A collection of photography and exploration focusing on Upstate South Carolina and beyond.
Several years ago (before I began my current job) I created a diagram for Instructional Technology to help categorize various types of software for the Constructivist Classroom. That diagram placed educational software tools into three main groups – data acquisition, data analysis, and data sharing. The focus was on software tools, not the kill-n-drill types … Read More “Updated Instructional Technology Diagram” »
While preparing for my talk at EdTech last week I stumbled across an announcement that Google Earth was releasing a huge new batch of images on October 3. During the talk I got a glimpse of these images, but was unable to explore them fully until I had a chance to sit down on a … Read More “New Google Earth Imagery” »
When I got back from Myrtle Beach yesterday the news was that every district in South Carolina had failed to meet Annual Yearly Progress (AYP) as required by No Child Left Behind. (GreenvilleOnline.com – School scores called flawed – (10/6/2006)). Let me repeat that – not a single school district in SC met AYP. Only … Read More “Failing NCLB” »
South Carolina passed a comprehensive Health and Wellness Education law in 2005. As a district we’re just now coming to terms with the ramifications of the law. One provision requires a minimum number of minutes of instruction in PE per week. Given the shortage of PE instructors and the shortage of available minutes, many districts … Read More “No more detention” »
Last night began with another vendor-sponsored dinner. I had the option of going on a cruise on the Intracoastal Waterway, or dinner and entertainment a nice restaurant. The thought of being stuck on a three-hour tour with no escape didn’t appeal to me as much. I opted for a venue with a way out, especially … Read More “Night of the Straight Pipes” »
During my EdTech presentation I fielded several questions about the supposedly topless sunbathers one might find in Google Earth. My comment at the time was that indeed, I had seen the placemark, and if someone wanted to claim that peachy colored blob was a topless sunbather, then so be it. I personally think it’s a … Read More “Nudity Prudity” »
I got up a bit later than yesterday – 6:00 AM this time. I spent a good bit of time working on my presentation for later in the afternoon, so I actually missed the first session at 8:00. At 9:00 the exhibits opened, so I went to see the vendors. This always turns into more … Read More “EdTech 2006 – Day 2” »
Dancing Geeks Question: What happens when you put a bunch of techno geeks on a dance floor? Answer: They form arrays.
One thing Myrtle Beach does have in abundance is nice places to eat breakfast. Pancake houses line highway 17. After a fitful night of sleep, I started my morning with an excellent breakfast buffett at one of said houses, then headed over to the convention center. Today was pre-conference, which usually means a day-long meeting … Read More “EdTech 2006 – Day 1” »
Our presentation to the principals about new attendance lines went much more smoothly than I could have imagined. The technology worked flawlessly, and the principals understood the constraints we wer under in drawing these first draft sets of plans. I better remember this feeling, because I’m sure the presentations to the board and public will … Read More “MB Bound” »