The Swivel Chair

Here’s what captured me today…

December 15th, 2008

I have been grappling for weeks now as to my use of online space, and how and what I want it to be. And now I am quite comfortable with changing what it’s going to be used for……ramblings, tech tips, social media etc.

This Is Where We Live from 4th Estate on Vimeo.

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Creating a job description for Ed Tech Integrationalist K-5

October 27th, 2008

As one half of our Elementary tech team moves on, now comes the daunting task of filling his shoes. As we think about what an Educational Technologist does these days? it’s hard to really nail it down….sure we know the key words, support, develop, collaborate, integrate, but what are we actually looking for? It’s not like one specific characteristic is going to fit this puzzle. These notes are only the beginning of our development of this description and any ideas and help will be used!!!! Having it written down too, helps those that don’t do it daily understand what it is we actually do. Thanks to Duke University for the extremely handy ideas……….

As part of the technology team the Educational Technologist will analyze and implement strategies to infuse and advance academic programs through the innovative use of technology. Work with faculty to understand the teaching/learning environment, review technological options related to teaching needs with faculty, and teach faculty to use new technology. The Educational Technologist will work closely with faculty, the school’s academic leadership, information technology leadership, as well as related personnel within the school and other schools

Provide support and apply structures to fully support staff in the development and expansion of integrating technology into existing practices. Providing and use 21^st century learning tools for faculty and students in a flex schedule approach. Assist and support staff in achieving their personal learning goals in relation to the integration of technology.

Collaborate with faculty on the seamless integration of technology into existing curriculum. Develop with the classroom teacher programs that will enhance and build on current units of work. Create theme based units of work in collaboration with other faculties and schools around the world.

An understanding and sound base knowledge of existing technology. Willingness to provide technological support to faculty and have a sound understanding of computer operating systems.

Review professional literature and stay informed of technology trends worldwide to constantly evaluate programs and web 2.0 tools to effectively meet the needs of students, faculty and administration. Participate in activities and stay abreast of trends worldwide to meet the needs of students and faculty in all academic areas.

Tags: job description, Shanghai American School, Technology
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Netvibes in our community

October 20th, 2008

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Using Picasa

October 6th, 2008

The first part of this presentation shows us how easy it is to upload and share photos with your community………

The second screencast takes you through embedding slideshows into your blog……..

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How do you do that?

September 29th, 2008

Since the start of the year we have been working extremely hard at developing forms of communication from staff to our community. With the heavy load at the beginning of the school year, classroom teachers have a lot to contend with….then we introduce ways of getting connected to parents, other team members, schools to collaborate with etc. Staff have whole heartedly embraced technology and beginning to develop their own space. Some are old hands leading the way others actively seeking ideas to improve. It is amazing to see all of us learning from each other and staff genuinely interested and asking…”how do you do that?” A lot of energy….and I think technology wise that this catch cry is a really good thing to have.

Which in turn is making our job a lot easier and a lot more fun!

From after school sessions to one on one time we are moving at an extremely high pace and one I know has to continue. Now comes the balance of keeping the learning alive and consolidating what we have already learnt…and this is just the staff.

What about the kids???? They are flying…….. with the introduction of google apps and gmail plus their own blog /portfolio the learning is intense, focused and enjoyable. That’s 5th grade…..4th grade is right into Google Earth getting ready to present their landforms project in GE and saving it as a kmz file.

This 6th grade ning is an excellent next step and hopefully we will have some takers in elementary interested in pursuing one of these. Hearing about the excellent use of nings in person from Kim Cofino at the learning 2.008 conference makes me extremely keen to find some staff who will work with me in creating these.

All of Elementary’s blogs are attached to our Principal’s blog which I encourage you to view. Along with a husband and wife team, Jacob and Sarah Toa, trying to find new ways of communicating and presenting information!!! I can hear the evening conversation……”how did you do that?…I want one”

So over the coming weeks the camtasia screen casts have to start to allow staff an easy way to have their “how do you do that?” questions answered. First one this week will have to be Picasa’s beautiful features.

Tags: Cofino, espudong, jacob Toa, Sarah Toa
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Edubloggercon at Element Fresh, Shanghai

September 18th, 2008

To be sitting in the garden room with an illustrious group of bloggers, technology specialists, and amazing integrationalists re-energizes you completely. It’s great to be connected as the world shrinks via the web but to see and meet and hear these people allows you to complete the connections we have all made.
So we have broken into smaller groups and discussing teachers Professional Learning Network. Allowing staff to embrace the ideal that to learn is OK! We are not the “knower” of all.

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Google apps in Elementary

September 14th, 2008

As our school rolls out gmail accounts for all students, I am impressed daily with what can be done with google apps. Everytime I head to my account I am trying some of the products on offer. Let’s start with the products that will help staff…. The calendar goes without saying, but as students start using the applications and if we can get all staff using it….wow! At the moment I rally can’t live without the calendar. Not only does it provide for me at school, running our self contained accommodation back in Australia and being able to communicate with our manager Moira and the cleaner by all of us viewing each others entries is powerful. To have grade levels synced this way is top of my priority list.

Next Picassa3, and the ease at which you can manage your photo albums then send to the web….THEN….create slideshows for your blog, and have parents download what they want???!!!! Wow. So often amazing photos are taken only to be treated the same way I treat my freezer…..throw food in there and never get it out. This way staff upload photos and parents have a home to go to…somewhere to visit regularly to find that perfect snap of their child. Flicker was good but as a tool in the classroom Picassa wins hands down….not to mention geotagging and sending your images to google Earth. staff such as Todd Denton, Kimbra Power, Sarah Toa, and our principal….with a little help….Mr Dennis Bissmeyer are all using Picasa.

Google docs and the collaborative nature of this application will no doubt become a staple in middle and high school, especially with the teacher having the ability to set groups, track changes and contributions made, then add comments on the document for all members of the group to see!!! I love it.

I see knols, perhaps being used in Elementary especially for science and social classes.

I am trying to love Google reader but it just doesn’t do it for me…Tim Munnerlyn swears by it, but I am a netvibes person through and through…I am trying though!

With wikis and chat search engines for every topic you can think of it really is your one stop shop…..I can hear the grumblings of…not another sign up form…..but that won’t last long as we roll out Picasa then google docs……So sign up for an account if you don’t have one………and then as google says….Try something new. As a man I used to know would say……I’m excited!

Tags: DBissmeyer, googleapps, kpower, netvibes, Picasa, stoa, tdenton
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Blogging and social networking in school

August 25th, 2008

Staff are engaged and genuinely interested in taking the leap into creating their own space on line…..I am steering a little more away from calling it a blog with new comers as some consider a blog a place where they divulge their deepest darkest secrets in a dear diary format. For me and the direction school is taking, it seems to be a very useful communication tool not only for staff but students and parents. To get to a point where all Elementary staff are replacing their weekly newsletter printed and sent home only to be be found 4 days later…( I am talking about me here) would be exciting. To be able to post student work, photos, voice threads, daily, every other day, weekly updates…whatever and have an on going record that parents can view in real time is incredible. Already 5th grade are doing it. 4th are nearly ……. But it has to be measured steps. To sit and have staff create their blog, sign up for twitter, delicious, Flickr, Picasa, Widgetbox, Netvibes, youtube, gmail, pimp their firefox (as Jeff Utecht calls it), with add-ons such as twirl, adblock Plus, All in one sidebar, Foxytunes, Pic lens, screen grab, stumble upon, hotspot shield, friendfeed, can totally overwhelm….but to have one without the other just doesn’t cut it! How many do you introduce at once? What ones am I missing? So much I want to do tomorrow!!!!!

Tags: education, networking, school tools, web 2.0
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Now that the hardware is connected……

August 9th, 2008

We must socially connect!!!!!

And what better way to connect than telling the world what you are up to. As educators especially elementary, the use of newsletters is one way we keep the school community connected. It’s great to be able to see what everyone is up to and look at the wall of newsletters, but why not start your own blog and keep us up to date a little more regularly?….This doesn’t mean that you post daily, it just means that you post when you want. One week you may post  only once the following week twice, maybe three times….it’s up to you.

SAS has many bloggers, and the software for you. Of course your elementary tech guys Mike Romard and I are blogging but, so are staff all over the campus, from teachers to admin! Check out the following…. Kimbra in grade 5, Amanda Decardy in Middle School, Principal Ron Roukema, Deputy Super Andy Torris, Shaun McElroy, Alfred Olivas, just a few to get you started. Once you have visited these few I suggest turning your attention to educators blogging all over the world that contribute to education and pedagogy allowing you to view things differently and incorporate new ways of doing things into what you are already doing…check out the following bloggers…..Jeff Utecht, David Warlick, Jenny Luca, Tim Munnerlyn, Viki Davis

Some links won’t work here in China…mostly anything that has bloggerspot, wordpress.com etc in its URL. I would suggest downloading hotspot shield a free nifty little thing that is a vpn…much like a secure bank line out of China that can’t be read by the amazing firewall “protecting” us all in the PRC.

Now to read all of these can take some time and we can talk more about this in a future post….but start thinking about putting some of your energy into creating your news online rather than paper. And ask questions, we are more than happy to help one and all!

Tags: Alfred Olivas, Amanda Decardy Mike Romard, Andy Torris, blogging, David Warlick, Jenny Luca, Kimbra Power, Ron Roukema, SAS, Shaun McElroy, Tim Munnerlyn, Utecht, Viki Davis
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Make sure you’re connected

August 3rd, 2008

Well, we are back…and connected big time! More of that in a moment. First up though, what a summer break….we arrived back in Australia to temperatures I forgot existed!!! Just when summer in Shanghai was firing up we headed home to extreme cases of the flu, Chickenpox, rain, rain and more rain….followed by food poisoning. Fun times……all in an apartment you couldn’t swing a cat in!!!! The place we stay is fantastic, especially in good weather with the back door open and sausages sizzlin’  but when it is constantly raining the space seems to get smaller!!! Luckily I wired it with extra fast internet, airtunes, B&W speakers, LCD TV etc……all those Chinese DVD’s we brought home were fantastic.

And now we are back and feeling very positive….a new apartment with a gorgeous big kitchen, Satellite, 2 Macs and Kimbra’s pc laptop. 3 days of connecting TV’s, networking the house…..wirelessly of course and things couldn’t get any better……but wait….tech, tech and more tech this year!!!!!! I just can’t wait. For those requiring a hand or advice on how to network your home be sure to ask as I love working out the best way possible. It is good getting all our machines and equipment “talking”.

Here’s what we have set up at home……

1 Airport extreme giving ultra fast connectivity…yes in China! to any computer that has permission to join the “Powerpad” …which is just the 3 computers. I debated this one heavily….invest in the time capsule, or go for the Extreme with hard drive connected…obviously I went for the latter I already had an external 500 gb hard drive…..I like to see the hardware and being locked in to the time capsules 500gb or 1tb scared me…what happens when I want more? Printer also hooked up so all computers can print wirelessly. 

1 20 inch imac 2.4 ghz, 320 gb….big graphics card…I couldn’t justify the 2.6 ghz.

1 old Powerbook G4 still humming along…starting to show its age when sitting next to the imac in terms of speed.

1 windows laptop.

itunes and iphoto are now running on the external hard drive allowing all computers to be up to date with incoming media….when you update on one computer then move to the next one…bam it’s up to date and raring to go! I am finding when changing albums in itunes it does take a second or two to register, but no lag when the music flies through airtunes!!!!

LCD 37 inch…….big enough…..I am finding with Dream satellite that the picture is pretty good…any bigger and the grain would become annoying….but DVD’s…..ooohhh  aaahhhhh!!!! Next in the artillery collection will be those ELAC bookshelf speakers or Focal…whichever is cheaper on Fuxing Lu… that pump out gorgeous lifelike sound…..no dodgy surround sound for me and those little speakers that feel like flies hovering behind your head!

The best thing about the system is there is room to move and change which is great as I am sure there are faster ways to keep connected. The other investment will be for Time Machine.

Yes most is Mac….and I go for it because as the video says…it just works…..having said that with school utilizing both platforms being bilingual is very handy and very easy

So welcome everyone….keep connected and let me in on your home network!!

Tags: 323onMain, connection, Elac, Focal, Mac, Network, SAS
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