Category: EdTech

Forget what I said yesterday about the relevancy of a Tech Boot Camp for today’s teachers. Ours went extremely well today, and we got a tremendous amount of feedback that would support continuing with our present strategy.

For the past five years, we have had a “Technology Boot Camp” in our district for new employees. I started this so that all teachers would start off with good, consistent training in our system so that they could jump right in. Originally, the Boot Camp was a two-day affair, and covered things such as policies & procedures, the district e-mail system, technology resources in the district, basic computer operations, and integration of technology into lesson plans. As we evaluate the program each year, we have trimmed the Boot Camp, and this year I’m beginning to question its effectiveness.

I gave the vendors grief yesterday with my “Drinking Game.” Understand that this was all in satire, making fun of the contrived environment of a convention exhibition floor. We maintain many partnerships with local and national vendors, and without them our program could not exist. Vendor leech – note box of trinkets, and red hat … Read More “More Vendor Observations” »

Today was spent consorting with the big gurus of EdTech.  I first went to the keynote with Joel Barker.  My impression – he’s full of it.  Regardless of how much research and effort goes into a presentation, when they start making up words and base their presentation on those words, then they’ve lost me.  For … Read More “David Thornburg vs Kathy Schrock” »

David Weinberger is a fellow with Harvard’s Institute for the Internet and Society.  His keynote address did everything an opening keynote is supposed to do – challenge and inspire.  Here are my pitiful attempts to summarize his remarks, hoping that I get most of the salient points… Traditionally the shape of knowledge is dendritic, as … Read More “The New Shape of Knowledge” »

Observation one First session – Death by Powerpoint.  My first choice for concurrent sessions did not show up, so I headed to the second session.  I had high hopes for “Contemporary Multimedia Projects”, hoping to see what new directions projects were taking beyond Powerpoint and HyperStudio.  It turned out to be Death by Powerpoint.  When … Read More “NECC 2005 – first observations” »

OK, there isn’t any adult beverage available, but if there were… 1.  Take a drink every time you see the phrase "Changing the way…" or "Changing the face of". 2.  Take a drink for every cool trinket you score. 3.  Take two drinks for every cool trinket you score without having to sacrifice your vital … Read More “Exhibitors Drinking Game” »

The Webquest, developed by Bernie Dodge and Tom Marsh, turns 10 this year.  The first model was developed in early 1995.  In this morning’s session with Bernie Dodge, Dr. Dodge listed several reasons why teachers either don’t create webquests, or don’t maintain and/or use the materials once created.  His solution is the creation of an … Read More “Bernie Dodge – Overcoming Obstacles to WebQuests” »

When I was a teacher, the last day of school meant something.  As much as I like working with kids, I looked forward to a time away from them.  I knew I would usually still be working over summer on something school-related, but it would be a change.  Since becoming an administrator, the beginning and … Read More “Summer Begins” »

Just in case you missed it, today is… I guess if you are reading this on April 20, you don’t plan to participate.  I’m guessing by now that you’ve figured out that I’m not participating because I posted this message today. I’m not sure that a Blackout is the way to emphasize the importance of … Read More “Technology Black Out Day” »