Friday, September 25, 2009
Saving a picture in a blog
To get a picture in a blog. Save as a jpeg. Can put the information into Power Point, save as picture, than copy and paste to blog.
Monday, May 18, 2009
Interview with Mr. Keohler
Originally, the price was $7,000 but lawyers bought the property and would only sell for $200,000
Whitewash stone walls, hazard, this clean up was $75,000. Stone is as good as it was when it was built. Roof is bad, had no attention. Great walls, doors are exactly as when it was left.
Previous owner took a lot out of the building, even copper wiring.
Brochure was created for information about the Steelworks. Some metal taken down, eventually there is hope for a cable to go back and forth.
Mauch Chunck Trust is the backer of the money for the project.
Layfayette University came to draft ideas for the Train Works
Women painted the wood pink so it would lighten it up.
The Black Creek (Hazle Creek)was black with coal. Sulfer made the creek orange. This water would heal wounds and poison ivy!
The pictures Mr. Koehler has are wonderful history. Koehler's Krossing!
Theodore Roosevelt's wife's dress silk was made here in the Silk Mill in Weatherly. The library on the right, and the Post Office, historical pieces from Mr. Koehler.
Old railroad pits. The water was good in the front, but there is oil in the back wells near the building.
Steam Engine 4037 was donated but some of the Weatherly Council did not want it.
CFF Network Meeting May 14, 2009
CFF Network Meeting
Get Superintendents on board
Get CFF teacher one more prep per day to help other teachers
Joanne R check who
Blended courses can the district make it a requirement. Dave, professional development
Make classes a bit larger so that the CFF teachers can have the extra time for the next embedded learning course. Use the stimulus funds.
Pay teachers for training through title 1 money. Snow day make-up.
Virtual Summer courses/free/Act 48 credit.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Best Practices
Best Ideas
Online Newspapers
- iWeb Park Forest Middle School, check this out (articles are archived)
- wiki
- blog
Podcasts
Literature Podcasts Choose section of book to read, match pictures with their reading. Freeplaymusic.com has lots music.
Google Sites to create a website
Google Apps for education is free. Check this out
Alumni book club?
Eno
Eno Board!
Has magnets on back to adhere to whiteboard
Can write on with dry erase marker
Magnetic and interactive
No Cords, cables
Blue tooth connection. All connections through the pen (has AA battery) Pen has cap to save battery and with no use, saver mode
No electrical outlet required
Forever warranty on board, 10 year on border, 2 year on pen
Blue tooth connector included
Three additional felt tips included
Made of recyclable material, leads to
Portable Magnetic strip
Go to their website, more has been added.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Another Project
Main things to consider:
Driving question, then Bloom's taxonomy
Engage 21st Century Skills: www.metiri.com/features.html
NETS
To differentiate:
Look at the readiness, interest and learning profile
Getting started:
BAckward Design, what skills am I evaluate? Concepts? essential questions.
RUBRIC
TAsk, rubric (be very clear and concise), into to talk, students brainstorm (here is the goal, you pick what to do to get you there.
Enjoy the
1. Creativity
2. Enthusiasm
3. Engagement
4. Growth (thinkers and producers of their own work.)
Give students the rubric to fill out, then teacher does rubric. If there are differences, have a conference with the group.
Integrating Creativity and Innovation into Core Subject Areas
Singapore - Chasing innovation, also China, etc.
Thomas Friedman "Code Green" Hot, Flat, and Crowded
"Who's Your City" by Richard Florida talks about a creative economy
Creativity & Innovation is our greatest strength, 2nd is entertainment.
The Singularity is Near by Ray Kurzweil "Transcendent man Film Trailer: at some point computers will be going faster than humans. It will happen during the time of the children we teach.
Physics of the Impossible Michio Kaku
Thomas Friedman "Code Green" Hot, Flat, and Crowded
"Who's Your City" by Richard Florida talks about a creative economy
Creativity & Innovation is our greatest strength, 2nd is entertainment.
The Singularity is Near by Ray Kurzweil "Transcendent man Film Trailer: at some point computers will be going faster than humans. It will happen during the time of the children we teach.
Physics of the Impossible Michio Kaku
How do empower students?
Software for Science:
Phun!
Logo, Squeak, Scratch (Grades 4-8)
Social Studies:
Gapminder.org
GIS links to study "Place"
Math:
visualize & build in 3D:
CSG: POV-Ray, AOI
Mesh/Polygon: Wings3D
animate: Blender & POV-Ray
"Art of Illusion"
Keynote Speaker - 1:1 Christopher Lehman
John Dewey -
Citizenry, not Workforce!!
Bias: Public Education = Democracy
No Silver bullet, what do we need, what do we value?
The illiterate of the 21st Century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn and relearn. Alvin Toffler
Educators for Social Responsibility
Technology like oxygen: Ubiquitous, Necessary and Invisible
Citizenry, not Workforce!!
Bias: Public Education = Democracy
No Silver bullet, what do we need, what do we value?
The illiterate of the 21st Century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn and relearn. Alvin Toffler
Educators for Social Responsibility
Technology like oxygen: Ubiquitous, Necessary and Invisible
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
CFF Network Meeting, April 22, 2009
Notes for CFF Network Meeting 4-22-09
We are excited about what is happening, it is not just “how to work a laptop” it is educational. We are talking about so many things to have impact in our district.
We are now going into the Elementary level, is there a way to know what is going on?
December 7th through the 10th Boot Camp
CFF will be part of the “School Improvement” umbrella, not just one initiative, it will be a part.
Pennsylvania Institute for Instructional Coaches (?) focus is literacy.
Go to webinar with stimulus. Tomorrow, 1:00pm Equipment probably will not be provided, but stimulus money is. Focus on ways to improve. Coach money can be taken from the stimulus money. Coaching is professional development. Down to 5th grade. April 20th can be viewed. By through cheaper rates. Embedded learning. No grant application.
Dates for Next Year:
Septemer, December and March need to change
For CFF Showcase
Ideas for next year. From 11-11:30 have half hour. In afternoon, create something, learn/share in morning. Try a “Can this lesson be saved” a lesson. Do it s few times due substitute. Teachers different, but same Keynote speaker. Showcase A to talk to B teachers. On an IU night, get the folks involved. Set up at 4, guests at 5, dinner, then tear down . Then during school days, set up like showcase.
We are excited about what is happening, it is not just “how to work a laptop” it is educational. We are talking about so many things to have impact in our district.
We are now going into the Elementary level, is there a way to know what is going on?
December 7th through the 10th Boot Camp
CFF will be part of the “School Improvement” umbrella, not just one initiative, it will be a part.
Pennsylvania Institute for Instructional Coaches (?) focus is literacy.
Go to webinar with stimulus. Tomorrow, 1:00pm Equipment probably will not be provided, but stimulus money is. Focus on ways to improve. Coach money can be taken from the stimulus money. Coaching is professional development. Down to 5th grade. April 20th can be viewed. By through cheaper rates. Embedded learning. No grant application.
Dates for Next Year:
Septemer, December and March need to change
For CFF Showcase
Ideas for next year. From 11-11:30 have half hour. In afternoon, create something, learn/share in morning. Try a “Can this lesson be saved” a lesson. Do it s few times due substitute. Teachers different, but same Keynote speaker. Showcase A to talk to B teachers. On an IU night, get the folks involved. Set up at 4, guests at 5, dinner, then tear down . Then during school days, set up like showcase.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
CFF Networking Meeting
February 19, 2009
9:00 AM
1. Welcome
2. Reminders from PDE Mentor - Capital Day is Wednesday, May 6th. Look for teachers and students who are doing great things to show off.
3. Presentation Equipment Overview
4. Mobi
5. Now that the equipment is installed - advice for Cohort 3 schools. Carl asked the newspaper to follow the teachers from start to finish to document the changes! Ask teachers what one thing they would like to do and that will be the teacher's "specialty". Try a lesson, then keep that lesson for the "Flip the Switch". Plan ahead and do it earlier. Send a questionnaire to the teachers asking them for a lesson that they want help with. Throw out certain tools to the teachers and ask if there is any interest in it. Check the listserv for help, also
6. Flip the Switch or Spotlight on CFF Events - Lehighton, May 1st; Panther Valley still waiting; Weatherly is doing a Spotlight; March 23 will be a meeting with the Lehighton School Board; Anne is having a teacher come each month to the School board to show what they are doing. Let Cathy and Virginia know if we are doing anything special with CFF. Let Kara Thomas know c-kthomas@state.pa.us when are you having it and afterwards, who came.
7. Results from Collaboration Day Surveys - Will email those to everyone. Cathy is working on a letter to our legislature about CFF and will include some of the comments by the teachers in the surveys.
8. April 17 CFF Showcase - March 31st @ 5:00pm to 7:00pm. (set up will be 4 pm or 4:30pm). There is a school board retreat at the IU. Could a teacher from each district showcase at this. CFF, ESL and teacher leaders will be featured. Precursor to our showcase in April.
Invitations - Start creating invitations for the event, email. RSVP was April 8th. There will be a breakfast. (9am - 11am) Set up between 8am and 8:30am. We want to do a single sheet to give data and extent that out to in the state. Four different sessions for the afternoon. Hand pick teachers for the this. Looking for a product. Rigor that shows what CFF is all about. Not a presentation but using technology into the curriculum.
Afternoon PD: General session: TiGlobal, Google Apps and Education, CPS, Scratch, ePals, Thinkfinity/Nettrecker, Moodle for teachers. Teachers get one session in the afternoon of their choice.
9. Date Updates 2009 – 2010
a. Networking for Feb 2010: moved to Feb 10 (because of PETE&C)
b. PETE & C 2010: Feb 21 – 24 (CFF pre-conference will be on February 20)
c. Showcase? March? Definitely not during PSSAs
d. Non-core Content Collaboration Day? Probably in March
10. Sharing- Ideas for Embedded Learning Course. What do we do when teachers are slowing in their excitement and we become IT helpers? Be sure to do a zipped up backup on your Moodle files.
11. Individual PD needs
February 19, 2009
9:00 AM
1. Welcome
2. Reminders from PDE Mentor - Capital Day is Wednesday, May 6th. Look for teachers and students who are doing great things to show off.
3. Presentation Equipment Overview
4. Mobi
5. Now that the equipment is installed - advice for Cohort 3 schools. Carl asked the newspaper to follow the teachers from start to finish to document the changes! Ask teachers what one thing they would like to do and that will be the teacher's "specialty". Try a lesson, then keep that lesson for the "Flip the Switch". Plan ahead and do it earlier. Send a questionnaire to the teachers asking them for a lesson that they want help with. Throw out certain tools to the teachers and ask if there is any interest in it. Check the listserv for help, also
6. Flip the Switch or Spotlight on CFF Events - Lehighton, May 1st; Panther Valley still waiting; Weatherly is doing a Spotlight; March 23 will be a meeting with the Lehighton School Board; Anne is having a teacher come each month to the School board to show what they are doing. Let Cathy and Virginia know if we are doing anything special with CFF. Let Kara Thomas know c-kthomas@state.pa.us when are you having it and afterwards, who came.
7. Results from Collaboration Day Surveys - Will email those to everyone. Cathy is working on a letter to our legislature about CFF and will include some of the comments by the teachers in the surveys.
8. April 17 CFF Showcase - March 31st @ 5:00pm to 7:00pm. (set up will be 4 pm or 4:30pm). There is a school board retreat at the IU. Could a teacher from each district showcase at this. CFF, ESL and teacher leaders will be featured. Precursor to our showcase in April.
Invitations - Start creating invitations for the event, email. RSVP was April 8th. There will be a breakfast. (9am - 11am) Set up between 8am and 8:30am. We want to do a single sheet to give data and extent that out to in the state. Four different sessions for the afternoon. Hand pick teachers for the this. Looking for a product. Rigor that shows what CFF is all about. Not a presentation but using technology into the curriculum.
Afternoon PD: General session: TiGlobal, Google Apps and Education, CPS, Scratch, ePals, Thinkfinity/Nettrecker, Moodle for teachers. Teachers get one session in the afternoon of their choice.
9. Date Updates 2009 – 2010
a. Networking for Feb 2010: moved to Feb 10 (because of PETE&C)
b. PETE & C 2010: Feb 21 – 24 (CFF pre-conference will be on February 20)
c. Showcase? March? Definitely not during PSSAs
d. Non-core Content Collaboration Day? Probably in March
10. Sharing- Ideas for Embedded Learning Course. What do we do when teachers are slowing in their excitement and we become IT helpers? Be sure to do a zipped up backup on your Moodle files.
11. Individual PD needs
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Discussion with Daniel Pink
New metrics--examples? One danger is metrics that are fake such as the writing section of the SAT. It is timed, upper class kids are taught how to do it while the students without that preparation do not do as well. Delaware is requiring Art, is making it compulsory a good thing?
Conceptual age with grow into something else but what? Urgency for adaptability, to learn, persistence. After looking for a 3.0 or higher(lower is lazy) THen look for musicians and athletes because they have worked hard(practice every day) and they realize that it is not individual effort but working together, has an effect on others.
New US leadership, what do you see? As a matter of real politics, not much change in education. Economy is priority as is energy. Also, funding schools tough.
Catalyst for change: emergence of Asia/offshoring
Don't squelch art by grading it...a thought. Let's bring art into all classes! Not a segregation of art and other topics.
Check out other books by Pink "The Adventures of Johnny Bunko"
A lot of upper middle class SAT do not like this. But we are not abandoning the left brain, but adding to it.
If I could design a school it would look like: Best teachers, "how would you design it?"
What to ask perspective Supterintendents? Check people skills, do you know the names of the principals and teachers? Tell us the biggest mistake, how did you rectify it and what did you learn, What kind of technology do you use? When was the last time you taught a class? As about parent/community tell a story about them.
Will there be a few creative at the top and the rest at the bottom. "Lump of Labor fallacy" only a fixed amount of jobs is wrong. In the moment is a imagination poverty. We don't know all the jobs and the future.
Conceptual age with grow into something else but what? Urgency for adaptability, to learn, persistence. After looking for a 3.0 or higher(lower is lazy) THen look for musicians and athletes because they have worked hard(practice every day) and they realize that it is not individual effort but working together, has an effect on others.
New US leadership, what do you see? As a matter of real politics, not much change in education. Economy is priority as is energy. Also, funding schools tough.
Catalyst for change: emergence of Asia/offshoring
Don't squelch art by grading it...a thought. Let's bring art into all classes! Not a segregation of art and other topics.
Check out other books by Pink "The Adventures of Johnny Bunko"
A lot of upper middle class SAT do not like this. But we are not abandoning the left brain, but adding to it.
If I could design a school it would look like: Best teachers, "how would you design it?"
What to ask perspective Supterintendents? Check people skills, do you know the names of the principals and teachers? Tell us the biggest mistake, how did you rectify it and what did you learn, What kind of technology do you use? When was the last time you taught a class? As about parent/community tell a story about them.
Will there be a few creative at the top and the rest at the bottom. "Lump of Labor fallacy" only a fixed amount of jobs is wrong. In the moment is a imagination poverty. We don't know all the jobs and the future.
Keynote Speaker - Daniel Pink
Speech writer for Al Gore 1995-1997
Philosophy of political/effective speakers has three key elements: brevity, levity and repetition!
Education and the Economy
He is not an educator, he is a business writer. Purpose of ed is not to delivery workers to businesses. It is to allow student to highest human potential. But, students will be working. There is a misalignment W/ business and education. We need to prepare students for their future, not our past (quote from someone else).
Graduated from Yale law, was in lower percent of class....why law school? The middle class dream of getting a solid hold in the middle class.
The science of left-brain and right-brain has grown, lots of misconceptions. Our brains are complex, but elegant. Used to be the logical, step-by-step thinking, like SAT were the most important. Today they are still 100% necessary, but not sufficient. Now, artists, empathy are now the abilities that define our students future. This is not a recipe for a better America. This is an argument.
Why is this happening? Effect: skills tilting. Asia, Automation, Abundance (we've covered this one!). Offshoring is under-hyped in the long run. Like new technologies, short run is slow but long run has a huge effect. India had an advantage, a billion people. Even is 15% are talented and ambitious 150 million people. THis is larger than the Japanese population. In the US, we have 143 million working. But that's not the end of the story.
Next year, the world's largest speaking country will be India. And communication with India is FREE! What this means is that routine is a death sentence. Any routine (script, formula, step w/ right answer) races to the lowest bidder.
Automation. Software can now replace brain work, not the right side but the left side. Example: go to a lawyer for no-fault divorce. Cost 2 grand. But it is uncontested, so forms need to be filled out...no contest! Forms are routine..offshore! Now divorce software/companies cost $249.
Abundance. Right now we are certainly in a down time but things will turn up. Lots of materialism. Self storage is larger than the motion picture business.
Students need to look and answer these questions: Can someone overseas do it cheaper?Can a computer do it faster? Is what you're delivering in demand in an age of abundance?
Here is what he sees: Novelty, Nuance, Customization. Then, when he looks at education: Routines, Right answers, Standardization.
6 abilities matter most: design, story, symphony, empathy not logic, play not just seriousness, meaning not just accumulation.
Priliminary issues, how to move the education system: Experiment with new metrics (what gets measured gets done) we must measure right brain things. Show limits of left brain. The Rainbow project is an alternative SAT funded by College Board. This a better predictor of college grades. Race/color blind test. JSPE measures med student's empathy. Next get real about STEM. Right answers are free now. Rule based discipline, not real. we need reasoning esthetically to diagnose.
What does Google look for to hire: See big picture! What does creativity mean? Problem solving(ed) problem identification(business). Problems often a a few right answers.
Tear down those walls. We still have walls between subjects. We want our students to be "multi"..... Listen to what STEM tells us? Looking for engineers, passion, life long learning skills, understand, innovate, communications skills.
Infuse arts eduction throughout the curriculum. Not ornamental but fundamental.
Promote and defend autonomy. The more we give teachers and students autonomy it is good.
Teachers push the boulder up the mountain day by day...thank you to teachers!!
Philosophy of political/effective speakers has three key elements: brevity, levity and repetition!
Education and the Economy
He is not an educator, he is a business writer. Purpose of ed is not to delivery workers to businesses. It is to allow student to highest human potential. But, students will be working. There is a misalignment W/ business and education. We need to prepare students for their future, not our past (quote from someone else).
Graduated from Yale law, was in lower percent of class....why law school? The middle class dream of getting a solid hold in the middle class.
The science of left-brain and right-brain has grown, lots of misconceptions. Our brains are complex, but elegant. Used to be the logical, step-by-step thinking, like SAT were the most important. Today they are still 100% necessary, but not sufficient. Now, artists, empathy are now the abilities that define our students future. This is not a recipe for a better America. This is an argument.
Why is this happening? Effect: skills tilting. Asia, Automation, Abundance (we've covered this one!). Offshoring is under-hyped in the long run. Like new technologies, short run is slow but long run has a huge effect. India had an advantage, a billion people. Even is 15% are talented and ambitious 150 million people. THis is larger than the Japanese population. In the US, we have 143 million working. But that's not the end of the story.
Next year, the world's largest speaking country will be India. And communication with India is FREE! What this means is that routine is a death sentence. Any routine (script, formula, step w/ right answer) races to the lowest bidder.
Automation. Software can now replace brain work, not the right side but the left side. Example: go to a lawyer for no-fault divorce. Cost 2 grand. But it is uncontested, so forms need to be filled out...no contest! Forms are routine..offshore! Now divorce software/companies cost $249.
Abundance. Right now we are certainly in a down time but things will turn up. Lots of materialism. Self storage is larger than the motion picture business.
Students need to look and answer these questions: Can someone overseas do it cheaper?Can a computer do it faster? Is what you're delivering in demand in an age of abundance?
Here is what he sees: Novelty, Nuance, Customization. Then, when he looks at education: Routines, Right answers, Standardization.
6 abilities matter most: design, story, symphony, empathy not logic, play not just seriousness, meaning not just accumulation.
Priliminary issues, how to move the education system: Experiment with new metrics (what gets measured gets done) we must measure right brain things. Show limits of left brain. The Rainbow project is an alternative SAT funded by College Board. This a better predictor of college grades. Race/color blind test. JSPE measures med student's empathy. Next get real about STEM. Right answers are free now. Rule based discipline, not real. we need reasoning esthetically to diagnose.
What does Google look for to hire: See big picture! What does creativity mean? Problem solving(ed) problem identification(business). Problems often a a few right answers.
Tear down those walls. We still have walls between subjects. We want our students to be "multi"..... Listen to what STEM tells us? Looking for engineers, passion, life long learning skills, understand, innovate, communications skills.
Infuse arts eduction throughout the curriculum. Not ornamental but fundamental.
Promote and defend autonomy. The more we give teachers and students autonomy it is good.
Teachers push the boulder up the mountain day by day...thank you to teachers!!
Monday, February 9, 2009
Searches other than Google
http://foreverlearning.wikispaces.com/
Nettrekker
Power Library - Just use the local library
Visual search engine searchme
Boolify
Clusty
refseek for students and academics
Spific
Create a Google search on your own.
Web Literacy text very helpful
To search library of congress, ~Google~site:loc to find only articles from the Library of Congress. ( in Alta Vista use "host:"
To find the sites linked to an article: link: URL of article
Nettrekker
Power Library - Just use the local library
Visual search engine searchme
Boolify
Clusty
refseek for students and academics
Spific
Create a Google search on your own.
Web Literacy text very helpful
To search library of congress, ~Google~site:loc to find only articles from the Library of Congress. ( in Alta Vista use "host:"
To find the sites linked to an article: link: URL of article
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
CFF Network Meeting, January 14, 2009
Talking about a Showcase for the Principals in April. Teachers would come to the half a day showcase/and something else. This would be for Administration and Board Members. We want the local audience to show off every high school to see what the possibilities in CFF are. April 17th is the date.
Cathy will send an invitation to us and we will distribute it throughout the district.
Ideas for the afternoon;
1. Google Apps
2. Asking someone to come in
3. Skype in
4. Taking it Global ( will definitely do this)
We will give them a choice and have four sessions.
Virginia is looking to gather information that she can add a tool and give curriculum based reason to use it. Perhaps we should have a pro/con or "things to watch out for". Be careful though, because wording is so important. We should go back to the tech director's meetings and talk with them about it.
SOCIAL STUDIES COLLABORATION DAYS
Sharing the wealth - Web 2.0
History Tours with Google Earth
History Alive and Read
Differentiation with Technology
Wiki Space Basics
Timelines Through Technology
Sneak Peak at Blogging and Google Docs
Promethean
We have a great turnout already for the day!
Those here for morning is 3 hours on CPE, and additional 3 for the afternoon.
Cathy will send an invitation to us and we will distribute it throughout the district.
Ideas for the afternoon;
1. Google Apps
2. Asking someone to come in
3. Skype in
4. Taking it Global ( will definitely do this)
We will give them a choice and have four sessions.
Virginia is looking to gather information that she can add a tool and give curriculum based reason to use it. Perhaps we should have a pro/con or "things to watch out for". Be careful though, because wording is so important. We should go back to the tech director's meetings and talk with them about it.
SOCIAL STUDIES COLLABORATION DAYS
Sharing the wealth - Web 2.0
History Tours with Google Earth
History Alive and Read
Differentiation with Technology
Wiki Space Basics
Timelines Through Technology
Sneak Peak at Blogging and Google Docs
Promethean
We have a great turnout already for the day!
Those here for morning is 3 hours on CPE, and additional 3 for the afternoon.
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