Twitter-Dee and Twitter-Dumb...

So, I knew I would eventually get on a soap box at some point here. I can see the cool, instantaneous world of Twitter, and appreciate those that do take the time to use it constructively and creatively. I even respect the news channels (CNN, MSNBC) utilizing it to update RSS feeds for most "breaking" news stories. But, omg, could the media please stop hyping this technology up as some grand breakthrough in science and life. Is Ashton Kutcher's life really so important that we need to follow him and read about his status of "Lounging on couch and watching TV with Demi (Moore)..."?!? Or that a senator or congressman is needing to share his boredom with the world while the House is in session?!? Are we all so important that we need to update people on what we are doing every other minute of the day?!? Check out The Daily Show with Jon Stewart for a great take on the issue.

However, if I am going to crticize something, I better have some solutions. Well, I don't really! Instead, I have some ideas of how to use the network within a class setting.

• The first idea is to use the RSS feed option and keep students abreast on a current issue of some sort in the news, such as a recent scientific discovery, progression of a bill in Congress, or a conference between nations. Doesn't get more authentic than that.
• Another idea would be to use it in a step-by-step student project. Perhaps the teacher could use it as a means to give outlined directions to students as they progress past points in a lesson. Or even have students update their status as they progress through a lesson.
• Or better yet, have them give updated directions or steps to a role they are playing or project they are completing; such as significant stages Abraham Lincoln went through during his presidency, or how to complete a physics experiment or mathematical problem. The students could take on the role of a scientist, historian, mathematician, etc.
  

While these are just a few ideas off the top of my head, I hope that teachers, students, and society understand the concept of being good information users (and communicators) and consciously think about using such tools apporpriately and moderately in the future.

Digital DJ on the Scene...

While this is not really a post about podcasts and student educational use, it does touch on teacher use and perhaps can loop back to be tweaked for educational podcasting use. I, like many teachers, use music in my gym as an entertainment and behavior management tool:

• When "on", the students get moving to the beat.
• When "off", they stop for new directions.

I picked it up when I was student teaching and almost feel like I am missing something when I work in gyms without it. In the past, I simply slapped in an "ESPN Jock Jams", pop, or even techno CD, and away the students went. While I know the music should be for the students, there was only so many times I could handle Britney Spears, Will Smith, or N'Sync. Other issues were the questionable lyrics in some of the "ESPN Jock Jams" songs and the excessive length of some of the techno songs. I was able to find a a cheap software bundle from Acoustica, which is similar to Audacity and GarageBand, and just pieced together songs I felt were appropriate. Initially, I started by just playing with the volume levels and fades (in & out) between songs but as I grew more comfortable with the technology and the editing I was able to start slicing and dicing songs up and pasting them back together. Excessive chorus or repetition here - gone! Profanity there - gone! Great beat later - fade in here! Song suddenly too short - loop this section back in for an extra minute! I have turned a hobby into a yearly event where I try to create a new CD for the gym each year - I am up to Vol. 10. I try to tie in student interest with songs they may recognize but I have more fun bringing new music to the scene from non-mainstream acts.
While it is mostly electronica or techno oriented, I have noticed that this is a trend taking off in the music industry as well. DJ mix CDs are nothing new but a number of athletic companies (Nike) are hiring bands, such as LCD Soundsystem and The Crystal Method, to create work out CDs for their customers. The CDs usually follow a specific beat pattern to help motivate the athlete and maintain a solid pace. While I do not know how to re-create the science behind those beats, I try to blend fast beats with one song and then tie a slightly slower beat with others; giving my students a chance to adapt to the changing paces. On a humorous note, my younger students go wild to the big, fast beats so we love bringing them down to a calmer state with a little Jack Johnson acoustic sound every once in a while.
In an attempt to bring this full circle with podcasts and education, students could practice such CD creation for themselves. The editing portion is fun and would give students great practice on understanding the software and perhaps the key points in a song or audio structure. Some ideas for use could include creating a podcast on what music they like to exercise to, why they chose a certain sound or selection, what motivates them, etc. The music and podcast feature is something I was playing with for a science unit I am finishing up with a group of second graders - where they are creating a desert exhibit mural with (hopefully) a recorded walking-tour podcast. The uses are endless and simplistic once you find the time to orient yourself and students to it.

And thank you for reading my rambling, barely coherent thoughts there!

Let's go to the videotape...What no tape anymore?!?

Alright, so my last venture into blogging in a short and sweet manner did not pan out as well as I thought. Guess I am just wordy! Have I lost you yet?!?

Anyway, I have written up some plans for a video lesson in gymnastics with a recurring fictional organization needing instructional dance videos for various line dances. In small groups, the students would practice the dances, film the cues and steps, and edit it down to create a 90 second product. Thoughts?

The biggest problem I keep running into is the same problem - time!!! I have turned the idea into a potentially four week lesson and still feel like I barely have enough time. I have considered visiting students in their class room to create more time with the software tools and planning processes; and my fellow colleagues do a great job of making time available for me to try some of these ideas out but I always feel as if I am putting part of their curriculum on hold. Am I asking too much of my students? My colleagues? Or even my field?

Feel free to gossip amongst yourselves. Go!

Wiki Wonders Never Cease...

So, my goal is to keep this short and sweet, and see what comments people have. I am looking to write up my wiki lesson soon and wanted to throw some ideas out there.

As an elementary physical educator, finding enough time to complete technology tasks in general has been tough. However, with a wiki, there is the potential of asking for a little time outside of class for students to work. I have already done a little work with the fourth grade classes at my school and could probably try this with them or any upper elementary grade. The students could work as a group to create an "online teacher resource" for FCPS, who are having trouble updating their various POS and curriculum to the Web. I would probably need to focus on either a particular content area, such as fitness or skill-themed unit, or open it up to all skill-based units, such as football, soccer, jump rope, dance, etc. I think to keep it small, I would probably choose a skill-unit we have already done and create pages for rules, history, and each skill.

And here in lies the next issue, I really do like how our ITSopedia works with weekly updates - starting from lists of facts to fully-developed paragraphs. This could be good if planned out properly as to when and what each person was responsible for. I hate to copy but I feel this is a smart format and gives students time to work outside of class and participate in a number of roles. Look forward to feedback. Thanks!

Wiki-wiki-wild!!!

The term "wiki" already sounds like a fun word; like something out of a Will Smith song. But I like to think of it similar to the sound effect of turntable scratching! And, in a way (a far cry way), it is similar to the scratching and mixing of voices and sounds. People can come together anonymously to offer their informed (and, hopefully, accurate) opinion in a public-online fashion; and if it is not correct, someone else will edit it appropriately.
This collaborative experience offers more than blogs do and is fast becoming a solid-based resource. While wikipedia does have its problems with the occasional hooligan, Richardson notes that these occurrences are rare and quickly corrected. It is always reassuring to know there is a place where the good is outnumbering the vandals. Blogs are great sources still for seeing reflections, reactions, and biased-opinions; and I enjoy reading what others have to say or experience in their endeavors.
I would like to see where wikis can be included in a physical educational setting. I have read a couple postings from across the Atlantic that were intriguing. Mostly, they served as a review or compilation of facts on a sport or health-related theme. I think this could be a great activity and source of info for upper elementary but more so for the middle and high school crowds; especially in a health course where students usually spend at least one quarter per year. I could see my students getting involved in such an activity (time-permitting) as a culminating project of our physical education experience - similar to what we are performing in class. I think it would give a definite sense of ownership and an authoritative confidence of their respective material. Is anyone out there already attempting wikis with their classes? I look forward to hearing more of your thoughts and ideas.

"Don't mess with us cuz we're in the (Wild Wild West), Wiki-wiki-wild." - Will Smith

Advocacy...and Facebook?!?

After reading the Advocacy Guideline from ASCD, I found myself curious to see where some of the links went to. The most intriguing were the Facebook (FB) ones. While this is a social networking site, I was a little surprised at how many education associations were a part of it. For example from the reading, there was the ASCD's site and then their Facebook page. The sites were both fairly comprehensive about the organization itself but the FB site seemed to be a friendlier and more welcoming zone.

Other organizational links included -

• Strong American Schools and the SAS Facebook page
• Eduwonk and the eduwonkcom Facebook version
• Education Week and the EdWeek Facebook site

With Human Resource agencies looking so closely now at FB and Myspace sites in terms of hiring, it might be a safe move to become a member or fan of such groups.

However, being a physical educator, I wanted to see what else was out there in my field. I was a little surprised at the amount of fun groups people have created, such as the Penn State Kinesiology FB site, which apparently only accepts those currently in the program and serves simply as a group that people joined; I actually am interested in what they might talk about but there is an extreme lack of postings thus far - none! On the professional side, I was disappointed to only see a few real organizations, such as PE Central (FB site). I cannot tell if this means that there are not a lot of professional groups who have ventured onto FB, or if there is a lack of "calling" to do so. Of course, now I say this with perhaps the same disposition where I know I do not have the time to manage and update such a site...but then who will? And what type of person does it take to do so?

I make all these comments only cause I am interested to see a little bit more how organizations develop, how change is made, how advocacy works, how do leaders lead, etc. I realize using FB may not be appropriate for the classroom but it got me to do a little more professional research than I probably would have done.
Of course, this brings up another good point about advocating for technology in schools. Clearly, bringing in tools that students can relate to will help enhance the experience, give a deeper and more meaningful understanding, and perhaps motivate learning. Thoughts?

So, let's get with the blogging...

This will mark my first entry into the "professional" blogging (virtual) world. I wish I had more important things to say at this point. However, this semester and experience will hopefully teach me a lot more about technology and teaching. Of course, I will be looking a little more deeply at the connections between the field of physical education and the Web 2.0. I look forward to seeing what others physical educators have to say and future comments from fellow ITSers. Blogging will be a new collaborative experience for all to share; and hopefully not a place of complaints and rants.

"Harness in the good energy, block out the bad. Harness. Energy. Block. Bad." - Kevin Nealon

And so it begins...