I’ve been using Adobe Reader for a long, long, looooooong time. You get comfortable with an application and that’s what you use. However, what in God’s name is Adobe Atmosphere and why does it need to update when Reader updates? Can you say bloatware?
That being said, I’m not one to jump for a new application when the one I’m using works just fine. But when it takes 90 seconds for Reader to open, using up most of my computers processing power, I think it’s time for a change.
Enter Foxit software. Foxit pdf reader is a small program that will read your pdf files just like Adobe. I’ve only just started using it, and I’m sure there are features that aren’t included. If you just want to read pdf files, this may be an alternative. Best part… it’s free.
http://www.foxitsoftware.com
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For about 3 years I have been considering creating my own website so that I can attempt and experiment with some online “stuff.” Last week I took the plunge, Mr. Bass Online went live on December 27th and I’ve been learning ever since. I’ve had websites before, but those were static and purely HTML. So far I’ve installed Moodle and Elgg, both of which are database and php driven.
Luckily, the creators of these two pieces of software made the installation fairly easy. Now I’m knee deep in trying to figure out how the blasted things work. It’s a learning experience but as I look at these and other applications, I wonder whether or not they are just a new piece of software that does the same thing as others, but in a different package… or, are these really worthwhile. I think that educators get into the habit of grabbing on to something new just because it’s new. Is that what I’m doing now? I don’t think so, but we’ll see.
Education, Technology, Uncategorized
The World Series has come to St. Louis. Go Cards.
I saw this rendition of Abbot and Costello and couldn’t resist sharing.
http://www.drwoolard.com/for_fun/whosonforce.mpeg
Enjoy
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In 1994 as I was taking my methods classes at Culver-Stockton College me and my classmates were in a discussion about reflective teaching and how to go about it. At this time none of us had participated in student teaching yet and were all idealists about the profession. I went on and completed my student teaching and finally graduated procurring employment at Winfield R-IV School District. During my first years of teaching I was reflective and analyzed what I did in class and tried to think of what I could do to improve the next time.
I continued looking back, as most teachers do, and tried to come up with new and inventive ways to present information. For the most part I was successful and continued to improve my content and was happy with the outcomes.
This semster I have a student teacher named Caitlin Copple from Colorado State University who is challenging me as much as I’m challenging her. I’ve had a student teacher before, but I guess I’m more serious about it this time. Everything that I have done in class for the past five days I am scrutinizing and analyzing. I am striving to be a good role model for her as well as a colleague. It’s interesting because in my 10 years of teaching, I have never analyzed why I do the things I do in my classes. I’ve never really had to explain myself, it was always simply accepted. Why is that in 10 years I’ve never really took a good hard look at my teaching other than at my content and activities? Is this a common problem in teachers? Do we simply get used to what we’re doing and not continue to look for those areas in which we can improve? I don’t know, but I know that I’m much more aware of my actions in class and that I have become a more reflective teacher in this process.
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Last year at NCTE’s annual convention I was inspired by one of the sessions that I attended. The session was about CyberEnglish, a program created by Ted Nellen. Being the technology freak that I am I was very interested and went to listen in on the session. While there I met Dawn Hogue, Ted Nellen and Pat Schulze who have all been using CyberEnglish in their classrooms for awhile. I decided that I’d give it a shot and my English 10 students have been online all semester.
Dawn’s school district is recognizing her use of this program on the home page of their website with a link to an article Dawn wrote about the experience.
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Last year at NCTE’s annual convention I was inspired by one of the sessions that I attended. The session was about CyberEnglish, a program created by Ted Nellen. Being the technology freak that I am I was very interested and went to listen in on the session. While there I met Dawn Hogue, Ted Nellen and Pat Schulze who have all been using CyberEnglish in their classrooms for awhile. I decided that I’d give it a shot and my English 10 students have been online all semester.
Dawn’s school district is recognizing her use of this program on the home page of their website with a link to an article Dawn wrote about the experience.
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For those of you who don’t know, I have 2 year old twins — one boy and one girl. They’re awesome. Such personalities and learning everyday. I don’t really think I take them for granted, but last Saturday night I met Maddie Price, Maddie is a 6 year old girl who is staying with her family at the Ronald McDonald house in St. Louis. Originally from Florida, they have spent the last 5 months in St. Louis waiting for a heart transplant. As a parent, my heart broke for this little girl and her family. I can’t imagine what they have gone through in the last 6 years, but her mother divulged that she has had 3 heart attacks and congestive heart failure in the last year.
This chance meeting has also made me look at my students differently. They have made it through to their teens and many are looking to graduate in a few months. I wish for them to never have to go through what Maddie and her family have gone through.
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One of the things that has stuck with me since the NCTE conference around Thanksgiving was a session that I attended about a one-to-one laptop program by a school in Nebraska. The presenters (unfortunately I cannot give them credit because I cannot seem to find the name of the presenters or the school) went through their reasoning about why they chose to adopt the one-to-one laptop program and the barriers that it broke down. Most of the things that they said were not new to me. However, one thing that I can’t seem to stop talking to my colleagues about was their motivation for the program…
“We want to be the best school district in the nation.” Even as I heard this I was thinking, “That’s awfully ambitious isn’t it.” Before I even completed my thought, he added, “Now, we know that’s a pretty ambitious goal, but why shouldn’t we try.”
Unfortunately, this is not something that I have often heard in my 11 year educational career. I don’t know about anyone else, but this bothers me. Why shouldn’t we have that attitude? Why shouldn’t we all strive for this? We can’t all be the best school district in the nation, but don’t we owe it to our students to at least try. If we have that attitude, it just might rub off on our students.
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Hello world, I have returned to St. Louis from the Steel City and have had a few days to recover and get to know my twin toddlers again. For those of you out there who are English teachers I cannot encourage you enough to attend. This is my second year attending and I’m hooked. So many brilliant people and ideas that it makes myhead spin. Not only that, but I met (and remet) so many great people who are doing wonderful things in their classes.
For those of you who have never attended, let me give you a brief idea of the weekend as I experienced it. We flew into Pittsburgh on Thursday, arriving in time to register and get to the opening banquet. The dinner was packed and I, unfortunately, had to take a phone call from my wife so I didn’t hear the speaker but I understand she was excellent.
Friday morning was the opening session with Frank McCourt who was amazing. Paul Cryderman posted a great synopsis of this session at the Red Cedar Writing Project.
From there the fun began. The convention is basically set up with different sessions to attend on a variety of different topics. They last about 75 minutes with 15 minutes between sessions to get from one to another. My first session was chaired by Nancy Patterson on the topic of CyberEnglish. This was a great session. I was intrigued by the idea of a completely online teaching class. On Saturday I had the pleasure of spending about 2 1/2 hours with Ted Nellen talking about his experience with CyberEnglish and how I might implement this in my school. Ted’s vision is amazing and I look forward to more interaction with him. More on CyberEnglish to come.
There were two other items that I think I would be remiss to leave out from my first post-NCTE post. One of the people that I met last year at NCTE in Indianapolis was Louann Reid, editor of the English Journal. She is a brilliant woman who gave me some of the best advice about the NCTE conference
Give yourself time to reflect on the sessions you attend and don’t try to attend every session.
The conversations that you have outside of the sessions are as worthwhile as the sessions if not more.
In addition to Louann, I want to recognize the following people and thank them for the conversation and for including me in the after hours get together. It was great to see you whether you are new friends or those I’ve met before. Stacy, Brannan, Terry, Michael, Greg, Jeff, Amanda and Kevin.
Education, Uncategorized
I just wanted to put this post out there to let anyone and everyone know that my school has just launched it’s second podcast called SpartanCast. This is a student created and produced show about the programs and activities that go on at our school. Any feedback is appreciated.
Thank you.
Education, Technology, Uncategorized
