Semantic Arguments

I had this conversation with Steven Sanchez, LCPS

Should we be teaching with technology or should we be involved in tech integration?

Do people understand curriculum integration?

Are we being innovative with technology or just doing workbooks on the screen?

Do educators understand project based learning?

And where do the socks go after you place them in the dryer?

Celia Einhorn, Guest Blogger and Babbler

Poster Sessions on Thursday Morning Hint: Apply to do a Poster Session at our next conference. You share work you have done and little prep needed. Visited with people from three projects 1) Project Step Developmental Pre School Use of I pads Stay tuned here for their power point presentation. Their work would be appropriate for Kindergareden also. Kudos for giving your developmental students skills they will need in kindergarten. Do publish your work, Peggy and Rachelle! 2. New Options: Demonstrating the Value of Skills Based Hiring Innovate Educate program laying the groundwork for skills based hiring to Increase employment of disconnected youth. Check out http:www.newoptionsnm.info 3. Elementary Math Online Program Shows Much Success Some good thoughts: Every child needs to know what they are doing. No one was allowed to practice anything wrong. Achievement was recognized. Online resources http:IXL.com Math lines http://www.coolmath-games.com Math-u-see.com Contact sedrel@aps.edu or knowles@aps.edu for more info

The Wireless Access Code

At the presentation yesterday about mobile devices and Promethean boards, Brian Kennedy made a great point. Brian is part of the team at APS Online Learning. Part of their mission is to make technology easy for teachers and students to access and use. He mentioned making it free, by which I think he meant easy to get to. He then held up the little piece of paper with the La Cueva wireless code on it and said, "This does not say 'we want you to use these technology resources'."

Yes--we need security measures on wireless devices. However, the primary mission is not security of the wireless access points, or management of the computers. The primary mission is public education. In other words, helping students learn. How often do we send a message, perhaps out of a misplaced anxiety about control, that ends up telling students, "no--we don't actually want you to use these resources. We just want to make your daily existence a nonsensical gauntlet of obstacles."

Databases!

Now that Tina Glatz has publicly revealed my secret identity as one of the bloggers, I'd better post something. I've been enjoying meeting with both people who attended my presentation yesterday, and those who missed it. It is great to see the interest in online resources beyond the wild wild world of search (Google or whatever). If you missed the presentation, here is the extremely simplified core message:

Databases = Good!

To see some (provided for all New Mexicans by the State Library): go to http://galesites.com

Enter your school location id. It is something like nm_s_schoolname (e.g. nm_s_lacuevahs) If you can't figure out the name, find it here.

Look around! You should see a list of databases and a list of e-books. maybe also some search box widgets on one side. there should also be a Power Search box at the top. This searches all the databases (30+) at one time. Explore! If you have an awesome librarian at your school, s/he has probably customized this site.

There is also an app that can access this site. Go to AppStore/Marketplace, and look for Gale Access My Library.

Wow, did you hear Ferdi Serim talk anytime today?

He has developed an online, interactive database that provides an "on ramp" for educators regarding the Common Core.  I have read his book Digital Learning, Strengthening and Assessing 21st Century Skills.  Check out more info about the book at http://digitallearningprocess.net/index.html.

I was most impressed with new info about My Voice My Aspirations from the Pearson Foundation.  Other impressive portions of the interactive database are Marzano's strategies, TPACK - Technology, Pedagogy and Content Knowledge - (Judi Harris' tech integration ideas)

Ferdi, can you please tell us how we can get more info on the database and the student aspirations survey?

Let the "wild rumpus" start!  Hi Paula!

I invite you all to my students' poster session tomorrow from 1:30 - 3:30.  They are girls from Las Cruces who have been involved in YWiC (Young Women in Computing) and the Supercomputing Challenge.

I would like to pose the question:  How do we recruit, retain and celebrate young women in C-STEM?  (The C stands for Computing which involves critical thinking.)

I'm looking forward to the NM Educators Conference.  The CCSS are such a timely issue. I hope to gain a greater understanding of what they are and how they will impact education in NM. I know that some of our schools have piloted them this year. Principals/teachers of pilot schools, what have you learned about CCSS?