February 18, 2009~ So I have been racking my brain trying to figure out a way to use cell phones in the classroom. Since our students bring them and seem to get in trouble for having them (and using at the inappropriate times), why not find a way to incorporate them into the classroom. To me it is a win-win situation. I want all to participate in class but cannot afford to purchase class sets of the response systems. Thanks to a Twitter from Alec Couros , I know believe I may have the tool to do just that...
So I created this practice poll to see how it would go and will share the cell phone version with my administrator. Hopefully, it will take hold and we can implement this in classroom!!
February 16, 2009~ I woke up this morning with the expectation of doing what every educator does on a teacher holiday, catch up on whatever personal issues (i.e. housework, errands, etc) that are left undone during the regular school week. However, while drinking my morning coffee and going through my reader and stumbling on fellow blogger Bill Gaskin's Blogging on the Bay's latest post, felt compelled to blog. I have seen the Kaplan University clips before and thought they were a great marketing tool and used the Pay Attention clip in my teacher workshops as well and for those new to the technology scene they often find it very compelling and it does seem to ignite their viewpoint and revisit how they are preparing students.
The clip entitled A Vision of Students Today embedded below has given me the chills as well as re-igniting my enthusiasm and urgency for the teacher and students that I work with on a daily basis. The question "AM I doing enough for them (my teachers and ultimately "my" students) to prepare them (teachers so they can prepare the students) not just for high school but to survive and flourish in a world that is constantly changing" is one that drives what I do on a daily basis. The information shared in the video has forced me to regain and refocus my thoughts. It is a powerful tool that everyone should see..parents, teachers, administrators, district office personnel, state level personnel and the Education Department in Washington would benefit. I see the reality everyday. I live the reality as I sit in training sessions Twittering, going through my Google Reader, texting to my child that forgot her shin-guards for soccer practice, emailing an administrator a confirmation for a training session. I had even forgotten that the position I hold today did not exist when I was in college nor did it exist when I entered the educational workforce.
So as I sit here being a real-life example of the reality of the 21st century..I ask my self this question..Am I doing enough...enough for my teachers, enough for "my" students and ultimately enough for the future of our society?
Watch the clip below and let me know your thoughts...
