Trending

"Trending" refers to Twitter tags or hashtags as a way of organizing and following topics.  When I sat back today and thought to myself, "I'm not doing so well on my blogging goal..." I also thought about why I have not been doing so well.

The truth is...life happens. I've been trying to take care of business and just get things done, which unfortunately doesn't always make for interesting blog posts.  So, let me tell you a little bit about what is trending in my world (educational technology) and what I've been working on and in.

Interactive whiteboards:  the teachers that I work with are in all different stages of uses.  After the initial getting started phase, I really haven't had a lot of calls for help.  I think this is really interesting as most teachers aren't sure how they are going to handle this new way of teaching, but it seems that once they get started they have no problems. I just hope that the students are using the boards effectively.

Clickers:  Now that the interactive whiteboards are in place, a lot of teachers are ready to capture students in another way--as well as real time data.  Clickers are allowing teachers to give students pre/post tests, get a quick glimpse of where their students are and who may need remediation, and even having tests self-corrected with immediate feedback.

iPods, iPads, and Apps...oh my!  These devices are popping up all over and I need to be on top of how to use them.  I have been researching and testing myself, along with some technical support--all of which is new to me.  Management of these new devices poses a whole new set of problems that we have to think about and at times, I have to just stop thinking about it and just do it.  Sometimes you have to live and learn.

PLNs, Social Networks, and Web 2.0:  Your personal learning network is the digital network that you create and pull together your peers and professionals that keep you up-to-date in your field.  Many of these include social networks and my belief is that many teachers just aren't sure where to go or what to do in a social network.  Some of these include Web 2.0 websites.  These are websites that allow users to interact with each other and the content.  A few of these:

Many of these also have apps to be used on any iPod, iPad, or iPhone.  Speaking of apps, you know the blog post I wrote a while ago about AutoTuning?  Well, there's an app for that!  It's called "I am T-Pain".

Lastly, I have revived my iGoogle homepage with all of the blogs and feeds that keep me current--one of which is Twitter.  This page alone is enough to keep me busy all day and make my brain swell.  In fact, just today I stumbled upon a post on Twitter regarding the Flipped Classroom.  As usual, one link lead to another...lead to another.  

Hopefully, I'll be back on the blogging block and typing away in no time.

Skypers!

A couple weeks ago, I was teaching an interactive whiteboard workshop and one of the teachers asked if I could help her with Skype.  I have to admit, I think I may have been more excited than even she was about it. 




This was to be my first eyewitness experience to using Skype in the classroom, though I've been talking about it for a few years now.

Patty Oliphant had been communicating with another Kindergarten teacher in North Carolina when they decided to have their students meet.  While a trip to NC would be great, that obviously wasn't in the cards.  Both teachers looked into the possibility of using Skype with the kids and went through the necessary planning to make it happen.  Luckily, I was in the district on the day this was to occur and was able to be present for any troubleshooting.  And can you believe it...no troubleshooting was necessary!  I quickly pulled out my phone and took a few pictures and video to capture and share the moment.  (I also edited and posted the video from my phone.  This is another first for me.)

As this was their first meeting, the classes asked a few questions back and forth about their schools, how they get to school (the NC students carpool), if they wear uniforms, and what letters and sight words they are learning.  Each shared an engaging musical performance of their letters and sight words. I wish I had caught those on video, but I was beside myself with chills watching the whole event unfold.

 If you would like to find out more about using Skype in Education, check out this blog post:  50 Awesome Ways to Use Skype in the Classroom.

Auto-tune into the News

I have my box of Kleenex, bag of sugar-free Ricolas, green tea, and assorted remotes and phones by my side.  I'm settled in for a day of resting and healing due to a measly cold that seems to be giving me a run for my money.  Because of this, I got the rare opportunity to watch a bit of the Today Show, where a story was featured about the Gregory brothers (and wife/sister-in-law Sarah) whose news satires have gone viral on YouTube.



The 8 minute clip from the show explains how the group felt some of the news stories to be a bit boring.   They took some of the clips and used auto-tuning to make music and create interest out of these stories.  Auto-tuning has become increasingly popular in the music industry as a way of changing the voice of the artist, and in some cases improving the quality of the sound.  (think:  "you're a little pitchy dog," "don't worry, I can auto-tune that later")

While there is certainly satire and parody involved in these productions, I think this proving how important 21st century skills and technology are in teaching today's youth about current events.  One could go so far as to say Auto-tune the News is this generation's version of political cartoons.

In the Today Show clip, the group mentions that the cost of producing these videos is a whopping $0 (or more if you include bagel consumption).  So off I went on a hunt for instruction in auto-tuning and found an explanation for using Auto-tune in Audacity as well as Garage Band.

Audacity How To:

Learn How to auto-tune your vocals in Audacity for free. For more Audacity How-To Videos & Articles, visit WonderHowTo.

Garage Band How To:


Chris | Live Tech Support | Video Help | Add to iTunes

Technology Tango

I often find myself "translating" between what teachers want and need and what the technical staff can do (in a reasonable amount of time). It's a strange place to be and I can see both sides of the fence when it comes to frustration and disappointment. Hopefully, through some effective communication and clear goal setting that can be alleviated. In the meantime, this is a great post in The Blue Skunk Blog by Doug Johnson.

Doug discusses some key points in making technology and the decision makers more friendly. While I think (and hope) that most of the teachers that I work with consider me friendly and approachable (I'm also not a decision maker) I think that one of the points that struck me was spending more time in the classrooms. I am sometimes pulled away by teaching classes, attending meetings, and planning for integration and programs. This year I have already decided to spend more time face to face with teachers in their classrooms with the goal of trying to boost 21st century skills through practice rather than large group instruction. I plan to post and keep everyone updated through this blog on these adventures with the hopes that it might inspire you.

Please see this example in 21st Century Learning to get a better idea of the goal we have in mind.

21st Century Poster Projects

When introducing 21st Century learning to teachers, I often reference Heidi Hayes Jacobs when she states that the idea is not to integrate technology, but to replace dated forms of assessment or product. No one is looking to add to the mounds of work placed on a teacher's plate, but what we do want to do is move from the old way of showing knowledge to a more updated way. One way to do this is to replace the yearly "poster project" with GlogsterEdu.

The benefits of doing an electronic poster are many, but a few key points include using multimedia (video and audio) to share ideas and meeting the students needs by addressing the hunger for real world assessment.  I have never once been asked to create a poster or flyer by hand to share with the educational community.  I'd be hard pressed to find someone who does, but creating an ad or informational piece of literature digitally?  That is what is real.

For some ideas on what students have already created on GlogsterEdu, check out examples from all subject areas on their Categories page.

Readeo

Readeo allows members to connect with others around the world to share the art of reading aloud. Readeo provides the reading material, and users can use a webcam to connect and read together. Unfortunately, this portion is a paid service, however they do have a portion that is free. Each month Readeo has a Book of the Month that is free to show and read to your students (or your own children!) When this month's email came to my inbox, it caught my eye because of the author, Eric Carle.

Although I discovered this website last year, I took a second, closer look. It's unfortunate that it is expensive, and while only one user needs to pay for the account (and connect with a guest for free) I know it's not realistic for most people. I did want to share the source, however because I will always promote reading in any form and someone may find it useful. Joining and creating an account is free, and once you do you can also enjoy the Book of the Month. It could be very useful as an electronic "big book" while the teacher, or maybe the teacher and students, read together.

How to use Readeo from Readeo on Vimeo.

The Tales...

I absolutely love blogging and love to read blogs. I have found blogs to be an immeasurable source of professional learning and started my own professional blog a few years ago. My goal was to highlight the technology that was going on in my district and explain new tools. I had high hopes, but the time just never seemed to be there. I know that in reality there is time in the day, but what it really comes down to is priorities. I also have found that I have not made time for any professional reading--including blogs. My educational magazines and Google Reader have been piling up with so much unread information that it's starting to feel like homework.

My day typically starts very early--the alarm goes off at 4:30am. I tend to be rushed from one thing to the next in the morning and am often running out the door with a million things in my hands. I am either taking the kids to school or driving straight to work, running in the door and starting my day. I would like to slow myself down in the morning and make the most of the time that I have before I leave so as to not be so stressed before I even get to work! I am going to carve time out of my morning to read professional articles, blogs, and books to get my mind set and ready. At the end of each day I would like to summarize what I have learned, or at the very least share a picture of what happened that day in the life of a technology integrator. I know that I will not be able to write a coherent blog post every day (I am sometimes fighting to keep my eyes open until 8pm), but I'm pretty sure that posting a picture is do-able.

So, what does this mean for you? Ask yourself what are you missing that you would like to include in your day? Everyone says, "I just don't have time!" The truth is that we all have priorities, so maybe a better statement is, "I can't make my child's Halloween costume by hand because it is not a priority." (Especially when Target has them on sale for $20 and you haven't sewed a day in your life since 7th grade Home Economics class). What are your priorities? How are you growing professionally? What are your goals for the year? Ask any science teacher, if you're not growing you're not living; so, make a list of goals--professional and personal. Make them measurable (ex. I will learn X number of new technology tools in X amount of time) and then make a plan to make them happen. Use your resources and don't accept any excuses from yourself.

Here are some of my goals:

1. Get into classrooms at least once a month.
2. Read professional literature every day and fiction at night.
3. Reflect on the day's events by posting a picture or a blog post at least 3 times a week.
4. Make the most of driving time by listening to audio books or podcasts.
5. Lose those last few lbs to get to goal weight.
6. Smile and listen. I mean really smile and really listen--to everyone, everyday.