Media Lit Project

One of the three clips you'll be watching on Wednesday

Second LIfe

I spent a little time tooling around Second Life, three fifteen-minute sessions, and I didn't get out of the tutorial stage. It seems that you have to complete it all in one shot and with the semester winding down, currently don't have the time.

I was surprised that no one thought of naming themselves 'Forgotten Sands' so that is who i am there. I did, accidentally, choose the wrong body type and have no idea how to alter it.

While I was there, I found myself chatting with a Student teacher from Arizona who heard about this site through Will Richards' blog. How cool is that! She got booted from the system before the conversation could progress further.

I'm looking forward to spending a decent chunk of time in Second life, beyond the tutorials. Hope to some of you there.

City Voices

At the beginning of this semester, the infusion of technology in the classrooms seemed to be a very slow process. This can be partially attributed to ignorance to the realm of education, but it seems that more and more schools are taking up these essential practices.

Two things really struck me while I was watching these videos. The first is how the teachers focus wasn’t on how to interact with the technology, the students seemed to already know that, but how the educators where bringing in pertinent media literacy content while filming. The minds of the students were already open because they enjoyed the task they were performing, so they were more receptive to this information.

The second was how the US State Department appointed Toni Blackman as their ambassador to the Hip Hop culture. Though I am not a fan of the music, I find that amazing. The power of a particular genre, regardless of the artistic medium, to necessitate the creation of a governmental liaison…impressive. It speaks deeply of the voice that must be heard. I did some snopping around but could not find anything about how the position was created. Could someone help me out?

Freidman

“You need to understand things in order to invent beyond them” -Bill Gates p351

The educational gaps from both the top and bottom seem to stem from a “Black OR White” mentality. True the world is flat, but it is also gray. Eric Stern points out “People want to do stuff that is fun” (338). Blending what is known about the benefits of rote learning with the idea that using technology is fun for students, could escalate our lagging educational system, especially within the domains of Math and Science (the boring shades of gray then transform into the beautifully crisp colors). We have already encountered many examples of how technology increases the motivation of students in terms of English education, but the same must hold true for other disciplines as well.

As a pre-service teacher, I know that a student’s proficiency in English Language Arts has benefits that reach across all curriculums. The ability to think critically will enable future students to become the great inventors that this country needs to compete on the flattened globe. Stressing what interests our students and not ourselves (remember our purpose in the classroom is not to create an army of English majors!!!) has the potential of igniting their passions, while also stressing the importance of a continued education.

Hobbs Chapter 4

The central idea that made me stop and think while rereading this selection can be found on pages 65&66.

After watching a video clip, a student commented to the reason why “on a busy day in Chicago, the Niketown store receives 20,000 visitors compared to 3,600 visitors at the Chicago Museum of Art,” by simply stating “Art is boring.” This unexpected response drove home a sad fact: “We are stimulated and entertained not by art, but the process of consumption.”

This is a variant manifestation of the ‘attention economy’ that we discussed earlier in the semester; not applied narrowly to a student’s use of the technology but to a much wider critique on where and how attention is drawn. This places a greater need for us to teach students critical thinking skill, so they can safely navigate through both digital and the physical realms.

The study of propaganda seems like a great place to start media literacy, more so than technology it seems, because it offers every student in the class “to participate, and not only those who have done the reading” (67). This would ignite the learning process for even the most reluctant of readers and get them excited about future course work.

Linking the last two posts..what ever could it be?

I did find new content that tied our BLOCK 3 project to this evening’s event. Russell Banks actually wrote a version of screenplay for a project that Francis Ford Coppola will be producing.

The projected release date is 2009… what ever could it be?

I can tell you that Russel Banks wrote one of the many versions of this highly scrutinized and anticipated script, but his wasn't selected. After seeing him earlier tonight i feel he understands that it's all good, it's paradise.... It's Sal Paradise, who will be the focus of a film I can't wait to see....what ever could it be?

Click here if you want to know what I am talking about. Drop me a line if understand the reference.

Russel Banks

I am not going too get cerebral here, but for those who where in attendance I hope there is a shared WOW. I feel that nothing can be added, after the constant reminder:

we are not who we think we are and we are all long to die.

That is the shared thread that outlines the human condition and unites us all. At least that is what I heard with my 'writer ears'

Task 3 Block III Take Three PUCK ROCK PODCASTING OyE, OyE OyE

When you spoke to you last, Jon and I were doing an enhanced podcast, but there is a twist! What we will be sharing with you is a conceptual podcast, which means tomorrow you’ll be hearing one episode in a fictitious series. The target audience of our series is punks. They can download this podcast and others like it to get a better understanding of what punk is and where it is going through the similarities and differences of other counter-cultural movements….This weeks episode “The Beats”

It took a while to narrow down our focus but I think we finally nailed it…tomorrow you can tell if we hit the nail on the head or if we need to have a doctor look at our thumbs. What I find the most interesting are the shared similarities between most counter-cultural groups. As I have stated numerous times before, I am huge fan of Beat writers and am really looking forward to sharing some of their work with you.

The pedagogical implications of this podcast focus around what we did in class last week, anyone can teach something that they know. Realistically I see our premise actually being available on-line, I was kind of surprised that it wasn’t. Regardless of its actual existence, this is a perfect example of what we talk about in class, the teachers are out there you just have to find them.

Task #1 Portfolio Building in 327

One of the ways that we are all building our portfolios in 307 is through blogging and our projects. Completing the iWeb project gives us a hub, where different facets of our individual portfolios can be accessed…don’t fret if you haven’t established the links yet, neither have I.

Personally, the shift that I am becoming more and more aware of is looking at the world through the eyes of an English teacher. It is interesting and somewhat weird, but it seems with everything I hear, I am making connections to literacy, in both multi-media and print forms. I was getting gas the other day, women behind counter asked me what I do, and I told her that I am learning how to get kids to read and think more critically. While I was walking away, it just clicked…yeah that’s really what I am doing with my life! How cool is that? These are the first mental steps towards my professional life/goals…and I could not be more excited and scared.

However, regarding our course work, the definition of a shape-shifting portfolio, as drawn by Gee, is:
“collection of skills- for example, educational, social, service, and sports experiences and achievements that can be arranged and rearranged in order to define and redefine oneself as a certain kind of competent person” (114).

The skill of selling yourself on prior accomplishments and not words alone is exactly what Friedman was talking about when he was describing the future untouchables. The five distinct tables that Katie erected for her Open House graduation party, is a testament to her shape shifting ability (116,117) and this skill assures her any position she wants in the future job market. Clearly, she is a master of all Olympic events (referenced quote from Sperling, page 290 Friedman obscure yet fitting) and is ready to compete. Thomas and Mario, however, have the ability but want different things out of life…they measure success differently. Though this goes against the changing world, I found overtones of sadness in this article because happiness seems to be quantified financially. Oh well, could someone tell me who John Galt is anyway?

Task #2 Pokinitis

The implications of Will’s conversation with his daughter, is the reality of the read/write web. With this I see two major implications for the next generation of ELA teachers.

The first is that EVERYONE now has the ability to create in any medium; the conduits of expression are limitless. The benefit is that we will not have to urge our students to create projects using run of the mill art supplies. Now they use numerous forms of digital media to expression themselves. This will allow us to encourage future students to fine tune their work, transforming simple projects to masterpieces of professional quality. With a greater focus on the details and nuances of the work, their result would be more than a grade; it could be a piece they can add to their portfolio, or perhaps even something they earn money from.

The second implication is the type of student that we will encounter. A large portion of our students could be firmly established in various internet communities. The next generation of students, will undoubtedly have global ties through their personal blogs, podcasts, and ebooks. Tess has had 1,700 people read her first book and she is not even old enough to drive...very impressive. In this respect, the focus of the next generation of ELA teachers will be to make our students the best writers and readers of information. To ensure that they can comprehend and synthesize the information in front of them so they can render their own thoughts and ideas to other people.

Teaching and being taught

I was working with Jessica today and she taught me how to add a cluster map to my blog. The process was incredibly simple. All you have to do is click on a pre-existing cluster map, on any blog that has one, then click on "create your map" and simply follow the instructions. Once you have typed in your general information (name and email address) copy the HTML. Then sign into your own blog, go to ‘customize,’ ‘template,’ “add a page element,’ and finally ‘html/java script.’ Title then paste the html Click on “Apply” and vaw-la.

Everyone can see everyone else who has found your site.

I then taught Jess how to import photos into iMovie. Basically you Download them onto your desktop, then import the pics into iPhoto, and drag them again into the blank spaces on the right hand side of iMovie. Placing the stills together on the gray strip on the bottom of the screen creates continuous still clip iMovie.continuous clips.

Freidman

I found this article by Freidman on Will Richards’ blog. In honor of Earth Week give it a read. No one can deny this man's ability to succinctly and seamlessly blend very complex global ideas together… it’s a talent of his that a greatly admire.

Much like his book "The World is Flat" his ideas deeply imply the need for more science and math based skills, if we are to retain our standard of living or even compete in the new global economy.

Quick Muse

This site is wonderful!!! I did find it odd that Kerouac’s “first thought equals best thought” view of ‘spontaneous prose’ was being challenged, its on the “About” page. But as all collegiate writers know perfection lies in the editorial process, but with poetry? Sadly, most of my blog posts are a testament to that, but I currently working on that.

Another Kerouac based tangent that a found amidst the pages was poet laureate Robert Pinsky’s ‘Quick Muse’ piece was about Jazz legend Charlie Parker. The death of this jazz great is believed to be the inspiration for a collection of poetry by Kerouac, entitled “Mexico City Blues.” Within this eulogy I have a particular fondness for Choruses 211 & 149.

Overall, this site reminded me of the ‘Poetry Tag Rooms’ that I used to visit when I was in Indianapolis. (Does anyone know if these chat rooms still exist? If so could you provide a link or a way of navigating to one?) For those who do not know what a tag room, let me supply a brief explanation. In this chat room you don’t type anything when you first enter, instead just read the poem that is being composed in the scroll space. When the poet is finished, there is a minute or two of kudos and criticism, and then he/she TAGS someone in the room, giving them either the subject or first line of a poem for them to compose. Think of it as a flash fiction endeavor but pertaining to poetry not prose

However, this site does capture the real time essence of creating poetry.

Is there a version of Quick Muse for amateur poets?

Block III Status and Block II assessment

Status: Jon and I have regretfully discovered that it is impossible to ‘remaster’ a song using Garage Band because the program imports songs as a single track and doesn’t break the song down into individual tracks. We wasted a lot of precious time trying to find a way around that.

Currently we are going to do an enhanced pod-cast about Beat influences in modern culture, particularly music and literature…finding this information seems to be going slowly as well, perhaps tomorrow we’ll be posting our third attempt for a project. (more sand lost to the hourglasses abysmal bottom)

Assessment: I like the collaboration in the last project. With my iWeb we helped one another get around some of the technical problems we encountered, all of the content was self-generated. With Chris, Phil, and Brian such was not the case. We all helped one another build the story, frame shots, film and edit. Though at times there were some difficulties there was never a stressed out “time-crunch”

I could see using iMovie in the classroom to create small documentaries like the other group did, to bring ideas and understanding to a class. The added bonus to all forms of group work also factored in… I got to know those guys better and they became my friends, which is always a good thing.

A response to Will Richards U Michigan Post

I hope that I am completing the task correctly.

After reading the post and comments, I found a metaphor, which was inspired by Sylvia Martinez (response #39). She thought that Will was trying to “draw a line in the sand between practitioners and academics.”

Education is the coastline to new avenues of inquiry and exploration. Technology is a wave that has crashed, is crashing, and will continue to crash; but unlike a traditional wave, this will not wane. Web 2.0 is the tsunami that birthed Jupiter’s Great Red Spot. The people who do not ‘get it’ are trying to draw a similar demarcating line under an area that is completely submerged. The only noticeable difference is that those who are drawing the line for University of Michigan only have their ankles soaked. (I don’t feel to comfortable criticizing a Master’s Program, but it does seem like they are just trying to make a greasy buck in a secluded moment of time that will eventually evaporate)

Blog Task #1

“Video-on Demand” in the classroom, in its current stage, is a great idea that continues to bridge the interest of students, in this case educational programming, with class content. What is particularly innovative and revolutionary about this project is “what distinguishes Baltimore County's effort…the district has convened teams of teachers in each school to brainstorm ways of using the new resources to their fullest potential across each academic discipline.”

Generally, we have been exposed to solitary examples of lone teachers integrating their classrooms with technology, always with extreme success, but they always seemed to be within a domain of technophobes. Now we have an entire district rallying the troops, making curricula that is not only as user friendly as a stapler but fully embraces all of the educational tools available to them…Perhaps the school in Liverpool should have took similar measures? In the not so distant future I can see an entire on-line database of educational “video-on demand” that teachers and students could pull up from anywhere on the planet, probably in a language that it wasn’t recorded in.

The most obvious connection between the three readings is that there is no longer anything traditional about education and for those who think they will be teaching in a manner in which they were taught… you are sorely mistaken (that sentence made me feel cutting edge and old all at the same time). Everything is changing, on so many levels.

It seems that blogs are only part of the picture while the use of technology in the classroom is another part of what we need to do to strive in the flattening of the world. Where the Technorati datum visually conveys the surge of the blogosphere, the Baltimore Project shows us how the uses of technology for education are changing. The way I see it “the main thing we need to teach our young people is to love the process of learning,”

Block III

Hello all!!

Jon and I are going to be using Garage Band in two different capacities. First we will be making an enhanced podcast on a subject matter that will be decided on tomarrow, then we will see if it is possible to remaster a pre-exsisting song with the program. If it is not possible, we'll let you know, if it can be done, prepare yourself for some cleaned up music.

We're around the Corner

Will Richards & Tom Friedman have both wrote that a computer with a terabyte hard drive capacity is something that is right around the corner... Well... we're there.

Be amazed at the amount of information that can now stored on a single hard drive!!

O'Brien Blog Quiz Posting

The most fascinating aspect of O’Brien’s research was how the natural responses of the video game club challenged preconceived gender roles of adolescents (“Reconceptualizing Competence” p33&34).

"Males have conversational goals that place ultimate value on maintaining status (whereas girls and women use discourse to achieve connection and intimacy)… the boys in the video game club seemed willing to take advice from peers and to assume the position of being less knowledgeable than peers" –O’Brien 34

This perfectly bridges two of the major ideas that we have covered in class: the implied adolescent and the benefits of collaboration.

The generalizations we will make about the types of students that will occupy our future classrooms will be in a constant state of flux, due, in part to our prejudices and experiences. However, now that we will not be the sole providers of knowledge, we have the opportunity to witness the discrepancies between what we learned in educational psychology and what occurs in our own classrooms.

The actions of the Darnell, Arthur and Jonathan are a direct result of the students providing the content, as well as, collaborating with one another, both of which are vary powerful learning tools. When working in groups the strengths of members should complement the weaknesses of others, so no one becomes frustrated or struggles. This was accomplished with their group work and reflected in their new understanding how video games can be used as a tool to help improve literacy.

Front page Freidmen

I just read this on Yahoo and all I have to say is how much flatter can terra ferma get?

We should all welcome our newest competitors before working even harder towards the new middle and then rejoice for the ENTIRE *BLEEPING* WORLD (acording to this article) is now connected.

Switching hemispheres for a moment

The Math and Science Gateway Out of Cornell was referenced in the live chat of the Technology Counts article; it is an example of one of the numerous online resources that teachers can use to bring technology into their classrooms.

There is a variety of math and science topics (of varying levels) that can students can access to gain a better understanding of the concepts, they are covering in class. This site also provides the opportunity to delve deeper into subjects of interest that the curriculum does not cover.

I spent some time in the astronomy and was amazed at the depth that they go into.

I hope you enjoy, and would like to know if there is a comparable site that focuses on English Language Arts.

The Live Chat Discussion

The educators who “get it” seem to be the people that are using new technologies in their classrooms. Those digital explorers who are trying to fully “grasp it” may be looking for resources to help their classrooms as well as getting a sense of “who should know what.”

The degree of technological knowledge that administrators should have, Ed Glickman’s question directly addressed this and the amount of on-site tech support are very important questions. Having access to as many knowledgeable people as possible would ease the burden and quell the concerns of “exploring” teachers. They are not only learning systems and pedagogies but how to proficiently use them in their class rooms. When glitches are thrown into the mix, I can see how they may be able to scrap the entire program all together.

Another topic that came up many times was where, when, and if typing skills should be taught. This issue ties in with students have knowledge of a technology but utilizing its correct usage. First hand, I know that typing skills improve over time, but the importance of finger placement to improve speed, I feel, should be a skill learned early on. I still occasionally glance at the key board, but it was very hard to wean myself from the “hunt and peck” tendencies that all fledgling typists.

The Blog Quiz Response to the Tech Counts Articles

Through this class, we, as future teachers, know the benefits of technology based learning. It can be cited from numerous examples found in our texts and in our projects. However, these articles illustrate the sporadic occurrences of applying technology in the classroom. The isolated bubble that internet restriction places on students, as well as traditional non- technology-based projects, limit the learning process of the student.

In my experience this semester, I have gained the knowledge of interacting with new technologies, which has improved the way in which I render my ideas on the page and in the digital world. In addition, the redefinition of what literacy actually is, with the advent of the read/write web, has helped me gain a greater understanding of the function of an ELA educator.

The connection that I am seeing with discussions is the importance of students having fun with the educational process and having them bring their world into the classroom. This is seen the distress felt by Randy Herrera when he steps on school grounds. His description in the second paragraph of the student voice article, paints him not as a teenager but a functional member of the Flat World. With the reluctance of technology in his classroom, we can also feel his dwindling levels of motivation, and hope that we never subject our students to that.

A Non Blog Quiz Response to the Tech Counts Articles

This occurred to me after re-reading the articles.

There are two groups in the article that are further contributing to Friedman’s educational gap. First, we have the students who are not immersed in technology once they leave their schools and then there are the teachers who do not use any of the technology that their schools offer.

I feel students should not be held accountable or be placed at a disadvantage because they are lacking technology at home. But the teachers who fail the embrace, or even the use, the technology that is available to them are not helping to get computers into their homes.

I am not saying that the role of a teacher is comparable to that of a computer salesperson, but with the changing of the educational paradigm, parents need to see computers as an educational tool, and not just something to play games with. Perhaps if more teachers used technology, there would be a greater sense of urgency, on the parents’ part, to open the digital world for their children. Which would give those students the opportunity to acquire the essential characteristics of the new middle.

The Zine Project: The Blog Quiz

If this article does anything at all, it offers a counterpoint to the touchy paperless classroom debate… but I degrees.

The major connection that keeps recurring throughout our course discussions as well as our readings is the idea that students can be great creators of content, regardless of medium, when the focus is on something that interests them. This is seen in Hobbs’ use of media and Jacobi’s work with the Zine Project.

The initial reluctance of students to conceptualize their out-of-school persona as the leading voice in the “new” English class quickly melts away; and the students find them selves learning ELA principles without even knowing that they are doing so. Along the way, students are also defining themselves through the editing and collaboration processes, which is valuable bonus to during the teenage years.

Another on going connection is students providing the content. This has the role of the teacher change from the master of knowledge to more of a guide that helps to form the students’ ideas through expression, through both creative and academic endeavors.

The premise of having students express themselves and not being chained down to counter-productive curriculums is giving me hope. Once I become a teacher, my students will not be trudging through books that they have no interest in but reading books that interest them. The material that we are covering, when applied, seems to remove the idea of forcing students to do their work.

Small personal up-date.

Over the break, I bought an ipod and am enjoying it tremendously. The idea of being able to have access to my entire musical library where and when ever I want is opening up avenues of the emotional spectrum that I never thought possible. Listening to Miles Davis while walking to my car after class made everything seem more vibrant and alive. Somewhat cheesy, but I felt like I was privy to a secret that no one else was in on.

However, I do plan on using it scholastically as well. The problems that I have with Spanish, will be confronted this summer as I record vocabulary and concepts listen to them while driving, on the golf course, and the water. It is something that I never would have considered if I did not take this course. As I have noted before the benefits of ENG 307 are not only helping me learn how to be a better teacher, but a better student as well.

The benefits of Story Telling

Stream lining the story telling process through Kajder’s elements of digital story telling was brilliant. Not only can I see how it would help me as a teacher but as a writer as well.

Viewing the technology as only a method of delivery relieves some the stress of production allowing a greater focus on content. I did, however, think that Economy should have appeared in both the “during writing” and “during construction” phases. This is probably because I am an accordion writer; my drafts fluctuate in length throughout the writing process. Her focus on limiting bells and whistles however reminds students to stay focused on the heart of the story that they are telling.

I can see this exercise also being beneficial for developing group skills among students. Having someone with you during a creative problem solving session not only builds friendships but has the opportunity to have the members the group constantly look at the piece in a new light.

I REALLY look forward to doing this with my future students

"Did you Know" video? or only digital

I do not think that there could be a more concise way of driving Friedman’s points home. Not only did express urgency but at the same time I found myself mentally referencing the career route of Monica Loughry as the quintessential adaptor. Burrowing deep and moving horizontally to gain specialized skills that would make her more and more desirable.

The idea of teaching that skill that would make future students "untouchable," initially seemed like quite a task. Knowing that "25% of the population in China with the highest IQ's is greater that the total population of North America," it is definatly needed.

After thinking about it for a while. I realized that had fallen victim to time dependant thinking, assessing the future with a current mind set that can not envision change. If the ELA skills that are being integrated into classrooms are increasing multiple forms of literacy then, a teachers depiction of the job world to students would cause also cause students to view acquiring necessary skills in a light we can not imagine. Friedman spells these skills for us "non-natives" in his “want ad” headlines, but there is strong potential that these skills will already be understood by our future students. (is that circular reasoning"?)

Blog Quiz- Kajder and Friedmen

When Friedman describes the new middle, he addresses the impact that the flattened world will have in classrooms. Students will “have to fundamentally reorient what they are learning and educators how they are teaching” (278). While I was in high school, the employable traits necessary for the flat world middle class were not even touched upon, but then again, the 16-bit Super Nintendo was considered high tech.

What I have picked up from people who have student taught and have observed is that the blending of literacies is not common practice in the typical high school.

This leads me to believe that the ELA work being done in classrooms like Sara Kajder’s is starting to retrain the minds of students. Melding what they know and enjoy with the critical skills of language arts is laying the foundation for the untouchable “new middlers.” The transition, however, may take more time than we have.

The first four essential skills/traits that Freidman describes, collaboration, orchestration, synthesis, and explanation, benefits that students can acquire in ELA class rooms such as Kajder's. Collaboration and orchestration would result from critiquing one another's work. Synthesis is attained by blending an understanding of the text and rendering that knowledge onto the screen, which would also improve the students ability to explain things more coherently.

Though not directly addressed in class rooms i fell that adaptation would come in time, by seeing what skills are needed in a given enviroment, be it class room or job market. This leaves passion and a green outlook, which seems more like personality traits which could be fostered through active class precipitation.

The poorly linked link

The title of the article in the previous post is "All the World's a Story."
And the ULR for the site is:

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/19/business/media/19carr.html?_r=1&ref=technology&oref=slogin

For those who prefer the more timely cut and paste option.

The Next Step in New Journalism

Here is an interesting article that combines citizen journalism with the concept of a wiki. It seems that there is now a shift into stronger citizen based news coverage, check it out.

The Book Thief Video

It is a cliché that the book is always better than the movie, because it they usually are. Here we are presented with a way to coax those who traditionally do not read away from the screen and into the magical printed world.

Book trailers such as this could be created by students as final unit projects, as hinted at by Shade Gomez. It would help students link their deep understanding of a text with technologies that they know or perhaps have mastered. This would be exciting for students to present a text to their teacher in a light they may never have considered. While also giving students that opportunity to show what they would important in a text and why.

I could feel the buzz of the production crew while reading this article and there desire to read the book. With the ever-expanding digital world, I find it comforting to see that traditional printed works are not being abandoned but …referenced/directed(if those are the write words) eluded to via the internet.

Task 2: A Very important point

Though I am new to the EDU program at Cortland, the one thing that Prof. Stearns has instilled in me, is to get children to read more you have to find out what interests them and what they are reading outside of the classroom. This makes it education fun for students. This is KEY to getting information across regardless of the circumstances. While it is not something that was heard exclusively in the MAC lab, it is also stressed and re-stressed by Will Richards and the reinforcement of this idea is also the focus of the Mrs. Lowery’s success in her Seth Low Science Classes.

The article and accompanying video brought something to the foray that I have never considered before, and that is nurturing the emotional lives of middle school children. Mr. Fien, the Seth Low Principal places the social growth of these students over the academics of the curriculum. This I feel is something that should be blended together with all age groups, but is a necessity with middle school children. At that age having a friend who just happens to be your teacher would form a strong bond that would place students on the right track for academic advancement, while also providing positive adult role models which may be lacking at home. Above all it would show students that they are cared for more so than test scores and grades that they receive.

This emotional connection with middle schools students is something that is not directly addressed in the class readings. As we have read, when incorporating technology into classrooms students bring their world into the classroom by them selecting course content. What was offered in these articles is another way to create the bonds that form a successful, yet redefined and untraditional, student/teacher relationship.

The First Task

The largest challenge I see presented to future ELA teachers is overcoming the mindset of the “implied teacher” as the sole barer of knowledge. It seems to me that after receiving a four-year degree, becoming certified and completing Master level work is not only a rite of passage into adulthood, for some, but also a huge ego boost. I feel that this over-inflation is the underlying problem behind Lewis and Finders’ societal generation gap that helps form the implied teacher and implied student.

This is seen with Ray (page111), who has only begun this rigorous academic endeavor. As the student, he was more than willing to share insights regarding the decoding of CD jackets, a new media literacy. However, he started to close off and wished to monitor the content that his future students would bring in, if he chose to replicate this exercise in his classroom.

His actions seem to go against King and O’Brien’s push towards the new “non-authoritative role of the teacher who must become a facilitator to blend meaning from multiple sources.” Perhaps his ego was getting in the way and feared a student generated and lead discussion. These are, of course, conjectures but show us the difference of knowing the path and walking on it: reminding us not to go against the training of open mindedness that we are acquiring here.

Having students bring in content from which critical thinking skills can be applied to REALLY excites me, because it will give me the opportunity to see what is holding my students’ interests. This also presents a great way to see what cultural trends stick and which ones are cast aside.

A Question

As you can tell, I have published and erased a few posts that either had links that did not work or had titles missing. Is there anyway to erase the timing footnotes that appear where the previous post were?

Dealing in the Digital session

Dr. VanSlyke-Briggs and her mother presentation on integrating technologies into the classroom covered some of the issues that I have previously blogged about. Her website into this foray covers her presentation as well as offers other links that would be helpful to teachers who are being to bring technology into their classrooms.

What I found the most interesting about her presentation was how was telling a room full of teachers that the definition of the literacy is changing in ways that incorporate digital media. These new critical thinking skills that teachers must possess can be blended with what students already know to create in and learn from a domain that they have previously used for recreational time. Isn’t this the core of what 307 is all about?

Dr. Vanslyke-Briggs spent a lot of time with verifying the validity of websites, via the Way Back Machine, which shows when and how sites have been updated. Also at http://easywhois.com anyone can check to see who owns a particular web site.

My First Date session

Shade Gomez's session on project based learning, highlighted the benefits of students using technologies they have a working knowledge of and interweaving it with course work. This is one of the primary goals in Eng 307.

I thought that the two most interesting ideas in Shade’s presentation were getting to know your librarians and the ten rules for a Power Point Presentation.

Not being fully acclimated into the mindset of a teacher, I found it helpful to be reminded that librarians are one of a teacher’s most useful resources. Not only can they help you make the distinctions that would make a good presentation standout from a bad one, but they are also ideal for any hardware and software problems that we may encounter.

The Ten Rules for an Effective Power Point Presentation stressed the information that is presented on the screen as a compliment to lecture that is being given. This is key to having the presenter and not the screen, be the focus of information. This was helpful for students and teachers alike who do not have much experience with the program.

I believe what impressed everyone in the room was the extent of creativity that Shade’s students displayed. He brought in samples of music, posters, movies, fabric art (which included printmaking and quilts that tied into his curriculum) even a few woodcarvings and an airbrushed piece of aluminum. These were perfect examples of that how his students blended their interest with course content.

The Nation's Report Card

Like all, I am shocked to see these stats, but I could not stop thinking about two things.

1) Are media literacies taken into account? Knowing full well that there is a degree of reading involved in one's interaction with a computer, i think that there is an aspect of comprehension that may not be taken into consideration.... How's that for denial dispite the fact that my Grandfather could only read box scores in the newspaper and atleast once a month, i have to read ingredient lists for people at work, who susposedly forgotten their glasses (which are often infront of their eyeballs)

2) (looking under the surface)Is there no better way to see the gulf between classes widening? I feel with more and more families are having trouble making the ends meet, this a reflection of the type of schooling that most people can afford. Considering this is public education, the under-funded school seems to make up the majority of schools whereas the numbers in economically affluent neighborhoods are hold no effect of the medium.

Reading and my two favorite authors

My affinity for reading stemmed from my love of stories, which began with my grandmother reading Golden Books to me. As I aged, the “fullness” of printed stories were more appealing than television, though I did succumb to the electron beam during my teenage years. It was shallow form of escapism that ultimately lead me to literature.

We read “of Mice and Men” for tenth grade English and my passion for reading was rekindled. Steinbeck’s piece was the only book we read during sophomore year that did not pertain to the holocaust. I finished it in a night and wanting to dwell in similar emotional landscapes, I reread it. Again, I was re-connected with stories.

I have a fondness for Beat writers, in particular, William S Burroughs. His dark and subtle sarcasm unveils a word rooted in ancient mysticism where no one is safe. A much more playful writer, who I also adore, is Tom Robbins. Light hearted yet unpretentiously profound, his novels also draw from the ancient beliefs, but he uses then to fill the void that is inherent in the human condition. He makes his readers see that this moment is but a stepping stone towards the future while always reminding us of the cosmic goof, which at times can cause us to loose our smile.

If you never read Tom I IMPLORE you to do so. If you already have, I’ld like to know what you think about Seattle’s newest painter… Erleichda!!!!

Citizendium

This article
Conserninng a new free online encyclopedia, from the makers of Wikipedia, that is taking into account the realiablity of the article editors. Though this seems to go against the entire premise of a wiki, regular people will be able to edit content but they will not be able to do so anonymously. They are thinking that this will help with the crediability of the site in scholastic circles, as we discussed during the last class wikipedia has been banned from many the works cited page on many campuses.

Though the arrtcle was incomplete, I would really like to read it in its entirity, I googled the name and went to there homepage
saw there mission statement and veiwed their company blog. Though they have no set lauch date, they have currently tried an expirement. They are deleting all of the wikipedia articles that they have been working with to give their authors a little more creative reign. I thought the dialog was interesting, maybe some one could check it out too?

On line Learning

According to the Boston Globe article, the number of students taking class on line is increasing, though I was a little shocked that they counted the number of virtual seats filled as opposed to the number of students taking on line courses. Could they have calculated the number of students enrolled in what would be considered a full-time education?

i can see both the advatages and the disadvantages of this. A major advanage is that students from across the country will all be receiving the same education from the same teacher. The freeing up of the students time was also a very strong point. That allows for the fostering of child parent relationship which is often compromised due to the educational demands of students outisde the class room.

The Downside is that the amount of the information the student retains may be compromised. It seems that most kids, who do not see the value of education, wold go to great ends to take advantage of this new system, and have all of their resources present when taking a test. Also the personal relationships between teacher and student would be lost. I know that side questions that were not covered in class could be emailed, but it seems that some of the students understanding of a concept could get lost in the email exchange

Task#3 The R.O.U.S.'s no silly RSS's

File management has been taken to the next level. having Richards explain how to get information from a news source ws very helpful. I didn't think that is could be possible because I was of the understanding that all internet search were time sensitive, meaning that list generated from search results appeared only when typed. I'm glad that I was wrong.

How I would employ this in a ELA class room. (the first 2 are lesson idea, i hope that is alright)

1) have students compare and constrast sources, regarding a given subject matter, to show students how each source's interpretation of the same event or information are written for different audeinces.

2) Having students use blog feeds from other bloggers to illustrate public misconcepts about a topic

3) Check the progress of my future students' work and have all of the most recent information and uploaded avaible one one page

Task #2 Article

I think that friedman's response would focus on "those whose intelligence is deployable in new directions on short notice, not to those who are locked into a single marketable skill, however thoroughly learned and accredited." Pointing out that adaptable intelligance is th only way that one can thrive economically in Global 3.0.

Sadly, I feel he would not see the need for legions of people skilled in the field we are about to enter. Seeing that his mind seems to focus on profit potential and economic possiblity, I can reasonably assume that he is waiting for technology based education to eneter the spot light in the next decade or so. This would make teaching, as a mass employment possiblilty, obsolete.... In no way do I think that THIS would be a good thing, and in all probablity would deeply enrage my meek little form.

Task #1 2.0 to 3.0

Freidmen states that "the dynamic force in Globalization 3.0-the force that gives it its unique character-is the prfound power for individuals to collaborate and compete globally" (p10)

The importance of individual collaboration of students and teachers has almost become old hat (though of utmost importance) in the few short weeks that we've been together. The possiblity of students working with people from around the world gives them no limits to what they can learn.

The competition factor however is something thatI feel will be the diatomic opposite of Freidmen's business examples. In business groups compete to accomplish goals or innovate products before anyone else so they optimize profits. In class rooms, the focus of the teacher is not to horde all of the availble resources so their classes are the in the highest scoring percentile. But to use what works and share it with others. Globalization 3.0 makes this possible anywhere on the planet where there is internet access and not within the confines of one brick building.

Web 2.0 on Nickelodeon

In this New York Times article Nickeldeon is bringing the read/write web on air, by devoting some of their airtime to the on-line creations of children. Though there is the potential for educational programming created by children, I think idea is trying to link up one form of media to that whcih will soon replace it.

task #3 Standards

The ELA/NCTE standards center around critical thinking when consuming and composing various forms of mass media information.

The fifth standard which emphasizes that teachers should “engage students in critical analysis of different media and communications technologies and their effect on students' learning.” Is the most encompassing of the seven because it ensures that students are not only grasping the information they are being exposed to but learning how to break the info down into smaller pieces and manipulate them cerebrally. Hobbs research shows that this is attainable, while also offering the entire process. This gives us an idea of some of the obstacles we may encounter from parents as well as students.

task #2 The Hobbs summary and my relfection

Renee Hobbs set out to see the effects of teaching media literacy in a 11th grade English class in Massachusetts, is goes along perfectly with what this class is all about. This new form of media, literacy even spiked the interest of a few students who have taken the traditional version of the class. Once again proving one of the underlying tones of Will Richards, when teachers create a learning environment where students are trully interested in the course work they will thrive.

Hobbs is collecting her data from direct observations as well as interviews with teachers, students and faculty as the program progresses through the year. Pointing out how she used both qualitative and quantitative she explains gives depth to her findings as well as gives her research a human quality, which is often lacking in classroom research.

What I am finding interesting in the first chapters of the book is how these students are interacting with one another as if they are a part of the Web 2.0(in class room discussions and in their group work) but without the computers. For me, who has never been in front of a class, this adds validity to the excitement that children feel when they are learning about something that interests them.

I also think that Val Aubry makes I good point, that I feel I may forget once I am teaching in a classroom: “we were not here to make kids potential English majors. Instead, we were aiming to help students become critical thinkers” (26). This idea is paramount in the New English that we will all find ourselves teaching. The students who have no interest in English beyond the classroom, will leave that space and take something with them that they will carry for the rest of their lives… what could be better than that?

Task #1, i hope this is deep enough

The six principles of media literacy that Project Look Sharp deals with appear to perfectly compliment the research of Renee Hobbs. Hobbs was documenting the effects of media literacy in classrooms and the principles of PLS, seem to take her work at Concord High School and generalize her findings. Hobbs research is more specific than the guiding principles of the PLS, but that is because her research takes the reader along the process of validating the effectiveness of media literacy in the classroom.

Though, I do not know how long PLS has been in effect, the web page itself dates back to 2001 (thank you “Way Back Machine” and Mr. Warlick). This is three years after Hobbs’ the implementation of the English 11 curriculum. Hobbs’ finding stand on there own, by looking at both the text and the PLS we can see how the steps towards integrating media literacy in classrooms came to in being.

TheURL again

http://web.mac.com/jo_tutko

Did the link work, on the second attempt?

MY website's URL

Hello all

I finally published my website, the URL is
I'ld like to know what you think, and in what ways I could improve it.

E-ink (new content?)

While reading Warlick, E-ink stood out so I did some digging. I hope this is as new to me as it is to you.

E-ink is a form of electronic paper that is to used to cut down on the eye strain that is caused by the back lighting of most computer screen, it has the appearance of ink on paper. The interesting thing about this is the pixels do not need a constant power supply to retain the image and can hold and that angle of the incoming light does not affect the quality of what is on "the screen"

That was not what I thought it was at all, but I did learn that there are thin leafy sheet available out there called digital paper which can be used with a specific pen to write out digital documents. If this in not a step in the direction of the Warlick intro then I do not know what is.

Project update

My web page is finally finished, all I have to do is upload to a the sever and all is well. It seems most of the hurdles that I encountered where problems interfacing with the mac and not knowing just how many possibilites iWeb has to offer.

The actual site that I made, has my resume, a short blurb, about how i got to back to school & New York State, the three poems I published (i nterlinked each of the potry pages so navigation is easier, and thought that that was very cool) Basically, I like working with iweb and am interested to hear how I can improve and change my site.

The NCTE Postion Renewal

It is one thing to learn about something in a class room, but it is quite another it see it applied in the "real world." This shows us the beginning stages of the change that is the focus of most our discussions. I have often thought that any concept that is a resolution is usually a bad thing, I am glad that my undestanding as well as my literacy is being redefined.

It seems to me that the next step be having multi-media presentations be a requirement for graduation, like the Presentation Skills requirement that have to met.

Task 2: KSU's Youtube video

The final moments of the KSU YouTube video cause the cognitive dissonance that Professor Stearns was talking about during our last class meeting. The read and write web is something that is going to have us reshape the entire world as we know it. We, as humans, are often reluctant to change and tend to approach it from a pick and choose viewpoint (I think that’s why the video had anthro journals in it).

Before we try to grasp the changing form of governance, the idea of literacy must first be tackled. The three-dimensional reading that Warlick talks about in his second chapter shows us perfectly how a student can completely learn a subject. To such an extent that that anyone picking up the report is going to learn something new. The obstacle that I see us having to over come is whether the information the student is conveying will be retained, that seems to be the problem with teaching despite the medium.

One of the many benefits I see to creating a three dimensional text, is that student has the opportunity to annotate their own work, not just supplying substantial back round information on a given topic. Their writing style may contain nuances that maybe overlooked and now they have the chance to demonstrate to there teachers why they chose a particular word assemblage. This idea could also be used by teachers to have students better understand literary concepts in an assigned short story, of course in the form of an eBook.

connecting the unlearned

We are all entering a field under assumptions and pretenses that no longer apply. This thought is the corner stone that our ENG 307 class is building off of. The application of the technology is a concept that we readily grasp, the problems that we are encountering are more of a technical nature. The Will Richards’ blog posting of the 10 items that educators must unlearn is a tool that can help us rewire our brains and help us flush out some of the afore mentioned assumptions

“unlearning the idea that learning itself is an event” harmonized perfectly with all of the examples that Thomas Friedman uses illustrate the factors flattening the globe. He pulls from various businesses how they have innovated to stay ahead of the game. Wal-Mart’s ordering system based, ordering in actually what is going out of the door, can be seen as a way to control inventory: but there is an undercurrent that reminds us that the continuous process of education can not be ignored. The ever-changing business is just that a state of flux where if systems are not improved upon, become stagnant, then capitol ceases to flow.

To “unlearn the strategy that collaborative work inside the class is enough and understand that cooperating with students from around the globe can teach,” is exactly what UPS as the insource with other companies. Again, most of what Richards telling future teachers is already being employed in the business world. Having Nike concentrate their efforts on building a better sneaker while the boys in brown worry about supply chaining is collaboration at its best. In the classroom this can be seen in group work where the members’ strengths guide the partners through there weaknesses while side stepping the frustration of not knowing how to do something.

“To unlearn the practice that teaches all students at the same pace,” brings a higher quality of education into the lives of students. This brings enjoyment to the learning process by taking the high school student to the level that both Will Richards and Thomas Jefferson sought that of a life long learner. The benefit of that to us in the education field is a given whereas other would only see the value once their lives are enriched in such a manner.

Another page for task 1

I also went to http://www.backflip.com, which is virtual bookmarker that enables users to access their bookmarked pages despite the computer they are on. I signed up and listed the class blog page, my own, and bloglines… I seemed useful at the time but I was under the impression that a new tool bar would appear under the Mozilla tool bar to allow access, but this does not seem to be the case.

The usefulness of this in the classroom, seems ideal for teachers like warlick suggests, yet there are also possibilities for students as well. Researched topic pages can be saved online and accessed when ever needed, if the tool bar is something that can not be found, opening another internet window, instead of typing in the URL would save a lot of time.

Task 1: Digital flower power and word Virus

I played around at “internet archive” http://www.archive.org/index.php Which houses various uploaded texts and media files. There is also a feature named after Dr. Peebody’s invention, The Way Back Machine, this tool provides the history of web pages added to sites according to year and date, all you have to enter is the web sites URL, I did Cortland.edu and saw how our site grew, as well as BCC’s.

The there is a lot of uploading here, I was shocked to find a “Grateful Dead” heading under the Types of Audio files. There is an archive of live shows…a lot of Dead shows, some of which can be downloaded while others are simply streaming, while also a message board where fans could post. Digital flower power…groovy

I was very surprised that the site had 29 classroom lectures and readings by William S. Burroughs, of whom I am a big fan. There were in class discussions about creative writing and creative reading (not to familiar with that), but I am going to listen after posting.

Searching media through Archive is somewhat troublesome, because all searchs are opened to broader criteria than what you enter, try it and see for your self. But, I see how this could be a useful tool, for dating internet sources (as Warlick suggested) and for searching for information or a topic that you wanted to get all possible information for.

The site also includes searchable Text, audio book/poetry, moving images (as they call them), and open courseware.

task 3: Citizen Journalist, fact checkers & James Frey

I am finding it hard to pull one thing out and deem it the most interesting, I am sure others did as well. The concept of Citizen Journalism really caught my attention, though I see the advantages only negative examples came to mind.

The video cast of the tasered student in the library was shown in my multi-cultural lit class last semester, it was a very powerful series of images and an interesting story that would have never been seen if not for a camera phone. At that time, I thought, “Grand, people now have to opportunity to expose every facet of injustice that they encounter,” and I know that I was being altruistic. The only reason why most people wanted to see that clip was for entertainment purposes, I find that a sad critique of humanity.

Then there are the privacy issues, and in this moment, I will make this blog’s only “big brother” reference. Seeing that morals and values are often upheld to an absurd extreme one can only image future websites archiving the…less glamorous?...moments of a person’s life, captured for ever, in low grade digital video. I guess we all have to keep ourselves in check.

On a slightly brighter note, the citizen based media movement is making sure that everyone who reports the news, or puts anything into print for that matter, has there facts straight. Countless legions of fact checkers are laying in wait, ready to point their finger at any writer who is trying to deceive the American public…. It sounds good, if that’s the way that I worked

The most notable and a perfect example of taking things a little bit too far was the debacle surrounding James Frey. He wrote a wonderful autobiography about addiction and recovery called “A Million Little Pieces.” At first, this book won its way into the hearts of millions, for it truly was a heart touching story, though it did have many sharp edges. I was surprised to see it on Oparh’s Book Club. However, an internet site called The Smoking Gun stated that the events in the book did not match up with police records. it seems that James fabricated parts of his memoir. He was ultimately dropped from his publisher but not before being scrutinized by Larry King and Oparh.

I guess that the “gonzo autobiography” will never be a valid literary genre. The fact remains that the man told a really good story that brought a darker facet of human experience into the mainstream. “A Million Little Pieces” was required reading in the Chemical Dependency class at the college I previously attended (I feel the need to say that it was book I found on my own). So as a depiction of addiction it holds merit, I found no need to drag the man through the mud because embellished parts of his life. Move the book over the fiction section along side the memoirs of William S Burroughs and Jack Kerouac.

Task 2 Friedman

The importance of creating and sharing content gives everyone the opportunity to “tap into thousands of minds that (we) wouldn’t normally have access to” (Friedman 114). The greatest example of this was gold ore excavation story, that team was looking simply for notoriety and profits; just thinking about all of those special interest groups that are available to anyone, makes me giddy. , the vast amount of accessible that is. This of extreme importance when considering what our future students should be learning, but it does not over shadow the fact that we will have to continue mastering technologies that have not yet been created.

We all have a saving grace when we encounter something that we do not know, because we will never stop being learners. We have the access so we have no excuses. How else will our student learn to teach themselves if they do not see us doing just that along side of them?

The strongest parallel with Richards and Friedman that I am seeing is how they pull information from numerous sources to inform their reader bases as well as accomplish their own tasks. This is a lesson within itself, utilizing the web, through networking, uploading or podcasting, to reach an endpoint, were ever they maybe. This is a very eclectic process, and though some people may be unfamiliar or uncomfortable with this mindset, it will be an integral part of how we can better utilize our classrooms.

Girl Power

It has been more than a decade since I have been inside a high school classroom, I remember trying very hard to form an identity that was acceptable with my friends as well my teachers… I guess I am still a dork like that.

I feel that the changing classroom atmosphere offers the opportunity for gender annulment; similar to Will Richards’ point in the video cast, the teacher attention is now focused more on content and merit than the alignment of X and Y-chromosomes. The quality of the work is what matters and not the role the student occupies, be it gender or social. Though with blogs I can see how commenting holds a possibility for bias.

The section titled “The paradox of doing well” offered a startling fact; how the air of competitiveness in classrooms played off the strength of boys. I wonder if that holds true regardless of the teacher’s gender.

Going back to my high school experience, I distinctly remember if one of my teachers was the coach of a team, their attention was more focused towards the members of their team. The team’s understanding of the material being covered was paramount, more so than my other classmates. This bias did not seem contained to any specific gender, but to their role as a coach. As future educators, I think that bias is something that we cannot afford to make, for the sake of out students.

A thought on thoughts, from time

The functions of the brain, while sequentially processing, was something I found very interesting. I lack the biology background, so this information was new to me. The adding of another onion to a recipe, which causes the chef’s mind to toggle to another page of cognition, produced a very eerie understanding of the human mind. I knew exactly how our minds operated because of my limited knowledge of Windows! We all know that the brain is a bio-organic computer, but I never synthesized that tidbit of information with something I knew. In my head I saw the minimization of the chopping onion file and maximizing the one for recipe augmentation.

There is little disagreement that social networking technology is the next step in the evolution of the communication, but could we also be experiencing evolution of the human mind first hand, or at least through our children and grandchildren?

My logic is this: interfacing several different ideas through a computer maybe cause the prefrontal cortex not to atrophy as we mature, causing the white noise of thought to dissipate.

Seeing that there is a newness to this form of cerebral exercise, I see no way to test this idea at this time but in my mind, there remains the possibility.

If there is a flaw in my logic due to a lack of comprehension, I would really like to know.

Warlick’s Shift

Warlick’s reprioritization of education takes into account how new technologies are affecting curriculum while also placing curriculum above how effective a teacher is in the classroom. This is a much more logical progression in my mind where, as he said, “the how and the how well” will fall into place. It gives teachers the opportunity to step back from what they are currently doing, access how they can integrate their classrooms to better suit their students, and utilize the motivating factor that technology has on students.

It appears that teaching student to use what they already know and apply it in the classroom is a much smaller challenge compared to having teachers initially learn how to use new technologies, but once mastered it can be a very powerful tool. The focus then for us, as fledgling educators, is to meld the exploration of virtual education with how the information can be applied to the “basics.” An example would be having an English teacher send a student a link to a site that explains on ever occurring grammatical error so they would correct their mistakes and learning correct usage.

I think that the most important question facing ELA educators is how to teach the both sides to different students in the same classroom. By both sides, I mean the technology (to those who do not have access to it at home) and the course content. I feel that his is of utmost importance because we will all be encountering different types of students from different backgrounds in school districts with various levels of funding.

The potential of the Weblog arena

The posting of self-constructed content on the web is, without argument, a great motivator for the students of teachers who employ these technologies in their classrooms. This foundation has been laid relatively quickly and currently most teachers are playing catch up with their students.

What can be built from this base seems very impressive. Not only are social networking skills improving, but the desire to seek information outside of their current curriculum is increasing as well. The rate in which the “information consumer” is ingesting increases along side of the content in which they are creating. For me this says a lot for the potential of the human mind.

I am not sure if they exist, but “subject based” tutorial blogs could help students struggling with their understanding of a concept, to such an extent that over the course of one night they could exceed the lesson plan for the following week or weeks. That type of information sharing is getting me excited about becoming a teacher!!!

In Will Richards 2nd video clip, he referred to blog years. At first, that concept seemed ridiculous; maybe he was trying to coin the next “buzzword.” However, as I continued to read the time references stood out in my mind. The intellectual clock is speeding up and students are now able to learn more in a shorter amount of time. The rapid student teacher interaction greatly reduces the time that it takes for students to understand the concepts that they are having difficulty with. THIS excited me as a life-long leaner!!! By finding the right blog sites one could teach themselves virtually anything without the looming threat of tuition bills which could impede the educational process.

NCATE Standards

After reading the NCATE Standards, I am left wondering how long these seven points have been in effect. The experience that I have had encountering these standards is exclusive to my college career. When I was in high school, hi-tech was considered a video, I am not very that old, but I went to an underfunded school in the nineties.

At my previous college BCC, there was a greater awareness of the role that technology played in the class room but nothing that was aimed and teaching larval teachers how to use it or implement it in the class room. However, here at Cortland there is a strong push to make future teachers aware of this... if there wasn' t, we wouldn't be here.

I am not sure were how these standards will effect me in the future, but it seems in these every changing times that their implementation is something that cannot be over looked.
(that seemed a little pretentious and ambiguous)

The First

This is the first time, my toes have ever dipped into electric waters. There was no grand transition into this new stage of being. There were no deafening trumpets, for this is truly a simple step. The only limits before me are my imagination and ability to manifest myself correctly in this dimension of "off" and "on" switches.

All are welcome, please post and all of us can see what is really going on out there.