A discussion centered around the ISTE NETS for students (2007), teachers (2008), and next year for Administrators (2009). The standards, essential conditions, and profiles are available from the ISTE NETS website: http://www.iste.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=NETS
From the ISTE NETS site, "A major component of the NETS Project is the development of a general set of profiles describing technology (ICT) literate students at key developmental points in their pre-college education. These profiles are based on ISTE’s core belief that all students must have regular opportunities to use technology to develop skills that encourage personal productivity, creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration in the classroom and in daily life. Coupled with the standards, the profiles provide a set of examples for preparing students to be lifelong learners and contributing members of a global society" (ISTE, 2007).
The discussion centered around what else can we do to help our students, teachers, and administrators when a student has the essential conditions at home, the library, but not at school.
If the essential conditions do not exist: Shared Vision, Implementation Planning, Consistent and Adequate Funding, Equitable Access, Skilled Personnel, Ongoing Professional Learning, Technical Support, Curriculum Framework, Assessment and Evaluation, Engaged Communities, Support Policies, Supportive External Context. What else can we do?
Stay involved. Encourage our students to start or participate in a movement through organizations like Do Something! or What Kids Can Do. We continue to support our students by volunteering at the local libraries and conducting the computer workshops to enhance the skills of the students, stay involved with our students' computer activities, and encourage our students to be proactive in learning something new with their technology gadgets and continue to share the knowledge, digitally or F2F (Face to Face).
I empathized with my daughter and her friends and felt their frustration when her educators feared or refused to do anything with technology. I stepped up and volunteered at the local library to conduct computer and scholarship workshops. Now as my student begins college and has a requirement to log in to her college website even before school starts I am confident in her ability to embrace the technology that was banned or neglected at her last public school. I am concerned with the students still in the system.
An external audit provided recommendations to the school district with an entire chapter for technology, but technology touched every portion of the the recommendations. With so many free tools available, and sites and projects like Vicki Davis' Cool Cat Teacher Blog, the Flat Classroom and Horizon Projects demonstrating what is being done with students on a global educational level, why is it that our students are not keeping up globally, not just in core subjects by technology as well?
Your feedback, success stories, and shared links are always welcome.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
2008 Sales Tax Holiday
2008 Sales Tax Holiday July 31 – August 3, 2008 - Georgia, August 1-3 - South Carolina
For more information on taxable items click the GA Dept of Revenue link: http://www.etax.dor.ga.gov/salestax/holiday/index.aspx
SC Dept of Revenue Sales Tax Holiday information: http://www.sctax.org/Tax+Information/Sales+and+Use+Tax/Sales+Tax+Holiday.htm
House Bill 948 provides for a sales tax exemption from both state and local sales taxes for certain items purchased July 31 – August 3, 2008. The Bill also provides an exemption for specific energy and water efficient products purchased October 2 –5, 2008.
During the sales tax holiday period, a sales tax exemption applies to purchases of tangible personal property in the following categories:
Personal Computers. A single purchase of $1,500 or less of personal computers and/or related accessories is exempt. If the single purchase exceeds $1,500, the entire transaction is taxable. See list of exempt items.
Articles of Clothing. The exemption applies to articles of clothing and footwear with a sales price of $100 or less per item. Clothing accessories such as handbags, umbrellas, cuff links, handkerchiefs, jewelry, key cases, wallets, watches and watch bands, and ponytail holders and/or similar hair products are not exempt. See lists of exempt items.
General School Supplies. The exemption applies to the purchase of general school supplies with a sales price of $20 or less per item. See list of exempt items.
The exemptions are intended for an individual's personal use. The exemptions exclude items rented, leased, purchased by businesses, or purchased for resale. The exemptions do not apply to items sold at theme parks, entertainment complexes, hotels, restaurants, and airports.
List of exempt computer items: http://www.etax.dor.ga.gov/salestax/holiday/exempt_computers.aspx
List of exempt general school supply items:
http://www.etax.dor.ga.gov/salestax/holiday/exempt_school.aspx
List of exempt clothing and footwear: http://www.etax.dor.ga.gov/salestax/holiday/exempt_clothing.aspx
For more information on taxable items click the GA Dept of Revenue link: http://www.etax.dor.ga.gov/salestax/holiday/index.aspx
SC Dept of Revenue Sales Tax Holiday information: http://www.sctax.org/Tax+Information/Sales+and+Use+Tax/Sales+Tax+Holiday.htm
House Bill 948 provides for a sales tax exemption from both state and local sales taxes for certain items purchased July 31 – August 3, 2008. The Bill also provides an exemption for specific energy and water efficient products purchased October 2 –5, 2008.
During the sales tax holiday period, a sales tax exemption applies to purchases of tangible personal property in the following categories:
Personal Computers. A single purchase of $1,500 or less of personal computers and/or related accessories is exempt. If the single purchase exceeds $1,500, the entire transaction is taxable. See list of exempt items.
Articles of Clothing. The exemption applies to articles of clothing and footwear with a sales price of $100 or less per item. Clothing accessories such as handbags, umbrellas, cuff links, handkerchiefs, jewelry, key cases, wallets, watches and watch bands, and ponytail holders and/or similar hair products are not exempt. See lists of exempt items.
General School Supplies. The exemption applies to the purchase of general school supplies with a sales price of $20 or less per item. See list of exempt items.
The exemptions are intended for an individual's personal use. The exemptions exclude items rented, leased, purchased by businesses, or purchased for resale. The exemptions do not apply to items sold at theme parks, entertainment complexes, hotels, restaurants, and airports.
List of exempt computer items: http://www.etax.dor.ga.gov/salestax/holiday/exempt_computers.aspx
List of exempt general school supply items:
http://www.etax.dor.ga.gov/salestax/holiday/exempt_school.aspx
List of exempt clothing and footwear: http://www.etax.dor.ga.gov/salestax/holiday/exempt_clothing.aspx
Friday, July 25, 2008
The AYP numbers are in
The AYP (Annual Yearly Progress) numbers are in and once again, Richmond County School System (RCSS) did not meet the standard. This year 50.9 percent of schools made AYP, down from 70.2 percent last year. While these numbers mean different things to different people...educators, administrators, parents, guardians, students, the community and the military members who end up on orders to a military installation in Georgia it is the news for the day. The school board will vote to raise the millage rate on Monday, July 28, 2008 at 4:30 for the second time this year, regardless of the numbers.
Yes, the positive numbers need to be acknowledged but overall the RCSS numbers dropped. School choice will be back...but what do you do when your student's school does not make AYP and there are no school choices? You jump in with both feet and do what you can to make improvements. Schools are a vital part of the community. These students are the future leaders, they will be the ones rocking our rocking chairs. Everyone needs to do something.
The Augusta Chronicle does a great job of providing coverage when the negative news in the Richmond County School System will draw the attention of the online posters. If 1/2 of the people who post a gripe, complaint, or groan about the school system would put 1 hour of volunteering in at the local neighborhood school, we might see some improvement or maybe change the perspective of their posts.
I am proud that my daughter graduated high school, but I know it was her diverse experiences in schools in Georgia, Florida, Alaska, and Texas exposed her to different learning environments and the involvement of the adults in her life that expected no less from her. I am concerned about the graduation rate of the school system as a whole. From the Georgia Department of Education, these are the graduation rates posted under the annual AYP reports as the second indicator:
Richmond County (721) System did not meet AYP
2001 2002 Graduation rate: 58.7%
2002 2003 Graduation rate: 59.4%
2003-2004 Graduation rate: 62.2%
2004-2005 Graduation rate: 72%
2005-2006 Graduation rate: 66.1%
2006-2007 Graduation rate: 66.3%
2007-2008 Graduation rate: 62.1%
Education is big business. If colleges, corporations, or the military produced these kind of numbers for graduation they would be put out of business. So whether you want to believe the numbers posted by the GA Dept of Education, US Department of Education, Ed in 08, US Census Bureau, or whatever organization is publishing the numbers...take a look around your neighborhood. Will the children your student eats lunch with today be the same students walking across the graduation stage?
Ed in 08: http://www.edin08.com/
GA Dept of Education 2008 AYP: http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/ayp2008.aspx
US Dept of Education: http://www.ed.gov/index.jhtml
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation: http://www.gatesfoundation.org/UnitedStates/Education/
While the AYP #s are in the news today, the first "rightsizing" forum was held July 27, 2008 and hopefully will provide recommendations for the August monthly school board meeting. The audit conducted by MGT of America, Inc. documented that the school system had 6000 empty seats, and recommended closing 1 high school, 1 middle school, and 3 elementary schools. But the school board approved building 1 new middle school which is undergoing construction.
Having been an involved parent in GA, FL, AK, and TX, I question many decisions of this school district. These questions and my research play a vital role in the research I conduct for my own educational assignments.
Regardless of the outcome, I have to thank the Richmond County School System for the valuable lessons learned and the plethora of research and information they provide as I continue my own education in the field Educational Technology Management.
Yes, the positive numbers need to be acknowledged but overall the RCSS numbers dropped. School choice will be back...but what do you do when your student's school does not make AYP and there are no school choices? You jump in with both feet and do what you can to make improvements. Schools are a vital part of the community. These students are the future leaders, they will be the ones rocking our rocking chairs. Everyone needs to do something.
The Augusta Chronicle does a great job of providing coverage when the negative news in the Richmond County School System will draw the attention of the online posters. If 1/2 of the people who post a gripe, complaint, or groan about the school system would put 1 hour of volunteering in at the local neighborhood school, we might see some improvement or maybe change the perspective of their posts.
I am proud that my daughter graduated high school, but I know it was her diverse experiences in schools in Georgia, Florida, Alaska, and Texas exposed her to different learning environments and the involvement of the adults in her life that expected no less from her. I am concerned about the graduation rate of the school system as a whole. From the Georgia Department of Education, these are the graduation rates posted under the annual AYP reports as the second indicator:
Richmond County (721) System did not meet AYP
2001 2002 Graduation rate: 58.7%
2002 2003 Graduation rate: 59.4%
2003-2004 Graduation rate: 62.2%
2004-2005 Graduation rate: 72%
2005-2006 Graduation rate: 66.1%
2006-2007 Graduation rate: 66.3%
2007-2008 Graduation rate: 62.1%
Education is big business. If colleges, corporations, or the military produced these kind of numbers for graduation they would be put out of business. So whether you want to believe the numbers posted by the GA Dept of Education, US Department of Education, Ed in 08, US Census Bureau, or whatever organization is publishing the numbers...take a look around your neighborhood. Will the children your student eats lunch with today be the same students walking across the graduation stage?
Ed in 08: http://www.edin08.com/
GA Dept of Education 2008 AYP: http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/ayp2008.aspx
US Dept of Education: http://www.ed.gov/index.jhtml
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation: http://www.gatesfoundation.org/UnitedStates/Education/
While the AYP #s are in the news today, the first "rightsizing" forum was held July 27, 2008 and hopefully will provide recommendations for the August monthly school board meeting. The audit conducted by MGT of America, Inc. documented that the school system had 6000 empty seats, and recommended closing 1 high school, 1 middle school, and 3 elementary schools. But the school board approved building 1 new middle school which is undergoing construction.
Having been an involved parent in GA, FL, AK, and TX, I question many decisions of this school district. These questions and my research play a vital role in the research I conduct for my own educational assignments.
Regardless of the outcome, I have to thank the Richmond County School System for the valuable lessons learned and the plethora of research and information they provide as I continue my own education in the field Educational Technology Management.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
RCBoEd raising taxes again
One of the many things I am sharing knowledge with my daughter (and my mother who is now a GA resident) is how the local school board raises taxes without tightening their own belt a little more. As a property owner in RC but not always a resident due to military moves and job that required me to be a road warrior teaching soldiers I did not pay as much attention to my property taxes as I would with my personal finances. I do not know why and I won't worry about it now. But this time the school board and the county commission are proposing tax increases. So I attended one of the three public hearings and a crowd of seven people was present. Out of the seven one was the Augusta Chronicle reporter.
The meeting was opened, a gentleman addressed the tax issue concerning adults over 65 and was quickly shut down as the board addressed the concern as an issue that needs to be taken up with local legislators. Then I took my turn at the microphone. Stated my name for the record and reminded the board that I am not here on behalf of the Butler HS PTSA...just as a concerned tax payer, a grad student, and a parent of a soon to be freshman at ASU. I collected a few comments and emails from individuals who knew I would be attending and requested a link or form be placed on the RCBoEd home page where individuals who could not attend the public hearings could still submit recommendations.
Most people are not aware of their assigned school board member because you may vote for a school board member in your voting district but then your students attend a school which falls under another school board member's district. I also requested that the textbook budget be reviewed for an opportunity to purchase laptops for every student in the district. Because we are a military town, many property owners may be deployed or could not attend the three scheduled meetings but many people are concerned with a school system not making AYP coupled with a graduation rate of 48%, 57%, 62% depending on who publishes the numbers.
I share this link with individuals who are concerned about the budgets (salary & travel) for any of the educational districts, universities, state agencies, technical colleges, and universities. The link for GA Department of Audits and Accounts: https://www.audits.state.ga.us/esa/index.html . This link will take you to the memorandum stating the GA DoAA requirements and require the user to select the "I Understand...Proceed" button. Multiple reports can be pulled from this collected data, so users can compare and contrast positions, school districts, job titles, etc.
The Richmond County School System is not even close to being participants in Classroom 2.0, Students 2.0, the Horizon and Flat Classroom Projects (or the many other wonderful initiatives) because the system is in a state of Paradigm Paralysis. There are people who want to move the school system into the digital world but the number of digital inequities, coupled with the anti computer attitudes of those choosing not to migrate is frustrating.
My hat is off to Dr. Dana Bedden for surviving his first year in the Paradigm Paralysis in Richmond County. Requesting the audit and implementing some suggestions (but not all) and his discovery of the $13.4 million shortfall. I thank him for taking this job, Greg Gelpi from the Augusta Chronicle, and the school board members who make for great research material in my assignments. Nothing like real world application to make educational theories stick. I support Dr. Bedden's efforts and continue to support the students who will eventually become the leaders of Augusta. While I do not support the tax increase because actions exist that could be implemented to reduce the budget and I do not believe in throwing good money after bad. With the tax increase...will we see an improvement in the graduation rate or implement pay reductions for leaders making 3x the starting salary of a new teacher?
I am not a parent who sits on the outside looking in. During the last two years, I took one day off per month from my job and volunteered at the school. I substituted 2x, revitalized the PTSA, connected the parents, students, teachers, and community partners through MySpace, web site, and newsgroup, attended football games for two losing seasons, met Wycliffe Gordon and worked with him as he donated $1000 for the PTSA to host a county wide talent competition, met an awful lot of people who tried to drag me into a paper based world as I reminded them of my digital native status, attended every Saturday school to assist in whatever was needed, provided gum and mints to all students arriving at Butler to take the monthly SAT, and many other events to minor to list here.
As a Google girl, I volunteered at the local library and conducted Google products and scholarship workshops. There are many passionate people in Richmond County concerned about education, but are too busy to speak their mind, intimidated by the past decade of bureaucracy by a lame duck superintendent, jaded by a bureaucratic process that requires parents to jump hurdles to retrieve an answer to specific questions, or those who just do not know where to turn.
Based on the turnout of the two public hearings, the board will hold their 3rd and final public hearing on Monday, July 28, 2008, 4PM. The board will reconvene at 4:30 to pass the vote which will increase our taxes for the second time in one year.
It is said that the sweetest revenge is living good...so I will continue to live the best that I can, while seeking to improve my weaknesses and capitalize on my strengths and remember that school board members have students in the system and that in the end...everyone has to answer to a higher power.
The meeting was opened, a gentleman addressed the tax issue concerning adults over 65 and was quickly shut down as the board addressed the concern as an issue that needs to be taken up with local legislators. Then I took my turn at the microphone. Stated my name for the record and reminded the board that I am not here on behalf of the Butler HS PTSA...just as a concerned tax payer, a grad student, and a parent of a soon to be freshman at ASU. I collected a few comments and emails from individuals who knew I would be attending and requested a link or form be placed on the RCBoEd home page where individuals who could not attend the public hearings could still submit recommendations.
Most people are not aware of their assigned school board member because you may vote for a school board member in your voting district but then your students attend a school which falls under another school board member's district. I also requested that the textbook budget be reviewed for an opportunity to purchase laptops for every student in the district. Because we are a military town, many property owners may be deployed or could not attend the three scheduled meetings but many people are concerned with a school system not making AYP coupled with a graduation rate of 48%, 57%, 62% depending on who publishes the numbers.
I share this link with individuals who are concerned about the budgets (salary & travel) for any of the educational districts, universities, state agencies, technical colleges, and universities. The link for GA Department of Audits and Accounts: https://www.audits.state.ga.us/esa/index.html . This link will take you to the memorandum stating the GA DoAA requirements and require the user to select the "I Understand...Proceed" button. Multiple reports can be pulled from this collected data, so users can compare and contrast positions, school districts, job titles, etc.
The Richmond County School System is not even close to being participants in Classroom 2.0, Students 2.0, the Horizon and Flat Classroom Projects (or the many other wonderful initiatives) because the system is in a state of Paradigm Paralysis. There are people who want to move the school system into the digital world but the number of digital inequities, coupled with the anti computer attitudes of those choosing not to migrate is frustrating.
My hat is off to Dr. Dana Bedden for surviving his first year in the Paradigm Paralysis in Richmond County. Requesting the audit and implementing some suggestions (but not all) and his discovery of the $13.4 million shortfall. I thank him for taking this job, Greg Gelpi from the Augusta Chronicle, and the school board members who make for great research material in my assignments. Nothing like real world application to make educational theories stick. I support Dr. Bedden's efforts and continue to support the students who will eventually become the leaders of Augusta. While I do not support the tax increase because actions exist that could be implemented to reduce the budget and I do not believe in throwing good money after bad. With the tax increase...will we see an improvement in the graduation rate or implement pay reductions for leaders making 3x the starting salary of a new teacher?
I am not a parent who sits on the outside looking in. During the last two years, I took one day off per month from my job and volunteered at the school. I substituted 2x, revitalized the PTSA, connected the parents, students, teachers, and community partners through MySpace, web site, and newsgroup, attended football games for two losing seasons, met Wycliffe Gordon and worked with him as he donated $1000 for the PTSA to host a county wide talent competition, met an awful lot of people who tried to drag me into a paper based world as I reminded them of my digital native status, attended every Saturday school to assist in whatever was needed, provided gum and mints to all students arriving at Butler to take the monthly SAT, and many other events to minor to list here.
As a Google girl, I volunteered at the local library and conducted Google products and scholarship workshops. There are many passionate people in Richmond County concerned about education, but are too busy to speak their mind, intimidated by the past decade of bureaucracy by a lame duck superintendent, jaded by a bureaucratic process that requires parents to jump hurdles to retrieve an answer to specific questions, or those who just do not know where to turn.
Based on the turnout of the two public hearings, the board will hold their 3rd and final public hearing on Monday, July 28, 2008, 4PM. The board will reconvene at 4:30 to pass the vote which will increase our taxes for the second time in one year.
It is said that the sweetest revenge is living good...so I will continue to live the best that I can, while seeking to improve my weaknesses and capitalize on my strengths and remember that school board members have students in the system and that in the end...everyone has to answer to a higher power.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Contest - 140-character book reviews from Dangerously Irrelevant
From Dr. Scott McLeod’s blog, Dangerously Irrelevant:
(click this blog title to access the DI blog post)
"Contest - 140-character book reviews
It is time for a new contest! This one has nothing to do with K-12 education. Just an idea that caught my fancy that I hope will catch yours too. As usual, the winner gets everlasting fame and a CASTLE mug…
140–character book reviews! Using the Twitter limitation of 140 characters, write a book review. Can you sum up the essence of a good read in 140 characters? Of course you can! " (McLeod, 2008)
Check his blog for details, guidelines, and to post your 140 character book reviews.
http://www.dangerouslyirrelevant.org/2008/07/contest---140-c.html
(click this blog title to access the DI blog post)
"Contest - 140-character book reviews
It is time for a new contest! This one has nothing to do with K-12 education. Just an idea that caught my fancy that I hope will catch yours too. As usual, the winner gets everlasting fame and a CASTLE mug…
140–character book reviews! Using the Twitter limitation of 140 characters, write a book review. Can you sum up the essence of a good read in 140 characters? Of course you can! " (McLeod, 2008)
Check his blog for details, guidelines, and to post your 140 character book reviews.
http://www.dangerouslyirrelevant.org/2008/07/contest---140-c.html
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Official Google Blog: Templates bring Docs to life
From the Official Google Blog: Official Google Blog: Templates bring Docs to life
Great news for Google Docs users. A choice of templates by category:
All categories
Albums & Flipbooks
Business
Calculators
Calendars & Schedules
Cards & Certificates
Labels & Business Cards
Letters & Faxes
Miscellaneous
Personal Finance
Presentation Designs
Resumes & Cover Letters
Statistics
Students & Teachers
Check the templates out by category or rating. http://docs.google.com/templates
To get started, go directly to the template gallery or access it from the "New" menu in your document list. Templates are currently available only in English, but other languages are coming soon. The templates are also available to Google Apps users.
Great news for Google Docs users. A choice of templates by category:
All categories
Albums & Flipbooks
Business
Calculators
Calendars & Schedules
Cards & Certificates
Labels & Business Cards
Letters & Faxes
Miscellaneous
Personal Finance
Presentation Designs
Resumes & Cover Letters
Statistics
Students & Teachers
Check the templates out by category or rating. http://docs.google.com/templates
To get started, go directly to the template gallery or access it from the "New" menu in your document list. Templates are currently available only in English, but other languages are coming soon. The templates are also available to Google Apps users.
Friday, July 4, 2008
July 4 - Happy Independence Day!
Take a moment and drop a line to a service member:
America Supports You http://www.americasupportsyou.mil/americasupportsyou
Email Our Troops! http://www.usafns.com/email.shtml
EmailTroops.com http://www.emailtroops.com/
Iraq Coalition Casualty Count http://icasualties.org/oif/
Links for US Casualties in Iraq and a link for casualties in Afghanistan by month, week, and year.
To date: 4113 reported and confirmed deaths
Thank you to those who are serving, those who have served, and those who are no longer with us. From one vet to another, your service is greatly appreciated!!!
USA.gov http://www.usa.gov/Topics/Independence_Day.shtml
Check out the compiled links for fun facts on the Declaration of Independence, the American Flag, Fireworks, BBQ Safety, and virtual visits for: A Capitol Fourth – America's Independence Day Celebration in Washington, DC, History of the Liberty Bell, Independence National Historical Park – Philadelphia, Liberty Bell – Visit Philadelphia's symbol of freedom, and U.S. Constitution in Our History
Make your 4th of a July a memorable one, Happy Birthday USA!
America Supports You http://www.americasupportsyou.mil/americasupportsyou
Email Our Troops! http://www.usafns.com/email.shtml
EmailTroops.com http://www.emailtroops.com/
Iraq Coalition Casualty Count http://icasualties.org/oif/
Links for US Casualties in Iraq and a link for casualties in Afghanistan by month, week, and year.
To date: 4113 reported and confirmed deaths
Thank you to those who are serving, those who have served, and those who are no longer with us. From one vet to another, your service is greatly appreciated!!!
USA.gov http://www.usa.gov/Topics/Independence_Day.shtml
Check out the compiled links for fun facts on the Declaration of Independence, the American Flag, Fireworks, BBQ Safety, and virtual visits for: A Capitol Fourth – America's Independence Day Celebration in Washington, DC, History of the Liberty Bell, Independence National Historical Park – Philadelphia, Liberty Bell – Visit Philadelphia's symbol of freedom, and U.S. Constitution in Our History
Make your 4th of a July a memorable one, Happy Birthday USA!
Dr. Scott McLeod's blog and Leadership Day 2008
From Dr. Scott McLeod's blog, Dangerously Irrelevant
"Calling all bloggers! - Leadership Day 2008
A year later, our leaders still need help, of course. So I am putting out a new call for people to participate in Leadership Day 2008".
Guidelines
On July 4, 2008, blog about whatever you like related to effective school technology leadership: successes, challenges, reflections, needs. Write a letter to the administrators in your area. Post a top ten list. Make a podcast or a video. Highlight a local success or challenge. Recommend some readings. Do an interview of a successful technology leader. Respond to some of the questions below or make up your own. Whatever strikes you. Please tag your post with these Technorati tags: leadershipday2008, schooltechleadership
If you don’t have a blog, comment on someone else’s post and/or send your thoughts to Dr. MCleod and he will post them for you. He will do a summary afterward of what folks wrote and talked about [bloggers, this means some new readers probably will head your direction!].
Be sure to check out Dr. McLeod's blog, Dangerously Irrelevant
Thanks Dr. McLeod and we look forward to your collected comments from this year's call for participation.
"Calling all bloggers! - Leadership Day 2008
A year later, our leaders still need help, of course. So I am putting out a new call for people to participate in Leadership Day 2008".
Guidelines
On July 4, 2008, blog about whatever you like related to effective school technology leadership: successes, challenges, reflections, needs. Write a letter to the administrators in your area. Post a top ten list. Make a podcast or a video. Highlight a local success or challenge. Recommend some readings. Do an interview of a successful technology leader. Respond to some of the questions below or make up your own. Whatever strikes you. Please tag your post with these Technorati tags: leadershipday2008, schooltechleadership
If you don’t have a blog, comment on someone else’s post and/or send your thoughts to Dr. MCleod and he will post them for you. He will do a summary afterward of what folks wrote and talked about [bloggers, this means some new readers probably will head your direction!].
Be sure to check out Dr. McLeod's blog, Dangerously Irrelevant
Thanks Dr. McLeod and we look forward to your collected comments from this year's call for participation.
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Paradigm Paralysis
This topic is part of my weekly assignment. One of the books for the course is Windows on the Future Education in the Age of Technology by Ted McCain and Ian Jukes (2001). The book can also be found in Google Book Search with limited preview (http://books.google.com/) where you can build your own library.
I discussed the paradigm paralysis with my daughter and asked her about possible solutions. Her first response to the paradigm paralysis referenced the difference between her and her friends using digital gadgets to teachers who do not even read email. I applauded her intuitiveness and reviewed the paradigm paralysis self checklist with her which proved both of us grow with our changes. Whether it is due to the multiple moves with the military, her curiosity coupled with my support of her exploring the world, we accept change as part of life and learn to adapt, implement, and overcome.
I read to her some of the historical references where teachers and principals worried about students as they transformed from using bark to calculate and migrating to slates to forgetting how to sharpen a pencil with a knife to using ballpoint pens and forgetting how to make ink. While my mother can remember using slates and ink bottles during her school days she has migrated into the digital world. It took her a few years to finally purchase a computer, but now she loves her laptop and we successfully weaned her off of AOL in less than a week.
How do you overcome paradigm paralysis? How do you help others overcome their paradigm paralysis?
Do you volunteer at a local library to teach computer skills? Blog about the issues? Experiment with digital tools? Make a commitment to learn something new every day? Share knowledge with others so they may overcome a personal paradigm paralysis? Incorporate an "insist and assist" method of delving into the world of digital gadgets?
Feel free to share your ideas...the Google search for paradigm paralysis and education produces many results.
I discussed the paradigm paralysis with my daughter and asked her about possible solutions. Her first response to the paradigm paralysis referenced the difference between her and her friends using digital gadgets to teachers who do not even read email. I applauded her intuitiveness and reviewed the paradigm paralysis self checklist with her which proved both of us grow with our changes. Whether it is due to the multiple moves with the military, her curiosity coupled with my support of her exploring the world, we accept change as part of life and learn to adapt, implement, and overcome.
I read to her some of the historical references where teachers and principals worried about students as they transformed from using bark to calculate and migrating to slates to forgetting how to sharpen a pencil with a knife to using ballpoint pens and forgetting how to make ink. While my mother can remember using slates and ink bottles during her school days she has migrated into the digital world. It took her a few years to finally purchase a computer, but now she loves her laptop and we successfully weaned her off of AOL in less than a week.
How do you overcome paradigm paralysis? How do you help others overcome their paradigm paralysis?
Do you volunteer at a local library to teach computer skills? Blog about the issues? Experiment with digital tools? Make a commitment to learn something new every day? Share knowledge with others so they may overcome a personal paradigm paralysis? Incorporate an "insist and assist" method of delving into the world of digital gadgets?
Feel free to share your ideas...the Google search for paradigm paralysis and education produces many results.
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Back in class
The breaks in between classes seem to pass so quickly...but I am looking forward to this class titled, "The Connected Classroom - Curriculum Development and Technology." As I reflect on the past classes and ponder whether I am going to make it through this doctoral process...I can pick up the discussion with three of my co-workers who are also pursuing doctorate degrees.
I am working on my reading, researching, and writing assignments as I recover from phase one of my first dental implant surgery and I am humbled by the pain killing medication. I still prefer eBooks, reading online, and toying with various text readers over the assigned textbook. The online courses I am taking still require me to purchase printed textbooks and I would prefer to have the book read to me during the recovery phase or after a long day on the computer. As I am coming out of the haziness brought on the pain medication, it is challenging to read the assigned books. I look for the supplemental electronic documents, presentations, blogs, and discussion groups but for this class it looks like we will be creating our own. So I am off to read another three chapters and remind my college bound daughter that she will up her reading and writing game very soon.
Northcentral University: http://www.ncu.edu/academics/graduate/graduate.aspx
Augusta State University: http://www.aug.edu/
I am working on my reading, researching, and writing assignments as I recover from phase one of my first dental implant surgery and I am humbled by the pain killing medication. I still prefer eBooks, reading online, and toying with various text readers over the assigned textbook. The online courses I am taking still require me to purchase printed textbooks and I would prefer to have the book read to me during the recovery phase or after a long day on the computer. As I am coming out of the haziness brought on the pain medication, it is challenging to read the assigned books. I look for the supplemental electronic documents, presentations, blogs, and discussion groups but for this class it looks like we will be creating our own. So I am off to read another three chapters and remind my college bound daughter that she will up her reading and writing game very soon.
Northcentral University: http://www.ncu.edu/academics/graduate/graduate.aspx
Augusta State University: http://www.aug.edu/
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