I was concerned that I may need to unfriend my Facebook and Twitter friends with profile pictures that don’t smile, but apparently I just have to make sure I have an exponentionally higher number of happy people to bring my own joy meter up.  Anyways, it’s time to spread some cheer.  So, are you smiling in your profile picture?

This is happening in other areas.  Yes, I have been the victim of viral e-mail warning me not to purchase gift cards.  But such a warning feeds upon our fragile minds when we once thought our decisions were made on solid ground.

Should we “rethink” perceptions about the products that tantalize me?  It seems that way, as illustrated by Bart Simpson explained in a Mapple video.

I have had times when I almost upgraded my mobile phone again because it could do so much more.  I was tempted just this week to buy the latest holiday lights because my current set does not seem as bright as the new ones I see my neighbors displaying.

But I have been more determined not to covet (grounded in my own beliefs) and instead appreciate where I am as well as those around me.  Furthermore, I see that giving my time has been more valuable, whether I teach Sunday School at Church of the Open Door, volunteer for Computer-Using Educators of Los Angeles, or spend time with my family at home.  And much pleasure do I feel when contributing to my PLN through Twitter, Facebook, and other networks (hmmm, Yoda speak).

So what are other ways to change the way I see things?  This is my 2 minute brainstorm:

• Contibute to the Free Hugs Campaign
• Find Ways to Recognize Others (e.g. CUE Awards, Edublog Awards, mention them in my PLN)
• Poke Others in Facebook
• Thank Everyone for Being a Part of My Life
• Map My Life and My Connections using Google Maps or Google Earth
• …times up…

I’m sure I’ll think of more.  In light of our current conditions, what do you think you might do to see things differently?

TeacherTube Video: Do You Believe In Me? – Dalton Sherman Addresses DISD

The reaction by administrators and Local District 5 faculty was still of unanimous inspiration.  It is amazing how this young orator is able to connect with not just those in the 17,000+ audience at American Airlines Center, but also to so many via the videosharing circuit (YouTube, TeacherTube, etc.).  So many principals came up to me during the break to find out how they could get a copy.  My response was to search for it in TeacherTube.  I stated, “Just search/type: Do You Believe in Me?”

Image Credit: Photograph by Sylvia Martinez, http://www.flickr.com/photos/sylviamartinez/2312165071/

Here are links to some of the resources mentioned at some of the presentations, discussions, and lightning rounds:

• CAST – Teaching Every Student: http://www.cast.org/teachingeverystudent
• Diigo – Social Annotation: http://www.diigo.com
• FREEPATH – Show Your Stuff: http://www.freepath.com
• Gabcast – Record by Phone: http://www.gabcast.com
• Glogster – Poster Yourself – http://www.glogster.com
• Google’s Tools (iGoogle, Google Docs Forms, Google Docs LookUp): http://www.google.com/ig
• Jott: http://jott.com
• MeBeam Video Chat Rooms: http://www.mebeam.com
• My Tweet Map: http://www.mytweetmap.com
• Ning – Create Your Own Social Networks!: http://www.ning.com
• Pageflakes – Get It Together: http://www.pageflakes.com
• PicLens – Immersive Slide Shows Across the Web: http://www.piclens.com
• PNN – The Personal News Network: http://pnn.com
• Portrait Illustration Maker: http://illustmaker.abi-station.com/index_en.shtml
• Tweet Scan: http://tweetscan.com
• Twitter: http://twitter.com
• Ustream: http://ustream.tv
• VoiceThread: http://voicethread.com
• Web 2.0 Animation for Social Skills: http://www.edubloggercon.com/Bruce%27s+Interests

It was wonderful to also have others not at Palm Springs, California join through the live video stream at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/edtechlive.  I find it wonderful that I can now access archived clips from one of the session rooms in EdubloggerCon “West” 08 by visiting the Edtechlive Ustream channel.

We ended the day with a discussion about the viability of holding events such as this in the future.  One of the issues brought up included how it has transformed from a gathering of edubloggers (writers and readers) into more of a gathering of educators advocating for change in how we should facilitate learning.  Is the EduBloggerCon name misleading?  I found it interesting that one fellow colleague at this event mentioned his apprehensions of attending because he thought that much of this would be focused primarily on blogging.  Others may argue that the name is already becoming familiar to those that have participated in the initial iteration of EduBloggerCon.  Nevertheless, the consensus was that this was a valuable day and should be held again in the future.  Of course, those going to NECC 2008 in San Antonio, Texas will have that opportunity.  If anyone is heading to San Antonio, Texas early enough on Saturday, June 28, 2008 and is interested in attending EduBloggercon 2008, go to the wiki at http://www.edubloggercon.com/NECC+2008.

First, one of my colleagues told me about his struggles with implementing the use of a collaborative tool in schools (I’ll be writing this in general term so I don’t out any of the people involved in this discussion). The issue involved this person’s experience with having the accounts to access this tool made available for teachers but finding it not being used once the resource was made available. So when he was given a request by the school to provide access to more accounts, he suggested that they first learn how the tool could be applied to classroom instruction with the help of his facilitation. Unfortunately, his immediate supervisor showed dismay in denying the request for more accounts. The dilemma for my colleague was that he believed they should learn how to use the tool with what they already have to encourage the rest of the faculty to see the value in its use. My own opinion regarding this would be that implementation of the tool would not succeed at the school unless it was rolled out with professional development that shows the potential value of the resource and increase the chance for the faculty to have buy-in.

Photograph of T.C. Williams High School, Source: http://www.acps.k12.va.us

At the same time, I read an editorial titled A School That’s Too High on Gizmos that was published recently in the Washington Post and written by English teacher Patrick Welsh at T.C. Williams High School, expressing his feelings toward the implementation of technology tools in his school. He blamed the wasted class time and low staff morale on the different tools that the teachers were expected to use. This has certainly caused many to criticize his writing, but it also served as an illustration of how technology tools introduced without buy-in from the faculty will certainly doom projects that were meant to help students in their learning. How timely it was that I could depend on my personal learning network on Twitter to guide me to two posts responding to the Welsh editorial that helped ease the tension regarding this issue. I first read Sylvia Martinez’s take in the Generation YES Blog post titled Oh there’s so much wrong with this story. Her examination of the editorial included pointing out that Mr. Welsh created a sense of false choices when he quoted a principal at another high school saying, “[Technology] will never replace good teaching.” Like Sylvia Martinez, I do not think anyone is claiming that technology is supposed to do that. But the use of technology in the classroom provides more ways to engage the learner, provides a venue for a variety of expression, and brings so much more to the teacher if implemented with guidance.

Late last night, I also read Diane Cordells’ post in Journeys titled The Extension of a Man’s Hand. She looked at the Mr. Welsh piece and posted several questions to try and further understand the situation. For example, she asked, “What professional development was provided for staff members in preparation for moving into such a high-tech facility?” Her thought-provoking probe into T.C. Williams High School provided me with personal support in my beliefs that you cannot just offer up a tool and expect others to use it or want to use it. I like what Diane Cordell wrote in her post and provide it here:

“Tools change but the need to facilitate learning remains constant. It is possible to educate students without high-tech “gizmos” but when they are available, it is foolish and irresponsible not to utilize them.”

And so I find my task to help facilitate the learning necessary for teachers to use technology in ways that are valuable to student achievement. When I lose my heart to continue on with this personal goal, I find others who help me down the “yellow brick road” to find it. This form of collaborative learning continues to benefit me.

I finished off last night with inspiration from Sharon Peters in a presentation she did for Alec Couros’ students. See it yourself on a pre-recorded Ustream video at http://eci831.wikispaces.com/CollaborativeLearning.

I hope you get as much out of it, as I was moved by her words to examine my spheres of influence.