I loved the visual. So, how many of the connections do you make??

From the Edublogs Magazine:

Visualizing the Networked Teacher

Published by Lorelle VanFossen on 2 Feb 2008

This popular flickr image by courosa, called “The Networked Teacher”, is a strong visual representation of the modern teacher, showing how educators today are more “interconnected” with resources than a teacher not even ten years ago could imagine.

To many, this is overwhelming. To others, it’s just how it is. To a special few, it opens up a whole world of the possible, finding creative inspiration, support, collaboration, and strength in each connection.

What does it mean to you? And does this represent you?

About the author: Lorelle VanFossen is known for her work on Lorelle on WordPress, covering blogging and WordPress, Taking Your Camera on the Road about travel and photography, Lorelle’s Family History Blog, as well as her work on the Blog Herald and Blogger and Podcaster Magazine. Read more magazine posts by Lorelle VanFossen.

We MUST be connected if we are to reach our students. I feel I preach on this a lot, but I am very passionate about this topic. Our kiddos see the world through completely different glasses than we. Unfortunately, there are some of us who haven’t even put on the glasses. What can we do to “catch up”?

I have several people ask how I find the time to stay up to date on new Internet occurrences. It’s a passion I have. I want to be able to talk to my students on their level. I want to understand when they are talking about a new social networking site. I want to learn. I don’t want to be left behind. Do you?

Until next time ~ Danita

Flickr

Great Resource List

• 1 to 3 mobile laptops
• things to think about:
  • equipment
  • teaching basics to the students
  • developing a routine
  • classroom arrangement
  • managing hardware
  • lesson planning
  • creating a support system
• what you need:
  • laptops
  • power strips
  • projectors
  • internet access
  • software
  • headphones & microphones
  • digital and video cameras
  • digital presenter – document camera
• the basics
  • create procedures
  • emphasize proper use
  • get the students’ attention
    • give lesson instruction before turning ON the computer
    • monitor off/lid half-closed
    • hand signals and visuals
  • learn what works for you
• developing a routine
  • unlock the cart: protect the combination
  • emphasize gentle handling
  • assign student supervisors and helpers
  • assign laptops to students
• set up and tear down:
  • set up 5 to 8 minutes
    • student supervisors in charge of smooth transitions
    • student helpers hand out laptops
    • limit number of students at cart
  • tear down 5 to 8 minutes
    • reverse set up procedure
    • each student is in charge of his/her own laptop to student helpers
    • student supervisors calls tables and maintains order
  • consider leaving out overnight
• power source management
  • charge overnight
  • 2 to 3 hours battery time
  • power strip for battery
  • visibility to screen
• classroom arrangement
  • locating near power strips
  • circulating the classroom
  • cooperative grouping
  • independent work
  • what works for hardware
• Zig-zag
  • classroom arrangement is in a zig-zag pattern for easy accessibility
• Circle configuration
  • power cord in middle
  • shoulder partners
  • moderately easy for teacher to circulate
• long rectangular
  • power strips in middle
• rectangular/square
  • power strips at end of table
  • shoulder partners
  • easy for teacher to circulate
• flexible
  • lots of freedom
  • more difficult to manage power strips
  • ideal for cooperative work
• glitches and bugs
  • if something goes wrong
    • plug it in
    • restart it
  • always have a plan b
    • network outages
    • sometimes things just don’t work
• hardware management
  • think about how to deal with hardware failure
  • updates
  • virus protection
  • software installation
  • network controls
• time for kids
• Don’t do what we did:
  • ALWAYS test sites before the lesson
• rules of thumb
  • mostly independent cooperative
    • not teacher led
  • create a support system
    • informal and formal meetings
• Chapman Science wiki
• Brainpop
• Moodle
• Teacher Resources
• Largo Middle School
• Cathie Chapman Chapmanc@pcsb.org

Until next time ~ Danita

If you wouldn’t mind helping me out, I would be grateful.  I’m Mrs Fizzle, but have no idea how to get in touch with anyone else.

Until next time ~ Danita

  Flickr

Wednesday took me to an 8th grade Language Arts class.  In that class, I taught word processing using the new laptops.  I was surprised at the number of kids who had no idea how to use a word processing program.  Makes me wonder, have these kids not had any computer classes?  They are in 8th grade, shouldn’t they have been using word processing  for several years?  Hmmmm…..

On Thursday and Friday, I worked with my old partner’s resource Language Arts classes on wikis.  It was a lot of fun working with Cynthia again.  I sure have missed our interaction.  These kids are the kiddos that are more than a year advanced.  I sure learned a lot!  The 8th graders were ready and willing to jump right in.  Most of them, had made wikis in 7th grade so there was only a little instruction needed.  The 7th graders were excited because most had heard of wikis, but didn’t know how to make them. The 6th graders had the lowest amount of patience I have ever seen in students.  Must be a sign of the digital natives.  They had no fear of trying new ideas and soon were off and running.

I sure did enjoy working with the kids again.  I love my new position, but I miss having a group of kiddos to call mine.  You have a special relationship with kids when you teach.  I’ve always told my students that once you were “mine” you’d always be a part of me.  I miss that, but hope that I can reach more kids in my new position.

Until next time ~ Danita

  Flickr

Miguel asked about students making inappropriate comments in Moodle and viewing inappropriate content on the Internet. Jason’s comment, you’re going to love this – makes sooo much sense:

“We can’t control what’s in the real world. We can only prepare our students for it. As for students being exposed to inappropriate comments on the web or on a website, a teacher can’t control that anymore than he/she can control what a student will say in the middle of class. He/she doesn’t have control over the words that will come out of the students mouth. What we need to do is have the same consequences in the virtual as we do in the real world.”

Jason is the superintendent of a small district in Texas, but wow, imagine a superintendent with such technology vision and understanding! I have been searching for a comeback situational example to answer that question since I’ve been in my current position. Makes perfect sense. Wish I had thought of it!

You need to take a few minutes and listen to the podcast. Very down to Earth, regular people. What I found interesting is that this podcast was the first podcast that Jodie and Jason had done.

Way to go Miguel! Great podcast!

Until next time ~ Danita

Teacher Tube

YouTube: Did You Know II

Until next time ~

Danita

Learning in the Digital Age Recap
January/18/2006 10:33 PM | Leadership in the Digital Age
I have this posted on another page on my website as well.

This was posted on the Abilene, Kansas High School Dialogue Buzz website. It was an anonymous post, but VERY powerful. Feel free to share this with educators, parents and stakeholders about 1:1 and the power of the seamless use of technology. It seems to sum it all up!!

Let’s have a little competition at school and get ready for the future.

I will use a laptop and you will use paper and pencil. Are you ready…?
I will access up-to-date information – you have a textbook that is 5 years old.
I will immediately know when I misspell a word – you have to wait until it’s graded.
I will learn how to care for technology by using it – you will read about it.
I will see math problems in 3D – you will do the odd problems.
I will create artwork and poetry and share it with the world – you will share yours with the class.
I will have 24/7 access – you have the entire class period.
I will access the most dynamic information – yours will be printed and photocopied.
I will communicate with leaders and experts using email – you will wait for Friday’s speaker.
I will select my learning style – you will use the teacher’s favorite learning style.
I will collaborate with my peers from around the world – you will collaborate with peers in your classroom.
I will take my learning as far as I want – you must wait for the rest of the class.
The cost of a laptop per year? – $250
The cost of teacher and student training? – Expensive
The cost of well educated US citizens and workforce? – Priceless

Is this the way technology is going in your schools? Slowly, with baby steps, we are trying to change the thinking of the teachers and administrators. The more they see technology being used correctly, the more they are interested in implementing it in their classrooms. Baby steps, I have to remember baby steps.

Until next time ~

Danita

Flickr:Baby Steps

I’m going to unmercifully copy from the wonderful blogger at EdTech from Just North of the Valley. He/She, I don’t know which one because the profile doesn’t specify, suggests that:

Teachers will have to, like their students already have, find ways to become quicker and more agile in the way they teach. During this transition, teachers will have to find examples from outside of education to help them move forward.

Wow. What a concept. Thinking outside the box. I’ve thought this quite often recently when I see such a contrast between teaching styles. There seems to be such a divide in teaching – moving forward and holding still – I suppose that is the difference between a futurist and a traditionalist.

My friend, Kim, interviewed me for her graduate class on Friday. Interesting questions concerning curriculum theories. I have always referred to myself as a dinosaur, but the more I see different styles and theories, I think I am the exact opposite. Now, I see myself more of a futurist, than a traditionalist. I have fallen in love with the new web2.0. It’s so exciting and fresh. The web is constantly changing and growing and I find that fascinating.

EdTech from just a Little North of the Valley has an intriguing video from YouTube about Yoda teaching Luke. Yoda tells Luke that he has to believe. I think that the more teachers believe in the future, the faster we can move in that direction. We can’t afford to teach the same way we have been teaching. The Digital Natives aren’t learning in the same way they were even 5 short years ago.

Yoda: You must unlearn what you have learned.

Luke: Okay, I’ll try.

Yoda: No, try not. Do or do not. There is no try.

Luke: I can’t. It’s too big.

Yoda: Size matters not. Look at me. Judge me by my size, do you? Hmm? Hmm. And well you should not. For my ally is the Force, and a powerful ally it is. Life creates it, makes it grow. Its energy surrounds us and binds us. Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter. You must feel the Force around you; here, between you, me, the tree, the rock, everywhere, yes. Even between the land and the ship.

Luke: That’s impossible. I don’t believe it.

Yoda: That is why you fail.

Fail, we will, if we believe not. Hmmm, think you must. Sorry, Yoda, I took literal rights abuse.

Until next time ~
Danita

Flick: Thinker

I understand that allowing student’s free reign to YouTube probably isn’t a good idea, but I also believe that teachers should be able to show videos from there. I have an account where I have saved educational videos that the teachers would love to show in their room. It’s difficult to find good math videos, but there are several on YouTube.

Two hours later, we still hadn’t come to a consensus. So, my question to you, what do you allow and why or why not? Does your county/school district have an acceptable use policy? I’d love to know.

Until next time ~ Danita

flickr: YouTube

I come from the Batman era, adding items to my utility belt while students today are the Borg from Star Trek, assimilating technology into their lives.

Secondly, I don’t have to keep up, just keep open. I can’t remember if it was on a podcast or at a presentation I went to, but the speaker said, “I can handle ignorance, but I can’t handle fear.”

If a teacher is forward thinking and aware of what students will need in the future, they will use technology to get students where they need to go.

David Truss

I love the Batman and Star Trek comparison. How many forward thinking teachers are out there? Are you?

Until next time ~ Danita

Flickr: Batman Flickr: Borg