Another Year Ends- A reflection of change

As another school year ends today, I look back and think of what I accomplished this year. Did I make a difference? Did I do what I set out to do? Did I teach my students that technology matters in this world and they are a part of something big? Isn't that what it is all about? It is not about me, that is for sure, it is about them. Those impressionable, funny, silly, naughty, middle school kids I love to teach. It is about showing them the way. Teaching them that technology is not just about texting and IMing their friends, but it is a way of life. It is their future. They are just beginning to learn what that all means. I was a small part of that. I hope.

While reading today, I came upon this article by Ben Grey. (Who I admire a lot for his wonderful technology writing and super great blog!) Making A Difference: By Ben Grey, was just what I needed to read about on my very last day of work. I know today, what I do every day; fighting the fight, feeling defeated at times, having people not understand, is all part of the job I call teaching with technology. I am not going to lie to you. It is heartbreaking, sad at times, and down right discouraging to hear the words "no" over and over again without reason. But, what is it all about? It is about the kids. It is about those students who are disadvantaged, do not have the means to own computers, the one's who do not have the best role models, the ones who need us the most. That is why I do what I do. I teach children. I may teach technology, but I teach life lessons. I teach "real" life lessons that matter to them.

But then there are the moments of perspective. The moments when hope glimmers, and we once again remember why it is we fight for the change we believe in. This past week, I was reminded once again why I believe we should continue pursuing student-centered, relevant, technology-rich experiences for our students. I was reminded by Abel Real, a student at East Carolina University, as he spoke before the Committee on Education and Labor. Take the short five minutes and twenty five seconds to watch his story. It's worth every second. ~ Ben Grey - Making a Difference

If this does not make you believe in 21st century skills, I do not know what would! Please take a few minutes to watch this inspirational story.

Yikes.. It has been a while!

Where has the time gone. I say I am going to be better about posting to my blog and here I am .. 3 months have passed, and I am finally getting here! Well, since that time, a lot has happened, and I have some neat stuff to share. One of my students, Dylan, was featured on the edutopia.org website as part of the Digital Generation Project. What a great honor for Dylan. What a great kid!

I first knew of Dylan three years ago when he was only a 6th grader at my school, Gilbert H. Hood Middle School, in Derry, NH. One of my colleague's taught Dylan in his computer class and showed me the amazing website projects he was working on called the lil MDG's. I was blown away by the sophistication and creativity they displayed at such a young age. The global collaboration he displayed at such a young age is so inspiring to me. What also amazed me was the social conscience Dylan displayed. Truly inspiring! You have got to check out his website!

So, fast forward to January of this year. I was approached by a film producer and an employee of edutopia (Which is funded by the George Lucas Foundation), to be part of the filming with Dylan. I teach HTML website design and Dylan was in my class this trimester. Sure, this would be fun, I thought. What a neat experience! It was a real live movie scene, with lights, screens, and even a sound man holding a "boom"!

Take a look at the video. I think it came out pretty cool if I do say so my self. I can not be happier to be part of such an amazing student's display of humanitarianism and global concern. Dylan is truly a very special boy who is a wonderful role model for young and old alike!

Take a look at the video.

No Future Left Behind

Today while I was researching information for my first graduate level course that I will begin teaching in July, I came upon this amazing video produced by Peggy Sheehy, Suffern Middle School. This was posted in response to the Net Gen Education Challenge Ning. I have to say, I could not stop smiling while I was watching it. It truly embodies all of the ISTE 21st century skills we can only hope to instill in ALL of our students. This video was posted on the Cool Cat Teacher Blog. ( I love the amazing projects Vicki does with her students and I can only hope to do more meaningful work with my students in the future.) Take a look at this video and tell me what you think!

Truly Inspirational

As I was digging around today, looking through a diigo update email. (love that I am part of a group of fine educators who selflessly post to their diigo accounts to share important readings with me!) I came upon this post from Kevin Jarrett's blog site. "Every educator must watch". Of course I had to do what they were telling me to do and I watched! What a truly inspirational and motivating speech! How amazing for such a young child to capture an audience of 20,000 people. Truly amazing. I then began to read over the comments. Was this student coached and taught to "act" out this speech? Was this a speech written by adults and this student was just the "messenger"? I say yes to both. Was this speech touching and did it make the point? I have to say yes to this question as well. At the heart of it all, it is a small child's voice that we are hearing, telling us something very important. Do not lose sight of what is important to us as educators. We are there for the children. We are there because we chose to do this noble profession. We are truly important to the kids we teach, even if we reach just one of them in our lifetime. We can not lose sight of who we are. We also need to not lose sight of our colleagues and respect them for choosing this noble profession. They may not do things the same as we do, they may not like the way we do things, but we should respect each other and know we are all here for the same reason... to change a child's life.
Every educator should watch. Not through a critical and cynical eye, but just because it is a wonderful reminder and affirmation of what we do each and every day.

If youtube is not working, try this link to their site in Dallas.

Howard Rheingold Video

Thanks so much Jen for the great blog piece about this video. I love it! A great discussion between the great Will Richardson and Howard Rheingold. I think anyone who wants or "needs" to understand what Web2.0 and new technology is all about, should take the hour to view this video. It really makes a lot of sense to me, and really validates my passion for teaching children using web2.0 tools in main stream education.

Free TV : Ustream

A Wordle A Day

I was reading Kim Cofino's blog today, and noticed she wrote about Wordle. I am considering myself tagged, and will put my wordle in here to show everyone!

I just finished up a great project with my 7th graders. We wrote an "I Am" poem about themselves, and used all of the words from the poem to create a "visual" poem. It was a lot of fun and really engaged the students. Some even told me they went home and used wordle. Now that is what I like to see! Here is my wordle from my diigo account tags.

Christa McAuliffe Technology Conference '08

I attended the Christa McAuliffe Technology conference this year in Nashua, NH. I have attended for the past four years, and I am amazed at the wonderful guest speakers they arrange each year. This year I was so excited to see David Warlick speak. I follow him on twitter as well as keep up with his blog writings. I am a big fan! This year, I convinced my other two colleagues to come with me on the same day, so they could hear David speak as well. They think I am a bit "geeky" because I am constantly updating them with some new article or blog post that I encountered using my PLN! I have to thank Jeff Utecht for this. Had I never taken his class through PSU, I would have never been fortunate to experience the "new world" that exists "out there" for us educators!

David did not disappoint. I sat, close to the front, so I would be able to hear and see everything! I was actually right in front of the video camera. Yikes, I can hear my giggles! Yet another "geeky" move! Here is what David had to say.. Recorded on UStream.

Live Videos by Ustream

I was reading the Free Technology for Teachers blog by Richard Byrne and I agree, being in the audience, almost next to the person who David was talking back and forth with, regarding wikipedia, I enjoyed his response. (I felt somewhat uncomfortable for that poor person!) It is poo-pooed so much not to use wikipedia in schools, but can't it be a jumping off point? I know I let my students use it as one resource. He reinforces that using any of these tools in school are "basic literacy skills".

What struck me as the most important or informational about David's speech, is how we are teaching our kids (teachers standing up and the learners are sitting down) model. We are the keepers of the knowledge and they are the ones with the empty minds we are trying to fill. Are our classrooms Flat? We need to be preparing our students for a future we know nothing about, yet.. The digital divide! I also like when David said, in order to be considered a "21st century educator, we must be a master learner." He also said, "if I could share anything with all of you as teachers, I would tell you to pay attention to your students and ask them about their experiences outside of the classroom with technology."

Watch the video in it's entirety, it is great! Can't wait to see who's coming next year. I only hope I can attend all three days!