Can teachers provide equal access to the digital world to all students.

I have to say, Yes! Anything we put our mind to is possible. I don't think 20 years ago we could have even imagine the explosion of information and technology that has occurred. I may be an optimist, but if teachers and communities made it a priority, it can be done. I've been involved in alot of fundraising for my children's school community.....this year the play I co-produced raised $8,000. The KidsArt fundraiser a friend of mine and myself raised $3,600. If everyone is willing to put themselves out there and donate time and elbow grease, this can be done if we can agree it is a priority. Chapter 4 showed me how much free info and software there is available...I had no idea. Of course it is possible if computers are purchased for schools....or donated.....companies like PC Connection donate old computers all the time for use in schools. What if students were allowed to bring laptops home...so it was made available to them at home too? We can tap into these corporate donations as well as our own fundraising efforts. I was quite interested to learn that hackers lead the way to this availability of free info and software. And even more excited to read the contributions by the Artificial Intelligence Lab at MIT. My children's First Lego League just got a tour of this lab this year, and we met some of these amazing dedicated grad students. Think positive everyone.....it can be done!

2nd K-12 Conference....Jen Wagner from Dec 2009 - If You Host It, They Will Come....starting online projects

This conference was very interesting and I highly recommend it to any students in this class who are actual teachers now with their own classroom. Jen Wagner gives great advice on project planning, where ideas come from...and laying out a project starting from topic, to reason/goals, objectives, timeline, collaboration, collecting results, review and thanks. She lists many online locations to start the project....ones I've never heard of, and will hopefully explore someday when I become a teacher! Places like Flicker, Skype Voice Thread. And online ways to promote, like Twitter, Nings, etc. She recommends a site called Global Schoolhouse to register your project so others can find it. And also shows you how to use Google Forms to set up questions and later collect the data. Wow, very useful from start to finish. She ends with example projects currently being done by other teachers. Check it out!

K-12 Conference - E. Helfant Dec 2009 Leading the Change

Tonight I listened to 2 k-12 Conferences. The first was Leading the Change...Self Driven and Classroom based:Professional Development. It talked mostly about focusing on classroom...mainly just common sense advice when bombarded with so much technology out there to choose from. It was actually good to hear and be reminded of, though it seemed like a long conversation with same points being repeated. But again, good to be reminded. Teachers must know themselves first, their style...solid understanding of context, where technology fits in. In order to make the most of network/technology we still must be rooted in classroom, as she says. Collaboration with other teachers, 2 or 3 would be beneficial at this point.

What can we gain through collaboration?

I'm not sure with whom you mean....maybe teachers reaching out using this technology? Well if so, I'm learning you can gain alot. Information, resources, ideas. Teachers can feel connected to a community of other teachers and get information they need to be even better. They can be given great resources to share with their students....websites for kids and parents to explore information on science, math, local community events, history, etc. Ideas for field trips. The theater director at my kids' middle school reaches out to a school in Hudson and the 2 schools go to each other's yearly shows. A great way to feel connected with another community.....especially for middle schoolers who are struggling with identity issues. It seems like any job or project I have had in my past has always turned out better when I have been able to reach out to others for help and feedback. Teamwork brings people to table with different strengths and makes group stronger. Teachers willing to reach out and collaborate will get same benefits.

Latest Ed Tech Talk..so tonight I listened to show from April 15, 2010...Seedlings Show with Emily Hunt of Common Sense Media. I don't know if any of the other students in this class has kids, but wow, did I wish I knew about this before now! www.commmonsense.org. Emily talked about her project and website created 6 years ago providing info for parents regarding tv, movies, video games...and now also facebook, cell phones, etc. For example..the show Glee...I can't believe they mentioned this. My 13 year old daughter watches it, occasionally. I have a problem with this show, and usually watch it with her. The music is great, for young teen, but show has very often has mature teens. Her website talks about how this show is trying to have it all...the young teen, High School Musical kids, and young adults with mature situations. It annoys me, but my daughter loves the musical numbers being a theater kid. So I'm torn...we watch together and discuss, or she just watches music part of show on you tube. Anyway, great resource. They provide this info to teachers....and help teachers set up parent info sessions at school. She also talked about partnership with Cooney (spelling?) center....doing a study on how digital media effects learning....and with Harvard school of Ed on how Digital Media affects moral develepment of kids. All fascinating stuff....I'm hooked! Thanks!

K12 Online Conference - Googlio

So I watched the 2009 Kicking it up a Notch...Jose Rodriguez Dec 18, 2009...Googlio. This was a great one to start with. I liked some of his catchy phrases and his info regarding ease of use of some of Googles' services...the WYSIWYG aspect. I created a website for Children of Eden rehearsals after years of PTA doing it through PTA website, I decided to create my own for ease of use and the control I could have over it....immediate changes I could make instead of waiting for our website administrator...check it out sites.google.com/site/edenrehearsals. It was exactly as presented here....easy to use. I liked how he talked about pressure from outside to change has to be greater than pressure inside to stay the same....boy I felt that this year for sure...I've been battling it and the needs of this production and the desire to do the best job I could do broke that barrier for me. My kids hitting teen years and seeing them with such ease using all these technologies was also an inspiration. I see my mother so resistant and I don't want to be like that. My father so much more open to it. I have to read "The World is Flat" and "A Whole New Mind" referenced also in our textbook for this class. I also liked the chart with change and time as axis....My children Digital Natives....and their Mom moving from Digital Refugee to Digital Immigrant.....yippee! Googlio....new term....'Ain't it Good'...yes! (Children of Eden inside joke - OK, I'll let you in on it....one of best songs in show)

Why should we integrate tech into lessons?

It' s a new world then when I grew up. My children and all children now will need to know this technology to succeed in college, the workplace, and maybe even to feel connected on a personal level. Though I resisted it for a long time, I'm becoming more comfortable. Like with anything, moderation. We still need to pick up the phone, meet face to face, tell people we care for them in person. But facebook, twitter, blogs, email, texting can be helpful, fun, informative, educational. At school kids can learn to access information, make connections with other students, feel like they can contribute. Maybe this will help dissipate fears of strange people and places...break through barriers of religion, race and culture. I hope so. The purpose of course is to do all these things. I hope to continue to reflect on these topics moving forward...and whenever I feel overwhelmed, step back and think of these benefits to myself, my children and the world around me.