Tuesday, October 31, 2006
I managed to sift through the magazines, and I pulled out the current issue, November 2006 of NEAtoday. There were a few articles of interest to me, and relevant to our course.
The topic of this month's "Spotlight" article is "Plugging In" It highlights one school district in Indiana's goal to provide relevant Professional Development for teachers to increase their Digital Literacy. This "Digital Age Literacy Initiative" was funded by a grant from the Lilly Endowment to provide 21st century skills to teachers that will enable them to learn the skills their students were growing up with. Some comments by me regarding the article:
District/Administration- Embraced the project - It was a school-wide initiative, and not a one time shot-in-the-arm PD "class".
The grant was 5.9 million - School Districts cannot keep up on their own, the need for grants for funding initiatives has grown.
Train Peers as Coaches- Teaching peers worked side-by-side in the classroom with teachers to assist in embracing into the content of the curriculum.
I don't know who said it first, but I believe you have to;"...embrace change, it's the only thing we have to look forward to!"
More comments on "culturally repsonsive teaching" article, later!
The topic of this month's "Spotlight" article is "Plugging In" It highlights one school district in Indiana's goal to provide relevant Professional Development for teachers to increase their Digital Literacy. This "Digital Age Literacy Initiative" was funded by a grant from the Lilly Endowment to provide 21st century skills to teachers that will enable them to learn the skills their students were growing up with. Some comments by me regarding the article:
District/Administration- Embraced the project - It was a school-wide initiative, and not a one time shot-in-the-arm PD "class".
The grant was 5.9 million - School Districts cannot keep up on their own, the need for grants for funding initiatives has grown.
Train Peers as Coaches- Teaching peers worked side-by-side in the classroom with teachers to assist in embracing into the content of the curriculum.
I don't know who said it first, but I believe you have to;"...embrace change, it's the only thing we have to look forward to!"
More comments on "culturally repsonsive teaching" article, later!
Monday, October 30, 2006
Wow!! I just attended my first TALK offered by The Software Training School at Mediatech in Flemington. Bob Flisser was amazing!!!! This fast-paced tutorial came with a "cheat sheet" for me to remember how to do these shortcuts. The topic of this evenings talk was MS excel tips & shortcuts.
You can go to: http://tinyurl.com/yjpfc8 to listen & view a sample tutorial for excel.
The main website is www.nerdybooks.com
The Software Training School is offering these classes free as a community service.
If I wasn't so tired, I would have stayed for the next session (a repeat) to put those tips into my long-term memory.
Thank you Bob!
Regards,
Ursula
You can go to: http://tinyurl.com/yjpfc8 to listen & view a sample tutorial for excel.
The main website is www.nerdybooks.com
The Software Training School is offering these classes free as a community service.
If I wasn't so tired, I would have stayed for the next session (a repeat) to put those tips into my long-term memory.
Thank you Bob!
Regards,
Ursula
Here I sit @ MediaTech, a non-profit foundation located in Flemington, NJ. It's located above the Flemington Free Library, in Flemington, NJ.
The room is filled with people of all ages. Tweens, teens, & adults.
A volunteer sits at the registration desk, and takes my personal information. She uses a webcam to record my photo, and issue a card so I may borrow sw titles. Two at a time may be borrowed.
Free access to the internet is available, as well as, a library of thousands of sw titles. There are also learning toys by Fisher-Price, LeapPad/Frog,
Some teens are doing research/homework. The adults are perusing the internet, while the tweens are playing video games. There is bantering between the players, but they are playing different games.
Everyone is low key, and cooperating. There are few rules, but therre is a no bullying code.
It's a very interesting environment with the mix of ages.
I am waiting for my Tech TALK class to start @ 5:30 p.m. Thus far, I am the only one here, so it may be a tutorial!
The room is filled with people of all ages. Tweens, teens, & adults.
A volunteer sits at the registration desk, and takes my personal information. She uses a webcam to record my photo, and issue a card so I may borrow sw titles. Two at a time may be borrowed.
Free access to the internet is available, as well as, a library of thousands of sw titles. There are also learning toys by Fisher-Price, LeapPad/Frog,
Some teens are doing research/homework. The adults are perusing the internet, while the tweens are playing video games. There is bantering between the players, but they are playing different games.
Everyone is low key, and cooperating. There are few rules, but therre is a no bullying code.
It's a very interesting environment with the mix of ages.
I am waiting for my Tech TALK class to start @ 5:30 p.m. Thus far, I am the only one here, so it may be a tutorial!
Sunday, October 29, 2006
Whew! What a week! I am finally sitting down to blog. This blogging thing has really opened up my world. Every day, I travel within my own little circle, wjith a small sphere of influence. The web, blogging, email, and podcasting has allowed me to make more contacts than ever before. My communication and interaction with people has increased dramatically. There are many different groups of people I interact with on a daily basis. Geographically, we're around the globe, but only a keystroke away. Personally, I can chat with my family and friends. Professionally, I am in contact with parents, supervisors, and the community at large. I have varied interests, and the web allows me to tap into the vast resources available. Sometimes, sharing with an educator 3,000 miles away is easier and more open than collaborating with a peer next door!
I like the fact that by blogging, you are one communicating to many. It takes motivation on their part as to whether or not to connect with you.
I am also reconnecting with an old form of communication: the art of the letter.
I am enjoying building the muscle memory to create beautiful calligraphic letters. It takes practice, and a lot of ink! Being left-handed also complicates the matter, but as fortune would have it all of taking the class are lefties! How unusual is that.
The printed letter cannot compare to the sexiness of a hand-written letter. The curve of the letters, the spacing, and the flourishes are all personal. It is amazing that even with computers, calligraphy is still a popular Art form created today.
I like the fact that by blogging, you are one communicating to many. It takes motivation on their part as to whether or not to connect with you.
I am also reconnecting with an old form of communication: the art of the letter.
I am enjoying building the muscle memory to create beautiful calligraphic letters. It takes practice, and a lot of ink! Being left-handed also complicates the matter, but as fortune would have it all of taking the class are lefties! How unusual is that.
The printed letter cannot compare to the sexiness of a hand-written letter. The curve of the letters, the spacing, and the flourishes are all personal. It is amazing that even with computers, calligraphy is still a popular Art form created today.
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