Liz Kolb's survey - Cell phones in schools

Liz posted a survey in her blog about cell phones in schools.
From Toy to Tool: Cell Phones in Learning: K-12 Teachers, Please take the Cell Phones in Schools Survey!

Liz Kolb is the author of Toys for Tools available through ISTE books.

From the ISTE book site, "Toys for Tools discuses how to enhance learning by using the powerful technology of cell phones both inside and outside the classroom. Many, if not most, educators view cell phones as the enemy. Author Liz Kolb sees them as powerful technology in the hands of students.

Acknowledging the current reality—at many schools ban student cell phone use in the classroom—Kolb discusses a host of innovative and highly interesting uses for the technology that do not require using the phones in the classroom. She also addresses the issues that have caused the bans and provides guidelines for overcoming the problems".

I am passing the survey on through the school network and hopefully some one will participate. We have 4 (out of 10) high schools participating in a pilot program to allow cell phones at school. Before this pilot program for 4 high schools, the phones were confiscated for 365 days.

So my volunteering to teach with cell phones during a Saturday or after school program is turned down, I will work with the local library to offer a cell phone as a learning tool workshop.

Feed the Need

This Fall DoSomething.org is teaming up with the new film "The Soloist,” coming to theaters in March 2009, to get young people across the country to help fight hunger in their communities and Feed The Need.

In “The Soloist,” journalist Steve Lopez (Robert Downey Jr.) discovers Nathaniel Anthony Ayers (Jamie Foxx), a former classical music prodigy, playing his violin on the streets of L.A. As Lopez works to help the homeless man find his way back, a unique friendship is formed that transforms both their lives.

In the spirit of this film, high schools, middle schools, orchestras and church groups across the country are running food drives to help fight hunger and bring hope to communities in need. And you can start one too!

Submit your drive by December 15th and you could win some great prizes!
1 Grand Prize Winner:
A screening of The Soloist for your group
$1,000 to support an arts or music program of your choice
4 First Prize Winners:
$1,000 to support an arts or music program of your choice
And tons of great swag for runners up!

For tip sheets, online application, view the PSA with Corbin Bleu from High School Musical, and to check out The Soloist trailer go to Do Something Feed the Need.

Submit Your Drive
Fill out an entry form with all of the details about your drive. You can even submit photos and YouTube links to show us how much your drive rocked. All drives must youth-led (under 25) and completed by December 15th. Winners will be announced in mid January.

Eradicating Rodent Issues - Normal?

School system works to eradicate rodent issues

I have attended training and educational events in places some people cannot even imagine. As a military service member, I had to, as an adult non traditional student my choice is to pursue online education. But when did it become acceptable to allow rodents in the schools with our students and educators?

This article published by the Augusta Chronicle mentions statements from the Senior Director of Facilities Services. Granted...this is only of of four school systems my daughter has been in and out of during her public education. Of course, I accept the responsibility for the moves with the military. While I can learn under duress and unacceptable environments because of my military background, it does not mean that I learn my best in the varying environments.

I do not expect my daughter, her friends, my neighbors' children, the future leaders of the community, and their educators and administrators to find this acceptable.

Today, the Augusta Chronicle does an article titled, Schools might be slow to crank up thermostat, "Richmond County parents should bundle up their children and make sure their clothing is layered, because older schools might not be quick to flip on the heat".

So yesterday, the rodent issue is stated as, "But the problem isn't any worse than usual", Starks said and today you are encouraged to bundle up your students.

If you didn't know about the rodents being a normal part of the environment or the temperature control, what else don't you know about the environment where your students are all day? If this is acceptable, what are the actions (or lack of) teaching everyone?

Trust but verify

Three words that exist in my world for many reasons. Reagan used this phrase often and it is a quote from a Russian proverb. During some of my school assignments I check out technology plans, primarily from the schools that we attend (or have attended), on and off line. What do you do to encourage students to question the school’s technology plan while encouraging critical thinking and decision making skills?

Parents, students, teachers, media specialists, administrators, educational and instructional specialists…is your school’s technology plan up to date? Realistic? Was it created as a copy and paste job? Was the plan created by the administrators that report information, but have no idea about your boots on the ground experience with technology in a classroom, media center, or the school? Is the public information in the plan acceptable to all users? Believable? Accessible?

When is the last time you checked the technology plan for your school, school district, and state department of education? If you have questions about conflicting information, how do you resolve the issue? Do the links provided on the site work? What does one do when the link to report an issue does not work and the POC (point of contact) email is returned? Keep an audit trail.

Are the students aware of the Technology Plan? Do they have an opportunity to provide suggestions, make recommendations? Does your school district have a suggestion improvement plan that works?
Just because the plan is in writing…trust but verify. If your child is growing up with technology and takes issue with what works and does not work at school, it is OK to follow through. Don’t buy the media hype, get connected, get engaged…instead of enraged.

Will Richardson's weblogg-ed post It's the parents' fault. Not

I am one of many subscribers of Will Richardson's weblogg-ed and even had his blog as a required reading assignment during one of my grad classes. The title of his blog post tonight caught my attention. There are some interesting comments to the post and I shared through Facebook and del.icio.us. I always end up with a delayed response to comments I post to those using Wordpress. Later I receive a message that the comment appears as spam even though I fill out name, email, website. So I thought I would post my response here and encourage everyone to check out Will's post, It's the Parents' fault. Not.

Will Richardson's post tonight is based on a conversation with a principal. The blog post is titled, "It's the parents' fault. Not". The blog starts out, " Recently, during a Q & A after a presentation, I had an interesting exchange with a high school principal that went something like this:". Read Will Richardson's post, It's the parents' fault. Not.

My response:

Will,
Thanks for this post. I agree that this is a shared responsibility. The students do not think their principal, teacher, administrator....or anyone else would see their information because everything is blocked and no one wants to discuss Facebook, MySpace, Twitter with students unless it ends up in a legal issue. The students are aware when their teachers, principals, and any other adult figure in their life is active on the net. The information spreads fast in the student networked "out of school" grapevine.

I begin many of my computer workshops having everyone Google themselves and a family member, then review the results for the web, images, news, and maps, and then search again using http://cvgadget.com . Everyone is surprised by something they find out about themselves (or a family member or friend) on the net whether it is professional, personal, authored, or referenced.

Personal awareness and sharing knowledge strengthens the community connections, on and off line. Some first graders are learning to blog, some first graders will be embarrassed when they discover mom and dad have archived every baby picture since birth on a public photo site.

At least you have principals that are aware. We still have principals and teachers that have never been connected through the net, even if their employer provides the email and net access. The superintendent and the mayor both have Facebook pages and the Augusta Chronicle did an article on Copenhaver ventures into the online world .

I like sites like What Kids Can Do and Do Something (Not the only ones, just 2 of many that I reference in my assignments). Sites like these work with our youth and the sites provide tools and resources for them to convert ideas and energy into positive action.

Glad to see people taking more than the first step of a long journey. Keep on blogging!!! and sharing knowledge, experiences, and lessons learned.

Thanks again for an interesting post.

Asking for assistance...it is OK

Asking for assistance or help with a situation, a project, resolving world issues or working on a computer...is OK.

As a facilitator, a student, a soldier, a leader, a war vet, a parent, a child, a volunteer, a techie, whatever the role may be...if I never asked for assistance I would probably be stuck in a corner somewhere… maybe even stuck back in elementary school trying to grasp the concept of long division.

So how and what are we teaching our students, our children? The normal cycle of life means raising our children to survive outside of the nest and survive without us. How did your parents/grandparents/guardians/people in your life teach you? Was it acceptable to ask for help? How did you learn independence, interaction, and social skills? When did you learn to change a tire, cook a meal not in the microwave, how to think critically, how to write a resume, fill out a job or scholarship application, or how to balance a checkbook? Are you sharing computer skills within the family?

When I work with some of our young adults that will take our place in the world, I often hear “They just don’t listen” or “No one told me”. Sometimes they refer to their parents, sometimes they refer to their teachers or other important adults or peers in their life. Not listening to our students, our children, factors into their learning process.

So whether I am working with our service members or the young adults in the community, it is OK to flip the script and ask for their assistance. I make it point to learn something from everyone in my life, good, bad, or indifferent. Providing our young adults with opportunities to share what they have learned allows everyone to learn. These opportunities also provide a check on learning, which could be a light bulb moment for someone, whether it was a primary objective or not.

As we break down the sage on stage mentality that many people grew up with, learning to be the guide on the side can be done by the students as well as the adults. What have you learned and shared today?

It is OK to ask for assistance or help. It is OK to include exercises on how to use help functions and tools and incorporate error management training. This can be done in real life scenarios as well as on the computer, regardless of the age of the student. Sharing experiences about asking for assistance and how to react to a request for assistance is just another factor of lifelong learning.

So how have you learned to ask for assistance? Your comments are appreciated.

Report Card Day in RCSS

Report cards for the first nine weeks of school were distributed today (In the Richmond County school district). For parents and guardians who access iParent...there will be no surprises IF all of your student's teachers are using the electronic gradebook. Today should not be the first day that you learn the names of your student's teachers.

The school board passed a recommended iParent timeline for all schools to implement the iParent program starting with the 2nd 9 week period. This item was on the consent agenda for the Sept 2008 school board meeting. Does it mean the program is in place and operational in all schools? Have you received a notice for iParent orientation or an alternative appointment if you cannot make it to the school? Please come out when your school has iParent night and help other parents who may be new to using a computer or a student information system. Remember this is one step in bridging the digital disconnect.

Georgia School Keys PL 3.4 Partnerships to Support Student Learning’s operational strategy is to increase family involvement to support student learning through communicating with families about school programs and student progress.

iParent, a component of School Max, is an interactive web tool that allows parental access to a child’s attendance record, a list of grades along with the current average of each class recorded in the electronic iCue-Gradebook, and the current daily schedule of classes.

In the 2007-2008 school year, iParent was implemented in Davidson Fine Arts, Butler High, Westside High, Hephzibah High, ARC, C.T. Walker and East Augusta.

Currently, Cross Creek High, Morgan Road Middle, Tutt Middle and A.R. Johnson are in the process of implementing iParent. To fully implement iParent in the remaining Richmond County schools, the following actions must take place: (1) Family Information Sheets must be completed by parents, (2) teachers must be using iCue-Gradebook, and (3) a parent registration packet must be provided either through an on-site parent workshop or some other method of packet delivery.

OK...so parents are you accessing the electronic gradebook offered by your school districts? If so, are all of your student's teachers using the program? Do you know who to contact if you have problems with program? Is a system in place to resolve questions and concerns, such as course changes, teacher additions/replacements, grades, tardies, and absences?

Do you know your student's teacher(s)? Do you know your student's counselor(s)? The school administrators? School support personnel? Do you know who your school board representative(s) are? Have you ever attended a School Advisory Meeting or a School Board Meeting? If not, can you access the agendas, budgets, and minutes online?

While your student may be attending school, remember that we are our child's first and lifelong teacher. From home training responsibilities, learning to tie a shoe, brushing teeth, table manners, taking care of family members or pets, riding a bike, driving a car, to financial matters. We cannot forget that our children are always learning from us, because of us, or in spite of us which includes interacting (or lack of) other adults.

Many of us grew up with parents, educators, and administrators living in the same community. You knew your neighbors, schools were a central part of the community, parent nights were never scheduled on the same night because families had children in school at all levels. Of course, we didn't have cell phones (only 25 years old), computers, Internet access at home and/or through local libraries.

So are you a participative parent? Your lifelong learning skills will improve as you learn about your school, the school system, and how it impacts your student. Be involved, self educate, and get to know the people where your student spends at least 1/3 of their day (more if they are involved in after school activities) for the 180 days they are in school.

As always, your recommendations, shared knowledge and experiences are always welcome whether it is your experience with electronic grade books to parent involvement. Please share a comment.

Letters to the Next President - From students

About This Project - Middle and high school students from across the country are using Google Docs to write about the issues and concerns they want our next president to address.

As of 22 October 08, 5:43 PM (EST) 967 letters from 46 schools are posted on the project site using Google Docs. You can select letters by subjects or by state. What do your students/children have to tell the next President of the United States?

More about this project - Letters to the Next President: Writing Our Future is an online writing and publishing project for students, ages 13 - 18, co-sponsored by Google and the National Writing Project. We invited young people to write about the issues and concerns that they feel are central to their future, issues they would hope our next president would act on. Topics were chosen by the students themselves to reflect their specific personal, regional, and age-related interests. Teachers and mentors guided students through the process of writing a persuasive letter or essay to the presidential candidates using Google Docs.

Google is delighted to give young people a way to express their thoughts on the issues being discussed during this presidential campaign. We're glad that Google Docs, our web-based, collaborative writing tool, was a useful tool for teachers and students to compose, edit, review, and publish these letters. Learn more about how educators are using Google Docs in the classroom.

The National Writing Project is the nation's largest professional development network for the teaching of writing. The NWP believes writing is a cornerstone of civic engagement for people of all ages. We're pleased to help present the words and ideas of these wonderful young people.

Google's Halloween Energy Saving Calculator and Tips

Google's Halloween energy saving calculator, energy saving tips, and data source information. Great way to collaborate with your family members to build that fall "to do" list for the house and make everyone aware of energy saving tips that everyone can do to help around the house and reduce our carbon footprints.




From the Google page, "Spooked by high energy prices? Save money with these tips. Halloween is nearly here, and the days are getting shorter. Does the prospect of high energy prices this winter make your blood run cold? Check out how much you can save by taking the following simple steps".


Google Data Sources for this energy savings calculator. The calculations used in these pages are estimates - actual results will depend on your home, your climate, your energy costs, heating fuel used, etc.


More Google products and Google labs provide enough for anyone looking to search, explore, communicate, share, go mobile, or play in Google's Technology Playground.


Does your family incorporate any special fall energy saving event to save the budget and stay comfortable this winter?

Digital Divide/Chasm Rut

Sometimes I get stuck in the Digital Divide or Digital Chasm rut. Like many techies...I lead by example, share knowledge with those who want to learn, and get frustrated when someone says, "Can you print that for me...I don't do email".

With the military, you live the motto, "Adapt, Implement, and Overcome" and "Do more with less". As a signal soldier, the motto is, "You can talk about us...but not without us". As a parent, I raised a child not to fear technology but to embrace and explore it. So in her circle, she is like a techy Dr. Phil gadget girl.

As a daughter, I encourage my mother to incorporate technology daily. We weaned her from AOL and hooked her on Google. I challenge her to learn something new every day, from reading a Google Tip of the Day to hitting the F1 key to read some tidbit of a help file. She keeps up with her grandchildren, brothers, sisters, nieces, and nephews through MySpace.

With the multiple moves in the military, my daughter has been in and out of schools in Florida, Georgia, Texas, and Alaska. The varying degrees of integrated technology for students and parents is frustrating. Now as a college student she is required to function with technology. She does not fear technology. She may not understand how all of it works...yet...but she isn't afraid to point, click, dig below the user interface, and ask questions.

We have worked with her high school and one of the most frustrating experiences is the lack of effective communication at all levels. At times, I feel much like the students...everyone is talking around us, over us, under us...but not to us. I hear..."Its on the website", "I don't have time to do email", or "I don't have time to learn something new technology I have to do ________ (whatever)". But I thought the RCSS mission statement is, "Learning Today...Leading Tomorrow...educating students to become lifelong learners and productive citizens".

So when I get to a certain point of frustration, I do a Wii Fit workout or the Outdoor Challenge, refocus, and do something that can be "one part of the solution". Sometime that means blogging, sometimes it means conducting scholarship and computer workshops at the local library, sometimes it means taking time to know the students, or sometimes it just reading everyone else's blogs, twits, posts, sites, or vids.

I see so much potential and so many learning opportunities through the net, that when I feel the digital divide at the local level it feels like a punch in the gut. I know I am not alone...in the US or on the global level. Like many of the issues in/about education, there is not just one answer, not just one person or group of people to blame or to heal...I will overcome the digital divide rut and get back on a techie high roll.

I will join the Parents as Partners online at the K12 Conference, Monday, October 20, 2008 9:00 PM EDT (GMT-4) with Aurelio Montemayor from the Intercultural Development Research Association at www.edtechtalk.com/live

I did send the K12 online conference information to school board members and through the PTSA Newsgroup to inform anyone who might be interested since our school board has raised taxes again and there is a $13.4 million budget shortfall.

The K12 Online teaser for the 10/20

So I encourage everyone to get involved, whether it is self educating about your local school district, investigating your local school district website, the state department of education websites, or just learning about what the local student councils are doing in the community. Make the connection...whether in the F2F or online environment.

And please for all of the educational bloggers continue doing what you are doing...whether you are an educator, an administrator, an ed techie, a community member who is concerned about education. Your shared knowledge, posts, video clips, experiences, motivational posts, questions, polls, and pictures are reaching people outside of your bubble.

Thank you to everyone who may be on someone else's blog roll, saved in a favorites file, or just out there...your efforts may not always be recognized but you are reaching individuals that you may not impact in a F2F environment.

Remember...the students today are the leaders and decision makers of the future. Who will rock your rocking chair?

Blog Action Day

Blog Action Day 2008 - Poverty

So many blogs with so many great links and ideas. There is something for everyone to do.

One of my favorites links and shared with many people through newsgroups, PTSAs, neighborhood groups, and blogs. Play freerice.com Improve your vocabulary (in English, Spanish, French, German), do multiplication, identify famous paintings/artists, and Geography while donating rice 20 grains for every correct answer. At the freerice site click on subjects to select a different method to win rice for the UN.

Locally - Support your local food banks, Spooky to Be Hungry canned good collection sites. Golden Harvest always accepts donations and volunteers!

Still don't know what to do?
Check out: 88 Ways to Take Action Against Poverty Right Now

Blog Action Day 08 Poverty The Action Blog - Help Make the Ultimate List of Blog Action Day Activity Ideas

Bloggers Unite

Global Calling Against Poverty

So what are doing? What will you do?

School leaders worry donations will dwindle

One of the local news stations featured a story tonight about "Richmond County school leaders worry donations will dwindle" while stating that the superintendent was invited to speak at the Augusta Legislative Conference.
Like our county is special than the rest of the global economics?

A commercial featuring the superintendent, encouraging people to come out to the grand opening of the Barnes & Noble opening in the mall tonight aired over the weekend. A portion of the proceeds will help the Richmond County School System. The stand alone Barnes & Noble not in the mall closed today at 4 PM (1600 for my military comrades).

Because our taxes have been raised 3 x in one year, a $13.4 million deficit was discovered in the RCSS budget what better way to share the ideas then through the blogs? Educators, ed techies, instructional techies, parents, students, and many others are sharing ideas through the net. Blogs are blocked in our school district :-{

So we collected the ideas shared from parents willing to share and the former PTSA Officers because everyone took a vow not to sell "stuff". We firmly believe everyone has a donatable resource, whether it is time, money, sharing a skillset, donating items on the Teachers' Wish List page. What are you doing in your schools to help out? We would love to hear your ideas.

16 + things people can do to help their local schools (in no particular order):

1. If you have a Target card, designate your school as your school of choice. This can also be done by friends and family members who are interested in supporting our students and who do not live in your school districts. Target cards help schools Check to see how much has been sent to your school so far.

2. Shop at Office Depot for school supplies -No card needed. When you check out, tell the clerk you want to designate your favorite school to receive 5% of your next school supply purchase. Visit your local Office Depot store to find a listing of "5% Back to Schools" ID numbers or designate the school of your choice at order confirmation. This can also be done by people outside of your school district. Office Depot also sponsors additional programs for students and teachers.

3. Sign up for a UPromise account - Parents do you have or do you know someone with an Upromise account? Besides saving for your own child's college you can designate your favorite school to receive a portion of your rewards. UPromise School Fundraising This can be done by people outside of of your school district.

4. Donate old cell phones, laser, and inkjet cartridges to the school's Media Centers – Many schools' Media Centers have set up recycling accounts for print cartridges and cell phones. The funds are sent to the school, not the school board.

5. Use your Kroger Plus Card after scanning the barcode for your school. Visit the Kroger Earning and Learning website. Notes: Schools must apply for the program each year, Schools participating in our Gift Card Fund-Raising Program cannot participate in the Earning Plus Learning Fund-Raising Program and Parents must re-link their cards to your school each year.

6. My Coke Rewards for Schools – Since July 2008 Coca Cola now allows people to donate points to their school. All schools are in the database but someone from the schools must register the school.

7. Campbell's Labels for Education - Collect labels from Campbell products. Download the information sheet which lists specific product labels, lids, and UPC codes to save. Available in English and Spanish. If your school does not have a program, this is a great time to recruite a volunteer and sign up the school. Products range from books, musical instruments, to a van to support the schools.

8. Join the school PTA/PTSA or give the gift of membership. – Local PTAs/PTSAs fund much needed programs and products for students and teachers. PTAs/PTSAs have grant opportunities as nonprofit organizations supporting their school and accountable to the IRS. Remember, a PTSA is a PTA with Students who can run for office and lead committees and teams.

9. Student groups can sign up for Do Something ! No adults required. Sign up your school club or as an individual and your cause. Do something! Grants awarded for students and/or student groups that can apply online.

10. Schools can set up Internet store fronts and spirit stores and sell products online.

11. Lowe's Toolbox for Education Grants for schools and/or their nonprofit support groups.

12. Donor's Choose – Built by teachers for teachers. Teachers ask, you choose, students learn. School districts are now collaborating and collecting funds for entire districts. http://www.donorschoose.org

13. Check eSchool News funding links for a variety of grants and funding opportunities.

14. Grant and Funding Sources from Top Teaching Resources.

15. Technology grants for schools and educational organizations.

16. Check the community web site/page of the businesses like Best Buy, Publix, Walmart/Sams, Google, Target, Goodys, Coca Cola, Barnes & Noble, Staples just to name a few. Many businesses have a community link that provides information about opportunities for schools and students to apply for grants, internships, and scholarships.

Teaching our students that everyone has a donatable resource whether it is time, money, skillset, knowledge, and/or donating items on Teachers' Wish Lists builds the community connections and demonstrates alternatives to raising our taxes.

Your local school or school district doesn't have a website? Stop by the local school, your observations will tell you more about what a school needs. Talk to the students...eventually they will make the decisions about who rocks your rocking chair regardless of your age. You do not even need to be a parent...just have the concern that the students today are your future community leaders, from the local to the global, incarcerated or educated.

Education quotes of the day:

There is a brilliant child locked inside every student.-- Marva Collins

Instruction begins when you, the teacher, learn from the learner; put yourself in his or her place so that you may understand… what he or she learns and the way he or she understands it.-- Soren Kierkegaard

25 years of the cell phone and other events on today

The cell phone celebrates a 25th anniversary of the first commercial telephone call. What will the next 25 years hold? Do you remember your first cell phone? Do you know a movie is dated when you see an actor/actress breaking out one of the old bricks? Did you feel the same when personal computers hit the 25 year mark? Will the cell phone be used within the public schools as educational tools as well as communication devices before the 50th anniversary?

At least the next group of graduating educators can say they grew up using cell phones to text, talk, surf the web, blog, take pictures, transfer data, listen to their favorite music, view maps, along with additional features that are built to "Go Mobile".

Along with today being Columbus Day (US), Molly Pitcher Day, Thanksgiving (CN), Paddington Bear's 50th birthday, and the 250th anniversary of Webster (10/16). Can you imagine having to look a word up in a dictionary? How big would a printed dictionary of every word be? What would it cost to print, bind, ship? Probably easier to sign up for the text mesage SAT word of the day or Merriam Webster Dictionary word of the day and read it on your cell phone screen. Maybe?

Check out the Smithsonian Institution for the history game, take a virtual trip of your favorite Smithsonian Museum.

Check out the The History Channel for other events on this day:

1792 The cornerstone of the White House was laid during a ceremony in the District of Columbia.

1943, Italy declared war on Germany, its one-time Axis partner.

1960 Richard M. Nixon and John F. Kennedy participated in the third televised debate of the presidential campaign, with Nixon in Hollywood, Calif., and Kennedy in New York.

1998 The National Basketball Association canceled the first two weeks of its regular season because of a lockout.

2000 South Korean President Kim Dae-jung was named winner of the Nobel Peace Prize.

Do we remember these dates from all the years we spent in school memorizing data? So enjoy the day and do what you can to support Breast Cancer research...we can't wait for the day to blog about the cure for breast cancer for everyone!

Chris Lehmann - We need more principals like him

Just the snippet you need after working in the digital divide! I survived the digital divide in the military, transitioning from analog to digital and digital to IP. I live in a miniscule digital divide with a parent and a child, one who discovered a love for technology later in life and one who continues to grow with technology. Both embrace technology, are willing to learn, try, ask questions, and share experiences. Lifelong learning is a part of everyday life in this household.

My mother encourages me to "Bloom where I am planted" when I become discouraged with the divide in the city that hosts the Masters Golf Tournament. The mayor has a Facebook page, yet we still have educators that do not check email and call a cell phone "just a cell phone".

Chris Lehmann's blog Practical Theory contains his blog entries as a principal of the Science Leadership Academy in Philadephia, PA. Mr. Lehmann's recent appearance at IgnitePhilly should be viewed by everyone, whether you are an educator, a parent, a community partner, a tax payer, students and saved as a favorite for anyone who works within the digital divide and has one of those days, weeks, or months, where you just want to run away and join the forward moving techies.

I also came across this shared presentation through Dr. Mcleod's blog, Dangerously Irrelevant and Darren Draper's blog, Drape's Takes. Through my RSS reader, I am sure I will see more links as Mr. Lehmann's video and presentation goes viral.

Thanks Chris for sharing this snippet and thanks to everyone who continues to share through their blog posts. Your posts, shared knowledge, and experiences provide the light at the end of the tunnel when one thinks about throwing in the towel and just sticking with the forward thinking techies.

Ultimate Parent Guide

Click to open The Ultimate Parent Guide Building a Lasting Relationship with your Teen. (pdf)

Sean Covey's site The 6 Most Important Decisions You will even make is designed for teens and has links for School, Friends, Parents, Dating and Sex, Addictions, and Self Worth.

Trying to bridge the connections between parents, our young adult students, and teachers is a work in progress. The students today are the replacements in our communities, the good and the bad.

With everything going on in the world, sometimes we lose focus on the family connections. How well do we know our young adults who are growing up in the information age? How well do they understand the adults that they will soon be working for or replacing in the communities?

Can you and your teen answer these questions from The Ultimate Parent Guide by Sean Covery?

Parents, How Well Do You Know Your Teen?
1. What are your teen’s favorite subject and teacher in school?
2. What would your teen consider to be the nicest thing you could do for them?
3. What would your teen like to become when they grow up?
4. What is your teen’s favorite kind of music?
5. What is your teen’s hot button, the thing that really makes them mad?
6. What is your teen’s favorite Internet site?
7. What is the one thing your teen wishes they could change about him - or herself?
8. What would your teen really like to talk about with you, but is afraid to?
9. What pet would your teen prefer to have: a dog, a cat, a hamster, a horse, a bird, a turtle, a snake, no pet at all, or all of the above?
10. Who is your teen’s best friend?
11. If your teen could travel anywhere in the world, where would they go?
12. What would your teen rather do: go to a movie with friends, read a good book, play games on the computer, or play their favorite sport?
13. Does your teen have a boyfriend or girlfriend right now? If so, who is it?
14. What has been one of the high points of your teen’s life so far?
15. What was your teen’s favorite vacation ever?

Teens, How Well Do You Know Your Mom/Dad?
1. What color are your mom’s/dad’s eyes?
2. What is your mom’s/dad’s favorite thing to do?
3. What would your mom/dad consider to be the nicest thing you could do for her/him?
4. If your mom/dad had all the time and money in the world, what would they spend their time doing?
5. What are your mom’s/dad’s views on marriage?
6. What is your mom’s/dad’s greatest unfulfilled dream?
7. What was your mom’s/dad’s first full-time job?
8. Who is your mom’s/dad’s closest friend?
9. How did your parents first meet?
10. What is your mom’s/dad’s favorite kind of music?
11. What is your mom’s/dad’s favorite TV show?
12. Who did your mom/dad vote for in the last election?
13. Does your mom/dad gas up the car when the tank is half-empty or wait until it is nearly empty?
14. Where is your mom’s/dad’s favorite vacation spot?
15. What would your mom/dad rather do: watch a good TV show, go out to the movies, go to dinner with some friends, or read a book?

Google's Translate Tool

Google products are part of my playground. During Google's recent birthday I wondered how different my life would be if I grew up with Google. My daughter who attends college could not believe that Google was only 10 years old...she grew up with Google.

With our military experience foreign travel was the nature of the beast. How cool learning the new languages in Germany, Spain, Korea, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq would have been if I had Google translate tools on an Android?

As the participative parent, I worked with my daughter in a variety of subjects. She took Spanish, I didn't. I took French and haven't used it since college. We did learn the value of being bilingual as she began her job searches as a teenager. Most jobs even for teens offered a higher hourly wage for being bilingual.

Many parents, do not speak or know anything about the county of origin of the language their student may be taking in school. Google has the tools for us to check our student's homework, projects, or if we have enough self discipline to learn a new language. Google's Translate tool allows users to translate text, web sites, and even add the translate button to your websites.

Google Translate offers translations between the following languages:

Arabic, Bulgarian, Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hindi, Italian, Korean, Japanese, Norwegian, Polish, Romanian, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, and Portuguese.

Dictionary translation is currently available between English and French, German, Italian, Korean, Russian, and Spanish.

Today's Google's tip of the day is Search for Translation:

If you are in need of a quick translation, Google is here to help. Just search for the word you want in the language you're interested in, and you'll have your translation in a snap.

Try out these translation tasks:
translate ketchup to russian
translate senf to english
translate relish to korean

Why not learn a new phrase or two by translating one of your favorite websites, pasting text into the translate box, or translate words instantly from English with no clicks at all by adding the one click translate button to your browser?

While some schools are adding American Sign Language and select computer programming languages to the foreign language category for credit, learning a new language can support your journey of becoming a life long learner. Continue to work your brain like you work your body!

Favorite TeacherTube Video?

TeacherTube has something for everyone, whether you are looking for AIHE's Heroes Contest, Extraordinary Moments Contest, Real World Math Contest, Adora's Flying Fingers, AIHE - History Education, Career & Tech Education, College/Universities, Elementary, Fine Arts, High School, Math, Middle School, Physical Education, Reading, Science, Social Sciences, Student Products, TeacherTube Tutorials, World Languages, and Writing.

Visit the Shift Happens wiki.

You can also select to view the videos that are categorized by “Most Recent, Most Viewed, Most Discussed, Top Favorites, Top Rated, and Recently Featured.

This is one of the videos I share often titled, “Did You Know 2.0”. Some of the others shared amongst educators are “Shift Happens”, “Pay Attention”, “Did You Know”.

Enjoy the TeacherTube videos. Do you have a favorite TeacherTube video that you share with students, parents, other educators, and/or administrators? Share your favorite in a comment.

Cell phones in the classrooms

Cell phones in classrooms - A subject debated while the rest of the world continues to use the technology.

RCBoEd approved a policy to allow a pilot program to allow students to have cell phones on campus for 4 (out of 10) high schools. It is a subject that demonstrates the digital divide in Augusta, GA. A sales tax oversight committee recommended this week to spend $813,174 to purchase 866 computers. The purchase would ensure every teacher has a dedicated computer, which can be used for grades, test scores and communicating with parents through iParent. (Computers urged for teachers, Augusta Chronicle link http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/100308/met_478048.shtml)

For those who have used cell phones to learn something new, how have you incorporated your minicomputer into learning something new? You had to learn about a cell phone since no one taught you in school. Delve a little deeper into the tools available with your smartphone.

Depending on your cell phone plan, everyone has the capability to learn something new through their cell phone.

Google has a section under for downloading apps to a variety of phones (http://www.google.com/mobile/), so we will see students who never own laptop or desktop computer because they do everything on a smart phone. For those smart phone users who want to find out which Google applications are available on your phone, visit m.google.com from your phone browser.

Another teachable moment: Cell phone plans. Parents did not grow up with them and can be sent into phone bill shock if they are not aware of the plans and features. Most text and talk plans allow for unlimited text which makes texting more affordable talking. Involve the students, teach them how to determine the best plans for their budgets. Eventually they do grow up and become adults and will have to purchase their own plans.

1. Today’s cell phones have world clocks, voice recorders, calculators, GPS, calendars, and media capabilities.

2. Word of the day – SPARK notes SAT word of the day
Merriam Webster word of the day or Word Smart word of the day

3. For cell phones with data plans, Internet connections allow teachers and students (and parents) to: Google a topic, check the spelling or definition of a word, use a multitude of Google products, look up reference images, pull up maps (road maps, pictures, and satellite imagery), document an event like a field trip or lab with built in digital camera or video, check facts check on the fly, email questions to the teacher that students might be embarrassed to ask, school emergency response systems, take quizzes, record and/or listen to podcasts, join a MoSoSo such as !Cellphedia - a Mobile Social Software (MoSoSo) that promotes the sharing of knowledge. It allows users to send and receive encyclopedia-type inquiries between specific, pre-defined groups of users, through Text messaging.

4. For those students and teachers interested in the technology aspect of how cell phones work. Differences between network types, designs used by cell phones, differences between web design/programming for mobile networks vs traditional and more acronyms like PCS, GSM, CDMA and TDMA. Check out How Stuff Works - Cell phones

5. When all else fails…ask the millions of cell phone users what they have learned since they became cell phone users.

Articles, websites, and books which demonstrate the use of cell phones in the classroom:

Teach Digital: Cell phones in the Classroom Curriculum by Wes Fryer
Wes Fryer's Blog – Moving at the Speed of Creativity Opening Minds about cell phones for learning

Ideas and Thoughts by Dean Shareski - Principals Trying out cell phones posted January 21, 2008

The Clever Sheep blog by Rodd Lucier. How is your school leveraging cell phone technology for student learning? Posted April 27, 2008

Stop Banning, Start Embracing Discover how cell phones can be used as learning tools. Liz Kolb. From Ed Tech Magazine

Cell phones welcome in some classrooms Devices used to check schedules, take quizzes at various college campuses By Olga Kharif, Fri., Sept. 5, 2008

The Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis. Vicki posts turns her phone calls in to podcasts using Gcast.

Liz Kolb’s blog: From Toy to Tool Cell Phones in Learning

Toys to Tools: Connecting Student Cell Phones to Education by Liz Kolb
240 pages ISTE, 2008, ISBN 978-1-56484-247-3, Available for preorder. Due out in Nov 2008.
About the book:
Many, if not most, educators view cell phones as the enemy. Author Liz Kolb sees them as powerful technology in the hands of students. Acknowledging the current reality—that many schools ban student cell phone use in the classroom—Kolb discusses a host of innovative and highly interesting uses for the technology that do not require using the phones in the classroom. She also addresses the issues that have caused the bans and provides guidelines for overcoming the problems.

Ignoring, or worse, demonizing a technology that students willingly and actively use in every other aspect of their lives is not a winning educational strategy. Tapping into the ubiquitous power of modern communications technology and merging it with the flexibility and excitement of the Interactive Web (Web 2.0), Kolb provides a vision in which engaged students use the tools of their choice to enhance learning both inside and outside of the classroom. Mini lessons and powerful resources throughout the book are easily adaptable and appropriate for almost any grade level.

Anyone can Google search terms such as,“Cell phones in the classroom, learning with cell phones, or mobile teaching with cell phones.

So enjoy and have fun while you are learning with a tool you always referred to as “just a cell phone”.

Are you smarter than an 8th grader?

From the Ed in 08 site:

The world is changing, jobs are evolving, and far too many students are simply not being prepared to be successful adults:

Seventy percent of eighth graders are not proficient in reading—and most will never catch up.

Every year, more than 1.2 million students drop out of high school.

Many of those who do graduate are not ready for college, for the workplace, and for life.

This is not about schools in some far-off city. This is about the students you see in your own neighborhood. This is not someone else's problem. This is an American problem that affects us all.

Check out Ed in 08:

See how the schools in your state are doing.
Get more startling facts from STRONG AMERICAN SCHOOLS SAYS …
Download our two-page fact sheet … and share it.
Download our 11-page Policy Primer for a more detailed explanation of the issues and what is at stake.
Read or download the Fact Sheets

Ten + things anyone can do

When is the last time you visited your local school? Was it to volunteer? Participate in a blood drive? Drop off can goods for a food drive? Do you know who your child eats lunch with, regardless of their age? Would you let your child spend 6-8 hours, for 180 days with strangers? Then...you need to get to know your student's teachers, administrators, and counselors?

We hear the excuses, I don't have children, I work and don't have time, I am in the military and deployed, I don't feel comfortable at the school, they need to learn to be independent, my parents never volunteered in the schools why should I?, I didn't graduate from high school and don't want to go to my child's school...the list goes on. No time? No excuses...there is always something someone can do.

What is a parent or concerned tax payer to do?

This list is not inclusive nor listed in any priority. Comments and recommendations are always welcome.

1. Visit the school. Whether you are a parent or a tax payer, check on the ROI of the taxes you pay.

2. Visit the websites. Most schools, school districts, and state's Departments of Education provide information, FAQs, and links to submit questions on their websites. Don't own a computer? Stop by your local library. Don't know how to use a computer? Stop by your local library. Many libraries offer free computer classes. Are you a computer geek? Volunteer to teach a computer class at the local library.

3. Have a Target Card? Know someone who does? Anyone with a Target credit card can designate a school to receive a small percentage of the card use. Target allows computer users to see how much your local school or your Alma mater receives. Target pays the school, not the school board, and many people are surprised when they visit the Target Community website to see how much their school has received. Some are surprised that their school is not listed in the database yet. Encourage someone from the school to ensure the school is listed.
Target's Community: Take Charge of Schools

4. Shop at Office Depot for school supplies. No card needed. When you check out, tell the clerk you want to designate a particular school to receive 5% of your next school supply purchase. Visit your local Office Depot store to find a listing of "5% Back to Schools" ID numbers or designate the school of your choice at order confirmation. Your local schools appreciate every donation they can pick up.

5. Do you have an UPromise account? Parents do you have or do you know someone with an Upromise account? Besides saving for your own child’s college you can designate a school to receive a portion of your rewards. UPromise School Fundraising

6. Join the local PTA/PTSA or give the gift of membership. Schools are relying on support from their parent student groups and clubs. Schools that collaborate with their parent, teacher, and student groups, create a foundation to combine resources and efforts of all student and teacher needs.

7. Check your schools to see what support they need. Do they recycle print cartridges and old cell phones? Do they recycle newspapers? Do they encourage community participation in school events? Find out and spread the word. Many schools have cut back on snail mailing newsletters because they can distribute news electronically. Get involved and find out. Don't settle.

8. Host a study group in your home. With everyone watching the budget, even teens are cutting down on driving and hanging out. Why not host a study/movie night at your home and get to know the other children/young adults that your child hangs out with? Rebuild the community connection.

9. Coke Rewards - In July 2008, Coca Cola expanded their rewards program to allow point collectors to donate points to up to five schools. Someone from the school must register the school before donations can be made. Cokc Rewards

10. Check your local businesses. Some businesses support the local schools by making donations. Be sure to shop those businesses and celebrate student successes. Remember, the youth of today are growing into the leaders of tomorrow.

11. Do you have a friend that is an educator? The easiest thing to do...just ask. You might be surprised as requests range from donating box tops, Tyson chicken labels, Campbell's soup labels to help the school earn credits to purchase items in support of students...to showing up with lunch one day. Random acts of kindness can change the attitudes and environment.

12. Self educate. Learn about the local school and the district, check out the budgets posted online, find out who your school board members are and attend a meeting, find out who the advocates are for education and check their websites. If any of these items listed are not occurring...then take initiative and start something.

13. Is everything going great in your school district? Find out what our students are doing online. Schools around the nation are participating in Flat Classroom Projects, inclusion when a student is diagnosed with cancer, and blogging for causes adults never hear about. Technology integration for the digital natives keeps the students engaged, not enraged.

Do you have additional ideas? Leave a comment.

Changing focus

As I move closer to the stage where I have to narrow down the focus for my thesis, the focus of the blog will share lessons learned, info from my favorite bloggers, technology links, and what we can do to help our students succeed.

The Richmond County Board of Education provides this information on the About Us link from the home page.

Learning Today...Leading Tomorrow

The Mission of the Richmond County School System is to educate students to become lifelong learners and productive citizens.

1. Every person has the right to a quality education.
2. Education is the shared responsibility of the individual, home, school, and community.
3. Every person can learn.
4. Respect and acceptance are essential for learning and personal development.
5. A safe, healthy and orderly environment is essential to learning.
6. Communication is the key to understanding among people.
7. Excellence cannot be compromised.

While the board claims this mission statement was developed from the results of a survey, bring up the subject of lifelong learning in a F2F (Face to Face) conversation and the responses vary from A to Z. This is also challenging when the graduation rate for the 10 high schools in this area range from 100% to 30%. While one person cannot do it all, if everyone did a little bit the district would see the change in attitudes toward education and improve the district as a whole.

I want to share this link from the Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County's (PLCMC) project Learning 2.0 which hosts the "23 Things" Project. While I know this is old news in the online world there are many people who are not connected and are missing out on expanding their personal learning network. Thing #2 Lifelong Learning & L2 provides information on the 7 1/2 habits of lifelong learners.

The digital divide amongst parents, teachers, students, administrators, alumni, and community members of this district is so varied I thought a post about the 7 1/2 Habits of Lifelong Learners is something to be shared. Maybe someone will request that 23 Things (which is now grown to 65 Things) can be used to help bridge the digital divide. Maybe individuals will incorporate the 7 1/2 habits of lifelong learners. Maybe someone will follow the lead of other school districts and incorporate an opportunity for individuals to earn PLUs, CECs, or some type of credit for those students stuck taking a gapfiller course.

Comments and recommendations are always welcome and do not worry because the school district blocks blogs so no one at the brick and mortar schools will read this.

For those who have completed 23 Things, PLCMC created Learning 2.1 Explore, Discover, Play. Have fun improving your skills and sharing knowledge!

Back in class

The break between classes seems to pass so quickly. So for the first time in our "attending school" lives I could razz my daughter about being on a school break while she goes to the brick and mortar college.

It is one of our recognized differences and I am glad that she is using a blended learning style in college. She does not miss the lectures of high school, the mandated prep for standardized tests, and she is enjoying life as a young adult college student using technology. I enjoy watching her discover that she can enjoy her learning styles because we are true lifelong learners who learn in the manner we want to learn.

So off to read the assigned chapter readings from Educational Leadership and Technology by Picciano, A. (2006) Prentice Hall and Planning Good Change with Technology by McKenzie, J. (2001).