Happy Spring! PD day with teachers at Camp Hill

Sample of FlowGram- Web 2.0

New blog post: http://ping.fm/t5DHc

Schools too broken to fix?

After reading the article How the “Cons” Are Destroying Public Education written by Thom Hartmann, http://www.ednews.org/articles/2609/1/How-the-quotConsquot-Are--Destroying-Public-Education/Page1.html, I was alarmed and appalled at the statistics regarding adult literacy. It is hard to imagine that 5% of adults are not literate in English, 14% of the population have “below basic” reading skills, and 44% have “intermediate” prose skills. The cons’ solution to all of this is to privatize education; that the public school system is too broken to fix. I beg to differ.

We need to radically and drastically change the way we are teaching, and do it fast. I agree that education is an investment; and we need to start investing local, state, and federal monies today. Pre-K programs are essential, as well as literacy programs for our adults and youth. One size certainly does not fit all. Why aren’t we examining demographics, cultural, and ethnocentrism's when we are examining standardized exams and differentiating based on the data and feedback we receive? How are we measuring 21^st Century Skills our students must acquire? How are schools using technology to reach ALL learners? How do teachers engage their students and create a love and passion for learning? How are we breaking down the digital divide? There are many more measures that nobody is discussing….

I’m not sure what the exact formula or solution is for this huge dilemma our country is faced with; however, I do know that we need to work together. Collaboration and communication is key. Inquiry-based, student-centered, and project-based learning activities, enriched with technology, all have to be present in our schools. Teachers who motivate and engage our students, along with parents and community who consistently support them have to be present in our successful education institutions.

New blog post: http://ping.fm/t5DHc

STOP House Bill 363

If you haven’t heard about this yet, please read more about HB 363 below.

There is a Bill in the House of Representatives prohibiting possession of telephone pagers and certain electronic devices in all schools. It was referred to the Committee on Wednesday. This has educators and parents up in arms, as it should. I understand there is a time and place for iPods, handhelds, cell phones, etc. in the educational setting, but I feel that a formal bill coming from the State is ridiculous!

http://www.legis.state.pa.us/CFDOCS/Legis/PN/Public/btCheck.cfm?txtType=HTM&sessYr=2009&sessInd=0&billBody=H&billTyp=B&billNbr=0363&pn=0410

As you clearly realize, a bill that bans such a technological device with great potential will not only stipend connectivity, but the possibilities of using the device for digital creation/content (podcasts, iTunesU) or engagement (student response systems) will be decapitated.

Many have signed the petition against HB 363. If you feel passionate about this, as I do, please sign the petition.

http://www.petitiononline.com/HB363/petition.html

I think the article below is timely. It’s an article about the potential release of a $99 iPhone and an upgraded version of the current 3G iPhone in June or July. Can you imagine how many MORE students will own a tool like this? And we should ask them to “power down?”

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29122164?GT1=43001

Gearing Up for the Regional and State Computer Fairs

It is truly amazing to see the work our students produce in this day and age. The "digital natives" of today create materials and/or resources that are on a professional level. Learners of today are acquiring skills on how to access resources and how to pull out relevant content to build something unique and innovative.

The Pennsylvania Department of Education sponsors a yearly regional and state computer fair that showcases the talents of students across PA. PDE invites each of the state’s 29 intermediate units to help sponsor computer fairs at the regional level. First place winners in each category at the regional level will have the opportunity to compete at the state competition in the spring.

I read an interesting article regarding the computer fair that a colleague recently posted that shares similar thoughts and information:
http://www.standard-journal.com/articles/2009/01/08/opinion/doc4966287e9f355414075730.txt

The Middle School Computer Fair will have the following categories represented:

• Computer Fair Logo
• Desktop Publishing
• Digital Movie
• Graphic Design
• Multimedia Presentations
• Web Page Design

More information on the MIDDLE SCHOOL COMPUTER FAIR can be found at: http://www.middleschoolcomputerfair.org

The High School Computer Fair will have the following categories represented:

• Animation
• Computer Fair Logo
• Curriculum-Based Web Page Design
• Digital Movie
• Graphic Design
• Information-Based Web Page Design
• Multimedia Presentations
• Programming
• Text-Based Desktop Publishing

More information on the HIGH SCHOOL COMPUTER FAIR can be found at: http://www.pacomputerfair.org/