Wikis and 1:1 Initiatives - Can they solve the U.S.'s education downward spiral? Can it be supported?

For the first time, I feel like I am beginning to accomplish my goal for teaching. "Connect students with learning opportunities to expand their learning environments beyond the school doors."

I decided to implement wiki's for my classes and have been pleased with the result. They work well. Students enjoy this platform for learning, after all they are Digital Learners! They actively engage in great discussions that improve their thinking skills. Students log on and participate at all times of the day - not just during class. I even have had students log on and participate from home on a sick day. I would say that's an actively engaged learner - wouldn't you?

A major by-product my wiki has produced all by itself is tackling attendence. Now students have access to participate during class when they are sick or didn't have a ride or it was too rainy/snowy/cold to wait for the bus. My classes are like ATMs, they are now always open - 24 hours a day 365 days a year.

With this in mind, the role that the 1:1 initiative could have becomes paramount. What if every student had a notebook with internet access? They would have access to class materials at all times. Could student accountability increase. Could collaboration increase? Would learning go on beyond the school doors? My guess is yes. Just take a look at the schools who already have these initiatives in place. The progress may be slow, but none the less, students would begin to learn more and faster. Web chats and conferences would ease the difficulty of coordinating group project meetings - we wouldn't have to leave our homes to participate.

Can a nation-wide 1:1 initiative be supported? Would cost too much? If you think so I would agrue that point. Money is an illusion. Money is created everyday. Some of that money is invented out of thin air. Thats how our federal reserve banking system works - maybe you didn't know that. Do you actually think the $700 Billion bailout of Wall Street recently was actually done by exchanging currency? No - no tangible money was exchanged, rather just a few very large computer transactions. The money was never there, it still isn't there - it exists only in computers. It exists but it doesn't. So, money can be created. Why can't there be a bailout for the education system? I wonder if they don't want us to learn and think more independently?

See you next time!

TEACHnology . . . and Filtering.

The other day I mistyped the word technology with "teachnology. I found this very ironic how this simple mistake made me think about teaching. With respect to the education profession, should we begin to refer it to "TEACHNOLOGY?" To me, this implies that educators across all curricular areas utilize teachnology for improving learning - daily. Its an education system totally infused with technology to improve learning. Consequently, once we ponder this question another arises. How long would this take? Would Districts advocate this idea and support it?

My guess is it won't happen until this generation becomes teachers; 20 years?. The students have a better grasp of today's technology than many of their teachers - I am probably included in that group. Students today have grown up with this technology, therefore will learn to use it for learning many different things and in many different ways. They will be able to use various social networking sites to assist learning, web-based applications for communication and tasks rather than desktop programs. They are the wave of the future. I think we are in transition now, but it may take 10-20 years before "TEACHNOLOGY" could be curriculum wide on a daily basis.

Finally, I would say that Districts would support this in the years to come as well. Right now its being advocated for in some districts across the U.S., but its not wide-spread. We are still Filtered to an unbelievable extent inside schools, teachers and students alike. Will Richardson's blog is on "Filtering" http://weblogg-ed.com/2008/filter-fun/ is on point in my opinion. When today's students become administrators I think then we would more support the idea of "TEACHNOLOGY." They would allow us to use tools (unfiltered) to make us a competitive world economy again - starting in grade school. Grade school penpals would evolve into Skype pals - we can communicate, collaborate and learn with others around the world.

See you next time . . .

Digital Imaging - Multimedia

In the realm of digital image editing there are numerous applications one can choose to use. With the advent of web 2.0, it seems this realm expands everyday and we are forced to choose a particular application.

Photoshop CS3 is basically the industry standard. It has several features and functions that can alter or enhance an image. The downfall - the cost. This application is far to expensive for novice use. We have it in schools, but some students don't cannot afford a computer let alone a $600 application. None the less, if you can get it, it's generally accepted as industry standard.

So what is the answer to Photoshop, I will highlight a few. And, yes, they are free but are soliciting special accounts that would cost a small fee. First, for the beginner I recommend Picnik. This application is very user friendly. One can alter any image once it is uploaded from your computer. You can then save the image to your Facebook account, My Space account or computer's picture folder. They have a few new updates - one is a puzzle effect the makes your image look like a 24 piece puzzle. I recommend this for the weekend photo afficianado; the person who likes to take photos on their digital camera that is mainly concerned with removing red eye or sharpening the image. Get your account now.

Second is Aviary. Aviary is a Brand New application that was developed by some great people at Worth 1000. Aviary is free, but solicits you to get an account and donate. Aviary refers to birds, and the cool thing is their applications are birds' names. I plan to do this because this site is basically a digital media playground. The image editing tool is aptly named "Pheonix." Pheonix is basically Photoshop, the interface is identical. Being new, there are some kinks that need to be worked out. Avairy applications are web-based, meaning that users may have to wait for the feature or function to take effect for a few seconds or minutes. The length of time you wait seems to depend on how detailed your altering is.

Avairy is expanding too. Soon Avairy will be a host site for many other applications such as video editor, audio editor, etc. Add this one to your Delicious bookmark account now!

Now, I mention Worth 1000. This site is where the best of the best learn and particpate in photoshop contests and tutorials. If you have ever gotten any emails with funny billboards or crazy pictures, they were photoshoped and likely cam from this website. Check out the Galleries too. Another website with photoshop is Planet Photoshop.com. This site has video tutorials that allow you learn and give you more ideas.

So you all the above - you will quickly go from a novie image editor to well versed. The main thing is now we don't have to be expert photographers to achieve an expert looking photo. We have great tools that do that job for us!

Are we riding a Ferris Wheel?

Okay, it's been awhile since I have blogged on my education blog. Now school is back in session, and many issues continue to warrant new blog posts.

I am wondering if we are advancing in education, if we are stagnant, are slowly moving forward or are we backpedaling? ? There has been many edu-blogs and websites regarding this question. Many experts agree that we need to move in a different direction, using Web 2.0 technology - and definitely not preventing its use in classrooms. The reason I ask is for the last four years it seems the school year has been like riding a Ferris Wheel repeatedly. You know the one, the same one at your annual carnival or fair you rode as a child. It looked so grand as a kid, but as you matured, it lacked its luster and you became disinterested with it because you knew it wasn't a good ride. It reminds me of certain issues in education. This may remind you - Ferris Wheel.

It always starts the same. You get on board, expecting a great ride. The teacher in-service meetings and preparatory meetings have the same ingredients. The school seems rich with enthusiasm and an abundance of promise. On a side note, I found it funny that some of my twitter followers and friends mentioned this subject of introductory meetings. How most of the time the administration will do a skit or something - every year. That is like the sign of the Ferris Wheel, with its neon glow blinding you with delight. It's the perfect marketing piece to get people aboard a ride and you do it, expecting great things.

The Ferris Wheel keeps moving along for the most part but sometimes gets stuck only to continue the same ride. Sometimes, if you were lucky enough, you'd stop at the very top of the Ferris Wheel when another passenger boarded the ride. This brief delay let you scan the carnival, giving you a chance to plot your next move. Midway maybe? Anyway, as your riding you realize its not that exhilarating or promising, the Ferris Wheel looks great through the neon misted haze on a dark overcast night. The ride, however, doesn't reflect the same promise. Can you blame us though? The source of light after all is seen (maybe subconsciously) as a source of comfort - remember being scared of the dark? Sometimes education mimics that idea. It seems you more often find enthusiasm quietly erodes away like the summer sun setting in the mountains.

It turns out the ride was good at first but you walk away hungry, wanting more. So, you get off the Ferris Wheel, or summer break happens. You search and reflect over the past year, creating new ideas. Once summer is over, it's time for school again. The carnival is back in town and you see the Ferris Wheel. I'm riding it again, hoping that the ride is improved from last year.

See you soon.

Skyping and Tweeting

Do you remember the idea of Pen Pals?  When I was in school we would have pen pals, students in other cities or countries.  We would write back and forth for a while and get to know eachother.  Somehow, it never really worked.  Now it does and it is called social networking.   Communicating with family, friends, colleagues, or any other VIP has never been easier thanks to the internet and web 2.0 technology.  Everyone knows about My Space and Facebook, but there are other sites that offer unique services for communication too. 

The first is Skype, an internet phone service that allows you to place free phone over the internet to other users currently on-line.  There is no cost, it is free and works with your ISP.  You can make regular calls and video calls.  This is a great way to keep in touch with family and friends that live out of town.  Did I mention it is FREE?  Once you download it you can begin connecting with others.  That is where I am at - trying to create my network via my address book.  So, my user profile is "JillandJeremy"  give me a test call once you are online!

Second is Twitter.  When you use this site you are "tweeting."  Basically, this site is an instant/text message service.  You can text message now on your PC or Mac.  You again create a user profile, then start finding and connecting with friends.  You may experience capacity issues because so many users are utilizing this service.  Don't hesitate, check into this and look me up "jnielsen."  

Happy skyping and tweeting. 

Education Today - what are the trends?

I recently viewed a video on You Tube regarding how education is performing - or underperforming - for the students of today.  The title of the video is "A Vision of Students Today".  Try to view this through the lens of education, from your personal background and experience.  

I'd also suggest to view it through a teaching lens.

There is already good comments on you tube, but I'd like to continue the thoughts on this video here as well.  See you soon.

  

Web 2.0.

I have been trying to learn as much as possible about the emerging Web 2.0 for educational purposes.   The problem is remembering all of the really useful websites,  - and your ever important account logins!!!! So, after a few months, I realized the importance of social bookmarking.  This helps the first issue of remembering your websites.

I recommend you get a Del.icio.us account.  Creating a del.icio.us account will enable you to bookmark your favorite sites and let you access those bookmarks via any computer you are using.  You are no longer restricted to bookmarking to your personal computer, be it Mac or PC - it is now accessible from anywhere!     

As far as remembering all of your user account information - ie passwords and usernames, I would get a second email address - or Gmail for me - specifically or emails regarding you account confirmation emails and so forth.

So step 1) - get a Del.icio.us account to bookmark your favorite sites and access them anywhere; and 2) create a Gmail or Yahoo account solely for your account confirmations and web research/learning.

See you soon . . . . .