Moving at the Speed of Creativity Podcasts

The official program description was: Are your students ready to meet 21st Century skills using a fun, simple and free computer programming language to create curriculum related projects? SCRATCH was designed to allow students to use math with lots of ingenuity to create interactive stories, games, music and art while integrating concepts from every area of their curriculum. BYOL - Scratch installed. Download from scratch.mit.edu/download.

This podcast is an audio recording of a skype conversation with Deron Durflinger, secondary principal of Van Meter schools, and John C. Carver, superintendent of schools in Van Meter. Deron and John skyped in to a full day workshop just outside St Paul, Minnesota, which I was facilitating for CASTLE (The UCEA Center for the Advanced Study of Technology Leadership in Education.) These Van Meter students got the attention of Iowa legislators last Thursday, who need to understand the power and potential of 1:1, blended learning. In this podcast, Deron and John share part of the story of 1:1 learning in Van Meter and their administrative vision for transformed learning in the 21st century.

It's been awhile since my last podcast! No podfading here, however.... In this podcast I share a recap of several technology initiatives in which I've been involved in the past month, some thoughts about Larry Lessig's EduCause presentation in November 2009, and a couple short interviews at the ACTEM conference in Maine with Richard Byrne, Bob Sprankle and Kern Kelley. Refer to the podcast shownotes for referenced links!

The title of their session was Classroom Basics for 1:1 Computing. Shawn was the project director for the Flint Community Schools “Freedom to Learn Project,” and Wynn has been a classroom teacher for 36 years. If they take her laptops away from her students, Wynn says she'd have to retire! In Flint Community Schools, select campuses have been implementing one to one laptop learning projects for almost eight years. Shawn and Wynn shared a wide variety of perspectives and ideas in this presentation, including many practical tips for other educators currently implementing 1:1 or considering the implementation of 1:1 learning projects. I particularly enjoyed and appreciated the way Shawn and Wynn integrated student comments and quotations into their presentation. I will include a link to my own textual notes from this presentation in the podcast shownotes, along with additional resource links referenced by Shawn and Wynn. Shawn and Wynn's messages about how important it is to keep moving forward, support the people who solve the problems, and celebrate the victories of everyone involved as you walk down this road of one to one computing together are 100% on target. We can learn a great deal from these passionate Michigan educators about ways to most effectively solicit community buy-in for one to one learning and support one to one projects for the long term. The PD model, the "dine and dialog" events, and the constant dialog, showcasting, and celebrations which were a part of their Freedom to Learn Project implementation plan are exemplary and can be used as models for other 1:1 programs. As Shawn says, however, remember "one size does NOT fit all." It's critical to be flexible, adaptable, and LISTEN to all the stakeholders as you move forward with 1:1 project implementation.

With netbooks running over 100 free educational applications on Ubuntu Linux, that dream can be a reality in your classroom and school district today, not tomorrow. As I explain in the introduction to this podcast featuring two interviews, I have lost NONE of my enthusiasum for Apple and Macintosh computers, but I think it would be foolish to ignore the powerful and affordable computing and learning opportunities now offered by netbooks as well as open source software. After sharing a plug for the upcoming FREE K-12 Online Conference in December and an introduction to these interviews, this podcast includes an interview with Warren Luebkeman. Warren is a co-founder of the Open 1:1 Nonprofit organization, which is based in Maine and provides a FREE Ubuntu image for netbooks loaded with over 100 educational and productivity applications. That recording was made at the ACTEM 2009 conference in Augusta, Maine in October. The second interview is with Alex Inman, who has been implementing and supporting 1:1 initiatives for over 8 years in Milwaukee and St Louis. Alex shared a presentation at the One to One Institute's November 2009 conference called "Saving Money on Your One-to-One Program." In this interview Alex specifically addresses the viability and power of Ubuntu as a platform on netbook computers for student learning. He discusses powerful open source solutions like iTalc (for desktop monitoring) and iFolder (for cross-platform remote file sharing.) Additionally, he addresses the importance of support for "cultural change" in schools for 1:1 laptop learning initiatives. That buy-in from top leadership all the way down the classroom is even more important for laptop initiative success than the platform / hardware.

There are some issues about which I am reticent to blog, given their poliltical sensitivity in China, but want to share and reflect upon because of the importance they have for a variety of reasons. In this podcast I reflect about social media, the similarities faced by Chinese as well as U.S. educational leaders seeking to integrate digital technologies and 21st century skills into formal school settings, and the opportunities presented by social media for educational as well as societal change. I became more aware of "the power of place" and the uneven distribution we have today of digital technologies and open access to digital content as a result of my experiences in China this week. The opportunity to disagree, to speak openly, and to form groups are all so important within a free society. I would like to present a new session at upcoming conferences titled something like, "Don't Filter Your Network Like a Communist." We need to recognize the value and importance of open access and discourse in our society and in our schools, and take steps to insure our learners are empowered to create, communicate, and collaborate on a regular basis. Note: A little after the twenty minute point of this podcast, for some reason there is some distortion in the recording. This distortion just persists for about 20 seconds, however, and does clear up for the remainder. My apologies for this, I'm not sure what happened!

ACTEM is the Association of Computer Technology Educators in Maine, and their 2009 conference was held in Augusta. The official conference description for this session was: WordPress is a free, open-source content management system (CMS) and blogging platform which powers many dynamic, engaging websites today. Whether you are a classroom teacher, a librarian, a school administrator, an instructional technology specialist or an IT technician, you should know about WordPress and the powerful as well as moderated / safe ways it can be used to publish interactive content online. In this session we'll explore the basics of Wordpress as well as the extensible features it offers with custom themes and plug-ins. Help end the online suffering which continues thanks to websites created with Microsoft Frontpage in the late 1990s! Learn about WordPress, use it, and share its power with others! [END OF DESCRIPTION] Check out the podcast shownotes for referenced links and resources from this session.

This session, presented by Wesley Fryer, was titled, “Leveraging the Potential of Social Media for School Public Relations.” The official presentation description was: Social media technologies offer excellent opportunities for school public relations officials as well as teachers, administrators, librarians and others to communicate with parents and other community constituents. In this session we’ll explore how educators and students are using Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, as well as a variety of wiki and blog platforms to “tell their story” about the wonderful learning experiences and opportunities available in their schools. We’ll address legal issues including confidentiality, CIPA, FERPA, and liability concerns, as well as practical issues like how to moderate community comments as well as student-created text and media postings. School officials should proactively embrace opportunities to use social media technologies in smart and effective ways to safely communicate with constituents on the global stage which is the Internet.* This session will showcase current examples of educational leaders who are doing this successfully, as well as share ideas for how school leaders can get started. [end of description] Refer to the podcast shownotes for links to presentation slides on SlideShare as well as referenced videos and websites

Linley Voboril, Tamara Padfield, and Kimberly Herron presented this session titled, Get Out of Your FUNK, Cut the JIVE! Make Your Classroom Come Alive!!! The official conference description for this session was: Get your students totally psyched about Social Studies by seamlessly integrating technology into your classroom. We have weaved Google apps, Voice Thread, iMovie, podcasting, and many other 2.0 tools into content to make learning seriously groovy! [end of description] Linley's bio on the conference website stated: I am a fifth grade teacher at a very progressive district in Inman, Kansas. Our fifth and sixth grade classrooms are the recipients of back-to-back Technology Rich Classroom grants for the past two years. As educators, we have worked hard to seamlessly weave technology into existing curriculum and develop new, exciting activities to accompany that. As a teacher of 17 years, ranging from kindergarten through 6th grade, including special education, I feel empowered by technology. The excitement to share and learn with other educators has impacted my instruction in numerous ways. I received my undergraduate degree from Kansas Wesleyan University and my Master's degree from Wichita State University. I have had the privilege of teaching 13 years in the McPherson school district and four years at Inman. [end] Kimberly noted in her conference bio: The utilization of project-based research, cooperative learning, computer software and web 2.0 tools. These tools enhance the educational experience of her students helping them achieve both academic and personal growth. [end] I thoughtlessly placed my recorder for this session right next to the projector fan, so there was a lot of background noise in this original recording. I attempted to use Apple's Soundtrack Pro to remove a lot of the background noise, but the results are just marginally better. Please accept my apologies for the uncharacteristically poor quality of this audio recording - but realize the IDEAS these teachers shared are fantastic!

According to the English WikiPedia entry for the game: Civilization Revolution is a turn based strategy game. In past installments the player had more control over the rules of the game and often the game could last for more than ten hours. In Civilization Revolution the games for the most part can be finished within three hours... Players can control one of 16 different civilizations, each with a different leader. Each civilization starts the game with a different special bonus that can be either a technology, a Great Person, or a special ability. As the game progresses through time, the civilizations also obtain new abilities when they reach a specific number of technologies. In a given game each civilization can have up to four bonuses that vary from civilization to civilization. Many of the civilizations have specific specialized units that only they can build but unlike previous installments, these are for looks only. Special units do not possess abilities beyond the normal unit but may have varying stats. [END OF WIKIPEDIA TEXT] Alexander first played the "lite" / free version of the game, and over the Labor Day weekend bought the game (on sale) for $3 US. I'm amazed how complex this game is, and how far games have advanced in the past years. Alexander also contrasts this game to the online, browser game Travian, which he has also played extensively.

The official conference description of the session was: When you last "Googled" your name, what did you find? All learners should ponder those results when considering potential colleges, scholarships, jobs, and even future mates. Is it better for the results to come up poorly or not at all? Come learn how we can help our children become more digitally literate and earn an A+ in Digital Citizenship. [END OF DESCRIPTION] The Podstock conference bio for Ginger Lumen stated: Ginger is the Director of the f2f Program at Turning Point Learning Center, a charter school in Emporia, KS. The f2f Program has been developing over the past 3 years with a PBL, 21st Century, global orientation for our 5th-8th graders. The result has been the Life Practice Model, where students are practicing skills and habits that will truly prepare them for the real world. Ginger graduated from Emporia State University with a BSE in Social Science and an MS in Psychology/Special Education: Gifted Education. She also serves as the KS Education Policy and Legislative Liaison for the Kansas Association for the Gifted, Talented, and Creative and serves as part of the Kansas Learning First Alliance. [END OF BIO] Please refer to the podcast shownotes for related links and resources.

The title of Clif's session was, "Using Digital Technologies and Personal Learning Networks to Enhance Learning." Clif's website bio states: Clif Mims is a native of the Mississippi Delta and has more than 16 years of teaching experience.  He taught elementary and middle school students and coached basketball and math teams to numerous championships.  He later became a faculty member at the University of Georgia while simultaneously earning his Ph.D. in Instructional Technology from UGA.  Dr. Mims became an assistant professor of elementary mathematics at the University of Mississippi in 2003. Clif joined the University of Memphis' Instructional Design and Technology faculty in 2005 and now serves as Program Coordinator. His research interests are related to the effective integration of technology with the processes of teaching and learning, especially in teacher education. [end of bio] This was a great session by Clif! Please refer to the podcast shownotes for links to Clif's slides, Ustream video archives of this session, and additional related resources.

The GTA is a packed day of learning, and I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to not only learn more about Google and Google Tools, but also network with some extremely innovative teachers from around the United States. According to the official GTA website: The Google Teacher Academy is a FREE professional development experience designed to help K-12 educators get the most from innovative technologies. Each Academy is an intensive, one-day event where participants get hands-on experience with Google's free products and other technologies, learn about innovative instructional strategies, receive resources to share with colleagues, and immerse themselves in an innovative corporate environment. Upon completion, Academy participants become Google Certified Teachers who share what they learn with other K-12 educators in their local region. [end of description] This podcast includes some of my reflections on my experiences as well as learning takeaways from #gtaco.

Scott is continuing to lead his district to implement a bold strategic plan which was collaboratively created three years ago. The district's top priority is to support "learning connected and related to the real world through the use of integrated curriculum." The second priority involves orienting education and curriculum to the interests and abilities of students. Priority three is informing and engaging the communities [served by the school district] through coordination with all city and county entities, and the fourth priority is to be a leader in using technology as a leaning tool. These strategic goals are being operationalized in several ways in Kingman, including a focus on administrative expectations for effective technology integration (utilizing the LoTi framework and H.E.A.T. analysis tools) and a new middle school one-to-one learning initiative in 2009-2010 utilizing Lenovo netbooks. Thanks to Scott for sharing background information about the work of educators in his district to prepare students to thrive in the 21st century. I also included a shout-out to Scott Elias and Melinda Miller for their fantastic podcast, The Practical Principals, which I listened to today on my commute to and from Kingman. If you're a school administrator, don't miss "The New Administrators Wiki" project they showcased in their episode from April 2009. See the podcast shownotes for links!

The young people in Cushing (as well as older folks who are digitally inclined) are extremely fortunate to have an entrepreneur like Linda in their community who has provided this accountable and safe environment for Internet-based gaming and fun since 2004. Where Internet Cafes focused on gaming for teens have failed in some other Oklahoma communities, this business in Cushing (a small community of approximately 8000 people) is continuing to survive. Linda’s cafe is the 21st century version of the corner drug store or soda fountain. I was impressed with the ways Linda maintains a climate of accountability for her patrons, and the ways she is helping them learn about digital citizenship, accountability, and the responsible use of digital resources as they enjoy gaming online. In the introduction to the podcast, I also share a few experiences about testing the Platronics 470 headset for podcasting. I recorded this interview after recording a webcast for the Oklahoma Technology Assistance Center (OTAC) which is located across the street from Linda’s Internet Cafe in Cushing. I wish all our Oklahoma communities could have an Internet Cafe environment like Linda’s to enjoy and in which they could learn.