Blogging made the front page of the Plain Dealer

An article on blogging made the front page of the Plain Dealer today. Unfortunately, it was more about myspace.com and xanga.com. But it did quote data from a research report. If so many kids are blogging, it seems to me that schools should gravitate to a tool that kids know and help them see the power of blogging in learning too!

The article can be viewed at this link.

Remembering Rosa Parks

This post is late as we have been away in Michigan.

I was touched by the memorials and remembrances for Rosa Parks. She was a gracious, active woman who deserved more in the last years of her life.

An article from CNN highlights her life at this link.

Classroom suggestions for wikipedia

Andy Carvin has posted great suggestions for the use of Wikipedia in the classroom in this blog article. The topics in his suggestions could be easily adapted to each teacher's content in the classroom.

A neat weblog project!

Anne has described a neat weblog project in her blog! I am going to continue to refer to her posts as she generously shares what she has learned about blogging with students!

Technology skills for educators

T.H.E. Journal published an article describing "20 Technology Skills Every Educator Should Have" . It's a really comprehensive list. I don't know many educators with these skills. As I think about it, my students helped me learn many of the skills. The article is good reading but David Warlick takes it to the next step in his post today. His thoughts, from my perspective are right on target!

Innovate: An exciting resource

I've just been back to Innovate and found two articles that are good reading, one on blogging and the second on online environments. This is a great resource!

Thoughts on the 4th

handflag
Originally uploaded by lanihall.

A recent post by a good friend while on his trip to Alaska included these comments: "As we drive through these rural communities I wonder if folks from Red and Blue states can reach some form of compromise today. Our politicians are shouting at each other across such a wide chasm. Instead of leading, politicians are more concerned about retaining or gaining office by speaking to their own fellowship. I can see that the life experiences encountered in Red States are so different from those of the world of Urban America, that they do not understand problems each uniquely faces. The issues plaguing Red States and plaguing Blue States are so different, that if who ever holds power forces their agenda upon the other, we all lose as the forces of globalization pass us by!"

This July 4th, as we reflect upon and celebrate the freedoms of this great nation, may we also be mindful that the greatness of this nation has been derived from the diversity and the commonalities among its peoples. Differences are many but rational, wise people can work together to help our country move forward in this everchanging world.

As educators, how can we use utilize the potential of cutting edge technology to support meaningful conversations that highlight the commonalities of all our peoples, celebrate the diversity of our nation, and encourage rational compromise and consensus building?

Even more convinced of the potential Blogging holds for k12 classrooms

The recent postings from NECC have only validated my belief that blogging is good for k12 classrooms. I just started reading Anne Davis and certainly am glad that I discovered she is out there.

Her posts in the last days have had so much good information!
She discusses lessons learned which you can review by clicking on this link.

Good reading!

2 Cents Worth is worth more than that today

2 Cents Worth is worth more than that today!
Check it out here.

A good paper on classroom blogging

Found this paper on the NECC program site:
Using weblogs to promote literacy in the classroom.
Looks pretty good:
http://www.firstmonday.org//issues/issue9_6/huffaker/

David Warlick's comments from NECC

David Warlick is really blogging from NECC! He has great comments on the conference.
Try his blog at this link.

Heating up for NECC

NECC, the big technology and learning conference is about to begin in Philadelphia. Last year, I learned lots from the online handouts. As a matter of fact, the idea for this course came from one of Bernie Dodge's presentations. So I'm on my way to the conference website to see what I can find. The website is here.

Showing insert photos

SHANNON2
Originally uploaded by lanihall123.

This is a demonstration!

Working on a blogging course

I am setting up a new course on blogging, wikis, and webquests for teachers through Ashland University. The LMS software I am learning is good (eCollege), not as good as Blackboard but offers lots of possibilities. Hopefully this blog will grow and prosper as I continue to learn.

Canceled but still going!

schoolnet1,
originally uploaded by lanihall.

Here we are at the Schoolnet Conference and our workshop is canceled! The workstations all have viruses. Isn't technology grand! We're canceled but the committed sardines are still here!

Important considerations for teacher bloggers!

Will Richardson's blog today has important considerations for safety for teacher bloggers!

View it here.

Remembering the power!

engaged,
originally uploaded by lanihall.

As I get ready to travel to Collumbus for the SchoolNet conference, I ran across this picture which brought back so many memories. Middle school students, one computer to a classroom, teachers working valiantly to integrate technology into the curriculum despite tremendous challenges. I would visit classrooms and see the power of technology pull students into learning! Surrounded in their everyday lives by technology, but so little access to use it as a tool for learning in school. What a disconnect! The conference is exciting but the teachers there return to districts struggling to survive financially with few and/or outdated resources. Hopefully the workshop will be able to impact some children's learning in a positive way.

2 Cents Worth is worth lots more

I have been familiar with Darvid Warlick's work for many years. I used to introduce teachers to the Glcbal Grocery List project many years ago. I am pulled to his blog on a daily basis also. He has inspired much of the upcoming workshop I'll be giving. His vision and "story" are ones that can transform American public education.

The Read Write Web

Will Richardson's blog is great reading. His term "read-write" web and its implications for active student learning, his enthusiasm for learning, his humility, and his insight pull me to his blog daily. Oh that I had had the luxury of time to read his work in these last years; perhaps I might have been able to introduce my students to this tool for learning.

Discussions on Black History Month

diversity
Originally uploaded by lanihall.

Recently, there have been discussions on some of the listservs I read concerning "Black History Month."

Should a month be set aside? Should the history we teach be inclusive all year round?

Perhaps this image says it best!