails, then read the manual. However, I had made a complete backup of the hard drive onto an external drive.

Installation was too easy. When I tried to run iMovie ‘08, it crashed, iPhoto did not work very well but an Apple update fixed something and by Thursday afternoon, iLife apps worked without crashing. My point here is to say some issues seem to have been addressed by Apple very fast.

Now, which Leopard apps have I tried in the first week of use?

• Mail: Well, I do not make it a practice to send email to students, however, I love the enhanced mail features that includes integration with my calendars. As chairman of our School Improvement Team, I have to schedule meetings for our staff. This week, we had a meeting planned for Friday morning. My principal got a call after the teachers left school Thursday about the meeting scheduled for 8:30 a.m. on Friday. She could have emailed me and I could have updated the calendar but she forgot to tell us. That is ok, when the teachers showed up for the meeting, they all rolled their eyes at me because I had emailed them from iCal and had invited them to attend. This upgrade works, but Google Calendar is still far ahead of iCal and Apple Mail. My daughter uses Outlook in her job- Apple Mail is a joke to her. However, for teachers, the features are more than most of us need. The most impressive tool in Mail is the built-in RSS reader. I have added several key RSS feeds that I read daily. For example, I enjoy the NY Times - Education feed. I have added an RSS feed from educators using Twitter.
• iChat: I had been testing the use of CamTwist with my students a couple of weeks ago as we explored video casting. I setup a Ustream.TV streaming video account and thought about using them to webcast student presentations. We had talked about trying to find another classroom to share our videos with. This is still something I am considering. The new iChat is really easy to use with students. Today, after my students completed their required “standard curriculum work”, we fired up iChat on a couple of computers in the classroom and launched Bonjour to share what they have been working on as a review. There is a photo from this activity.

I need to take the time to create a how-to video. However, teachers that have iChat in their classroom probably have the technology skills set to run this activity without my help. The trick is to have a firm idea of exactly why you are doing it not how. I used this activity for a motivational activity at the end of a grueling week of them learning about genotypes, phenotype, recessive, dominate, exons, alleles, and biology topics that had them ready to run away from home. Even high school students like fun activities. Reviewing what they have been talking about or reflecting is a great way to end a topic. iChat is a hit and we will be using it on our classroom intranet. It is safe and fun. The record ichat feature is a killer app for classrooms. The photo above is just part of the activity. Students can include images of themselves in their PowerPoint/Keynote projects, or slideshows online or on their wiki or blogs. I want to publish the movies they will be creating on TeacherTube or Google Video so they can include the clips in their work. The movie integrate with PowerPoint and Keynote to really enhance the content. The animated backgrounds are really impressive. Another wonderful use of iChat is how it supports conferencing. I attended a symposium in Chapel Hill a couple of weeks ago and one of the sessions was about how to use the $1o,ooo dollar industry grade camera to connect classes.

• Spaces: This part of Leopard is a winner in my book. Why? In my classroom, I am busy moving from student to student helping them with their learning projects as they work with their peers to master the topics we are studying and monitoring their progress and behavior. I have been very lucky so far this semester to have a group of self motivated high school students they actually love learning. I am challenged to keep up with their progress. I use Spaces on my desktop PowerPC, yup, my 2.5 GHz Dual Processor G5 with 2.5 GB RAM runs Leopard faster than Tiger. I am excited about this! Spaces helps me organize my work flow so I can spend more time with the students. We use Moodle in the classroom. Moodle’s learning management system helps me communicate student progress in that I have the students take quizzes, create HotPotato quizzes of key science terms, and contribute to a wiki page about biology topics we study. One of my Spaces is our Moodle page. I keep another Space with Mail running. The other two include the iPhoto and GarageBand or iChat.
• Front Row: When I hook my computer up to the digital projector, and use this for students to share their projects and conduct oral reports.
• Create Your Own Educational Apps: After reading the article on Wired by Leander Kahney I am going to take some time to read up on  this and try to find time to build something to use with my students. Hum, teach them to use it and see what they come up with.
• It is my goal to upgrade my iBooks with one MacBook per year until I can replace them all with the newer laptops.
  

I have been using Twitter since this past summer and have gleaned numerous teaching and technology tips from educators online. Sharing links to blog posts and live web casts are better than iCal when it comes to reminding me of online events. So, if you are one of the Twittering Educators listed below or just thinking about participating- just do it!My Twitter user name is: Blakej  Steve Dembo (teach42)URL: http://Teach42.comBio: Education, Technology, and all things geek.Location: ChicagoJennifer Maddrell (JenM)URL: http://www.designedtoinspire.com/drupalBio: wife / grad studentLocation: USJohn Pederson (ijohnpederson)URL: http://www.ijohnpederson.comBio: I do K12 education professional development.Location: Platteville, WI, United StatesEwan McIntosh (ewanmcintosh)URL: http://edu.blogs.com/ewanmcintoshBio:Location: EdinburghD’Arcy Norman (dnorman)URL: http://www.darcynorman.netBio: ed. tech. developer at the Teaching & Learning Centre, University of CalgaryLocation: CalgaryDean Shareski (shareski)URL: http://ideasandthoughts.orgBio: likes soup and just got a haircutLocation: Moose Jaw, SKAlan Levine (cogdog)URL: http://cogdogblog.com/Bio: Barks, growls, and digs for bones on the webLocation: ArizonaJeff Utecht (jutecht)URL: http://www.thethinkingstick.comBio: Technology SpecialistLocation: Shanghai, ChinaWill Richardson (willrich45)URL: http://www.weblogg-ed.comBio: LearningLocation:Marcie T. Hull (ecram3)URL: http://www.ecram3.blogspot.comBio: teacher • artist • house painterLocation: PhiladelphiaBud Hunt (budtheteacher)URL: http://www.budtheteacher.comBio: I’m learning.Location: Colorado, USADiscovery Education (DEN)URL: http://DiscoveryEducatorNetwork.comBio: Connecting teachers to their most valuable resource… Each other!Location: GlobalAaron Smith (theartguy)URL: http://academicaesthetic.comBio: Husband, artist, Christian, and geek. FYI: I don’t tend to list people as friends if they have 1,000s of friends already.Location: MarylandEdTechTalk (edtechtalk)URL: http://edtechtalk.com/Bio: A collaborative community talking about educational technologyLocation:Jennifer Dorman (cliotech)URL: http://cliotech.blogspot.com/Bio: Learning by being clickableLocation: Bethlehem, PA, USABernie Dodge (berniedodge)URL: http://webquest.org/bdodge/Bio: WebQuest guy. One trick pony (so far).Location: San DiegoGraham Wegner (grahamwegner)URL: http://gwegner.edublogs.orgBio: ICT Coordinator and Classroom Teacher - always exploring, always learning.Location: Adelaide, AustraliaLee Baber (LeeBaber)URL: http://web.mac.com/lbaberBio:Location:Charlene Chausis (cchausis)URL: http://educatingeducators.blogspot.comBio: … all about educating educators and integrating instructional technologyLocation: Lincolnshire, ILJose Luis Cabello (idocente)URL: http://ciberaulas.blogspot.com/Bio: EFL teacher in Madrid. http://englishteachinglab.blogspot.comLocation: Villanueva de la CañadaVicki Davis (coolcatteacher)URL: http://coolcatteacher.blogspot.comBio: Teacher, blogger, technology geek, MotherLocation: Camilla, Georgia 31730Paul Allison (paulallison)URL: http://paulrallison.blogspot.comBio: I’m a biker, a blogger, a consultant, and a father. I’m a husband, a photographer, a podcaster, & a runner. I’m a searcher, a teacher, a vlogger, & a webcaster.Location: New York, NYKarlana Kulseth (hawaiianbrat96)URL: http://www.karlanakulseth.com/blogBio: Mom, Wife, Student, Substitute Teacher, Photographer, DigiScrapper!Location: Las Vegas, NVcheryloakes (cheryloakes50)URL: http://www.cheryloakes.comBio: webhead,Wow 2.0, technology coachLocation: Wells, MEDavid Miller (davegobe)URL: http://davegoblog.wordpress.com/Bio: Chemist and father of two wonderful daughtersLocation: NE Ohio and sometimes SLMiguel Guhlin (mguhlin)URL: http://mguhlin.netBio: Share more.Location: TexasRussel Montgomery (montgorp)URL: http://mrmont.wikispaces.com/Bio: husband, father, teacher, geek and pilgrimLocation: Perth, WADanielle Abernethy (dabernethy)URL: http://it4teachers.blogspot.comBio: Instructional Technology Coach - not currently linked anywhereLocation: Brooksville, FLDavid Warlick (dwarlick)URL: http://2cents.davidwarlick.comBio: 30+ year educator, technologist, programmer, author, & public speaker.Location: Raleigh, NCSheryl NussbaumBeach (snbeach)URL: http://21stcenturylearning.typepad.comLocation: Virginia Beach, VADavid Jakes (djakes)URL: http://www.jakesonline.orgBio:Location: Naperville, Illinois, USAKristin Hokanson (khokanson)URL: http://khokanson.blogspot.comBio: Technology Integration “coach” come play for my team :)Location: PADanita Russell (DanitaR)URL: http://leecountyschools.wikispaces.com and my blog http://danitarussell.edublogs.orgBio: I am a 15 year veteran middle school teacher now working as an instructional facilitator trying to learn all that I can.Location: Sanford, NCWesley Fryer (wfryer)URL: http://www.speedofcreativity.orgBio: husband, dad, educator, catalyst for learningLocation: Edmond, OklahomaChris Lehmann (chrislehmann)URL: http://www.practicaltheory.org/serendipityBio: Principal of the Science Leadership AcademyLocation: Philadelphia, PAChuck Bartowski (ChuckBartowski)URL:Bio:Location:Stephen Downes (Downes)URL:Bio:Location:bbelardi (bbelardi)URL: http://bridgerblogs.blogspot.com/Bio: Elementary School Library Media Specialist* Web Master* DEN PA Leadership CouncilLocation: PIttsburgh, PAbobsprankle (bobsprankle)URL: http://www.bobsprankle.comBio:Location: Wells, ME USAMartin Pluss (plu)URL: http://martinpluss.edublogs.org/Bio: I am a runner, geography teacher and ICT Integrator.Location: SydneyElaine Plybon (glad2be)URL: http://www.geocities.com/lanerpaloozaBio: Science Instructional Specialist, mom to fiveLocation: Texasrickweinberg (rickweinberg)URL: http://techedguy.blogspot.comBio: I am a technology professional developer for 22 school districts in NY StateLocation: NY/PAphilcrissman (philcrissman)URL: http://philcrissman.comBio: I’m a tech guy who remains convinced he is a creative.Location: MinneapolisCRStengel (CRStengel)URL: http://blog.mtlsd.org/FarFromBlogginBio: Tech Director with great interest in bringing 2.0 tools into classroomsLocation: PittsburghCory Peppler (pepteach)URL: http://cpeppler.edublogs.orgBio: English teacher, dad, tech junkieLocation: WisconsinHallDavidson (HallDavidson)URL:Bio:Location:Eric14774 (Eric14774)URL:Bio: World History Teacher At Bolivar-Richburg Central School Striving To Integrate Technology.Location: Bolivar, NYWIREDScience (WIREDScience)URL: http://pbs.org/wiredscienceBio: WIRED Science premieres nationwide October 3, 2007 (8:00 p.m. PT/ET) on PBS.Location:k12online (k12online)URL: http://k12onlineconference.orgBio: Free worldwide online conference for educators centered on 21st century learning.Location: Third planet from the sun.chanbliss (chanbliss)URL:Bio: Elementary Art TeacherLocation: Florida