December 27, 2012

  • Technology Boot Camp.

    Preparation = Brainstorming = Steps to Take:
    1. Find video/audio programs* I want to play with (use my Delicious account to start).
    2. Learn those programs.
    3. Make a list of projects I want to explain.
    4. Create transcripts.
    5. Get rolling!
    6. Edit.
    7. Upload to course shells.
    8. Celebrate!

    *Garageband, iMovie, YouTube, Prezi, ... Creaza Cartoonist?, Voki?, Brainshark?, Voicethread?, ...
    Pixorial?, Xtranormal?, Storyboardthat?, Flixtime?, ...
    Text to voice software: nch.com & readplease.com &readthewords.com

December 26, 2012

  • Captain Christmas.

    image< What movie is this from?

    image<Who doesn't like snowflakes on their face?
    image
    Tomorrow (and this weekend & Mon/Tues) might be the last of my slacker-ish days before school starts up... 
    then again, with my work ethic, I may only need a few hardcore days to pump out my syllabi & double-check everything.

    Basic List:
    -Prep classes & double-check stuff online that'll be used right away...
    -Update videos?
    -Create & add videos (Tech Bootcamp Jan. 2-4)!
    -Book publishing!
    -Crafts!
    -Appointments (Bug Dec.31, etc.)!

    In Depth List:
    -I really should just zone in on a few tweaks for each class; a total overhaul is not necessary. I know I wanted to change up the projects in Eng110 (add 20% Project and Fake Company) and keep a lot of what I've already done (prompts, writing/reading activities, etc.), so that's good. IF I get time, I'd like to put together my own pamphlet of prompts and writing/reading activities and have that in Doc Sharing as something they could print off IF they wanted to. Oh, and maybe I'd have a grammar handout, too? In addition, dealing with Eng110, I plan to use the Tech Bootcamp next week for making audio/visual pieces of each project - explaining it, etc. 
    -My own FUN project = 20% Project = Finding many images about grammar or creativity or whatever and using that YouTube Slideshow option to make funky visual aids...
    -For Eng120, I think I just need to rethink the mini-arguments. They are tough to assess quickly, and I still struggle with getting them to REALLY understand citations. I think I'll zone in on that & maybe update/create a new video for something? Oooh... or the students said I should condense Doc Sharing... I could do that and add more hyperlinks (advice from that conference); and make the project handouts all the same + use Prezi to explain them?
    I HAVE TOO MANY IDEAS.
    AGAIN! 
    Damn. It.

December 20, 2012

  • Flurries.

    I chucked my final grades into PeopleSoft on Monday... then I had some fun ladies over that night to relax and semi-celebrate the end of the semester. On Tuesday, I can't recall exactly what I did... I think I watched a lot of TV and napped a lot. It was my allotted slack-off day; I have definitely earned more than one of those kinds of days, but it's hard for me to do absolutely nothing... in fact, I think I did do some things that slackerish day anyhow (mail some boots back to an eBay buyer, put a check in the bank, got some Chinese take-out). Yesterday was more productive; I hit up a new bank in town, dropped off some donations, had lunch with two uber fun people, shopped at our local thrift store, ...

    And that leads us to today. I am hosting the ADK Christmas Party tonight; I lost my fellow co-host because her g'ma passed away Saturday, but it's all good. I like to host, and I left the goodies table up from Monday's get-together. I think I just need to vacuum, wipe down some counters, and empty/fill the dishwasher. I may bake up some more goodies, too, and then throw the beer bread I made Sunday in the oven to warm it up...
    Before I take care of all that this afternoon, I thought I would look through my spring stuff. I'd like to spend a few hours tomorrow implementing some new ideas, so I think today is all about making a plan for those hours. Yeah.
    Or I could say, "Eh," to that and lounge some more. Or I could play around with my crafts. 
    Choices, choices...

December 17, 2012

  • Teaching to the Gun.

    For some reason last night, I started to think of all the students I've pissed off in the past. I don't think I have fully torked off a ton of people in my time, but I have upset a few students = over plagiarism issues, over ten points on a project they were earning an A on anyway, over the swear words in Carlin's book, over my late work policy, etc. I've even had one student say, "I'm about to get really upset here," and instead of backing off, I pushed him, "What does that mean?" I think he's been the only one to attempt to threaten me, and he was probably suffering from the Napolean complex. Oh wait, there was the student who accused me of being racist, and I said, "No, I'm prejudice against all students who aren't using their brains in my class."

    What if any ONE of those students was just mentally-disturbed enough to find a gun and hunt me down? Would I have much of a chance to survive? It could happen at 2pm on a Tuesday, when I'm walking across the parking lot to the library. (So, I suppose this should teach me that whole "live each day as your last" lesson?)
    And it sounds like there was absolutely no rhyme or reason for why those children had to die in Connecticut. The man was nuts-o and just wanted to take out some innocent lives? This scares me even further. I can kind of understand the revenge motive (and using the words "kind of" is pushing it), but when there is no reason ... what the heck do we do with that?

December 14, 2012

  • I'm procrastinating the grading process by diving into the creation of a digital postcard (I'm using the YouTube slideshow thingie - very fast and easy!)... I rarely procrastinate at all, and rarely at the end of the year, but sometimes I think it's okay to just say, "I'll get to it tomorrow" because I know I will. For sure. I need a break, though. I need to take it all in. The semester is coming to a close, and it was a tough one outside of the classroom. It's like I need to take a moment to realize it's over and massage my sore emotional muscles. Yeah.

    So, a break for the weekend's festivities of a birthday and some decorating... I'll return to all this stuff Monday with a fresh head. This week has been crazy, and I'm happy that I completed what I DID complete = final my words tests, last reflective class blogs, reading activities, bonus class blogs, etc. All I have left are the shortfolios in Eng110 (three classes' worth) & Eng120 (two classes' worth) plus the WL40 final collages (ten of those).
    I wonder if I'll be able to successfully wait until Monday or if I'll get antsy and want to wrap them up on Sunday?
    I took a peek at next semester's numbers:
    10am class = 15
    1pm class = 18
    3pm class = 17
    and 17 in Eng120 Online & CW211 Online...
    These are fairly solid numbers considering the fact that quite a few students wait until break to register.

December 12, 2012

  • #ties12

    - notes - notes - notes -

    8am Monday:
    --- iTunesU: a "living course." Sounds like Blackboard, eCollege, D2L, Moodle... without elements like a Dropbox feature.
    --- His info is on the TIES wiki.
    --- Instead of using it, since we have eCollege, I could look at how other colleges' info is set up. That'd be a cool way to get cool ideas.
    Pre-Keynote:
    --- 3400 Attendees this year; 22 states represented.
    9am Monday Keynote:
    --- Simon Sinek. Amazing. I cried at the end of his presentation.
    --- Author of "Start with Why (Y)" and "The Golden Circle." TedX Speaker!
    --- Technology: "Just because we can doesn't mean we should." Reminds me of Margo, one of our faculty members.
    --- We need to have a problem to solve in order to consider technology as a solution. What problems do I have? Apathy for my subject matter?
    --- We can solve problems faster and better in groups.
    --- We want badly to belong. (Me: Really?)
    --- He didn't write out the chemical names; "no correlation between spelling and intelligence." Damn it.
    --- Endorphins and Dopamine are selfish chemicals. We get endorphins from exercise and dopamine from checking stuff off our lists... from shopping, etc.
    --- Oxytosin and Seratonin are mutual chemicals - shared. Oxytosin is what causes us to feel feelings of love or trust. It happens at birth or when we have sex or hug someone. It can also happen during acts of generosity. Seratonin comes from feelings of pride. It's the leadership chemical. This chemical can lead to us feeling pride in bad ways like with status symbols (cars, materials, etc.).
    --- We are social animals!
    --- What if we gave diplomas via email without the public forum. Ew.
    --- If we give time & energy to others, they will give that to others; if we give money, the same thing doesn't happen. "I gave $100 to the Salvation Army," vs. "I hung out with abused kids for an hour today."
    --- Technology: Speeds up transactions, allows us to share info, and connects people.
    --- We have alphas. We are hierarchical as a species.
    --- We have no problem giving special treatment to our alphas, but we expect them to protect us. 
    --- Superintendents need to watch over principals; principals need to watch over teachers; teachers will look over students. No need for superintendents/principals to worry about students; if they take care of the teachers, the teachers will take care of the students.
    --- How can technology help us with all of this (above)?
    --- We know people are infallible, but we trust them. We wouldn't get on a plane with only computers running it.
    --- If things aren't working at your school/college, ask if it is the technology or if the teachers aren't supported by principals, etc.?
    --- Cortisol is the anxiety chemical. Military: "Crying is just fine."

    10:55am Monday Session:
    --- Tales of a Tech Coach = blog or web site?!
    --- Sites & Stuff: tioki, livebinders, iPoe app, iBooks, ...
    --- "Gone are the days when 15 teachers are gone for a conference." No time or money.
    --- Animoto idea: What did you learn from Carlin/Sedaris? Use your own pics & text (via Paint)?
    --- Flip my room with: Khan Academy, Learn Zillion, iTunesU, WatchKnowLearn...
    --- Publishing: My eBook, Storyjumper, Storybird, Zooburst, Pixton, Linguafolio...
    --- infogr.am
    --- Weebly = web site maker
    --- Useful for conference/classroom comments: corkboard.me, todaysmeet.com, polleverywhere.com
    --- Our TIES proposal: 15 classroom activities for science, reading, writing... ??
    --- diigo vs. delicious?

    12:15 Monday Session: Making Awful Content (super funny vibe & approach)
    --- 15 Tips to Make Awful Stuff: 1) Use lots of PDFs, 2) Use textbooks constantly, 3) No hyperlinks, 4) Make it ugly (fuzzymartian.tripod.com), 5) Omit context, 6) Dump everything from traditional course into online shell, 7) Use multiple choice tests, 8) Stress memorization, 9) Put long lectures online, 10) Use PPT, 11) Use a lot of text on long pages with no images, 12) Make navigation obtuse, 13) Keep the digital classroom sterile, 14) Write ambiguously, 15) Use animation (gifs).

    1:20 Monday Session:
    --- Assessment: How often do we assess? What did you assess today (the weather, etc.)?
    --- Idea: Make extra credit stuff part of class = Ted Talks, Khan Academy, in addition to school events.
    --- Teachers need to be consistent & fair.
    --- When students are behind, stop for 5 min. It's like being low on gas; you would stop for five instead of running out!

    2:25 Monday Session:
    --- Games: sdikkers / gamesmatter.com
    --- 97% of American teens play!
    --- Games are large & complex & have levels; keep projects like that?
    --- Chart: Scribe assignments vs. Artist assignments vs. Adventurer assignments, etc.
    --- Chart: Goals/outcomes in left column, types of learners in top row, rest of squares = types of assignments that fit
    --- Use Levels!
    --- Carlin is first level? or grammar is? Then advanced grammar later?
    --- Last level: Do something you aren't asked to do!
    --- Second-to-last level: Teach others.
    --- Play > experiment > geek out!

    8am Tuesday Session:
    --- eText Publishing!
    --- iBooks authors should be master teachers!
    --- "101 Key Concepts of History" = "47 Concepts of Writing"?

    9am Tuesday Keynote:
    --- Coursera: Anyone can take classes now!
    --- Doom & Gloom?: Jobs are getting outsourced.
    --- "Competencies trump content." ?
    --- How to stay employed: Creativity, critical thinking, and problem solving.
    Sidenote: Everybody brings up the 50 States and Capitals lesson... Yeah, we all memorized that (well in the upper midwest anyway), but you can't use Google all the time - especially in trivia games. Memorization isn't ALL bad; we have to REMEMBER some stuff for crying outloud. Isn't there something TO memorizing something? We have to memorize numbers and people's names all the time. And it IS on Bloom's taxonomy even if it IS the lowest one. To tear down memorization tears down basic knowledge, right? I know something because I read it and remembered it. I get why people crap on those who teach the 50 States and Capitals, but the process is meaningful even IF the content seems silly.
    SO, the content can be silly if the process is meaningful = this idea can be duplicated. Like the fake sources created for my class to learn how to cite stuff.
    Back to the Keynote:
    --- All kindergarteners should start a digital portfolio that follows them through school. Seems overwhelming but cool & do-able?
    --- Google Rule of 20%: Play for 20% of your week/class = create your own fun projects!
    --- Questions to ask myself: How do I model thoughtful, risk-taking? How do I model innovation?
    --- He ends by quoting from A Tale of Two Cities. I rolled my eyes. I'm so over literature majors.
    10:55 Tuesday Session, about Creativity in everyone.
    --- Ban Clip Art.
    --- Show info in multiple ways and ask them to, too.
    --- Encourage narrative voice rather than expository voice.
    --- Ask for multiple answers to questions and multiple solutions to problems. Their "problem": English classes are dumb. So what are some solutions?
    --- Give alternative tests once in awhile.
    --- Give points for design.
    --- Ask them to explain wrong answers.
    --- Use free online tools... changeyourimage.com
    --- Ask them to help design classroom rules and procedures.
    Noon Keynote Tuesday:
    --- Why does the Khan Academy focus on math and science and not writing/composition/grammar?
    1:20 Tuesday Session:
    --- Best of Web 2 Zapatou - video.
    --- goo.gl/jzUC5
    --- youtube.com/t/press_timeline
    --- Create your own channels and playlists
    --- Ted Ed Channel
    --- Crash Course Channel
    --- Use filters.
    --- WeVideo - multi-track video editor.
    --- Work Better, Work Smarter!
    --- Ask questions IN the video so they have to watch it.
    --- YouTube Subplans using webcam recorder IN youtube's my channel!
    --- 2min Preview videos for a flipped classroom.
    --- Don't worry about perfect videos.
    --- Embed, unclick, no related videos & fullscreen... popout small medium large... start at: ___
  • Dissection of a Student Evaluation.

    So, I'm not really using this to brag (okay, sort of, but after almost 7 years of teaching online I should), but I got some spectacular reviews from online students this semester, both anonymous and not. Now, part of me is super happy about this. As noted in my parenthesis, these online courses have been complete tasks for me semester after semester... it hasn't always been fields of fun. Another part of me thinks, "Crap, maybe I didn't challenge them enough," but then I start to dissect further, as a good researcher should... and ask myself: What did I do differently?

    -Well,  I added more video and audio in both classes. 
    -I think I changed up some things in Eng120 that would've helped (I'd have to go back to my list of things I did over the summer exactly), and I KNOW I did a lot of work to World Lit 240 Online.
    -I have creative activities (explained better than last time) in both, too...
    -I might have had a bunch that actually just "got" my instructions this time around?
    -Hmm...

December 11, 2012

  • z80105291
    TIES conference* update coming soon!
    But, first, some grading/assessment-y stuff...
    cat
    *I don't think I went to any "eh" sessions AND a keynote made me cry!
    Here's a different talk by that same dude:
    http://www.ted.com/talks/simon_sinek_how_great_leaders_inspire_action.html

December 8, 2012

December 7, 2012

  • I'm coming up upon the last two classes of this semester... and, like always, it seems like the semester went fast AND slow in certain spots. September and October were slow due to some controversies happening outside of the classroom; November went by in a flash, and now we're looking at Finals Week next week. Insane.

    I have a conference (TIES) on Monday and Tuesday; in addition, I'll be taking my dad to his surgery Wednesday... so it's going to be a crazy week; I'll have to sneak in some assessment on Wednesday morning (grade the Eng120 stuff from this week) and Thursday morning/afternoon (everything else)... a department meeting in Fargo on that day adds to the chaos, a bit. Friday will be somewhat quiet, if I can get my grading wrapped up, because I just have one meeting in the morning and then our campus party that afternoon. Even if I decide to push the grading until the week after, that'll be okay... I can deal with that.