"The First Annual Lee Baber Jamboree – Win a community" post by Dave Cormier

This is my Response to

"The First Annual Lee Baber Jamboree – Win a community." by Dave Cormier

It's been a while but, I think we way may have something for you folks. As part of k12 Online Conference for 2009 we (k12online conveners and friends) are having a Pre-Conference virtual LAN party. Why not combine two cool events and offer the Best of K12onlineconference to coincide with the Lee Baber Jamboree? So, this is the plan: We are going to host a virtual LAN party at EdTechTalk on Saturday September 26, 2009. We will start on or about 14:00 GMT and go on for about 8 hours. In our webcasting studios we will be featuring the best of K12Online from years past 2006-08. As part of this event we will be dedicating one hour.. perhaps in the middle or maybe to culminate the event to the Best of Lee Baber. and to piggyback on Dave Comier's idea of win a community, we wil be announcing the 1st honarary winner of this event. I know everything sounds a bit sketchy.. to start out join us this next Thursday at 6pm Pacific / 9pm Eastern on Edtech Brainstorm at http://edtechtalk.com/live Where we will give more details.

“Tinkering Toward Utopia” - Post by Will Richardson

This is my response to “Tinkering Toward Utopia” by Will Richardson.

I've been trying to frame my mind around school reform for quiet some time. This is especially true after spending some time out of the classroom. I do agree that there has to be a fundamental shift on how we look at change for our schools. This whole idea that schools can shift towards being more of social systems and learning organizations. Rather than being bureaucracies and operating systems. Will change come from innovations? Sure, as long as we (teachers) are comfortable in learning and relearning with those we network face to face and on the web. But, more importantly model and mentor our own students in this process. For me there needs to be a change in the way I seek professional development. It cannot only be the prepacked deal I get from meeting at my school or local district. It needs to be a blended approach where I take my local school or grade focus and what I learn with my network on the web and construct what I need to do with my students. As far as reform/transformation, it's all about making this a reality for myself and then helping others (teachers at my school and district) come along with me.

Crowdsourcing - An Educational Experiment in L.A.

This is a response to

Save Our Summer Project Coming July 6

a project by group of students at USC. The objective as described at on the site is to provide free, online learning solution to the cancellation of K-8 summer school in the Los Angeles Unified School District.

Proposal:

* Crowdsource the tagging of resources
* Host on Free online aggregation site
* Offer some tools for dialogue.

To play:

• Find a resource and tag it: sosclassroom
• send the resource to sosclassroom[at]gmail.com
• tweet us @sosclassroom or #sosclassroom

Crowdsourcing NOW on my summer reading list. I tend to do this all the time as I go on to twitter and find resources for my own learning. But crowdsourcing in the business model refers to replacing a function that is usually paid for by tapping into collective knowledge. Now this IS something I can dig into. Looking specifically at our situation in L.A. it's interesting to find a tech solution to our budget woes.

This is my response to this novel experiment:

Hey congrats on "crowdsourcing"! Now that you have the crowds attention (me) let's see if we can get some work done. Let's start by defining who "we" are. "Our class at USC" what class? and are you speaking for the class or is it YOU and a few interested folk? I DO see how the your site works and it's a great concept. How do we bridge the concept to making it a practice? If the intended audience is LAUSD teachers to gather resources and LAUSD families in comsuming these resources then what is the plan? I'm comitted to a sustained effort and partnership between classroom teacher, the families we service, and interested community like yourself. I invite you to continue the conversation.

Why Technology Post by Bud Hunt

This is my response to

The Bud the Teacher Podcast: Why Technology

Why technology? Well, because. As I articulate my thoughts I think that technology is not about the tool. Rather, it’s our way of processing what we learn. Perhaps I find that technology allows for learning in different ways and archives this learning in a more permanent way. It’s not only about digitizing the content but about producing content where the line between being a teacher and a student is blurred.

NECC is about Convesations Post by Jeff Utecth

This is my response to

NECC is about conversations

I find your take on NECC and it being about conversations interesting and tend to agree to the most part. I found a similar experience when I have gone to our local state conference in California CUE. I did quite a bit of learning via connecting with others in the hallways and through conversation. At least for a certain group (those already connected with the content on the web via twitter, blogs, etc) These conversations are a lot more valuable than sitting through a repackaged presentation you can probably find elsewhere.

Now, how would this look in our classrooms? That’s a bit more complicated. We are teaching in a very hostile environment. We are required to “teach” a prescribed curriculum and when our evaluators walk into our classroom they are looking for directed lessons, students under control. But even with this as a requirement I DID find myself going outside the box and allowing MY students to engage in conversation around learning. I still have a long way to go but as I am reminded by fellow elementary school teacher Brian Crosby “Learning is Messy” and it’s just fine by me.

LA Hungry for Education: The Struggle Continues

I thought I was winding down for the school year. Literacy week at my school gave me an opportunity to do some last minute tech projects with my students, a few voicetreads, some video, and blogging. All I needed was wrap up with paperwork and I was off on summer vacation and back to my online projects. And then... I found myself in the middle of a debate on the future of public education and it was in my own backyard. I really hadn't given much thought to what was happening with the budget crisis in California and it's effect on our local schools.

As I browsed my twitter feed I came across lahungry4ed. I had heard about Los Angeles teachers protesting the cuts and job losses through the local media on the weekend. Now this was interesting, it wasn't the teachers union, UTLA. These were individual teachers bringing together a coalition of teachers, parents, and community activists. Their efforts are to bring attention to what's happening with LAUSD and to pressure the school board to save teacher jobs. Their actions have included campouts at school sites and also a hunger strike by a few teachers.

I asked myself what I could do? I decided to reach out to my network on EdTechTalk. I wanted to learn more about the issues but more importantly to document and share with others. As we interviewed onsite I began to understand that this was more than a simple budget problem. As Sean Leys frames it "as a civil rights issue." The actions by our State Government and our local school board are part of a bigger picture. There has been an assault on public education and inner city schools. It goes back to the whole premis of NCLB and punishing schools that are not making the grade.

It is interesting to note how the organizers of this effort have used social media in getting the word out through their netvibes page, by the use of hash tags on twitter, by press releases through tinypaste, pictures on picassa web, facebook group and interacting with media both on the web and local print, television, and radio stations. This organizational structure makes this grassroot movement easier to have sustainability beyond the events of the campouts and the hunger strike itself. So, as I go into my last week of teaching for the 2008-09 school year, I find myself engaged and committed to be part of the struggle.

PODCAST - CLMS 2009 Skype for Educators

This is a recording of my presentation at California League of Middle Schools CLMS on Saturday March 14th, 2009. This is an introduction to use of Skype in Education. You can find the presentation wiki at http://skypeforeducators.wikispaces.com Special thanks to Dr. Wagner for his invitation and connecting educators in the use of technology all over California. I added a page to wiki for CLMS conference attendees to leave contact details for Skype collaborative projects. Have a listen SkypeForEducators.mp3

EdubloggerCon West - TakeAways

So, it's the day after and on my commute into another busy day.

My takeaways:
1. I came with an expectation of what Edublogercon West 2009 would be and I was really pleased. It still amazes me that you can have an opportunity to participate in event like this (an unconference where you decide what is going to be talked about and you can know that your voice will be heard) and most educators are still unaware, don't see the importance, or just plain don't care.

2. When I look at professional development and everything that is spoon fed to us, Edubloggercon West was such a rewarding experience. There are a few things that I already do. What the unconference did for me was to give me validation, knowing that I am not alone. Also, what others are doing as in the cool things but more importantly how they keep going.

3.Next Steps This is critical; I can be happy, I can say how good the food was (Alice had great snacks) and I CAN go back an do NOTHING. Sure I can, I've done it before. My next steps is to walk into my classroom and infect my students with this bug.. the learning for life bug, the go out and network bug, the share what you are doing and bring it back to those around you bug. My next steps does include my continual quest to "think globally and act locally"

Have a listen to my reflections as I take my 10minute walk to tomorrow. WoodenNickelz Podcast

Self Directed Learning

Sometimes it's hard to practice what you preach. I wanted to share my experience this weekend participating in ED21 Unconference. I spent spent Saturday morning enjoying some very inspiring conversations centered around 21st Century nnovation and education. The different strands presented included 21st Century; learning, teaching, real world, and leading. I was able to help out in connecting the conference with the edtechtalk community through broadcasting the conference live on ustream.tv and was engaged in the chat with both onsite participants and virtual attendees. Here is a link to the recordings http://edtechtalk.com/ed21online

My thoughts about 21st Century innovation and education are; learning starts with me. If I am able to continue to be a life long learner, I am able to model this for my students. I have to understand that my students are learning in a new type of environment and I must constantly evaluate my own teaching and adapt to all the changes and at the same time practice good teaching. In regards to the real world, well I have to prepare my students to participate/collaborate in this new millennium. And finally in leading, Web 2.0 does truly level the playing field. I as a classroom teacher do have a lot to contribute to the conversation. It is my job to get other teachers involved, connect with administrators and outside leaders to collaborate and move forward in education and innovation.

What does student engagment look like?

Atypical day at pd..... I've been trying to teach my students our school's 3 R's (Responsible, Respectful, and Ready to Learn). So, when I go to a meeting or PD session, I have to practice what I preach. Which isn't that easy. We had a recent classroom walk through day. Team of peers and others walk through our classrooms throughout the day and observe classroom instruction. Usually this kind of activity is not welcomed by teachers. I truly could go either way.

Nevertheless, the team was focusing on observing student engagement. We got some constructive feedback. But actually, what I really took from our PD or this whole experience was my own reflections on my practice and specifically how I engage students in my classroom.

These were the ideas we focused on.

1. Communicates learning goals / objectives
2. Encourages active learning
3. Gives prompt feedback
4. Emphasizes time on task
5. Communicates High Expectations
6. Encouraging student to teacher and student to student interactions
7. Develops reciprocity and cooperation among students
8. Respects diverse talents and ways of knowing

My takeaways: I'd say that I incorporate a lot of the ideas into my teaching already. It's good to see them articulated here. It reminds me of a tip I once heard from a motivational talk. The presenter asked us. Have you PEE'd today? That is did I Plan, Execute, and Evaluate? This ideas encourage active teaching for myself and modeling active learning for my students.

My next steps: Focus on planning these ideas into my lessons. Learn how to adjust my teaching so that I can engage students in my class in new ways. Be open to learning from others, especially my own students.

"How Do You Make a Great Teacher"

Listened in on Bill Gates on TED Talks, thanks to Wes Fryer's Tweet. Some really powerful ideas. I have been in education for a few years now, going on 15. But, just have come back to teaching in the last three years. So, the question for me is "How do I become a great teacher?" Am on the right path? Is all this measurable or not?, I am not sure. Just asking the question is a step in the right direction.

This past week was big motivation for me. I/we documented our activities on our classroom blog; Third Grade Discoveries. It seems that when I am willing to step out of "what's normal" I am able to get closer to being a great teacher.

Project Based Learning Class Reflection

This is a cross post from PBL discussion forum:

This is my second year back in the classroom. I have to admit it hasn't been an easy ride. There are so many demands on us as teachers. I have dealt with relearning basic teaching strategies and engagement of students in my class. I recently joked with a teacher friend from Sacramento on how we are 70 percent counselors and 30 percent teachers. I have always had an interest in using technology as part of my teaching, even in the early days with Windows 95 and use of freeware. But, I always faced a dilemma; how do I use technology in a way that's more about learning and less about play?

I dabbled with web 2.0 tools in my classroom in the last school year or so. It wasn't until I was preparing for CUE (Computer Using Educators) conference that I got a boost to my teaching. I had done a whole lot in my own professional development and networking but little had made it back to my classroom. I came back with a lot of energy but without a plan. As I was walking the exhibit hall I ran across a book on Project Based Learning. It sounded kind of cool and I had a few extra bucks so I bought it. I have read most of now. By chance I got an email from John Rivera inviting me to an UPDATE class on PBL. I thought it was such a great opportunity. The book stresses that 21st Century Professional Development does not happen in isolation. It doesn't even happen between the walls of our own schools. It happens when we go outside our comfort zone.

Now 5 weeks later I feel a bit more prepared. Being able to explore content on the web and post reflections is a system that I have learned to make my own. The conversation happens when we respond to each other on the discussion forums. It would even be more authentic if we were to take these conversations outside this class to our own blogs and social networks. My next steps include planning at least 2 or 3 PBL's in my school year that integrate all curricular areas and showcase Web 2.0 technology tools. So, where are you going from here?

May Day 2008

This is a Cross-Post to our ClassWiki http://thirdgradediscoveries.pbwiki.com/May-Day-2008

May Day 2008 Research
What We know

1. May Day is celebrated on May 1st every year.

2. It is a day to remember Workers Rights.

3. It has to do with Immigrant Rights.

4. There was a big May Day March in Los Angeles on May 1st, 2006.

5. It can be confused for an Emergency Call; like when a plane is falling down.


What We learned

International Labor Day

It is a holiday in some countries.

It was started to fight for the 8 hour work day.



It is also a day to demand immigrant rights:

1. Stop deportations

2. Give immigrants full rights

3. legal papers.


We Still Have These Questions -- Generated by Mr. R

1. Why do people have to work two jobs?

2. Why do people have to sneak across the border?

3. Why can't I visit my grandparents in Mexico?

4. Why doesn't my mom/dad have a license to drive?

5. Why does the police have to take people back to their country?




Resources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/May_Day

http://maydaymovement.blogspot.com/

The Wooden Nickel #2, Skype for Educators

This is the recording of the session on Skype for Educators that I presented at Infotech 2008, our local Educational Technology conference in Los Angeles, CA.

This was an introduction to Skype for teachers. I reviewed the basics for Skype and how to get started. I talked about the use of skype for collaboration with other educators. I also talked about the possibilities for connecting with other classrooms. We even did a demonstration with Matt Montagne and Pam Shoemaker, two educators in my network. In our call we talked about the EarthDay Webcastathon coming up on April 22nd.

All my presentation notes and links can be found at my presentation wiki: Skype for Educators.

Download The Wooden Nickel #2.

Infotech 2008 Student Showcase

We showcased the use of Voicethread in the classroom. We created on a voicethread on our Classroom blog about Earth Day 2008.



We had a hard time setting up. Our ibook (circa 2003) was not able to join wireless network. I was able to set up my teacher laptop toward the end of the day after my presentation on Skype for Educators and the elementary tech competition. My students had a great time explaining our voicethread and we met a second grade class that is very active with VoiceThread, Mrs. Ngai's Classroom

The Wooden Nickel #1, Getting Ready for InfoTech 2008

My second attempt at a regular podcast. I did a series of podcasts at my previous blog: The Coordinator's Office. I figured that now that I have a new blog, I should start a new podcast.

In this podcast I reflect on my current projects and getting ready to take a group of students to our educational technology conference. Download Wooden Nickel #1

Gradual Release Instruction

Cross Posted at In Practice Group Blog

I spent today in a Lesson Study. My school district has adopted this model for Professional Development. I am not exactly sure how it relates to Japanese Lesson Study. Most of our training has centered around curricular programs and how they are implemented. One of the ideas that we have experimented with in our school is Cognitive Planning. I still feel that I am at the initial stages of understanding the difference between this and just planning a lesson in a traditional format. The main difference that I see is that in the models proposed, there is a higher level of collaboration.

Today I was introduced to a new concept to me; Gradual Release Instruction. This seems to be the “missing link” in my development as a teacher. I have been able to implement curricular programs with fair success. Nevertheless, I have felt some frustration in engaging my students in the learning process. Working in a Title one school with a high English Learner population, there are certain things you cannot take for granted. I would normally expect my students to come prepared to school with a rich background and school readiness. I would expect them to have a natural disposition towards learning and school work. I quickly found out that this is not the case.

In teaching, I am constantly looking for ways to engage my students in learning and building their responsibility in this process. Right now we are learning how to blog to encourage reading and writing. We are using VoiceThreads to respond to our new learning. So, technology has a role to play. I think that the possibilities in connecting learning to engagement is increased when students are provided with the appropriate use of these tools. It empowers them to build on their own learning. It is even better when they are able connect with the global community to share their learning. I have to find a bridge between the analog world of teaching new concepts to a digital representation of the learning process. I go back to my classroom tomorrow morning with a different perspective. It’s time to roll up my sleeves and immerse myself in a new way of teaching.

Earth Day 2008

Earth Day 2008

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This is our project for Infotech 2008 (Los Angeles Unified School District Educational Technology Conference) This is what we have learned about Earth Day. We even recorded our voice over the slides.


SlideShare Link

Blogging in the Classroom

What does it take to have an effective classroom blog? Probably the most important thing is to get started. Last school year I started a classroom blog, room36. I was the main contributer to the blog. I would share what we were studying. I would occasionally write a post as a prompt for my students respond to. I shared pictures and the like. It was fine but something was missing.

During summer school I opened a new blog over at edublogs, thirdgradediscoveries. My basic format had not changed. I still had a classroom blog where the students would respond to teacher prompts. I continued the blog through the fall but it wasn't very successful. Then along come Class Blogmeister. I came here so that my students were able to blog themselves. I haven't made any efforts to get this blog off the ground until now. The New ThirdGradeDisoveries is just getting started.

This is our introductory post;
It's been a busy school year. It is time to get ready for 4th grade! So, what is Blogging? Blogging is a way to share our ideas on the internet. A Blogger is a writer with an audience. It's like my journal or diary. The only difference is that it isn't secret. Other bloggers can come to my blog and leave comments. I am really excited on the possibilities in the next few months. A category that I really like is "On my mind". I saw it on the mighty writers blog. You can see a link to their blog on the left hand side of our homepage. Either way, happy blogging.


I dusted the computers today. Gone are the excuses; "my computers are too old", "I don't have enough time" "my students aren't ready for independent writing". I have showed my students sample student blogs. We have even reviewed the procedure for logging into their blog. I created my initial assignment. I guess we are ready. Let the keyboard pecking begin!!!

Earth Hour 2008

We started a new family tradition today. My daughters and I decided to spend Earth Hour sharing stories by candlelight. I wish we could do it every week. But, committing to once a year works for me. We were excited to spend time together participating in something that was bigger than us. It made us feel that we were part of the world community. My youngest daughter read from her little pony book. My middle daughter told us about reading Matilda books and how fun they were. My oldest daughter was interested in knowing about my childhood stories. I shared about growing up with my cousins. I talked about growing up in a huge house and sharing my summers of lemonade and snow cones. I then read Flat Stanley. I was familiar with the story but never had actually read it. My daughters had all read it and were excited to have me read it outloud to them. Well before we knew it the 60 minutes were over! We took some pictures and uploaded them to the Earth Hour Flickr Pool.

This past week my students and I also produced a video project for Earth Day 2008. We are participating in a competition for our district technology conference. It was exciting to get some technology into my classroom. I especially liked how my students were able to express their creativity in the script they wrote for the presentation. I even found a pretty cool youtube video on The 3R's (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) by Jack Johnson.