In just a few days I will be leaving for Greece again and so I am switching blogs. There are several people (that I know of) who will be following my travels who are educators or students and so I am trying out a new (at least to me) blog program Edublogs. The advantage of this free blog site is that it was created for educators and there are fewer links to lead readers to other blogs and questionable sites. From what I have heard this is not always a problem in classes, but is something that people are very concerned about.
From now on look for posts from me at http://jfriesen.edublogs.org
One school following my travels will be San Diego Unified's Muir School, winner of CyberFair 2006 Platinum Award in Category 7. I am excited about getting to know them. Take a look at their CyberFair winning entry!
Other educational blogging programs:
Blogmeister http://classblogmeister.com-I have tried this one. It has a lot of security built in and has an active community forum of other users.
My eCoach http://my-ecoach.com/ is now offering free accounts to educators which include portions of their many tools online including a blogging tool. I have not used this one, so I cannot speak from experience, but my experience with other parts of My eCoach is excellent.
Wednesday, May 31, 2006
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
Trip to Chicago
A few weeks ago I took a trip to Chicago for the International Reading Association Conference. Here are a few pictures we took in Millenial Park.
I really liked this sculpture called Cloud Gate. It is amazing!
Thursday, May 18, 2006
Techno-skeptic
Bonnie Bracie shared an article from the Washington Post entitled "Can Computers Help Schools" by Jay Matthews. He says he is not Techno-phobic, but techno-skeptic. I think that we all should be techno-skeptic. However, I think that he, like much of the nation is measuring technology by the wrong measure. He says that a highly successful project which was sited because of its test scores was actually successful because it had a "a very energetic principal, a great faculty and an innovative curriculum".
That has ALWAYS been what makes a school successful!! It still is. Technology will not do it on its own and never has. What technology does is something that the tests DO NOT measure. It challenges students and teachers to think more deeply. It keeps good teachers in the classroom who were ready to retire. It is an extremely rich resource for the classroom which opens the windows to the world. It will not ever improve test scores of classrooms without "a very energetic principal, a great faculty and an innovative curriculum". Why does Mr. Matthews think that this exceptional school chose to use technology???
That has ALWAYS been what makes a school successful!! It still is. Technology will not do it on its own and never has. What technology does is something that the tests DO NOT measure. It challenges students and teachers to think more deeply. It keeps good teachers in the classroom who were ready to retire. It is an extremely rich resource for the classroom which opens the windows to the world. It will not ever improve test scores of classrooms without "a very energetic principal, a great faculty and an innovative curriculum". Why does Mr. Matthews think that this exceptional school chose to use technology???
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
New Blog at edublogs.org
Well, I just set up a new blog at edublogs. I think it will be an appropriate place for my second trip blog to Greece. I am going to keep Texas Malahini for now as my professional blog since I have kept using it. The URL for the new one is http://jfriesen.edublogs.org.
The only glitch so far is that Edublogs does not have an image server so I will have to upload all of my pictures to my own site, or maybe to Flickr, and then link to them. That is not a big problem and it might work better. What edublogs does have is a way to put in the code for me so that I don't have to type in code all of the time.
This is really the way to learn. Making myself try new things keeps pushing me to learn more. There are tons of things I don't really understand yet about blogging (categories, trackbacks, etc...), but I think they will become clearer.
The only glitch so far is that Edublogs does not have an image server so I will have to upload all of my pictures to my own site, or maybe to Flickr, and then link to them. That is not a big problem and it might work better. What edublogs does have is a way to put in the code for me so that I don't have to type in code all of the time.
This is really the way to learn. Making myself try new things keeps pushing me to learn more. There are tons of things I don't really understand yet about blogging (categories, trackbacks, etc...), but I think they will become clearer.
Monday, May 15, 2006
Young and Wired
This morning there was an article you should not miss in the San Francisco Chronicle Magazine section.
YOUNG AND WIRED
Computers, cell phones, video games, blogs, text messages -- how will the sheer amount of time spent plugged in affect our kids? by Kathrine Seligman
It is about how kids today are screen saturated-spending time in front of screens on an average over 6 hours a day. It addressed the issue of multi-tasking in a balanced way quoting both people who thought it was dangerous for kids and kids themselves who talked about why they do it and how there are times when they choose not to multi-task in order to concentrate differently. It also addressed the issue of collaboration or being isolated by the computer and several kids told about how they feel MORE connected to others when online and lonely when not online. It also mentioned the fact that some kids spend lots of time on the computer socializing in the safety of home rather than going out to unsafe neighborhoods!
It confirmed for me the HUGE importance of all educators and parents understanding technology so that they can help guide students in their use of it. There will always be REALLY sharp kids who self-adjust to new things and learn to multi-task well when it is appropriate and who are careful about being safe online. There will always be those kids who will never listen and will waste their time with useless online time and not make any effort to be safe or careful. But the vast majority of kids falls in the middle. They do not need us to restrict access or to keep them offline for their own safety. They are like ME... they want to do the right thing (not the same for everyone), but they will not necessarily figure it out for themselves. They really need us to help them evaluate the ways that they use their time and the effects that their participation in the online world might have. They need good teachers to do what they have always done best which is to inspire them to be the best they can be. How can we do that if we don't get it ourselves?
YOUNG AND WIRED
Computers, cell phones, video games, blogs, text messages -- how will the sheer amount of time spent plugged in affect our kids? by Kathrine Seligman
It is about how kids today are screen saturated-spending time in front of screens on an average over 6 hours a day. It addressed the issue of multi-tasking in a balanced way quoting both people who thought it was dangerous for kids and kids themselves who talked about why they do it and how there are times when they choose not to multi-task in order to concentrate differently. It also addressed the issue of collaboration or being isolated by the computer and several kids told about how they feel MORE connected to others when online and lonely when not online. It also mentioned the fact that some kids spend lots of time on the computer socializing in the safety of home rather than going out to unsafe neighborhoods!
It confirmed for me the HUGE importance of all educators and parents understanding technology so that they can help guide students in their use of it. There will always be REALLY sharp kids who self-adjust to new things and learn to multi-task well when it is appropriate and who are careful about being safe online. There will always be those kids who will never listen and will waste their time with useless online time and not make any effort to be safe or careful. But the vast majority of kids falls in the middle. They do not need us to restrict access or to keep them offline for their own safety. They are like ME... they want to do the right thing (not the same for everyone), but they will not necessarily figure it out for themselves. They really need us to help them evaluate the ways that they use their time and the effects that their participation in the online world might have. They need good teachers to do what they have always done best which is to inspire them to be the best they can be. How can we do that if we don't get it ourselves?
Thursday, May 11, 2006
Technology Planning
Both the visit to MCDS and reading the Texas Long Term Technology Plan contributed to the following thoughts:
Visiting a school where this conflict was not an issue was interesting. Since MCDS is a private school they are not under the pressure that most public educators are currently facing. I want to say that the focus on increasing test scores or the lack of funding for technology are the only reasons for the struggle that we are having helping teachers to enhance what they do with technology. However, my friends at MCDS are dealing with some of the same issues (i.e. teachers who do not have time or don't want to change what they are doing). These are creative, free-thinking teachers for the most part and they can pretty much have whatever technology they ask for (minor financial limitations) and there is a lot of support, both technical and curricular. Technology is just NOT easy and it is a moving target!
In our talk we decided that we have to keep trying and learning and modeling and not be discouraged at how slowly things change.
I wrote this as a response to the technology plan draft which is being reviewed until May 28th:
[Great plan…. However, ] it ignores one issue that everyone at the school level faces there is a huge clash of foundational theories when it comes to teaching and what happens in a classroom. This plan is based upon a vision for rich, collaborative, authentic learning that starts with the learner rather than the teacher. Another (and I think) stronger force in many classrooms is a force for direct scripted, controlled teaching aimed at meeting very specific standards and with the goal of increasing test scores. (I wonder do these goals have to conflict?)
I think that this is a good plan and we need to keep bringing this vision into focus for leaders, but in actuality I think it is very frustrating for educators at all levels who are being told to do both with not enough resources for either.
[Great plan…. However, ] it ignores one issue that everyone at the school level faces there is a huge clash of foundational theories when it comes to teaching and what happens in a classroom. This plan is based upon a vision for rich, collaborative, authentic learning that starts with the learner rather than the teacher. Another (and I think) stronger force in many classrooms is a force for direct scripted, controlled teaching aimed at meeting very specific standards and with the goal of increasing test scores. (I wonder do these goals have to conflict?)
I think that this is a good plan and we need to keep bringing this vision into focus for leaders, but in actuality I think it is very frustrating for educators at all levels who are being told to do both with not enough resources for either.
Visiting a school where this conflict was not an issue was interesting. Since MCDS is a private school they are not under the pressure that most public educators are currently facing. I want to say that the focus on increasing test scores or the lack of funding for technology are the only reasons for the struggle that we are having helping teachers to enhance what they do with technology. However, my friends at MCDS are dealing with some of the same issues (i.e. teachers who do not have time or don't want to change what they are doing). These are creative, free-thinking teachers for the most part and they can pretty much have whatever technology they ask for (minor financial limitations) and there is a lot of support, both technical and curricular. Technology is just NOT easy and it is a moving target!
In our talk we decided that we have to keep trying and learning and modeling and not be discouraged at how slowly things change.
Marin Country Day School
Yesterday I had the wonderful opportunity to visit Marin Country Day School in Marin County California (just north of the Golden Gate Bridge). That is the school on 35 acres right in the bottom center of the picture. It is on Paradise Drive which seemed to be particularly appropriate! What a school!! I wish every kid could go to this kind of school.
I met with the two technology teachers (??? I am not sure of their title) there. We had a terrific talk about so many things having to do with helping teachers to smoothly use technology to enhance their teaching. I don't know that we resolved much, but we all learned and had a great visit.
The one thing I want to write about is how cool it is to really meet people that you have known virtually for years. I have been on the same list as one of the teachers for a long time and so she knew who I was. I was shocked and amazed at how appreciative she was for sharing I had done online a long time ago and forgotten! I am left with a deep appreciation for the online community and how much I have learned from others. I am encouraged to take the little time to respond when someone asks a question! Maybe I will meet them someday!
Friday, May 05, 2006
I am a flea
Last weekend (the last weekend of April) the progressive side of me felt completely overwhelmed. There were protests that were important EVERY day! Saturday was a protest about Darfur where there is genocide occurring. Sunday was an antiwar protest and Monday was the Immigrant protest day. It just seems like there are SO many issues that really matter to me that are just being glossed over and not changing. Global Warming, the war in Iraq, the threats against Iran, the budget cuts to Education and health care, immigration, our (the US) relationship to the world, tax relief for the rich, testing as the solution of failing schools. I felt totally ineffective and ready to give up. What good would protesting every day of the week do???
Then on Wednesday I had a chance to listen to Marion Wright Edelman from the Children's Defense Fund. She ended her talk by acknowleging that many people are feeling ineffective in their efforts for the poor and for peace and for children. Her answer to how she keeps going is a story from Sojourner Truth.
Then on Wednesday I had a chance to listen to Marion Wright Edelman from the Children's Defense Fund. She ended her talk by acknowleging that many people are feeling ineffective in their efforts for the poor and for peace and for children. Her answer to how she keeps going is a story from Sojourner Truth.
Facing a heckler in an audience once who said he did not care for her anti-slavery speech anymore than he would a bite of a flea, Truth replied, "Perhaps not, but Lord willing I'll keep you scratching."
So, I have decided that I am going to be a flea. I cannot do much, but I can keep decision makers itching. For my own sanity I need to prioritize what I put effort into, but I need to be consistent in what I do. I am going to write my senators and congressmen. I am going to stand in protest against the war and for those who cannot defend themselves (children, homeless, immigrants). I encourage anyone who reads this to join me in being a flea.
So, I have decided that I am going to be a flea. I cannot do much, but I can keep decision makers itching. For my own sanity I need to prioritize what I put effort into, but I need to be consistent in what I do. I am going to write my senators and congressmen. I am going to stand in protest against the war and for those who cannot defend themselves (children, homeless, immigrants). I encourage anyone who reads this to join me in being a flea.
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