Help for the Next Show!

Take a Listen
I would like help from my network (that's anyone who reads this) for the next podcast. Rather than give yet another review of Leopard, I would like to know what your most favorite and least favorite features are in Leopard. If you would like to participate in the show I would love it if you would send me an .mp3 or other audio file with your most and lease favorites along with your name and blog, wiki, podcast or anything else you would like to plug. Send them to kdumont@mac.com. I would like to get the show out by next Wednesday so if you could have them to me by Tuesday I would appreciate it.

See You in a Few!

As if I don't have enough else to do...

I felt I wanted another forum a little different than The Educational Mac. So, I have created a new website modestly called The Tao of Kel. I will be ranting daily there this month as I try to participate in Nablopomo (National Blog Posting Month) Never will someone write so much to say so little. The feed for the blog is http://web.mac.com/kelly.dumont/Site/Blog/rss.xml

The Educational Mac Podcast #44–October 21, 2007

Click here to download the podcast!
Show Notes
Leopard Due October 26th @ 6:00 pm
Leopards 300 New Features
Leopard Guided Tour
JSD Elementary Film Festival Information
See You in a Few!

Impromptu Demo Breeds Ideas

I have seen this happen a lot through Twitter the last couple of months, but I had a first hand experience with it yesterday. I was teaching the final session of a professional development for a small group of teachers at an elementary school in our district. The class was about them learning to use the tools available on their Mac laptops. Over the course of the 5 weeks (3 hours per session) we covered the OS, File Management, iLife, iWork, Comic Life, etc.

One of the tools they gravitated to the most was iChat. While most were initially excited about the opportunity to cheaply visit with distant friends and family, they soon discovered what a great tool it was for communication within their building. I wanted to leave them with a glimpse of other things that are happening and available now. I chose to show them UStream. I was afraid this might push them over the edge, but what actually happened was quite different.

Within about 10 seconds the first idea was blurted out, then another and another. Within 2 minutes they had about 10 ideas for using UStream in their classroom. None of them are new and original, but I was impressed that they came up with them. Here is what they came up with...

1. Sharing presentations with parents who might not be able to attend in person.
2. Letting homebound students participate with class (shared Brian Crosby's work with them).
3. Showing and recording student behavior so adminstrator is aware (both positive and negative).
4. Allows parent's who can't normally come to the classroom to see what is going on in school.
5. Live science demonstrations showing or receiving from others.
6. Recording of teaching so students can review it later.
7. Recording student presentations so parents, grandparent's, etc. can view it later. (Password features helps)
8. Allowing guests, experts, etc. to come into the classroom from far away. (Platform neutrality the key for them here.)
9. Weekly newsletter (broadcast) for parents.
10. Nightly broadcast review of the day for students.
This list for me is not spectacular for the ideas themselves, but for who came up with them. This was a group of teachers who 6 weeks ago were afraid to do much more than write an email or browse a web page. I am going back out next month to help a few of them set up their own shows. It was pretty exciting.

The other exciting thing that came out of this class, was that by last night, I didn't have to show anyone anything. By that I mean if someone had a question about an issue with a program, or how to do this or that, I couldn't even answer. Others in the class took over and taught them how to do it. One of them even turned to me and said, "what do we need you for?" I felt proud and rejected all at the same time.

Podcast coming in a day or two.

See You in a Few!

The Power of Support

I sat at an event honoring young women from our congregation this evening. One young woman who has had some personal struggles of late got up to sing. The piano began, she began, but a couple of lines had to stop being overcome with emotion. She asked the pianist to start again and she tried to start again with the same results. At this point, two other young ladies got up and stood by their friend, lending their support. She tried to start again and still could not finish the song. The pianist just played the entire song. Throughout those few minutes the young ladies stood with their friend offering their continued support. It was a moving and powerful moment.

It made me think of some of my own struggles the past few weeks. Speaking professionally, at times I have felt like I couldn't continue with things I was doing. Yet everytime I got to a low point some kind of support would come through the edtech community, be it an answer to a question or the posting of a link to conversation, or other type of discussion. This support has helped bouy me up.

Now we have this great K12 online conference and I would like to thank not only the Seedlings, but all of those who are presenting during the conference. A huge thanks as well to the conveners of the conference. I can feel the stress in posts and tweets from these tireless workers. I want them to know that there efforts are appreciated. k12online07

Announcing 2008 Jordan School District Elementary Film Festival

We are gearing up for our annual elementary film festival. The festival will be held on April 24, 2008. The reason I am posting this here is because we have added a new category this year, Foreign Films. By foreign we mean outside of our school district. We will accept entries from any elementary (K-6) school in Utah, the US, or Worldwide. The entries can align to any of our other categories (Animation, Documentary, Feature Film, Public Service Announcement, etc.)

Entries will need to be accompanied by entry forms which can be downloaded from the link below. Entrants also need to understand that the films will be posted online for screening. Make sure you have covered any privacy issues with your own policies and procedures.

We are so excited to try branching our film festival out slowly to other schools. If you are interested in entering films in our Foreign Film category, please contact me at kelly.dumont@jordan.k12.ut.us

The information page for the Film Festival can be found here –Jordan School District Elementary Film Festival–

Are You Ready, I Am!

As I have been involved at my dayjob lately, I have felt a real lack of forward progress. I keep trying to blame my feelings on the job itself or on coworkers lack of wanting to move forward. The more I think about it though I realize it is me, it is not the job, not anyone else but me. I feel a need for a recharge.

I have been looking forward to the K12 Online Conference, but as I woke up this morning and realized that David Warlick's opening keynote is less than 24 hours away, I got really excited. Jen Wagner tweeted yesterday that she would be up at 5:00 am tomorrow to view the keynote. I replied that I would watch it tomorrow, but not necessarily be getting up early to watch it. Thanks Jen for the challenge so to speak. As I woke up this morning I felt a lot of excitement about K12 Online. I am sure it is going to help recharge my batteries and I am really looking forward to it. Jen, I will be joining you and hopefully many others early tomorrow morning.

See You in a Few!

And now for something completely different, or not, but still cool…

Get the Audio Here I just finished participating in a Skype and Google chat with Vicki Davis, Darren Draper, Karen Janowski, Kristin Hokanson, Robin Ellis, Jo McLeay, Sharon Peters, Ryan Bretag, and John Maklary. We are collaborating on an NECC proposal. Using Google Docs, Google Chat, and Skype we worked on refining the proposal. This is the audio recorded from that discussion. This is such an interesting way to collaborate and plan.

The Educational Mac Podcast #43 A Vidcast September 5, 2007

Click Here for Vidcast Click Here for Audio Only

A rather long winded vidcast. My experiences at the Apple Distinguished Educator's Institute this summer. My roommate was Tom Woodward of Bionic Teaching and the fabled Tech Ninja fame.

An introduction to Twitter.

Apple introduces new iMacs, iLife '08, and iWork '08. They also offer up new site licenses for iLife and iWork.

Guest Cast/Chat with Dan Schmit of Kidcast.

See You in a Few!

Why is it so hard...?

Why is it so hard for me to get a podcast out? I have had the outline/script written for 2 weeks. I want to do it. Am I really that busy? I can't be that busy. Do I need more peace and quiet to do it? Yeah, good luck with that one. Well I will get one out by Tuesday morning. No more excuses...but what about that BBQ on Monday...?
See You in a Few!
No this time I really mean it!

8 Things

This has been around awhile, and I was actually tagged a couple of weeks ago, but am just getting to it. This is another meme experiment: 1. We have to post these rules before we give you the facts. 2. Players start with eight random facts / habits about themselves. 3. People who are tagged need to write in their own blog about their eight things and include these rules in the post. 4. At the end of your post, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names. 5. Don't forget to leave them a comment telling them they're tagged, and to read your blog.
---------------------------------------------
eight facts / habits about me: 1. My favourite food is lobster, but I don't have it very often. 2. My Great-Grandfather loaned J.C. Penney money to help start his first store. Instead of taking an interest in the venture he opted for his money back with a little interest. 3. My first computer was an Atari 800 XL. 4. The town where my parents lived when I was born no longer exists. 5. My first Mac was an emulator for the Atari ST. 6. I drive a car that looks like someone took a can opener to on the right side. 7. I am a comic book fan. 8. I worked at Computer City/CompUSA for 6 months while working on my Master's. Thought it would be a good way to earn tuition. Ha, Ha, Ha.
---------------------------------------------
Most everyone I read has already participated, but if you want go ahead and consider yourself tagged.

Homes on the Online Range

I must be feeling loquacious these days. Maybe my mind is coming out of a fog. For the first time in awhile thoughts seem to be actually coalescing in my brain. One thing that has struck me in particular late is thoughts of home. Having done some traveling this summer, I have been away from home more than usual. While away I have found myself thinking more about home than usual. Could be the old age creeping in. Anyway those thoughts of home always lead to peaceful, comfortable feelings. One thing that I have noticed about being home though is I seem to be shutting out more of the outside influences when I am home. This may be good or bad.

Along those same lines I have been thinking about online homes. I have places online that evoke the same feelings that being at home does. For me those homes include the Twitterverse, Google Reader, and the ADE forum pages. I also notice that when in these online home environment I tend again to shut out more of the outside influences. I am not sure this even makes sense, but let me give an example.

On Monday it was thought that a small to moderate earthquake struck in central Utah about 100 miles to the Southeast of my home. This "earthquake" caused a mine collapse trapping 6 miners. It is now being reported that actually the collapse caused the seismic readings not the other way around. Anyway, through my online homes I was aware that this had occurred except I didn't know it had happened here in Utah until about 6 hours later.

It makes me wonder if I have let myself get too comfortable in both my real world and online homes.

See You in a Few!

About the Guest Casts

I just have to say that I feel like a proud father. The 3 Guest casts that were posted today were the final projects for the Podcasting PD class I taught the last two days. These 13 fantastic teachers far exceeded my expectations for their projects. Congratulations to all of you.

To the listeners, if you feel so inclined, please leave comments on the Guest Casts, Thank You.

Guest Cast #3–The Four Square Mulitplication Method by The 4 Squares

Click here to listen to the podcast
Produced by teachers taking a Podcasting professional development class in Jordan School District.
Show Notes
This podcast is about multiplication using the four square method.

Guest Cast #2-Communication by The 5 T's

Click here to listen to the podcast Produced by teachers taking a Podcasting professional development class in Jordan School District. Show Notes In our podcast, we discuss different kinds of communication and how they can be used in the classroom. Math, Science, and Storytelling as well as Humor, Reviews, and Group Activities are discussed. This podcast will help people see the importance of good communication and how it helps in culture and the community.

Guest Cast #1–Check it Out! by the Book Lovers

Click here to listen to the podcast Produced by teachers taking a Podcasting professional development class in Jordan School District. Show Notes A discussion of three best-selling books by Stephanie Meyer: Twilight, New Moon, and Eclipse, with excerpts and reviews for each book.

The Educational Mac Podcast #42 August 6, 2007

Click here to listen to the Podcast! A short cast introducing some Guest Casts that will be coming through the feed in the next day or so. See You in a Few!

ADE 2007 Summer Institute Part II

3 days into the institute and still going strong. For an old fart like me that is pretty amazing. It is the energy of this fantastic group of educators that makes it possible though. Yesterday we finished our Class of 2007 orientation. I think I have my head a little more around what it means to be an ADE. I have for so long been what I hope is a passionate advocate for using technology in education in general and Macs in particular. But this really steps it up another level. Being able to meet with other passionate advocates and to feed off or their energy is incredible.
The level of leadership Apple shows in this regard is also incredible. We spent a couple of hours yesterday and a couple more today with Rebecca Stockley an amazing Improvisation Artist and teacher. What a bundle of energy, wit, and fun. We learned some great improv techniques and skills from Rebecca. We also had a brief presentation from Topher Klein from SMART Technologies that ended in a big surprise. Also throughout the day more great food.
Today we had the opportunity to attend 3 workshops of our choosing. Where else in one day can one sit in sessions led by Marco Torres, Ted Lai, and Carl Owens. This evening we had a glorious meal (sorry, those who did not get steak) and the both of the desserts were to die for. The evening was capped off by a presentations by Pulitzer Prize winning photographer Vincent Laforet. He has produced some of the most adventurous and also heart rendering images I have ever seen. To see his shot of the changing of the light at the top of the Empire State Building gave me vertigo while sitting down. On the other hand, his images of New Orleans in the days following Katrina brought tears to my eyes. It was an incredible presentation.
Tomorrow we start our 24 hour project period. I will be working with a group of 3 or 4 other ADEs and we will have 24 hours to complete a project based on a visit we will make tomorrow backstage so to speak at the Monterrey Bay Aquarium. At this point I have no idea what we will do, but I am excited to work on it with this team from across the nation.
That has actually been the key of attending this event. As I mentioned earlier, I am amazed by the talent and passion of this group. It is so interesting to talk to these people and hear theirs stories and what they do. I got to know the tech director of a 3,700 student private school in Hawaii last night. Tonight I had the pleasure of dining with the Director of Integrated Technologies of a small school located in Martha's Vinyard. That visit makes me want to visit Boston more than ever. Hmmm...how can I get to Alan November's BLC Conference next year.
Well, off for a few hours of sleep tonight as I am thinking there won't be much tomorrow night. See You in a Few! ADE2007

ADE 2007 Summer Institute

I am currently in Monterey, CA for the 2007 Apple Distinguished Educator Summer Institute. We will be here through Saturday. This will be a great opportunity for me to learn from other passionate about the same things that I am. I am looking forward to working with the other ADE's over the course of the next several years. I have not met everyone in our class yet, but I will. Today the new ADE's flew in to San Jose and were taken by bus to the Apple Campus in Cupertino. Yes, we visited the mothership, drank the Kool-Aid, and bought out the Retail Store on campus. It really was interesting to feel the energy on campus. The coolest thing I saw was the Executive Briefing Center, where Apple brings in groups to brief them on products, ideas, etc. We took a group photo in the quad, which I understand is a rare occurrence as photography is not allowed inside Infinite Loop. We then boarded the buses for the drive to Monterey, or more accurately, California State University at Monterey Bay. It is an interesting campus to say the least. It is actually contained within an old military installation so you have a mixture of old military style buildings and more modern buildings. We are "dorming" it in a modern dorm building. It is kind of fun. I have the privilege of rooming with Tom Woodward. This evening we had a delightful Mexican buffet (the shrimp fajitas were great) and introductory meeting. Tomorrow is a busy day with some introductory presentations and then a vendor fair in the afternoon through dinner. Tomorrow a group of alumni ADE's will also descend upon us which I am really looking forward to. This is going to be a great week and it has just begun. See You in a Few! ADE2007

I am Yllek Ducatillon

I have finally found where I wanted to be in Second Life. This is a new experience for this old dog. I found The Bloggers Cafe blog and now the Second Life version. I have been to the Cafe a couple of times, but was always alone there. Tonight when I jumped in, Ryan Bretag and others were there. Ryan is the creator of The Bloggers Cafe in Second Life. He was very welcoming and even got my picture up on the wall. I think I will be spending a lot of time there in the near future.