Burk Tech

What are we doing? Where are we going?

2011-09-28T17:07:00.000-07:00

The month of September came and gone. Fast and Hard! This year I get to teach a few classes, be an athletic director, and later I will be coaching. One thing I find it is hard to find time to read research/blogs/tweets. One thing I did get to read lately was about Are Schools here to educate or prepare students for the future. In the article it talks about a few survey that average 46% of why students not prepare for college is because of lack of academic prep.

I do believe academic prep is important, but I don't think if someone is 100% book smart mean they will be able to succeed in college. Some of the classes we are doing at my school this year is, a yearbook class, student government class, game design, newspaper class, and a portfolio class. Academically these classes will not teach directly math, history, or english. But, it can have expound results for our students in their core classes. Plus the students are enjoying these classes, enjoying school, and enjoying life.

We want to put our students in the best position possible. We want them to be able to succeed where ever they go after they leave us.

As we look into the future, we want to continue to offer our kids classes that they are interest in and prepare them for their future. The biggest challenge we have, is we are a very small school and our budget is subsidize greatly from our Church. Most of our parents come from families that need help financially.

Where are you at in your schools? Are you more worried about Academics or Preparing your students for their next chapter in life?

Friday Before Teacher Development Days

2011-08-19T11:13:00.000-07:00

Monday 9am sharp, Teacher Professional Development Days begin. We get a week long 9-1's learning and discussing the upcoming year.

As I am putting together the information that will be covered, I am thinking, how will this year be better than last year. I already know in many ways how it will be better. At the same time, I will be fighting some of the same fights.

Here are some of my fights (you may agree or disagree):
Connect to Christ and the Word in every class
PUT STUDENTS FIRST!
Integrate Technology into every day classes
Continue Push to make our school as "Green" as possible
Improve our look and feel for school facility and pride
Have the best athletic teams that God can provide for us and have them compete for the Glory of God

Lastly I don't like this fight, but it is a fight that I am fighting
Let the Haters be wiped out by our Excellence in Word and Academics! Prove to them so they close their mouths.

A personal grievance I will have to deal with is not to tell certain people off when they stick their nose into something that doesn't relate to them at all :)

Back to PD Week,

Curriculum Mapping,
21st Century Skills
Staff Devotion Schedule
School Year Schedule
Curriculum Changes (Who teaches what changes)
HOW CAN YOU DO YOUR JOB BETTER
HOW YOU NEED TO STEP UP
Still working on other topics!

I know most schools are back in session. I pray your school year goes well if you have already started. For those who start next week or before September, Good Luck and may God lead you. For us that start after Labor day, ENJOY the last days of Summer

Principal Conference.... MARRIAGE? WHAT?

2011-08-09T11:26:00.000-07:00

If I haven't told you yet, or if you didn't know, I LOVE CONFERENCES! For many reasons, but I am stumped on my last conference I went to. It was our Annual Principal Conference. The topic on paper was about caring for your staff. Having a staff of all females (I am the only Male), I thought I could learn something that would be useful.

Not that I didn't learn anything or anything that is useful. Not that I could not apply some of what I learned to my staff, but It is a stretch. The main speakers talked about Marriage and relationships between a wife and husband. Now it was all tasteful and biblical, but there were a few laughing moments (ok a little more than a few). The speaker was funny and good. It just screamed lawsuit in my head if I went back to my staff with what I learned.

Now, the biggest amount of information I will pass on to my staff is that they have to take time for themselves and for their families. As I told my new teacher I am mentoring this year, learn where your limits are. It will be hard to say no, after 8 years I still have a hard time saying No to stuff. But, also set a time when you will just stop and think about yourself, family, or something not dealing with school. It is hard as a Lutheran worker. Because even when you come to Church to worship, 9 out of 10 times something school related will come up. A parent asking a question about homework, school board wanting a report or an answer, or just question how is the school is doing.

I remember Mary Irish devotion while I was in SLED, about taking care of yourself before you can take care of others and she compared it to, when you fly (I believe I wrote about this somewhere at some point in time) the stewardess tells you to put your own oxygen mask on before helping others.

So even though a marriage retreat without your spouse is what I sat through, There were some take home knowledge and I will never read Song of Songs the same again!

A Blog you need to follow

2011-08-08T19:50:00.000-07:00

One of the favorite thing I get to do as a Principal, or maybe more as an Ed Tech guy, is to help others see the benefits of 21st Century Skills and even get a teacher to start using tools of the trade. First Steps is the blog of my Assistant Principal. Check it out. It is a Blog of feelings, beliefs, and a Journey of actually being brave enough to put it down for the world to see.

Door Left Open

2011-07-27T14:22:00.000-07:00

As I mention I am stubborn, and I know I am. I can confess that. But, that doesn't mean I don't have a heart or in this case an ear to listen. Maybe it is because I am somewhat young. 31 is relatively young compared to my parents or grandparents generation. That doesn't mean I am a dull tool, or have not been around the block. I can remember as a teenager, I was involved in my Church. I remember having discussions with my Pastor about what the Church means to the youth, or how the Church can help engage the youth. I have been called to 4 Churches. In the middle two calls of my career I was highly involved in my Church Politics being part of Council and other Boards. As a teacher I would go to School Board Meetings also. So even though I am new, and I do still have a lot to learn, I already learned a lot.

Maybe my youth, or the fact that I am a Big Guy, or that I am different than what many people vision when they vision a Principal. I am very stubborn when it comes to Paper Communication. I don't like it and don't like doing it. I find it to be a waste of time, money, and purpose. I know it is different, but remember I am Lutheran (Hard to Change).

I never like it, but sometimes laugh (not a funny laugh) when I hear complaints about this or that. I had a parent who at first, maybe still didn't see eye to eye with my methods, philosophy, or execution of different things. After many meetings, I think we are at a good place. They might still not agree with me or see my vision clearly (maybe I need to rethink how I show my vision), but they know anytime they want to talk about an issue, I have my door open for them to share.

In fact for anyone I always have my door open (unless I am trying to eat lunch) to shoot the breeze, to complain, and in those certain circumstances praise what we are doing. I got an email from a high school and college friend with words of encouragement. He mention that people are taking notice and they like what changes I have done. His source was his Grandfather who was a local Pastor for many years and knows the whole history (good and bad) of my Church/School. It came at a perfect time. Funny how God puts people and comments at the time you feel like you failed.

I know I am not perfect and my ways sometimes might not be the best. My intentions are always putting the Kids (Students) first. My door will be left open if you want to talk about it.

Al Gore didn't invent the Internet

2011-07-24T22:19:00.000-07:00

Today I was driving home from a mini-vacation in Chicago, visiting some good friends and family, including my god-daughter. When we were about half an hour from home, the radio station that we were listening to was finally cutting out. Although I could have just used one of our preset buttons for one of our local favorite radio stations I used the scan button. I stopped on some talk radio station and started listening. The host was talking about Marshall McLuhan, who would have been 100 this month. I never heard of this person, although I am sure his name has popped up before.

After listening to the little news article about him, I decided to look up more information. What a guy Mr. McLuhan was. He was ahead of his time with his thinking back in the 60's. His thoughts and words on 21st Century Education (Skills) even though it wasn't known yet sits in my head right now.

Marshall thought technology profoundly shapes an individual's and society's self-conception and realization. Marshall even predicted what the World Wide Web would become. Even using the term "Surfing."

Today we talk about the Global Nation and how our students need to be involved with other students, but back in 1968 Marshall wrote the book "War and Peace in the Global Village."

I look forward of reading more about Marshall McLuhan and reading his books to see how they are relevant still today. I will leave you with this quote, "the printing press, the computer, and television are not therefore simply machines which convey information. They are metaphors through which we conceptualize reality in one way or another. They will classify the world for us, sequence it, frame it, enlarge it, reduce it, argue a case for what it is like. Through these media metaphors, we do not see the world as it is. We see it as our coding systems are. Such is the power of the form of information."

Polo Shirts and the "Law"

2011-07-22T19:37:00.000-07:00

A very interesting title. I know you are wondering where am I going on this one. In some of my post I take wild jumps and leaps. This one is kind of a you need to know the back story to get the title. If you know what I am talking about, I hope your laughing. So, I finished my first year of being a Principal. I had the added flavor of having a Kindergarten to 12th grade school. I will be writing posts in the future that will talk about what I have learned, but thought I would give just a glimpse of my roller coaster year. I came into the school with some thoughts and high hopes. I can't say I met all of my hopes or goals, but it wasn't all that bad. I did learn a lot. The biggest thing I learned was my love for Lutheran Schools. Not just my school, but for all of the Lutheran Schools. I got to present at the LEA convocation and looking forward to present next time. I got to start the year at a wonderful Principal conference and met Dave Black in person for the first time. Even though Dave and I will not see eye-to-eye on Baseball or Detroit Sport Team Greatness, he is someone that I can connect to and know will give a helping hand.

I think the hardest part of the year was and is my stubbornness. I was once told that I have a vision and I push toward that vision and sometimes forget about a few details on the way. I don't know if that is always a bad thing, but it is something that I do need to look at. I want to succeed so much, that I may ruffle some feathers along the way. Not that I do that intentionally, but I see making changes to make school the best for the students is the most important thing. I don't think it is about the teachers or the parents. Again, stubbornness is my kryptonite. But again I am Lutheran.

2 1/2 Years later

2011-07-21T14:46:00.000-07:00

It is 2 1/2 years since I started this blog. I was looking back at different things I posted. So you would think we are farther along the path of change. NO... Much has not changed the last 2 years. Sad isn't it. Now before I get attacked, yes Facebook has changed their privacy policy about 100 times in the last two years. Google has changed some stuff, but Education as a whole? 21st Century Education is still a naughty word in many schools/districts. Not every parent is on the BUS! We still have teachers that are teaching the same way as they were 5, 10, 15, 30 years ago! We have Administration constraining their teachers from blossoming and doing stuff. WHEN WILL IT CHANGE!

Getting Back to Blogging

2011-07-19T18:16:00.000-07:00

It has been a while. This past year was very stressful and time consuming. Next year is going be worse. My goal is to get back to blogging, but we will see how it will last. I will be writing about different Administrative issues and things I learned throughout this past year. I want to thank my friend Dave Black to unintentionally pushing me to get back into the blogging saddle.

Do you Tweet?

2011-07-19T18:04:00.000-07:00

I Tweet... Do you Tweet? You should if your an educator!

Roles of Parents in their Child's Education

2010-04-20T10:51:00.000-07:00

Even if this does relate to Lutheran Schools, this can relate to any parent in America. What is the role of the parent in their child's education?

Is it the teachers job to do the work for the child, because the parent doesn't want to be involved in the child's homework?

Is it the teachers job to spend the entire day with one child because they get off task or don't care as soon as you walk away, even when it is something they think is fun?

Is it the teachers job make the ultimate choices for a student, because in most cases they spend more time with the child?

Is it the teachers job to change their lesson plans or an IEP because the parent wants them to change it.

This is just a few different questions that have popped into my head in the recent weeks some based on actual events in my life and some just discussion starter. Recently I read a blog post from Anthony Horvath, entitled, "I am my child's advocate; you aren't" I asked Anthony who was he directing his post to. Although his response was a shotgun spitfire in that it could relate to many different folks or professionals, I felt strongly about the implication of how it would fit into the classroom and as me, the teacher.

Parents are parents, and the education starts there. If you don't have parents believe in your system, it is a lost for the child. But, the teacher is the education professional, shouldn't they know what is the right way to best educate your child. I still have mix feelings. I am a father and my oldest son will be in Kindergarten next year. (side note: I will have a unique role in my child's education. I will be the father, maybe the teacher, and as of now I will be my son's teachers boss.) I am trusting that as a parent, I am giving my child the best chance to succeeding and I trust the teacher will put my child's interest first. As a teacher, I am thinking I want to put each child first, but I have 15,20,25 students. They all need a piece of me.

I think Anthony's post is great, but feel that in the sake of the teacher, usually, they are the child's advocate. But, they need to know their role. Teachers deal with students on a personal level that the parents might not be able to. This is more true as you get into High School. I have a student that I am counseling (I am the only teacher she trusts) and it has been a battle. Her mom doesn't want to admit to issues that this girl has, or just wants them to be swept under the carpet. Trying to keep the student's trust and confidence I try to decipher what needs to be shared and what doesn't. The student needs someone to talk to, the student wants to talk to someone. I am that person right now, but working on making that person to be mom. Going back to being called, and as the Call documents state, I am a minister of God. Does that mean I need to follow confidentiality of the student (although she is still a minor) but also being a teacher, makes me a state mandated reporter, so which do I follow?

The law in some of these cases are just crazy. I believe the girl is old enough to see a doctor and have an abortion without notifying her mom, but would still need mom's permission to get her ear pierced. It doesn't make sense.

Getting back to the subject, where does the parent fit?

I think right smack dab in the middle of it, as a voice. The teacher needs to take the responsibility to give EACH student what THEY NEED everyday. It is a fine line that can cause hurt feelings, because some parents just don't give a darn.

What roles should parents have?
If a parent tells you the child can't use the computer or internet, but your learning environment is dependent on the internet or computer, what would you do?
Any other thoughts?

Who is watching you?

2010-02-19T12:12:00.000-08:00

Educational Technology took a huge blow recently. A lot of fear is running through schools that have a 1:1 program
.

Blake J Robbins v Lower Merion School District (PA) et al, the laptops issued to high-school students in the well-heeled Philly suburb have webcams that can be covertly activated by the schools' administrators, who have used this facility to spy on students and even their families.

According to the case, a student was disciplined for actions he took at home. The proof was in the photo that was taken from their school issued laptop. I have seen how this works. I even can see what my students do on the classroom computers and the computer lab computers. I could take a picture of what they are doing (we don't have webcams on any of these computers). I can freeze a student out or control their computer. I even can lock them, which is cool, because it puts a huge lock on the screen. I have not tested this yet to see if I could monitor a computer that is not on our network but with the software and access codes downloaded.

Right or Wrong, you need to be careful. Does the school have a right to know what is being done with their equipment, yes. Can they invade private areas or when a student think it is a private place, NO!

There is always the argument if you have nothing to hide. But I think everyone should have their own space, even if it is online. A place to keep all of their thoughts or poems or other writings. As we know the sad truth, online is hard to keep it private.

Many of my students in my school, have Facebook pages, Myspace pages, and even Youtube pages. Occasionally I see what they are doing (I even have a few see what I am doing). Usually the biggest offense is curse words. In these cases I chat with the student and remind them we need to be careful what we say or show online. I also praise them when I see something good, as I did with a student who created a stop motion video all on her own.

On a few times, I have seen indication of more drastic issues, drinking, drugs, and cutting. In these cases it is time for phone calls. I have had students confide in me also about issues they are going through. I use these times to teach and more importantly to listen. Do my students know I am checking up on them. Yes! Am I doing it behind their closed doors and hacking into their computers, No.

As a Christian, we need to remember who is always watching and that we should do things for the Glory of Him.

So where will this event take us? Will we see the end of 1:1? Or will we see better explanations and Policies? A few tech people who are 1:1 are appalled by the invasion that has taken place in this case. Where do you stand? What would you do if it was your child?

Week Later? Still Big News?

2010-02-03T14:01:00.000-08:00

I held off writing about the iPad since everyone under the sun had blog articles up mins after the announcement and continually wrote throughout the day. But, I have to at least mention it.

iPad=Large iPod Touch

Discussions about how it will affect education is a toss up. I believe it will be as beneficial if not a little more than an iPod Touch. The bigger screen will be easier to manipulate and read from. The lack of flash and camera keeps it as a tool that will not take over the classroom and be as reasonably announce as it is a helpful tool.

Apple really dropped the ball which has been a build up for years. But hit the mark just a little high for the price, although many thought it was opening price would be $1,000.

So is the iPad still big news? Besides seeing conferences for how to use the iPad in the classroom,, no it is not a big news item. It died down as fast as Google Wave died. Which reminds me to check my Google Wave account. I have moved on playing with my AVerPens that I have as a demo unit right now.

Start Simple

2010-01-21T08:35:00.000-08:00

Start Simple that is Symbaloo tag line. But what is Symbaloo?

Until today I had no clue. I was reading a blog post by Dennis Grice "Somday?" Dennis is talking about a video he had seen that was shared to him. The video (posted below) talks about a 7th grade student and how she uses technology every day in her school. Dennis talks about how he wishes his students at his school would be like. If you know Dennis and if you know his school, you would know he is on top of his game for Lutheran Schools. I have used Dennis and his school as a model where I want my small school to be. I do have to agree with Dennis, that if all of our students were like this student in the video, we would be doing good.

In the video I see the student using something call Symbaloo and I never heard or seen it before. So I searched and found the site. Here is what they have to say about themselves

Symbaloo can be used as a startpage, your personal desktop for the internet.

What can I do with Symbaloo?
With Symbaloo, you can now create your own desktop on internet, including your favorite websites and sources. The advantage is that you can navigate easily to the most important websites, without remembering the links.

Just try to click on one of the coloured blocks. You will see that it is possible to search from the centerbox in useful websites, such as Google or Youtube.

More options…
Much more is possible with Symbaloo. Listening to the radio, reading the news or reading to your new mail quickly… If you click on an empty grey field, you will enter a new world of blocks!
The best fun is to find out all of the features yourself, and explore Symbaloo step by step.

I will have to play around and write up a review in the future. Have you been using Symbaloo? What do you think?

1:1?

2010-01-17T17:55:00.000-08:00

I had a great discussion with a fellow educator while I was in Vegas for my School Leadership Development Program.

We were discussion 1 to 1 laptop programs and if schools should go to this system. I understand the benefits and headaches a laptop program can be. Financially it is very expensive also. So what follows is what was discussed and how it could be implemented.

The Program

We are all for using technology in the classroom and in the homes. If each student had internet access at their finger tips the learning is endless. But, money! But, lost/theft/damage of laptop! But, charging stations and replacing batteries. The setbacks can be overwhelming and I didn't even mention firewalls and viruses protection. So instead of laptops why not desktops?

Obviously we are not thinking that the students need to lug monitor, CPU, keyboard, and mouse home and to school each day. Each student would have a desktop computer on or at their desk. This would decrease many of the headaches mention above. Plus, most students have a computer of some sort at home, so why do they need another one?

What good is it if they can't access their files?

This is where web 2.0 tools and applications come into play. With Google Docs you can keep all of your files online. Google has also implemented the use of keeping any file type in your Google docs folders. If you don't have a Google doc account, you can use Dropbox or even your USB drive.

I think this idea could be great and might be more manageable to start with. What are your thoughts?

2010: Where are we going

2010-01-12T08:49:00.000-08:00

I have been brainstorming this concept for a while now... WHERE ARE WE GOING? It is 2010. We are 10 years past the mayhem of Y2K and the fear that robots were going to destroy our life and world.

Tomorrow I am going to Vegas for the 2nd part of my School Leadership Development Program. I am looking forward for this trip. It is only a one day conference, I have learned so much from our first meeting. But that doesn't help my current classroom.

Where am I going to take my class this year?

I have started blogging with my 3rd graders now. I have used Blogger in the past, but now using KidBlogs. I like it a lot better than blogger when it comes to blogging with students. Each student has their own blog, but it is connected with the class.

For right now I have them writing on some topics or responding to posts I post for them. I am hoping they will want to start writing on their own without my push for them to write about something.

I have them using Scratch to learn programming and create different projects. They are catching on pretty well. The last project I had them do was to make two characters interact with each other some how. I am learning as we go also.

The students use Spelling City to practice and take their weekly tests. This is great time saver for me. Besides grading it for me, I can use the time students are taking the test to work one-on-one with students who need more time on concepts.

I have parents and the school seeing that going "Green" is good and that posting and e-mailing newsletters is better than printing out hundred of copies and letting students throw the papers away.

But is that enough... Where else should we be going.

I know it is not about the coolness of the tool that matter, but how you use it and how engaging students become. So what should we be doing?

I would like to do more science experiments, but I am limited to little resources. If I could find some good 3rd grade experiments online, that would be great.

I would like parents to realize school is shifting and not the same as 100, 50, 25, 10, or even 5 years ago. Maybe that means doing some parent workshops on the shift into 21st century education.

It would be also nice to allow students more time in our computer lab besides 40mins once a week. But, we are limited to that because band meets in the computer lab.

Where are you going?

What is Burk Listening to? Tech Chick Tips

2009-11-30T13:54:00.000-08:00

Another podcast I listen to a lot is Tech Chick Tips Although they can be hyper, they have some great resources. I find one or two new applications or sites that I like from listening to them. Anna and Helen are from Texas and are both teachers.

They also have a wiki for a list of their resources http://techchicktips.wikispaces.com/ Each podcast is about 30 to 40mins long, which does not take a long time to listen to. One viewer said listening to them on 2x speed can be difficult since they do talk very fast at time.

If you want to know some of the latest tips or tricks check them out... They also talk about iPhone/iPod apps.

And that is what I am listening to.

What is Burk Listening to?

2009-11-11T20:50:00.000-08:00

If you see me around my school when I have a prep time, or walk by my car while I drive around town, or doing house hold chores, you can usually see me with my iPod touch listening to something and 5% of the time it maybe music, but usually it is a podcast of some sort. I am always listening to Podcasts of some sort. So I want to take some time the next few posts and talk about what I am listening to. If you think I should be listening to a podcast please reply and let me know, I am always finding new podcasts to listen to, not all of them are related to Education or Ed. Tech.

The first podcast I will mention that I am listening to is called, "It's Time for Technology Talk." This podcast is bunch of short casts by future teachers from University of South Alabama. Although they do not usually go into deep depth of any one topic, they do tell us what they think on whatever topic they are talking about. I do enjoy hearing what future teachers have to say about leading ed tech topics. Sometimes it does sound like the student is just trying to get their homework done, and other times you can hear the excitement and authority of knowledge in the students voice. So take a look at their blog for their podcast and listen to what future teachers think and how does that relate to us veteran teachers.

Stay tuned for future posts about what I am listening to!

A few quick tools to use in your Classroom

2009-09-30T09:58:00.001-07:00

A few quick tools to use in your Classroom

Posted using ShareThis

Branching Out

2009-09-02T13:39:00.001-07:00

I hope all the teachers are finding the start of the school year going ok. I already had to throw my lesson plan book out the window. I have a class of all boys! (only 13, but feel like 100) I have a couple of boys that need my attention the whole time, and the rest most of the time. I felt I was the most prepared this year and it was a horrible start. So I am doing something I wanted to do, but felt resistance from the Board of Ed Chair. I am doing projects and activities. We are doing some podcasting, which is really simply reading our story for reading or explaining our math lesson. I want to take this even further, but again my attention is split 13 ways and I can't be everywhere at once. But, that is not what this post is about. This is not the branching out I was talking about in the title. Recently I was asked to be part of a new Blog, Lutheran Educators' Guild (http://www.lutheraneducators.com) It is to connect Lutheran teachers (in Lutheran schools and public). Posts will talk about everyday life as an educator. I have been posting a few of my posts from here on there, but will also write original posts for the site. If you are a Lutheran Educator check it out.

Wix a short review.

2009-08-30T21:01:00.000-07:00

You may or may not have heard of Wix (http://www.wix.com)it offers a way to create free website and free flash website. They do offer a pay version that will give you a few extra features, but the free version works out beautifully. The ease of click and drop allows anyone to create a great site. They have a wide range of templates that are capable to manipulate. I have started to use Wix for many of my websites and each time I am trying new stuff. Just today I created myself a new website for my domain. I used to use the domain coachburk.com to promote my love of coaching. I even created products for wrestling (t-shirts and the sort) I have evolved the name Coach Burk to almost anything and everything I do. So I changed my coachburk domain to promote myself and have it as an online portfolio and resume.

With the add of mini-pages, you can easily have a header and change the body of the site. You can even add mini-pages inside of mini-pages. You can post media and documents and add rss feed readers and twitter reader to your page. You can go crazy and add animation to text and pictures and have roll-over changes.

I do love Wix, but a few issues: 1) can't embed html yet (I got a tweet back stating it is coming soon, but also saw on a forum was suppose to be here at the beginning of the summer) 2) if I add a rss carousel it will not save. Not sure why but every time I have that problem.

I can live with these problems right now, although I am craving the embed html option. I will be creating a prototype website for my school once I can do that.

You can embed youtube videos though, which has come in handy already on my created family site where I can show off my 3 year old singing.

You can use Wix to create your myspace page and also to create banners. When you are done with creating your site, you publish it, and you can embed it into anyplace you want. After you embed it and you want to change, all you need to do is resave and it will automatically change your site, no need to reembed. I give it two thumbs up but waiting for the HTML!

2009-08-27T13:10:00.001-07:00

Hi everyone, Here's a link to my podcast: http://grace3rdgrade.podOmatic.com See you there! - - Daniel

Burk Tech Presents: Driving Home Quick Tech ~ Whats up (google) doc(s)?

2009-08-19T16:18:00.000-07:00

Every teacher needs to write notes or papers. How do you do it? do you or your school spend money for Office?

Whats up (google) doc(s)?

Burk Tech Presents: Driving Home Quick Tech

Show Notes
Microsoft Office
Google Docs
Open Office
Zoho

Burk Tech Presents: Driving Home Quick Tech ~ T-Minus 2 Days

2009-08-17T23:46:00.000-07:00

Only two days left of summer, as a teacher, this is crunch time, so what am I doing? find out!

T-Minus 2 Days

Burk Tech Presents: Driving Home Quick Tech

Show Notes
http://edu.glogster.com/ Reach for the sky of expression
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/07/19/technology/20090719-driving-game.html Test your skills
http://gradelink.com Instantly track student performance, calculate grades and create report cards.
http://www.standardstoolbox.com/Connect, align, & share curriculum resources.

Burk Tech Presents: Driving Home Quick Tech ~ All About Podcasts

2009-08-17T22:39:00.000-07:00

Creating your own podcast is not that difficult... In this latest episode of Driving Home Quick Tech I look at how easy I do it. If I can do it, so can you.

All about Podcasts

Burk Tech Presents: Driving Home Quick Tech

Show Notes

http://www.podomatic.com easy way to publish your podcasts
http://audacity.sourceforge.net/ free audio mixer to edit your podcast and to create it
http://www.podsafeaudio.com/ where I got my music which is George Wood's "Got Carter" http://podsafeaudio.com/jamroom/bands/1454/index.php

Burk Tech Presents: Driving Home Quick Tech

2009-08-16T20:22:00.000-07:00

This is my attempt to start podcasting. As I drive to school or home from school, I will be just talking, maybe boring you... I am sure there is still a lot for me to learn about podcasting, but i just need to do it, so I can have my students and other teachers do it. If you have any tips please comment... I am by far not an expert, but thought I would share, just as I do in this blog.

Driving Home Quick Tech #1

Daniel Burk's Podcast

Planting Seeds to Succeed

2009-08-15T08:33:00.000-07:00

Recently I heard on a podcast (sorry don't remember), I just figured out how to get it to sync correctly to podcasts I didn't hear on my subscribe list (I know that is a very elementary concept), About how Bill Gates was introduced to computers at a young age, which sparked his interest to continue this learning.

How true of a statement. Taking it from a sports aspect, I am a huge University of Michigan fan (GO BLUE!). Maybe it was because since the day I came home from the hospital I would watch Michigan football. It is true they are the best team in the Nation ever! But, maybe I was exposed at a young age.

Thinking about my love and interest into technology, was it the same for me? Am I interested mostly because I was involved in technology at a young age?

Taking a look back:

At School: I don't remember having a computer in Kindergarten class, but I do remember the importance of discovery. We had a piano in the corner where we were allowed to play (The teacher did have some keys marked with the note and had music where we could just pluck away). We also had a huge tree trunk and we had hammers and nails, where we could hammer nails in and take them out (can you see that happening now?) We had a toy brick corner where we built castles and huts. We also had the play-do table. We even had a tepee in our class room for dress up. We did work on letters and numbers and how to write, but that wasn't the focus, Discovery was the focus (as best as my memory remembers). In the rest of my life at my elementary school (It was a private religious school) we never had a computer class. I do remember each classroom had a few Apples in the back of the room which we were allow to play if we ate our lunch and it wasn't time to go outside yet. I was a very picky eater, so I usually had a sandwich and drink. I ate as fast I could so I could play Math Muncher or those type of games.

When I was young, we did have an Intellivision game system. I still love some of the games on that system. My Grandparents house had one also, and we would play when we would visit even through High School. When I was in the 4th or 5th grade, my older brother and I stuck up for each other at school (vicious kickball game). When we told my parents that day after school, we were awarded, we got to go to Toy's R Us and buy an Atari 7800 and a couple games. Later on we got a NES and then a Super NES. When I got to college I got a Play Station, then moved to a PS2 and added a DreamCast and XBox. I sold my PS2 and Xbox a few years ago and got a Xbox 360. I have also owned a GameBoy, GameBoy Color, and now a DS. Video Games have been always involved in my life. Before anyone says, well that is why you are interested in technology, all you did growing up was sit on a couch and play games. I will tell you that is not the truth at all. I was a 3 Sport Varsity Athlete in High School and even competed in Sports at a Collegiate level. Sports are as important to me as Technology.

When I got into High School, we had a keyboarding class that was taught on typewriters. We did have a programming class which I took. We learned Basic and Pascal. I did not take independent programming class, but if you did, you learned C++. The best part of these programming class, was not the huge CRT screens, or if we were lucky to get a computer with Windows 3.1 installed on it. The best part was discovery. Our teacher would give us a problem or said we need to create a program that involved music or random numbers and it was up to us to trial and error it. He would show us some code that might work, but we had to tweak it to our liking. Although I don't remember all the coding, but I do remember some of the great programs I wrote. I had a program that you could select a song from Phantom of the Opera and it would play it for you. (I did this in Basic!)

Let me just talk about this Music program I created. I had a menu and it would play note by note. Now I wasn't musical at all, and I can't read notes. So I had my mom who could read music write all the notes down for me. Today maybe you would just google the notes. I then wrote the program, but along the way I had to change a little here and there to make sure it sounded correctly with the right beat and if a note was sharp or flat. DISCOVERY!

In College, is when I was really introduced to Internet and AOL. Games like Command and Conquer and Rainbow Six intrigued me more in online gaming. We would play against each other in our dorms which turned into playing against strangers across the world. The Cloud was opening up!

At Home: We didn't have a personal computer until I was in 5th/6th grade. My grandparents bought it for us for Christmas. I do remember it didn't even have Windows 3.1 (some other type of Operating System). It did have a word processing program called Alphaworks, which we had a dot matrix printer from Brother. It did come with a 5 1/4 and 3 1/2 floppy disk drives. We didn't have the internet, but also didn't think it was slow to load up. Some of the great games we had was Madden Football (believe it was the first one), Jack Nicklaus golf game, and American Gladiator. The coolest features in Madden and Nicklaus was that you could create plays or even golf courses.

When I went off too college my parents got an Acer Desktop. Starting my Junior year in college I bought a Sony Vaio. A few years after I got married I bought an HP Desktop. 3 years ago I picked up a HP Pavilion Laptop. In the last year I also got a Sony Acer Aspire netbook. I also have a desktop that I installed ubuntu on.

So looking back at my path of learning Technology, I always had a presence to Discovery. Even now I learn by trial and error. I taught myself HTML tag in college and still play around when working on our school website. But again the important aspect of it all is Discovering.

What about my students: I have always been encouraging my students to play on the computer and using it to help them. Even though we only have 45 mins schedule a week for computer class, I have 4 computers in my classroom connected to the internet for my students, I let them use my Netbook and I have 3 Neo 2's that they can type and print wirelessly. I have them use Scratch and work on a classroom wiki. This year I am also having students fill out a form (Google Docs) that asks a few questions like what lesson or topic was taught and what did you learn. My goal is after each lesson have students fill the form out to just provoked their thought process and make them recap. In case anyone didn't know, I teach students in 3rd grade.

What about my fellow teachers: I have never been shy about we need more technology or 21st century learning thoughts. Although it has been more than two years, I am starting to get through. I am making jumps and bounds with some teachers. See previous post about my Principal. At our Computer Training day, I get 3 hours to review how to post on our website and use our online grade book, Put I also throw in other technology stuff. I have been rewriting our computer curriculum, which takes away from step by step instructions that the teacher read, to project base assessments. I also created a so called portal, with links and videos to help the teachers, and been working on a wiki that would be a training tool to teach them how to use wikis, rss feeds, PowerPoint effectively. I still have a few teachers digging in their heels, but I have teachers now asking, is there a way to do this, What is a podcast?

The real kicker was at this meeting I played the video Can't Hold Me Back that was competing in the Interwrite challenge a few years ago. They were all shocked at then end when it tells them, they were a first grade class!

When we show our students what is important and let them discover it may pay off down the road. It is all about planting seeds and letting the years of education nurture that seed.

Are you planting seeds to succeed?

Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tessawatson/422325294/

A little Success

2009-07-28T21:00:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to share a little bit what has happened in the last few months, that I have been away from writing. I feel bad being away, but have been super busy. With the end of the school year, Every weekend in June I had something going on. First Weekend in June I was on a retreat. The following Wednesday my best buddy from Michigan came and visited me. He left on Sunday and then the next Wednesday, Family friends came to visit and they left on Tuesday. Then on Thursday after they left I left for St. Louis for my SLED program (School Leadership Development) which focus on creating Lutheran School Principals. In all of this I was finishing up my Education Law class, which consist of a policy analysis and a final, besides numerous case briefs and discussion points.

Unlike most teachers, I am actually a 12 month worker at my school. So I am there all summer and all major vacation times. This summer I have a lot of projects to do. I am so far behind since we start school on Aug 19th. I have been writing curriculum or stealing curriculum for our K-5th grade computer program. I have been writing an AUP for technology/computer use. Part of it, we are including about cyber bullying. I am also needed to build some computers and put them into classrooms to update computers or give them new ones. Not a lot of time, did I forget to mention I have my own lesson plans to do and classroom to get ready.

For an early birthday present my wife allowed me to buy IRIScan 2 portable document scanner. Which I am loving. I am scanning all of my worksheets to have available to download, in case a student forgets their at home. I am also using a new way to communicate my homework assignments to my parents online. I am using http://www.standardstoolbox.com/ which has a free section to do lesson plans and even create a teacher website. I embedded this teacher website into our school website. Which also brings me to another project is to continually working on our school website. To make it as user friendly as I can.

Anyways, the reason why I wanted to post something, is to let everyone know the little success I am having in my school when it comes to ed tech. The other day our synod district sent an email that contain the YouTube video "Engage Me"

My principal followed the link and sent me the link through YouTube Share option. This is small I know, but it is a Big step for my principal. She then sent me an email to ask me to be able to bring it up for our Back to School Faculty Meeting. I used KickYouTube and downloaded it for her and sent her the attachment.

The fact that she is looking for 21st Century resources and are sharing it with me and want to share with the rest of the faculty is a WIN! Slowly I will take over my school and get everyone on board! LOL

A FWD: Why Computers Crash by Dr. Seuss

2009-07-23T21:52:00.000-07:00

Just a funny little fwd out there that my principal sent to me recently.

Why Computers Sometimes Crash! by Dr. Seuss
(Read this to yourself aloud - it's a must!)

If a packet hits a pocket on a socket on a port, and the bus is interrupted at a very last resort, and the access of the memory makes your floppy disk abort, then the socket packet pocket has an error to report.

If your cursor finds a menu item followed by a dash, and the double-clicking icon puts your window in the trash, and your data is corrupted cause the index doesn't hash, then your situation's hopeless and your system's gonna crash!

If the label on the cable on the table at your house, says the network is connected to the button on your mouse, but your packets want to tunnel to another protocol, that's repeatedly rejected by the printer down the hall......

And your screen is all distorted by the side effects of gauss, so your icons in the window are as wavy as a souse; then you may as well reboot and go out with a bang, 'cuz sure as I'm a poet, the sucker's gonna hang.

When the copy on your floppy's getting sloppy in the disk, and the macro code instructions have caused unwanted risk, then you'll have to flash the BIOS and you'll want to RAM your ROM, just quickly turn the darn thing off and run to tell your Mom!

Well, that certainly clears things up for me.. How about you?

Thank you, Bill Gates, for bringing all this into our lives.

Traditional vs. Picture Vocabulary

2009-04-26T14:00:00.000-07:00

The Following is what I needed produce for my recent Educational Research Class. It is far from being 100% complete. We never actually did any trials to test, which I found made parts of this paper hard to write. The research is very interesting and I enjoyed looking it up. It did cause me to not be an active member in the Web the past 8 weeks. Take from it what you like, but feel the need to change how we teach is needed. At least look at how we teach. I apologize for any format error, I need to figure out how to copy from M$ Word to Blogger without losing format.

Introduction

What do readers do when they encounter an unknown word? Depending on the intellectual level of the reader they might: skip it and read on, re-read the section, sound the word out to see if it is a word they know, think about what they are reading, use contextual clues to try to decipher meaning, look at the heading and subheadings of the text, or associate the parts of the word (prefixes, root words, suffixes) with words they may already know. Pickering (2005) state that we know: vocabulary acquisition occur in stages; students can learn vocabulary through experience, in context, and through direct instruction; direct instruction on words that are critical to new content produces the most powerful learning; and creating visual images for vocabulary words is the best way to enhance mastery of the word.

Statement of the Problem

The purpose of this study is to assess the impact of the "word and definition" method vs. the "picture" method on 3rd grade knowledge (understanding and retention) of vocabulary.

Significance of the Study

Third grade is a major instruction year for students. This is the first year that they are no longer learning how to read. Instead they are reading to learn. Students must master various concepts quickly and accurately. The question of the study is to see what is the best method in which to raise the knowledge of vocabulary in the third grade class room. How can the students increase their understanding and retention of new words which they read every day?

Strengths and Limitations

One of the strengths of this study is the wide variety of the type of students sampled. While the wide range of different social economic backgrounds of the students were good, the tests do lack in validity. Taking the pre-test for the baseline and the reoccurrence of the same test will skew some results. Although students should not grow much older in the days it takes for the full cycle of the tests, students may become wiser from taking the same tests. The last test should be a positive to the complete learning and retention of the word as students will not know the test is coming.

Hypotheses

Students who learn vocabulary using the picture method will have better knowledge (understanding and retention) of the vocabulary than students who learn vocabulary using the traditional method.

Literature Review

Vocabulary is a key element in any child learning how to articulate their God given language, learning a new language, or comprehending any written word (Davis, 1944). Webster Dictionary (2003) defines vocabulary as “all the words of a language” and “a supply of expressive means; a repertoire of communication.” The purpose of this review is to assess the impact of the "word and definition" method vs. the "picture" method on 3rd graders knowledge (understanding and retention) of vocabulary.

“Word and definition” method is referring to the traditional flash card method of learning new words. The word on the front and the meaning is on the back. The “picture” method is an alternative way to do flash cards or all together create a new way of learning vocabulary. Using a flash card, the word is on one side and a picture of the meaning or a demonstration of the word is on the backside. Some have just created posters with a picture of the word, showing its meaning. Simply put, most foreign language classrooms have words all over the classroom showing what is in the classroom. In a Spanish classroom, for example, the word reloj would be put on top of the clock. The “picture” method takes this concept and makes it portable.

The underlying issue that needs to be looked at is how an individual learns language. How does an individuals’ visual learning style affect which method is beneficial for them to use?

Vocabulary and Comprehension

Vocabulary is one of the best predictors of comprehension in children (Thorndike, 1973). According to Mary E. Curtis (2006) there are many different hypotheses on how vocabulary and comprehension correlate with each other, such as: to improve understanding you must increase the number of words and meanings that are known. Another hypothesis states that the more a student reads, the better they are at understanding what is being read which will most likely make them master new words (Curtis, 2006). To measure students on which method will help them learn the best, you must look at how learning occurs. Svinicki (1991) created six principles of learning which was based on cognitive theory. His principles are:

1 If information is to be learned, it must first be recognized as important. 2 During learning, learners act on information in ways that make it more meaningful. 3 Learners store information in long-term memory in an organized fashion related to their existing understanding of the world. 4 Learners continually check understanding, which results in refinement and revision of what is retained. 5 Transfer of learning to new context is not automatic but results from exposure to multiple applications. 6 Learning is facilitated when learners are aware of their learning strategies and monitor their use.

Using these six principles as a measuring stick one can test which method would be the most successful. What constitutes mastering a word? Stahl (1985, 1986) identified three levels of word mastery: association processing, comprehension processing, and generation processing.

Schemas

Wood (2001) writes one should activate schemas. Piaget (1971) defined schemas as reading being an active process in which the reader interacts with text and constructs meaning, making sense of new information by relating it to the known. Wood (2001) continues to state that activating schemas aids the reader by allowing them to analyze print while using knowledge already obtained and mastered to construct meaning from the written text. One can compare the debate between traditional method of learning vocabulary and the “picture” method with the fertility and futility debates. The traditional method would reflect the fertile side which suggests greater efficiency of direct instruction. This would lead the “picture” method aligning up with the futile method. The futile method favors vocabulary development within a broader educational framework that provides opportunities for students to map word meanings onto existing schemas (Nagy, Anderson, & Hermann, 1987).

Conclusion

Although educators have been active in the way they have taught vocabulary, the “picture” method is not seen as a reliable way to teach. The traditional method overpowers any other method every time.

In conclusion, The National Reading Panel (2000) concluded that no one single instructional method is sufficient for optimal vocabulary learning; therefore, effective instruction must use a variety of methods to help students acquire new words and increase the depth of their word knowledge over time.

Methodology

Participants

The sample for this study was 200 third grade students in a variety of school settings. Some of the students were from public, upper class to inner city schools as others were from numerous private and religious schools.

Instrumentation

100 of the third grade students studied the traditional flash cards. 100 of the third grade students studied the “picture” method flash cards.

Design and Procedures

Group A will be given word and definition method of studying vocabulary words. Group B will be given the picture method of studying vocabulary words. Pre-Test will be given to help baseline each student. Test 1 will be given after 1 hour of studying. Test 2 will be given after 1 day of studying. Test 3 will be given after 2 days of studying. Test 4 will be given 7 days after studying. Test 5 will be given thirty days after studying. Test 6 will be given after 90 days, students will not know there is a test.

Data Analysis

The study will show over time how well students have improved. The study will show which method had the best overall increase in each test. The 90 day post test should be an incredible indicator of the retention of which method was better. The study will show how each time the test was done, not depending on the method, the scores increase by certain percentages.

References

Baumann, J. F., Edwards, E. C., Boland, E. M., Olejnik, S., & Kame'enui, E. J. (2003). Vocabulary Tricks: Effects of Instruction in Morphology and Context on Fifth-Grade Student's Ability. American Educational Research Journal, 40, from http://www.jstor.org/stable/3699395.

Chafe, Wallace L. (1973, Jun.). Language and Memory. Language, 49, from http://www.jstor.org/stable/412454

Connecting Reading and Writing with Vocabulary. Curriculum Associates, from http://www.curriculumassociates.com

Curtis, Mary. (2006). The Role of Vocabulary Instruction in Adult Basic Education. Annual Review of Adult Learning and Literacy, Volume 6, 28.

Davis, F. (1944). Fundamental Factors of Comprehension in Reading. Psychometrika, 9, 185-197.

Fukkink, R. G., Blok, H, & de Glopper, K (2001). Deriving Word Meaning from Written Context: A Multicomponential Skill. Language Learning. 51, 477-496.

Karpicke, J. D., & Roediger III, H. L. (2008). The Critical Importance of Retrieval for Learning. Science, 319.

Laufer, B., & Goldstein, Z. (2004). Testing Vocabulary Knowledge: Size, Strength, and Computer Adaptiveness. Language Learning. 54, 399-436.

Lehr, Fran, Osborn, Jean, & Hiebert, Elfrieda A Focus on Vocabulary. Pacific Resources for Education and Learning, 2, from http://www.prel.org/products/re_/ES0419.htm.

LeLoup, J. W., & Ponterio, R. (2005). Vocabulary Support for Independent Online Reading. Language Learning & Technology, 9, Retrieved March 21, 2009, from http://llt.msu.edu/vol9num2/net/.

Min, Hui-Tzu (2008).EFL Vocabulary Acquisition and Retention: Reading Plus Vocabulary Enhancement Activities and Narrow Reading. Language Learning. 58, 73-115.

Nagy, W. E., Anderson, R. C., & Hermann, P. A. (1987, Summer). Learning word meanings from context during normal reading. American Educational Research Journal, 24, 237-270.

National Reading Panel. (2001). http://www.nationalreadingpanel.org/.

Peters, Ann M. (1977, Sep.). Language Learning Strategies: Does the Whole Equal the Sum of the Parts?. Language, 53, from http://www.jstor.org/stable/413177

Piaget, J. (1971). Psychology and epistemology. New York: Grossman.

Pickering, Debra J. (2005). Building Academic Vocabulary: Teacher’s Manuel. Alexandria, VA: ASCD.

Pulido, Diana (2004).The Relationship Between Text Comprehension and Second Language Incidental Vocabulary Acquisition: A Matter of Topic Familiarity?. Language Learning. 54, 469-523.

Qian, D. D. (2002).Investigating the Relationship Between Vocabulary Knowledge and Academic Reading Performance: An Assessment Perspective.. Language Learning. 52, 513-536.

Roberts, Alison Remember this? School has started. Here's how you can increase your memorization skills.. (2007,Sept 9). Sacramento Bee, The.

Stahl, Steven A. (1985). To teach a word well: A framework for vocabulary instruction. Reading World, 24(3), 16-27.

Stahl, Steven A. (1986). Three principles of effective vocabulary instruction. Journal of Reading, 29(7), 662-668.

Svinicki, M. (1991). Practical implications of cognitive theories. In R. Menges & M. Svinicki, (Eds.) College teaching: From theory to practice. New Directions for Teaching and Learning, 45, pp. 27-37. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

Thorndike, R. L. (1973). Reading Comprehension Education in Fifteen Countries: An Empirical Study. New York: Wiley.

Williams, J. N., & Lovatt, P. (2005). Phonological Memory and Rule Learning. Language Learning. 55, 177-233.

Wood, Julie (2001). Can Software Support Children's Vocabulary Development?. Language Learning & Technology, 5, from http://llt.msu.edu/vol5num1/wood/default.html

Youmans, Gilbert (1991, Dec). A New Tool for Discourse Analysis: The Vocabulary-Management Profile. Language, 67, from http://www.jstor.org/stable/415076

Rights and Privileges

2009-04-21T13:14:00.000-07:00

I will state this right away, you might not agree with me. That is ok. I don't always agree with myself either. That said, What are my rights and privileges?

Every student will shout out, its my First Amendment Right. I can say anything I want. I can post anything to the web I want. You can't block sites. As the ACLU is doing by threatening law suits over blocked Homosexual sites. Someone with a little knowledge will even state, the Supreme Court states a Student have Amendment rights. They are allowed to say what they want according to Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District, 393 U.S. 503 (1969).

Those who support this Tinker Rule fail to ever mention Bethel School District No. 403 v. Fraser (1986) or Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier (1988). In Bethel, the Court upheld the right of Washington state high school administrators to discipline a student for delivering a campaign speech at a school assembly that was loaded with sexual innuendo. The Court expressed the view that administrators ought to have the discretion to punish student speech that violates school rules and has the tendency to interfere with legitimate educational and disciplinary objectives. In Hazelwood, the Court relied heavily on Bethel to uphold the right of school administrators to censor materials in a student-edited school paper that concerned sensitive subjects such as student pregnancy, or that could be considered an invasion of privacy.

I don't think anyone is going to say that our students have the right to bear arms? Maybe there are some people who believe that, but I am sure most can say that is not right. But that is an Amendment. Shouldn't we allow students be able to buy guns then?

I do believe that students should not and do not have all these rights. Students are under the supervision of their parents. They can not make rational choices. This is not to hold them back or restrain them. This is to protect them. It relates with Spiderman's theory, "with great powers comes greater responsibility." I do not think a student should be held to the same criteria as adults. The Constitution and the Bill or Rights are written for Adults. Children are going to make many mistakes and it is good for them to make mistakes. It is ok to fail, see my recent post.

So what should our students rights should be? What are their privileges.

Student Rights (not a complete list, but a growing live list that is related to Education)
1. The Right to a Great Education
2. The Right to be loved by the teacher
3. The Right to be challenged
4. The Right to learn

Student Privileges (not a complete list, but a growing live list that is related to Education)
1. The Privilege to express original thought and creativity.
2. The Privilege to question what is important.
3. The Privilege to use 21st century tools to promote their Right to learn.
4. The Privilege to be themselves.

Now not all privileges are granted or professed to each and every student all the time. There are times when a child needs to be told "NO".

Now you can also question what does it mean to have the Right to a Great Education and maybe that will be a post for a future time. Relatively speaking, I am just beginning my career and life as an Educator, and I don't have all the answers and know that what might work for one person, will not work for another.

I rather see sites that promote education in the classroom, like scratch, flickr, some social network sites be unfiltered before a site that is promoting one view on a political debate. Again you might agree with the Supreme Court that a Student has the Right, I on the other hand disagree with the Supreme Court often.

But, What Rights should students have? And what are just privileges? What are your thoghts?

Photo:http://www.flickr.com/photos/seidior/3103221850/

Fighting the Downside of Failure

2009-03-31T08:51:00.000-07:00

This may be a little more personal than any of the other post, but believe it fits into the realm of what Education needs.

Recently I had an interview for a Principal position that would involve teaching physical education. It was located in a smaller Midwest town. In my view it would be perfect for me. Teaching PE is something I enjoy, and was my major in college. Being a principal is something I am aspiring to do. Plus, it was smaller so it would give me the training I would need if I did move onto a school that is bigger. But, I did not get the job. They offered it to someone else. I do not know how many other individuals they were considering or where I would have ranked against the others. I do know I was called the day they made their decision. It did hurt. Although I would have to move, and leave my current school, I thought it would be a perfect fit for me. I had to fight the feelings of failure.

I teach third grade, and I do have to say it is probably the hardest grade for any student. Not that the content is too hard, but the method of learning is different. Students are no longer learning how to read, they are reading to learn. Students need to be very responsible for the first time in their life. Students have to think and read in-between the lines in their text books. They have text books that they need to remember to take home for homework. The F word is a big word in 3rd Grade, I "FORGOT" this or that. What F word were you thinking of?

One constant issue I have with parents is them complaining or questioning what is being taught or learned. Parents come to me and tell me, my student was a straight A student their whole life, now they are getting B's and C's. But, really their whole life, which is 1st and 2nd grade? Parents do not seem to realize the transformation their children are partaking in. They do not realize in the power of failure. Let me clarify that, the power in working failure. I am not talking about a student who does not do any of their homework. I am talking about students who work hard, try, and still seem to be off a little. I try to remind them over and over again, it is OK to get some problems wrong or fail a little. It helps us to learn and relearn what is important.

We need to get off that B's and C's means either my child is stupid or the teacher is an idiot. For me, the reason for grades is to gauge the progression of a student. They should be working to improve. B's and C's just mean they are a work in progress and aren't we all? Should we all be life-long learners?

A little Break

2009-03-27T11:07:00.000-07:00

I want to apologize to all of you. I have not been keeping up with writings like I wanted to. My current Master Class is pretty intense. Educational Research! It involves a lot of reading. Just last week I read about 30 journal articles to find 15 good ones. I also been trying to spend more time with my 3 year old son at home. He seems to be acting out a little, maybe jealous of his 3month old brother. School has been hectic as a teacher also. We ended our second trimester and I had to do report cards and then print off report cards for the whole school. More recently, some good news, I found out today that I was accepted into the SLED (School Leadership Development) program that my Synod (Lutheran Church Missouri Synod) conducts. It is a year long training with 3 in-person conferences and two on-line training sessions with projects to do throughout the year. As much help my Master program has been and will be making me a principal, this program will put the view point on Lutheran Education, which is very dear to my heart and the type of school program I will be in and have been in my whole life. I promise to try to write more in the next weeks. I have a few thoughts started, just need to finish them. Thank you for your understanding.

Neo 2 Notes

2009-03-07T12:27:00.000-08:00

October 14, 2008 Neo 2 by Alphasmart Forum in West Covina, CA

The following are my notes as the day went; some may be incomplete as I was frantically writing information down as the presenters spoke. They also may be not in any specific order.

Neo 2

· 200 Pages of Single Spaced Text

· 700 hours on 3AA

· Word Processor and Wireless Printing (Google Doc Wireless transfer coming in 2009)

· Classroom Response System ~ Written Answers (Oct 31, 2008)

· Wireless AR (also Acc Math, Math Facts in a Flash coming in 2009)

· Keyboarding Instruction

· Durable, Portable, and Affordable

· Receiver 150ft radius up to 300 units connecting with no problems

· 2/3^rd grade must have some keyboarding instruction

· Write-On Lessons added Vocab and Literacy strategies and activities (Oct 31, 2008)

· Text to speech (additional $, Spring 2009)

· With 3 computers in a room students are tested in AR on memory comprehension, some students wait a week before they take a test.

· Key Aspects to reach

o Write to learn

o Develop readers

o Keyboarding

o Assessment of learning

§ Person doing the talking is doing the learning

§ Content isn’t what matter most

§ Change needed to happen yesterday

§ Technology is the Catalyst

§ Assessment for learning, not of learning

§ http://www.k12hsn.org/edzone/media/gallery.php/videos/showcase-alphasmart-neos-in-k

§ 90% Teaching Others Practice by doing – Active Learning

o Communicate

o Critical Thinking

o Collaborate

§ 21^st Century Skills

o Good people skills (collaboration and communication)

o Innovation (think outside the box)

o Critical Thinking (trouble/problem – solving)

o Digital Age Literacy (information and Technology)

o Global Awareness

§ Communication – Writing, Revising, Publish, Present, Respond Key

§ Critical Thinking – Analyze, Reflect, Assess

§ Collaboration – Beaming, Teamwork, Peer editing

§ Short key cuts on Neo2

o Ctrl alt cmd F – change font size

o Ctrl L – Link Text (read-only file)

o Ctrl T – Thesaurus

o Ctrl B – receive File

o Ctrl Send – send File

§ Stop holding hands of the students and show them the way for them to show others the way. (My personal view on 21^st Century Classroom View)

§ Top 3 results from a five year study on technology

o Social Networking and Instant Publication

o Impact of Communication and collaboration on global boundaries

o Access to and portability of context

§ Add little by little

o Neo2 Virtual School

§ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpIsoinoAfk (Is this our student’s future?)

§ El Monte

o With NEO 2s

§ AR Participation 62 to 99 percent in one year

§ AR books read and passed 19 – 29 in one year (average per student)

§ Keyword – 10 mins a day

§ 2Know – on the Fly integrated into lessons

§ Alphaword for writing assignments

§ AR

§ Acc. Math

§ Acceltest for homework and test assessments

§ 3^rd grade student 75-100 wpm in typing

§ Peace Treaty Activity

· Each student types their side of the incident and they beam or print them to teacher computer

§ Home Connect in AR

o Email Alerts for parents

o Search for books on reading level

o Math Flash @ home

o Acc Math practice at home

§ AccelTest

o Each student can have their own test or the same test

§ Can shuffle test questions for each student

§ Informative Assessment

o 2Know – On the Fly – Does not store information

§ Immediate feedback

§ Use with any computer program

§ Only formative

§ ENGAGE

o Enough time to respond?

o Answer explained in depth

o How do you get equity of responses?

o How do you deal with an incorrect answer?

§ Assessment = Help Me

§ 2Know

o Answer Correctly (as a class)

§ Below 50% = Reteach

§ 50 – 80% = Peer Instruction

§ Above 80% = Move on

o Predict during read-along activities

§ “Low achievement is often the result of students failing to understand what is expected of them.”

§ $

o With the trial of 2 Neo I have now for 60 days

§ $4,750 (Regular Price is $6,750-$7,750)

· Cart of 30 Neo 2 (Cart included)

· Hub for Cart

· Responder

· 2 Free webinars

· 30 sets of AA batteries (good for about a year)

o Was given a free Neo2 for going to the forum

o If taken the deal that would be 33 Neo2, 1 Cart and 3 Responders

o Each Neo 2 is worth $199 - $239

o Each Receiver is worth $299

Old Computer Junk

2009-03-06T09:03:00.000-08:00

This is a typical picture in the computer lab at my school. Shelves and Shelves of junk. Old Computer Junk.

I understand the want of holding onto the past or keeping it as a record or historical museum. That is not what we are doing. We have stuff that does not work and is just plain ugly.

Some teachers are the same way, not that they are ugly, but use methods that do not work anymore, they are old and out-of-date. There are teachers who have been teaching for 40 years, when in reality they have been teaching for 1 year, 40 times. Maybe it is me, and maybe it is my so called ADHD mind, I make teaching hard on myself. I rewrite my lesson plans every year. I do use some of the same thoughts or techniques if I believe it went well, but I change things up, I add, I adapt.

My next goal is trying to clear out the old junk in the computer lab and in our teachers closet of lessons. I am working on helping them integrate project based activities to engage the students in their learning opportunities. I have started a wiki http://gracelutheranchristianschool.wikispaces.com/ which I am putting project directions, rubrics, and notes together. My goal is to have the teachers to use these projects, but then start thinking about creating their own to post on the wiki.

I got the idea from a fellow colleague Dave Black and his school. His school is further down the road when it comes to implementing 21st century skills. I only pray that my school will catch up.

AUP for Multi-Media Tools in Schools

2009-03-01T19:18:00.000-08:00

In my recent master's class I had to create policy for using cell phones and the like in a school setting. Here is what I presented. Please comment what I should add or change to this policy. I do infer a few things in my policy, like the school would have a discipline team.

Digital and Multi-Media Mobile Devices Acceptable Use Policy

To be able to educate the children in every area of their wellness, from spiritual to physical the school has a strict policy on the use of Digital and Multi-Media Mobile Instruments.

As the hammer and oven were what students used in 1905 to teach the students how to maintain life in the time period, we will allow the use cell phones, iPods, and etc to learn the proper and respectful use of these instruments relating to education. We will use these tools to be engaged life-long learners.
The teacher and/or Principal have final say on how the class will implement each device to coincide with the lessons of the day, week, or month.
Misuse of the instruments will be detrimental to the students’ education process. We will respect the learning tools.
Students will sign and respect a trust covenant. Students will learn how to properly use the tools of the trade in today’s professional world.
The use of cell phones

There will be no calling family members, fellow students, or other individuals during the school’s operating hours. If you need to call a family member contact the school office.
Hallways are cell phone free areas, unless instructed by a teacher or staff member.
Texting during Written Exams are not allowed. During any other assessment time the teacher will set the expectations.
Bathrooms and locker rooms are cell phone free areas at all time.
Respect the teachers’ instructions on use of the cell phone during instruction time.
Any pictures or audio taken with a cell phone of another individual must have the subject of the photograph or recording permission.
Internet access must be only accessed upon teachers’ permission.
The teacher has final say with how cell phones will be implemented during instruction time.

The use of iPod

Listening to personal non-educational material is prohibited during school operating hours.
The teacher and/or principal have final say with how iPods will be implemented during instruction time.

The use of Digital Camera and Video Cameras

Any pictures or videos or audio taken with a camera of another individual must have the subject of the photograph or video or recording permission.
Bathrooms and locker rooms are camera free areas at all time
The teacher and/or principal have final say with how cameras will be implemented during instruction time.

Failure to Comply

Student Safety is foremost more important than the use of the tools of the trade.

i. First Offense: Warning and Reminder of the AUP and offenses.

ii. Second Offense: The student receives an F on the project and must complete 5 Service Hours for the school. Parents are called

iii. Third or More Offense: The student receives an F on the project, must complete 20 Service Hours, Write a page reflection, and put up before the disciplinary team. Parents must meet with disciplinary team with student.

Principal and/or disciplinary team reserves the right to advance an infraction to any of the three Offensives mention above.

The principal reserves the right to alter or change the policies at any time and without prior notice. Any changes to the AUP will be presented to the student and parents within thirty school days of the date of change.

"Phone Home" ~ ET

2009-02-28T13:03:00.000-08:00

The Following is taking what I started in another post but going into it a little more. Part of my original post is still in this updated and expanded post.

Phone Home ~ ET

The world is different from 50 years ago, 25 years ago, 10 years ago, 5 years ago, and even 3 years ago. In today’s world of education a tool is being stripped away from the students’ hand even before they enter the hallways. Here is one policy on Cell Phones that is like many other school policies:

CLASS II OFFENSE

According to HCS Policy - Use or visible possession of electronic devices including, but not limited to, cell phones, pagers, or other audio/video devices is strictly prohibited during school hours. In addition, the use of electronic devices may not disturb or impede extracurricular activities.

First offense: The first time a cell phone (or other electronic device) is taken up, the phone will not be returned for one week (7days). A parent/guardian may retrieve the device one week later between 2:30-3:30 pm.

Second offense: The second time a cell phone (or other electronic device) is taken up the student will receive one day of in-school suspension, and the device will not be returned for thirty (30) days.

Subsequent offenses: The next time a cell phone (or other electronic device)is taken up, the student will receive two additional days of in-school suspension, and the phone or other electronic device will be held an additional thirty (30) days.

I have read and agree to the conditions established at GHS regarding the use of cell phones and/or other electronic devices during the school day.

The school is not responsible or liable for any lost or stolen electronic devices.

Just recently the state of Pennsylvania is proposing a Bill (363) which is amending the original Bill that was created in 1949:

Section 1317.1. Possession of [Telephone Pagers] Electronic

Devices Prohibited.--(a) The possession by students of telephone paging devices, commonly referred to as beepers, cellular telephones and portable electronic devices that record or play audio or video material shall be prohibited on school grounds, at school sponsored activities and on buses or other vehicles provided by the school district.

So are having cell phones in the schools bad? Does this make them a drug dealer? Does this mean there is no educational purpose to cell phones?

http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2009/01/07/16cellphone.h28.html

New educational uses of cellphones are challenging the "turned off and out of sight" rules that many districts have adopted for student cellphones on campus.

A growing number of teachers, carefully navigating district policies and addressing their own concerns, are having students use their personal cellphones to make podcasts, take field notes, and organize their schedules and homework.

And some recent, positive examples of how the phones are being used for academic learning may eventually lead to more nuanced policies. Indeed, more educators are concluding that cellphones may be the only realistic way their schools can offer the 1-to-1 computing experiences that better-funded schools provide with laptops.

"In our district, especially at high school, students have a cellphone on them at all

times, just like a pencil—it's an underused tool," said Rosemary Miller, the technology-integration specialist for secondary schools in the Buhler, Kan., public schools. "We don't have a computer for every kid, as some school districts do."

Good for those teachers. They are not afraid of what will happen if they try something new and rewarding to the students. Recently the 7th grade teacher and I redid our 6-8th grade computer curriculum including everyday application of technology. The students love it and are learning a lot more than step by step instructions.

Podcasting and classroom-response systems are among the more than 100 uses of cellphones that educator Liz Kolb has collected, and in some cases invented, for her book Toys to Tools: Connecting Student Cell Phones to Education, published in October.

Bloom's New Taxonomy has “creation” as the top level of intellectual behavior. Having students create Podcasts is a great way to evaluate the students on any topic you are covering. A quote from an unknown individual once said, "The one who is doing the talking is doing the learning." Student response systems can be very expensive. If every student already has a cell phone, using free websites to create polls is a cheap alternative. Liz Kolb has taken her book and went to the web in her own blog: http://www.cellphonesinlearning.com/, where Liz continues to find new ways to use cell phones in the classroom.

Cellphones with cameras also have great potential for simple data collection. They can enrich fieldwork or field trips by allowing students to snap images of, say, leaves, for later identification. Students also can snap pictures of museum exhibits and placards to fuel classroom discussions.

"Mobile citizen journalism" is another popular trend that schools can harness, Ms. Kolb said, though she did not know of any school newspapers doing it extensively yet. "Schools can definitely set up their own mobile journalism text-messaging numbers,"

so students who are traveling can phone in reports and images, especially if they find themselves in the midst of breaking news.

The possibilities are endless. Jon Orr of Faith Lutheran High School in Las Vegas has his bio students take pictures, on their cell phones, of the major organs and muscles of their dissections and upload them, by the way of text message, to Flickr. After the students uploaded the pictures they must go in and annotate on the pictures what is being shown. http://www.animoto.com has developed an application for I-Phone and I-Pod where you can create short video clips on the go. California Local PBS station even held a contest http://www.koce.org/filmonthefly/ where your mobile phone will receive a text message with the secret story prompt, along with the "tag" you'll use to identify your video as part of our contest on YouTube. You will only have 20 hours to enter your finish product.

The main cause of bans is society is not ready for the power having a cell phone or mobile device, in a classroom, has. They are scared and uneducated of the positives. They only hear the horror stories that media plays for them. The topic of allowing cell phones in classrooms will go on for years. But, as the trend is increasing, every child will have a cell phone before long. 70% of my Elementary and Middle School students have a cell phone and use it regularly out of school. Why not use the tool they already have and engage them in some learning. If there is an educational purpose that can be defined in meeting a state educational standard, then the teacher is doing their job. Liz Kolb did a survey on Twitter: of 100 teachers, 97 of them said that their school had a policy that highly restricted cell phone use during school hours (either banning them completely or restricting their use to non-academic times). Yet in the same survey 40 of the teachers said they were using cell phones in learning, and 87 teachers said they would like to use cell phones for learning in their schools in the future. The educators are catching on. The administrators need to change the Acceptable Use Policies to captivate the students and how they learn. One poster made the analogy that automobiles are used in crimes can be dangerous, they pollute the air, and they cause accidents, but we don’t ban them. Why are we banning educational tools? Beth Holmes in a blog post was discussing a picture taken in 1905 and how they were 21^st Century Education in the picture titled:

"A modern training school." Girls are sewing and cooking. Boys are woodworking. The students are using the TOOLS of the era to prepare for the work of the era. The teachers are working beside their students, coaching and mentoring them as they refine skills that transfer beyond the schoolhouse to life in the real world. Zoom in. Look a bit closer. The TOOLS include needles, knives, chisels, hammers, picks, heat, ovens. The tools of the age are potentially dangerous - but they aren't blocked from the school. Teachers are teaching students to use the tools of the age - and use them safely.

The last line is a great sentiment for the use of cell phones in education. We need to teach students how to use cell phones and how to use them safely. A new trend is what experts’ call, sexting, where students are taking nude to semi-nude photos of themselves and texting it to other students. What students do not realize is they can be prosecuted for distributing under-age pornography and be labeled a pedophile, even if they are a minor themselves.

The way that students communicate, collaborate, and conduct business (personal or public) over their mobile devices could be both beneficial and detrimental to their futures in the 21st Century workforce. Currently with policies banning cell phones from school campus, teachers get the message that they should ignore cell phones altogether. Which includes talking with students about mobile safety, ethics, and legalese. Students do not understand the ramifications for the media they collect and send on their cell phones. Teachers have an opportunity to help educate students on how to use their cell phones appropriately, for the common good, and for their own upward mobility in the global workforce. (Liz Kolb)

Until we change the way we think, the culture, ourselves we will keep a close mind opinion on any topic, but especially where cell phones fit in this world of education. Let us stop and think about the students and what is best for them. Let us put their lives before ours, even if that means taking a risk to change. Remember all ET wanted to do was “Phone Home” and using tools he found around Elliott’s house he was able to achieve this goal. Let our students “Phone Home!”

What Type is my Blog?

2009-02-27T10:46:00.000-08:00

Typealyzer analyzes what type your blog is. Not necessarily what type of person you are. Check out your blog and see if it reflects who you are.

Note: writing style on a blog may have little or nothing to do with a person´s self-perceived personality.

The analysis indicates that the author of http://burktech.blogspot.com is of the type:

ISTP - The Mechanics

The independent and problem-solving type. They are especially attuned to the demands of the moment are masters of responding to challenges that arise spontaneously. They generally prefer to think things out for themselves and often avoid inter-personal conflicts.

The Mechanics enjoy working together with other independent and highly skilled people and often like seek fun and action both in their work and personal life. They enjoy adventure and risk such as in driving race cars or working as policemen and firefighters.

Analysis

This show what parts of the brain that were dominant during writing.

One Step at a Time

2009-02-23T13:20:00.000-08:00

To be quite honest with you all that take time to read this, I thank you very much. I still not sure what good it is or if it has any importance outside my own little head. I am trying to expand in my knowledge and as some say just do it. Jump in head first. This time next year I should be finishing up my Masters program and as exciting that is it is somewhat scary. If you knew me in grade school, high school, or even college you would not categorize me as Higher Ed material. I have found that my classes now are much easier (not in context, but personally) than my undergrad classes. I find I am more engaged (it is an online cohort program). I am enjoying it. The road that I have taken has been a hard road. I am the only 3rd Burk male (that I know of) to graduate from college with my dad and older brother being the first two. I will be the first to get a degree post graduate. So what is on my mind, what I should do after this. I think I want to take a year off, to focus some time on my family, they have been very supportive, but then a Master in Ed Tech is looking promising for my future.

I have mention my struggle in my school on previous posts. I do need to be fair and state One Step at a Time. In my recent class I needed to ask my principal some tough questions. I gave her the questions so she could think about them before she answered. Today while talking about this assignment, I was informing her how I got a 100% on it. She said it is great to think about some of the stuff I brought up. She said she has her convictions on some of the topics I brought up, but never thought of some of the other issues, like collaborating with individuals we might not personally know, you know being a global citizen. One Step at a Time.

While visiting the school office, checking my mail, the School Secretary was having a discussion with our 7th grade teacher about online radio stations, so I stepped in and introduce her to Pandora. She has been listening to it all day. One Step at a Time.

You have to understand, that I am not our schools Technology Coordinator (T.C.). But, the principal had the 7th grade teacher and myself redo the 6-8th grade computer curriculum during last summer. It has been great success. It is project based activity. Still working on having it flow into the classroom seamlessly. But it is a step forward. One Step at a Time.

My principal is having me work on our K-5th grade computer curriculum this summer. We have been using Future Kids which is a step-by-step direction list. The T.C. said that is what the teachers liked, so they didn't have to learn anything new. I was speaking with the 4th grade teacher today about a few thoughts on what she would like to have as projects and she is on board. She said she is tired of the way we were doing it. ONE STEP AT A TIME.

Maybe my headaches and constant fighting for change is starting to pay off. Maybe I need to be more patient and less resentful. Maybe I need to just take it one step at a time.

photo:http://flickr.com/photos/paullikespics/2486595751/

A First for Me

2009-02-20T13:34:00.000-08:00

I don't know if you can call it a publication like some of you get, but for me, it is my first. It is not on some mass view publication. It is meant for our Synod. It is in simple terms one of my lesson plans I do with my students. It is nothing big, but I am excited for the adventures I am going on. The pursuit of a Masters degree in Administrative Education. The creation of this blog. Being in our Synod Computer file. Being nominated for the Synod SLED program for future principals. The list can go on and on. I have to thank my PLN for all the support and encouragement.
I am not sure if you will be able to see the document but the link is https://www.lsportal.net/uploads/mailing/ComputerFile-March09.pdf I will have to work on getting a copy on here if the link doesn't allow you to see the publication. You might not even care. Here is an Image of the file... Not sure if you can read that.

last hired, first fired

2009-02-19T19:01:00.000-08:00

As a young teacher, I have been afraid of the saying, "Last Hired, First Fired." Although I work in a private school, the schools have always been short on money. There is always talk about cut backs and maybe even letting people go. In my Six years of teaching, I have been a first year teacher three times. The reason for the moves have been spiritual led for what is best for myself and my family.
Today when looking at EdWeek I came across a poll that asked if you are in favor or not of this philosophy. As of 7:04pm (PST) :

Do you support or oppose "last hired, first fired" layoff policies for teachers?

53 total responses

Support
28% (15)

Oppose
71% (38)

I am surprised by the 28% who support this flawed philosophy. I am trying to rationalize what kind of person would agree just because you were last hired as a teacher you should be fired. I think of these 15 people as Older Teachers, ones that been around for a while, and think the system is looking for a reason to fire them. I think of these 15 people as bad teachers who have just snuck by long enough to have someone else be hired since they join the team. In both cases I think it is a very selfish reason and not one an Educator should think. Why are we educators for ourselves? for the paychecks? (I know its not about paycheck for me, don't make that much) or for the kids, the students? If I am not the right person for the students, then maybe I need to take one for the team and find something else. Who would really do that though? What are your thoughts? would you give up your job if it was best for students? how would you vote for this philosophy? what kind of people would pick each way? any thoughts?

photo:http://www.flickr.com/photos/kevinperkins/231111307/

No Greater Moral Imperative

2009-02-16T18:08:00.000-08:00

Michael Fullan states in "The Moral Imperative of School Leadership",

"There is no greater moral imperative than revamping the principal's role as part and parcel of changing the context within which teachers and students learn." (p11)

What does that mean? I mean I know what it is trying to say, but what does that mean. What does it mean by a moral imperative? Or revamping the principal's role? Or part and parcel? Plus what does this have to do with Jim Collins' five-levels of leadership, as Fullan is making this statement about? Lets take these important key words in this statement; Moral Imperative - a principle originating inside a person's mind that compels that person to act, Revamping - revise or restore, and Part and Parcel - "a portion" and "something integral with a whole." Ok maybe that doesn't make it any clearer. In laymans term, "We must act! We must revise and restore the role of a principal within the schools to help the teachers and students learn." I hope that makes that statement a little bit more clearer.

SO WHAT? What about the 5 Levels of Leadership?

Jim Collins talk about from being good to great. He states that although a leader may fit into his first four levels of leadership they are only qualify to be good. You must be in the 5th level to be consider great. It is then you can change the context you are surrounded in. It is then you can best help teachers and students learn.

Personally, this takes away accountability on each teacher and student. They should take action for their own learning. At my school as mention before, we are in a freeze, no money for conferences. I debated with our school board that this is bad because our teachers do not do anything else for their own professional development. Our yearly conference was it for most of the teachers. I told him luckily, I am responsible for my own learning, although I want to go to the conferences for many different reasons. But, I am my own barrier if I do not learn. Writing this blog, is one way I am taking my learning into my own hands. Taking Master classes is another, reading blogs another, following educators on Twitter is just another way.

We do need to change how we look at teachers and students learn and how can we reach them in more efficient and effective ways. What are you doing to reach your students and teachers?

Change Context; Change Behavior

2009-02-16T13:25:00.000-08:00

The public school system is a system that is everybody's business. Everyone puts their dollars into this system and should state what needs to happen to this system.

This system needs to change. The context, behavior, culture, leadership, and passion needs to change. The most important aspect to change schools is having the right leader. The leader has the job to get people to see and feel the change. The leader needs to change the conditions of the schools to raise them up and have good teachers want to stay there.

Martin Luther once said,

"Let the wife make her husband glad to come home and let him make her sorry to see him leave."

We can change it to ,"Let the administrator make the teacher glad to come to school and let the teacher make the administrator sad to see them leave." Ok, the connection isn't really the greatest. But, if the school is engaging for the student and the teacher, neither will want to leave. When the teacher has passion, a purpose, and enjoys what they are doing, the student engagement will increase which is what we want, better students, students that are eager to learn and take responsibility into their own learning.

If your an administrator what are you doing to keep your good teachers? If your a teacher what are you doing to engage your students? If your a student what are you doing to take control of your own learning? If your a parent or pay taxes what are you doing to make sure your money is going to the students education and engaging them to become better citizens?

Photo: http://flickr.com/photos/judybaxter/310417937/

State Governor May Handpick who is Running the Schools

2009-02-15T11:44:00.000-08:00

Governor Sonny Perdue of Georgia may be allowed to handpick school board members if a recent bill that has been discussed is passed.

Local school boards have opposed the legislation, saying it holds them to rules that aren't required of other elected boards, including city councils and county commissions. Board members testified during the committee meeting that the legislation takes power away from voters by allowing the governor to remove elected officials.

Michael Fullan states in "The Moral Imperative of School Leadership" that in order to affect positive change, the system must enact policies that improve the infrastructure to increase accountability and the capacity of educators to perform in new ways that impact student learning. He calls when school do not do this a "System-Imposed Barrier, An Absence of a System Change Strategy." If you live by what Fullan has to state, then this bill is overstepping their line by destroying the infrastructure of the school system.

Although the School Boards disagree with this bill, many residents are welcoming it.

Clayton County residents had asked the governor to take over the 50,000-student district.

If you do not know about Clayton County Schools yet, let me share some light. Clayton County Schools lost their accreditation last year which caused a mass removal of the school board, either on the individuals free will or being forced out. The new school board is working on gaining their accreditation back so students who graduate can gain some scholarships and admssions into colleges once again.

I do not see the Governor need the power to handpick board members, but needs to make them more responsible. I believe the people need to keep each board member accountable to their roles and help them to stay focus on student learing. Fullan states,

"New directions and new contexts require both individual and system action, independently, and, where feasible, conjointly. Individual initiatives is requried because we can't wait for the system to get its act together (or, more accurately, the system won't move in this direction unless pushed by individuals at all levels); system action is necessary because it creates new contexts, expectations, and support for individuals to change their ways." (Fullan, 62)

We need the right people on board and change or create a cultural change in these schools to become something great. As you build a house you start with the cornerstone, not the roof. The roof can be looked at as Governor Perdue and the Corner Stone is the "Right" Principal. The support beams are the School Board, with the walls being the community. When done the right way bulding the infrastructure first, resting your walls on the great cornerstone, the school will be flourishing with expensive decor ( Teachers and Students). I hope that anaolgy didn't sound too corny and that you can picture what I at least meant to say.

As they say in marriages, the most important aspect is communication. Let us open this line of communication between the community and the school board to improve student learning. No need to get someone else involve to fix our problems. That will never fix something in long terms. There will be no cultural change by having the Governor bail us on short term hiccups.

http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2009/02/11/238583gxgrschoolboardreform_ap.html
Photo: http://flickr.com/photos/reallyboring/2722956199/

Cease and Desist on Education

2009-02-12T13:21:00.000-08:00

When reading through my rss feeds I came across Steve Dembo's post

When in doubt, ban EVERYTHING

I couldn't believe what I was reading, thinking this was some early April fool's joke.

PRINTER'S NO. 410

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE BILL

No.
363
Session of
2009

INTRODUCED BY CRUZ, YOUNGBLOOD, MUSTIO, CALTAGIRONE, KORTZ,

REICHLEY, READSHAW, SABATINA, SIPTROTH AND THOMAS,

FEBRUARY 11, 2009

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, FEBRUARY 11, 2009

AN ACT

1
Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An
2
act relating to the public school system, including certain
3
provisions applicable as well to private and parochial
4
schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the
5
laws relating thereto," in pupils and attendance, further
6
prohibiting possession of telephone pagers and certain
7
electronic devices.
8
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
9
hereby enacts as follows:
10
Section 1. Section 1317.1 of the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.
11
30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, added
12
December 22, 1989 (P.L.749, No.103), is amended to read:
13
Section 1317.1. Possession of [Telephone Pagers] Electronic
14
Devices Prohibited.--(a) The possession by students of
15
telephone paging devices, commonly referred to as beepers,
16
cellular telephones and portable electronic devices that record
17
or play audio or video material shall be prohibited on school
18
grounds, at school sponsored activities and on buses or other
19
vehicles provided by the school district.
20
(b) The prohibition against beepers and cellular telephones

1
contained in subsection (a) shall not apply in the following
2
cases, provided that the school authorities approve of the
3
presence of the beeper or cellular telephone in each case:
4
(1) A student who is a member of a volunteer fire company,
5
ambulance or rescue squad.
6
(2) A student who has a need for a beeper or cellular
7
telephone due to the medical condition of an immediate family
8
member.
9
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
20090HB0363PN0410
2

There it is. After all the advancements in Education and Technology. After most realizing the potential in non-traditional methods of learning. We take a huge step back. I am wondering how Chris Lehmann is going deal with this news at his school. I wonder how would you respond if it happen in your school. Maybe Liz Kolb can post about this topic and how it is such a bad idea. When I first read this, I thought about my school and the troubles we are going through righ t now. We are cutting everything and anything we can to save money. No more professional development conferences. No chance of introducing new technology that will cost money. In reality we are banning technology in many ways and masking that using an overhead for students to copy notes as 21st century learning.

It is a shame that a State finds the need to control the potential in a learning opportunity. I can understand not wanting students tape other students in the locker room or bathroom as it has come common that pictures of the sort are popping up on myspace. I can understand a school doesn't want to be liable if something bad happens on school grounds. I can understand a school want to brush under a table if a teacher/bus driver does something wrong. I do not understand why many who do not know anything about education try to run the schools. It is time for schools to take responsibility and accountability for themselves and lets look at them governing themeselves. Thats just my thoughts.

The Choice To Enrich

2009-02-08T18:03:00.000-08:00

In my master class we are currently reading " Coming Even Cleaner About Organizational Change" by Jerry L. Patterson. We are reading that during cultural changes that we must be applying to our schools that we need to remember the people as an administrator. Patterson created four sections that deal with strengthening resilience in others: Caring, Clarity, Choice, and Hope. (P102/103; Fig 5.1) Patterson asks questions we, as administrators should ask as the transformation happens.

In the beginning or as Patterson states, the "Endings and Loss" period we need to develop a plan how we can take the past with us into the future and that the we must know that not everyone will choose to take this ride with us and we must respect that. During the "Tweener Time" we must ask individuals to take risks and to stop thinking about what/who was lost. We must think about how we can discover new ways of doing things. Lastly during the "New Horizons" Era, which is where we want to end up we must ensure that people have a voice in their roles. We must choose to enrich.

Stevens Elementary School in Seattle has long tapped into a corps of local professionals in the arts, math, and history as a way of enriching the curriculum and engaging students in activities that bring the content to life.

They made a choice to enrich. I do not know the school, and maybe far off here, but I am sure there was complaints when the idea of having local figures come in to talk about certain topics. I can see it now:

Principal: Ok, We are in Seattle, there are many individuals in the 5 mile radius around the school that could give the students a perspective they might not have thought about.

Teacher 1: So your saying, we don't know our matieral good enough.
Teacher 2: Are we still going get paid? Do we need to pay for these speakers?

Principal: No, no, no. I believe in your talents and believe this will just enrich your lessons even more. Give the students a real life view on what you are discussing.

Teacher 1: Yea, were not good enough. I get it.

Principal: I figure that Mr. Jones that lives down the street, well he is a carpenter with a background in engineering and he could help students to test a homemade apple launcher to learn about trajectory.

Teacher 3: That would be fun, but we aren't getting paid to have fun, what about NCLB? We need to raise our test scores.

Teacher 2: What about the lawsuit when the homemade apple launcher backfires and hits a kid in the face?

and so on. I am sure that is not how this school reacted, but I can see some schools acting like this. Some teachers believe they are the "Masters of the Universe" and they don't need backup.

With the internet, your choice to enrich does not have to be limited to your neighborhood. Just in the past year I have made many connections with educators across the globe. Lutheran Teachers and Public School Educators. The possiblities are endless, if you choose to Enrich! Last month I posted a fast thought response on an article from The Fischbowl about collaboration. You will collaborate if you choose to Enrich!

I have been finding resistence to the idea of Enriching our students more by our Day School Board. I know they have the best intentions for the school, but what they fail to realize I have the best intentions for the students. They want to make sure the flow from 2nd to 3rd and then 3rd to 4th meshes. I what to make sure that when my students leave my classroom, they know how to think. They know how to create and evaluate. I want my students to take risks. If they fail, that is ok. Lets learn something that will make the next time a more sucessful outcome. We are by far too wrap around titles or words and what they mean to see clearly what they can do for our school. They do not see that being a 21st Century School is making a choice to Enrich! They see it as playing with toys. They see it as a machine doing all the work. They do not see the evaluating and analyzing skills that would be needed for a student to write their own blog. They as Patterson calls it, stuck in "Endings and Loss" not ready to give up the past.

The fears come from past risks. Risks that did not turn out well. Risks that were masked as 21st Century Skills and Learning. Risks that can shape the enrichment skills of us all. There is the saying Loved or Hated, you are known. I say wether the tool fails or succeed, you learn. I choose to Enrich, do you?

My son is in pre-school, which is part of my school. Everyday my son plays, Everyday my son Sings, Everyday my son Dances, Everyday my son paints, Everyday my son creates, EVERYDAY MY SON IS ENRICHED! Why do pre school teachers know how it should be done, but as soon as the focus is shifted to elementary school, Lectures, Worksheets, Memorize, Drill and Kill is the only way to go? LET US ENRICH OUR STUDENTS! Please let me know how you enrich your students learning everyday!

Post is inspired by http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2009/02/04/20visiting.h28.html?tmp=153707628 and recent email conversations with my Day School Board
Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/arvindgrover/3223494845/, http://www.flickr.com/photos/torres21/2449366035/

Email a Cell

2009-02-05T22:44:00.001-08:00

As mention in another post before, I have only had cell phones since 2002. Never needed one before then. The only reason I got one in 2002 was because my wife needed one for working grave yard and I got mine for free. Now, I don't know how I lived without one. I am connected with it. I always have to have it on me. I am always getting texts or sending them. I use it to keep up-to-date with people on twitter, that I do not want to miss what they have to say. I use it to update my twitter account also. Recently, I got a new phone, nothing fancy, Verizon Voyager. Again, it was pretty cheap with our discount. I was playing around with it, plugging in new contacts, trying out the flickr emailing a picture feature. Then figure why not email myself from my phone. Now, I could do that in the past, but never took advantage of it. The possibilities are endless on keeping track of minor items or using it in meetings to remind yourself of important topics. Remember to check your plan, I have unlimited, thank God. This post was nothing fancy, nothing deep thought provoking, just a sharing reflection time, late at night. I know Liz Kolb is doing some excellent things with cell phone in education (See Previous Post). What else can you think of using a cell phone to help in the world of education?

The Online Classroom (Updated)

2009-02-04T12:30:00.000-08:00

Quick Question: Which is better online classroom or traditional four wall classroom?

For me: It is the online classroom. For you may be different. But, more students are finding that an online classroom is the way for them.

http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2009/01/28/19report-s1.h28.html?r=1084433756
and
http://www.jsonline.com/news/education/38786917.html

are two of the latest articles about how well online classes are helping the students learn.

More than a million students now take classes online, and I am one of them for my Master Classes. There were a few reasons why I decided to take my classes online, the main one was I wanted to work on my own time. The second and most financially I didn't want to drive to a building and the school of my choice is 2,000 miles away from me in Wisconsin.

I never was the best student, learning issues have always haunted me. I did good enough getting the grades I needed to play sports and keep my parents happy. College was much of the same, I did excel in the classes I enjoyed and didn't feel I had to take for whatever reason. I knew that I needed to get a Master's Degree, just felt that I needed to do that. Maybe prove people wrong. I have finished four classes now and proudly have to say I have a High A average.

I feel I am learning much more in these classes than I ever did hearing a professor lecture.

The survey found that online learning helps meet the needs of both high-achieving students and those who need additional help.

So it is just not for students like me who feel that traditional lectures are a bore. The best thing that comes from my online classes is the cohort I am in. Discussing with fellow students and helping each other learn is the best way to go.

Orange Lutheran High School in Orange, California has a whole online school that is doing wonderful as far as I hear. So no matter what age group you fall in, high school or college which UWM Psych Prof is proving it is beneficial with the students, you could learn a lot.

Now what if you don't want to pay big bucks to learn something new? Is there other sources of Online Programs that are cheap. YES, if you want to learn something religious, check out http://www.academyofapologetics.com/ It is full of different courses that might be what you need. I am sure there are other examples, please let me know of other online classes that you have found.

The next question is, how low, in grades, do we go? Colleges are finding it successful, High Schools are striving with it. What about Middle School or Elementary Schools? Could a first grade student benefit from an all online classroom?

I have begun using a wiki for my students and know other elementary teachers using wikis and podcasts for their students. Maybe a hybrid of online/traditional would work best for the teacher and more importantly for the students. What do you think?

Update:
Since the original posting of this blog post on 2/3/09 I found this website
http://www.uopeople.com/ So far they will be offering only 2 courses, starting in April to allow you to get a certificate. The cost is free except for Registration Fee and Exam Fees. Which the fee will differ depending on where you live.

Please add any additional programs out there.

500 dollars a teacher for what we should be doing already?

2009-02-04T05:24:00.000-08:00

I do not understand why anyone would need to pay $500 a teacher to be trained in how to be nice and caring. Maybe I am in the wrong business.

I agree with what they are doing and why they are doing as this Superintendent states:

"I think we were falsely under the impression that if I'm just a master of my subject matter I'm a good teacher," said Kentwood Superintendent Scott Palczewski. "You need buy-in from students. If you have a relationship and know someone cares about you, you work harder. You don't want to disappoint them."

I can relate this to athletics, the best athletes do not automatically make them the best coaches. They may have knowledge of the sport, but may not be able to engage the players and lift them into the position to succeed.

But, COME ON! You became an educator to be with children all day long. As much of a head ache you could get, you knew what you were getting into. No one should have to tell you, you need to be caring and nice.

The cost of the three-day training is about $500 per teacher, according to the Capturing Kids' Hearts Web site

$500 dollars! PER TEACHER! That is amazing.

What I do like about this program:

In today's world of fear that every teacher is a sexual predator, they are saying you need to be there for your students. I have always felt, no matter what I think about a student, or how crazy they drive me sometime, I will always be there for them. I will always mentor them. Parents some time think I am crazy that I give my students my e-mail, cell phone, and home phone number. I always use Ron Clark as an inspiration to this method. Parents do not see sometimes the benefit a teacher can be to their child. A teacher sometimes sees the real child, as a child might hide or fake their feelings in front of their parents. This is where a good relationship all around is beneficial. Between the Student and Teacher, The Teacher and Parent(s), and of course The Child and Parent(s).

Would you need to pay 500 dollars to learn how to be a human being? If you answer yes, maybe you should question, should you be in education?

http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2009/02/bobbie_fletcher_a_science_teac.html

http://www.capturingkidshearts.com/

'Learn from your students' 29-year-old principal .' She was so right."

2009-02-03T10:51:00.000-08:00

I am young, I am 29 years old. I often think about the day when I become a principal or vice principal, which is a main goal in my professional life I would like to accomplish. When I think about being a principal being so young, many fears cross my mind. How will teachers who have been around longer than I have been alive take leadership from me. How will they react when I try to empower them to change, to shift, if they have not shifted yet. This article http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2009/01/31/news/inland/san_marcos/z39e03f5aed4abe078825754e0078a399.txt is comforting.

The article is also nice to show that Algebra isn't boring and can be very much fun. I love when Teachers get active like this. In high school I had a great advance math teacher. He has been a role model for me in many ways. He would jump on the desk to get our attention, He would do competition that the winner would win a ' Golden Detention Slip' Not in any of my other classes did the students fought for a detention slip. Out of all that he did, it was that he believed in me as a student that helped me excelled. Many times when he had to go to a meeting, he would have students, myself included, help lead the class. We went over the homework that was assigned and taught the new lesson and answered questions from the class. It was very empowering and rewarding. The one who is doing the talking, learns.

I will have to share this song with our middle school math teacher.

Math put to music

"Graph A Line" compliments of Steve Norton's eighth-grade pre-algebra class at St. Joseph Academy in San Marcos (sung to the tune of "Jingle Bells"):

Graph a line, graph a line, here is what we know: Draw a table, pick an X, plug it in, and go.

Get a list of five or six, and graph your ordered pairs. Connect the dots, a line you've got, if you've graphed with care.

Graph a line, graph a line, from slope-intercept form Y equals MX plus B. Here is what it's for:

At B you cross the Y-axis, and M, it stands for slope. Begin with B and move with M. It makes a line, we hope!

I will also be sharing this article with our math teacher to maybe get some new ideas. She already makes up a few songs for her classes. This is reminding myself that I need to get her to write them down and I will add them. What Math tricks do you use?

Freedom of Speech? Only English?

2009-01-31T11:10:00.000-08:00

http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2009/01/28/19arabic.h28.html?r=729611926
Time to look at a controversial topic. Time to dive right in. Recently The Dearborn school district, which is located outside of Detroit, Michigan, made a statement:

schools should prohibit the use of any language other than English.

And

To do otherwise reinforces a perception by some that [Fordson High School] is an Arab school in America rather than an American school with Arab students.

The reality is what the public perceives. Growing up in that area and competing against Fordson and been to Fordson High School a number of times, yes the perception is it is a school for the local Arab students. I never saw it as an Arab school, but as an American School that has grown into a place where the Arabic familes feel it is best to send their childern there. Fordson school itself is a beautiful old building, almost looks like a castle, at least what my memory remembers. Maybe it is the realities of the community that they are believing it is in their best interest to keep the school somewhat a safe haven for their own kind. They feel safe with Fodrdson and how it has been for many years.

I do know as being a Lutheran teacher, there are many Lutheran schools that were and are meant for German families, not as much today as 100 years ago. But, there are still some Churches who still preach only in German. (German is the official Language of the Lutheran Church, as Germans brought the faith to America).

Relating to Education and Teachers who do not understand the languge, could be out of fear. Not knowing what is going on, not being in control. I do believe the students have a freedom to speak their native language, but also need to respect those who do not know their language and ask to refrain from communicating during the class period. I believe there needs to be some trust building relationships between the students and teachers. Teachers need to trust that the students are not being malicious in their communications. Just as students who text are not drug dealers.

Maybe the students are just optting to be victims of change rather than forming a plan to work with the school and administration to unite the cultural differences that may be part of the school.

Hopefully this was just a misstatement as the article has stated, but the reality goes back to what and who we trust. Whose side does the administration need to be on? The students who are looking to speak in their native language or the teachers and staff who do not know the language and feel threaten or unsure of what is being said. What do you think?

"We are supposed to be teaching, not testing,"

2009-01-29T07:19:00.000-08:00

http://www.latimes.com/news/education/la-me-lausd28-2009jan28,0,6445707,full.story
I never been a union member, and think they are very counterproductive most of the time. Like when they take money from my wife's paycheck for their so called dues. Unions do have their benefits of course, just not enough for me.

I hate it when I see teachers on strike. What are they telling their students that when they don't get their way, just whine and throw a fit and quit. There has to be another solution to their issue that does not cause harm (not talking about physical harm) to the students.

Economy is in the toilet right now and everyone is hurting. Cut backs is in every ones mind. L.A. Teachers believe cutting these test will help financially and they are right But how can you support a boycott when the tests are increasing test scores.

Duffy remains skeptical.

"The pig does not get fatter when you weigh it 10 times a day," Duffy said. "And if the test scores do go up, isn't it phony? Because what you are doing is teaching to the test, teaching a subject that has been narrowed down radically. We're not creating smarter kids. We're creating smarter test takers."

I have been a wrestler pretty much my entire life. The fact is, the pig does change weight every time you weigh it. One of my teammate had a technique if he was a little bit overweight at weigh in time. He would go and stand on his head for two minutes and when he came back he made weight. Explain that science teachers. Each time the students take the test they are exposed to questions they may not have seen or thought about before. Standardize tests is more about experience or exposure than knowledge. If a 1st grade student never seen a yacht before or read about one they would not get a question about a yacht correct. In a way it is showing you what you do not know, not what you do know.

I do agree teaching to the test is wrong and is not the shift needed in 21st Century Education. I also agree that we should be educating and not just taking tests all the time. We need students to create. As the article stated

Emerson English teacher Cecily Myart-Cruz. "We can come up with our own assessments in our classroom, and we do -- every day."

Quality teachers assess in their classroom everyday in many different ways. Written Standardized tests are not the only method to see where your student is at.

Top officials, however, had concluded that too many instructors failed to enforce high standards or didn't focus properly on teaching the specific skills and knowledge required by the state.

So we fire or place teachers in a position where they can succeed. We do not let them keep failing the students. Pick your team that will give you high standards. Find the individuals you want on your Bus and get them.

Lets look at how we Assess that will save money and more importantly do what is best for the Students.

Give the Gift of the Berry

2009-01-27T20:20:00.000-08:00

Have you heard of GiftBerry Yet? NO? Why not. Gift Berry is a great free service. They are trying to green up the world. They have plenty of different opportunities to save and make money. They categorize themselves as a Donation Networking Site. When you sign up you create a profile and can have friends and pictures. Kind of have the MySpace/Facebook feel to it. For education they go a little farther for you. They have a School Pak. According to their website they offer:

Automated & Easy
Online & Paperless
Saving your school up to $200,000 per year and over 1 Ton of Paper.
Run all school transactions, such as
SCHOOL APPLICATIONS
Auto-fill online forms
School may customize forms
Compare and Contrast Applicants at every stage
Multi-Stage Form lets you see progress
Hook your bank up for direct online payments
Make your parents Happy
Tuition Payment Options Online
Financial Aid Calculator
School Refund Options or use outside insurance
All forms secure, safe, with weekly back-ups available

I have tried some of their features and have liked the ease I found. I do not need another social networking site, but would love to implement many of the options as soon as I become an administrator.

All Donations made through GiftBerry.org earn points that can be redeemed for merchandise, travel and other gifts.

Cash donations of $50,000 or more earn 3X points, $25,000 or more earn 2X points, $10,000 or more earn 1 point for every dollar donated, $1,000 or more earn 1 point for every 5 dollars donated, and cash donations of $1-999 receive one point for every $10 donated.

Non-cash donations such as merchandise, products, upgrades, professional services, and airline/credit card point donations receive points as designated by the donation type.

The prizes vary from a hat to 8d/7n/air/hotel/shows/eye/1st class trip to London. I have personally already won from this site. At our annual teacher conference I put my name in a drawing and won an Ipod Touch. Which I have fallen in love with even more now than I first saw it the year before at the conference.

So if you want to "Go Green", save some money, or even make some money try GiftBerry. Most of it is free with a few extra pay to use options

Organization of technology curriculum

2009-01-24T02:47:00.000-08:00

I enjoy surfing the internet looking at what other schools are doing for their technology in the classroom. More specifically Lutheran schools. The following is from my recent search:

The technology curriculum is organized in the following manner:

First and Second Grade children are introduced to the fundamentals of the computer. They learn to identify and locate computer parts and learn the functionality of the mouse and keyboard.

Third and Fourth Grade children are introduced to the fundamentals of computer applications using a structured text book and workbook. Proper keyboarding techniques begin in Third grade and continue through eighth.

Fifth Grade students are introduced and use extensively the Microsoft Office Suite of products using a structured text book and work book. Primarily focusing on Microsoft Word and PowerPoint.

Sixth Grade students continue with the Microsoft Suite of products with emphasis in Microsoft Excel and Outlook.

Seventh Grade students enhance their Microsoft Word skills and are introduced to the Internet and database software such as Microsoft Access.

Eighth Grade students are evaluated in all applications of the Microsoft Office Suite to prepare them for the challenges of high school.

From the outside view, this looks great. It is much more than many Lutheran schools are doing and so many public schools. But it is very limited. This is what my school is like. Very limited overall to the projects and learning the student do. I am not saying Microsoft Office is a bad thing to learn. I use Office all the time, every day. I do know I have 07 on my personal laptop and the students use 03 on the computers. Those two versions are completely different. I have a hard time finding where in 03 the tools I want, because I know where they are in 07. I am not sure how this school does their lesson, if they are like Future Kids, which my school uses (ugh). Or the teachers have the students create original projects using Office. By the look of it They are using some type of cookie cutter mold for the early grades.

After I grazed around this school website, which seems like they have a nice lab. I stopped by a fellow Lutheran teachers latest wiki for his school. On the wiki he lists his goals. See how drastically different they are from the goals listed before.

1. The ability to use technology in God-pleasing ways for ministry and personal productivity, and in keeping with good digital citizenship practices
2. The ability to analyze information and sources critically for accuracy and relevancy
3. The ability to communicate effectively through the spoken word
4. The ability to communicate effectively through the written word
5. The ability to collaborate effectively with others -- even with those whom you may not personally know
6. The ability to be self-motivated to be a life-long learner
7. The ability to create, innovate, and problem solve independently and collaboratively
8. The ability to act and think globally

Instead of prescribed word for word orders, the students are given a little leeway to think more. This list of what they will be integrating throughout the day instead of having a computer class one day a week for an hour in the computer lab. So look at what you are doing in your school. What group of lists would you fall in, the 20th century or 21st century way?

"Living and Learning with New Media"

2009-01-23T10:49:00.000-08:00

Experimenting with new technologies, like iPods, allows young people to pick up basic social and technical skills, such as how to create a video game or customize a MySpace page, according to report co-author Lisa Tripp, an assistant professor in the university's College of Information. Young people can also learn online through trial and error and by communicating with peers and communities.

Before the big scare of MySpace came out, I used MySpace as a way to teach html coding and editing. I was scrutinized for doing so and then our school blocked it. In my classroom I have tried new things as fast as they come up. As of right now I am testing an Acer Aspire One Netbook. I have tried many online web 2.0 sites, Neo 2's, student response systems, and so much more. Some have worked beautifully and some failed completely. Some have worked one year and not the next.

At my school this year I have taken over the duties for 7/8th grade PE. The 8th grade teacher comes into my classroom to teach Social Studies. It is different than anything the parents have had in the past. In the beginning their was a little adjustment issue and some parents were upset. When the parent came and talked to me, they understand trying something new, but they didn't want it to be at the cost of their child. They did not see this as a learning opportunity at all. Even with mistakes. How do we learn if we do not make mistakes or search for something better?

picture: O'Doan, Debbie. techproj1.jpg. 6-Mar-02. Pics4Learning. 23 Jan 2009

New answer for e-learning: Wikis and avatars are improving the educational experience

2009-01-22T13:38:00.000-08:00

Clark, Kim (2008,Jan,10). New answer for e-learning: Wikis and avatars are improving the educational experience. U.S. News, Retrieved March 2, 2008, from http://www.usnews.com

As a teacher I would want my class to be as fun as possible and as effective as it can be. I have used some of the suggestions made in this article. "VoiceThread" http://www.voicethread.com is a great tool to engage the students and to make learning fun. As an administrator you could use VoiceThread for a staff development exercise. You could post a picture of a situation that you have seen on your campus and ask the staff how they would handle the situation. They can each add their own opinions and understand where their administrator, who would tell them how the situation should be handled, stands on each issue. You could also use this too as a way to see which curriculum each staff member would like to use. With VoiceThread, a teachers best e-learning web 2.0 tool is a blog. I use this even in the third grade. My students write on different questions or topics I propose to them. I might post a picture and they have to write a story about it. One of the best uses of a blog I have seen from an administrator is GLS Insights & Wanderings.

The second item that is beneficial is the statement Sierra College Student Matt Kerr makes, He was, "...immersed in research, thinking, writing and learning," with E-Learning. As a teacher, this is what we want and as a student this is what we should be doing. So many times you hear the story, that a teacher is celebrating their 40th year teaching. In reality, however, they are celebrating their first year teaching 40 times. They never changed one word from their lesson plans. We are teaching kids for jobs that are not created yet. This is stated in the video "Did You Know?" http://youtube.com/watch?v=xHWTLA8WecI. It is our duty and job to change how we do things to keep students immersed. Even if that means that we as teachers need to be immersed in research, thinking, writing, and most importantly, learning.

Organize Schools around Child Development

2009-01-22T13:33:00.000-08:00

We go left, no right, no left. This paints the picture of American schools pursing improvement. The schools do it without mapping anything out and without organization. Policies must be established to focus on the development of the student. (Parkay, 153) Everything a school does should be looked at where the child is developing. How will this help the child? Where is the child in their development stage?

Too often students that struggle are viewed as bad or not smart, not interested, and not motivated. Teachers would respond with the attempt to punish and control them and set the bar low on their academic expectations. (Parkay, 153) The answer is to create a team to create a school climate that supported student development and a growth in school effectiveness rather than through a use of rules, regulations, and power. To support development rather than simply punish children.

To end the essay with a comparison, a false comparison, to auto makers and that American just doesn’t want to change like Japanese auto makers so called did, is ludicrous. The reason that people do not buy American is Japan can make it cheaper, even if it is not good quality. If the author Comer wants to make a comparison to Japan, let us make it in their view of education. In Japan, if you sleep in class the teacher does not care, but you have to have your work done. Students will do whatever possible to please their teachers, unlike a lot of teachers in America which do what they can to please their students. In Japan everything is test based, you must take tests pass class, you must take tests to get into a class, you must take a test to get a job in Japan.

You must have rules and regulations. Every child wants to have rules. When you look at a classroom that has no rules, the students do not respect their teacher. They want to test the rules and see how far they can bend them. If they can break the rules and get away with it, it is a lost cause. The child can not develop at all. Every student I have has always came back and respect and glad I was as disciplined as I was. My worst children, behaviorally, acknowledge that they knew I was doing the best thing for them. In college I was a resident assistant. I busted one of my resident for smoking weed. I was afraid he would be mad that I called the police and had him arrested. I tried to stay away when he was back on campus, worried about retaliation. He found me and thanked me that I did that. He said that was the best thing for him that he needed a rude awakening. Every student needs to have a rude awakenings to keep them back on track.

Curriculum Planning: A Contemporary Approach by Forrest W. Parkay, Eric J. Anctil, and Glen Hass

Administrators role in technology decisions: Principals of Education and Administration

2009-01-21T22:34:00.000-08:00

Administrators play a pivotal role in determining how well technology is used in our schools. ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education) has a list of NETS (National Educational Technology Standards) for administrators. NETS have served as a roadmap for improved teaching and learning by educators throughout the United States. (http://www.iste.org). The question is where these standards fit in the setting of a LC-MS (Lutheran Church Missouri Synod) school that has an enrollment around 200 students. It is critical for any school of any size to follow these standards as closely as possible. The days of microfilm, cassette tapes, and reel to reel were abandoned a while ago. Most small Lutheran schools are still trapped in the “VCR, CDs, overhead projector, and Windows 95” era. The internet has changed the way schools can reach and teach students. The administrator needs to be on the cuff of it all before they are out of date, just like Web 1.0 technology.

“Educational leaders inspire a shared vision for comprehensive integration of technology and foster an environment and culture conducive to the realization of that vision,” (http://www.iste.org). Administrators are the eyes of their schools. They need to always be looking ahead. The administrator needs to be a cheerleader when they have decided to take their level of commitment to technology to the next level. In a small school setting this is a double edge sword. The administrator will either need to win a lot of staff over or a few. The issue for a school of this size is always how much will technology improvement cost. The administrator will need to paint the picture for everyone to see, including the staff and church that support the school. Microsoft PowerPoint or Google Presentation can help administrators paint the perfect picture to win over the board of education. Keeping a podcast blog will help supporters stay in touch with your vision.

“Educational leaders ensure that curricular design, instructional strategies, and learning environments integrate appropriate technologies to maximize learning and teaching.”(http://www.iste.org). Any time you get a new curriculum the teacher guide will come with some sort of CD for supplement. Administrators need to make sure teachers utilize the
information on these disks to help engage every student. The world loves free stuff and the world and teachers can be happy with some good free programs and services. There are so many
companies like Google (http://www.google.com), Kerpoof (http://www.kerpoof.com), Kid Thing
(http://www.kidthing.com), and Voice Thread (http://www.voicethread.com) that want to help
students. They will offer their services for free. Google applications are a simple version of
Microsoft Office, where students can cooperatively work together at school and in their own
homes. Companies like Accelerated Reader (paid service) have been beneficial for improving reading skills while having fun. The options are endless as to what you can do to supplement your current curriculum. Dr. Bull of Concordia University Wisconsin touched on what a Church can do to help in the age of technology in a recent conference session entitled “Ministry in a Virtual World”. Using his ten steps (see slides) an administrator can change it to fit their Lutheran school. None of the starting
points are impossible and are easy to implement. Creating a blog for the main happenings of the school could improve communication greatly with parents, as one Lutheran school is doing to great success (http://glseagles.wordpress.com/). Teachers can do digital story telling (Voice Thread) with their students to give students a new view and get the
student lost into the work. Lutheran High School of Orange County (Orange, California) has
been a forerunner in the game of online learning for high schools. You can now live in Maine
and be an Orange Lutheran High School student without leaving your home. Services from
Collaborative Learning Inc. called Curriculum Mapper will give you a visual of what is actually
going on in the classroom month by month.

“Educational leaders apply technology to enhance their professional practice and to increase their own productivity and that of others,” (http://www.iste.org). Any administrator can find a webinar or some sort of free online class about anything. Technology in Lutheran Schools (http://www.techls.ning.com) and following some good blogs like Dave Black, “The Church Door” (http://www.thechurchdoor.com/), will keep you updated with the latest technology with a Lutheran point of view. Subscribing to listservs from the synod will fill your email inbox with important information. Social network websites are the crave for any generation. Ning (http://www.ning.com) provides a way to create a free social network. Every school could have their unique social network site. Teachers could belong to one to help each other outside the school setting or collaborate on projects. Skype (http://www.skype.com) and Twitter (http://www.twitter.com) are both great tools that have replaced the once popular instant messaging services. With Twitter you could be networked with people around the world and ask simple questions and have an answer within minutes from varying sources and point of views. One classroom of fourth graders found out how special using Skype can be. It changed the lives of every fourth grader and their teacher forever (http://tinyurl.com/22q6cr ). With Skype they were able to connect with a student of their class they never saw. One of the students was working independently at home. The teacher would send work home and receive work back at school. Skype became the solution so the student was able to connect via a web cam and mic to the rest of their class. The students were able to learn from this student as to what it takes when
someone is going through leukemia. The best part of Skype and Twitter is that it is free. This is
something a small Lutheran school always could use.

“Educational leaders ensure the integration of technology to support productive systems
for learning and administration,” (http://www.iste.org). The administrator will need to develop
and implement policies and guidelines on the use of technology. To decide which policies they
want to enforce, using a check list for assessing decision-making effectiveness could be
beneficial (Gorton, 53-55). Creating a policy from scratch can be very difficult, especially for a
Lutheran administrator that is lacking in technology or expertise in the area of the policy.
LSPortal (http://www.lsportal.net) is a safe haven for any teacher or administrator. Besides
being able to stay up-to-date with what is going on in your own district and synod, the
possibilities of networking is endless. The portal has a vast range of resources. Administrators
can partake in forums and discuss issues or use documents that are already created. These just
need to be fine tune for the individual school. The documents are just waiting to be downloaded
for any administrator to use.

“Educational leaders use technology to plan and implement comprehensive systems of
effective assessment and evaluation,” (http://www.iste.org). Some states give free help to school in order to assess your staff where they stand on technology usage. EdTechProfile (http://www.edtechprofile.com, for California) provides tools that guide administrators about how to integrate technology into classroom instruction and how to create and evaluate effective teacher technology training programs. Over time you can compare data (see chart) on yourself and staff and you can see how staff members are growing and improving. Sun Associates (http://www.sun-associates.com/) specializes in designing plans and procedures to evaluate and assess the impact of educational technology on teaching and learning. Their evaluation work is designed to take schools and districts beyond their current strategic technology plans into an area where they can begin to assess their progress in meeting the vision and goals of these plans. In the area of program evaluation for funded projects (i.e., "grants"), Sun Associates work with projects to focus their goals, define evaluation questions, collect data, and to create formative/comprehensive evaluation reports.

“Educational leaders understand the social, legal, and ethical issues related to technology and model responsible decision making related to these issues,” (http://www.iste.org). The easiest way to make sure every student is having a fair share of technology learning is to have enough computers for each student in a computer lab setting and a few computers in the classroom. Lutheran administrators can use their districts to help. The Pacific Southwest District has a group, S.T.A.T, to help the district Lutheran schools in the terms of technology and even supplying computers to schools. S.T.A.T is doing this specifically for Pacific Southwest Learning Center in Hollywood, California. Alan Lutz (Chairman of S.T.A.T, St. Paul Lutheran School; Orange, CA) took a dozen donated computers to the school and hooked them up for the children to use. For any government issued decision a Lutheran administrator will have to implement the No Child Left Behind website (http://www.nclb.gov/) which provides a handful of helpful resources.

In conclusion, it is difficult for small Lutheran schools to take all the advantages that educational technologies companies can offer due to the cost of technology. There are plenty of resources that an administrator can find on the World Wide Web. If the administrator is good, they will be able to find very practical, free resources. Companies like ISTE help administrators by not having to reinvent the wheel when it comes to what they should be doing. The individual
districts have teams, like S.T.A.T (Pacific South West District) to aid the schools in their district.
The synod has individuals like Dr. Perry Bresemann, Technology Director for Lutheran Schools
and popular bloggers and Lutheran educators, Dave Black and Rob Jacklin. Administrators
could use number of management programs from Hunters System (http://www.huntersystems.com/) to help the day to day operations of running a school. Using a
wiki, an online encyclopedia created by individuals, students can learn from peers who share
their success strategies. For example, as high school English students encounter problems in
writing a contrast essay, they can post a quick message on a wiki such as PBwiki or wikispaces.
As other students encounter the same learning roadblock, they can go to the wiki to see their
classmates' suggestions. They then receive feedback from their peers who typically word the
solutions in very student-friendly language. Keeping a Blog, parents can follow what is happening at school without even leaving their office. The future holds no ends. Skype is being used to bring in students from home. Moodles are being used to create an entire school based solely on the internet. Students will sit at home and log on and do their work and take their tests. Colleges and Universities are adding new programs, like Concordia University of Wisconsin which has a new M.S. in Education - Educational Technology, to help educators and administrators learn and implement technology in the schools. Small Lutheran schools do not have to play catch up in technology anymore. They can now compete with any school, private or public. It will not be long before large schools begin looking at what small schools are doing to engage every student with technology. All it takes is an administrator with a vision and ability to share that vision.

References
Bull, Dr. Bernard. Ministry in a Virtual World. LEA Conference, 2008.
Gorton, R, Alston, J, & Snowden, P (2007). School leadership and administration: important concepts, case
studies, and simulations. New York: McGraw-Hill.
http://glseagles.wordpress.com
http://huntersystems.com
http://lsportal.net
http://ning.com
http://skype.com
http://techls.ning.com
http://thechurchdoor.com
http://tinyurl.com/22q6cr
http://twitter.com
http://www.edtechprofile.com
http://www.google.com
http://www.iste.org
http://www.kerpoof.com
http://www.kidthing.com
http://www.nclb.gov
http://www.sun-associates.com
http://www.voicethread.com

Review: Spelling City

2009-01-19T17:23:00.000-08:00

Beginning of this school year I was engaged in some conversations about helping students with spelling. CoolCatTeacher tweeted about Spel ling City. Being who I am, I try about anything I see on twitter or recommended by fellow educators. I fell in love with Spelling City. It is free and simple. Even with its free simple feel it has so much to offer. Every elementary teacher should be signing up for this free service.
Once you get it set up, which is very easy you can see your list of words. This does show one of the weak points of the website. It changes all the words to all lower cases. This hurts for proper names for spelling words. We go through states and Months for my third grade class and I have to remind them that even if Spelling City shows them wrong it is spelled with a capital letter. You can choose a few different options.
There is a Testing option (need speakers), a teaching lesson (speakers again), and games (more on that in a bit). That would be enough for any teacher looking to boost some learning. Remember you can create any type of list, not just your spelling words like I do. Vocab words could be beneficial, especially in the games section. But, there is more. I also use the handwriting option for each unit each week. There are numerous options with size, type (numerous cursive and even print), and if you want arrows on. Another option is capital or lower case. For cursive writing I do not like the capital option because it puts every letter as capital letter. Lower case keeps every letter in lower case. This goes back to the frustration over proper nouns.
Now comes the games. What kid does not like games? There are a wide variety of games. Hangmouse being one of the most favorite. It is just like Hangman with a little twist. There is good graphics. Make sure you check out the games when you have your students use this website.
Please add any other spelling website tools you use with your students or in your class. Spelling City is the best of what I have seen for free.

Photosynth the future for the classroom?

2009-01-19T09:51:00.000-08:00

While surfing the net I came across something from Microsoft (M$ to some people). I decide that I will try it out and see how easy and neat it will work.

The product is called Photosynth. Here is a video that will explain it a little.

Now there are some RULES:

This first version of Photosynth has some limitations that you need to be aware of:

All synths are uploaded. They're big, so you need to use a broadband Internet connection.
All synths are public. Your photos will be visible to everyone on the Internet.
Like the viewing experience, the "synther" only runs on PCs (XP and Vista).
You'll need to Sign Up for a Photosynth account. It uses Windows Live ID.

Now I have uploaded photos to many different sites (flickr like and social network sites) and I hate the long upload time. Photosynth is suppose to use that time to make the 3D like pictures.

I do get 20GB worth of storage. I also am able to have creative commons options. Although all the pictures will be public. The neat idea is that it will take your pictures and other individual pictures and link them together to get the best feel of being at the actual place. The educational purposes are unlimited. If M$ doesn't make users pay.

For around 40 pictures it took about 20 mins to upload completely. Maybe it was the pictures I used or the size of each picture there are a few discrepancy in the meshing of the pictures. Below are a few screen shots of the picture I uploaded. The first one has a picture (the bright spot) that was a zoom in of the other picture (the dark spot). The second picture shows the angle aspect of the program.

Professional Schools and Self-Directed Learning » Moving at the Speed of Creativity

2009-01-19T08:54:00.000-08:00

how many students in many classrooms today have been conditioned to expect “spoon feeding” when it comes to formal learning contexts. It made me wonder the degree to which the goal of creating self-directed learners should NOT be limited only to professional, graduate school contexts, but included in ALL learning situations.Dependent learners remain limited learners. Unbounded possibilities beckon to those who learn to fish for themselves in the ocean of ideas which is our world.
Professional Schools and Self-Directed Learning » Moving at the Speed of Creativity

Wesley Fryer has it right that students are conditioned to be spoon fed. The worst of the problem is the PARENTS are conditioned to this theory also. In my young six years of teaching this has been the biggest issue parents have with me. I want their children to learn and think and not to mimic what comes out of my mouth. I have the students search for words they do not know how to spell or know the meaning. They first look in a real dictionary and then if they can't find it, they may use the computer to help their search. (I am teaching 3rd grade students right now) I put all the needed information for parents on our website and we have all our grades on GradeLink. Just recently I had a conversation with parents who child needs a little more structure at home and spend time working extra hard on assignments. They just wanted a printed newsletter with all the answers on it. I told them over and over again about the website and GradeLink and their response is they don't want to take the time to use it. They don't understand it. The kicker was, that is not how the first and second grade teacher did things. I am glad they care so much about their child's education that they would come in to talk but not do anything else. It is befounding.

We must first break the thought of the parent of how we need to look at education and the learning process and then we can mold their children into a Life-Long Learner.

Schools Would Get Big Boost in Stimulus Plan ~ Is it worth it?

2009-01-17T11:39:00.000-08:00

http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2009/01/16/18stimulus.h28.html

"The more than $100 billion in federal spending for education in the stimulus bill would be nearly double the entire $59.2 billion discretionary budget for the U.S. Department of Education in fiscal 2008"

Sounds awesome. Let's give almost double the amount of our usual budget. The question that alarms in my head is where is that money going to? Will it help pay some superintendent's six figure paycheck? How about we have no money so lets just spend more money. A professor once told me, anytime the government has a problem they just throw money at it. This is money that we don't have. Just like those who have lost their houses because they couldn't read the fine print or budget. It is not like my school will see any of that money, being private and all.

"Rep. John A. Boehner of Ohio, the House Republican leader, issued a statement Jan. 15 saying he was “disappointed” with the bill. The plan “appears to be grounded in the flawed notion that we can simply borrow and spend our way back to prosperity,”"

Personally I believe this is a publicity stunt for votes. You ask anyone and they will say they would want to give more money to schools. The reality of it is, that it is not possible. We can not have our government bail us out on everything. We need to take responsibility. There are so many organizations and individuals that use education for their own selfish reasons. Teach for America sent recent non-education graduates to East St. Louis with no training. Even ten years ago my education classes talked about how bad the school systems are in East St. Louis and now an organization who gets millions of dollars pretending doing a good thing sends underpaid untrained non-educators to the worst place to teach.

This isn't "Fields of Dreams", build it and they will come.

"The measure also includes $1 billion for educational technology, including computer and science labs, and teacher technology training. And it would provide $250 million in competitive grants for states to create data systems that analyze individual student performance results to help bolster achievement."

It doesn't matter how much money you spend and what you put into a classroom, if the teacher doesn't use it. Even with so called training how many will change? To change you need to want to change. Until we get teachers to care to change and students willing to look at change, it is a useless fight. Urban schools will have the latest technology but no way to connect at home. Schools will be broken in and the technology will be stolen, because no will to change. No one strong enough to stand up and say it is enough. No one to be Honest and take Responsibility for themselves. We all will just pass the buck as the government is passing the bucks, hoping it will silence criticism.

Panel: Technology Alone Can't Protect Kids Online

2009-01-16T10:53:00.000-08:00

http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2009/01/13/223339bcntecusinternetsafety_ap.html

A task force charged with assessing technologies for protecting children from unwanted contact online has concluded that no single approach is foolproof and that parental oversight is vita

Maybe people will listen to "Hippie Jeff" (Information Hippie). I just finished thanking Jeff for being a Hippie where he states

I believe that filters are over rated, do not protect our kids, and that education is the only way to teach responsible use of this amazing machine we call the World Wide Web.

Now comes this task force saying the exact same thing.

The yearlong Internet Safety Technical Task Force also played down fears of Internet sexual predators who target children on social-networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace. While citing other dangers such as online bullying, the panel said cases of predators typically involved youths well aware they were meeting an adult for sexual activities.

This is a interesting for the purpose of those parents and adults who diss on social network sites saying they are pure evil. Again parents not wanting responsibility when it comes to their kids making bad decisions. EDUCATE THEM! This is not to say there aren't any child pr edators on these sites. See Flickr Perversion how Alec Couros talks about his daughter being victimized first handed.

Information Hippie « The Thinking Stick

2009-01-16T09:52:00.000-08:00

OK….I admit it. I am an information hippie. I believe that information should be free and accessible to all. I believe that filters are over rated, do not protect our kids, and that education is the only way to teach responsible use of this amazing machine we call the World Wide Web.Man….do I feel better!As schools continue to roll out 1:1 laptop programs the same conversations keep coming up.How much control does a school put on student and teacher computers?Now….I’ve been in education long enough to know that there are all sorts of things people are scared of…most of all….we’re scared of the kids.We’re scared they know more.We’re scared they don’t know enough.We’re scared they’ll do thing we don’t want them to.We’re scared they’ll hurt themselves.We’re scared they will fail.We’re scared they will succeed.I do wish students were mature enough that we could just hand them computers and let them go at it…in fact, I do believe that…and that is exactly what I would do! Rules:1. If you break it, you buy it.2. If you lose it, you buy it.3. If you crash it, I’ll try 10 minutes to fix it then it gets re-imaged.4. The only way anyone ever learns to back-up is to lose everything, so back-up!5. Don’t steal If I had a laptop school those would be my rules. No, students would not have access to school servers, everything would be done via the web. Therefore, you do not need to worry about viruses infecting the school’s system….from their computers anyway.Every student and teacher would have admin rights! Why not? The only way you can really learn and experiment with a computer is when you have them…and trust me if you try to block them…they’ll find away around it anyway.“I don’t want to play policeman!”And the students honestly don’t want to have to hack their machines to put their stuff on them.“But all the illegal software”I think this is more of an issue here in Asia than anywhere else in the world…but really…you can tell them they can’t put illegal software on (see Rule #5) and they will. If it crashes their machine…see rule #3. But conversations….conversations about copyright and learning right from wrong is the only way to stop it.The only true 1:1 program includes student ownership They need to feel the machine is theirs, why not try to find a way for students to own the machines? Heck, after 4 years you’re not going to want them back anyway. Or find some way to sell them to kids after 4 years at a really cheap price. What you really need is students to feel as though they own the machines. I’ve seen 1:1 programs where the school’s have locked down the machines so tight that students go and buy their own machine to bring to school. Ownership means something!A 1:1 program where the computers stay at school will not work.A 1:1 program where teachers are not allowed to download and learn will be frustrating.A 1:1 program where all stakeholders feel locked down will become negative.A 1:1 program will fail if freedom is not allowed.I’m an Information Hippie! (my mom would be so proud!)It’s my job you see. My job is to fight for access, I do it every day. The IT Manager…his job is to make sure that things are secure and running, and my job is to make sure education of students is not being disrupted do to the IT Managers job. Yes…it’s a love, hate, give and take relationship. One that is crucial to every school. I make my case, he makes his…and at the end we come to an agreement based on data and common sense.We talk about information flatting our world.We talk about a changing landscape in which knowledge is created at hyper speeds.We talk about information and creativity being everywhere and accessible to anyone.Our schools need to be that….and the only way they can is if users have access to that super highway.Is my plan full proof? Nope!Will people crash their machines? Yeap! Does it allow students and educators to be creative? Yes!Does it allow teachers and students to experiment? Yes!Does it foster a learning atmosphere of excitement and possibility? Absolutely!Then let go….let go of the reins of control and just see what happens.I always hated the teacher saying: “Start off hard on them, you can always loosen up.”Why not “Start off soft on them, you can always harden up”Will they complain? Yeap…but they do anyway On the Web we’re all just nobs….let us go, let us explore, don’t hold us back, let us learn the only way in which true learning happens…by making mistakes.Ah yes….the Information Hippie syndrome….I like it in my perfect world

Information Hippie « The Thinking Stick

This is a unique look at 1:1 education. But it makes perfect sense. How can we have students learn if we don't trust them and educate them. I am lucky that I am at a school that does not filter anything. That could be good and could be bad. I do enjoy that I can try and test everything that is out there and have my students be able to use tools. Thanks Jeff for stepping up and being a Hippie!

Between the first post and this one

2009-01-14T10:44:00.000-08:00

The little blogging I did do on Tech or education before are added now. So when you read Rob's struggle with Alice, that was from last year. I am sure he has a handle on it now. :)

Technology in the Lutheran Classroom: I've Officially Lost Control...

2009-01-14T10:41:00.001-08:00

I've Officially Lost Control...I've officially lost control of my Computer Science elective class (i.e. learning to program using ALICE). I've never taken a CS or a programming class before in my life, so I thought I could just stay one step ahead of the class by reading through an ALICE textbook and everything would be OK. I could fake it :-)Well, after much reasoned conclusion (and lack of time..our dishwasher is on the fritz and I've been tasked with the time consuming duty of hand-washing), there is no way I can keep up the charade any longer. So today I bit the bullet and officially announced that the class is smarter than Mr. Jacklin and from here on out, we'd be learning together!OH, the look on their faces! I got several looks of disbelief. Several, "OMGoodness, did he just say that out loud?" looks. Finally there were those kids who have been past me for quite some time now making video games, interchanging object parts, and generally "owning" ALICE. They looked at me with a gentle smirk, saying with their eyes: "It's about time! Tell us something we didn't already know!" I couldn't snow these kids even if I tried. It was if I was at an AA meeting and just announced, "Hello, I'm Mr. Jacklin and I don't have anything else to teach you about ALICE."So, to make a long story short, we'll be learning together. I will learn from them as much as they will learn from me. To be honest....it's very liberating and...I'm OK with it. Not being the expert is a position that is quite uncomfortable for me, but it's a posture that we will all take on sooner or later as teachers.I've come to understand that my role as a teacher is not one of "expert," but one of mentor, facilitator, and leader. These kids aren't "empty vessels" anymore (if they ever were). They have a depth of knowledge in some areas that surpasses mine.The one area in which I have an advantage over them is that they don't know what to DO with the stuff they know. That's were I come in! As teacher, I can help them order and interpret their world; help them put together the pieces of a chaotic information, knowledge landscape.Now that...I feel comfortable doing!

Technology in the Lutheran Classroom: I've Officially Lost Control...

As a teacher I feel for Rob. God gives us talents and we try to use those talents as best as we can, but we don't know everything. Students and, more annoying, parents think teachers should not be human. Not just in the fact of having a life outside of school, but also thinking we should have all the answers. When you are teaching History or even Math it is a little easier to master these subjects. They usually do not change the so often. English is a little tougher because the so call correct ways of speaking and writing changes a little every year. With Technology, is it even possible to master? We are suppose to be teaching students for a future, for technology that is not even around yet. How is it we can stay on top of EVERYTHING. I read about 15 different Ed Tech blogs. I search the web for thousands of different ways to do something (to teach). The internet holds a lot of new ways that was not around only a few years ago.

One thing will always be true, the Teacher will learn as much if not more than the Student each year. If a teacher does not, I believe they are not doing their job. God bless Rob and the rest of the Lutheran Tech leaders I enjoy reading.

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Learning Is Messy - Blog » Blog Archive » Exercise Improves Kids’ Academics

2009-01-14T10:39:00.001-08:00

Exercise Improves Kids’ Academics From the “I Told You So Department” comes this article and studies:Exercise Improves Kids’ Academics, by Dan Peterson, Live Science’s Sports Columnist I’ll let the article mostly speak for itself but will post this one telling quote:“Ironically, one of the solutions proposed for raising test scores, the federal No Child Left Behind program, encourages schools to focus more of the school day on the core academic subjects while reducing class time in peripheral subjects, like art, music, and physical education. In fact, only 6 percent of American high schools offer a daily gym class. Yet a 2002 Virginia Tech study showed no relationship between reduced class time in those subjects and higher overall standardized tests.”Learning is messy!

Learning Is Messy - Blog » Blog Archive » Exercise Improves Kids’ Academics

Just wanted to add this for others to see.

The Fischbowl: I Just Want to Say One Word to You: Collaboration.

2009-01-14T10:37:00.000-08:00

So, if you’re an administrator, what are you doing to foster collaboration among your staff, and especially your teachers? And I’m talking more than just PLC’s, although that’s not a bad start. What are you really doing to fundamentally change the structure of your school(s) from one of isolation (close the door and teach), to one of sharing and collaboration (knock down the walls)? Is it unacceptable to share in your institution?If you’re a teacher, what are you doing to foster collaboration among your students? And I’m talking more than putting them into groups of four and having the students create a PowerPoint presentation together. What are you really doing to fundamentally change the structure of your classroom from one of isolation (do your own work), to one of collaboration (work with others)? What are you doing to build their skills to succeed in a corporate environment that requires them to collaborate on a global scale?If you're a student, what are you doing to improve your own collaboration skills - and those of your peers? What are you demanding of your schools, your teachers, your administrators to help prepare you for the collaborative marketplace that is your future?

The Fischbowl: I Just Want to Say One Word to You: Collaboration.

As a Teacher, I feel very isolated, I am not allowed to go to the bathroom or check my mailbox without a parent getting upset. I get 3 and 1/2 hours of free time a week, if I am lucky. Does that mean I can collaborate with other teachers at that time? NO. I am usually emailing a parent back who asked a few hundred questions, I am fixing another teacher's computer, or I am inputting grades into the grade book. I guess part of my isolation is that I am on a path of change. I see the faults in my school and in my own teaching and I am trying to change them. I am in pursuit of a Master's Degree, I have changed from being a teacher to an educator.

Although just having students in group to work on a PPT presentation may not be where we want to be, but that is a lot better than where we are. Change is slow and hard and no one likes it. Maybe ADD students have it right, they need change constantly to keep them engaged.

I just wanted to share a few thoughts, but also the quote from the Fischbowl, if you are an educator, check out this blog!

Time to Change is Now!

2009-01-14T10:36:00.000-08:00

YES AMEN!

Cell-Phones-in-Education

2009-01-14T10:35:00.000-08:00

http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2009/01/07/16cellphone.h28.html

New educational uses of cellphones are challenging the "turned off and out of sight" rules that many districts have adopted for student cellphones on campus.

I remember when I was in grade school, no one had cell phones. Ok that was in the 80's and early 90's. Even when I was in high school (class of 97) no one had cell phones, some had pagers. I can remember my aunt had a car phone. It didn't work unless plugged into the cigarette outlet. When going to college, I started seeing more and more cell phones. I didn't get my first cell phone until 2002. Most of the schools claimed that cell phones are a distraction and help students cheat and do drugs. Students can cheat many different ways. One way is using a graphing calculator. I digressed.

A growing number of teachers, carefully navigating district policies and addressing their own concerns, are having students use their personal cellphones to make podcasts, take field notes, and organize their schedules and homework.

And some recent, positive examples of how the phones are being used for academic learning may eventually lead to more nuanced policies. Indeed, more educators are concluding that cellphones may be the only realistic way their schools can offer the 1-to-1 computing experiences that better-funded schools provide with laptops.

"In our district, especially at high school, students have a cellphone on them at all times, just like a pencil—it's an underused tool," said Rosemary Miller, the technology-integration specialist for secondary schools in the Buhler, Kan., public schools. "We don't have a computer for every kid, as some school districts do."

Good for those teachers. They are not afraid of what will happen if they try something new and rewarding to the students. Recently the 7th grade teacher and I redid our 6-8th grade computer curriculum including everyday application of technology. The students love it and are learning a lot more than step by step instructions.

Podcasting and classroom-response systems are among the more than 100 uses of cellphones that educator Liz Kolb has collected, and in some cases invented, for her book Toys to Tools: Connecting Student Cell Phones to Education, published in October.

Bloom's New Taxonomy has creation as the top level of intellectual behavior. Having students create Podcasts is a great way to evaluate the students on any topic you are covering. A quote from an unknown individual once said, "the one who is doing the talking is doing the learning." Student response systems can be very expensive. If every student already has a cell phone, using free websites to create polls is a cheap alternative. Liz Kolb has taken her book and went to the web in her own blog: http://www.cellphonesinlearning.com/, where Liz continues to find new ways to use cell phones in the classroom.

Cellphones with cameras also have great potential for simple data collection. They can enrich fieldwork or field trips by allowing students to snap images of, say, leaves, for later identification. Students also can snap pictures of museum exhibits and placards to fuel classroom discussions.

"Mobile citizen journalism" is another popular trend that schools can harness, Ms. Kolb said, though she did not know of any school newspapers doing it extensively yet. "Schools can definitely set up their own mobile journalism text-messaging numbers," so students who are traveling can phone in reports and images, especially if they find themselves in the midst of breaking news.

The possibilities are endless. http://www.animoto.com has developed an application for I-Phone and I-Pod where you can create short video clips on the go. California Local PBS station is even having a contest http://www.koce.org/filmonthefly/ where your mobile phone will receive a text message with the secret story prompt, along with the "tag" you'll use to identify your video as part of our contest on YouTube. You will only have 20 hours to enter your finish product.

In conclusion, we must use what tools we have. Give a person a pencil and it can become a weapon, but do we ban pencils? How many time you have cut your finger on a piece of paper, but do we ban paper? Why don't we use the tools we have to keep students engaged? No matter what you are using find a way to make it educational and its ok to use with me.

Welcome to Burk Tech

2009-01-14T10:28:00.000-08:00

For years now, I can't believe it has been since 2005 that I started somewhat blogging. I had a site where friends and family went to check on what is going on in our lives. I adapted to it to writings or real (if you want to call them real) blogs that I wrote. I wanted to share them with the public, but people that did not know me wouldn't care what my son did last night. So I FINALLY made a new blog for my blog posts. I will add what I had wrote in the past that would relate to Tech. I am excited about this and would love feedback as I grow as a writer and educator.