Blog once a year, whether you need it or not.

This year I am involved in a year-long learning program that will combine use of technology and new views of education and community. The complex environment of the global economy and the age of social media has changed the way students learn and our program looks at the way we teach and view education in relation to these changes.

Exciting, right? Sort of. It would be more exciting if I had more time... Reading a 3 inch binder about possible candidates for the next head of school and then grading 4 inches of tests, labs, and article summaries melted my brain. So here I am at Starbucks, writing in my poor, sad, abandoned blog in order to feel like I have at least done something positive about the PLP program.

What I am not doing are the two student recs that need to be completed by Wednesday. Maybe later?

Anyhow, here I am, being all digital. I have signed back onto Twitter https://twitter.com/#!/reraUM and I have even tweeted. Or Twitted, as my department head says. Department heads? He is my department head twice over (for math and science)...

I have also sent invites to the other PLP people to join MCPop, a Ning that promotes sharing of ideas regarding how to combine best teaching practices with pop culture. Very fun and interesting.

An interesting article on tech in the classroom and the rules for using it wisely:

http://summify.com/story/TotEI43fhxbeAAGP/mindshift.kqed.org/2011/10/applying-the-7-golden-rules-one-teachers-take-of-technology/

My favorite quote is: "I know that developing children into knowledgeable and successful adults is not about content. My role is to teach students how to learn. Do I worry about them knowing more than I do? Nope. The amount of stuff to know about today is mind-boggling. We learn together and from each other. Want to get a kid excited? Let them teach you something.We’re also working hard to get parents on board."

Good times. I need to take this to heart.

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