Friday, December 24, 2010

AECT Conference Proposal Writing Workshop


On December 15, 2010, AECT (Association for Educational Communications and Technology) open it's call for conference proposals. Proposals will be accepted until February 15, 2011. You can find the call here: http://www.aect.org/events/call/

The Michigan Chapter of AECT will be hosting a conference proposal writing workshop on Wednesday, January 12, 2011 at the Southfield Public Library from 5:30-7:30pm.

Maybe you have been sitting on a really cool project you did for a class, maybe you have a burning desire to conduct a study, maybe you just want to take a stab at writing a proposal, or maybe you just want an assigned time and location that will force you to write...all great reasons to come join us.

Location: Southfield Public Library

26300 Evergreen Road

Southfield, MI 48076

Time: 5:30 to 7:30 pm

Writing assistance from Dr. Susan Hart, Dr. Marcus Childress - AECT President Nominee, and Kelly Unger, President-elect MIAECT.

Please bring your laptops, proposal ideas, and guests who are interested in joining MI AECT. When a guest becomes a member, the member and the guest will be entered in a drawing for prizes. We are challenging each member to bring at least one guest. Can you meet the challenge?

The event is no cost to members and $5 for non-members.



Friday, December 17, 2010

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.
Margaret Mead

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Frech Dip Recipe

I followed the recipe as is, and didn't add any of the additional changes that were recommended at the bottom. We LOVED this! It's super easy! Thanks to my friend Sara for sharing! Next time I make it I'll follow the additional comments and see which is best.

Easy Slow Cooker French Dip

Ingredients

  • 4 pounds rump roast
  • 1 (10.5 ounce) can beef broth
  • 1 (10.5 ounce) can condensed French onion soup
  • 1 (12 fluid ounce) can or bottle beer
  • 6 French rolls
  • 2 tablespoons butter

Directions

  1. Trim excess fat from the rump roast, and place in a slow cooker. Add the beef broth, onion soup and beer. Cook on Low setting for 7 hours.
  2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
  3. Split French rolls, and spread with butter. Bake 10 minutes, or until heated through.
  4. Slice the meat on the diagonal, and place on the rolls. Serve the sauce for dipping.


Additional Changes (These are recommendations from someone else.)
This was amazing. I took a lot of advise from others. I used a chuck roast, Campbell’s Consommé, a can of Campbell’s French Onion Soup, added garlic powder, onion powder, a touch of worcestershire, and only half a can of beer. It took me 5 minutes to throw everything into the cooker. When I came home I sliced it up and put it back into the juice for another hour. I buttered the rolls and added shredded mozzarella cheese and threw them under the broiler until the cheese melted. This was a huge hit. My family loved it. Not at all dry. They can't wait for me to make it again. Trust me when I tell you this was the best/easiest dinner. You've gotta try it

Soft and Chewy Choc/PB Cookies

Thought I would share this recipe. Cookies are good, and it's easy.

Soft and Chewy Chocolate-Peanut Butter Cookies
1 package of devils food cake mix
4 oz. (1/2 package) of cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup peanut butter
1 egg
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Place all ingredients in large mixing bowl and beat for with electric mixer for 2 minutes on low. Beat for additional 2 minutes on medium speed. Shape into 1 inch balls and flatten the top of cookie with a fork ( dip the fork into sugar) in a criss cross pattern.
Bake 7 to 8 minutes.

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Adopt A Family

The holidays are often a time of year when we often realize how truly lucky we are for family, friends, food, warmth, and gifts. There are MANY who do not have all of these blessings. This year Darius and I "adopted a family" here in Michigan through the Children's Hospital. There are many programs out there where you too can contribute. Make someone's holiday season a little brighter this year. Buy one less present for your child or children and invest in those who are less fortunate. Involve your children in the giving to others, it's a small lesson with huge rewards. Happy Holidays!

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

You Deserve to Celebrate!


The MIAECT Chapter hosted another successful event in November. At the AECT Conference Rewind meeting we had 23 people in attendance! Our speakers, Dr. Monica Tracey, Dr. Susan Hart, Kecia Waddell, Jill Stefaniak, Jason Siko, and Kelly Unger did an outstanding job presenting attendees with an abundance of career advancing information. Thank you presenters for sharing your experience and expertise! We truly appreciate your service.

Wow! Can you believe we are about to enter the holiday season? Where did the time go? Let's get together one last time in 2010 and celebrate the energy flowing through our organization. It'll be a great opportunity to meet our new members and mingle with others.

Join us at Lefty's Lounge on Cass Ave. in Detroit on December 8. It's a great opportunity to relax and socialize with others in our field. This event is free to all so please bring along your spouse, significant other, friend, cousin, or neighbor, and lets celebrate! We have reserved a room in the back of Lefty's just for our group. We'll be there starting at 5:30pm, but please feel free to stroll in when you are available.

As always, please forward, print, and share this information!

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Wayne State University - Tenure Track Faculty Position

Tenure-Track Faculty Position (Instructional Technology)
2011-2012 Academic Year

Wayne State University's College of Education invites applications for an Assistant/Associate/Full Professor faculty position in the Instructional Technology (IT) program.

Responsibilities: to teach undergraduate and graduate level courses in the Instructional Technology program that are related to your areas of expertise; advise graduate students and serve on doctoral committees; engage in research, scholarly activities and publication; engage in service-related activities, including participation in program area/division/college and university committees and in professional organizations.
Qualifications: an earned doctorate in Instructional Technology or related field with primary emphases in multimedia, interactive technologies and instructional design; a record of publication appropriate to the rank sought. In addition, expertise in areas such as on-line learning, interactive courseware, instructional design and development is preferred, as is experience in university-level teaching and research, distance education, and technology-based product development.

WSU is a comprehensive research university with a concentration of students in professional and graduate programs. The Instructional Technology program in the College of Education offers doctoral and master's degrees; there are approximately six hundred IT students, including 70 doctoral students. The IT program sponsors the Certificate in University Teaching and Certificate in Online Teaching, and the State of Michigan's Educational Technology Endorsement program for P-12 teachers. In addition, the IT program is affiliated with the college's Institute for Learning and Performance Improvement and has strong ties with the metropolitan Detroit educational and training communities.

Candidates must complete an online application at: https://jobs.wayne.edu/ applicants/Central?quickFind=192139

For an electronic application to be considered complete, candidates must attach to it the following: a letter of application that addresses their qualifications for the position; a current vita; a 1-2 page summary of their research agenda; a list of at least three references and their contact information (mailing address, e-mail addresses, and phone numbers).

In addition, applicants must arrange to have transcripts and three original, recent (within the past 12 months) letters of recommendation sent to: Dr. Timothy Spannaus, Chair, IT Search Committee, Wayne State University, 379 College of Education Building, Detroit, MI 48202.

Please include your e-mail address in the materials you submit by mail so that we may acknowledge receipt of same, send additional information, and contact you as necessary throughout the review process.

Inquiries regarding this position should be directed to Dr. Spannaus at: tspannaus@wayne.edu.

Please note: The successful candidate for this position will be asked to provide official transcripts and proof of degrees awarded before the hiring process is completed.

Salary and Rank for above: Commensurate with qualifications and experience. Application Deadline: Review of applications will begin immediately and the search will continue until the position is filled. Requests for confidentiality will be respected until the final search phases.

Starting date: August, 2011.

The College of Education's theme "The Urban Educator: Reflective, Innovative and
Committed to Diversity," guides and develops its programs. The college is characterized by its diversity and commitment to an urban mission and reflects the dynamic characteristics of urban life. The College of Education currently enrolls about 2,000 undergraduates and 2,000 graduate (master's/education specialist/doctoral) students in approximately 34 different programs.

Wayne State University is a premier institution of higher education offering more than 350 undergraduate and graduate academic programs through 12 schools and colleges to more than 32,000 students in Metropolitan Detroit.

See www.coe.wayne.edu/aos/it for additional IT program information; www.coe.wayne.edu for college information and www.wayne.edu for university and campus information. Wayne State University is located in Detroit (MI), the eighth largest metropolitan area in the U.S., with the range of cultural and recreational offerings typical of a major city. See wayne.edu/community/index.php to learn more about the university and the Detroit area.

Wayne State University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.

Monday, October 25, 2010

AECT Presentations - Oct. 26-30 - Anaheim, CA

Wayne State University Presentations
AECT 2010 - October 26-30, 2010

“Innovative Program Steeped in Tradition”

Date

Time/Place

Title

Presenters

Wed.

8:00-11:30am

South Tower - 2nd Floor / Valencia

IDT Professor's Forum

**PROFESSORS ONLY

Elizabeth Boling

Monica Tracey

Ginger Watson

Richard Schwier

Wed.

1:00-2:00pm

North Tower - 2nd Floor / Salon IV

Introducing in-service teachers to Web 2.0

Kelly Unger

Michael Barbour

Wed.

2:15-3:15pm

North Tower - 2nd Floor / Salon VI

Promoting problem solving in online collaborative learning: A mixed-method study in Taiwan

Ke Zhang

Jui-Long Hung

Fei Gao

Thurs.

1:00-1:30pm

North Tower - 2nd Floor / Salon II

Hot off the Press: Introducing The International Journal of Designs for Learning and The Journal of Applied Instructional Design

Monica Tracey

Elizabeth Boling

Leslie Moeller

Thurs.

1:00-2:00pm

South Tower - 2nd Floor / Granada

Where are we losing them? (dis)Engagement patterns of virtual high school students

Abigail Hawkins

Charles Graham

Michael Barbour

Thurs.

2:15-3:15pm

South Tower - 2nd Floor / Granada

Career Forward: A course for meeting the K-12 online learning requirement

Student Experiences in a Virtual School Environment

Examination of the use of tools in K-12 online course development

Michael Barbour

Kelly Unger

Sacip Toker

Michael Barbour

Jonathan Morrison

Jason Siko

Michael Barbour





Fri.

8:00-9:00am

Lobby Level / Grand Ballroom D

Collaborating with More Than Written Words in Online Learning: A Study on a Multimedia Presentation Tool

Fei Gao

Ke Zhang


Fri.

8:00-9:00am

South Tower - 2nd Floor / Barcelona

Homemade PowerPoint Games in a High School Science Setting

Jason Siko

Michael Barbour

Sacip Toker

Fri.

9:15-10:15pm

South Tower - 2nd Floor / Madrid

Preparing In-Service Teachers for Virtual Schooling

Michael Barbour

Kelly Unger

Fri.

1:00-2:00pm

North Tower - 2nd Floor / Harbor Room B

Graduate Student Assembly Session: ID in the Field

Monica Tracey

Fri.

2:15-2:45pm

South Tower - 1st Floor / Terrace E/F

K-12 Online Learning in South Korea: Lessons for United States Jurisdictions

Michael Barbour

Fri

2:15-3:15pm

Lobby Level / Grand Ballroom D

Technology Integration Professional Development Intervention: A Design and Development Study

Kelly Unger

Monica Tracey

Sat.

9:15-10:15am

Lobby Level / Grand Ballroom B

Networking on the Ning: Building Communities of Learners to Support Classroom Discussion and Learning

Monica Tracey

Kelly Unger

Matthew Schwartz

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Rhee resigns. Will she go to Newark? Will Bobb leave DPS and replace her? http://ping.fm/eLAi5

Thursday, October 7, 2010

MI AECT 2010-2011 Event!


Greetings Current and Future MI AECT Members and Welcome our Chapter's 2nd year! We write today with great enthusiasm about the upcoming year of MI AECT activities and events! We invite you and any colleagues, friends, or relatives interested in learning more about MI AECT, to join us as we kick of the the Chapter's 2nd year! Please join us at Dino's Lounge in Ferndale on Wednesday, October 20 anytime from 5:30pm - ????. Dino's has offered us space so we can chat and mingle, and some really great prices on eats and drinks Please feel free to email, print and share with others). Below is a list of dates and tentative topics and events. All of the locations have not yet been finalized, but this list will allow you mark your calendars in advance.

October 20 - 2010-2011 Kickoff Social - Dino's Lounge - 5:30pm - ????

November 10
- Michigan AECT Conference Presenters and Attendees discuss their research and experiences from the conference. Round table format where you pick only the topics with most interest to you. More details to come.

December 8
- End of the year celebration - Lefty's Lounge - 5:30pm - ????

January 12
- Come one come all! Ring in the new year with fellow members. Members are encouraged to bring a guest(s). If your guest(s) join MI AECT that night your name is entered for a prize drawing. More details to come.

February 9
- Panel Discussion - "Waiting for Superman"...MI AECT responds. Discussion centered on the recent documentary on the current state of education. Interact with a panel of experts from business, non-profits, K-12, and higher education on doing our part in the much needed educational reform, and discuss how Instructional Designers and Educational Technologists can contribute to improving education. More details to come.

March 9 - Panel Discussion - "Are you socially network savvy?" Join a panel of social networking gurus as they discuss how social networking has impacted their work, and provide advice on integrating social networking into your profession. More details to come.

April 13
- MI AECT members share their cutting-edge research. Round table event where members present their research. Select topics which are of interest to you, and find an opportunity to collaborate. Contact us if you are interested in presenting your research. More details to come.

May 11
- Celebrate the accomplishments of the Chapter and it's members by attending an end of the year dinner and strolling auction. More details to come.

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Recordings posted of "Elevating the Education Reform Dialog" big show yesterday! http://icio.us/oqmc12

Monday, October 4, 2010

Elevating the Education Reform Dialog

Notes from the session: 10/4/10 @ 5pm. (I only listened to the first 5 speakers. Will take more notes when I finish listening to the recorded session. 75 minutes online with little interaction lost my interest)

Facilitated by Steve Hargadon. learncentral.org
Global education Conference - Nov. 15-19

Speakers:

Alfie Kohn writes and speaks widely on human behavior, education, and parenting. The author of eleven books and scores of articles, he lectures at education conferences and universities as well as to parent groups and corporations.

-Today we are focused on MACRO; firing teachers, busting unions, test achievements, charter schools.
-Need to focus on MICRO; include teachers and students
-Caring Communities; no memorizing
-People who know least about how children learn are the people with the most power
-Every educator in the country needs to take a stand against national standards
-How can teachers take the power back: Short run - minimize the damage for the children; Long Run - must organize to change laws
-Need to be progressive

Diane Ravitch is Research Professor of Education at New York University and a historian of education. In addition, she is a nonresident senior fellow at the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C. She shares a blog called Bridging Differences with Deborah Meier, hosted by Education Week. She also blogs for Politico.com/arena and the Huffington Post.

-Today's views are that all of the problems in education are bad teachers (she disagrees)
-Interested in supporting teachers
-Against the Waiting for Superman documentary
-"The Billionaires Boys Club" - Ex. Gates Foundation
-Mr. Smith goes to Washington (1930's movie)
-Time Magazine, NBC, Newsweek - constant dumping on teachers along with Obama Administration and Billionaire Boys clubs...how will teachers get there voices heard over these dominant powers
-Teachers must connect online
-Today's thought only provides two thoughts: Choice and Accountability (Who should we punish?)
-Respect for teachers is of utmost importance
-Have MASTER TEACHERS who are principals.
-Bush is hosting a program to train people to be principals...most are not from education.

Deborah Meier has spent more than three decades working in public education as a teacher, principal, writer, advocate, and ranks among the most acclaimed leaders of the school reform movement in the U.S.

-Is Democracy important?
-Need to respect all: Parents, students, teachers, administrators
-Teacher conferences don't have a major purpose that's why parents don't attend
-Unfortunately, schools are built on distrust

Chris Lehmann is the founding principal of the Science Leadership Academy, a progressive science and technology high school in Philadelphia, PA. The Science Leadership Academy is an inquiry-driven, project-based, 1:1 laptop school that is considered to be one of the pioneers of the School 2.0 movement nationally and internationally.

-Up against BILLIONS OF DOLLARS; must globalized, needs to be more than grassroots
-The Union has a role; Public schools are a hallmark of our democratic ideals
-Job is to create citizens...not workers
-Superman (Messiah of Education)

Since 1982, Gary Stager, PhD, an internationally recognized educator, speaker and consultant, has helped learners of all ages on six continents embrace the power of computers as intellectual laboratories and vehicles for self-expression.

-Every teacher should wake up and think "how can I make this the best 7hrs, 42mins, etc. of a students life?"
-Waiting for Superman - only school of reform is one of obedience
-School Day needs to be longer; School Year needs to be longer
-Can't just keep doing the same thing over and over
-KIPP Schools
-Who is going to become a teacher when they are demonized and put down.
-Endless testing of students makes it uninteresting, and shows a report that the schools are failing. This constant enforcement to parents is not supporting a conducive learning environment.

Julie Evans is the CEO of the national education nonprofit organization, Project Tomorrow (www.tomorrow.org) whose mission is to ensure that today's students are well prepared to become tomorrow's leaders, innovators and engaged citizens of the world.


Will Richardson considers himself an "evangelist" for the use of Weblogs, RSS and related Internet technologies in classrooms and schools. Over the past six years he's had the chance to speak and work with thousands of educators from around the world on the merits of "The Read/Write Web." He was a classroom teacher for over 20 years who integrated these technologies into his curricula for over four years.


Sir Ken Robinson, PhD is an internationally recognized leader in the development of creativity, innovation and human resources. He has worked with governments in Europe, Asia and the USA, with international agencies, Fortune 500 companies, and some of the world’s leading cultural organizations.


REMINDER: Educational Reform Discussion TONIGHT @ 5pmEST http://tr.im/futureofed EVERYONE should sign on and listen

Friday, October 1, 2010

Educational Reform Discussion - 10/4/10

Between the NBC "Education Nation" Summit, Waiting for Superman, The Oprah Winfrey Show, and Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg's $100 million gift to Newark city schools, there has been a lot of media attention focused on the topic of education reform. Unfortunately, much of it has excluded actual educators, let alone students. Furthermore, and perhaps as a consequence, the dialog has become divisive, blaming, and ultimately counter-productive.

FutureofEducation.com and Edutopia are collaborating this coming Monday on a two-hour live and interactive look at "Elevating the Education Reform Dialog"--an online discussion with special guests and specifically for educators, to help move past the bashing and to engage in a constructive conversation about the best way forward. Connection details are at the bottom of this post. Confirmed speakers include:



Julie Evans is the CEO of the national education nonprofit organization, Project Tomorrow (www.tomorrow.org) whose mission is to ensure that today's students are well prepared to become tomorrow's leaders, innovators and engaged citizens of the world.

Alfie Kohn writes and speaks widely on human behavior, education, and parenting. The author of eleven books and scores of articles, he lectures at education conferences and universities as well as to parent groups and corporations.


Chris Lehmann is the founding principal of the Science Leadership Academy, a progressive science and technology high school in Philadelphia, PA. The Science Leadership Academy is an inquiry-driven, project-based, 1:1 laptop school that is considered to be one of the pioneers of the School 2.0 movement nationally and internationally.


Deborah Meier has spent more than three decades working in public education as a teacher, principal, writer, advocate, and ranks among the most acclaimed leaders of the school reform movement in the U.S.


Diane Ravitch is Research Professor of Education at New York University and a historian of education. In addition, she is a nonresident senior fellow at the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C. She shares a blog called Bridging Differences with Deborah Meier, hosted by Education Week. She also blogs for Politico.com/arena and the Huffington Post.


Will Richardson considers himself an "evangelist" for the use of Weblogs, RSS and related Internet technologies in classrooms and schools. Over the past six years he's had the chance to speak and work with thousands of educators from around the world on the merits of "The Read/Write Web." He was a classroom teacher for over 20 years who integrated these technologies into his curricula for over four years.


Sir Ken Robinson, PhD is an internationally recognized leader in the development of creativity, innovation and human resources. He has worked with governments in Europe, Asia and the USA, with international agencies, Fortune 500 companies, and some of the world’s leading cultural organizations.


Since 1982, Gary Stager, PhD, an internationally recognized educator, speaker and consultant, has helped learners of all ages on six continents embrace the power of computers as intellectual laboratories and vehicles for self-expression.


Date: Monday, October 4, 2010
Time: 2pm Pacific / 5pm Eastern / 9pm GMT (international times here)
Duration: 2 hours
Location: In Elluminate. Log in at http://tr.im/futureofed. The Elluminate room will be open up to 30 minutes before the event if you want to come in early. To make sure that your computer is configured for Elluminate, please visit http://www.elluminate.com/support. Recordings of the session will be posted within a day of the event at the event page.
Event and Recording Page: http://www.learncentral.org/event/106358
Hashtag: #elev8ed

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Cross Cultural Instruction: An Instructional Design Case

Please link to the International Journal of Designs for Learning. It is the first volume of an interactive journal published by AECT. I had the privilege of working with my advisor and professor on an article for the journal. To view our project click here , scroll to the bottom, and click on FLASH next to: Cross Cultural Instruction: An Instructional Design Case. Enjoy!!

The journal is a multidisciplinary, peer-reviewed online journal is dedicated to publishing descriptions of artifacts, environments and experiences created to promote and support learning in all contexts by designers in any field.

The journal provides a venue for designers to share their knowledge-in-practice through rich representations of their designs and detailed discussion of decision-making. The aim of the journal is to support the production of high-quality precedent materials and to promote and demonstrate the value of doing so. Audiences for the journal include designers, teachers and students of design and scholars studying the practice of design.

Saturday, September 25, 2010

Notes/Thoughts from Oprah Education Show -9/20/10

I was away on vacation when this show aired, but I had my boyfriend set the DVR when I saw the commercial for it. I do hope that EVERYONE watches this show or documentary: Waiting for Superman as it describes the failing US educational system. I've decided to take some notes and jot down some thoughts as I watch.

1. I haven't seen the documentary yet, but it is starting to sound like Jonathan Kozol's Savage Inequalities book from 1991. And here we are still seeing the same inequalities in public education 20 years later? Why do we accept this? Why do we educators continue to allow our students to be mediocre? Parents, why do you not demand better of your child's teachers' and schools? Why is spending hours and tons of money on sports and various travel teams more important than spending the hours and effort on attending school board meetings, PTA, parent night, open house, local council meetings? Those parents that are capable to send their children to private schools, doesn't it bother you that you pay taxes for FREE education in your own community, but because the school isn't performing you now have to pay more money for tuition and transportation in order for your child to receive a good education?

2. Bill Gates: take what the good teachers do well and those teachers that want to learn to do what the good teachers do and place those in an accountable system for performance, and longer school days is what will help the US school system succeed.

3. Teacher Evaluation is almost non-existent. Inappropriate teacher mentality: "I get paid whether you learn or not." After two years, teachers receive tenure and they have a job for life.

4. Charter schools started in the 1990s. They are allowed to operate outside of the rules. Not ALL charter schools work.

5. More than 2,000 Drop Out factories: Where more than 40% do not graduate. That equals 1,200,000 kids leaving our schools without a diploma. If this continues, we will not be able to compete in a global economy. So for those of you reading this and you don't have children, or your children aren't in school anymore...THIS STILL MATTERS!! Other countries are getting better and we are getting worse. US children rank 25 in Math and 21 in Science of other industrialized countries.

6. Michele Rhee, Chancellor of DC Schools. Why does our NATION'S CAPITAL have the worse schools? Fired of 1,000 teachers and principals for not doing there job. "The children are not the problem, the adults are the problem. We are the problem." "It is so DIFFICULT TO FIRE AN INEFFECTIVE TEACHER." Why is this the case?

7. GOOD teachers should not watch this show or documentary and feel attacked, they should watch it and expect the POOR (ineffective) teachers to step up their game. Is the union really helping already good teachers?

8. Oprah brought some educators to the show who work at schools that perform well. It appears that most of these schools are charter schools. She just gave each of them 1 million dollars to allow more students into their schools. Will this money really be used for tuition for more kids that can't afford or get a good education? Wouldn't this money $15-20 million dollars be better spent trying to develop a better evaluation system for teachers and administrators? Instead, this money will most likely line the pockets of the CEOs who opened the charter schools. Why not put this money into public schools to help those that are already behind?
Waiting for Superman: Documentary on current state of public education. EVERYONE must step up! http://ping.fm/h2kM4
Watching Monday's Oprah about the failing US educational system. I hope you watched, or will watch it.

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Learning Moment

I received some feedback from my post yesterday, and just had an "ah-ha" moment. What if this school could purchase, or have staff purchase a copy of the Book: From Fear to Facebook: One Schools Journey, and have all administration and faculty read it. Create a Facebook page and begin facilitating discussions on the page about the book, possible curriculum activities that FB could be used for, etc...and move on in a positive light from this negative experience. This activity cam increase the knowledge of using social networking tools in education, provide hands-on experience with using a new technology, and provide an area of collaboration and reflection for integrating the tool into the school's curriculum.

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Facebook and Educators

Due to writing other items I haven't been blogging too often. An event occurred the other day that inspired me to compose this post. I was on Facebook, and a former coworker of mine, a teacher, chatted me to find out how to delete "friends" on Facebook. As I provided the instructions, I was informed that another teacher at this school was printing off teachers' Facebook posts and turning them into the building principal. I just find this entire issue absurd! This is absolutely childish behavior, from both the person printing, and the principal for reading. My question, first of all is, "Why isn't the principal on Facebook?" This is a person LEADING educators and children to become productive citizens of society. One of their jobs is to assist in the development of children to be prepared for post-secondary education. FYI folks...Social Networking Tools are EVERY WHERE: Higher Education, Business, K-12 schools, and most of all SOCIETY! Kids are using these tools and they are FREE, so why isn't this principal learning ways to incorporate a tool that students and most teachers already know how to use into the curriculum? Instead, you have now created an environment that promotes hostility among your staff, and one that diservices your students by not learning a tool that can be beneficial because you are "afraid" of it. It is something that YOU don't know how to use so you automatically think it is "bad." Create and account! Interact with your students and staff. Model Information Age citizenship and responsibility! You have also instilled a sense of "fear" into your teaching staff, which can definitely not be good for you, them, or the students. Instead of this teacher embracing Facebook as tool, you have now deterred her from using it. Do you even realize the possible educational activities she could have done with Facebook? Created a page for each of her classes, hosted discussions as a continuation from class instruction, linked to experts in her content area field (not just for her own contact, but with students), linked her students with other students, chatted with students in the evenings if they had questions about homework. There are so many possible and imperative teaching moments you have just blocked. Teachers, you are definitely not off the hook here. Some of you post heart wrenching comments about your jobs. If you don't want to be there or are miserable everyday, and continually count down the days to summer break how engaged and motivated to participate in the instruction do you think your students will be? Embrace this social tool and figure out ways to incorporate instructional activities with it. If you are reading this and are at a loss of how to use Facebook for instruction, I do have a few items to suggest:

Book: From Fear to Facebook: One Schools Journey - Matt Levinson
Website: http://fromfeartofacebook.com/
Book: Using Web 2.0 Tools in the K-12 Classroom - Beverly Crane
Book: Elearning and Social Networking Handbook - Robin Mason and Frank Rennie

Thursday, August 26, 2010

I have a Flash project & all it's files ready to burn onto CDs. I want the final Flash file to open when others play CD. How do you do this?

Monday, August 23, 2010

I'm not able to download anything from the net. Tried 3 different browsers. What am I missing? HELP!
Looking to buy an all-in-one printer. Any suggestions?

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

we've gone from the stand alone teacher of the 1950s to the stand alone teacher of the 21st century-Dr. Robert Harrell How can we change?

Monday, July 19, 2010

EDUCATORS & PARENTS READ! Educate yourself about the future of education. 2010 Horizon Report: K-12 Edition: http://ping.fm/4isbE
Karen Cator, US Director of the Office of Educational Technology, will be a Keynote speaker at the AECT conference, at end of October!
Royalty Free Music for Schools: Soundzabound: http://ping.fm/1Wok8

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Looking for feedback on software that is used to evaluate employee computer skill proficiency. Did you ever use? Maybe your employer? Thanks

Monday, June 7, 2010

Going to be video recording interviews starting this week. Any pointers? THANKS!

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

For you wine drinkers: Donate your corks to charity: http://ping.fm/rXKHS
Trying to "re-learn" Flash, and am learning through instructional videos on YouTube, created by non-other than...KIDS! How cool!

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Google PacMan Follow-up: 4.8 MILLION hours spent on playing PacMan on Google on it's Bday: http://ping.fm/ZAQr8

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

If you put a good employee in a faulty organization...the faulty organization always win - Geary A. Rummler, HPT Practitioner

Saturday, May 15, 2010

Listen to the podcast of my radio debut! http://ping.fm/QH81e

Thursday, May 13, 2010

Does anyone have an email contact for a NING administrator?
School in MO approves 4 day week to save $120,000 a year: http://ping.fm/ijeRj

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Need to conduct an online interview and have it visually record the interviewee. Any suggestions on what to use? Can you do this w/ Skype?

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

The man and dedication behind one of my favorite Detroit Restaurants (Slows BBQ) - http://ping.fm/LJCFs
Looking for college-bound girls to participate in a short online survey asking for their opinions on school subjects and careers: http://ping.fm/eg2Hj

Monday, May 3, 2010

Best & Brightest. Leaders to follow: http://ping.fm/spG7r

Sunday, May 2, 2010

Looking for a spot in the Detroit area that will take donated books: kids and adults. Suggestions?

Friday, April 30, 2010

MI Online Teaching Case Studies. Developed by Dr. Michael Barbour and Kelly Unger. ENJOY! http://ping.fm/UnUTa

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Death of Public Education: http://ping.fm/yaQ0k

Sunday, April 25, 2010

Atlas Bistro - Detroit

Each year Detroit highlights some of it's best restaurants by hosting "Restaurant Week." Last night Darius and I had the pleasure of dining at Atlas Bistro with six of our friends. It was delicious. Everyone was pleased and we'll definitely be going back. Be sure to check it out.

Saturday, April 24, 2010

EDUCATORS: Please complete this survey about how you use NING - http://ping.fm/T5fgX

Friday, April 23, 2010

Summer Computer Classes @ Millersburg High School: http://ping.fm/7L7kT

Sunday, April 18, 2010

Prayers this AM to DC students who lost an amazing educator: http://ping.fm/acYQu

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

US Social Forum in Detroit June 22-26 http://ping.fm/Wuqz4
Detroit Restaurant Week begins on Friday Apr. 16-25
http://ping.fm/16v0n

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Webinar: TPACK: Implications for Teacher Education

The Teacher Education Division of AECT is hosting a webinar on Friday, April 9, 2010 at 3pm Eastern Time. Drew Polly and Laurie Dias will host the event

TPACK: Implications for Teacher Education

This facilitated discussion will provide opportunities for participants to share about Technological Pedagogical and Content Knowledge (TPACK) and its implications for Teacher Education programs.

The link will be posted shortly in The Playground

http://aectnow.org/ted/wordpress/

Event is open for ANYONE TO ATTEND SO PLEASE SHARE!
Happy National Start Walking Day! http://ping.fm/g28Sm

Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Education is for improving the lives of others and for leaving your community and world better than you found it-Marian Wright Edelman
Looking for feedback, info on NING. I've been a fan, but now recently heard some negative press. Can you confirm? Thanks!

Monday, March 29, 2010

Giving back to your community and children changes lives, even in the smallest way: http://ping.fm/R3dLv

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Learning and Designing in 3D Environments: Webinar begins in 20 mins. http://ping.fm/bZR5r
Learning and Designing in 3D Environments: Webinar TONIGHT @ 7:30pm: More Details: http://ping.fm/wQrFQ

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Join the MI AECT Chapter & Dr. Karl Kapp as he discusses: learning & developing instruction in various 3D environments: http://ping.fm/69ILS

Monday, March 22, 2010

Help me bring awareness and take an active role in finding a cure for Breast Cancer: http://ping.fm/PgpxT

Sunday, March 21, 2010

Looking 4: Any recent research re: (1) Tech Integration PD, & (2) Social Networking in K-12 Education, & (3) Designing PD

Out and About Day 2 - Midtown Detroit

Yesterday I blogged about Detroit business along Livernois between McNichols and 8mile. Today, I'll tell you about my 5 mile walk around midtown Detroit on Friday. The walk was three-fold: it was another gorgeous day, I needed to exercise, and needed some ingredients for the brunch that I made today. Here is a link to the brunch. It's a recipe I saw made on Rachel Ray's TV Show...DELICIOUS! We didn't include the egg.

http://www.rachaelrayshow.com/food/recipes/knife-and-fork-croque-madames-asparagus-tips/

The main ingredients were purchased in Detroit, and the other items we had around the house.

I left my midtown Detroit apartment located near Wayne State University, and headed to campus to pick up a paper from my professor's door. I then walked with my environmentally conscious tote bag from my parents place of employment...MSC. My first item was bread. I wasn't in Detroit very long until I heard about the infamous Avalon Bakery. I personally try to stay away from buying breads and pastries, etc., because as my Julie says "I'm allergic to those types of carbs...they make my butt swell!" I love the quote! Anyway, for this particular recipe I needed some good homemade bread, and also needed some hamburger rolls for our dinner on Friday night...cheeseburgers on the grill. They were so good! So I picked up a soft loaf of bread and hamburger rolls from Avalon. OUTSTANDING! Everything in there looked fantastic! From the hard crusty breads, to the cookies, to the Greek spinach pies.

Time to continue on to track down some Gruyere cheese and sliced ham. I walked into the neighboring Goodwill's Goodwill organic food store to see if they could point me in the direction of the cheese, and a customer in their recommended going to the Eastern Market for the meat and cheese. She said I wouldn't be able to walk to the Eastern Market, but I was sure I could. What great practice for my 2nd 60 mile Breast Cancer Walk. I headed from Cass towards Woodward and wanted to make a stop in the gem of a store I discovered a few weeks ago, Kim's Produce. Kim's husband, Hollis, was working and I asked him if he thought I could make it to the Eastern Market walking, he said sure. They kept my bread purchases, and I was off to in the warm sun to the Eastern Market.

Once I got to the Eastern Market shopping area I had no clue as to where I was going. I just kept on walking and asking people for the cheese place named, R. Hirt Jr., Co. I found it, and couldn't believe that at that very moment I had access to over 400 gourmet cheeses. I thought to myself, "My friend Denise would LOVE this place." I purchased some Gruyere cheese and headed off to find sliced ham. I walked up Russell street and came upon Wigley's Meat, purchased the ham and was back to the midtown area.

When I arrived back at Kim's Produce I purchased my last few items: asparagus, and tomato and onion for the burgers! :) Great day out and about in Detroit!

Saturday, March 20, 2010

Detroit Declaration-Be part of the change. Help change a historical city: Sign the declaration today! http://ping.fm/sUIvg

Out and About in Detroit - Warm Day 1

The weather this past week has been in the mid 60's in Detroit (except for today), so I took advantage of the warm temps and headed out and about for a walk. Darius lives in the University District of Detroit, and when getting onto some of the expressways we travel on Livernois. The street is lined with businesses, some opened and some closed or boarded up. I decided to set out for my afternoon walk along Livernois and check out some local Detroit businesses. Throughout my five mile walk I came across some stores that I can't wait to go back to:

My first stop was at Foot Locker where I discovered my next pair of running sneaks. As I walked down towards 8 Mile, I saw a few clothing stores, salons, and an old furniture stores. Nothing that I was really looking for, so I didn't stop in the stores. I crossed over Livernois at 8 Mile and head south on Livernois. This side had a lot more places that interested me.

The first being Bakers Keyboard Lounge. I've heard about this place a few times from locals and it must be a historic lounge. Darius and I have a "Things to do in Detroit" list and this is one of the places on it. They have Jazz artists almost every night of the week. Stop by the website and pick a night that may be of interest to you. If you're one of my friends here in Detroit and are interested in going then lets make it a date together! Baker's also has dinner and lunch menus for dining in or carrying out.

The next place I stopped was a shoe store, I didn't grab a card, but I think it was called SHB. Either way I was loving the fact that I saw this little bar area as you walked in. Very cool. They had a few other items besides shoes: purses, sunglasses, belts, and a few hats. One hat in particular that I loved, but as a full-time college student it is currently not in the budget.

I continued down the street and came upon 1917 American Bistro (the carryout menu says the website is coming soon, so I put the link in for future reference). Darius mentioned this place, so I figured I would grab a menu. It was a quaint little bistro with a nice atmosphere. They are open daily: Mon-Sat 11am - 11pm, and Sunday 10am-3pm. They offer catering services onsite and off, and also have carryout available. They invite large parties as well.

The next place entered was SCCS - Simply Casual Clothing Store, and found a shirt that I will have, maybe not right this moment, but I will be going back to buy it. As I continued to browse around, oh what to my eyes shall appear...another bar like I saw in the other store. So I had to ask. These stores are owned by the same person and on Friday and Saturdays you can enjoy some complimentary drinks while you shop. Such a cool idea! Can't wait to go back and sip some wine while I buy my new shirt!

My next stop was Shabach High Praise Bakery....YUM! They had a ton of baked goods and everything looked delicious! Not figure friendly, but sweet tooth and chocolate craving heaven! They do custom cakes and also have bagels and ice cream. Be sure to stop by and visit them. As I continued down the street towards McNichols I kept seeing this boy with a green apron on pushing a cart. Since living in Detroit, I've become accustomed to seeing almost anything and everything that I never though existed, but once I finally caught up to this boy I saw one of the coolest market and business ideas. Shabach Bakery had an employee out walking the streets to spread their sweet treats to other local businesses. GREAT IDEA!