We connected with library media specialists to join in a conversation among the two groups. It is interesting in every session when we talk about videoconferencing, Skype always comes up because it is cheap and easy. What do you have to set up in the room to use it with a group of students? I know that you can hook up a digital video camera…how good is the quality?

I still want room-based videoconferencing to be as easy as setting up and using the Wii. It is already as fun as using the Wii, now let’s make it as EASY as using the Wii.

Love what Glenn says that we are constantly faced with the “Tyranny of or. Librarians’ world is filled with and.“

Glen is so engaging and passionate about bringing videoconferencing into the Web 2.0 mix. What videoconferencing (desktop or room-based) brings to Web 2.0 is the synchronous, community-building aspect.

Joan Roehre shared that the “lifeline” to her teacher collaborations are the media specialists in her schools. I also see that with our districts. They have so much to do already, but are passionate about creating amazing experiences for students.

I know that some folks are working on developing the remote NECC concept and I hope that we see more of the spread of distance technologies in conjunction with conferences.

I feel sorta like I did after I was in a car wreck…a bit dazed, a bit sore, and slightly out of sync. (Remember, I work mainly in videoconferencing where we are in our offices with no windows and aren’t around large crowds at a time!)

So my question after looking at all the shiny, new tech is are…where do you start? Do you pick out a technology and then build a student project around it? Do you think about what your student and teacher needs are and then seek to find the right tool to assist with the task?

Now, I am heading out for day 2. We have our session at 2:00 about Curriculum Videoconferencing. My only other agenda today is to find a creative, innovative, original idea. Yesterday, I saw someone claiming that printing PowerPoint slides and making a book with them was innovative…that is not what I had in mind.

Today, I attended the Constructivist Celebration. We began the day with an overview by Gary Stager and the began working on whatever we chose to work on. Each participant got copies of software from the member companies (Fablevision, GenYes, Inspiration, LCSI, SchoolKiT, and Tech4Learning.

For me this was my learning day. I got to pick something that interested me and then I got to try to figure it out. When I got stuck, I ask others who were experts in working with the software to assist.

My “keeper” from this session is “A prompt is worth a 1000 words.” Then after you make that fabulous, amazing prompt, provide the structure for success.

good problem challenge
supportive environment (including expertise)
appropriate tools
adequate time

Yes, my favorite of the day was Animation-ISH (which we only got a 7-day trial). That means I will have to be playing with it at NECC and then get my full copy when I get home. Here is my sample of what I made today.

I loved listening to Peter Reynolds speak. He was so inspiring and reaffirms why I do what I do.

(Now, I really don’t know how to embed it in my blog, but just click the big, blank box to the left and you can see my work!)

As I was preparing for NECC, I joined the NING community and created a 123VC Group so that we can connect with others who are interested in IVC/Videoconferencing. Join the group and add to the conversation there. I get a bit confused about where the discussions are and where the comments go, but I think this is what our participants in JAZZ keep asking for…a way to know each other and connect after the training.

Don’t know if I will be blogging much…probably more Twittering (roxanneglaser) and posting in the NING site.

See you in San Antonio!

I found this on David Warlick’s blog and had to laugh at his comment about his “crusty fuddy-duddy resistance is slowly being chipped away”. I always say that I was the biggest skeptic when I was given my current assignment to develop and champion video conferencing content on our network. Now I see the power of the technology for students and teachers.

How else could we use this setup for our projects?

My favorite quotes from his speech:

“If you are not prepared to be wrong, you will never come up with anything original.”

“Children are born artists. We grow OUT of creativity.”

“Creativity is the process of having original ideas that have value.”

He lays out an argument for how our educational system was created to produce workers for the industrial systems. Preschool children are creative and inventive in their rhymes, art, and movement. Then, the worksheets begin. A 100 written at the top of a worksheet…for a 4 year old?!?!? Seriously, a grade on a WORKSHEET?

So schools are focused on training good students, but we really need creative learners to be successful in life. Now, as soon as I finish the JAZZ handbook, I think I am going to doodle with my favorite markers!

The topic came up in each session about how we can honor our veterans. There was consensus from our panelists that if you see someone in uniform THANK THEM for their service to our country. In our final session, we asked Jay how we could support our deployed troops and he said that care packages and cards and letters are two of the best ways.

Students from Moody and Rosebud-Lott ISD joined our first session with two Pearl Harbor survivors and an ex-POW. J.C. Alston (survivor USS California), Leroy Wilson (ex-POW), and Frank Curre (survivor USS Tennesse) shared their amazing stories and answered questions such as “Did you have a personal weapon?”, “Where did you sleep and what did you eat?”, and “What did you do for entertainment?” As the men answered each question, they would weave in the history of the events. I also would put pictures and maps on the screen to show the students what was being described.

In our Korean War session, Billy Linthicum shared his experiences on the USS Grapple which was a salvage ship supporting our troups in Korea. Mr. Wilson stayed and shared his experiences in the Korean War where he flew 161 missions in 73 days delivering supplies and removing wounded soldiers. He did answer a few questions relating to his 3.5 years as a POW at Cabanatuan. His story of the guard nicknamed “Donald Duck” caused some laughter.

Gary Mittendorf (Marines) and Pike Anderson (Army) fielded questions for 45 minutes from Brookhaven and East Ward Elementary schools in Killeen. Questions in this session focused on how they felt leaving their families, what they ate, what the jungle was like, and if they would serve again. At the end of this session, the students at East Ward all walked in front of the camera with the THANK YOU posters that they had made and it was a great moment in videoconferencing to see the reactions from our panelists.

Norm Hungerford shared his 26-year career in the Navy with students from Moody High School. The questions ranged from “Have you ever been in a typhoon?” to “How did the assassination of JFK affect you?” to “What is the most interesting place in the world you have visited?” As we learned about sonar and radar, he taught us how to handle “Man Overboard” on an aircraft carrier!

Jay Fondren answered 30 questions related to his service in Iraq from students in Bynum, Covington, Hico, and Temple ISD. The participating students were in grades 2-7. Questions ranged from “What was the environment like?” to “How long do you think we will have a military presence in Iraq?” The questions from the middle school students really dealt with some of the tough issues facing our leaders today and Jay handled them with honesty and grace.

Have you thank a soldier today? What are your plans for Memorial Day?

I am wondering what is the biggest challenge to our teams at this point in the process? When you post your comments be sure not to give away what you are doing.

Team Leaders, add your comments below.

Kick-off Meeting (View the archive in Windows Media Player)

Participants: McGregor ISD and Blooming Grove ISD

Project in a Nutshell: Students must create value from a pack of Post-It Notes and create a three minute video to show what they did.

Timeline: Videos will be posted online by this Thursday. Classes will be posting updates in the comments of status reports here.

Teams: Click the “No Comments” link below this post, enter your name and comments and respond to the following two items. Remember, don’t give away what you are doing to create value.

1. How many teams are participating from your school and what are your team names?
2. What is the hardest part for your team getting started?

Teachers: Be sure to go to the DOWNLOADS section of the EDLINK12 website and get your rubrics and how to create your account so you can upload your video on Thursday.