I pondered a doctoral program, but just wasn’t enthused about 5 years on “Educational Leadership” (is that bad?) I decided from now on if I’m going to take courses it will be my choice of topics – and topics that I really enjoy. I did enjoy the Philly U Instructional Design program while it lasted. Tim McGee and Russ Pritchard were two of the best profs I’ve had the pleasure to study under, along with Mike Peres, Tom Zigon at RIT, Ron Talbott at HACC and Ted Mannino in HS. And of course my Dad and Mom. (I’m sure I’m forgetting someone.)

Fact is, these folks were instrumental in making learning fun and interesting for me from HS to higher ed. Maybe I’m weird, but I WANT to learn more when it comes to media and what better way to push myself than to take some formal classes?

So perhaps this post is to remind teachers and students out there as they return to school: find a way to make learning interesting and FUN. Some times you need to forget about the test and just let kids ‘go deep’ into something they enjoy. You’ll make a difference in their lives if you do.

Thanks Ted, Ron, Mike, Tom, Russ, and Tim. You made a difference in my learning – and in my desire to learn more.

Happy back to school everyone!

I’m guessing that most people wouldn’t try to take a drivers test having only practiced driving a car just once, 12 hours before the exam. Why do folks think they don’t have to practice using simple pieces of technology before a major workshop or presentation? Then when things don’t work, they of course, blame the technology.

Is it a teacher mindset? Is it over-confidence? Are they hoping that it will fail so they can say: “Look, I tried, but the tech doesn’t work — so I’ll never try it again!”

Sure, there are times when you have to ‘wing it’ – we’ve all been there, have had to do that. But if you have a month or more lead time, is it simply procrastination that leads to this sort of behavior? Are we so busy and bombarded that we give up quality for quantity so easily? It really drives me crazy at times.

Ok – rant over – thanks for letting me get that off my chest.

Saw this on my Starbucks cup today:

“I wish grown ups could remember being kids.”

Think about that the next time you start a long lecture with your students.

I kept making excuses that I was too busy to read my RSS feeds (that are now in the 1000+ range,) too busy to stop and read the books that are piling up in our work room, too busy to simply stop and take a photograph from time to time.  My head has been swirling in the past few months (but who’s isn’t?! I’m not special!)

Then Will Richardson helped me out with three simple words: “Let it go.”

Our department took 15+, k12, school district curriculum directors to a two-day seminar last week. First, we invited Will Richardson to come chat with them on Thursday about the changing face of education/social networking/technology tools and had great conversations. On Friday Chris Lehman was an accommodating host down at the Science Leadership Academy in Philadelphia. We chatted with Chris about SLA, visited classrooms, and witnessed something you don’t always see in today’s classrooms: total student engagement in learning. If you are in Philly and get the chance, stop by and see Chris and SLA. No, it is not some brand-new, spectacular, multi-million dollar, spotless building that was funded by a technology company. It is simply a haven for teachers and students who care about each other and have a passion for learning — and it’s working.

But, back to Will’s three simple words…

Nearing the end of a rigorous and insightful day, Will showed our curriculum directors the power of RSS and how his Google Reader account connected him with the rest of the educational world. Many were flabbergasted by the number of feeds he skimmed on a daily basis.

So I felt compelled to ask: “How do you keep up with all your feeds and all that reading? Many times I get overwhelmed with the amount of information pouring in, and I just can’t keep up – how do you deal with that?”

He smiled and simply said: “Sometimes you just have to let it go.”

His point being that it is simply impossible to keep up with everything — sometimes you just have to click the “mark all as read” button and start with a clean slate. He made a great point that you might miss something this time, but those things that are worthwhile will bob up to the top several times in several places, so chances are your network will revisit the good stuff.

So when you start feeling overwhelmed with the fact that you had better be keeping up with what’s going on  – don’t let it get to the point where it shuts you down.

Just let it go.

(Then take a deep breath and start with a fresh, clear mind.)

I had a group of 25 educators sign up for my two-hour Thinkfinity workshop. While planning, I wanted to make sure that I hit three areas:

1. Show Thinkfinity.org and what it has to offer.
2. Give teachers time to explore the interface.
3. Allow teachers a chance to create and/or take away something for their classroom.

I always, have in the back of my mind, the notion that I should probably tie what I’m talking about to the ideas on 21st Century Teaching and Learning – but I’m never quite sure how far to go with it. To be sure that I’m not preaching to the choir, I usually do a short formative assessment (ask ‘em a few questions) and see where folks stand on tech integration, some of the ‘buzzwords’ of the times, etc.

This time I was astounded at the lack of awareness.

• No one was familiar with the idea of ‘digital immigrants vs. digital natives.’
• No one had heard the mantra of “21st Century Skills.”
• No one could identify the acronym  KUD. (Know, Understand, Do) As in, “what do you want your students to Know, Understand, and Do after this lesson.”

I’ve been taking things for granted since I get to go to several conferences and workshops a year that deal with teaching and learning and how to use tech to help engage kids. I didn’t bother trying to convince the powers that be to let me go to NECC this year after they said it wasn’t in the budget. Last year I felt that I’d heard many of the messages over and over, and I felt that I had enough for this year — and I was tired! (Is that ok to say, or am I just being a wuss?)

Long story short – it was a good feeling to actually dive into some of these concepts with folks who hadn’t heard them before. I felt like I was making a difference with this group – though they were very quiet. They sort of looked at me like I had three heads when I gave them time to explore Thinkfinity, suggested they talk to each other, collaborate, and work together. It was almost as though they thought I had ulterior motives or wanted to catch them goofing off.

In the end, it was refreshing to read their comments about the workshop:

• “We never have time to actually try things out in these workshops – thanks for letting us have hands-on time to explore.”
• “Thanks for time to search for resources – we are always shown the tools but are never given a chance to use them.”
• “I found several resources that I can use in my classroom – thanks for the time to dig deep into Thinkfinity. What a great resource!”

This scares me.

It isn’t rocket science that teachers need time to actually try things out and ‘kick the tires’ on new tools. Why aren’t more workshop organizers recognizing this need and supporting our teachers in their quest to improve their classrooms?

I have hope again.

For several years I’ve been very pessimistic. I don’t want to go into the political reasons for that, but I just had the absolute pleasure of visiting our nation’s capital last weekend. I had the chance to walk the Mall – from 8:30am to 3:30pm my wife and I walked from the Lincoln Memorial, to the Vietnam Vet Memorial, to the WWII Memorial, around the whole White House (I was convinced I would see the Prez out on the lawn – no luck,) to the Washington Monument, back up to the Old Post Office’s 12 floor, to the Natural History Musuem, to the Smithsonian (@Fifer – I saw Matt Brady originals!!) to the Hirshorn Museum and then ending at the sculpture garden. It was fabulous and it was exhausting.

We topped things off at a retirement ceremony for my brother-in-law, Colonel Karl Frantz, at the Pentagon’s Hall of Heros. It was a beautiful ceremony, and I’m proud of the work he’s done for our country -especially his work in Jerusalem as Military Assistant to the Special Envoy for Middle East Regional Security – which links in well with the email I just received…

Ten minutes ago I opened an email that contained a link to the President’s Cairo speech – a link to the new White House blog. The thing that got me was the link cluster at the upper right side. It contains links to:

• Facebook
• Twitter
• YouTube
• Vimeo
• Flicker
• MySpace

and iTunes.

Well, those of you who know me, know I’m a podcaster. It is REFRESHING to see such an example and up-to-date feel on our country’s number one website. Check out the podcasts – use them in your classroom. It’s good stuff!

There is hope – I can feel it again.

I wish all of you who are able to get to Washington for NECC the best possible time. But, be sure to take some time to visit Lincoln. Visit the Wall. Visit the Hirshorn (what COOL art they have in there!)

Visit our history while you are there. Perhaps you’ll also re-gain any hope you might have lost. I did.

It’s been a while since I’ve written anything here in this space.  Sure, I could rattle off excuses, but why bother.  Main thing is that I’ve been concentrating on life, work, and on the podcast over at twentyfortech.com instead.  I haven’t felt the need to speak – nor the want… so until I do, it may stay a bit quiet around here.

Cheers.

The TechMatrix is a powerful tool for finding educational and assistive technology products for students with special needs.

How to Present While People are Twittering.

A big thanks to Mardy for this one.  I couldn’t have said it better.