Moving into the next era

 Have some challenges in store as one job ends and hopefully another begins. It has been very rigorous just getting all my things in order to pursue a dream of being the best educator without sacrificing honor and humanity.
 Have been talking a bit about the intersection of technology and art and science, as witnessed by many of the most impressive applications to date.
The i-phone has changed many people's lives in a way that is surprising. I have owned mine for about a year now and use it constantly. I no longer find it odd to see people staring at and talking to their devices. It is a lifeline to the internet and to being connected to things that are important in daily life. Navigating whether geographically or otherwise, time management with the calendars, and alerts to remind us of the appointments we've made - all very helpful tools.
I love the way we can listen to music for free, charge our phone in the car and write notes while waiting in the doctor's office. Facebook is there for a quick check on the family and is very entertaining and fulfilling. The camera is awesome for capturng the moments either for practical or sentimental reasons. Very cool.

recent developments

Since learning is on a continuum, as witnessed by our parents (who are in their 80's)when they post on Facebook, or use texting on their i-phones, not to mention all the apps such as GPS, it is clear that this educational technology foundation was the beginning of a long adventure. Schools are slowly adapting some of the best ideas but have so many financial restrictions, that it is going to be an uphill climb for all classrooms to become digitized.
This year in our elementary school, I noticed a few "mimeoboards" being introduced, and the MIST application offered to students for the CMT's. We are told that all of the testing will soon be done online, that our classrooms will all be wireless, and that all teachers will get SMARTboards. Having used this technology in higher ed, I am hopeful for the elementary schools, because it opens up worlds of learning and networking. However, the budgetary struggles may prevent these advances in technology for most schools.

Peer Review

Reviewing Websites and having a second set of eyes, as well as viewing our websites on a computer other than our own brings up some points that may otherwise be overlooked. The collaborative approach works again! I am hoping to fix several problems now, thanks to that time we spent in class checking each other's sites.

Wikis and podcasts and all kinds of social networks

We really have been immersed in new technology, which is the focus, of course, that MD400 must have. I will use what I've learned as much as possible when it makes learning more relevant and when I am set up properly to do so. The major hurdles are not having the right equipment, or not having every detail of what will be correlated to the content being taught. Time is precious during the school day; we, as teachers, are responsible for making the most of every moment. Well designed technology lessons merit use in the classroom.

Power Point is not evil

Recently, we were given instructions on how to use Excel for transferring data from an existing database to Excel spreadsheets. The Power point presentation used by the presenter had sound effects and graphics that included arrows, drum rolls and applause. I found it very helpful, especially when dealing with tiny boxes, letters and numbers. People were engaged in learning some new applications and the added humor broke the monotony nicely.
One of the most important things to know is that Power point is only a tool, which should be used as such to deliver the message intended by the person creating it.

ESL

My first question involving ESL was, "What is Literacy Volunteers?" I was given a brief answer by the desk attendant at the local YMCA, where I had been going to work out. "They need a new director, if you're interested", she said. "What would I have to do to apply?" I asked. "Just fill out the application form and send your resume. You can start on Monday", was the surprising answer. Little did I know what an adventure I was about to take. It was around the time of 9-11 -00, when every person of Arab descent was suspected to be a terrorist, that my first student, Mohammed, a native of Bangladesh ,with very little English, came to the office of Literacy Volunteers, seeking English language instruction. My attempt to teach him was rather intuitive and not at all orthodox, but he was able to learn quickly. Everything I did as Director was done by trial and error. Only a few people helped me, and it was very difficult . Some of the prospective students were from the U.S., with difficulties learning to read. We had to train tutors to be able to function as a volunteer organization. Therefore, I needed to be trained as a trainer. I took an online course to achieve this, and learned by doing. There was a database installed on the literacy office computer for tracking thr pairs of student-tutors who worked on learning English as a second language or on basic skills, such as writing a check. I had to meet with a Board of Directors, mail requests for donations, promote our organization, and at the same time, support the tutors and students through meetings, phone calls and assessments. Now when I look back, it was an incredible learning experience with next-to-nothing in financial rewards, but enormous benefits in terms of character-buliding, use of new technology and networking. I learned what it means to run a non-profit organization with little or no assistance. Plus, I discovered many things about myself and about the world. It was the quintessential "inquiry-based learning experience". Now I understand what English as a Second Language (ESL) means!

Power Point

After reading about differing views about Power Point in Education, I have decided that Power Point can be used creatively to do great things. On the other hand, it can be used lazily to block high level thinking. Some ideas for Power Point for ELL's are really useful because of the user-friendly format it offers them. They can produce language in a way that is non-threatening and that gives instant results that are impressive. The consistency of Power Point is comforting and lowers the affective filter. Adding sound and animation can also be interesting. We have all experienced mind-numbing Power Point presentations, read by the presenter, with very minimal imagination. This is similar to "Web Sites That Suck" - something to avoid.