The Shoes

Transformative Tools

I found this a particularly articulate presentation.

Inspiration to Teach

Literacy Academy - Autumn

We had two marvelous days with the focus on enhancing literacy learning via technology.
See Literacy Academy wiki.

One Month In

This month has seemed to be about triple in length, with many experiments with new tools- notably Google Forms, Voicethread and Webspiration. All offer opportunities for asynchronous collaboration and exciting results.
I am enthused about the work on the Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Build, concept of which is well represented in the wiki here.

The mission of The Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Build: Where Do We Go From Here? is to engage all sectors of the community in realizing, as King said, that “we are tied in a single garment of destiny.” We will come together through shared readings, discussions, and events based on the writings of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Gifts to Young People

Listen. Click on the "Posts" button in the green square gizmo below and you will be able to choose from several responses to the question, "what gift can we give our young?" Make your choice and click the play button.

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Now, please comment on what you have heard, or suggest ideas for classroom uses for this audio and blogging technology. Note: Almost all of these audio clips were recorded via cell phone, technology at the tips of our tongues.

Ithaca falls

This is the gorgeous waterfall near some of our schools.
What will we make of what is offered us?

Smell the Flowers

This morning I was walking down the block toward one of the schools I get to work at. A young mother was pushing her daughter along in a stroller, and just as they went by, the girl, a little one, asked, “Mommy, what’s that smell?”

I inhaled as the mother answered in a lively way that her nose was stuffed up, but that many plants were blooming and making the smells.

As I inhaled again, I smelled lilacs that I would not have noticed.

The Human Network w/ David Jakes

We had a great session!
My notes

Cell to Web Audio Spot

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Communication: The Best Tool?

An explosion in communication tools is spreading as technology springs forward. There have been many tools for much of human existence, so in a sense nothing is really new. Yet communication streams and networks are in rapid transformation. New vehicles for exchange include blogs, podcasts, vodcasts, and wikis, with more on the way- each with potential for variable distribution or containment.
What is the best tool? Well, obviously it depends on the content of the message and plans to extend the content or broadcast it. But fundamentally, an agreement to communicate with a given tool set is the primary determinant of communication quality. Tin cans and string work better than other options if that is what the parties wish to use.

It is not unusual for people to say, “I don’t check my email.”

It is not uncommon for people, even ones who know each other, to walk past one another.

The fundamental question is, “Do we want to communicate?” All too often, the answer based on the evidence is negative. And then what are we saying?

But the trend is hopeful, leading toward more articulate and varied communication using new communication and networking tools and information resources. Young people are linking with friends near and far, learning to callaborate around common interests. Many of us are building personal learning communities, and creating relationships that formenrly could not exist due to geography.