Technology in Education- Introduction

For the past two months I have been thinking quite a bit about my instructional technology philosophy. I am not under any obligation to do so, it simply struck me as something that I needed to do for myself. I could then put the words to my thoughts and make it more than an idea. Maybe something concrete that I could make into reality.

This is important to me because it defines not only my job, but my beliefs about where the future will take technology and education. Interestingly, there was an international conference in Shanghai that just ended where the future of technology and education was being discussed. A bunch of very smart people are thinking about this stuff, and I find it all very exciting, even though I don't agree with all of them.

My original entry began as something short. And then it grew because I found there was more that I wanted to say. Right now the whole thing is around 3000 words, and still growing. This is much too large to put in a blog. No one would ever want to read it like that. I was told by a friend that it seemed more like a manifesto. I think that makes me sound like some kind of megalomaniac,or something. I don't write manifestos.

So I decided that I would try to make them into separate entries. This will probably make everything much larger because I will feel the need to expand to each part, but it will probably make each part more understandable, and less like the rambling of a dictator want to be. Because that is not me.

This series of entries is geared towards my thoughts on how I can better address the instructional technology needs of my students and staff. I am already pretty sure that if my staff reads this they will not all be pleased. Anyone who is in favor of No Child Left Behind, or Virginia's Stardards of Learning (SOLS), will probably not agree with me. The administration and staff of my son's school also may not like some things I say. I am not trying to be controversial, or make people that I care about upset. But I probably will, and for that, I am sorry. I am not sorry for what I think, but I am sorry that I could hurt someone in an attempt to make things better.

Update: I am glad I am not anywhere near Shanghai because there is a huge typhoon that is about to make landfall right around that area. It is bad enough to live in a hurricane area but to travel and get stuck in a third world country when a massive one is coming, that is crazy!

Tomorrow night's entry will be Part 1.

New Posts?

I have been thinking hard lately about my personal instructional technology philosophy. I have been working on it for a while, but I am not ready to post it yet. This is why I haven't been posting as regularly...

Of course, my thoughts have been muddled by life events. Like working, eating and sleeping- the normal stuff. What is interesting is that I find myself waking up 3 nights a week at 3 am thinking about my blog. I think I saw something creepy about that time in the movie The Exorcism of Emily Rose. Sometimes, it is all I can do to keep myself from jumping out of bed just to throw down my thoughts.

I think that somehow just the process of getting my thoughts in order and putting them in writing helps me to understand myself and the direction in life I am taking. It also helps me to appreciate what what a good life I have.

School is keeping me incredibly busy so far. But in a good way. This week I have been working with all of the Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd graders sharing Internet safety. It has been great fun for me. I have the presentation down pat now. I feel like I have created a comedy routine, and each time I fine tune my delivery for maximum laughs (ah, I mean education).

My Fantasy Football league is embroiled in a rules controversy already. It started before the week 1 games were even finished. A couple of the guys pushed to vote for a rule change regarding points awarded based on yards gained. I voted against the change but now one guy is hollering for a recount or something. Once the season starts I am not comfortable making any changes. The weight of the league has shifted towards quarterbacks. I think I will be looking for an additional one to throw on my bench. We will see how the rest of the group reacts, but now I just feel like what is done is done.

On the 23rd I get to go to my first Redskin game of the season. I am pumped! Best of all, I think I have got a couple of guys who are willing to drive. I have the tickets, someone else can drive...

NAS Oceana Naval Air Show

Click the picture below to see a larger panorama.

Incredible! I love football season and I never miss my skins play on TV -ever, but I missed it all today and didn't care one little bit. I love fast, loud airplanes and I was in heaven today. I can not even put into words the thrill it gives me when those fighters zip by. The noise is so incredibly loud that I scream at the top of my lungs and I can't hear myself. I am sure anyone who saw me thought I was nuts, but I don't care. I jumped up and down and was screaming like a little kid.

My kids were not even close to as excited as I was about the day. The strange thing is that I have lived at the beach for 17 years and this is only my second trip to the show. What a moron I am. The pictures and video below are just a small sample of the fun I had today.

I would give just about anything to be able to fly in one of those planes. I don't know how you could get on the list to be a passenger, but I think you have to be famous or something. I don't think they just let anyone off the street get in a multimillion dollar jet. I swear I would follow whatever rules they gave me and I am pretty sure I would hold my lunch. I would not even eat 3 days before if they would just let me have one ride.

When you watch the video above, turn the volume way up to get a feeling of how loud it was at the show.

The F-22 Raptor is the most awesome machine created by man. It is beautiful and fast.

The above picture shows the Raptor as it passed the stands. The white stuff on the wings is compressed air that creates vapor as it comes over the wings. It is very cool to see in person as it suddenly materializes right before your eyes. I was hoping to get a picture of this and I couldn't believe how lucky I was to get this photo. All by itself, this photo made my day.

The picture above shows the ordinance bay doors open on the Raptor. This is where death comes from...

Cool formation flyby. I think the lead plane is a F18 Super Hornet, bottom plane a P-51 Mustang, top F-86 Sabre Jet, and the F-22 Raptor in the back. Beautiful.

World's Fastest Truck. Jet truck of fire! I'd like to drive that baby to work just once.

This was the best Blue Angel photo I was able to get. Click to see a larger picture. Sweet!

This is a picture of me in front of some kind of futuristic Terminator like vehicle of death. I don't really know what it was, so that is what I am going to call it.

I took about 200 pictures today. I took so many pictures that I killed my battery before the Blue Angels flew. Bummer!

I had a super time today. I felt like such a child. I wish I could give that feeling to someone else. It feels so good and it is just not something that happens every day. It was a great day to be alive.

Pizza Wars

Papa John's vs Pizza Hut


Winner - undertermined. Both showed up at the same time. Both deliveries were equally hot, or unwarm. I tried to provoke a fight between them, but they didn't bite.




The only thing that differentiated them was that the Pizza Hut guy had a better car. The Papa John's guy had to look-->
I loved the dipping strips (Pizza Hut). That was really good. I'll try to upload the video where I ask the guys to fight, but I haven't had much success with that yet.

Banzai Falls

Here is what the "Banzai Falls," looks like-->

Couldn't upload video.

Why didn't they have this when I was a kid? Now I am too big to try it out. The kids love it. It wrecks the yard, splashing water everywhere. I can't believe that there was nothing like this for me 30 years ago...

Oh well, at least I still have my Hurricane mix.

I wonder what would happen if I ordered from Papa John's and Pizza Hut and they both delivered at the same time? Would they fight?

We are going to place bets on arrival times. If we are lucky theywill rumble. That would be funny. I will need to video it if the "Pizza Wars," should begin.

Worried

I am completely exhausted. Physically and mentally drained. The first week of school is always hard, but there is the additional pressure of the upcoming weekend.

I love my friends, all of them. I love the fact that I have friends who are completely different from myself in every respect. I also love it when my friends from out of town visit. It doesn't happen that often, but when it does I want everything to be perfect.

I have to stop there because I am not perfect, I am a mess. I have fabulous wife and awesome kids, but as a group we live in the midst of chaos. We are rarely organized, normally highly spontaneous, and generally have a lot of fun in whatever we decide to do.

My friends who will be visiting also have lots of fun, but they are organized and efficient about their fun using schedules and lists. This has caused me much worry. I don't believe that there is anything wrong with the way they do things, and while my world is less than perfect, I have accepted that as my state of being. Basically, I don't want the two worlds to collide and and cause fallout.

I have literally been worried about his event for a year. Last year was the first year that our friends came down to visit for the Oceana Naval Air Show. Everyone had a great time time, but there were minor things that led me to believe that difficulties may arise in the future.

So today I check my biorhythms. Now I don't necessarily believe in them, but I do occasionally look to see what they say out of curiosity. I have only checked my biorhythms 4 times in the last 5 months. It is not a regular thing for me. I only looked because I wanted a peak in a possible future for me.

Huge mistake! I use the Free and Easy Biorhythm Calculator V2.90, they did upgrade maybe that was the problem in the calculations... My reading said everything that I fear the most;

"Today you tend to speak honestly and directly, but internal angst compels you to take a personal interest even in areas where it is unwarranted, and this may cause conflicts. Exercise, sports, physical labor, or any other activity that requires strength, determination, and initiative will bring you pleasure.
Physical state: Positive
Emotional state: Negative
Intellectual state: Negative
Intuitive state: Positive
Physical instability
Be careful when using tools and appliances, working with fire or electricity, or when operating machinery or transports. Accidents or injuries may occur on the job.
Emotional instability
Extreme sensitivity and emotional instability may affect everything, from work to personal relationships. You may be hard to understand. Don't let your emotions carry you away. Try to concentrate.
Intellectual minimum
The intellectual minimum is a period of diminished mental activity in which thought and memory are impaired (usually men are more strongly affected). This is not a good time to negotiate, sign contracts, make important decisions, or implement new ideas. During this time it is better to do simple mechanical tasks."

So, to sum up, on Saturday I am going to be stupid, should not be around anything electrical or mechanical, I will be extremely sensitive, and cause conflicts with my mouth. Those of you who know me are probably thing, "So what will be different about Saturday from every other day of the week?" Well basically, I want to be a good host and not my normal jerky type self. My biorhythms say I am doomed.

If I know what the future holds, can I change the future that I am heading to? If these will be my failings on Saturday, can I, now that I know what my failings will be, rise above all of them and be a better person? Is this a temporal paradox? I have never understood time travel but have given it quite a bit of thought. If time travel is possible, can I just fast forward to a happy ending?

Maybe I should check my Horoscope...

The Best Job

Teaching is the best job in the world. It doesn't always seem that way because there are many difficult days, but what job is perfect?

Tomorrow begins a new school year. The halls will be crowded with little faces. Most kids will be happy to be there. Some will be frightened, some lost, but every student is there to get the best they can from their teachers and their school.

Parents will bring their kids to school and try to capture the events on cameras and video equipment. Some kids will cry, and most parents will try to be brave as they send their most precious possesions off to grow up.

I know every year my wife and I shed tears as we send our oldest off to a new year. This year Savannah will begin Kindergarten and I doubt that I will be able to hold back the tears in front of her. For every beginning, something most come to an end. It doesn't come as fast as you think that it might. It sneaks up on you slowly, taking a little away when you aren't looking. That first day of school seems like a much bigger hunk than all the other small pieces that slip by without a second thought. And it really hurts like something is being ripped from you. Before I had children of my own, I never understood that. Now, every parent that comes in looking more afraid than any of the children, has my deepest sympathies.

I have always thought that teaching is great because it allows you to be better than before. Not many jobs are so forgiving. I always try to forget the things that didn't work and the people who who made things difficult and begin the new year with high expectations for myself.

I want to make this year the best, not for myself, but for the students I serve. I don't get better pay, or more time off for being a better teacher, but a sense of peace for knowing that there is nothing more I can give. I'll never be rich, but that's ok. I am not good with money anyway. I have never had a lot of practice with money, but I have enough to secure a happy life for my family. That is all that matters to me.

They say that teaching is a way to touch the future. That is very corny, but also very true. Some days you work so hard you can't sit up at the end of the day and you wonder why you are doing that to yourself. No one would know if you just phoned it in. But the kids know. They can absolutely tell when you don't believe in what you are doing. The problem is that you don't see the impact of what you have done in a child's life until much later. There are few feelings better than when an adult comes up to you and tells you that when he was in Kindergarten he thought you were always fun and the coolest teacher in the world. It almost makes you forget how old it makes you feel.

I don't know what this year will bring but I am looking forward to it. I am going to work hard to get past my morning of tears for my own children, and make sure that the rest of the day is devoted to making all of my students and teachers happy. I probably won't succeed with everyone, but it won't be because I didn't try. I will be exhausted and I will probably wonder why I killed myself running around in circles. Then Wednesday will roll around and I will see all those happy faces for day two, and I will remember.