I feel like someone slipped me a mickey last night. I mean I slept the sleep of the dead (well, expect at 4am when the puppy decided she couldn’t wait for me to wake up–I did not have the will power to start my day at 4am today). I slept so well that I had vivid dreams! They were detailed, multi-colored and had intricate plot lines! In short, I dreamed Cathy and I had two more babies. Now about that vasectomy fund…
Category: Daily Life
Ramblings, often stream of conscious, journaling the events of my life.
Teach Cell Phones, Don’t ban them
I have been a long time advocate of incorporating cell phones into the schools. Cell phones are one of the many tools that will be essential to our children’s success as adults. Cell phones are still in their infancy. In the not too distance future, cell phones will begin to replace credit cards as a means of purchasing products. Two way video conferencing through cell phones is already here and it will be the norm by the time today’s middle schoolers graduate high school. Cell phones interact with the Internet to enhance communication and provide faster research. I can get more detailed information through my phone and the Internet faster than I can using 411 information services. I can see pictures and video from my cell phone to the Internet which a student could use as part of an interview or research project. The possibilities are endless. Effective use of the multimedia (sound, video, text, animation), and productivity tools built into their cell phones will help make our students successful as professional adults.
I advocate teaching cell phone usage in the schools rather than branding them as contraband. I am not alone.
Craik School in Saskatchewan Canada is exploring the use of cellphones as learning tools. This video highlights the work of Carla Dolman and Gord Taylor and the grade 8 and 9 students of Craik School. [Source, Youtube]
Dean Shareski shares some of his discoveries in Exploring Cellphones as Learning Tools.
- Engagement. …the cellphone novelty will soon pass, the engagement was with the ideas and sharing. Students … simply used them to share ideas, pictures, sounds and videos. …
- Responsibility. Clearly posted on the wall were a set of guidelines developed by the students and their teacher on how to use this tool wisely. Discussions of etiquette, manners, privacy and safety led them to their common understandings. …
- Innovation and Problem Solving. Students discovered their phones were also organizers, voice recorders, and multimedia creators. They discovered bluetooth was a great way to share files, they created concise summaries of their group discussions using voice memos or videos.
- Teacher as a Learner. Carla says she still can’t "T9" like her students, but she’s learning. … She texts her students in the morning to remind them of homework and they actually respond. That in itself is one positive outcome already.
[Source, Exploring Cellphones as Learning Tools, Ideas and Thoughts, Feb 5, 2008]
Please see the Ideas and Thoughts full post. I like the note that the teacher was able to text reminders to the students. Just imagine if students learned to Sandy to remind them of deadlines. What if a teacher could prompt the students to "take out your cell phones and enter these dates" or if the teacher could deliver the deadlines via xml, sms, or direct interaction with Sandy!
The schools need to teach the technology that is coming not the technology that is bygone.
Update: New York doesn’t get it.
Update 23 Apr 2008: Another good video.
Amy’s forked tongue
Deepak Chopra has spoken to me
Man I love the Internet! Our world grows exponentially smaller every day. Classes and castes are continually struck down. It’s like Moore’s Law in reverse. Thank you Deepak Chopra for taking some of your time with me!
Deepak Chopra is currently in Atlanta to film an interview with CNN. He has just released his new book The Third Jesus: The Christ We Cannot Ignore
Btw, I still have few Seesmic invites if anyone wants one. You can also go to Seesmic and sign up and I think they’ll send you an invite within 24 hours.
Update: Be sure to add Deepak Chopra’s blog to your reading list!
Why I like getting up at 2am
Between 2am and 6am I can knock out a bunch of work! No phones ring. Even the dogs don’t need walking. Since I got up at 2am and have been diligent in my work, when Cathy woke with a migraine this morning, I was able to send her back to bed and move my work upstairs. Being upstairs with one eye on the children and one eye on the screen slows me down a little but conceptually I could take 4 hours off (realistically I need to keep pounding keys hard and fast) but the stress is off. I don’t think I could do this from an office.
From the mouths of babes
Evan (2.5 years old): "I want Ma Mum!"
Dad: "Ma Mum’s sick."
Evan: "I want hug Ma Mum me."
Have you killed anyone today?
Change of plans
Thought I’d work for money today; instead I’m working for free.
From the mouths of babes
Dad, puts on jacket and hat to go outside.
Amy: "You look like Phillips Dad."
From the mouths of babes
Dad, 6:30am: Turns on bedroom lights
Dad, 7:00am to Tommy: "Are you going to school today?"
Tommy: "Yes Dad."
Dad, 7:10am to Tommy: "Get up!"
Dad, 7:20am to Tommy: "Are you going to school today? Get up!"
Dad, 7:29am to Tommy: "Sarah’s leaving."
Tommy springs to action: "It’s 7:32. I didn’t have a chance of making the bus today!"
Whoops?
Your children will never hear anything you say
My children just learned hot things melt plastic. Gee. Where have I heard that before?
They also now know that popcorn was not always made in the microwave.
Tommy: "Why wouldn’t you just use a microwave?"
Mom, not answering to avoid saying: "Because I’m old enough to remember when microwaves didn’t exist!"
Breakfast of champions!
Morning Update
Mobile post sent by djuggler using Utterz. Replies. mp3
Weight loss. Waking sleeping babes. A lot of mud.
Gag! Thar’s critters about!
The smell of skunk has leaked into the house so badly that my eyes are wanting to water. There must have been one on the driveway and it either sprayed our outdoor cat or the neighbor’s dogs. Whatever happened, it wasn’t far away! I need new windows and doors!
