Ep 30 Educational Change and Virtual Opportunity

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Join Kathy and  Mark for this resource-filled episode which highlights dramatic changes on the education landscape, worldwide travel, virtual learning and teacher resources. Hear the skinny on the world spinning travels of Kathy and Mark (in opposite directions!) from Vietnam to Cambodia, Denver to Philly! Learning and insights abound from professional development, to Shout-Outs, grassroots political ground swells seeking educational change, distance learning mandates and the virtues of virtual games!! After turkey comes.. How many levels of learning and dynamics can you determine in Kathy’s holiday adventure? This episode includes a SURPRISE announcement! Listen in- Kathy shocks Mark!

New edition of Podcasting for Teachers now available

Podcasting for Teachers Revised 2nd Edition
Using a New Technology to Revolutionize Teaching and Learning

Kathleen King and Mark Gura

What you will find in this revised and updated edition?
New for this edition are valuable additional insights and updates related to our additional years of experience in podcasting and new media. Critical updated URLs, screenshots, software comparisons, data, some fresh new curricular examples, and included references to our new series, The Teachers’ Podcast and Transformation Education LIVE! We have also upgraded statistical information, advancements from the podcasting world, references, and biographical information. In short, the book is better than ever, in part because of suggestions from our many readers who are, teachers learners, and podcast listeners of course!

The 16 chapters of the book are divided into the following major sections:
PART I. A REVOLUTION IN OUR POCKETS
PART II. PODCASTING “HOW TO” BASICS
PART III. BECOMING A PODCASTING EDUCATOR

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More New Books by Kathy and Co-Authors

Human Performance Models Revealed in the G lobal Context

Human Performance Models Revealed in the Global Context unveils worldwide, lessons about organizations facing similar, and different challenges focusing on this pressing need to improve human performance.

Fundamentals of Human Performance and Training

Includes a great chapter on 21st century lifelong learning

Fundamentals of Human Performance and Training was developed to help researchers and practitioners select measures to be used in the evaluation of human performance and helps them seek better, more efficient and effective ways to close performance gaps in this global economy. The book is bursting with innovative ideas that will help readers create powerful solutions in their organization, their country, their region and their continent.

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SHOUT OUTS to Listeners

• Learning conversations
• MoixLand Blog
• Mrs Durff’s Blog < interesting to explore
  

Short Takes

The Bad news, more bad news, and better news!

• UNESCO- Broken Vows
  • 
    

    A new report from UNESCO blames a range of factors for pushing the international goal of universal primary schooling off target.

  • Article from Education Week is linked

• Failure of Reading First
  • Recent data indicates no gains with NCLB flagship Reading First curriculum
  • Article from Education Week is linked

• OLPC machines with Win XP to Colombian schools
  • Columbia and Peru now are piloting WinXP on the OLPC computers with their school children! Maybe this will set a new pattern contrary to those above! (KPK and MG)
  • Click the link above to tread the complete article

Articles in this Episode

Column: Education reform central to solving country’s problems
President-elect Barack Obama has ranked education fifth on his list of priorities once he takes office, but syndicated columnist Nicholas D. Kristof says that’s not high enough. Education can help children overcome obstacles such as poverty, and it can help the country improve its economy, Kristof writes. The Seattle Times (11/15)

Petition: Oppose Joel Klein
The Petition to oppose the appointment of Joel Klein.
The above is one of a massive number of blogs explaining and promoting this petition.
Interesting to see the democratic process working so that people want to voice their opinion to President-elect Obama.

Alabama to make distance learning mandatory for graduation
Next year, all high-school students in Alabama will be required to take and pass an online course in order to graduate. A growing number of students in Alabama already are learning online, with courses allowed to be taught by certified and highly qualified teachers only. Times Daily (Florence/Sheffield/Tuscumbia/Muscle Shoals, Ala.) (11/16)

Online schools available to all Floridians next year
Every elementary and middle school student in Florida will be able to go online during the next school year and learn in a virtual classroom. The practice has been tested in a pilot program, and officials say thousands of parents could take advantage of the virtual school option for their children when the law takes effect next fall. Orlando Sentinel (Fla.)

Resources:

Free virtual field trips bring the world into any classroom
When virtual field trips began, most of such journeys were underwhelming, but recent technology has allowed the development of impressive — and free — adventures. Blue Zones Quest encourages healthy behaviors through scientific exploration of cultural practices, GoNorth! brings students to the North Pole via dogsled, Windows into Wonderland explores the geysers and hot springs of Yellowstone National Park, and National Geographic: Lewis & Clark traces the famous explorers’ path from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean. Edutopia.org (10/29)
New York teacher gives lesson from Antarctica
A New York charter-school teacher is researching climate change in Antarctica for two months while teaching her students remotely. School officials say they hope Shakira Petit’s long-distance lessons will excite students about science or encourage them to explore research careers. USA TODAY/The Associated Press (10/30)

Google erects virtual model of ancient Rome
Ancient Rome circa 320 A.D. has been virtually rebuilt by Google as an educational tool. The company is offering prizes to teachers who design the best lesson plans based on the site. The Sydney Morning Herald/Agence France-Presse (11/13)
http://earth.google.com/rome/
http://www.google.com/educators/romecontest.html

Mrs. P Has a Story for You, Kids www.mrsp.com
Mrs. P is Kathy Keene (Mimi from Drew Carey Show)
Mrs. P is the title character of a new children’s storytelling website debuting at the beginning of National Young Readers Week. Los Angeles Times, November 10, 2008

***** Maddox’s Podcast Participant Study Invitation *****

Cynthia Maddox, a doctoral candidate at Pace University, is doing a research project with the guidance of Dr. Kathy King, in which she is looking at the effective use of mobile technology, especially podcasts.

“I’m inviting teachers to share experiences you have in using podcasts with your students. Some of you may have written your own podcast scripts and some of you have had your students create podcast recordings. This study will look at children in grades K – 12.”
Come show administrators, your colleagues, parents and reluctant technology users that the tools of our youth do have value. Let the nay Sayers learn that authentic assignments can motivate and stimulate a thirst for discovery. Share your successes in turning your students on to school and into life long learners.

To find out more about this podcast study, Email Cynthia at Cynthiam9@gmail.com ASAP
Be sure to include the words “Maddox Podcast Study” in your subject.

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Coming soon.. the Interviews with Winners of the

3rd Annual ‘The Teachers’ Podcast’

Best Educational Podcast Awards!

McGraw Hill Education is our proud partner in recognizing the achievements

of teachers and students in advancing the field of new media and education



Check out the main Contest 2008 page for details about submission, categories and prizes

Submissions for Year 3 Closed Aug. 15, 2008. Check back for Year 4 in a few months.

Contact Us

• You can contact Mark and Kathy by
• leaving a comment here on the blog/site
• emailing us at teacherspodcast@gmail.com
• posting to the discussion in the Teacher’s Podcast Group in facebook
• phoning us at (201) 693-4935

(C) Transformation Education LLC, King & Gura, 2008.

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