Community as Curriculum

I participated in David Cormier's Community as Curriculum webhead event today. I would like to defend my dissertation this way. Of course, I understand that I have to eradicate some barriers.

But why shouldn't I have an opportunity to defend my dissertation this way? The degree is Educational Technology Management...I chose the Ed.D degree because I am a practioner, not the researcher wanting to develop a new theory or change existing theory.

Watch this UStream . The chat room was busy, the doodling of responses on the slides was collaborative, so even if you missed something, everything is archived to review later at your own pace and convenience. Once Dave's time was up, the UStream was available.

Don't have time to watch the Ustream? Check out the slides that display everyone's participative comments.

Wiaoc2009 - Nicer version of the slides created by the audience of my community as curriculum presentation

View more Keynote presentations from coarsesalt.

Even if I can't defend my dissertation this way, why not change the options now for future students?

As always, comments are welcome!

Pay cuts, raising locker and parking fees

So the RCSS held the preliminary budget cut meeting. Bottom Line Up Front aka BLUF: Everyone is going feel the pain. If the school board voted to cut $750 from my pay, I would make suggestions until the cows came home.


So go ahead, make a suggestion No names or email required.

AC article on the RCSS budget: Members say options open to make cuts

So today's AC headlines on the RCSS budget: Richmond schools could raise parking, locker fees

Do I know there are people who care? Absolutely. Do I know that the RCSS protocol is siloed? Yes. Do I know people that want to do something but do not know what to do? Yes.

But I have been told, "You can't do that" or"That is just the way we have always done it."

What I am tired of...is everyone doing a great job of griping, groaning, and complaining. If they spent that much effort in trying to do something for a student in RCSS, we might see a change in the "us vs. them" attitude.

As I move from my specialization courses into the Research and Dissertation courses I thought I would give it the old Ed Tech try and prove people wrong who swear that people in Augusta, GA would rather post gripes and groans through the Augusta Chronicle articles than to be proactive with solutions or submit a recommendation that might possibly be viewed as a possible solution to the most recent RCSS $24.5 million budget shortfall.

So what are you waiting for? Fill out the form or just leave a comment on the blog.

Hang in there Dr. Bedden, you inherited the soup sandwich and with your annual salary, some people expect you to produce a feast. Just know, that some of us are out here doing the right thing, supporting students, being involved and engaged adults because the students today are the leaders who will replace us.

Suggestions for the RCSS and $24.5 million budget shortfall

Another Augusta Chronicle article titled, School board faces tough financial calls and my last homework assignment prompted me to create this form and publicly display the results.

There are many issues in the RCSS and room for improvement in many areas, including incorporating a suggestion improvement program. So rather than complain, gripe, and/or groan I created this form.

I encourage all of my blog readers to participate in this informal survey and to forward the link with those who have been successful during budget cuts and educratic bureaucracy.

You can fill out the form below or access the form through this link. The results can be found here.

Names and email addresses are not required, just in case you are an employee, student, or parent who fears retribution. As an adult student in the lifelong learning process and a RC taxpayer, I had to do something. Even when board members and administrators do not listen with or without their permission, the Internet is a powerful tool.

I need your assistance for my homework assignment

I am calling on all of the readers of the blog for help with my homework assignment. If you have a few minutes to spare, complete this survey on the 3 Minute Walk Through.

I created this Google form/spreadsheet to demonstrate to my professor the functionality and ease of use of Google Docs. The assignment is the 3 Minute Walk Through as a writing assignment. That part is complete. This part of the assignment supplements my paper and provides a working version of the 3 minute walk through checklist.

The checklist is not formal, nor does it include everything an educator or administrator would look for during a walkthrough. Just a few basic questions and you can fill it out whether you manage a learning environment or not. I just need some responses to demonstrate the functionality of Google Docs.

Thanks in advance for your assistance.
You can take the survey through this link or below right in the blog.

It is that time of year...Thanks

It is that time of year again as we jump into Teacher Appreciation Week, School Nurse Appreciation Day, Mother's Day, 2009 graduations, Memorial Day, and Father's Day.

With the economy being the way it is, many people are asking, "What are we going to do?" So what are you going to do?

Some schools go all out for Teacher Appreciation Week, others...well, not so much. The longest journey begins with the first step...so go ahead...take initiative, write a thank you note, thank you email, a thank you blog post, or a thank you video. Whether you are a teacher by profession or a lifelong educator as a parent, those two words, "Thank you" mean more than can be measured.

Remember The Dash ? Linda Ellis also published A Teacher's Dash (2007). Visit the site and send the link to someone and say thank you.

We are in this together, through good times and bad, students today are the leaders (or not) of tomorrow. To those who teach by profession, by volunteering, by survival, remember...learners are everywhere.

So to all the teachers, through formal and informal means, please know that you are appreciated for every ounce of knowledge, skill, and ability that you share with others.

And to all parents and guardians who are the lifelong educators of children and doing everything they can with what they know...enjoy this week but know that you are appreciated year round for what you do!!! It is OK to collaborate considering the end result is the success of students long after they leave a formal learning environment.

Some ideas that only cost time and effort:

• Say Thank You. In person, online, or both. Write a blog post, call your local radio station and shout to the listeners, email the mayor, shout it from a roof top. Sample press releases are available all over the Internet, and the PTA and NEA sites both offer sample press releases.
• Send out a press release thanking the teachers at your school, highlighting why teachers are so important to our children, and advertising your Teacher Appreciation Week activities.
• Read the 3 page PTA (pdf) document of ideas to participate in Teacher Appreciation Week.
• Join the PTA's Thank a Teacher Facebook group.
• Read NEA's Ideas and Actions website for more ideas.
• PTA's Virtual Gallery for Teacher Appreciation Week

So to everyone who teaches in the variety learning environments, THANK YOU, from one of many, lifelong learners.

Keep on learning...wherever you may be.

What are you doing for the next 100 days?

Everyone has an opinion on President Obama's first 100 days, the media covered it, people discussed it over dinners, meetings, and the Internet. What about your last 100 days? What about your next 100 days?

It is also a time to reflect on the 100 days left in school or personal, professional, and educational accomplishments of our own 100 days. For some people, documenting their productivity or accomplishments is easy because of some type of audit trail or results measured by a tool. For others, it was not so productive.

So what have you done during President Obama's first 100 days? What are you doing for your next 100 days? It is never to late to start a self assessment on your own 100 days.

As always, comments, feedback, and recommendations are welcome! Here is to making the best of your next 100 days.