Understanding Creativity ... Ahh, to be creative!

With Sir Ken Robinson ...Understanding creativity in order for us to meet the extra-ordinary challenges of the 21st century. Administrators and teachers need to watch this ... creativity shoudl not be an afterthought - it should be the means to inspire, motivate, and move forward. Creativity is the passion that drives humanity.

TodaysMeet ... Digital Collaboration

Introducing… a Web 2.0 site entitled TodaysMeet. TodaysMeet gives you and your students a somewhat isolated room where you can see only what you need to see. Plus, your audience doesn’t need to learn any new tools like hash tags, log-ins, nor do they need to create accounts. It really is quite easy to use. Once you enter the TodaysMeet site you are asked to submit a room name and the length of time you wish the room to stay active. This can vary between 2 hours and 1 year. It is best to give the room name a code that is not easily remembered. It is quite simple, but you may wish to read these facts from the site. Once the room is open you are given a unique web address which is usually http://www.todaysmeet.com/ followed by the room name you submitted. You then give the room name out to individuals (your students) and have them enter the room. Upon entering it will ask for a name. Remember that students should never give their full names or enter any personal or other revealing information in the chat room.
Excerpts from the blog of Michael Gorman . Thank you for this wonderful collaboration tool.

Edgeducation ... A Classroom Wiki

I came across this wiki from a colleague and friend - who knew? She was and remains today a fantastic teacher. Here's something that she does that makes her special.

Eva's classroom wiki ... well organized and worthwhile for kids and parents. Good example of professional growth and a wonderful way to model and live 21st edgeducation. Well done, EDG! Also a good idea as part of a professional portfolio.

21st Century Learning!

Teachers, pay attention.

Pattie Maes and Pranav Mistry demo SixthSense

Sixth Sense on TED.com

You've got to watch this ... it's futuristic, but not that far ... maybe next month! Affordable and worthwhile ... how useful is that?

Upcoming Nite: Wed. May 2oth

Thanks for being such a lovely audience … I wish I could have a school with all of you as teachers there … it’d be fun to see you all spread your wings and fly!

Here are the links for you to download AUDACITY (audio software) and JING (screen capturing software)for FREE …

AUDACITY: http://audacity.sourceforge.net/

JING: http://www.jingproject.com/

(i) Finally, I hope all the TOOLS that we’ve been looking at (whether a website, cd program, or downloadable executable file) will be seen as such … these are tools that I’m providing you … They are the “WHAT” you need to be creative, innovative, and they should be enough to get you started … “What” is what I give you … YOU provide the “HOW” … How you use all these tools, some of these tools, or even just one of these tools is up to you. You and your students will get out of them what you put into to them. You can’t do it all, but you can do some a little at a time and HOW you do it will depend on your passion and your level of comfort.

To quote C.S. Lewis in The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, Father Christmas states (when giving the children gifts), “These are tools not toys … bear them well for the time will come to use them …” and Uncle Ben states in Spiderman, “With great power comes great responsibility”.

If you have any Questions or Comments, as always, contact me at your convenience.

John

Chicken a la Carte

Haere's a movie I want to share with you.
http://www.cultureunplugged.com/play/1081

Commoncraft

I think you will like this …

Insects and Humans

It has been said that if all insects disappeared from the face of the Earth, all forms of life on the planet would cease to exist.  Conversely, if all humans were wiped out of existence on Earth, all forms of life on the planet would flourish.  Go figure

Prof. Ken Robinson ... Creativity & Education

Shift Happens 2.0 (Did You Know)

For you to think about ... remember, things go both ways ... it's how we read things. Keep an open mind and think about it!

Motivation

Collaborate, share, reflect, use all your tools, not just your chalk!

Google for Educators

I need a SmartBoard ... Hey, if it helps to learn, I'm in.

Google it!

It's amazing where they can go ... if we let them use all the tools we have!

Keep Your Fingers Crossed!

We should embrace technology and use it as a tool to achieve the stuff of learning.

Are You Ready For This?

Just a snippet to start with ... you can do so much more. Try just a little bit to make a difference in your world.

Celebrate the Good!

Let's celebrate not marginalize the good!