February 4, 2009

The phone is ringing incessantly today and the emails are flowing in and out of the mailbox. The topics range from board problems to needing ink. I also met with the principal today, and we had a long discussion concerning CFF and technology integration--a very productive meeting and some great direction. The embedded learning talks about reflection, and I have done a lot of that. I am glad to really be blazing a new Cumberland Trail. There is always something new with the position--some revelation or concept. I love that freshness and anxious to find ways to incorporate. I have to prepare more for the Photostory presentation tomorrow. There are some modifications due to subject matter, and I am going to have visitors from the powers. I looked at my schedule for February, and it is filled trainings and conferences. Wow, the GPS unit will be working full-time. Friday thru Wednesday, I will be attending back to back conferences (same town, thank goodness). My philosophy concerning conferences, etc is "I will keep an open mind, and if I learn one thing, it was worth it." It has sustained me so far. Hey, to work I go...........flick

February 3, 2009

Go Embedded Learning, Go, Go--Ahh, it takes me back to my old cheerleading days....yeah, right. It is difficult working with getting all of this together, but I finally had to release the class because some are chomping at the bit while others have not even registered. I have seen them all and will just now await the fallout. My presentation on Photostory last week prompted some interest from others, and I have another presentation on Thursday. I like it. I met with the SS chairman and outlined some ideas. It was good. I also met with 7 other teachers today to go over concepts and ideas. I do believe a lot of them are unsure of my role. I will model that and the word will go out. I have to curb my impatience on some things, and I know I can do that. It is a process that takes time. I am thinking of trying to buy some time because I do run out of it. Anyone have some for sale? Tomorrow.............flick

February 2, 2009

The groundhog saw his shadow; that %$&$##&*(&&^%^ furry rodent. I got that out of my system. Extremely busy day yesterday, but also memorial with respect to technology. One of the music persons came to me excited about using a wiki for the music area. We talked about it, and all of the light bulbs went off about some of the concepts I have been discussing. He is quite excited about it, and I am glad. I see some great use there. I met with several teachers today and also did a tremendous amount with embedded learning. We picked up some more interactive whiteboards so there were some installations. I retired....oops, that is for my blog in five years. I do not want to jump the gun yet. I am really impressed today with my teachers starting to think and branch out from the norm to try things. They are inundated with so many initiatives right now, and I refuse to pressure them for more. They are a motivated group and will develop ideas to infuse the technology. I can talk with them and aid them, and they are using me more and more for that. My strategy is working as I knew it would. No, I am not patting myself on the back; I worked the same strategy last year with a lot of success. I know it works. I do have to tweak it now and then depending upon the person. Be back tomorrow.................flick

January 30, 2009

Still working on the various duties I have to get done. Yesterday, I forgot to talk about working with two students on the Janus project. I have alluded to this before, and we did interviews last night at Penn State. Whoa, I cannot believe that January is almost over. The presentation went well; I will have to arrange a time to talk to the powers and get the official assessment. Even with the network glitches, I thought it went well. K does well in the classroom and is a good fit here and for me. I also talked with some teachers to help them with some technical things. The meetings were all good. I do love working with them. I began working on some things, and that is when I got sick and had to go home. I do not regret my surgery, but I do hate what happens to me sometimes. I know I have to live with it, but it is quite incapacitating; Friday was bad. I will just have to catch up next week. Have a great weekend.........flick

January 29, 2009

Yep, snow day yesterday. I was going to come in and live up to the CFF motto, but I did not invent one yet so I did not have to live up to it. I am preparing for the presentation for Friday's class, and I talked with another teacher who wants a similar presentation next week. I am going to be observed; I guess after over 30 years it does not bother me anymore. I also arranged Atomic Learning accounts for students in a fellow teacher's classroom. It will help teach the in's and out's of Indesign. I am also working on the Embedded Learning material. Sometimes this can be frustrating to get everyone on board. I will save that for another time. In the next few weeks, I will be oot (for all of my Canadian readers; love your country) in the next few weeks for many days attending conferences. There is a lot to do and little time to accomplish. Uh oh, I see the making of a motto. Next, there will be official pocket protector and uniform. I will have to get the designers ready for that one. As I recline on the Chesterfield awaiting my puck, I will bid you adieu.

January 27, 2009

Tomorrow's weather sounds ugleeeee so we may not have school. Nothing to worry about because I cannot control it. I am working on the in-service presentation and Photostory presentations. I have some time, but I want to be well-prepared for them, especially the in-service because teachers can be a tough audience. I guess it is good that I am old because they may have pity upon me. I am still preparing the embedded learning groups and will have three running simultaneously. I did find a facilitator for the math one. I did not relish doing three of them. Getting the paperwork done for all of them is quite time consuming. I am out and about visiting classes and talking with teachers. The new tech dude is doing well and taking a lot off of the plate. He will assimilate well, I am hopeful. I am just forging ahead and getting things moving at PV. My prinicpal sent to me a wonderful article entitled Benchmarking for Success: Ensuring U.S. Students Receive a World-Class Education. It is quite long, but I think you should read it. I do believe that it postulates what we have been saying since CFF's inception. http://www.achieve.org/files/BenchmarkingforSuccess.pdf Maybe tomorrow, if not the next day......flick

January 26, 2009

In-service days are one of those things that a teacher has to do; some are great; others remind you a visiting the dentist and no novocaine. I believe that this one ranks up there by being quite good. Does not rank as great so I guess that means the previous polarization is a misnomer. I attended a seminar on learning focused and brought my plans for the 13th to meet the format. I also worked on Embedded Learning to bring that up-to-date, and I worked on the presentation for the 13th. I also scheduled a Photostory presentation to a media class for Friday. I will get that done. Tomorrow is an Atomic Learning lesson for business. The continuation of ghosting is ongoing. Tomorrow is also the start of the new semester, which will free me to do more in the classroom. With my last blog, I alluded to a problem, and I have now solved that problem. I am happy with the resolution, and I am sure that somewhere down the road there will be a conflict with it; I will be ready. I guess it is my rebellious nature from the 60's and 70's. Well, I am off to work with embedded learning and found out some answers.................flick

January 23, 2009

Finished the week, and I did make it. Started the ghosting process of the laptops. They should be done sometime next week, and I can finally get them out and be used. I have been tagged to do an in-service on Feb 13 on the functions of the whiteboard. I also have to model it using the learning focused concept. I will begin the preparation for that on Monday. I also have the embedded learning class ready to go and have released them for Monday. Not all of the teachers have signed up, and I will have to go and talk with them individually. I will also have to get the books out to them and create another class for the math group. I have no facilitator for that group and may have to fill in there. I also have to address an issue which I have thought very diligently upon and am ready to act on it. No details, this is just for my recollection. That sentence will keep ya guessing. Well, it is time to wrap up another week. Have a great weekend...........flick

January 22, 2009

Did you ever have one of those days when you would just like to pack it in and say %$#%^&*&%^^ the world? Today was that day. I envision a confrontation which I will not back down from, but I may shut down using some of my skills to comply with the exact letter of law. We will see. I will not jump the gun but will keep it there with other alternatives. We do have a new IT guy, and I am quite glad about that. How long he stays and other questions will be a determining factor in keeping my elatedness. I need to do my task the way it was meant to be and not force things. I know this path is correct. I am looking forward to doing Janus tomorrow with the students. This project is taking on a life that is quite consuming, but the students have organize everything well, and the most important concept is that it is totally a student project. What a way to learn! I will not hide my elation over this. To me, this is where real learning takes place when one can take the practical application and apply it to reality. A person can read all he/she wants about driving a car, but the test comes when one gets behind the wheel. I just facilitate. Hey, I hope the mood is better tomorrow. Toots.....flick

January 21, 2009

Someone once said that it is the little things that cause the most problems, and I must say that this is what has been happening more and more. The little things are consuming my time along with getting the Embedded Learning running. I also found out that we are getting a literacy coach, and I will be working with her on implementation concepts. I still find reluctance to among some to work with the infusion, but I also know that this is due to many reasons. I have the time to deal with it eventually conquer it. It is the end of the first semester, and business will be picking up again soon. I look forward to it. Need the classroom stimulus. I will be back tomorrow.