Seeking the Wisdom of the Ages Through Our Student’s Eyes

So I’m about a week behind in writing this recap up, but I did do it for the DEN blog so I cannot be totally chastised about it. It was about this time last week that I was sitting here in my office with sweat beads coming down my head and back doing the WOW 2.0 show. Cheryl Oakes kept insisting I go and turn my fan on, I just didn’t want to add to any background noise. I survived, I made it through somewhat unscathed, and was honored to get some great direct messages from colleagues on Twitter that I look up to and admire professionally.

I was in the chat room. I had intended to ‘try’ and keep up with it. When I saw how FAST it actually went, that thought went away pretty quickly. So first things first, I’m going to try and answer some of the questions posed in the chat that I don’t think were covered in the show, so here goes:

• 21:01:52 sendkathy Anyone here going to FECT next month? Kathy…I will be at FETC all three days. I will probably be wearing my Discovery Educator Network shirts (yellow and light blue)
• 21:18:58 SSedro in Singapore Oh Tom, all four tech coordinators in my district feel exactly the same way. We all want to be working with kids and teachers, not fixing things and pushing paper. Ok, though not really a question, a comment worth copy/pasting here. The more and more that I try to get in the classrooms with teachers, the more and more I get sucked into tech. support and what I like to call ‘hand holding’. Frustration at this point happens when I try to empower my teachers to solve issues on their own, yet I find myself failing at this task. I think of it this way, how can we expect our students to seek and discover solutions to problems on their own, if we are unwilling to do so on our own. It’s a double edged sword.
• 21:20:44 WOScholar We went wifi campus wide for PK - 5. Expect to have 6-8 done within the next month. THen we will have a cloud over our district campuses. I was paid a visit by a colleague from another school. They are having a new campus built, as theirs dates back to the 1920’s. The design will be exactly similar to my building. I advised him about activating all the ports available in the classrooms as the wireless is very flaky at times, and not to be trusted. It seems that the district has seen the error in their ways and are not even installing but a few wireless access points in the new buildings. It is IDEAL to have the wireless available, but not to run the entire network over it. Reliability and efficiency IMO goes way down.
• 21:22:36 CathyN @tom do the kids have email accts? Not at this time they do not. Our district is rolling out to the schools slowly use of gaggle.net email for our students. At this time High School accounts have been created. We’ve been told that at the elementary level, they did not purchase all the bells and whistles that gaggle.net has. I will be slowly adding this in, as I said in the show, I’m working one at a time with teachers rather than as a whole getting everyone on board.
  
• 21:24:10 sendkathy I like Tom’s approach, core people Again, I try to appeal to the basic nature of meeting people’s intrinsic needs. To newer adapters, what we might call a tool, to them it is still a toy. It’s like walking into a TV production studio for the first time and just hooting and hollering and having a good time. It’s the same concept. Once they get over the ‘newness’ of it, the true test begins of molding the use of technology into their everyday lessons. My district uses a similar approach to completing levels of technology proficiency. For each of the 3 levels completed, there is an incentive attached to it (1 gb flash drive, scanner, laptop or LCD projector). Again, intrinsic needs are being met, and new technology is being exposed.
• 21:26:01 jepcke Wikis are my ‘easy’ website builder of choice I have to say that I agree. With regards to working with the younger children than I’ve been used to, the wiki has been a blessing in disguise. They’ve picked it up quick, and without many errors. (http://mrflynn.pbwiki.com is what we’re doing in 4th Grade class at the moment).
• 21:28:46 WOScholar What does Tom find the easiest thing to integrate with primary teachers? A variety of things have been quite simple at integrating with primary teachers. My school right now is HEAVY into using ‘Thinking Maps’ within the daily context of learning. Inspiration has been great at utilizing the thinking map concepts along with images and audio files. I will be holding a short 30 minute session this Friday for my teachers on integrating Inspiration with Discovery streaming. So should be a greater use of both tools come next week, or at least I hope so.
• 21:30:44 megormi Tom in a perfect world, what tech support do you feel every building should have? I’m not really sure I answered this question the way you were asking it Meg. I’ve heard of some districts that share one tech person between several campuses. When I took my position about this time last year, the previous tech guy was just a ‘tech guy’ with no educational experience. As I said during the show, I try to resolve almost all calls within 2 hours. Some days that does not happen, then I have to prioritize which ticket comes first. The other thing that I think is a MUST, is that schools need to hire people in my position with some sort of educational background that will TRULY understand the needs of the teachers, rather than just ‘talk down on them’ like so many horror stories that are out there.
• 21:35:45 Art Gelwicks OR…tech administration who will listen to the needs of the teaching staff and find ways to help rather than just fix the tech. Art, I would go a step further and say just Administration in general. Administration in my estimation is stuck in the dark ages, and not willing to invest the time and energy. So I have to tend to agree with your assessment.
• 21:36:21 Durff can we exchange this guy for our IT person like yesterday? That’s not the first time I’ve heard this statement. Not really a question, but had to post this comment from the chatlog.
• 21:36:33 lizbdavis Has Tom been reading my blog - I’ve been thinking the same things about teaching teachers to fish. Finding constructivist ways to do PD. Unfortunately I’ve not been reading very many blogs at all. I will have to remember to click the link in Twitter to get your blog added to my RSS. Also, skype me (tom.turner19) would LOVE to chat with you regarding some other ideas.
• 21:36:49 jeffmason @Tom one person for tech support, one person for educational support Jeff, in the ideal world for me this would be the case. The district in which my wife works (one county over) they have their technology integration specialists and Tech Support personnel blocked off into 2 different positions. Really what it amounts to is funding. I’m caught between a rock and a hardplace in my district, where I’m classified as a teacher, so I have to do ‘duties’ that take me away from what my job description is supposed to cover.
• 21:37:43 Art Gelwicks I’ve worked with some educators with good intentions but not a clue about technology. “Teach ‘em to Fish”…the only way their good intentions will turn into positive results.
• 21:40:51 CathyN @tom why do u love edublogs–ive had beefs How much do I love thee edublogs, let me count thy ways??? Actually a great question Cathy. First, edublogs is not blocked by my district, so if I’m in need of checking something, or beginning a post while at school I have that ability. I’ve been pleased with the level of support that I’ve received from James when I’ve had issues. To the point where he’s emailed me directly to help solve the issues. I’m a loyalist at heart, and until I no longer receive a level of service that I cannot be happy with, I stick with it. I don’t change the theme of my blog that often, so the # of themes available is not that big of an issue to me. Also, the plugins that are available all work wonderful for me. However, I cannot argue against when someone has had problems in the past. With anything tech, each person will have a differing opinion, and they will find what works for them and stick with it.
• 21:40:48 Sue Waters (Australia) Agreed blackboard is not bloging I know that, you know that, but my district doesn’t. However, with anything, I have to abide by the rules laid out in front of me. Change will come, albeit too slow for me.
• 21:43:57 jeffmason @Tom I’m from Pensacola FL. Look into the Florida Master Digital Educator program http://etc.usf.edu/mde/ I’ve applied. I’ve sent my application in for the third year in a row now. Here’s hoping the third time is the charm.

I’m going to go out on a limb here and wonder HOW in the world you guys listen and keep up with the chat at the same time. Amazing !! Please feel free to post any questions that didn’t get asked during the show here and I will create a new post answering your questions. Again, I have to send out a HUGE thanks to the 4 Women of Web 2.0 (Cheryl, Vicki, Sharon and Jen: in no particular order of course) I’ve truly enjoyed the experience and hope to do it again sometime.

Seeking the Wisdom of the Ages…

Tom.

Technorati Tags: WOW2.0 edtech technology education techsupport IT TomTurner

Cross posted on the Florida DEN Blog, as well as Danielle Abernethy’s tie4teachers blog.

Received word from Darlene Wolfe here in the Orange County, FL area of an event that might be beneficial to some of you. If you are interested please read further on below the images.

Educators, guidance counselors and administrators may register on line at http://www.fdmec.org/registration/event_012208.htm . More information for this free program is at the registration site ( http://www.fdmec.org and select register for January 22nd event). Since we do have a cut off point due to the size of the meeting area, participants will receive an email confirmation for them to print and show as both parking pass and free entrance to the Science Center.

The program begins with optional tours of Otronicon and the Orlando Science Center . Otronicon explores gaming, simulation and digital media in education and entertainment. A networking hour with snacks follows. Then, we have presentations from educators involved in the changes, industry professionals who will share what they look for in employees, and an update on the Digital Media Banner Center to be housed at Seminole Community College and on the coming programs, and changes in secondary and PSAV digital media curriculum.

Seeking the Wisdom of the Ages…

Tom.

Technorati Tags: FETC edtech gaming education technology

This is it, my first post of the New Year, 2008. Looking back at the past year, I can say it’s been a WHIRLWIND of a year. I started 2007 as a classroom teacher. It was about this time last year that I interviewed for the Technology Specialist position that I’m currently holding down. It was also about this time that the Florida DEN Leadership Council was taking off, which brought responsibilities as a blogger for the DEN network of teachers for Florida.

I also saw myself going to FETC, NECC, Discovery’s Summer Leadership Seminar (on a cruise ship no less) and TechLearning Orlando (where I got to finally see David Jakes and David Warlick speak in person, and to see my good friend and colleague Kay Teehan present on digital storytelling, again!) Along the way I’ve made MANY new friends and contacts within the realm of educational technology. I can’t say one has been most helpful, or intriguing, or dynamic or special, because everyone I’ve come in contact with has been great.

Just before the new year rang on, I also saw myself begin to play World of Warcraft again. For all you WoW’ers out there, I’m Mithryss (Mithrass was already taken darnit!), a Blood Elf Priest, on the Zul’jinn Server. If you have never played WoW then you are probably not understanding any of the stuff I just mentioned, that’s okay! If you are a player, do let me know. I know that Evan Scherr is playing, as well as John Pederson.

The other big WOW is pretty humbling really. I don’t often get to listen to the show live, but it IS on my podcast feed and listen to it whilest I’m out walking, and I am speaking of the Women of Web 2.0 show. Back in late June, I ventured as I said to NECC 2007 in Atlanta, GA. I arrived a day early hoping to be able to go to edubloggercon, but that didn’t work out. Travel plans made that not happen. But ISTE decided to put up a little ole place called ‘The Blogger’s Cafe’. I figured, I’m a blogger, I can sit in there too. I can type up my session reflections for my blog, maybe talk to a person or two. I’d met Jen Wagner earlier that day at the DEN precon event held over at Stone Mountain. It was a case of mutual, “I’ve been wanting to meet up with yous” so that there was not a clear cut winner. Out of our conversations that day, and in the Blogger’s Cafe, she asks if I would be interested in coming onto the WOW 2.0 show. I said sure, not knowing what I’d be getting myself in for. Well, the date we talked about is closing in on us FAST. I will be their guest speaker this Tuesday. I’m very much looking forward to it.

And I’m going to close with this. I can finally say that my gaming life has met up with my professional life.Since 1999 when I joined “The Syndicate” (online gamings PREMIER GUILD), we’ve use IRC as our main communication tool. Tonight, the edublogosphere has finally hit the old school and continued some great conversations from Twitter, rolling right into IRC. Please email me @ thomas.turner@polk-fl.net if you wish a copy of it.

Seeking the Wisdom of the Ages…

Tom.

Technorati Tags: WorldofWarcraft WOW2.0 WomenofWeb2.0 Twitter edublogosphere IRC

Last week I shared a Neverending Tale wiki project I’m working on with a fourth grade class (http://mrflynn.pbwiki.com). Tuesday when I introduced the wiki to the students, we advised the students that everything wouldn’t be ready for them to begin until they returned back from winter holidays.

So what do I find when I go to the wiki to start editing some new writing prompts for the students? Half of the class adding their portions to the story. These are students who every Thursday are being told they NEED to write a 5 paragraph essay as an FCAT practice. They do it begrudgingly, with from what I’m told, a heck of a lot of bellyaching. This resistance on their part justifies the premise that students who are given the task to ‘write for an audience’ will write, and write more often.

This being our first foray into this type of project the writing is raw. Heck, we’ve not even started the pre-writing learning centers and blogging. Time will tell how this turns out. Both the classroom teacher and myself have high hopes.

Seeking the Wisdom of the Ages…

Tom.

A couple years ago, my media specialist shared with me a link to “The Neverending Tale“. At the time it was up and running, I’d have to say it was late 2004. At the time, I wasn’t ready to embrace its use. Having really just made the jump into educational technology.

Earlier this week I came across this article on TechCrunch. It really did pique my interest to the point of, how can I get something like this to be done on my campus. Here’s the basic concept. “Twittories” uses the 140 character limit imposed by Twitter to create a work of fiction. Much like “The Neverending Tale” from the late 90s - early 2000s did.

Here’s my problem: Twitter is blocked by my district. So that’s out. This is a shout out to all in my network of friends and colleagues. I’d like to start something like this, small of course, working with one of my 4th grade classrooms, as 4th Grade is the year that their writing is assessed by the state. At this time I do not have access to anything like Blackboard, nor know enough about Moodle to begin to fathom trying to create something. I’ve looked at the Moodle site, to me, very confusing. I am sure I can ask a friend of mine to host web space for me, is that what I’d need to use something like Moodle? (Here’s hoping there’s a session on Moodle @ FETC that I can sit in on) .

What are some other alternatives that I could use here. Again, this is a call for advice. Any and all would be greatly appreciated.

Seeking the Wisdom of the Ages.

Tom.

Technorati Tags: education technology edtech twitter twittories

First things first. A game. Who sings the song that I’ve entitled my blog post after today. Winner with the first reply gets a….my undying devotion?

My head’s been all over the place over the last week. I’ll honestly say that I refrained from even opening up my dashboard page for fear that I would type more negative material. Yes, my last post was negative. I’m trying, I really am. I’ve had some great conversations with great friends to help me keep my focus on the true prize.

We had a great photostory 3 workshop on my campus Monday evening. Many thanks to Karen Seddon who is coming out every month. (Last month was Audacity, this month was Photostory 3). The good news is that 5 of my teachers showed up. The bad news was the amount of complaining from teachers that the workshop was so late in the day. Yes, it was after school. All five of the attendees were newer adapters, even going so far as saying they are true, green newbies. That’s okay. Baby Steps. I’d forgotten the importance of that little mantra.

We have a 5th Grade teacher on campus that has been doing research projects, the old fashioned way. Let’s research, and oh yea, let’s write about 4 pages about what you’ve researched. Notice, not what they’ve learned. I tasked her with finding a way to spice up her project outcome. For the most part, she obliged. Instead of a paper, she offered her students a choice of a powerpoint or a display board. Progress. YES! That’s not the end. Begging would be an appropriate way to say what I did. I begged her to come to the PD on Monday night. Happy to report that her project outcome has changed again, with a due date pushed back to the end of January. We’ve discussed dates/times to come in and teach the students how to use Photostory 3 to create their own stories.

As described by me in previous postings, her reply to the school based mantra of “there’s no time for such projects like this” was this: “I don’t care, these students NEED to learn how to research and create something.” I should also note that this is an educator that has been teaching for almost 15 years. Baby Steps!

I have another post brewing in my head. More on that later, don’t want to get them confused.

Seeking the Wisdom of the Ages.

Tom.

Technorati Tags: PD education technology edtech photostory3