May
31
2005
Sweet 16, Boo-YA!
Show Notes:
Like the background music? It’s mine.
In this podcast I also respond to comments by Flint and Deb.
I have several podcast directories to reccomend:
And I wrapped things up by plugging these podcasts:
- Tips from the Top Floor – A must listen for anyone interested in improving their skill with a digital camera.
- Teach42.com – The home of Steve Dembo: The man, the myth, the legend.
- Connect Learning – Another great project by David Warlick. This man’s really got his hands full!
- History According to Bob – All the cool history that we didn’t learn in school … but should have.
May
30
2005
No podcast this time (perhaps tomorrow, I do have some things to talk
about…), but I just took some time to play around with GarageBand to
make some
new background music.
Now I’m not saying that I dislike the
background music I’ve been using recently, but I felt it was time for a
change for two reasons: 1) I could do it and 2) I like being
able to depend less on the efforts of others.
The time may very
well come soon where I begin to show case musicians in my podcasts again,
but for now I’d like to just toot my own horn (figuratively speaking,
since there aren’t any horns in
this song).
I hope you like it.
May
25
2005
Don’t blame me for this little foray into random listing of things, blame Steve Dembo for emailing me. I promise to return to the usual topics of conversation after this.
| Well, there’s another meme going around. I participated and have picked you five to pass it along to. So if you want to participate in a schoolyard game of tag, please feel free to answer the following questions on your blog. If you hate this sort of thing and find it childish and lame, feel free to delete the email and never think about it again!
Here’s what you need to list -
First 5 Songs in Shuffle of Entire Music Library
Toccata et Fugue (D minus Mix) – KRYPTONIC
The Remedy (I Won’t Worry) – Jason Mraz
Appalachian Spring-Variations on a Shaker Hymn – Aaron Copland (Detroit Symphony Orchestra)
My Girlfriend – Reliant K
Warp – Yuki Kajiura (.Hack soundtrack)
Current Book You are Reading (or lightly leafing through)
Digital Photography Hacks – Not everything in this book is really a “hack” per se, but it’s still a good book for anyone interested in being serious with a digital camera (even a cheaper digital).
Last Movie Seen in a Theater and Where
Hoo boy, that was a while ago …. I think it was “Master of Disguise” and it was in a theater just outside of Reading, PA.
Five People To Whom You’ll Pass This
I’d rather not write all their names here (I’m not sure how they would feel about me doing so), but It’ll mostly be family and friends outside of the school setting. |
May
24
2005
Beware the ides of … podcasting
Show Notes:
A Basement of Broken Dreams – An album by John Holowach, hosted on archive.org. I used his song called
My Piano Sings (Part 3).
Thanks for the listener mail, Steve! Comments are always appreciated.
CreativeCommons.org – A nice site for anyone who wants to share their works without making it public domain.
Yahoo! Creative Commons Search – use Yahoo’s search engine to look for things licensed under Creative Commons.
Lawrence Lessig – an author, blogger, and supporter of Creative Commons licensing.
May
23
2005
I recently revisited Ender’s Game, a very decent sci-fi story, if somewhat unbelievable when it comes to child psychology.
I’d already read the book once, but that was back before I was a teacher. Back then, it just struck me as an enthralling story with plenty of plot twists. (I was once told that the art of writing a good story involves creating a character you like and then visiting hardships upon that character. Ender’s Game does just that.)
But now I’ve been teaching for a few years and I have a lot more tech experience under my belt. When I went back to read the story one of the first things that struck me was that everyone had a computer.
Everyone.
Sure, the students called them “desks,” but really they were tricked out wireless laptops. Even before Ender left Earth to learn in the high tech battle school it was obvious that the 1:1 student to computer ratio wasn’t just present, it was expected. There were no books, save for the electronic files the students could access. The internet was still in it’s infancy when the book was written, but Orson Scott Card had gotten a fleeting taste of it and imagined a world where students could find ways to communicate with the world over the ‘nets. The “anonymity” of the internet was present as well, and in fact played a key role in the story along with self-paced life long learning.
So why am I talking with this? No reason, I suppose. I just thought it was cool that even in 1977 (the book’s earliest copyright date) there were pioneers who were thinking about what computers could do for education.
May
18
2005
It’s the 14th! Valentine’s day!
… no, wait, it’s the 14th podcast. Sorry about that.
Show Notes:
A Basement of Broken Dreams – An album by John Holowach, hosted on archive.org. I used his song called
My Piano Sings (Part 3).
If you don’t push the students you’ll always have good results, but if you push the students then they will LEARN.
When sending email about the art schedule, some messages aren’t finding their way to my gmail account. Chalk it up to computer glitch or user error, but art sign-ups were up 100 percent so I still think my system works.
Podcast Alley: Education Podcasts – Lots of good podcasts here, many of them much better than my own. I recommend casting your vote for
Connect Learning (ranked 13th place), or the one for which I cast my vote:
Teach42 (ranked 4th place). Either of these is worth a spot at number 1.
May
17
2005
Lucky 13!
Show Notes:
A Basement of Broken Dreams – An album by John Holowach, hosted on archive.org. I used his song called
My Piano Sings (Part 3).
Egad! How the heck did I make 10th place in
Podcast Alley’s education section? I mean, I appreciate it and all, but how did that happen? To those of you who are listening / reading this, some comments on why you keep coming back would be greatly appreciated.
I think the biggest hurdle we must overcome if we want teachers to catch on to podcasts is the fact that it’s still a little too technical. If we try to throw everything we know at someone all at once they won’t get any of it. People digest things better with small bites.
Teachers need to stop lecturing and start performing. Walk around the classroom, tell jokes, make silly voices, and so on. It may sound goofy, but if get your students’ attention then they’re more likely to learn.
May
13
2005
I’m thinking of opening I’ve opened up a CafePress account and started putting some Blog / Podcast / Geek / Teacher / Artist / etc. designs up there. Everything’s being sold “at cost,” so CafePress makes a profit but I don’t. Why? because I’m not that interested in making money here. I just want to get these designs out.
In any case, I’m trying to think of some good slogans. So far, I have:
- Blogs in Education: Share the Kool-Aid.
- Podcasts in Education: Share the Kool-Aid.
- Ask me about my podcast.
- I podcast, therefore I am.
- Art Class: It’s not just a 2nd recess anymore.
- Have you blogged today?
- Have you read a blog today?
- My MP3s are legal.
- Have you told a teacher about podcasting today?
- Have you told a teacher about blogging today?
I’ll be posting pictures to Flickr as well. If anyone wants to make their own shirt with my design or wants me to design something with a slogan of their own invention, let me know.
Anyone else have some good ideas?
May
13
2005
12th podcast, now there’s one for every month! (But if you only listen to one podcast a month you’re not truly taking full advantage of the media, are you?)
Show Notes:
A Basement of Broken Dreams – An album by John Holowach, hosted on archive.org. I used his song called
My Piano Sings (Part 3).
BlogMeister – a blogging engine for teachers and students created by David Warlick. I highly recommend that you also check out his other sites, including
his blog and
his podcasts.
CafePress.com – they make stuff with your designs. You can use it just for fun, or perhaps for a fundraiser. I already have
two three designs up, if you care to look at them:
Podcasts in Education: Share the Kool-Aid,
Ask me about my podcast, and
My mp3s are legal.
Podcast Alley: Education Podcasts – C’mon, you know
you want to vote for me … right?
May
12
2005
Eleventh place is the 10th looser, but only if it’s a contest.
Show Notes:
A Basement of Broken Dreams – An album by John Holowach, hosted on archive.org. I used his song called
My Piano Sings (Part 3).
Take a survey, win a pro account for Flickr.
Positive mental attitudes are contagious, as are negative ones. Which type are you spreading?
CafePress.com – they make stuff with your designs. You can use it just for fun, or perhaps for a fundraiser.
Podcast Alley: Education Podcasts – C’mon, you know
you want to vote for me … right?
