More Video Proof that We're Moving in the Right Direction

Hat Tip David Warlick @ 2 cents worth:

What if? A question we should all ask.

Hat tip to Darren Draper:

Sir Ken Robinson: Do schools kill creativity?

Great stuff to think about from TED 2006:

Jill Bolte Taylor: My stroke of insight

Hat tip to Will Richardson over at Weblogg-ed.

You'll enjoy this truly "insightful" edition of TED Talks.




If video does not load, follow this link to TED.

NEH Hurston Workshop - Jump at the Sun: Zora Neale Hurston and her Eatonville Roots

The Florida Humanities Council (FHC) invites educators from across the United States to join distinguished historians, folklorists, architectural historians, and literary scholars for a week-long workshop: Jump at the Sun: Zora Neale Hurston and her Eatonville Roots. Just ten miles north of Orlando, Eatonville lies in the shadow of the world’s largest theme park. Surrounded by five lakes and acres of orange groves, the oldest incorporated black municipality in the United States is where Zora Neale Hurston (1891-1960), writer, folklorist, anthropologist, and arguably the most significant collector and interpreter of Southern African-American culture spent her childhood. It was a “pure Negro town…where the only white folks were those who passed through,” Hurston wrote about the town, which provided the folktales, characters, and events that inspired her literary works and folklore expeditions.


Logistics

When
Each workshop begins on Sunday afternoon and ends the following Saturday around noon. On the application, please indicate your order of preference regarding weeks that you would like to attend.

Week 1: June 15–21
Week 2: June 22–28
Week 3: June 29–July 5

Where
The workshops will take place on the campus of Rollins College, a liberal arts college situated in Central Florida. The tree-lined campus, with its Spanish Mediterranean-style buildings, is nestled in the quaint community of Winter Park along the shores of Lake Virginia. Founded in 1885, it is the oldest recognized college in Florida and is located only minutes away from Eatonville and Maitland, sites of two daylong field trips. At Rollins, participants will have access to a modern library and up-to-date computer facilities. For more information about the campus, visit their website at http://www.rollins.edu/.

Who
This program is open to public, private, and home-school teachers, and to selected school personnel. (See the application information for more details.) Teachers and administrators from all grade levels and disciplines (e.g., history, social studies, literature, foreign languages, theatre, art, music, science, and mathematics) may apply.

Cost
Each participant will receive a stipend of $500 to help cover the costs of food, lodging, books, and other materials. Single-occupancy dorm rooms with dormitory-style bathrooms are available at Rollins College, our host institution, for $30 a night. Workshop participants will be charged approximately $135 for a campus meal plan for the entire week, plus an occasional meal off-campus. Books and materials will cost up to $50 per person, and a college ID will cost $3. With participants’ consent, FHC will retain these costs – approximately $370 -- directly from the stipend; the remainder will be paid at the workshop. Additional travel funds are available for participant travel on a case-by-case basis and will be paid at the conclusion of the workshop.

Application
For detailed application information and instructions, visit index.cfm/fuseaction/Teachers.Zora_Application_Information

MIT OpenCourseWare Now Ready for HS Teachers

Hat tip to Dangerously Irrelevant:

The MIT OpenCourseWare initiative has repackaged many of its materials for secondary teachers and students. The Highlights for High School web site includes more than 2,600 video and audio clips as well as assignments and lecture notes. Read more at Education Week about this new resource.

Worth a look!!

Two Million Minutes - A Must See

I you haven't heard talk of this film yet, you will soon. Check out the trailer right here, then visit the website. Buy it and show it to everyone you know.

The Website - click here.

Here's the trailer:

2008 Innovation Generation Grants

Looks like a great opportunity for science teachers:

2008 Innovation Generation Grants

Application deadline: 1 March 2008
In 2008, the Motorola Foundation will provide US$4 million in Innovation Generation Grants to organizations that engage U.S. K-12 students and teachers in innovation, science, technology, engineering and math.

Applicants should consider the following criteria:
• Funding priority will be placed on pioneering programs that:
— Engage students and teachers in innovative, hands-on ways
— Teach innovation and creative problem-solving skills
— Focus on girls and underrepresented minorities
— Engage Motorola employees as volunteers
— Take place in communities where Motorola has an employee presence in Arizona, California, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania and Texas
— Demonstrate measurable outcomes
— Are less than two years old

• Grant applicants may request up to $100,000. Select organizations may be asked to apply for larger grants.
• Grants will be for one year of project work, starting after June 2008.
• Any U.S. non-profit organization may apply. Schools and school districts may apply.
• At least 25% of total grant dollars will support new programming that has been operating for less than two years and is not simply an expansion of an existing program.
• Returning 2007 Innovation Generation Grant recipients must demonstrate that they have created new STEM partnerships with business, another non-profit organization or another foundation.

Apply online by 1 March 2008. Returning Innovation Generation Grant recipients also can apply through the Innovation Generation Network portal.

The Florida Seminar for Teaching on Asia

This has been recommended by several teachers. I'll probably apply for the 08-09 session.

THE FLORIDA SEMINAR FOR TEACHING ON ASIA
Academic Year 2008-2009; Summer 2008

Seminar Details

• All classes are held at the University of Florida in Gainesville. The academic year institute takes place over 8 months, one Saturday per month. (For AY 08-09, the dates will be 9/20, 10/18, 11/8, 12/6, 1/17, 2/14, 3/21, 4/18.) The summer program takes place over two 5-day weeks. (For summer 2008, the dates will be 7/13-25; teachers stay for free at UF Mon.-Fri.). Participants explore East Asian history, geography, literature, and culture, and are taught by specialists in the field.
• With the assistance of instructors and colleagues, teachers develop a lesson plan that incorporates seminar content and materials into their curricula.
• Seminar participants become part of the NCTA alumni community, and are welcome to participate in all outreach programs sponsored by the UF Asian Studies Program.

Benefits of Participation

• Instruction by experts in the field of Asian Studies.
• $300 upon completion of eight seminar sessions and submission of an implementation plan, and $200 upon participation in a follow-up session.
• $200 in seminar materials (i.e., books on Asian history).
• Instructional materials worth $300 on Asia for the school's library.
• Opportunity to apply for very low cost study tours to China, Japan, and Korea.
• Course credit or re-certification credit (where applicable).

Applying for the Seminar

• The Florida Seminar for Teaching on Asia is open to middle and high school teachers engaged or interested in incorporating Asia into their curriculum.
• Please see our website at www.clas.ufl.edu/asian for application forms and instructions, or contact Pat Bartlett, outreach coordinator, at patbart@ufl.edu or (352)392-2464.

Applications for the summer program will be accepted from January 2 until May 15, 2008. Applications for the AY program will be accepted from January 2 until August 15, 2008. Late applications will be accepted on a space-available basis.

Should we pay more attention to technology? Kid's know the answer.

Check out this great video from the folks at The Friday Institute:

http://www.fi.ncsu.edu/initiatives/havingoursay/video.html (hat tip: Dangerously Irrelevant)

Let me know what you think.

New Opportunity - 2008 Summer Institute for Secondary Teachers

2008 Summer Institute for Secondary Teachers

“China’s Transformations on the Eve of the Olympics”

Program for Teaching East Asia

Center for Asian Studies

University of Colorado at Boulder

July 21-30, 2008



All eyes are on China as it prepares for the 2008 Olympics. At such a critical time, it is important for American students and teachers to understand the dynamic issues that define China today. Summer institute participants will analyze China’s recent economic, political, and social changes, including such issues as political changes and individual freedom issues; environmental challenges of rapid modernization; the growing divides between rich and poor, urban and rural in China today; as well as insights into world media coverage of China and the Olympics. The following questions will help contextualize the program:

· What historical factors have helped foster China’s recent economic, political, and social changes?

· What do these unprecedented changes mean for the various interest groups involved: the Chinese government, the Chinese people, the countries of Asia and of the world?

· How do the Olympics symbolize China’s rise to global prominence? Will the Games ultimately benefit the Chinese government or its critics?

All major participant costs of the institute are covered through a grant by the Freeman Foundation.

Applications are available at http://www.colorado.edu/CAS/TEA and must be received by March 7. For more information, e-mail Jon.Zeljo@colorado.edu.

Now Wikis Made Simple

Here's an explanation in "Plain English" on the use of Wikis (again by CommonCraft.com), another great piece of technology for the classroom. I have not used wikis yet with my classes, but there are activities that I'm planning that will include wikis.

Blogging for Dummies

Here's a good intro into blogging (produced by CommonCraft.com) that I found while cruising around. I've been using blogs with my 6th and 7th graders this year, and they seem to enjoy the process.



If you have any questions about my experiences using this exciting technology, please ask!!

An Interesting View of the Past, Present, and Future

Here is a trio of thought-provoking presentations put together by Karl Fisch (The Fischbowl). I encourage you to checkout his blog. As I began this year, I knew that I wanted to incorporate blogging into my course curriculum. I've finally found teachers that are also engaged with this valuable technology. You'll find links to course blogs at The Fischbowl. You can also checkout my class blogs - linked over to the right.

Here are the presentations (click on the titles to access the related blog posts):


What if? (Past)



Did you know? (Present)



2020 Vision (Future)



I hope you enjoyed these clips as much as I did. I think we should all consider how we are doing things, and if our methods need some adjustment.

First Stavros Workshop of the Year

Mysteries of Nations: Why Are Some Rich, and Others Poor?

Where: DeVoe Moore Conference Room 150E
First floor of the Bellamy Building
FSU Campus

When: Monday, September 17, 2007
5 PM to 8 PM

Topic Mysteries of Nations: Why Are Some Rich and Others Poor?

Workshop Leader: Mark C. Schug
Professor of Economics and Director of the University of Wisconsin -Milwaukee Center for Economic Education and Senior Fellow for the National Council on Economic Education.

For Whom: All teachers, Grades K through 12

About the Workshop

In the upcoming presidential race, all sorts of policies are being proposed from universal health care to abolishing tax cuts. Candidates make competing claims about which policies will enhance the wealth of individual citizens. How should social studies teachers respond? This workshop focuses on strategies that successful nations have followed to build wealth for the long term. How can it be that one nation has an economy that is 20 times larger per person than another nation when the two share the same border and culture? Does the answer lie in natural resource endowments? Population size? Oil reserves? This workshop will use data from various "mystery nations" to develop an understanding of why some nations have become economically successful.

Please contact Harriet Crawford (850-644-4772) or E-mail (hcrawford@fsu.edu) if you would like to attend this workshop.

Note: Sandwiches and other light refreshments will be served during the workshop.

About Mark C. Schug

Mark C. Schug is Director of the Center for Economic Education and Professor of Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Wisconsin‑Milwaukee. He is a Senior Fellow with the National Council on Economic Education. Professor Schug has taught for over 30 years at the middle school, high school, and university levels. A widely recognized scholar, he has written and edited over 180 articles and books. He has co-authored numerous curriculum materials for the National Council on Economic Education, including Capstone: Exemplary Lessons for High School Economics, United States History: Eyes on the Economy, Economics and the Environment: EcoDetectives, Learning from the Market: Integrating the Stock Market Game Across the Curriculum, Teaching Ideas for Social Studies, Economics and Business Classes, The Great Economics Mysteries Books for Grades 4-8 and 9-12, Financial Fitness for Life: Bringing Home the Gold, and Learning, Earning and Investing. He has won national awards for research, curriculum writing, and leadership in economic education. Professor Schug often speaks about economic and financial education issues in urban schools. He serves on the Board of Directors for the Milwaukee Urban League Academy of Business and Economics, Association of Private Enterprise Education, and Economics Wisconsin.

Evening at the Fed

Evening at the Fed

The United States in a Global Economy
Tuesday, September 25 ▪ 5:00-8:30pm
Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta – Jacksonville Branch

…Join us for a complimentary dinner, speaker presentation and reception.

The Evening at the Fed program provides a forum for school administrators and educators to explore current economic and financial topics that assist them in helping students translate theory into real-world lessons.

The program will feature Karsten Jeske from the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta . Dr. Jeske's presentation on the role of the U.S. in a global economy will include discussion of labor movements, trade flows, and financial flows.

There is no charge for this program, but registration is required. The registration deadline is Thursday, September 20, 2007. Space is limited. Dress is business casual.

For more information, please contact Sarah Arteaga at sarah.e.arteaga@atl.frb.org, or by phone at 904.632.1132.

Register online at: http://www.frbatlanta.org/atlantafed/econ_ed/calendar_of_events.cfm

World Wise Schools

World Wise Schools Correspondence Match Program

The Peace Corps has a dynamic exchange program for U.S. teachers, and you do not even have to leave your classroom! Connect with a Peace Corps Volunteer serving overseas, communicating through an exchange of letters, stories, pictures, souvenirs, and artifacts. The program enriches classrooms enormously and touches the hearts of students and teachers alike. Its effect is life long, and it costs no more than a few pennies' postage.

Volunteers in countries all over the world are waiting to write to teachers and their classrooms in the U.S. Four thousand teachers nationwide are participating. Why not make it 4,001?

To participate, contact the Peace Corps Coverdell World Wise Schools program at wwsinfo@peacecorps.gov.
Classroom teachers can also apply to be matched online at www.peacecorps.gov/wws/correspond.

UNICEF Pilot Program - Check it out

From an email I received from Susan Fountain of UNICEF:

The US Fund for UNICEF is looking for teachers in the United States to pilot its new "TeachUNICEF" curriculum materials for grades 6-8 and 9-12. These lesson plans are based on UNICEF's 2006 "State of the World's Children Report". They examine the lives of children in developing countries, and what UNICEF is doing to overcome challenges to their survival and development. Each lesson plan is aligned to national curriculum standards, and includes links to maps, statistical tables, and streaming videos. Topics include:


--Martha from Sierra Leone (this lesson focuses on children and armed conflict),
--Himal from Nepal (children and poverty),
--Ali from Jordan (child labor)
--The Root Causes of Exclusion
--Measuring Success: The Millennium Development Goals

The lesson plans can be viewed at http://www.teachunicef.org/. (Click on “Lesson Plans and Resources”.)

Piloting can take place any time between Sept. 1 and Nov. 15, 2007, and registrations will be accepted through Sept. 28. Participating teachers will be asked to give a short pre-test to their classes, carry out the lessons, give a short post-test, and complete an online teacher evaluation form.

For more detailed information, or to register to participate, contact:
Susan Fountain, Evaluation Outreach, US Fund for UNICEF
shfountain@msn.com
845-485-3266

First Day of School in the Books

Well, we made it through the first day of school. For me, it was the first day teaching sixth graders - a new challenge for the year.

I've got what after one day seems to be one challenging class. Overall, the kids seem great.

More later.

Opportunity from NG and Lowe's

This looks like a great opportunity for science and social studies teachers. One of my goals this year is to get my students "in the field" more, so I may apply for this one.



Mission
To provide outdoor, hands-on science education to students in grades K-12 and assist schools in enhancing their core curriculum in all subjects.

Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation, International Paper and National Geographic Explorer! classroom magazine have partnered to create an outdoor classroom grant program to provide schools with additional resources to improve their science curriculum by engaging students in hands-on experiences outside the traditional classroom. All K-12 public schools in the United States are welcome to apply.

This school year, the program will award grants up to $2,000 to at least 100 schools. In some cases, grants for up to $20,000 may be awarded to schools or school districts with major outdoor classroom projects. The grants can be used to build a new outdoor classroom or to enhance a current outdoor classroom at the school.

This program only considers outdoor classroom proposals. Please submit all other grant proposals for community improvement projects and K-12 public school initiatives to the Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation at www.lowes.com/community.

Click here to begin your online grant application.

To view a list of 2005 Outdoor Classroom grant recipients, click here.