it’s iNavis… the teacher technologist

Today I am attending the Jefferson/Overseas Schools Technology Institute (JOSTI) in Fairfax Virginia. As featured keynote speakers, four students presented some of the work they have been doing. It was Sappho who really impressed me. She was poised and steadfast in her presence when presenting to some 100+ educators from around the world. She titled her talk along the lines of the novelty of Generation Y learning. After a brief introduction she gave a personal example of when she was working with the National Institute of Health (NIH).

Her task was to count the number of blood cells under a microscope … a tedious task that could last all too long. Imagine if you had to take a necessary break, I guess you would need to start over. In her words, the old school way of counting didn’t make sence. She thought outside the box and clicked the ‘PrntScrn’ button. What happened? She had a print out of her cells, broke them down into smaller squares and counted away.

However, she was caught counting cells while at lunch one day. When her colleague asked what she was doing, she explained. Surprising enough to her, no one had ever thought of  using the ‘PrntScrn’ function. Sappho has started a new revolution. Now, a new buzz word can be heard at NIH … “Just ‘PrntScrn’ it.” A simple solution even if you’re not a Generation Y.

Perhaps we should look more to ‘Gen Y’ as a resource. They are the link between the past - present - future internet users. After all, thhose who have grown up with the internet their whole lives are todays 11 year olds. The ‘Gen Y’ kids really can be a bridge for the future.

Thanks Sappho for your insights.

Jeff Utecht put up an url about a library in Delft Holland on Twitter. Being of Dutch background, I couldn’t resist having a look.

The mission statement of Holland’s ‘Library Concept Center’ says they want “to become and remain the most advanced library in the world. Using creativity, technical innovation, and advancing scientific understanding, DOK endeavors to be an indispensable source of inspiration for its members, visitors, and partners in the city of Delft, in the Netherlands, and in the world.”

So what does all these words mean and look like? How about a library filled with music, film, literature, art, publication and games in the library. Bookcases in the youth department mounted on casters so they can be portable. What a great way to make use of limited space. Roll ‘em where you need ‘em. Don’t forget to include a ‘Coffee Corner’ where one can buy a good lunch and coffee and tea?

What kind of programs are offered? “There are lectures, readings, and musical performances almost every week, and people like to spend a few hours in the library. Wi-Fi also makes DOK appealing to students to come and study. The art department holds regular exhibitions.”

The librarians of today are the media guides of tomorrow writes Erik Boekesteijn. His view … They will help people navigate through the

abundance of information and tell them about the new technology that is coming on the market and how to use it. It is obvious that the job of the librarian is one that involves lifelong learning. To keep a clear view, DOK deploys a number of account managers … project managers, content managers, and in-store marketing managers. iPod chairs, with speakers all around and a seat that moves on its base, provide an entirely new music experience while it is also possible to watch a movie on the big screens. Staff members can update the Macs whenever they want, so there are always new music and films to discover.

As I was reading the blog, I began to wonder what our school libraries would look like if they were to become more interactive.

• Would we see kids with mp3 players (mobile phones?) downloading stories from a central or multiple location(s)?
• Would the local library become a publisher for their constituency?
• Are story-tellers in the mix for the local community and world community?
• How will the interaction of the internet change libraries? Do we allow gaming?
• Will the library be a center for exchanging ideas or a quiet place to read and reflect? Or could it be both?
• How will the future physical design change?
• How will the library connect to the local community? What will they do to involve the community and will they (should they) heighten the awareness of the community to the world?

In the words of Erik Boekesteijn,

“When the people, the most important collection of the library, are happy, the library has a future.”

It is interesting what kids will respond to. We have just introduced iBear to our class. Last week I was dreaming with my student Litsa about how to make writing fun. As our conversation rolled on, we came to a new motivator for our class … iBear. [We named our class i5c2 a year ago.] Litsa volunteered to donate one of her stuffed bears to our class. iBear now makes the rounds to our houses each night for an adventure. That night the student with iBear, write their own story.

Unfortunately, iBear was left in class last night so I took time to write a story about him and put created it with PhotoStory 3. Much to my surprise the class gave a resounding ovation. Another little motivation tool. Click on the title iBear visits class.

Each year the Upper Primary school produces an Art and Literary magazine. It’s new this year. well kind-of new. We’ve gone electronic. In so doing, we now call it the eZine. This is actually the fourth edition of Upper Primary’s Art and Literary Magazine.

In moving to the digital format, we have created some controversy among the students. In the past the cover was a piece of work completed by a student. It was always a surprise and celebrated event when the colorful hard copy was rolled out. There was great excitement and anticipation of whose a work would be chosen for the cover. A second part of the anticipation was wondering whose piece would be published. It was always a surprise.

With the new eZine, every student in Upper Primary was to select piece of writing and artwork showcased for the worldwide audience to enjoy. The element of surprise was absent, the joy of knowing one’s work would be published was exciting for each student.

I like the new look, it was created by high school students. There was a limited choice for art work this year since the roll out was only a few weeks ago. However, next year should be even greater and better.

So what’s better … celebrate everyone’s best [which might not be as good] or celebrate the best of the best?

Did you know that?

• The runway at the Kennedy Space Center is 15,000 ft long and 300 feet wide!
• The Shuttle lands at 217 miles per hour - that’s 8 miles per second!
• The Shuttle orbits the Earth in 1.5 hours
• It takes 45 minutes for the Shuttle to land once entering the atmosphere
• For every pound of weight sent into space it takes an additional 100 pounds of fuel
• When astronauts take a shower, they vacuum the soap and water off their body
• The Shuttle travels at 17,500 miles per hour … that’s 10 times faster that a bullet.
• The names astronaut and cosmonaut are both translated as star voyager

NASA is extremely kid friendly. If you have time to check out the SPACE PLACE at NASA do so.

So what’s in the future for NASA? The Moon, Mars and Beyond (or as Buzz Lightyear would say, “To infinity and Beyond!”) The space shuttle missions end in 2010. The next project is under way, it will use the Orion rocket vehicle. In 2020 the first flights will be going back to the Moon. From the Moon a base will be set up to explore the Moon and then on to Mars and then … Beyond. I asked the question, “Why the moon? We’ve already been there?” I found out that if the volume of the space shuttle cargo bay (15’ x 15’ x 60’) were filled Helium 3, there would be enough stored energy in it to supply the United States for 200 years. Good idea! But NASA faces a huge problem … they need college students who major in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. Hey – that could be you!

For more info just head over to NASADave. It’s loaded with info from Space Camp.

Last year I had the privilege to be part of an international team of educators to visit the Kennedy Space Center. I was selected to be members of the NASA/UCF Aeronautics Space Institute. Being given VIP passes,

we were able to visit the launch and landing sites as well as visit numerous buildings where few are allowed to visit. It was during this time tha

t I was awe stuck by Orbiter Discovery. Today STS-124 took off to the International Space Station. On board was the Japanese payload named Kibo. I was able to have lunch one day with the Japanese scientists who worked with Kibo.

During our two week stay I kept a blog of our daily itinerary. So

me of our studies included

• The Space Shuttle Program
• The International Space Station Program
• Strategies/plans for lunar and Mars exploration
• Aeronautics principles
• Orbital mechanics principlesRocketrySpace Environments
• Space Materials, including their selection and testing
• Living and working in space, including the effects of microgravity on the human physiology, design of crew modules for space living, space food, space suits and space tools.
• Astronaut training techniques
• Life support systems, including the growth of plants in space for long-duration flights
• Solar energy principals

This was by far the best professional development I have ever had. Perhaps one day you will be able to go yourself.

As I was reading this week I saw a few pictures of the new XO laptop design on TED. Very cool. I hope it’s life it better and less controversial than the original. Sad that such a great idea could go bod. The design is great! Imaginative and creative … could it lead to the new laptop of the next generation? As David Lockman puts it, “Functionally flexible, durable, and just gorgeous.”

It was an interesting morning today. Bullying comes in all shapes and sizes. Today I shared a video with my grade 5 class. What started out as interesting quickly became serious. The 50 second video, Cyberbullying Talent Show, hit them with a shack and awe effect. The discussion that followed was excellent, especially when I helped them to see the words they write can be as destructive as their voice. And then we took it to the level of how your emails can be traced. It does not matter if you delete your email, it can be found.

A second video was even more profound. Let’s fight it together, was produced by Childnet (a non-profit organisation working with others to “help make the Internet a great and safe place for children”) for the Department for children, schools and families in England (DCSF).

One person can cause others to follow and in turn destroy another. The students kept wanting to discuss each point as the video played and so that is what we did. I especially liked the way it dealt with a variety of technology, not just emails but real life. It was a real discussion starter.

The videos managed to pack a punch, far more than any information I could relay by simply talking about the issue. Make sure you watch both and think about using them in your classrooms. Thanks to Jenny Luca I’m passing them on to you.

I have been using Audacity to create book reviews in my class. I give my 5th grade students the following criteria for reviewing books:

For your podcast be sure to include the following features. You may place them in any order but be sure you include them all in your review. Remember, no more than three minutes total for your book review.

• Title and Author
• What type of Genre is the book?
• Describe the setting
• A description of the main characters
• Why did you choose this book?
• A summary of the conflict in the book - don’t give away the ending
• Read a meaningful passage and explain why you chose it
• Explain why you would recommend the book
• What level reader it is for?
• Include your FIRST name

Here’s an example of Raven’s Gate by Steven.
Raven’s Gate

As a final step, we are accumulating a collection of the top reviews and adding them to the library website for kids to listen to. This is only beginning to roll out now. They will be able to search by author, genre, as well as level of book. (HKIS uses the Diagnostic Reading Assessment [DRA] continuum for leveling books.)