In an earlier post, I recommended that everyone who uses computers should read Linus Torvald and David Diamond's book Just For Fun: The Story of an Accidental Revolutionary. I also think that folks should read something about Richard Stallman, the father of GNU (GNU's Not Unix) Operating System. Technically, it was Richard Stallman's work and Linus Torvald's work that when combined created what is popularly known as Linux.
John Sedgwick recently interviewed Richard Stallman for the May 2008 issue of Boston Magazine. The result was The Shaggy God. The article is easy to read and provides a few references to the history of Free and Open Source Software. It also gives a glimpse into the life and inklings of the thinking of an extremely bright revolutionary visionary. The little I've read of Richard Stallman causes me to anticipate that he is passionate, intense, and highly technical and exacting in both his personal and professional conversations. I think it would be an interesting experience to hear him speak and/or present.
I'm not sure that people like Stallman and Torvalds understand and appreciate people who are merely end-users of their systems. However, end-users are the ones who can make a difference in the world. Stallman and Torvalds are loners. Most end-users are not loners. They use technology as a social network. The philosophy that Stallman and Torvalds espouse is one that end-users can begin to understand and embrace and share as they use Open Source software.
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
What makes an "integrated with technology" lesson plan "integrated with technology"?
Whew! It's hard to believe that these hot and humid days of July are allowing my brain to think of school. Well, actually, my only other choice is to think of major housework that needs to be done. So, what have I been thinking of? What makes an "integrated with technology" lesson plan "integrated with technology"? I did an Internet search and didn't come up with anything conclusive.
Is it that the end product is created using technology or is it that the process of learning was enhanced by using technology tools? Is there a minimum amount of technology needed for a lesson to be labeled 'integrated with technology'? What are the standards for using technology while teaching and learning?
It seems to me that the Open Source community could take the National Educational Technology Standards and create a how-to design and implement effective integrated with technology lessons. Anyone interested in pursing this with me?
Is it that the end product is created using technology or is it that the process of learning was enhanced by using technology tools? Is there a minimum amount of technology needed for a lesson to be labeled 'integrated with technology'? What are the standards for using technology while teaching and learning?
It seems to me that the Open Source community could take the National Educational Technology Standards and create a how-to design and implement effective integrated with technology lessons. Anyone interested in pursing this with me?
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Global Classroom and Moodle
Some of you may have noticed that I didn't blog about two of the sessions at FOSSED 2008. That's because live blogging my own presentations felt a little odd to me.
However, if you register with Global Classroom you will be able to join the Moodle classrooms I set up for participants in my presentations. The first one is called, "Our Youngest Users" and the second one is called, "Teaching the Teachers". I probably will be revising, editing and generally tweaking these so feel free to check back periodically.
Global Classroom is a great tool for teachers who want to take online professional development and/or graduate credit classes and for teachers who want to create virtual Moodle classrooms for their real life students.
However, if you register with Global Classroom you will be able to join the Moodle classrooms I set up for participants in my presentations. The first one is called, "Our Youngest Users" and the second one is called, "Teaching the Teachers". I probably will be revising, editing and generally tweaking these so feel free to check back periodically.
Global Classroom is a great tool for teachers who want to take online professional development and/or graduate credit classes and for teachers who want to create virtual Moodle classrooms for their real life students.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Bryant Patten
Tonight's Keynote is Bryant Patten . . . .
Brian is quickly reviewing the basics of Open Source.
Why?
$ + FOSS = Leverage
Have it now! (Free S0ftware for Schools)
Never 'stuck' with it
Inclusive
No Piracy
What?
Myths = too hard, free means no good, teach the industry standard, etc
Military is pushing for Open Source because enhances IT agility, industry has to compete on ideas, etc.
There is a good chance that industry standard will be redhat, fedora, ubuntu
What's holding back OS
user resistance?-not the kids
support? call centers or personal contacts
A Bit of Blue Sky
Gnu Ideas . . .
1. Scratch your Gaming Itch
move from passive consuming to active creation
dual gender enthusiasm
shallow learning curve
useful for programing, animation, gaming
2. Pride in Assessment
what if students got excited about assessment?
what if it had direct value to students?
INGOTS
3. Universal Themes
cooperative learning
collaborative learning
DEEP BLUE SKY
81% of Fortune 500 companies are using FOSS software.
Literature
The World is Flat by Thomas L. Friedman
The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell
The Innovator's Dilema: When New Technologies Cause Great Firms to Fail by Clayton M. Christensen
Disrupting Class: How Disruptive Innovation Will Change the Way the World Learns by Clayton M. Christensen
The Future of the Internet and How to Stop It by Jonathon Zittrain
FLOSS is NOT Web 2.0 and Web 2.0 is NOT FLOSS.--Who controls the data?
Hardware goes Open Source--OPLC, ASUS eee, cloudbook, etc
The world goes Open Source
Holland, South Africa, Spain, South & North Korea,
Brazil will have 53,000 labs by the end of 2009 serving 52 million students.
Hackerteen is a project designed to redirect teenagers to the good side.
K-12 Open Minds is a workshop September 25-27, 2008. Indiana is slowly moving the whole state of Indiana.
ISTE-NETS-NEXT GENERATION
1. Creativity and Innovation
apply existing knowledge to generate new ideas
2. Communication and Collaboration
interact, collaborate, and publish
3. Develop cultural understanding and global awareness
4; Contribute to project teams to produce original works or solve problems
5. Digital Citizenship
6. Technology Operations and Concepts
FLOSS allows you to become a World Maker.
Bryant is the Executive Director of www.ncose.org
Thanks Bryant! As always you are motivating, enthusiastic, and energetic!
Brian is quickly reviewing the basics of Open Source.
Why?
$ + FOSS = Leverage
Have it now! (Free S0ftware for Schools)
Never 'stuck' with it
Inclusive
No Piracy
What?
Myths = too hard, free means no good, teach the industry standard, etc
Military is pushing for Open Source because enhances IT agility, industry has to compete on ideas, etc.
There is a good chance that industry standard will be redhat, fedora, ubuntu
What's holding back OS
user resistance?-not the kids
support? call centers or personal contacts
A Bit of Blue Sky
Gnu Ideas . . .
1. Scratch your Gaming Itch
move from passive consuming to active creation
dual gender enthusiasm
shallow learning curve
useful for programing, animation, gaming
2. Pride in Assessment
what if students got excited about assessment?
what if it had direct value to students?
INGOTS
3. Universal Themes
cooperative learning
collaborative learning
DEEP BLUE SKY
81% of Fortune 500 companies are using FOSS software.
Literature
The World is Flat by Thomas L. Friedman
The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell
The Innovator's Dilema: When New Technologies Cause Great Firms to Fail by Clayton M. Christensen
Disrupting Class: How Disruptive Innovation Will Change the Way the World Learns by Clayton M. Christensen
The Future of the Internet and How to Stop It by Jonathon Zittrain
FLOSS is NOT Web 2.0 and Web 2.0 is NOT FLOSS.--Who controls the data?
Hardware goes Open Source--OPLC, ASUS eee, cloudbook, etc
The world goes Open Source
Holland, South Africa, Spain, South & North Korea,
Brazil will have 53,000 labs by the end of 2009 serving 52 million students.
Hackerteen is a project designed to redirect teenagers to the good side.
K-12 Open Minds is a workshop September 25-27, 2008. Indiana is slowly moving the whole state of Indiana.
ISTE-NETS-NEXT GENERATION
1. Creativity and Innovation
apply existing knowledge to generate new ideas
2. Communication and Collaboration
interact, collaborate, and publish
3. Develop cultural understanding and global awareness
4; Contribute to project teams to produce original works or solve problems
5. Digital Citizenship
6. Technology Operations and Concepts
FLOSS allows you to become a World Maker.
Bryant is the Executive Director of www.ncose.org
Thanks Bryant! As always you are motivating, enthusiastic, and energetic!
FOSSED Day 2
Sonja Gonzalez is talking about Web 2.0 communication tools. Check out her outline.
First up is Skype. She is telling us about a colleague who was teaching a high school class on Game Programming. All the kids thought they'd be the author of the next "World of Warcraft." The teacher joined a game programmers listserv, posted a request for someone to talk to her class. A programmer agreed and talked with the kids about a game most of them knew. He explained that for that particular game there were about 150 programmers and he had done the one spot where the character icon climbed a ladder. There was a definite coolness factor and a definite reality check for the students. This was done with Skype.
I just downloaded Skype for myself. Now, I get to figure out how to use it personally and professionally. Hmmm! I could get authors, or parents, or almost anyone who could provide the class with information . . .
Time passing ~
I got wrapped up in setting up and using Skype. Now we're onto USTREAM Watch the front screen because it can be inappropriate for the classroom but once you are into your own account, you are safe. Two essential differences with USTREAM and TeacherTube/YouTube is USTREAM is designed for live streaming - your webcam and computer mic should be enough to make your movie. TeacherTube/YouTube is not live.
DimDim according to Sonja is,
But first we're going to talk about Twitter This is a quick IM answering the question of "What are you doing?" I personally enjoy Twitter.
We also talked about VoiceThread It is a way to combine images and narratives and get comments from others.
If you take a headphone with audio port (not usb), plug it into the microphone port, and talk into the left headphone. It will work as a microphone. Who knew? What a cool, cheap microphone!
Back to DimDim, we can't get the audio/video to work on Macs and no one has a PC webcam/mic.
Onto a few other tools . . .Zamzar is a free online file conversion service. Use this when someone sends you a doc that you can't open or if you need to send as a pdf.
Then there is Kerpoof an amazing TuxPaint/KidPix program. It's Fun!
Thanks Sonja for a great, interactive morning!
First up is Skype. She is telling us about a colleague who was teaching a high school class on Game Programming. All the kids thought they'd be the author of the next "World of Warcraft." The teacher joined a game programmers listserv, posted a request for someone to talk to her class. A programmer agreed and talked with the kids about a game most of them knew. He explained that for that particular game there were about 150 programmers and he had done the one spot where the character icon climbed a ladder. There was a definite coolness factor and a definite reality check for the students. This was done with Skype.
I just downloaded Skype for myself. Now, I get to figure out how to use it personally and professionally. Hmmm! I could get authors, or parents, or almost anyone who could provide the class with information . . .
Time passing ~
I got wrapped up in setting up and using Skype. Now we're onto USTREAM Watch the front screen because it can be inappropriate for the classroom but once you are into your own account, you are safe. Two essential differences with USTREAM and TeacherTube/YouTube is USTREAM is designed for live streaming - your webcam and computer mic should be enough to make your movie. TeacherTube/YouTube is not live.
DimDim according to Sonja is,
- Free
- No download, no install
- Need to sign up
- Can schedule a meeting in the future or start one immediately
- Dimdim is a free web conferencing service where you can share your desktop, show slides, collaborate, chat, talk and broadcast via webcam with absolutely no download required for attendees
But first we're going to talk about Twitter This is a quick IM answering the question of "What are you doing?" I personally enjoy Twitter.
We also talked about VoiceThread It is a way to combine images and narratives and get comments from others.
If you take a headphone with audio port (not usb), plug it into the microphone port, and talk into the left headphone. It will work as a microphone. Who knew? What a cool, cheap microphone!
Back to DimDim, we can't get the audio/video to work on Macs and no one has a PC webcam/mic.
Onto a few other tools . . .Zamzar is a free online file conversion service. Use this when someone sends you a doc that you can't open or if you need to send as a pdf.
Then there is Kerpoof an amazing TuxPaint/KidPix program. It's Fun!
Thanks Sonja for a great, interactive morning!
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Keynote
Today's Keynote speaker is . . .
David Trask !!!!
The text in blue is my interpretation of his talk.
The title of his speech is "The Natives Are Restless"
In a normal school environment we use technology for:
email, instant messaging, web browsing, social networking, spreadsheets, writing
What do we use to do these things?
bloated "over-blinged operating systems
expensive office suies
web browsers banned by Homeland Security* (DOH is recommending that people do NOT use IE)
Taxpayer Revolt and other good reasons for saving money
Remember the customers
NOT
administrators
parents
teachers
taxpayers
our customers are:
STUDENTS
Give every student a technological edge
FOSS levels the playing field between the haves and have nots. FOSS works no matter what the socioeconomic level.
Mark Shuttleworth was referenced as a model of FOSS leveling his playing field.
The OS is irrelevant. What matters is that they can learn concepts that can be applied to any OS.
For example, we all learned to drive on different models of cars - Ford, VW, Chevy. Honda, etc. But, we can all drive cars - all different kinds. Operating Systems should be the same.
Digital Natives
Most kids have never seen a record or a typewriter. MP3's, laptops, computers, cell phones, etc are all relatively standard now.
They want freedom to choose
They move at the speed of today's world
They change willingly and often
They're more connected than we are
They're open to new ideas
They're changing "business as usual"
Adults see Microsoft and Google.
Kids see thousands of icons -
Kids are using Web 2.0 products so it doesn't matter where they are . . .they can access their work anywhere! Even Grandma's house.
How do we make the change?
Start small
avoid the trumpets
give students a "home" alternative
use it yourself
use it alongside what you have now
simply let things eventually work to where you want to go.
Don't force the issue until you are no longer buying/servicing proprietary hard and software. The next 3 months are painful as teachers struggle to adapt.
Foster the environment in your school "It's okay, you can do it, Grow UP"
How will we prepare kids for the working world?
What will those who are in K now be using for a computer when they are Freshmen in high school?
We need to teach them skills rather than applications and operating systems. Basic commands work essentially the same.
Teaching second graders that word processing programs are word processing programs with the different buttons.
Bottom line - Kids don't care what the operating system is. They develop ownership over the hsrdware and software.
Just Do It
Migrate to Web 2.o applications
It doesn't matter where you are, you can learn.
And this time its personal. . . customize, distribute, integrate, adapt, personalize, tweak
How FOSS makes a difference at budget time . . .
Keep in mind the most important thing. . .access to technology
Weigh the choices . . .teachers vs licenses
Seek the alternative...costly books vs online resources
Less horsepower = better gas mileage (budge PC's and thin-clients)
Leverage an old investment. . .turn it into a thin-client
If Kids can do it, so can Adults!
David is passionate about FOSSED and about kids and about teaching!
And he's funny, too.
David Trask !!!!
The text in blue is my interpretation of his talk.
The title of his speech is "The Natives Are Restless"
In a normal school environment we use technology for:
email, instant messaging, web browsing, social networking, spreadsheets, writing
What do we use to do these things?
bloated "over-blinged operating systems
expensive office suies
web browsers banned by Homeland Security* (DOH is recommending that people do NOT use IE)
Taxpayer Revolt and other good reasons for saving money
Remember the customers
NOT
administrators
parents
teachers
taxpayers
our customers are:
STUDENTS
Give every student a technological edge
FOSS levels the playing field between the haves and have nots. FOSS works no matter what the socioeconomic level.
Mark Shuttleworth was referenced as a model of FOSS leveling his playing field.
The OS is irrelevant. What matters is that they can learn concepts that can be applied to any OS.
For example, we all learned to drive on different models of cars - Ford, VW, Chevy. Honda, etc. But, we can all drive cars - all different kinds. Operating Systems should be the same.
Digital Natives
Most kids have never seen a record or a typewriter. MP3's, laptops, computers, cell phones, etc are all relatively standard now.
They want freedom to choose
They move at the speed of today's world
They change willingly and often
They're more connected than we are
They're open to new ideas
They're changing "business as usual"
Adults see Microsoft and Google.
Kids see thousands of icons -
Kids are using Web 2.0 products so it doesn't matter where they are . . .they can access their work anywhere! Even Grandma's house.
How do we make the change?
Start small
avoid the trumpets
give students a "home" alternative
use it yourself
use it alongside what you have now
simply let things eventually work to where you want to go.
Don't force the issue until you are no longer buying/servicing proprietary hard and software. The next 3 months are painful as teachers struggle to adapt.
Foster the environment in your school "It's okay, you can do it, Grow UP"
How will we prepare kids for the working world?
What will those who are in K now be using for a computer when they are Freshmen in high school?
We need to teach them skills rather than applications and operating systems. Basic commands work essentially the same.
Teaching second graders that word processing programs are word processing programs with the different buttons.
Bottom line - Kids don't care what the operating system is. They develop ownership over the hsrdware and software.
Just Do It
Migrate to Web 2.o applications
It doesn't matter where you are, you can learn.
And this time its personal. . . customize, distribute, integrate, adapt, personalize, tweak
How FOSS makes a difference at budget time . . .
Keep in mind the most important thing. . .access to technology
Weigh the choices . . .teachers vs licenses
Seek the alternative...costly books vs online resources
Less horsepower = better gas mileage (budge PC's and thin-clients)
Leverage an old investment. . .turn it into a thin-client
If Kids can do it, so can Adults!
David is passionate about FOSSED and about kids and about teaching!
And he's funny, too.
Session #2 of FOSSED 2008
As always, lunch was delicious - the food at Gould Academy is simply amazing! Vegan, Vegetarian, and Omnivore's alike are fed well here.
Well, I decided to attend Moodles Beyond the Classroom presented by Maya Crosby, science teacher, and Thomas Steele-Maley, social studies teacher, from Lincoln Academy are the session leaders.
First they got us all registered at Global Classrooms. That was easy for most people. But, I have to be difficult. Since I had already registered, I couldn't follow the presenters instructions. It would have also been easier if I had remembered my password. :0! Fortunately, I had it saved on my desktop so I pulled out my laptop and logged on.
Global Classrooms Moodle is very similar to other Moodle templates that I've looked at or used. (Thanks Tim Hart!)
The question came up about registering students for courses. Sharon Betts spoke up and said that in her district, the teacher picks out the students for his/her courses from a list when they set up the course. Lincoln has their kids self-register.
Maya and Thomas showed us how Lincoln Academy is using Moodle for both student course development and for professional development. One example from a PD forum was the issue of consistently applying rules for students. One teacher was frustrated by a student's response to "Don't eat in my classroom." The discussion that ensued was detailed, expressive, and varied with many staff participants. Another example was a Moodle class that SpecEd teachers and Ed Techs used to keep track of students' completion of work. They used the wiki mode so they could easily tell each other who had accomplished what when. Very Effective Uses for Moodle.
Next Maya and Thomas let us experiment. That is REAL fun!
And talk about small world and 6 degrees of separation - Thomas told me that he had met me when I was doing a program for the Orono Public Library in Webster Park a couple of years ago - judging real and stuffed animals. He also worked briefly with my son, Carl at Orono High School, when he (Thomas) was a student teacher.
Time for the Keynote Speaker . . .
Well, I decided to attend Moodles Beyond the Classroom presented by Maya Crosby, science teacher, and Thomas Steele-Maley, social studies teacher, from Lincoln Academy are the session leaders.
First they got us all registered at Global Classrooms. That was easy for most people. But, I have to be difficult. Since I had already registered, I couldn't follow the presenters instructions. It would have also been easier if I had remembered my password. :0! Fortunately, I had it saved on my desktop so I pulled out my laptop and logged on.
Global Classrooms Moodle is very similar to other Moodle templates that I've looked at or used. (Thanks Tim Hart!)
The question came up about registering students for courses. Sharon Betts spoke up and said that in her district, the teacher picks out the students for his/her courses from a list when they set up the course. Lincoln has their kids self-register.
Maya and Thomas showed us how Lincoln Academy is using Moodle for both student course development and for professional development. One example from a PD forum was the issue of consistently applying rules for students. One teacher was frustrated by a student's response to "Don't eat in my classroom." The discussion that ensued was detailed, expressive, and varied with many staff participants. Another example was a Moodle class that SpecEd teachers and Ed Techs used to keep track of students' completion of work. They used the wiki mode so they could easily tell each other who had accomplished what when. Very Effective Uses for Moodle.
Next Maya and Thomas let us experiment. That is REAL fun!
And talk about small world and 6 degrees of separation - Thomas told me that he had met me when I was doing a program for the Orono Public Library in Webster Park a couple of years ago - judging real and stuffed animals. He also worked briefly with my son, Carl at Orono High School, when he (Thomas) was a student teacher.
Time for the Keynote Speaker . . .
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