Mr. Bass

Podcast about the upcoming NotK12OnlineConference — http://k12onlineconference.org/?p=225

Site to come soon, check back — http://notk12onlineconference.org/

Today I had the opportunity to attend a workshop on using primary sources on the web for inquiry based project.  The workshop was led by Phillip Molebash, the Director of Technology at Loyola High School of Los Angeles.  Many of his comments were familiar to me from my Master’s courses, but I wanted to share a few different sites from the workshops.  The workshop was meant for social studies teachers so the content is based on history but the process that he discussed is very relevant to any curricular area.

Molebash.com — This is his homepage and shows his work with Bernie Dodge

Webinquiry.org — Describes his projects in detail

Valley of the Shadow — Primary source database of the Civil War based on the work by the Virginia Center for Digital History

Overall the day was well worth my time and got me thinking about inquiry based projects in our district.  One thing that Molebash has done is brought together four levels of inquiry.  I’m not big on categorizing projects based on such little criteria, but I did find it interesting.

I spent a good bit of the day looking at the Valley of the Shadow site and reading through the letters that Civil War soldiers to their families.  Very interesting and very moving.  I’ve always been intriqued by the Civil War, but through these primary sources I got a new look at the history behind it.  Enjoy.

Well, I’m back on my phone again. I have a short list of frustrations…
1. Free wifi is hard to find
2. Twitter seems to be down
3. I can’t seem to find free wifi
4. I spent $10 on a warm beer last night
5. Still no free wifi

Oh well, Amy Tan is about to begin speaking. At least I’m still able to get online with my phone.

I’m starting a new blog for the teachers I’m working with in Parkway entitled Tips from your TIS (Technology Integration Specialist).  Take a peek and, as always, comments are welcome.

Michael William Power
born @ 12:17 on Thursday, September 6, 2007
8lbs. 13.2oz.

See pictures @ http://www.powerfulnews.blogspot.com/

It’s almost time for the second K-12 Online Conference.

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.

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

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.

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.