Ode to Steve Jobs

While credited with changing the world, and rightfully so, these words shared by Steve at a commencement speech at Stanford capture what I choose to remember most about his amazing spirit.  What if we could all live our lives in this manner?  Most people don;t know that there are angles who's job is to make sure you don't fall asleep and miss your life.  What's holding you back? 

Steve Jobs - "Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life.  Don't be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people's thinking.  Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your inner voice.  And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition,  They somehow already know what you truly want to become.  Everything else is secondary."  

To view his entire address click here:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=UF8uR6Z6KLc

Teachers Evaluate IPads

So how do early adopter teachers feel about IPads in the classroom?  I wasn't surprised to hear the range of opinions about how teachers viewed the integration of IPads into their classrooms.  It's a shift in thinking and in practice, unfortunately for some a quantum shift.  Three things really bothered me.  Te article is listed under the heading "Gadgets and Games" - Really, gadgets?  Second, the author talks about a "fad factor" - Really, you mean this might all go away? Third, to the teacher in Arlington who is quoted, "The community we have here, you have reading levels that are very low."  I hope you are able to hang on to your job.  Your community (including your principal) should be up in arms.  Lots of folks have commented on the piece.  What you are you thinking?

http://www.edweek.org/dd/articles/2011/06/15/03mobile.h04.html?cmp=ENL-DD-MOSTPOP

Am I Old or What?

So the other day, one of my third graders had misplaced her jacket and came up to me inquiring where she could find the "Lost and Found." We had recently moved our Lost and Found to a small booth in the hallway that used to house a pay telephone, years since removed.  I told her to look in the room down the hall where the pay phone used to be.  She look up at me with a confused look and said, "Mr. Walker, what's a pay phone?"  Were the days before mobile technology really that long ago?  Uh, yes.

IPads in Peoria

Check out this initiative launched in elementary schools in Peoria:

http://www.pjstar.com/business/x609832039/iPads-enter-the-classroom

IPods in 5th Grade Science

The following post comes from Kay Antley, one of our 5th grade IPod teachers.  You can contact her directly at kantley@bcps.org

My students have been using the IPods this year a lot during science class.  Our unit of study this quarter is geology.  Many of our lessons have been completed on the IPods. We are using interactive games to reinforce the core skills for the unit.  For example I found a website that has an interactive rock cycle where the kids can actually see the rock cycle occurring.

 http://www.learner.org/interactives/rockcycle/diagram.html  

Students can click on each of the rock examples to identify the type and what kind of rock it is.  We also have used the IPods for inquiry during science.  The students have seen through the NASA APP our Earth in action.  Using this app, they can identify the layers, as well as the composition of each layer.  We are still learning all the important concepts our school system wants us to know but doing it in a much more interactive and fun way!

Cell Phones in the Classroom - That's What I'm Talking About!

So let's stop just talking about it and do something about it.  I take my hat off to Liz Kolb and ISTE before even having a chance to read this book, Cell Phones in the Classroom.  I just ordered it and can’t wait for it to arrive.  In these lean economic times, why not put the power of kid’s personal devices to work for us and more importantly them!  Check it out:  

http://www.iste.org/store/product.aspx?ID=2108&utm_source=Books%2BEmail&utm_medium=Books%2BEmail&utm_campaign=Books%2BEmail%2B(CELLUSE)%2B9-14-2011

6,000 Page Views!!!

A big thank you goes out to everyone who has followed our blog over the past 6 months.  I never thought when I did the first post this blog would average 1,000 page views a month.  I know many of my recent posts have been the soapbox variety, rants and raves about how we need to increase the use of technology in our schools.  Obviously I have been preaching to the choir. In the coming months you will see more posts from our teachers highlighting some of the exciting stuff happening in our classrooms.  We are in our second year of our IPod project and have much to share.  Stay tuned.  If you are in the Maryland area, our next conference presentation will be at the Maryland State Conference on Gifted and Talented Education to be held on October 21^st in Greenbelt Maryland.  If you attend, please plan to come to our session.