It has been a long time since I've written and have decided to give this blogging thing another go. I used to feel guilty if I didn't write, like it was an obligation, instead of merely reflecting. I also thought I had to write a full paper like I was back in high school, I have since realized that length matters not, it is the content of the post that matters.
I would like to say that the inspiration to again blog came from a visit from my friend George Couros @gcouros, at the recent ISTE convention. We met at a Starbucks and were able to visit for over an hour one-on-one, which I enjoyed very much. It took us several times to connect, since I rode a public transit bus for over an hour, and missed our first appointment, but we got it done and had a great discussion. I value his insight as both an educator and friend.
My first ISTE in a word was OVERWHELMING! There is just so much and in no way can one do it all. I'm very happy I went, and have a chance to meet many of the people on twitter that I've followed since I started the journey. The discussions with them was very valuable, after all we are in the people business and its relationships with people that make this profession so incredible. The technology is nice but the people are the reason we do what we do. Glad I went but not sure I'll ever go again, of course that opinion is subject to change.
So I hope you will welcome me back, have many new ideas for our staff and launching a 1:1 initiative at our high school. I promise not to guilt myself or pressure myself to write blogs that I could turn in for a grade.
Saturday, June 29, 2013
Monday, February 25, 2013
I Have to Know Me
Every time I make a promise to myself that I'm going to blog more regularly, I end up breaking that promise. I guess I should make it a New Year Resolution so I won't feel so guilty about not posting, since we break our resolutions anyway. The truth is I enjoy reading what others write more than what I write. There are some great educational minds out there.
As with most superintendents I am watching closely our state legislature and for whatever reason we have been declared public enemy #1. Why the disdain for the education field is a mystery to me, but we are partly to blame, since in my opinion, educators are politically apathetic and will continue to let politicians be our policy makers, which is a very scary thought. They are taking up some very important topics this session, lap dances, basketball scheduling, and trying to figure out how we can not follow federal laws and guidelines.
By the way if Congress is so worried about the budget cuts that are going to happen this Friday, why did they take last week off for vacations.
Maybe this needs to be my new approach to blogging, instead of worrying about writing a dissertation maybe I should just focus on a couple of items and just write on them. Ok now I'm renewing my promise to blog more often.
As with most superintendents I am watching closely our state legislature and for whatever reason we have been declared public enemy #1. Why the disdain for the education field is a mystery to me, but we are partly to blame, since in my opinion, educators are politically apathetic and will continue to let politicians be our policy makers, which is a very scary thought. They are taking up some very important topics this session, lap dances, basketball scheduling, and trying to figure out how we can not follow federal laws and guidelines.
By the way if Congress is so worried about the budget cuts that are going to happen this Friday, why did they take last week off for vacations.
Maybe this needs to be my new approach to blogging, instead of worrying about writing a dissertation maybe I should just focus on a couple of items and just write on them. Ok now I'm renewing my promise to blog more often.
Thursday, January 24, 2013
They Love Us, Too
We are in education because we love the kids, at least thats the concept I have always thought to be the truth. If its not the truth maybe one should pick a different profession, since kids are the very essence of our business.
I will be making a presentation at the USA convention in Wichita, Kansas, on web tools of education. I have no creative ability whatsoever, and wanted to have a nice audio visual show for the audience. I turned to our Advanced Technology Class, a couple of weeks ago, at the high school in which I am Superintendent. Here was the assignment: Create a presentation for me using either Prezi or SlideRocket. I then provided them the content for the presentation. Ten of the twelve students in the class volunteered to help with the presentation
I have made Prezi's before but once again, not being creative, I didn't take advantage of all it has to offer, the students chose to use SlideRocket, which was fine with me. Their teacher said they worked in groups with each taking a different area of the presentation. After about a week they asked me over to view what they had done, we made some additions and changed some things and back to work they went. About a week ago, I viewed the final product and was very impressed with what they had put together for me, now I have a quality presentation.
Then it smacked me in the face, not only do we love the kids but they love us, too. When we give them the opportunity to help us or do tasks for us they jump at the chance because they love us, too. They are a great resource that we, as adults, need to take advantage of not even to mention that we can learn from them, and they love to teach us. I now have a resource that I didn't previously have and they are so comfortable using tools that anytime I have a question or need help I know where I'm heading.
By the way they also taught me how to use SlideRocket, since I never had before. We have a PD coming up the first of February, and the students are going to present to our faculty how to use SlideRocket, and all I'm out is some pizza for them. My real motivation is to show the staff that they need to use the resource we got in the business for in the first place.
I will be making a presentation at the USA convention in Wichita, Kansas, on web tools of education. I have no creative ability whatsoever, and wanted to have a nice audio visual show for the audience. I turned to our Advanced Technology Class, a couple of weeks ago, at the high school in which I am Superintendent. Here was the assignment: Create a presentation for me using either Prezi or SlideRocket. I then provided them the content for the presentation. Ten of the twelve students in the class volunteered to help with the presentation
I have made Prezi's before but once again, not being creative, I didn't take advantage of all it has to offer, the students chose to use SlideRocket, which was fine with me. Their teacher said they worked in groups with each taking a different area of the presentation. After about a week they asked me over to view what they had done, we made some additions and changed some things and back to work they went. About a week ago, I viewed the final product and was very impressed with what they had put together for me, now I have a quality presentation.
Then it smacked me in the face, not only do we love the kids but they love us, too. When we give them the opportunity to help us or do tasks for us they jump at the chance because they love us, too. They are a great resource that we, as adults, need to take advantage of not even to mention that we can learn from them, and they love to teach us. I now have a resource that I didn't previously have and they are so comfortable using tools that anytime I have a question or need help I know where I'm heading.
By the way they also taught me how to use SlideRocket, since I never had before. We have a PD coming up the first of February, and the students are going to present to our faculty how to use SlideRocket, and all I'm out is some pizza for them. My real motivation is to show the staff that they need to use the resource we got in the business for in the first place.
Friday, December 7, 2012
They Don't Get It
The other night I attended a forum of the legislatures, both incumbents or newly elected officials were there. As their usual political way, with a room full of educators, they told us their family tree of educators and how much they supported us. We'll see when their votes are cast in the current session.
A couple of topics really sparked my interest though.
They talked about testing and how we must of have a way to measure kids. Right! This made me reflect on when my sister and I had to put our mother in a nursing home. My sister would go out everyday for dinner with my mom and when I was in town both of us would go. Mom sat at a table with our 2nd grade and 3rd grade teachers, and we had great visits about school, they way education had changed, and various other topics. Amazingly, it never crossed my mind to thank them for giving me the Iowa Basic Skills Test, as if that was the highlight of my time with them.
Our governor has put together an Efficiency Task Force to make sure we are spending our money wisely. No educator was appointed to this until the outcry was so loud he finally put a superintendent on it, 1 educator with 12 CPA's, insurance businessmen, and independent businessmen. Curious how many of their clients are below the age of 10. They don't know the education field and are trying to reduce our profession to mere dollars and cents.
WE ARE A PEOPLE BUSINESS. The relationships and memories we create are of a human nature, not of tests and money. I don't think they will ever get that because they don't understand what we really do. I just find it ironic that people outside our profession are so eager to run our profession when they have such little understanding of our true impact on students. The old saying is certainly true "They will never remember everything you teach them, but they will always remember how you treated them."
I hope I never go into classroom and announce, I saved the district money today, or I sure hope you enjoyed the standardized tests we're making you take.
A couple of topics really sparked my interest though.
They talked about testing and how we must of have a way to measure kids. Right! This made me reflect on when my sister and I had to put our mother in a nursing home. My sister would go out everyday for dinner with my mom and when I was in town both of us would go. Mom sat at a table with our 2nd grade and 3rd grade teachers, and we had great visits about school, they way education had changed, and various other topics. Amazingly, it never crossed my mind to thank them for giving me the Iowa Basic Skills Test, as if that was the highlight of my time with them.
Our governor has put together an Efficiency Task Force to make sure we are spending our money wisely. No educator was appointed to this until the outcry was so loud he finally put a superintendent on it, 1 educator with 12 CPA's, insurance businessmen, and independent businessmen. Curious how many of their clients are below the age of 10. They don't know the education field and are trying to reduce our profession to mere dollars and cents.
WE ARE A PEOPLE BUSINESS. The relationships and memories we create are of a human nature, not of tests and money. I don't think they will ever get that because they don't understand what we really do. I just find it ironic that people outside our profession are so eager to run our profession when they have such little understanding of our true impact on students. The old saying is certainly true "They will never remember everything you teach them, but they will always remember how you treated them."
I hope I never go into classroom and announce, I saved the district money today, or I sure hope you enjoyed the standardized tests we're making you take.
Monday, December 3, 2012
It Makes No Sense to Me
Saturday our school hosted a Scholars Bowl tournament, which my wife, daughter, and I helped at. My daughters were both involved with Scholars Bowl when they were in high school, in fact at the high school I was principal our oldest daughter was a member of the Scholars Bowl team that won the state championship. I was as proud as if she had been a member of a state championship basketball team, and it is the only state title the school has won.
I think it is called Quiz Bowl in some other states, at any rate it is an academic competition. The students are allowed 10 seconds, except most math questions are longer, to answer questions. To me this type of competition is the very essence of our profession and its fun. If you like Jeopardy you'll like Scholars Bowl.
Here is the part that confuses me. It is a competition, there is a winner and loser. The students are allowed to talk to each other or look at each others papers when working math problems, until a contestant buzzes in. Which is legal, once a contestant buzzes in the talking must cease.
My one and only question is: If we allow this type of collaboration during a competition why is it considered cheating in day to day operation of school? It makes no sense to me.
I think it is called Quiz Bowl in some other states, at any rate it is an academic competition. The students are allowed 10 seconds, except most math questions are longer, to answer questions. To me this type of competition is the very essence of our profession and its fun. If you like Jeopardy you'll like Scholars Bowl.
Here is the part that confuses me. It is a competition, there is a winner and loser. The students are allowed to talk to each other or look at each others papers when working math problems, until a contestant buzzes in. Which is legal, once a contestant buzzes in the talking must cease.
My one and only question is: If we allow this type of collaboration during a competition why is it considered cheating in day to day operation of school? It makes no sense to me.
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Why Are We Letting This Happen
I was going to make a conviction to write weekly but as usual it takes me longer to find a relevant topic and then to collect thoughts about it to put down in this blog. I will still try to write weekly but that is a goal and not a promise.
I had a great holiday weekend last weekend, we got to spend some great time with family and that is so enjoyable. The food was wonderful and no pressure in gift buying and did I get the right stuff for someone, I think thats why I like Thanksgiving, plus never ending football games.
I can't figure out why in the world of education we let politicians dictate our fate, when most of them don't know a thing about our world. In fact I'm not real sure they a thing about anything but they make us and adhere to policies no other profession has to. We can no longer be politically bystanders or they will ruin our profession.
Lets look at what has happened:
Common Core-I do like parts of this, and like that we can teach deeper and not a mile wide and an inch deep. I do, however, question why we are virtually allowing the reduction of our curriculum to reading and math. We have so many students that excel in other areas such as the arts, vocational training, and/or physical tasks. We treat areas that aren't tested as less important and thats just not the case.
Evaluations-These have become beyond ridiculous. In Kansas we are looking at several models and both are a minimum of 30 pages in length, our legislature wants our building administrators to spend at least 75% of their time with evaluation. Yeah thats reality, I'm sure none of them have sat in the office of a building administrator to see this is an impossible goal. Thats exactly what we need is more paperwork to take us away from the reason we got in this profession, the kids. Any administrator I've been around knows when there is quality instruction going on, we don't need a book of evaluation processes to tell us. Its like us doing PD on bullying, thinking that will stop the problem.
More Tests-Once again politicians think we will test our way into educational excellence. What a dopey thought this is. My goodness we are killing our young kids with tests. No wonder they have distain for school, make it fun again. My fondest memories of school had nothing to do with standardized tests.
I know we have to have accountability and I am not opposed to that, but you know what Mr./Mrs. Politician involve us before you make these requests that will not improve our craft. I think there needs to be changes in the way we do business but they are focused on classroom instruction and delivery and not on mandates set forth by politicians or others that have spent not time in our profession.
My rant is over, thank you for listening.
I had a great holiday weekend last weekend, we got to spend some great time with family and that is so enjoyable. The food was wonderful and no pressure in gift buying and did I get the right stuff for someone, I think thats why I like Thanksgiving, plus never ending football games.
I can't figure out why in the world of education we let politicians dictate our fate, when most of them don't know a thing about our world. In fact I'm not real sure they a thing about anything but they make us and adhere to policies no other profession has to. We can no longer be politically bystanders or they will ruin our profession.
Lets look at what has happened:
Common Core-I do like parts of this, and like that we can teach deeper and not a mile wide and an inch deep. I do, however, question why we are virtually allowing the reduction of our curriculum to reading and math. We have so many students that excel in other areas such as the arts, vocational training, and/or physical tasks. We treat areas that aren't tested as less important and thats just not the case.
Evaluations-These have become beyond ridiculous. In Kansas we are looking at several models and both are a minimum of 30 pages in length, our legislature wants our building administrators to spend at least 75% of their time with evaluation. Yeah thats reality, I'm sure none of them have sat in the office of a building administrator to see this is an impossible goal. Thats exactly what we need is more paperwork to take us away from the reason we got in this profession, the kids. Any administrator I've been around knows when there is quality instruction going on, we don't need a book of evaluation processes to tell us. Its like us doing PD on bullying, thinking that will stop the problem.
More Tests-Once again politicians think we will test our way into educational excellence. What a dopey thought this is. My goodness we are killing our young kids with tests. No wonder they have distain for school, make it fun again. My fondest memories of school had nothing to do with standardized tests.
I know we have to have accountability and I am not opposed to that, but you know what Mr./Mrs. Politician involve us before you make these requests that will not improve our craft. I think there needs to be changes in the way we do business but they are focused on classroom instruction and delivery and not on mandates set forth by politicians or others that have spent not time in our profession.
My rant is over, thank you for listening.
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Take Your Own Advice
At the start of the week I was asked by a neighboring school district to come over and visit with them about educational technology, which both flattered me and pleased me. One thing that helped me look forward to it was they are good friends as well as professional friends. We spent about 2 1/2 hours visiting and I showed them my favorite tools that are available and free.
They are considering an iPad 1:1 initiative and wanted to know what tools they should start their teachers with. The superintendent kept saying we need a plan to implement, so we discussed that, since I had been at a school that had a 1:1 laptop program. To be honest we had taken a "Ready, Fire, Aim" approach, but things turned out very well for us, even though we probably could have provided more PD than we did. Our teachers really came on board, and it proved to be a great initiative.
I got to thinking about a plan for them later that day and into the night. So the next morning I sent them an email detailing what I would do if I were them. Then it hit me, at my current district our sophomores have been given laptops, because we are using an ebook for biology. I have thought this is step one for us to become a 1:1 school. So why don't I implement my plan in my district? I then came under the thought that sometimes you need to take your own advice.
Really looking forward to EdCampKC next weekend and reconnecting with friends that teach me so much about this ever changing world of education. It will be a great time, thanks to all that have a hand in putting this on.
They are considering an iPad 1:1 initiative and wanted to know what tools they should start their teachers with. The superintendent kept saying we need a plan to implement, so we discussed that, since I had been at a school that had a 1:1 laptop program. To be honest we had taken a "Ready, Fire, Aim" approach, but things turned out very well for us, even though we probably could have provided more PD than we did. Our teachers really came on board, and it proved to be a great initiative.
I got to thinking about a plan for them later that day and into the night. So the next morning I sent them an email detailing what I would do if I were them. Then it hit me, at my current district our sophomores have been given laptops, because we are using an ebook for biology. I have thought this is step one for us to become a 1:1 school. So why don't I implement my plan in my district? I then came under the thought that sometimes you need to take your own advice.
Really looking forward to EdCampKC next weekend and reconnecting with friends that teach me so much about this ever changing world of education. It will be a great time, thanks to all that have a hand in putting this on.
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