It's time before Thanksgiving, and the spirit of the season makes one think and reflect, and be concerned about life and good things.
Do you ever get a feeling that you are pressed, rushed and feel that all your life has recently turned into is trying to catch up, but not necessarily succeeding? When is the time to slow down, look around and enjoy a little bit?
On that note, I am kinda hungry - what a great opportunity to feel alive!
Anyway, lots of things to be thankful for, and if we only could stop worrying about everything else...
I think I am going to Canada one of these days, and it's exciting. Coincidentally, a co-worker is listening to a radio station in French, which is enjoyable, knowing my language background. There is really not much work to do right now, before Thanksgiving - did I mention trying to catch up? Now is that time to slow down, and do the boring work, paperwork, and keeping logs.

Let me brighten this up with an image or something! just wait...

Playing with the new Macbook

I have spent a whole bunch of time recently training teachers using their new Mac computer - which is fun, and it's easy for me to look and sound knowledgeable without much effort.
But I also enjoy helping out my fellow mentors - who may not be too familiar with some cool Mac OS X tools or features.
And here is a picture of Ed and me trying out PhotoBooth. :)

Okay - animoto is fantastically cool if you would like something flashy quick and dirty. It's in beta version, so chances are you will be paying for this eventually, although now it's FREE!!!
So here is a snapshot of what one may see in Atlanta - or saw in Atlanta, GA last June during the NECC 2007 conference.

Finally! My blog is also blocked from PPS!
This probably completes the entire blocking campaign here. Of course, the district will now provide blogs to teachers locally, which is cool, but what if you want to read someone else's stuff?
Easy!
The solution is in iGoogle - the GoogleReader, an RSS aggregator, that is available for free with a Google account. That's what I do. Just set it up and read away - Google has solutions for this type of issue.
By the way, my other blog is here: http://blogs.portlandschools.org/laplao
Have fun!

PS. Have you seen the iPod touch? woooo.... aaaaahh... sweet and kewl!

I needed all this time to recover!
I actually typed something while trapped in the plane, waiting for the fate to clear the skies over NYC and DC, but in compliance with the safety regulations I turned off the laptop and must have thus lost all my text.
So, now you know we were trapped for an hour on the take-off line, or next to it. I got to see how the planes file up to access the take-off stretch - very exciting! and they just kept popping out of nowhere, bigger and bigger planes, turning around, slowly, then - vroom, gone!
I am totally off the subject, but that was the biggest highlight of the week beyond the conference - travel back, which was quite an adventure.
When we finally safely landed in NYC, it turned out the weather was too bad to fly back to Portland, and to many other places too, in fact. A lot of people got stranded - no one is picking the bill for accommodations - act of God.
For a moment, I thought it was fun, but then the fun quickly dwindled, and as I was waiting in line, it was gone completely - where would I go? It's raining and lightning, what would I do?
I decided to cash out and get a car, or take a bus. Another person in line was going to Portland, and he was determined to leave immediately, and drive home. Ok, I thought to myself, and spoke outloud.
We ended up renting a car, and driving through the night. It was brutal - those of you who know how much I drive can imagine the challenge. I only drove for a couple of hours, though, from Boston to Portland, and it's not that, it's just missing the sleep that was hard. My mind was fully awake but my eyes had a mind of their own it seemed, and couldn't care less. It was hard keeping them open, but the sun was nearly up, it was easier to see, and the road was familiar. We made it home!
The rest of the day was unpacking and sleeping, with a moment of vigilance.
Greyhound is not such a bad option after all!
Here come some of the pictures.

Okay, we are wrapping up, and if you have been reading my blog, it must feel like there is a huge gap between events. True and not true.
I was just blocked out of a little presentation on what you could do with an iPod. Too full. I actually thought I would look it all up on the website that was posted, but by now I have had two cups of hot beverages (it's all ACed, so you have to drink hot stuff to keep warm.) and a few conversations, I forgot. Oops. Will have to go back and look it up again.
This morning i also tried to go to the museum of arts, and I made iot to teh door, but it was too early. However, because it was so early, it was also cool, and I enjoyed the weather for a bit outside, not under these bizarre electric lights.
So, what was there last night that might catch your eye?
well, among other things happening, and me giving away my contact information in the hope to win some stuff, I happened to be at teh right time in the right place, and won a Smartboard. Must have used up all of my luck from the time before. Martha last night suggested having a raffle, or announce a call for RFPs to best use it.
For Becky, the website is http://pearsonfoundation.org where the guys are who will come and have a camp with you using Adobe products.
Last night there was a reception for NE and we had a good time and met some nice persons, like the ACTEM president.
These conferences fill you with ideas. There was one guy whose job is to inspire. What a great job!
Okay, try me later.

Jun 26, 2007 9:47 AM

Tuesday
NECC 2007

Ok, we are just done with the panel discussion with Andrew Zolli and some other people.
The main idea is that we need to encourage students to be creative and allow kids to gather and have a place and time to hang out and... think and learn. Companies are thirsty for innovation.
You know if nothing else this sort of conversations is really really inspiring.
This makes me want to have/be in a school where there is a student lounge or something of this sort. I mean we constantly talk about how students are more knowledgeable in some ways than teachers, yet we completely deny our students the right, opportunity and the sense of learning from each other.
I am thinking, we should round up kids to do professional development, especially around technology. This will be such a breakthrough. I wonder if we as MLTI/eMINTS mentors could do that after school, since most teachers may run into the insurmountable issue of compensation for after school work.
There was a teacher who got the ISTE award (in part) for running this service learning project where they educated senior citizens to live in the modern world filled with technology, and that there was a 93-year old woman who drove 30 miles to attend those classes, and when asked why she did that, she said there is so much to learn, she needed to keep up!
I think that's a huge idea. I would love to assist a school implement something similar, or be part of it in some way.
Some really interesting people are here.
I assume there will be all sorts of media and reports posted on the ISTE site shortly, if not already, so pick something you like and have time for and plug into the virtual conference experience.
PS. Pictures will be posted at a later time. Maybe when I get done with a few more sessions, or closer to the end of the day. I don't win the Adobe Creative Suite site license, there will still be plenty to take home and share! :)
And apologies if this post is a bit scattered and poorly organized, just trying to capture the moment before I forget.

Monday Morning: Digital Arts Alliance
NECC

Well, I was lost yesterday for a little bit. Actually much longer than I want to admit.
It changed last night, though.
After the keynote, I looked and looked and looked for A familiar face, no luck!
So many people!
No sign of Monica, Tyler or anyone I know!!! Other than...
It shouldn't surprise you, really. I think it's sorta standard - who do you think I was all of a sudden standing next to? Take a guess. Check the PS to see if you have guessed right.
And my feet were hurting like heck in my new shoes (no wonder I am wearing crocks today!), and then I was in a mile long line to the Aquarium - the largest in the country - to attend the reception.
I finally found Tyler - and we had a long conversation while in line - getting tired, frustrated and generally hot and dehydrated.
Finally before nine we were allowed by the omnipotent guard to get inside. We had a couple of leaves - whatever remained of the salad, I paid $2 for a 12-oz bottle of water (surprisingly ice was free...) and very salty and dry corn bread. (ACTEM has done a much better job in that department!).
We got home late, but we were very lucky to have had a chance to see the whale sharks swimming over our heads, sawfish, Dorie and Nemo, and belugas, and other beautiful marine life, as well as the ugly Japanese crabs.

Anyway, the ISTE president was painful to watch... She was reading off the prompt screens and couldn't say a word without that, was generally nervous (I mean I can't believe she has delivered speeches before like this one!), and not good at all.
That was disappointing, and sort of bad PR.
I simply couldn't wait for Andrew Zolli to start his keynote because from what I had seen before, keynote speakers are generally very good.
And he was. What a contrast! So he was fun and smart, and a little uncouth for my exquisite taste :), but very funny, and had good information. An interesting take on things, I must admit.
I am sure everyone is blogging about this here already, so a safe bet would be go to technorati or google for "necc" "necc2007" and it will give you a good start.
So, before I forget two websites:
http://www.poptech.org - supposed to be free videos for education
and something like bubbleshare - this one helps you create digital stories online. If you have time, check it out and let me know. I will when I get a minute.

So, today's morning! I am a presider at the Digital Arts Alliance: Digital Storytelling and Project-Based Learning in Grades 9-12; all I do is mainly paperwork, and there are only 9 confirmed presenters, so it shouldn't be a tough job, but gives me something to do, and there are pleasant people here - not the overwhelming something thousand crowd from last night's event!!! I will get a volunteer t-shirt - and you know that a meal and a t-shirt could allure me anywhere! :)
Actually, we each got software - hopefully that will continue to happen!
PS. It was Bernie Dodge. I had to look away when I spotted him standing next to me while talking on the phone and we were stuck at the pedestrian crossing waiting for the light to change. The poor man will think I am stalking him! so, here you go!
*** my phone won't connect to the laptop, hence you will have to wait for the pictures. I have more this time!

NECC 2007

Well, if you are subscribed to this blog you have already noticed that there has been little action recently, and it's about to change!
Here I am at NECC 2007, in Atlanta. After our plane made a bonus round tour of NYC, we landed safely and perfectly at LaGuardia airport, from where I took a flight to the Atlanta International Airport, and we were half an hour early - I guess took a shortcut, you know up there, in the clouds, good pilots know those paths.
Anyway, it's hot here! Oh boy! And it's freezing AC inside.
Registration is extremely efficient - get there, get a bag with you name tag - done!
And there is wireless - can you imagine? I was on the plane for a few hours, got to the hotel - couldn't connect, and finally - wireless paradise and my MLTI laptop is my good friend.
I am afraid though, unless I decide to wear more comfrotable shoes, my good friend will have to watch my hotel room for me tomorrow. I have decided to dress up for this event, and those blisters I am not sure are worth it.
Although, I got a couple of comments on the way (fairly long way!) to the GWCC, and they made me feel pretty again. It's never too much, would you agree?
So, here are some (stealth) pictures from the registration hall. A lot of people here, not one email workstation available (out of maybe 20), but my good friend here is working for me well.
Ok, give me a sec, need to download the pix from the cell phone, using bluetooth.
Oh, btw, Monica promised to be here, but looking at the enormous sea of people I don't think there is a good chance I wiill just run into her. But then again, remember the Bernie Dodge run-in... :)

Visual presentation of information

The first time I saw a concept-mapping application in use I was thrilled, and well, inspired (it was Inspiration after all).
I have since looked at other ways to arrange and present information. There are other applications that allow you to create a multi-level web, add pictures, sounds etc.
And there is a trend that information is no longer a table that you look at and get bored and lost, at least most of us will. Today information has to be precise and compact so you get open it on the tiny screen of your phone and still gather the essential details as well as the whole message.
Mobile devices are not the only ones that are creating more need for concise information.
Have you seen MS Office 2007? At least when it comes to Excel? That's also what MS did. In their table you can create charts and graphs right in the table so you can compare at a glance. It will also color-code maximum and minimum and the median. So, the functionality of information is what becomes the goal - how fast and easily can you make a decision based on what you have seen?
On that note, I would like to share two alternatives to the more traditional way of visual presentation. One is about maps, and the other one is about words. Check them out!

Think of lessons that you participated in as students that involved using information or skills from at least two different subjects?


Image by mooncat from http://sxc.hu

This may be a good use of a blog for those questions that do not necessarily require a discussion, but more an opinion.
Please post your comments by clicking the comment link below.

How might interdisciplinary units be implemented in personal classrooms?
How would students in personal classrooms benefit from an interdisciplinary unit?
What challenges might be encountered?

How can teachers develop interdisciplinary units:

What challenges can appear when completing interdisciplinary lessons with a class? What are some advantages to using interdisciplinary units? How might a teacher incorporate student input into the planning of a unit?

Image by anissat from sxc.hu

Evaluating Interdisciplinary Units:
Were there ideas uncovered while assessing existing units that will aid your own
development of an interdisciplinary unit?

Managing Student Learning:
How will ideas shared here transfer into practice?
What benefits does the use of technology afford teachers and students when working with interdisciplinary units?
How is teacher and student productivity increased?

Planning an Interdisciplinary Unit:
What has been most challenging?
What concepts uncovered during this session change their current teaching practices? How?

There is much talk going about assessment. While the latest trend is to give up LAS altogether, this doesn't undermine the importance of day-to-day assessment, evaluative or formative, that teachers use and will continue to use.
What has been your experience with assessment? What would you like to learn about/improve/try and see it work?
Please offer your experiences and thoughts by replying to this post.

I got my paper copy of Edutopia today - can't switch to a completely digital format yet!
So, there was this article about the Future School, http://edutopia.org/magazine/ed1article.php?id=Art_1750&issue=feb_07.
I read it and liked it. And I think that Ed will like it especially, because it says, "just get the current public education system out of your head".
And I never thought of the American Public Education System as serving the purpose of producing factory workers. It seems very compelling.
I am excited about the idea of having nonteachers in the school, the idea of NOT having teaching as a life-long career, and that teachers should have a business world job at the same time. I personally would enjoy that, if the school system were more flexible (my current job notwithstanding).
I am not sure I like the round the clock schedule. I am a bit less confident there.
Anyway, would you please read the article and add your comments?