Transcript of Ustream Conversation During Keynote Address
08:31 tbell : Is there audio?
08:31 houstonaplus : yes -- is it not coming through?
08:31 tbell : no
08:31 houstonaplus : Let me play with the setting
08:31 houstonaplus : sound now?
08:31 chriswherley : i am getting sound. yes
08:32 tbell : I'm not getting any sound....anyone else?
08:32 dlaufenberg : I've got sound
08:32 tbell : hmm....not sure why I don't
08:33 chriswherley : I had my headphones plugged in but was trying to get sound through my speakers on comp
08:33 chriswherley : :-)
08:33 tbell : ok....I refreshed...now I have sound...thanks
08:33 houstonaplus : great!
08:33 chriswherley : curious about the PIP?
08:34 houstonaplus : using CamTwist for PIP
08:34 dlaufenberg : what tiem are you guys supposed to get started?
08:35 houstonaplus : right now
08:35 chriswherley : @houstonaplus thanks
08:35 houstonaplus : you are welcome -- "houstonaplus" is Stephanie Sandifer -- btw
08:36 prwood : Thanks for streaming
08:37 houstonaplus : you are welcome
08:42 houstonaplus : cool -- I'm number 10 so I don't have to leave the room ;)
08:42 houstonaplus : sorry about the "hosuekeeping" -- David will be starting his talk in just a few minutes
08:43 houstonaplus : showing ustream to someone -- can everyone tell us where you are located?
08:44 dlaufenberg : hey there from flagstaff, az
08:45 houstonaplus : Say hello to Houston area education leaders :)
08:45 houstonaplus : ...here comes David...
08:45 plennig : hello houston - from portland, me
08:46 debbt : hello from Dayton, OH
08:47 jdbpbj : hello from SC
08:48 mwoolums : howdy from Denver, CO
08:48 tbell : hello from NC
08:50 dlaufenberg : yay... Stephanie
08:50 ransomtech : New York
08:50 chriswherley : IL
08:50 PENWashingtonDC : Wow! Great job Houston, from PEN in Washington, DC.
08:51 bwatwood : Don't forget Virginia
08:51 houstonaplus : David is archiving this chat -- so please -- feel free to discuss what he's talking about! :)
08:52 tsakshaug : upstate NY. In the snow
08:52 prwood : Is that Ted in the snow in New York
08:52 tsakshaug : yes
08:53 prwood : Paul Wood - NECC I am in Indy getting ready to go back to Dallas
08:53 tsakshaug : Hey there Paul
08:53 ransomtech : I think it is a little limiting to imply that this is only how we learn in the 21st century
08:54 dlaufenberg : How many people were second lifers?
08:54 prwood : I have an avatar but no there much
08:55 loonyhiker : I'm from SC but watching this in NY
08:55 chriswherley : got my account setup in SL but that is about it thus far
08:56 houstonaplus : @dlaufenberg about 5 ppl including me held up their hands as SLers
08:56 tsakshaug : Been in SL a couple of times. Not often
08:56 loonyhiker : i've been in SL but on the road, I have trouble accessing it
08:58 dlaufenberg : ok, I am officially going to be late to work unless I motivate right now... enjoy all!
08:58 houstonaplus : @dlaunfenberg this is being recorded
08:59 tsakshaug : @loonyhiker where in NY are you?
08:59 loonyhiker : long island
08:59 loonyhiker : i'm leaving on sunday for boston for a CEC conference
09:00 tsakshaug : Long island and Boston are about the same distance from me
09:01 loonyhiker : @tsakshaug where are you?
09:01 tsakshaug : Rochester
09:01 loonyhiker : @tsakshaug brrrr it is cold up there!
09:02 tsakshaug : @loonyhiker above freezing, but snowing
09:02 hshawjr : hello from Maine
09:03 houstonaplus : To online viewers -- what would you say to the Houston education leaders regarding the implications of these changes for our students?
09:03 mwoolums : I'm new to SL and am having difficulty finding edu island. Any suggestions? Am I spelling it correctly?
09:04 houstonaplus : What might our classrooms look like if we let ourselves imgaine a different kind of classroom?
09:04 kpruitt : At PA conference, Steve Dembo said all test will have to be taken naked :)
09:04 houstonaplus : @kpruitt lol!
09:04 kpruitt : The only way we can assure no cheating
09:04 Vdub144-1 : @kpruitt - Love it! I can imagine Steve saying that too!
09:04 sine-1 : From Delaware -- To Houston educators: I hope you view this with wonder and excitement, not with the catalog of new rules you'll need running through your mind. Good luck!
09:05 houstonaplus : @mwoolums search on ISTE
09:05 mjmontagne : these things all sound great...but what is really practical now? Most of us are still stuck in a lab model, where students only touch computers a little bit
09:05 prwood : Will we even be within a classroom?
09:05 houstonaplus : @mjmontagne Superintendents are in the audience -- what would you tell them about removing that barrier?
09:05 kpruitt : What is really practical is commitment to change that model
09:05 mjmontagne : this is the crux of my challenge...if all techers that I worked with now wanted to do something tomorrow, it would be possible...our kids don't have access!!
09:05 Vdub144-1 : @mjmontagne I have actually taught a class recently where my focus was to use communications technology - away from the computer setting...
09:05 kpruitt : it is slow but it must be spelled out at all levels
09:06 hshawjr : More 1:1 and prepare (teach) learners how to use the internet, instead of them reacting to it.
09:06 houstonaplus : my thought -- approach all of this with the attitude of "how can we use this" rather than "how can we block this"
09:06 sine-1 : @mjmontagne -- I think we need to focus on what they need to touch. Most of this can be done on those $200 computers or on an iPhone. Let's stop buying $1500 desktops.
09:06 tsakshaug : question-is SL a barrier to getting information- too complex?
09:06 mjmontagne : kids should have access to connective tools NOW just like they've always had access to textbooks
09:07 Vdub144-1 : We had a TON of fun with GPS... Check out www.whereigo.com for a computer/gps hybrid application that could come to edu.
09:07 mjmontagne : @sine-1 I totally agree...
09:07 kpruitt : we had an agrument at mtg Thursday about saying "equal access" people are frightened of what that means
09:07 houstonaplus : @vdub144-1 Thanks for sharing that -- GPS is very cool!
09:07 debbt : teachers need the tools necessary for students to use these fabulous technologies as well as the training and support necessary for integration
09:08 mjmontagne : these are superintendants?
09:08 lornacos : thanks to twitter again or I would have missed this
09:08 houstonaplus : @debbt "training & support" -- absolutely!
09:08 lornacos : hello matt
09:08 tsakshaug : need to have skype and google docs open at least
09:08 mjmontagne : Hey Lorna!
09:08 Vdub144-1 : I hear those keys typing now!
09:08 mjmontagne : are the participants superindendants/administrators?
09:09 houstonaplus : my other thought -- to superintendents and other ed leaders -- find your early-adopters (they are out there) and pull them into a conversation about how to bring this stuff into your classrooms (or out of your classrooms) :)
09:09 lornacos : are there 2 cameras running?
09:09 Vdub144-1 : How many here use JOTT to Twitter? How about apps like Shozu to moblog Flickr photos?
09:09 houstonaplus : @mjmntagne Yes -- supt.s, principals, etc.
09:09 hshawjr : twitter - newbie
09:09 kpruitt : This is what came of that mtg : All stakeholders work together to provide teachers with the skills to integrate technology as part of effective instructional practice and to provide all students with equal access to information, tools, and skills necessary for learning so that they may achieve succe
09:09 tsakshaug : early adopters are needed to reach the tipping point,
09:10 loonyhiker : gotta go site seeing! bye y'all
09:10 debbt : the early adopters are the ones who spur further interest - teachers think "hey, I'd like to do that with MY students"
09:10 mwoolums : Thanks, houstonaplus!
09:11 houstonaplus : to online viewers -- if you were a distric superintendent, what would you do TODAY?
09:11 Vdub144-1 : Next step tho - rethink copyright and ownership. Too much funding gets drawn off for marketing and "bling."
09:11 sine-1 : @houstonplus -- Start a reading group with The World is Flat, A
09:11 Vdub144-1 : First step: review policies to decide if something is there to prevent "distractions" or because it is a "safety issue"
09:11 mwoolums : SL is complicated, for me because I'm new to it. I don't think it would be terribly complicated for most kids
09:12 kpruitt : @houstonaplus - find time for PD
09:12 mwoolums : there are teen versions
09:12 Vdub144-1 : We BUILT my first color TV when I was a kid - go HeathKit!
09:12 tsakshaug : and the penguin version for kids
09:12 sine-1 : @houstonplus -- Start a reading group with The World is Flat, A Different Mind, Wikinomics, Everything is Miscellaneous, or Rainbows End
09:12 Vdub144-1 : (Dad was a Nuclear Engineer at a power plant - Mom was an administrator/teacher)
09:12 houstonaplus : @sine-1 Good reading list!
09:12 kpruitt : make a strong statement that I support teachers using tech freely...a safe environment
09:13 debbt : find out PD needs for teachers
09:13 houstonaplus : yay -- he's talking about the tentacles!
09:13 hshawjr : give teachers personal access to tech and allow them to "play" with it at home i.e. assign a laptop and require them to use for routine stuff they might incorporate it into their classroom if they are actually using for other things.
09:13 houstonaplus : We need to keep from removing teachers tentacles as well! :)
09:14 Vdub144-1 : @houstona+ "tentacles" hehehe... Reminds me of a 5th grade science lesson gone wrong on Grandparents day. ;)
09:14 houstonaplus : What about giving teachers the "Google 20%" -- dedicated time in their weekly schedule to just PLAY with new stuff?
09:14 Vdub144-1 : @houstonA+ don't you think tho that many teachers remove one another's tentacles?
09:14 houstonaplus : @vdub144-1 yes -- I do think that is true as well
09:15 Vdub144-1 : The administration ends up following up on the fears of other teachrs.
09:15 Vdub144-1 : "union power."
09:15 houstonaplus : If we operate out of "fear" we can never move forward
09:15 hshawjr : how about treat teachers as the professionals we are
09:15 tsakshaug : how does this fit into state tests?
09:16 tsakshaug : that was a joke
09:16 houstonaplus : @tsakshaug I was just going to ask that question -- thanks for putting it out there...
09:16 Vdub144-1 : When I do ongoing training, I have been asking for strong teachers with little technical skills (not technophobes, mind you, but neophites)
09:16 Vdub144-1 : @tsa There is only one "bubble" on the scantron sheet. ;)
09:16 houstonaplus : So -- what about the testing? what do we do about people who are resistent to this change because they are too concerned about the tests?
09:16 dlaufenberg : the real fear should be educating a generation of students that are not prepared to move the nation forward
09:16 dlaufenberg : the real fear should be that the 'culture of one right answer' will not be able to creatively solve the complicated problems that face 'our' future
09:16 mjmontagne : to superintendants-allow students to have ubiqutos access to modern digital learning tools...reprioritize the way money is spent so it doesn't continue to go to textbook companies and instead can go to $400 laptops for students
09:17 houstonaplus : @dlaufenberg AMEN!!!
09:17 tsakshaug : can do more with technology if used correclty. meets many learning styles
09:17 marsenault : How are the tests preparing students for their future and not OUR past?
09:17 tsakshaug : need to be able to sift through info to figure stuff out
09:17 houstonaplus : @marsenault very good question!
09:17 kpruitt : David! you let kids stay home for a cold?
09:18 tsakshaug : anyone remember bloom? what levels do we address? what can we address
09:18 houstonaplus : revised bloom has "create" as the highest level ;)
09:18 tsakshaug : and lower is the puke back the facts
09:18 houstonaplus : lol
09:19 tsakshaug : but that is what we test
09:19 houstonaplus : to anyone coming in now -- houstonaplus = Stephanie Sandifer (just an FYI)
09:19 marsenault : So many kids today are learning more out of school than they are in school.
09:19 hshawjr : teaching rote learning is not teaching, it is dumbing down kids and lot let them learn
09:20 hshawjr : and not letting them learn...fingers hitting too fast
09:20 chriswherley : best ustream presentation I have seen from a technology standpoint. Well done Houstonaplus.
09:20 mjmontagne : @marsenault-I've felt that way for a while now...
09:20 houstonaplus : @chriswherley thanks! wil post tech specs on blog later -- http://ed421.com
09:21 hshawjr : the word on the street is that they have to "slow down" or dummy down when they come to school
09:21 mjmontagne : @stephanie-I agree with Chriswherely...you'll have to do a write up on your strategies, tools, settings for how you did this...
09:21 houstonaplus : @mjmontagne wil do -- even have pics to share ;)
09:21 mjmontagne : I've ustreamed many things and it typically turns out so poorly
09:21 houstonaplus : I am connected via ethernet cable -- not doing this wirelessly -- that is important for quality
09:21 mjmontagne : @stephanie-didn't mean to give you another homework assignment!
09:22 houstonaplus : lol
09:24 dlaufenberg : ok... have to be to work in 6 minutes... for real this time... bye!
09:25 houstonaplus : Could teachers use DIGG in the classroom? Or something like DIGG?
09:25 Vdub144-1 : Probably something like Digg instead...
09:25 houstonaplus : Like an education version?
09:26 prwood : As long as it is not blocked
09:26 houstonaplus : not trying to promote a "walled garden" -- jsut thinking out loud
09:26 Vdub144-1 : Well, delicious tells you how many other folks have bookmarked.
09:26 houstonaplus : Diigo?
09:26 tsakshaug : diigo too
09:26 kpruitt : I think there is value in using RSS for classroom sharing/research
09:26 Vdub144-1 : I found diigo buggy, but it seems to build on that model and allows you to further highlight text on the pages you bookmark...
09:26 kpruitt : Pageflakes set up a nice visual page
09:27 houstonaplus : I agree -- RSS very powerful for earning purposes
09:27 houstonaplus : "learning purposes"
09:27 kpruitt : both
09:27 kpruitt : :)
09:27 Vdub144-1 : I do a full program on RSS as a way of creating "communities" using the small community newspaper as the model. :)
09:27 houstonaplus : @vdub144-1 do ou have a link to show that? can ou share with us?
09:28 Vdub144-1 : I have yet to uStream that!
09:28 Vdub144-1 : I only have my one laptop, and I use it (extensively) to build things as I go.
09:29 Vdub144-1 : But it isn't hard to create - think about a newspaper and how stories come from various sources - AP/Reuters/whatever...
09:29 sharia : I am also amazed at the power of Google search tools like the ability to use country codes in a search to get English language news sources from that country or the ability to search only academic resources with "ac" in the search. Are we teaching our kids this?
09:29 houstonaplus : Just to make note of this for the record -- we are now up to 58 online viewers
09:30 Vdub144-1 : So we start out with text - a series of blogs and feeds and such - using igoogle and myyahoo as initial aggregators (compared with news.google.com) etc..
09:30 mjmontagne : David did a great job making that point in comparing validity of information between wikipedia and textbooks...that was well done
09:30 Vdub144-1 : OK, moving on... ;)
09:30 tsakshaug : nice talking to yall gotta go
09:30 houstonaplus : Anyone viewing from outside of US? Can everyone tell us our location again (for the archived record)?
09:30 kpruitt : Just for the record---Will is Ustreaming too -- Direct competition from friends
09:31 mjmontagne : @sharia-no, we're not teaching kids this...becasue typically the technology is an add-on...we don't get time to get to important literacies like the one you mention
09:31 houstonaplus : We know -- David is going to have a "discussion" with Will about that ;)
09:31 kpruitt : @sharia "Kids know, they are computer wiz-kids"
09:32 hshawjr : technology needs to be embedded into the curriculums, not as an add-on, in industry technology is part of the job, not an add-on and that is how we have to be
09:32 houstonaplus : Before this ends... does anyone have any other thoughts they would like to share with the superintendents and education leaders in Houston?
09:33 mjmontagne : @sharia- we can't teach this things in depth w/students becasue their access is so limited in a typical lab model
09:33 houstonaplus : Glad that he's bringing up that "publishing" concept -- students have published but teachers haven't
09:33 hshawjr : 7 Classes need new textbooks each year for 25 kids per class, how many ASUS or small computers can we buy for students and have electronic textbooks???
09:34 kpruitt : @houstonaplus Thank you folks for making the effort. You are responsible for keeping your finger on the pluse of educational shift and leading us into the future
09:34 mjmontagne : @houstona-great job with this...I'll make the same point for supers-- students need access...expect them to do good things with access...imagine all of the powerful things they'll do with connectivity that they can't do without it
09:34 KarenJanowski : Yes, @houstonaplus - have them read Sheryl Nussbaum-Beach's blog post written today - http://tinyurl.com/36x7d2
09:34 debbt : As I said before, teachers need PD and support in order to successfully integrate technology into their classrooms
09:34 hshawjr : great job thanks planning time over - bye
09:35 Vdub144-1 : @houstonA+ Thanks for streaming - from still chilly Wisconsin!
09:35 mjmontagne : chow everyone
09:35 houstonaplus : going to end the webcast now... will tweet later when we webcast the superintendents panel
09:36 houstonaplus : Thanks for showing up everyone!
09:36 Vdub144-1 : @houston - what is your twitterID?
09:36 houstonaplus : ssandifer (twitter)
09:36 prwood : Thank you Houston. Ted see you in San Antonio?
09:36 Vdub144-1 : Oh, duh!
09:36 houstonaplus : bye!
09:37 marsenault : thanks for streaming
The following is the chat from the ustream of the Superintendents Panel moderated by David Warlick:
11:08 houstonaplus : David Warlick will begin moderating the panel after the introductions
11:09 drfuller : audio is excellent
11:10 houstonaplus : Hello everyone, welcome to the ustream chat -- "houstonaplus" = Stephanie Sandifer
11:10 mjmontagne : @drfuller-as in Dr. Howard Fuller??
11:10 houstonaplus : "houstonaplus-1" is also ssandifer
11:10 drfuller : i wish...this david fuller for accelerated intermediate academy
11:11 drfuller : this is...LOL
11:11 mjmontagne : @drfuller-got it...I thought you mite be Howard Fuller, former super of Milwaukee Public
11:11 rtrrose : This is wonderful since I could not be there today!
11:12 houstonaplus : glad you are enjoying it rtrrose -- the earlier webcast is posted below and you can watch it at anytime
11:12 rtrrose : That was my next question, thank you!
11:13 drfuller : i know...maybe one day i will be like him...LOL
11:13 houstonaplus : I will post links to archived chats and other resources later at http://ed421.com
11:13 KarenJanowski : thank you stephanie for streaming this
11:13 KarenJanowski : we understand this is an esteemed group but enough of the introductions! (or is it just me?)
11:14 houstonaplus : @KarenJanowski You are very welcome! This has been an exciting day so far -- lots of good discussion around innovation today among Houston's educaiton leaders! YAY!
11:14 houstonaplus : @KarenJanowski lol :)
11:15 houstonaplus : Here comes David!
11:16 houstonaplus : where is everyone from?
11:16 KarenJanowski : Hi, Dave!
11:16 mjmontagne : Milwaukee, WI
11:17 rtrrose : Houston - Taking Education to Work program
11:19 houstonaplus : ago
11:20 houstonaplus : They are describing their perceptions of the small group discussions held a little while ago after David's keynote
11:22 mjmontagne : that is an inherent weakness with traditional schools..."we can't be prepared to move foward unless our adults/teachers are prepared"
11:22 houstonaplus : Fear was a big topic in the small group that I participated in
11:22 mjmontagne : what kind of "Fear" stephanie?
11:22 mjmontagne : losing control kind of fear?
11:22 houstonaplus : fear of the tools, fear of openness, fear of change
11:23 mjmontagne : ahh
11:23 houstonaplus : yes -- that too
11:24 mjmontagne : are kids really coming with more "knowledge" than our adults?
11:24 mjmontagne : I wonder what he means by knowledge...
11:24 houstonaplus : let's ask the "chat panel" -- what do you think? Are they coming with more knowledge?
11:24 mjmontagne : I think our students generally have pretty poor info literacy skills
11:25 rtrrose : I think he means technologically more advanced than our teachers
11:25 houstonaplus : @mjmontagne I agree -- they are more comfortable, but not more literate with use of tools
11:25 mjmontagne : they have no idea about managing multiple RSS streams relating to a research topic for example
11:25 rtrrose : I believe that is true of teachers that have been in for over 8 years
11:26 houstonaplus : @rtrrose I agree with that
11:26 mjmontagne : I'm actually quite perplexed when students constantly ask in a lab environ "what do I do now..."
11:26 mjmontagne : they're not as fascile as we give them credit for... IMHO!
11:26 houstonaplus : @mjmontagne There is a lack of balance, right? How do we overcome tht lack of balance?
11:27 DebBarrows : @Karenj thanks for posting on Twitter
11:27 houstonaplus : "We are organizations of fear, because we are organizations of adults" Nice!
11:28 rtrrose : ABSOLUTELY!!!!!!
11:29 rtrrose : I agree!!
11:30 houstonaplus : "different model" -- listen to the tech gurus/early adopters in the district -- and then support them
11:30 KarenJanowski : Hi, Deb! your welcome!
11:31 houstonaplus : What do the online viewers think of what these superintendents are saying?
11:31 rtrrose : Many districts are not "helping" the older teachers with technology!
11:31 houstonaplus : @rtrrose Suport for ALL
11:31 mjmontagne : educational leadership needs to model these literacies if they expect teachers to use web2.0 pedagogies...
11:32 houstonaplus : leaders need to model authenic use of these technologies and the provide support for everyone in the system -- differentiated support based on levels of skill and comfort level
11:33 KarenJanowski : @stephanie - are these leaders modeling the use of technology?
11:33 houstonaplus : Right -- good point for non-Texas educators... TAKS (state test) - not taxes
11:34 houstonaplus : @KarenJanowski Not yet -- not in terms of blogging, implementing wikis, etc.
11:34 houstonaplus : Hoping that today will change some of that
11:34 houstonaplus : Today is very important for building knowledge, beginning a dialogue, creating some momentum
11:34 KarenJanowski : yes - did you see sheryl's blog post?
11:35 KarenJanowski : seems to go along with this today
11:35 houstonaplus : not yet -- haven't had time today... can you post the link to it here?
11:35 KarenJanowski : sure
11:35 KarenJanowski : http://21stcenturylearning.typepad.com/blog/2008/03/10-principles-f.html
11:35 houstonaplus : the small groups also touched on some of the issues addressed in the blog post that Kate Olson and I wrote this week -- just posted it this morning -- http://ed421.com
11:35 houstonaplus : Thanks Karen!
11:36 houstonaplus : Hi Karl!
11:36 karlfisch : Hi. Just popping in for a moment.
11:36 houstonaplus : Glad to see you here (this is Stephanie Sandifer btw)
11:36 karlfisch : Guessed that.
11:36 KarenJanowski : thanks for your link - have to go work with two teachers although this is compelling
11:37 houstonaplus : Karl -- this chat and video are going to be archived for Houston area educators to use in PD -- can you post a link to Did You Know wiki in the chat?
11:38 karlfisch : This wiki? http://shifthappens.wikispaces.com/
11:38 houstonaplus : Yep -- that's it! I have it, but wanted it posted in here for anyone in Houston who accesses this later.
11:39 mjmontagne : we do need to start valuing different student artifacts...right now it seems like we mostly value analogue artifacts
11:39 houstonaplus : They are discussing the problems with our state accountability system -- there was a hearing yesterday in the state senate relative to this -- and it can be accessed by visiting the Texas Senate website
11:40 houstonaplus : I mean-- the archived video of the hearing can be accessed here
11:40 houstonaplus : accessed there -- Texas Senate website
11:40 houstonaplus : @mjmontagne Yes - needs tobe much more than one test score
11:41 mjmontagne : schools want all students to be successful...unfortunately, this conflicts with the capitalist model. In capitalism there will always be winners and losers...
11:41 mjmontagne : we need a new framework for the 21st century...
11:42 karlfisch : I think we can evolve past winners and losers
11:42 karlfisch : Something I've been thinking about a lot but don't have my head around yet
11:42 karlfisch : Have been talking with my staff and students - mostly unsuccessffully
11:43 houstonaplus : Would any of the online viewers like to ask a question? I will share it with David to ask the superintendents.
11:44 mjmontagne : ask them if they are going to begin engaging with any new ways of working when they go back to the office on monday...what is one change in their own professional practice that they'll make?
11:45 mjmontagne : @karlfisch-I hope society can come to value multiple intelligences in the future...this will help in getting beyond winners and losers
11:46 houstonaplus : @mjmontagne Hang on -- will ask your question in a moment :)
11:47 mjmontagne : @houston--cool!
11:48 houstonaplus : @mjmontagne what is your role (in ed) and where are you located?
11:48 karlfisch : Adding on to mjmontagne's question (possibly) - who is in their learning network?
11:48 mjmontagne : Milwaukee, WI...instructional technology coordinator
11:48 houstonaplus : Good one Karl! I'll ask them that as well :)
11:48 houstonaplus : Karl -- you're in Colorado, right?
11:49 karlfisch : Yes, Colorado.
11:49 houstonaplus : thanks
11:49 mjmontagne : resources shouldn't be a hurdle
11:50 karlfisch : reallocate resources
11:50 mjmontagne : we should look at reallocating resources
11:50 mjmontagne : karl...bingo...was just thinking that !!!
11:50 mjmontagne : for example, how much cash do we give to text book companies??
11:50 mjmontagne : can we reallocate this cash??
11:50 mjmontagne : in a more creative way??
11:51 mjmontagne : not creative, but in a more productive and beneficial way for students
11:52 drfuller : question: How are they handling the facilitation of the TAKS-Alt process without overstretching their special education staff members?
11:52 rtrrose : So if it is such a struggle, what are they doing to change that? So it is not a struggle and they can make the changes they are speaking of!
11:55 houstonaplus : And there is free tech resources that can be used to develop K-12 e-portfolios... that was a great question from the audience
11:55 houstonaplus : sorry -- there ARE free resources
11:56 rtrrose : I thought EVERYONE had to do that through ACHIEVE TEXAS
11:58 houstonaplus : @rtrrose If so, the message hasn't filtered into the schools... there is no talk on the campuses related to e-portfolios (at a system-wide level)
11:59 mjmontagne : this is the beauty of participatory learning tools like ustream...I would never be able to attend a conference for superintendants in the 20th cent...now I can!
11:59 houstonaplus : very true!
12:01 houstonaplus : there you go -- Dr. Saavedra is discussing the use of current resources - that we need to think differently about how we are currently using the resources we do have
12:01 mjmontagne : every parent wants a better school, but not every parent wants a different school...nice quote
12:01 karlfisch : School "muscle memory" is a real issue
12:01 mjmontagne : but parents respond well to this quote, "We need to prepare students for their future, not our past."
12:02 mjmontagne : in the right context they respond to that quote very well
12:02 karlfisch : They do - but still hard to make structural changes
12:03 karlfisch : I use David Thornburgh's quote - at least I think it's from him
12:03 karlfisch : It goes something like:
12:03 karlfisch : Are you ever going to be 18 again?
12:03 karlfisch : Are your students ever going to be your age?
12:03 karlfisch : Should we be preparing them for the world as it was when we wre 18, or the world as it's going to be when they're our age.
12:03 houstonaplus : That's a great quote/question Karl
12:05 rtrrose : I am a former Career Connections teacher and it makes me very mad that it is an elective course and not a mandatory semester course. I taught them exactly what Aldines Super talked about. Giving them interest surveys, character analysis, career research, resume writing, interview skills, etc.
12:05 karlfisch : Need customer service training for all of us, not just secretaries and bus drivers
12:05 karlfisch : Admin and teachers, too
12:07 mjmontagne : hmm...this assumes that kids only learn at school
12:07 houstonaplus : @rtrrose I feel your pain! I was disappointed when CC was de-listed from CATE (for funding) because at my former school we were planning to make it a "required" course for all 9th graders -- for the exact reasons you listed... but when the funding went away we couldn't fund the teaching staff
12:08 rtrrose : But yet, we keep going back to how important this is. I don't get it!
12:08 mjmontagne : to me school is one part of the learning puzzle...or at least I think it should be.
12:09 karlfisch : Yes, too often we think of school as separate from the real world and from the rest of their lives - need to look at their whole learning picture
12:09 karlfisch : We're not just preparing them for life - this is their life right now
12:09 houstonaplus : @karl right -- they are living life right now
12:09 mjmontagne : I've felt for a long time that schools receive too much credit for successes and too much credit for failures...
12:10 mjmontagne : students don't know more about the technology-that is myth #1
12:10 karlfisch : Somebody get this guy Sylvia Martinez's email address
12:11 houstonaplus : yes -- that's a misperception on the part of the adults -- students are more comfortable in some instances with tech, but not necessarily more knowledgeable about productive use of technology
12:12 karlfisch : @mjmontagne - some do, many do not - but few think about it in terms of teaching and learning
12:12 karlfisch : I think we can leverage those that do know a lot more than we do
12:12 karlfisch : Help them think about how to use these things well
12:13 mjmontagne : I agree, Karl...I'm thinking about Sylvia's model for our school becasue I think our kids can be better involvled
12:13 houstonaplus : just got David's attention -- will be asking mjmontagne and karlfisch's questions in a moment :)
12:14 karlfisch : Every child can be successful in college, but does every child need to go to college?
12:14 karlfisch : I'm struggling with that question.
12:14 mjmontagne : @Karl-college is not right for everyone...
12:14 mjmontagne : @Karl...as a matter of fact, college is a poor investment for some learners
12:15 mjmontagne : especially in the 21st Cent. when there are so many ways to get info...
12:15 karlfisch : Still worry about the certfication aspect of "the degree"
12:15 karlfisch : in transition time when it's still very important
12:15 mjmontagne : @karl...yeah, I hear you...
12:15 karlfisch : But if higher ed doesn't start to change, they may become less and less relevant for more and more kids
12:16 karlfisch : Please note I said "may"
12:16 mjmontagne : I still think about my buddy who barely graduated HS and is a semi-retired entrepreneuer now at the ripe old age of 38
12:16 mjmontagne : I know these stories are few and far between, but I make the point that traditional schooling isn't for evereyone...
12:17 rtrrose : I agree
12:18 mjmontagne : @karl-I subbed in last week for a C and I class at a local college called "Technology in Education" I was suprised at what they didn't know in that pre-service class. I was actually shocked
12:18 houstonaplus : I agree with that as well
12:19 karlfisch : But is that good for kids - what he just described?
12:19 karlfisch : 5 am until 10 pm - all work and no play?
12:20 mjmontagne : @karl-no way...this doesn't honor the fact that students learn so much outside of school through informal ways...
12:20 karlfisch : Especially if they have little or no input into what happens during the school day?
12:20 houstonaplus : @karlfisch I think maybe that goes back to no "one-size fits all" -- maybe it works for some kids, but not all kids
12:20 rtrrose : The problem I have is not allowing students to learn at their pace. I have a 6 year old that is very bright and is a discovery learner. My other son in 1st grade was doing 3rd grade Math but his teacher would not "teach" him anything higher than what she was suppose to teach.
12:21 rtrrose : That is not her fault but the systems
12:22 mjmontagne : @trrrose...I think the system has flaws...it is an economy of scales thing. It just doesn't support unique learning styles very well
12:23 rtrrose : And unfortunately I cannot afford private school but I know MANY parents who have taken them out of public and are either private now or home schooled.
12:24 mjmontagne : LOL!!
12:25 bmuench : i wish they would have taken this question more seriously
12:25 mjmontagne : me too
12:25 mjmontagne : the one has some ideas to push down to the teacher level...
12:25 mjmontagne : what will he do to model?
12:25 rtrrose : now who will hold her accountable?
12:25 bmuench : exactly!
12:26 houstonaplus : ditto -- and that idea (about talking to the teachers ) came from fonder of KIPP
12:26 karlfisch : Thanks Stefanie for streaming
12:26 bmuench : we're all busy if you can't find time to do it why should i?
12:26 houstonaplus : you are welcome! Thanks for stopping in!
12:26 rtrrose : Yes thank you!
12:26 Sirton : http://www.sirton.wordpress.com -
12:26 mjmontagne : @bmuench...exactly...that is the excuse our teachers will use. If leadership can't model it, then why should anyone change??
12:26 bmuench : i really enjoyed lurking. :)
12:26 houstonaplus : This will all be archived and I will post links to everything later today on my blog -- http://ed421.com
12:27 houstonaplus : David Warlcik says THANKS!
12:27 mjmontagne : thanks, Stephanie...gr8 job streaming!!!!
12:27 houstonaplus : thank you!
12:27 mjmontagne : can't wait to read your "How To" guide on this...a ustream best practice guide is needed badlly!