Recent del.icio.us Links
Written during last Wednesday’s thunderstorm-induced power outage (which gave us off on Thursday…), and recorded during tonight’s thunderstorm, I talk a bit about how the “old” should not always be replaced by the “new.”
Back when I taught high school, I was often in buildings that were fed by middle and elementary schools that did not hold art education in high esteem. This meant that I had to tailor my lessons to cover things most students learn in their K-8 years but make them interesting for a high school audience.
It also meant that I was able to make a list of things that, once I eventually taught elementary, would be able to drill into my students to prevent premature baldness and graying amongst the high school art teachers.
This list included the following five things:
People are not sticks. (I don’t mind if a 3rd grader tries to draw a person and it doesn’t turn out, but a 3rd grader drawing a stick figure isn’t even trying.)Granted, I didn’t cover these things in every grade and every lesson. Not all students are developmentally able to comprehend my little list, and I still have room in my curriculum to do lessons that are more fun than they are nitpicky.
But at least by the time they leave elementary school all of my students know:
My official curriculum is much more detailed than this, but I suppose these items are my “pet peeves,” if you will.
And this sort of got me thinking: Since I might become a technology teacher in a couple years, how will my list change? What are my technology pet peeves that I’ll feel I must cover, above and beyond the official standards?
I came up with something like this:
Well, that’s my list, at least. What’s yours?
Okay, maybe it’s just the kid in me but I totally want to make these with or without teaching it to my students.
Maybe it’s because I like making simple puppets, or perhaps it’s because I like combining photos with other things. Perhaps it’s because I just like playing with toys.
You know what? I think it’s all of the above.
But here’s a question for you - if you wanted to make one of these, whose head would you use? A personal hero? Family member? Your own? Let me know with a comment to this post. I’m curious.
(Oh, and I’m still waiting for someone to find the lie. Do you have a guess?)
Today’s show shares some more links, for your listening enjoyment.
Just audio this time. I have a dentist’s appointment tomorrow and I’m afraid that I will be unable to speak at all afterwards, or at least not well since my face may or may not be numb.
Aaaaaaaaaaaanyway, today’s ‘cast shares three links, all taken from this list of del.icio.us links that include the tag “teachers20.” (The tag was created so that the links could show up automatically in the Teachers2.0 Twitter feed, which is a lot more popular than I am. My creation has usurped me! …. oh well. We also have a Ning site, if you’re into that.)
As I mentioned in my last post, I’ll be presenting at next weekend’s Powering Up With Technology conference. My topic of choice this year involves using cameras in the classroom.
Any classroom.
Now I’ve used cameras to help me teach all kinds of subject areas, and I have ideas for even more ways to use them, but I also know a lot of you have used digital cameras in your classrooms in ways that I haven’t.
So I would like your input. If you have a moment, please check out my Digital Photography in Any Classroom wiki and see what I’ve left out.
I’m not asking for you to complete everything, of course, but if you have a lesson idea that worked well I’d love to hear about it. Hey, if the results of that lesson (or at least an example) are posted online, why not just add in a link to wherever they are?
I fully intend to continue editing this wiki up until (and including) (and past) the day of my presentation, but I would love to stand up there and tell my audience that the resource I’m providing was not just written by myself.
Just got this in my email today, and I’m very, very happy about it.
Aaron Smith
We are really looking forward to your presentation at the Powering Up With Technology Conference on Saturday, November 17, 2007. Registration will begin at 7:30 a.m. You are scheduled to present Digital Photography in Any Classroom in Classroom E 314 from 12:15-1:15. A computer and projection device will be provided in each room. You will also receive a continental breakfast and a complimentary box lunch.
This year our conference will again be held at Northwestern High School, 7000 Adelphi Road, Hyattsville, Maryland 20782, 301-985-1820. Northwestern High School will be available for a trial run Friday, Nov. 16th from 5-8pm and for set up Saturday Nov. 17th from 6:30 am.
The conference schedule on Saturday, November 17th:
7:30 - 8:15 Registration
8:15 - 9:15 1st Concurrent Session
9:30 - 11:00 Introductions & Keynote Address
11:15 - 12:15 Lunch & Vendor Walk
12:15 - 1:15 2nd Concurrent Session
12:15 - 2:30 2 Hour Hands-on Session
1:30 - 2:30 3rd Concurrent Session
2:45 - 3:45 4th Concurrent Session
4:00 - 4:30 Prize drawings in the Auditorium
A hospitality area will be set up in the Media Center where coffee and light refreshments will be available and materials may be stored.
This year, we would like to make conference handouts and presentations available online after the conference. If you would like your materials posted, please email them to PGCPS.PoweringUp [at] pgcps.org.
Directions:
Exit Beltway at New Hampshire Ave/Rt. 650, South, towards Takoma Park. Continue on New Hampshire Ave. to Adelphi Rd. and turn left. Continue on Adelphi Rd., cross University Blvd and pass the University of Maryland. Continue on Adelphi Rd. to school on the right.
I look forward to a very successful conference.
If you have any additional needs or concerns please contact me at: Christo.Fuller [at] pgcps.org or 301-386-1608 ext. 2250
Christopher Fuller
Conference Chairperson
A lot to say, but not a lot of time to type. This one’s a low quality car-cast done on my way home this afternoon.
Show Notes:
Yeah, I’ve been busy.
Sorry for the delay, now on with the show!
Show notes:
This presentation by Melinda Kolk is showcasing software by Tech4Learning. This isn’t the first time I’ve met up with someone from that company.
They have more than one product, the first they’re showing is a program called Frames that can be used to make animations out of still images. iMovie has the same functionality, but its interface isn’t designed specifically for that. Frames’ interface is.
She’s admitted that iMovie and Photostory have similar functionality. It’s not about the technology, it’s about how these kids are learning.
Each of these videos she’s showing is helping to reinforce “core” (I still dislike that label) content areas. Some of them involve cross-grade collaboration, which is neat.
