tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68261162725368257092024-03-21T19:07:09.578-04:00the five o' fouronce the adventures of a MAC student in the English cohort... now the adventures and exploits of an AP psych teacherUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6826116272536825709.post-75508660765184710102009-02-09T21:08:00.002-05:002009-02-09T21:19:24.305-05:00a lesson from the pasti watched a very interesting and motivating youtube clip on jean piaget. i was originally looking for clips showing piaget's different stages of cognitive development, but found this interview / speech that he was doing.<br /><br />it made me really think about what we as educators are doing. when i consider my own practice, i have become pretty good at teaching my students how to learn about what is already known. they know how to learn from my lectures and the text book. but there is an inherent problem in this because there is a logical leap that we have to make. we can be REALLY good at teaching our students how to learn what is already known. but how do we teach them the ability to learn what is not yet known? that is the basic foundation of all human advancement.<br /><br />how do we teach students to become inquisitive and search? i haven't yet been able to fully wrap my mind around this yet, but i'm beginning to think about steps we can take in the classroom that will not only take their learning out of the room, but also how to make it more inquiry based. but as i consider it now, the task isn't yet complete even then. what sets an inquisitive individual apart from one who isn't?<br /><br />perhaps the greatest lesson we can teach is how to be curious.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6826116272536825709.post-85967193052976024122008-12-24T12:03:00.002-05:002008-12-24T12:33:45.661-05:00academic steroidsso this past spring, there was a ton of hype on the news about the olympics ranging from the tibet controversy to pollution in china. but perhaps what got the most press (at least on the radio) was athletes taking steroids to boost their speeds.<br /><br />now, any ordinary and moral person would look at that and say, "those terrible cheaters. how dare they defile the sacred trust of sportsmanship?" after all, these people are cheating to get ahead. they are not relying on their years and years of hard work and suffering. they're doing what they can to get a quick boost ahead of the rest.<br /><br />and now, we draw attention to something else that has silently crept into our society for academics. SAT and ACT prep classes. it seemed like only a small minority enrolled in such courses when i was in high school. after all, at $1,000 for a handful of classes, it was only for the rich elite. now however, it's a bit of a different story. it seems that everywhere you turn, kids are cramming for these big tests and taking classes and trying to do what they can outside of school to prepare.<br /><br />but wait, what is the ACT and SAT suppose to be testing anyway?<br /><br />aptitude - n. - capability or ability either innate or acquired<br /><br />but since it is a standardized test, students today are not competing against a certain score or percentage, they are competing with each other. this in turn quickly boils down to how many ACT/SAT prep courses you can take, which outlandishly guarantee lavishly high scores if you take their course. and thus, the whole point of it is missed altogether. you see, it is now no longer how able you are. it is a measure of wealth and how many prep courses you can afford. it is now not about how much knowledge and intelligence you have acquired over the years. it is about how many tricks you can do on the test to help you guess the right answer.<br /><br />kaplan is a steroid for academics.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6826116272536825709.post-77047551659954178732008-12-18T23:30:00.005-05:002008-12-22T13:27:17.743-05:00cookies and the world we wantit's christmas time and that means one thing: seminar christmas parties at school. i like to joke with my kids and tell them that i am against fun and against breaks, but not a single seminar is christmas-party-less during the last week of school before we all run home to be rid of this thing called school for two whole weeks.<br /><br />all of us have seen this situation. you have only 15 cookies, but there are twenty four kids in your class. you are now faced with two options that both follow a single underlying principle.<br />a. you can break the cookies in half so that everyone gets half a cookie and you have some leftovers<br />b. you can not give out any cookies at all<br /><br />as i was contemplating this issue, a humorously evil thought crossed my mind. "what if i passed out the cookies in order starting from my favorite student all the way down to the kid that gives me white hair?" or maybe "i could start with the kid with the highest gpa and work down to the kids with the lowest." either way, i would obviously run out before the end.<br /><br />any teachers reading this (or any decent human beings with an ounce of fairness) would be appauled if this actually happened in a classroom. shame on me for thinking such terrible thoughts! you see, that "single underlying principle" that i had been talking about earlier pertained to this universal and highly regarded idea of fairness. we place such a high premium on this fairness.<br /><br />wait a second...<br /><br />everyone gets the same share regardless of how hard they work? communism? the question then is this: when in the rest of their lives will they ever have another situation where they will be treated with such fairness?<br /><br />do educators serve their students better when they prepare them for what they will encounter in the future? if this was the case, i think everything would be merit based. the smartest kids would get the best party foods, they would get the most attention and all the best stuff. but this is a sobering thought to even the most cynical of teachers. why? are we not preparing our kids for the world that is?<br /><br />perhaps this is no great epiphany for most people in my profession, but this was a bit of a realization for me. someone once mentioned to me that one major role of teachers is to stand as a safeguard against the elements of change and ignorance. essentially, we preserve a society. although i agree with the latter, i think a very critical aspect of teaching is to challenge the status quo. another way of looking at it, we aren't administering merit-based snacks or merit-based supplies. we still adhere to this moral idea of fairness and goodness. there is some mystical moral element to our work that we seldom think about because of all the pressures to meet curricular and content expectations. we are teaching them how to live.<br /><br />we are not simply here to prepare kids for the world that is. we are training them to become the citizens of the world we want and hope for.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6826116272536825709.post-22075133788719633832008-12-09T22:28:00.002-05:002008-12-09T22:54:57.236-05:00the age of happinessso we're going to take a quick break from the techno-stuff that has dominated the blog for quite some time now and focus on something a little less tangible. earlier tonight on a drive to ann arbor, i began to think about how today's class went. specifically, i thought about my exploring psychology class. they are a special bunch of kids who love to complain. probably the biggest complaint is, "mr. liu, are we done yet?" i often just point at the clock and say, "is school over yet?" these rather often exchanges show me something has happened since i was in school (or maybe i was too much of a nerd while i was in high school to have noticed). school is no longer a place to learn. it's all about the FUN!!! wooohooo!!<br /><br />this idea lead me further to consider a few interviews i heard on the radio about parents trying to make it through this hard economic time. the prevailing message that they were conveying was, "well, times might be tough, but we will still do most of our christmas shopping because we want our kids to be happy."<br /><br />and that's just it.<br /><br />HAPPINESS<br /><br />it seems that such a construct has immerged from being a luxery to being a commodity to being a norm to being a right. some of my students are genuinely offended when i tell them that we're going to have a test. "a TEST? come on mr. liu... that's no fun..."<br /><br />i think we as teachers have largely bought into this as well. we think long and hard about how to make our lessons and our classrooms more "fun" and over time, "fun" and "effective" become synonyms. somewhere along the way, the premium on happiness has become the most valuable factor in raising a child.<br /><br />so what's the solution?<br /><br />there certainly isn't a quick fix, but i'm not sure if there really even is a fix at all. this generation has lived its life in prosperity. we have not known struggle or hardship of any kind. why should we not be self-centered? maybe the silver-lining of this recession will be that we lose our offspring-centered perception of the planets, and return to a solar-centered one.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6826116272536825709.post-68036975398833343202008-11-29T19:07:00.003-05:002008-11-29T19:31:12.617-05:00the future is nowteachers often think about technology as a mystical force. older teachers tend to view it as something that they ought to resist. newer teachers view it as something that they want but don't really know how to get or effectively use. all in all, we talk about "the future" as something that is still a ways away. we still view our students as more or less more modernized versions of ourselves and our generation. but the future is much closer than it seems.<br /><br />my students once accused me of listening to NPR while i drive. it is true... i listen to NPR all the time. recently, i was listening to a program about a new study done by the macarther foundation. the research finds that what parents and teachers have been resisting for years and years may actually be something that's good for the students. they say that this is a generation with a whole new sense of global awareness and connected-ness.<br /><br />it has become now more than just a place for mindless time-wasting. this is a whole new culture of interconnectedness. the future and technology is no longer something we can idly stand aside and speculate upon. our system is becoming irrelevant at an alarming rate. we must think of newer and better ways of doing things.<br /><br />the next item on the table is how we can use social networking to our advantage in the classroom.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6826116272536825709.post-52582229140761880462008-11-23T22:08:00.006-05:002008-11-23T22:26:11.347-05:00New Mobilityhave you ever been lecturing and suddenly realized that you had a mistake on your slides? or you were moving around the room and wished you could magically make things appear on the board without you having to walk all the way there to write it down?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglQqtJ8A4dPOECqU-bOod7VLzVVfICqZSkk2FkAxly-yEp66PtDlrczGVkRG4V71KC1FAuzDpWecQ2vREyis0B7PB2OXEnEaHQHvRp6o6SpiMVLURL0jJrPGbt74GFx4nO8Y-qrofM_oAt/s1600-h/Photo+11.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglQqtJ8A4dPOECqU-bOod7VLzVVfICqZSkk2FkAxly-yEp66PtDlrczGVkRG4V71KC1FAuzDpWecQ2vREyis0B7PB2OXEnEaHQHvRp6o6SpiMVLURL0jJrPGbt74GFx4nO8Y-qrofM_oAt/s400/Photo+11.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272057665120924946" border="0" /></a><br />now there is a legit way to use your iphone or ipod touch as a mobile touchpad / keyboard / and presentation remote. all of this can be done for the cost of $4. it is called, touchpad elite and can be purchased through the apple app store.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwXgnoPlu8-9QpYf8ug7jsJZsO5wQ1QXwYGzmmRxryrvLYKRXmpXAiKAX9uhTRvVrOAs4gFL4hYOvLOKdWUzD5tiBUxexOymKcr5Enai8GcGVqAROOz2CeeCzSD6eT8MBIvv9lJzUY6XmY/s1600-h/Photo+14.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwXgnoPlu8-9QpYf8ug7jsJZsO5wQ1QXwYGzmmRxryrvLYKRXmpXAiKAX9uhTRvVrOAs4gFL4hYOvLOKdWUzD5tiBUxexOymKcr5Enai8GcGVqAROOz2CeeCzSD6eT8MBIvv9lJzUY6XmY/s400/Photo+14.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272057875446905090" border="0" /></a>here we have the mobile keyboard. taking advantage of one of the best aspects of the iphone / itouch, the program will allow different orientations and your display will always be pointed up. want a wider keyboard? just tilt sideways.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglqAWp4FGcMHaQHoFIrzLr38HT2GqSqAm9IfWBIuL8nv7aVNE2CfZ8IE4YnqeWHW1kJq6QFcAzIzlvFyECam39ldgwWf-t2g42vH_AGO4CICxJKU0qiqafFtACzMJsZGrXMALeLFMZtFyo/s1600-h/Photo+13.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglqAWp4FGcMHaQHoFIrzLr38HT2GqSqAm9IfWBIuL8nv7aVNE2CfZ8IE4YnqeWHW1kJq6QFcAzIzlvFyECam39ldgwWf-t2g42vH_AGO4CICxJKU0qiqafFtACzMJsZGrXMALeLFMZtFyo/s400/Photo+13.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272057808275463890" border="0" /></a>this is the presentation remote. now all i need to do is rig a laserpointer onto my iphone and it'll be a fully fledged presentation remote.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC4qLOblkak4RNljRCuWD1y5yT3qCcn5VZ_vUb8Nphdi03dFjjUPYdoDxvufM5Bm0WzH6QJzDSQKFrRbgKV-8yXflTcED-XwWlhkxodn5xL4RSWC_CynX57hhMaaP06Pvg0Vx4Yfjopv0D/s1600-h/Photo+12.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC4qLOblkak4RNljRCuWD1y5yT3qCcn5VZ_vUb8Nphdi03dFjjUPYdoDxvufM5Bm0WzH6QJzDSQKFrRbgKV-8yXflTcED-XwWlhkxodn5xL4RSWC_CynX57hhMaaP06Pvg0Vx4Yfjopv0D/s400/Photo+12.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272057748182939458" border="0" /></a>the default black surface makes the entire device a giant mobile touchpad.<br /><br />one of the main drawbacks to this setup is it's connectivity. both your computer and the iphone/itouch must be on the same wifi network. if your school doesn't happen to offer wifi (like my school) then you're in trouble.<br /><br />here is a simple solution. get an old wireless router if you have one. otherwise, you can probably get a cheaper older model for not too much. the wireless router doesn't need to be connected to the actual internet for it to function as a wireless connector for two computers. in this case, i picked up my old 11mb/sec wireless router that is quickly going on 6 years old. i plug it in and join its network with both my devices. BAM. success.<br /><br />now all i need to do is convince my superintendent to make itouches standard issue for new teachers.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6826116272536825709.post-43337360973153153942008-11-21T23:21:00.006-05:002008-11-21T23:55:42.337-05:00Galileotwo weeks ago, a package arrived in the mail.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4P5-rxM8PdCoTczmyl7OR5r2Za-bc6Y79mb_ieu044MUWeWyz8cxqquZ1uHBvTe7oUJ53GRF_txyPCOveSDsBeY3yIfiGDdvg5qElJkRm-dmtQu4LRbJySQlLJorjrGKLvBI1iF8XQoOr/s1600-h/PB100024.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4P5-rxM8PdCoTczmyl7OR5r2Za-bc6Y79mb_ieu044MUWeWyz8cxqquZ1uHBvTe7oUJ53GRF_txyPCOveSDsBeY3yIfiGDdvg5qElJkRm-dmtQu4LRbJySQlLJorjrGKLvBI1iF8XQoOr/s400/PB100024.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271333875942030146" border="0" /></a><br />and northville was changed forever.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1XZLYUEnnSvM7jiVWeQ464IIOcIQaxKIUgOoWWFF67Dz6RKF_ejJsTKVR2ZXEatG6qS1wLtfqbBvk0lynDZbOv_Vw2ocLhjycF_Jp_qBkbxpJgNVKmz5-Gq7p7ulriO6-kqGcbDIaKBFq/s1600-h/PB100025.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1XZLYUEnnSvM7jiVWeQ464IIOcIQaxKIUgOoWWFF67Dz6RKF_ejJsTKVR2ZXEatG6qS1wLtfqbBvk0lynDZbOv_Vw2ocLhjycF_Jp_qBkbxpJgNVKmz5-Gq7p7ulriO6-kqGcbDIaKBFq/s400/PB100025.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271334123166911218" border="0" /></a><br />after it was acquainted with its predecessor, it was given a name. because after all, every passionate mac user names his or her machine. [be warned... the amount of nerdiness is about to reach astronomical proportions] every computer i have owned has had a name of some significance. my g4 1.33GHz powerbook was named isis after the egyptian mother of the gods because the g4 was the first mac i have ever owned and thus the progenator machine. the macbook my masters program issued me was named prometheus after the greek demigod who stole fire from zeus and gave it to mankind and from that fire, civilization was born. that white macbook's purpose was to for teaching and bringing knowledge and civilization to the world. and now, the new metalic macbook has been named galileo after the man who challenge the accepted norm and changed the way an entire world thought.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn1E3PJSeqIrdU6xvWETHRnypee5RqSVyY8BBxzECVGttuZETl5N_1ZaVtBp9sFwGnEPhbCpzVYX8ZyFsWXGuS7raYWPfQhqbupcv8n8UngpLuyoaA0ApP3vhGlPAVzAadat6LmtBhS5Rc/s1600-h/PB100026.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn1E3PJSeqIrdU6xvWETHRnypee5RqSVyY8BBxzECVGttuZETl5N_1ZaVtBp9sFwGnEPhbCpzVYX8ZyFsWXGuS7raYWPfQhqbupcv8n8UngpLuyoaA0ApP3vhGlPAVzAadat6LmtBhS5Rc/s400/PB100026.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271334333403026290" border="0" /></a><br />so far in the project, we have been able to refit a standard overhead projector cart to house all of our various pieces of equipment. the smartboard has now become stand issue in my classroom. but only recently have i devised a means to overcome the pesky problem of where to place the wiimote sensors. too close doesn't produce a cone of reception large enough to cover the entire display surface. too far and the spatial resolution deteriorates and the tracking speed diminishes. sensors placed too close make the display more succeptible to dead zones produces by the IR shadow the teacher's body casts by simply being in the way of the light. here is at least the first step to a viable solution for a nomadic teacher.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ByxaaMpdG7idTLCiUybDRt4Xky40LkO3lRWPVXhQ4_RIbrHgZMMT7NeknR-lI34diikLexBzY9eBrSuAy6F2hfynwU9EI_r-GZcnGdX8uP0Bod7mYV6SLPl4-8w-YtLvaGSG4MVP_oG7/s1600-h/PB220027.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ByxaaMpdG7idTLCiUybDRt4Xky40LkO3lRWPVXhQ4_RIbrHgZMMT7NeknR-lI34diikLexBzY9eBrSuAy6F2hfynwU9EI_r-GZcnGdX8uP0Bod7mYV6SLPl4-8w-YtLvaGSG4MVP_oG7/s400/PB220027.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271334563895107730" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEbqLZZ-s62kmikQ4REmS-X6_1ELYL7r8INg5uiExwMTUCc44hVtWA8phnp-CGozbnweA81ayxR_uMiq3tqGY4EAIoVQOrj6rPA8-Wl01FrcIvaT7pBcleANGkbv6FOnNH8LcsnnRYTMeM/s1600-h/PB220029.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEbqLZZ-s62kmikQ4REmS-X6_1ELYL7r8INg5uiExwMTUCc44hVtWA8phnp-CGozbnweA81ayxR_uMiq3tqGY4EAIoVQOrj6rPA8-Wl01FrcIvaT7pBcleANGkbv6FOnNH8LcsnnRYTMeM/s400/PB220029.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271334694090762050" border="0" /></a><br />The wiimote can now pivot on a verticle axis, which drastically increases its versitility. the rubber feet of the tripod make it useful on various surfaces, even ones on an incline.<br /><br />project galileo will be a multi-step project to build a classroom of the future. or at least... a classroom of the present.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6826116272536825709.post-82662652261532893132008-11-03T22:04:00.007-05:002008-11-03T22:25:37.766-05:00wii smartboardIt seems that the greatest flaw and the great strength of youth are the same things. We are terribly impatient. Instead of waiting for my IR pens to arrive in the mail, I drove out to visit the good folks at Radio Shack. For $1.99, I bought an IR LED bulb and bought a spool of wire for $5.<br /><br />The pen itself is a simple device. I just pulled out the insides of a standard ballpoint pen and carved a notch hole on the side of the casing. Two long wires were attached to the two leads of the bulb and they were threaded into the hallow shaft and out of the hole I cut in the side. Then I just attached a regular AA battery to the side with electrical tape and rigged it so I could just press the exposed wire against the exposed end of the battery to complete the circuit. At Radio Shack, I was eyeing the switches and buttons, and I should have just bought them. Curses for not listening to that little voice!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEKN_69jaC67yu78VtDGF9dTV7jdqgw72Ci2q7EnQ_BZtlzgufqUOJy8xGcvD2MIMhsKrL8Txz8Ol_Wx6kDaSdxAZFEMqe6JZ19YhjidUZbJDCQdX-mf2MeQH3w_9s8NmH3b-Ge6BHjHI3/s1600-h/PB030019.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEKN_69jaC67yu78VtDGF9dTV7jdqgw72Ci2q7EnQ_BZtlzgufqUOJy8xGcvD2MIMhsKrL8Txz8Ol_Wx6kDaSdxAZFEMqe6JZ19YhjidUZbJDCQdX-mf2MeQH3w_9s8NmH3b-Ge6BHjHI3/s400/PB030019.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264638058308250706" border="0" /></a><br />I first started with one wii remote, but I eventually moved on to 2 since it provides much more sensitivity smother movements. The wiimote is special because it contains all of the basic components that make a smartboard so darn smart: an IR sensor and a bluetooth connectivity system. Yep, those suckers at Nintendo didn't know they were actually helping teachers everywhere get around a very expensive roadblock. The actual mechanics of it are complicated, but the gist is simple. The wiimotes act as infrared cameras that are able to detect an infrared signal. With the wiimotes synced to your computer through bluetooth, they can then relay the signal about where the IR signal is coming from.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjP1LfUXJ59ZttPeAUk_Z0yFJTlTH82E6Qe1yqHzTQKU_2EGriuVSF6Ds0S-7U2_r0n0gB8CkVL4eLfYkr2ZC5xBAJ8zZB_g5YfqANIzEDf5WM9OwqlSAKJXtzv7VqElKzCXfMQtukF4Qm/s1600-h/PB030020.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjP1LfUXJ59ZttPeAUk_Z0yFJTlTH82E6Qe1yqHzTQKU_2EGriuVSF6Ds0S-7U2_r0n0gB8CkVL4eLfYkr2ZC5xBAJ8zZB_g5YfqANIzEDf5WM9OwqlSAKJXtzv7VqElKzCXfMQtukF4Qm/s400/PB030020.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264636210346273778" border="0" /></a><br />With 2 wiimotes, I'm better able to detect an IR signal in 3D space since the the two wiimotes have overlapping fields of vision.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXvQ8MKxKGFVVSw65-ZfRAhgxhKLa75aRG4Kt-fahixV-6JQVBsdXZpCJFQlwBB-Bu0TRpgfxTccVVv7PWdDpn2wJw5hG9ll2BLDJ0d4ca2VR6Uu5NODxnWio8OwCpKSPM2yGD8ST7ZkFw/s1600-h/PB030021.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXvQ8MKxKGFVVSw65-ZfRAhgxhKLa75aRG4Kt-fahixV-6JQVBsdXZpCJFQlwBB-Bu0TRpgfxTccVVv7PWdDpn2wJw5hG9ll2BLDJ0d4ca2VR6Uu5NODxnWio8OwCpKSPM2yGD8ST7ZkFw/s400/PB030021.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264636598420323666" border="0" /></a><br />I downloaded a program called wiimotewhiteboard, which does the rest for you.<br /><br />Currently, I've tested it on my laptop's LCD screen, and I've tested on a data projector. For now, I'm just messing around with the arrangements of the wiimotes and figuring out what positions get the best image tracking.<br /><br />This makes powerpoints way cooler 'cause now I can draw straight on the slides while I present. I can underline things or circle them. I can draw diagrams in the rooms where I don't have chalkboard space. This pretty much makes those silly things useless because I can draw my diagrams, save them, delete them, or do whatever with them.<br /><br />Horray for technology! Leave comments if you have questions.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6826116272536825709.post-33825954679897228832008-11-03T00:10:00.002-05:002008-11-03T00:27:04.877-05:00the up and down sides of technologysince the beginning of the year, i've been painstakingly working towards a modern classroom that takes full advantage of the fact that it exists in the 21st century. but alas, there are obstacles. my students don't believe me, but all of the materials i make for class and the digital aspects of my lessons are all driven by my old powerbook g4. it runs exactly like the day i opened the box, but that was also almost six years ago. it's to the point where sometimes i'll type out a whole sentence and then have to wait a few seconds for my computer's processor to keep up with the speed of my typing. it's kind of depressing to think that the rate-limiting factor to my productivity is not my own abilities, but in how quickly my computer can interpret my typing. <br /><br />so this leads us to the first downside. it's EXPENSIVE. i've recently made up my mind to invest in a new computer. MAC spoiled me with the macbook, so it put off my computer buying for a year. fortunately, mr. steve jobs has just put out a new line of fancy shiney new macbooks.<br /><br />the second downside to technology is that when 100% of your materials are online, including tests and lecture slides, it really sucks when comcast fails you and you don't have internet for a weekend. since i had forgotten to take attendance at school, i wasn't even able to fill it in once i got home. while i lay on the floor in my study, i couldn't help but feel powerless and liberated all at the same time. it was a strange sensation full of conflicting feelings.<br /><br />and now, the upside. i've had a most exciting time with introducing new technology into a community that thinks laptop carts are glimpses of the future. i was talking to my principle, trying to convince him that laptop carts just made more sense and that they're really some kind of new-fangled innovation. they're just smaller computers put into a portable cart. i've recently finished a grant from northville's mother's club for the purchasing of a class set of student response clickers. for the first two weeks, i occupied my free time with think of ways to involve all of my students, have a way to gauge the whole class's understanding, and have a way to track individual student progress without having to put aside an extra fund for future mental therapy bills. the answer was in these individualized clickers where students can respond anonymously and a computer does most of my tedious work for me.<br /><br />additionally, i've been working on a far fetched idea that i would have never dreamed of coming true. last year in methods, i was making fun of sherley for how willow run middle school is like the el derado of technology: laptop carts in every class, smartboards, surround sound, and windows. (i had taught in a room without any windows all year so nature looked unfamiliar to me) during our talk about expensive things, talk about wii tennis came up, and someone commented that they hard heard someone had built a smart board out of a wii. well, it's not just a rumor anymore. in the second week of november, northville high school will see its first make-shift smart board made from materials that cost a combined total of $38 (not including tax). the device itself fits in the palm of my hand and works with any digital projector + computer setup and works on any surface. <br /><br />perhaps the greatest lesson i have learned so far this year regarding technology is this. despite being expensive, it is still available. all you need to do is know who to beg for money and how to make due with innovations when money doesn't quite cut it. creativity always seems to win out in the end. i will be posting pictures of my smartboard in a week or so.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6826116272536825709.post-61421727306381856932008-10-18T22:53:00.002-04:002008-10-18T23:03:28.166-04:00rodriguez and mewolverine fans all across the nation have had a very difficult fall. michigan football isn't quite what we had expected. the end of last year heralded new hope with the coach who practically invented the spread offense. but the present problem is, i don't think, an issue with the coach or even with the team. the problem is the combination of the two. the michigan football team has been built off the standard quarterback passing and runningback running kind of plays we've all come to know and love. it's not quite yet built the way rodriguez wants or needs to be successful. there were a few times this season when they just pulled the ball down and played the kind of ball they're use to playing. moments like these have been saving the season from complete and utter failure.<br /><br />recently, i'd been having quite a bit of trouble with my exploring psychology class. AP has been going very well, but that's probably because they're AP kids. we pack them 33 to 35 to a classroom built for 30, and they still learn just fine. but a small class of 27 exploring psychology kids quickly became a thorn in my side. it wasn't until recently that i began to realize the problem. i was trying to teach like rodriguez has been trying to coach football. i was teaching according to the style and method of my mentor. even though she is excellent at what she does, i don't have same group of kids, the same time of day, or the same kind of personality.<br /><br />this past week has been a huge turn-around for my small exploring psych class. we've hunkered down into my style of projects and lectures with a good smattering of discussions. i think in the end, this is a whole lot better than trying to fit that round peg into the square hole.<br /><br />i sure hope rodriguez figures out his game soon too.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6826116272536825709.post-47926661713120531972008-09-25T21:08:00.008-04:002008-09-25T21:19:14.106-04:00the champ: a reflection of the ever-increasing gapso sometimes i like to play this little game with myself. it definitely puts me in my place and reminds me about who i am and what i can afford. the game is called, "go onto apple.com and see how much the most expensive computer can be."<br /><br />the last time i played was about a year and a half ago. the reigning champion clocked in at just over 5k. needless to say, the new heavyweight champ is well over this.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYA4Fzhq2hirAoZcUd7DfG-z1Oc-ABqh0Os3OH362-QebBFT5AHLsZQpgzlGoLiZhuU5UrabjS1GBpRv9ICVfAQuSxgKkedoT82d5amjNG9D-VcgNno-MaT5meGbi6hIMCQDNRF_mm0JI7/s1600-h/Picture+1.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYA4Fzhq2hirAoZcUd7DfG-z1Oc-ABqh0Os3OH362-QebBFT5AHLsZQpgzlGoLiZhuU5UrabjS1GBpRv9ICVfAQuSxgKkedoT82d5amjNG9D-VcgNno-MaT5meGbi6hIMCQDNRF_mm0JI7/s200/Picture+1.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250132110064033122" border="0" /></a>this is the current price for a power pc with all of the frills, and i do mean ALL of them. of course, this gives us a bit of a skewed image of just how expensive this computer really is, but i think it does provide a meaningful message. we are seeing computer companies cater more and more to the higher end.<br /><br />but perhaps this is just the embittered rantings of an avid apple user who feels that the company is making super high end products and super low end products. is there still a computing middle class out there?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6826116272536825709.post-6707454847031883722008-09-23T07:23:00.002-04:002008-09-23T07:33:36.323-04:00what has and hasn't workedit's been three weeks exactly since we started school, and it hardly feels like it's only the forth week. honestly, it feels as if i've been doing this all my life. it's still a little bit strange sometimes when i stop and realize that i am a teacher now at my former high school. but in all honestly, there really isn't anywhere that i'd rather be.<br /><br />when the "experts" say that our generation is wired, i don't think they quite knew the extent of the truth that they were speaking. i really think the field of psychology or sociology will be revolutionized in the next decade or so when researchers really examine the fundamental differences in cognition between this generation and any that have come before it. i can write my lecture notes on the board, but if i put that exact same information on a powerpoint, then the students pay more attention and remember the information better. the overhead projector is ancient technology now, and the digital projector reigns supreme.<br /><br />all in all, i think i have been having tremendous success in my classrooms. this might be due to the fact that upon completing my masters program, i suddenly and instantly became a master teacher. but i suspect it might be because i was trained in belleville michigan, a district that has struggled for the past few years, and now i am in northville, one of the best public schools in the state. most of my "problems" come from my non-AP class, exploring psychology. here, i find that demonstrations rule the day. lecturing for thirty minutes is a wasted thirty minutes if there isn't at least three demonstrations in there somewhere. they must constantly be writing, seeing, and doing. once, i tried to lecture for most of the hour.<br /><br />mutiny.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6826116272536825709.post-74718307492864090602008-08-15T11:23:00.003-04:002008-08-15T11:35:29.116-04:00weeds and a farewell to meatthis entry actually has nothing at all to do with teaching...<br /><br />have you ever had a bunch of weeds infest your lawn or garden? it completely defies the laws of living things. you can pull them and keep pulling them, but they'll always come back. this morning, i spent a good half hour pulling weeds out of the cracks of my brick patio. without their upper parts, they shouldn't be able to photosynthesize and thus, should die shortly thereafter. nope. they keep coming back.<br /><br />speaking of things that keep coming back, i must take my hat off to george lucas and whoever is making the saw trilogy (oops, i meant... saw series). after reading the reviews for the new starwars clone wars animated movie, i wanted to become a movie critic. they use such colorfully negative words to describe things. alas, mr. lucas is still a money making genius though. the average person would have quit years ago. at least our movie appetites can be sated by the seemingly endless stream of saw movies. stay tuned for saw xii "getting cut up in space"<br /><br />for all the ominvores out there, like myself, we are faced with a growing problem. since so much of our corn is going into making ethanol, cow feed is beginning to cost more and more. compounded by the growing cost of fuel, cattle farmers have had to sell off huge portions of their herds to offset the growing price. the problem manifests itself when there are no more cows to sell to offset the cost of keeping them. i hope they keep the double cheeseburger on the dollar menu still.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6826116272536825709.post-64517161358368349212008-08-08T08:38:00.002-04:002008-08-08T08:51:33.127-04:00revived! (plus a scary dream)so i thought it was high time i started up this blog again as an account of my first year as a teacher.<br /><br />so last night i had a dream that is probably one of the greatest fears any teacher could have. it was the first day of school and i had nothing prepared. no syllabi, no seating chart, and i didn't even know how to log into zangle. i was pretty screwed.<br /><br />the class began with me asking my class how they would define psychology. as they answered each question, they had to say their names for the sake of me and their peers. from there, i jumped off into a lecture about the different subfields and approaches to psychology based on what they had answered previously. then to top it all off, they split into groups to begin analyzing a specific scenario based on a specific approach i gave to each group (biological, cognitive, behavioral, etc). soon, i heard the rustling of books being put away. in a furious rage, i shouted, "the bell doesn't dismiss you. <span style="font-weight: bold;">i</span> dismiss you!"<br /><br />when i woke up, i decided it was either a very good or very bad sign for me as a teacher. it could be very good in that it suggests i could even teach in my sleep. not just teach, but also randomly come up with a lesson plan on the fly. it could be very bad in that it shows how my lessons involve very little thought and just sort of fall together as they go.<br /><br />here's to hopefully making tenure in the future.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6826116272536825709.post-15158017148737164192007-12-12T13:07:00.001-05:002007-12-12T13:07:38.718-05:00reasons why we're in MACwe love jeff and lizUnknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6826116272536825709.post-35147388194928131972007-12-04T19:19:00.000-05:002007-12-04T19:23:18.367-05:00Money isn't the answerWillow Run Middle School is a technological paradise. When I first stepped into the school, I was amazed at the new-ness of their building. This facility makes me want to learn. It’s clean and well kempt and quite modern. On the walk over to Shirley’s classroom, I made a comment to her, “I feel as if I’m in Jurassic Park.” Remember in the first movie with the opulent main building? Try visiting Willow Run’s library, and you’ll begin to wonder where the T-Rex skeleton should go.<br /><br />I could hardly believe the extravagance of technology here. A Smart Board in every room with a ceiling-mounted digital projector is coupled with a laptop-cart, complete with a full battery of thirty laptops. Gone are the days of the analogue clock. Even their time here is digitalized. Naturally, the kids don’t waste their time or energy turning an ordinary pencil sharpener. Each room is equipped with a desktop computer linked to a color laser printer that can be accessed through the wireless network and printed to from anywhere. The ceiling is no longer a place just for lights anymore. Here at Willow Run, speakers are poised above the students and distributed evenly throughout the room. Knowledge now comes in 5.1 surround sound.<br /><br />But there are some relics of the past that have lingered and endured in this room. The lonely overhead projector has become a shelf for boxes and papers. The only other technological eyesore is an ancient television mounted in the corner. Its screen is as big as the computer monitor just a few feet below it. Where’s the wall-mounted eighty-inch DLP television? This is shameful.<br /><br />At Belleville, I have no windows. I would enter into a death-match with any of the other teachers there if it meant I could win a windowed room. It’s sad because a majority of these “windowed rooms” only have openings that are a foot and a half wide. Shirley’s room has six large windows. Each window is three feet wide and about six and a half feet high. It’s pretty much a whole wall of glass that’s broken up by intermittent windowpanes.<br /><br />Big Brother is always watching you in Willow Run. Every room has a little hockey-puck shaped glossy black thing attached to the ceiling. Big Brother is always watching. After I finish writing this, I’m going to go look for O’Brien.<br /> <br />It seems blindingly obvious to me that money isn't the answer to bridging the achievement gap. this school is state of the art in almost every way. yet it functions similarly to schools that in much greater disrepair. perhaps amazing technology and amazing facilities aren't all that they're cracked up to be.<br /><br />but honestly, i would jump at the opportunity to steal a classroom out of willow run and use it for myself.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6826116272536825709.post-43843974213404609142007-11-25T17:16:00.000-05:002007-11-25T18:09:31.150-05:00techno-dependencealright folks, this one is short and sweet.<br /><br />we are so dependent on technology. knowing about it and how to use it has become a very critical aspect to our daily lives. just the other day, we were providing our students with time during class to type up their papers that were soon due. not all of the students have computers at home. the question that arose for me as an english teach is this: english class has always been there to teach students about communication and language. but technology has taken that definition to the next step. a student who cannot type will fare very poorly in today's english classroom, while he or she could have done perfectly fine twenty or thirty years ago. have we become too dependent on technology?<br /><br />a conversation in the grad lab the other day poked some light hearted fun at this issue. we were talking about our thoughts concerning what we have learned thus far in MAC. among the comical responses we were offering up, someone said that one thing they've learned is that before MAC, they were able to live without a laptop, but now they cannot survive without one. we all agreed that we would most likely purchase macbooks in june.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6826116272536825709.post-63750412149065131342007-11-02T08:14:00.000-04:002007-11-02T08:27:54.309-04:00we are the smart kidswhen i was in high school, i almost always did very well. (except for in English, where i got only B's and C's, which is terribly ironic...) however, i also KNEW i would do well. i remember going into AP biology exams feeling very confident i would get at least a 95%. i would play little games with myself to see if i could get exactly 95% every time. indeed, i was a big nerd, and it's a wonder that i had friends in high school.<br /><br />when i came to college, i was very nervous about doing well. i was taking two of the lsa's toughest weeder courses at the same time. but i came out of high school so confident in my brilliance that i didn't even care. i had the freshman dream. [get great grades, work out every day, and have a hot girlfriend]<br /><br />when i got my first exam back, it had a big 39 on it. i looked at my gsi, "was this scaled to a 40 or 50 point scale?" he looked at me with a look of confusion, "this is out of 120." a part of me died at that moment. from then on, i was TERRIFIED of exams. i had this notion that i was bad a calc and orgo, and i couldn't seem to get over it.<br /><br />this trend continued throughout my freshman year and it wasn't until sophomore year that i came out of my slump. it was cognitive psych class, and i was going into the final. i had an average of 86%, but the final was worth quite a bit. my grade could still sway either way. the realization came to me the morning before the final. the difference was confidence and self-perception. as i sat down for my final, i said to myself, "you're going to ace this exam. you're probably the smartest guy in this room right now." grade on final exam: 116/117. grade in class: A<br /><br />while i am at Belleville, i constantly hear kids/teachers talking about how dumb they are or how bad they are at whatever. while i'm at the International Academy, i constantly hear kids/teachers talking about how great they are and how good their school is. maybe it is arrogance, but maybe it is reinforcing an attitude of excellence.<br /><br />maybe if you get a bunch of kids to really believe they are the smart kids, then they really will BE the smart kids.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6826116272536825709.post-81289031623427337232007-10-20T09:28:00.000-04:002007-10-20T09:45:47.521-04:00a different view of teachingthis entry walks the fine line between "technology" and not "technology" related. my reasoning is that this is about a process, which can be defined as technology and can also be patented. it is something i have never seen before in schools, and i think it would serve my fellow MACers well to know.<br /><br />we have all heard of the term "alignment." a nineth grade english teacher works with tenth grade, eleventh grade, and twelfth grade english teachers to make sure their english curriculums don't overlap and have a steady flow. this makes a lot of sense. a student would probably not want to read romeo and juliet three times in three different years in high school. but this system produces separate modules of knowledge that are discrete and often lower in relevance because they stand alone and aren't inter-connected.<br /><br />at the international academy, teachers between subjects work together and collaborate. in this way, a student who learns how to analyze literature in an english class revisits that skill set in a math class and then in a physics class and then a biology class. problem solving skills learned in math are used in history, chemistry, and french. in the end, it is less about teaching students specific content as it is about teaching them skills and knowledge about how to think and use their thinking. they learn that truth as defined by math through proofs and logic cannot be the same kind of truth for physics which is done through observation and experimentation. it produces students who are intellectually well rounded and adept at learning.<br /><br />after the leaving the school, i only had one thought on my mind. "sure this works with a school of 600 kids where the teacher to student ratio is AMAZING and where all the kids are extremely intelligent (some more so than even the teachers) and where parents and students alike are all highly motivated about the child's education. now how might this work in belleville or a place where these factors don't exist?"<br /><br />if i could tell you all the answer to that question, then i'd quit the program and start my own school of education because i would have solved one of the greatest mysteries of our field. how do we re-tailor this hyper-effective system that is only fit for a small niche of the population? things that work there cannot work elsewhere because of the unique atmosphere and culture they have established. someone in our class once said "schools don't make communities, communities make schools." i use to fully agree, but i do think the IA has produced its own sort of community outside of the communities boundaries as kids come from all over lower michigan. how do we create a community and environment where students want to learn, feel comfortable with challenge because everyone else is in the same boat with them, and where they hold high expectations for themselves and their learning.<br /><br />i cannot believe that such a way does not exist for even low motivated students.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6826116272536825709.post-53680641407907660232007-10-19T10:02:00.000-04:002007-10-19T10:12:05.036-04:00at the international academythe international academy is perhaps the ideal school that any student teacher can only dream of teaching at. in most of our placements, we teach classes that are upwards to forty students in size. the largest class i observed was thirty students, although they make about as much noise as a class of five (if one existed) at belleville.<br /><br />it is interesting to note that they do not consider themselves very technologically advanced as a school. all of the students have access to just a single computer lab that contains roughly forty computers. in my opinion, this is more than enough for a school of six hundred students who happen to also all have access to computer and broadband internet at home.<br /><br />each classroom i visited contained a ceiling-mounted digital projector. most of rooms also contained a tablet monitor for teachers to write directly onto the touch screen and notes would be displayed through the projector.<br /><br />in the only room i saw without a tablet monitor, the teacher found a creative way to use the dry-erase board in combination with the projector with great effects. the notes and sample questions were displayed via projector and the teacher would write straight on the board between the lines of displayed text.<br /><br />perhaps the most interesting point from today is to learn that the international academy uses internet software like zangle and blackboard. i made note of this because belleville uses the exact same resources, but with vastly different results. parents at the IA can check their student's grades at any time, and online grades are rigorously maintained. if they chose to, they could even receive a daily update to their child's progress. with blackboard, the students are able to access course materials online. it's kind of like a much more user friendly version of c-tools for high school. the students seem to do well with it.<br /><br />at belleville, parents constantly call about student grades because they check one day and their students have six missing assignments that cause their grades to be well below the failing mark. irate and concerned, they call three days later. my mentor teacher then must patiently explain to them in many cases that their students have turned in the respective assignments since they last checked and that grades are in fact updated online. blackboard is also available at belleville, but to a much lesser effectiveness. this is probably due to a combination of factors that involve availability of internet access from home, internet literacy, and motivation. one senior in my honors english twelve class came up to me last week complaining that the resources for their anglo-saxon unit didn't have any information in it. "there's just a whole bunch of links." i asked her if she had clicked those links. she had not. this basic internet using skill that i have taken so much for granted may not be so common in all of my students.<br /><br />as a concluding remark for today's observations; technology is good, but it is rather difficult to exceed community and social standards. highly motivated students will make due with the same kind of technology. this is not the cornucopia of wealth and technology like i had thought it was. it was not like the el durado of all things good and great. it is just another school that makes due with what it has. it's a converted kindergarten building and the classrooms are of a fitting size for only really little people. it makes me reconsider the definition of "resources" and how people and community resources all combine and meld together in this abstract and turbulent space we have come to call "school."Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6826116272536825709.post-76037852418400823232007-09-26T16:47:00.001-04:002007-09-26T16:47:26.559-04:00the bare necessitiesthe room was easily ninety degrees. as i look around, there are three boys for everyone one girl. actually, that's an exaggeration. there are about fifty to sixty people in this room, and there are five girls total. the kids are all hunched down with their work in front of them as they pant from the sweat and heat.<br /><br />what is this room?<br /><br />it's not a sweat shop, and we're not in the third world. this is a testing site, and these kids are here from a regular english ten class to take the plan test. they are the ones who just don't care anymore about school because they associate it with failure and defeat. they don't care about school because they see that the school doesn't care about them. how can they think otherwise when they're sitting in a room that's over ninety degrees.<br /><br />it's so strange to think of air conditioning and heating as a technology because it seems so standard to our lives now. but the reality hits home during the hotter months when the a/c frequently breaks down at belleville, and during the colder months when parts of the school don't receive heating.<br /><br />but when we consider educational technology as technology that facilitates student learning, we should also consider the little things that set the environment such as the light bulbs or the running water. after all, how can student take learning seriously when they're asked to go to school under such ridiculous situations?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6826116272536825709.post-1716992907180655502007-09-12T15:31:00.000-04:002007-09-12T15:33:05.538-04:00film technologywe've all been through high school, and we all remember LOVING movies. i remember some of my less memorable teachers would slot whole weeks to finish up a movie for a particular class. unfortunately, i don't remember anything that i was "suppose" to learn. <br /><br />this isn't to bash movies or media in the classroom or anything. the issue i have is when we educators use it as a crutch. i believe such a devise should supplement a lesson. it's kind of like the seasoning that adds flavor or flare and makes everything taste a little better. but has anyone ever tried to eat a pound of salt or a kilo of pepper? you just can't eat seasoning for a main course.<br /><br />as teachers, it's sooo easy to show a video. but we also much consider the quality of service we are providing our students, and the price they are paying to watch a screen.<br /><br />hypothetically, let's say there was a group of 53 fifth grade students who are paying on average $35,000 a year for 40 credits to graduate from this hypothetical elementary school. now, let's say that they watched a video for the entire class period of a three credit class. how much are these students paying as a class to watch a screen? let's see.<br /><br />3 credit class / 40 total credits = 0.075<br />$35,000 total per student * 0.075 = $2625 total for this 3 credit class<br />$2625 / 15 total class periods = $175 per class period per person<br />$175 * 53 total students = $9275 total for this period for all students<br /><br />so when you begin to take the reigns of your class, which some of you may already have started doing, be mindful of how you are "spending" your class time.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6826116272536825709.post-72942830206409220172007-09-09T13:49:00.001-04:002007-09-09T13:56:54.214-04:00first bloodi think i may be the first MACer to have total computer failure. i woke up this morning and open up my laptop. it says there are updates available for office. i click okay, and it starts to download. while this is happening, it also says there is an update for itunes available for download. i click okay. office updates fine. itunes stalls and freezes halfway through, and i'm lead with no choice but to "force quit" (the mac equivalent to pc's ctrl+alt+del). i thought this was fine, and i close my laptop and head off to a make a presentation.<br /><br />and then it happened<br /><br />i arrive twenty minutes early to review my notes and such and to make sure my powerpoint is working. my computer won't wake up. confused, i try pressing the buttons, i swivel my finger around on the touch pad, all to no avail. at last resort, i press the power button and force a shutdown. i wait with baited breath. i press the button again. it makes the "baaaauuum" sound for the startup, and my heart is soothed a little. but then the unthinkable happens.<br /><br />the gray screen of death.<br /><br />that gray screen you get at the beginning of every start up, the one that lasts for only a few seconds, it stays there. the little loading circle spins into oblivion as the computer locked in an unending cycle of booting.<br /><br />so i was forced to give my presentation without notes, without a presentation, and most of all, without my shield of technology. i had to rely on actually speaking, actually moving, actually clarifying questions and blank stares. it was harsh. without my handy little clock in the top right hand corner, i had to be mindful of my pacing. without an outline in front of me, i had to actually remember my main points and connections. <br /><br />oh technology, you are a fickle mistress. <br /><br />i hope ron doesn't yell at me too much tomorrow...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6826116272536825709.post-36389138121690241142007-09-08T11:45:00.000-04:002007-09-08T11:51:31.628-04:00unlikely technologythis morning, i slowly jumped out of bed at 5:50 only to realize that it was saturday. three hours later, i get out of bed again and hope in front of my computer. while checking email, i notice that ms. ruth has messaged me over gchat about our 402 reading, which she lent out to someone and hadn't gotten back. she then asks if i have a copy of mine and a scanner. <br /><br />i glance around the room. no scanner.<br /><br />but in my hand is the article and on my desk is my video camera. so i decided to try my hand at playing james bond, and snapped off a few pictures of the article. i felt very crime-scene-investigator-like. surprisingly, the pictures turned out quite well and the font is readable.<br /><br />unfortunately, the pictures our camera takes are rather big, and would surely clog up any inbox. so, i used fugu to upload the pictures onto my afs space's public folder. from there, i sent ruth a link to where she could just download them herself. if anyone else is in the same boat as her and is missing the readings (which are not otherwise online) you may share in our digital bounty.<br /><br />http://www-personal.umich.edu/~larryliu/402%20Reading%20for%20Ruth/Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6826116272536825709.post-34573582167250084762007-08-03T12:11:00.000-04:002007-08-03T13:07:11.654-04:00back to basicsi spent some time talking to one of the recent graduates of the program who was mentored by my mentor teacher. i had seen the school before, and i had a hint about the poor conditions. but after talking to her, she says the extent of the classroom technology doesn't go beyond an overhead projector.<br /><br />all through my life, i've been in classrooms that had at least one computer. in elementary school, we had old apple computers. in middle school, each teacher had a computer in the classroom. in high school, each department had its own computer lab.<br /><br />but as there was a ton of technology present in all of these schools, i feel that teachers must not only be knowledgeable of that technology, but must also be able to use it effectively. in elementary school, we spent an hour or so every week in the computer lab playing oregon trail (which was such a great game). in middle school, we learned to type. in high school, we used those computer labs to sometimes for word processing, but it was more of a way for the teacher to make sure the students did their work.<br /><br />so the question comes down not to how much technology we have, but what we do with it. still, i wonder just how much technology i could teach if all i have is an overhead projector.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2