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2012-02-08T09:54:00.000-05:00

Who Put Them In Charge?

2012-02-07T21:14:00.001-05:00

This article came across my inbox today. Two big red flags: 1) when did kids get to decide educational objectives and 2) they couldn't handle it.
Sure kids want digital learning, but few are willing to put the time and effort into developing the content. Most are consumer sponges, taking from the web but never contributing serious or meaningful content. When a kid says collaboration, they usually are looking for a free ride on someone else's data.
But another problem is that there are few students truly capable of leveraging the web as a learning tool. Really? Use the game console for WORK?! Most of the requests to use my computer lab by students outside of my class is for a project that is due now and their regular digital channels have failed them. That's when they come to me, looking for a fix to their problem.
Where are the problem solvers? Where are the innovators? The digital natives are still storing their important documents as email attachments! And don't even ask about downloading those photos off their iPhones - they have no clue how to do that.
That's just my second concern, the first is even more appalling. Since when did the adults decide it was a good idea to let the kids decide what sort of education is best for them? Really? Leave any kid to make their own dinner and provided they know how, it more than likely won't be healthy (mine included). It's not in a child's nature to know or desire what is the best for them with a long term view in mind. We are all selfish by nature.
Come on adults! Buck up, and step up to the plate. Quit trying to make life easier for the next generation. They won't break and despite your fears, they won't hate you forever. In fact, they just might love you (some day) for holding them to a standard.

Raising The Curtain

2012-02-02T20:52:00.000-05:00

This year I have the good fortune to actually do the very same things that I'm teaching: I'm developing the school website and teaching web design. Sometimes there is no substitute for the school of hard knocks.
That's why I will usually share the challenges and excitement of working on a "live" site with the class. I like to think it gives the academics more of a reality. That being said, I've developed two pages over the last two days.
Yesterday, following a lesson on Flash motion tweening and layering, I realized that I could create a quick Flash movie to promote the upcoming musical. It's also nice that the male lead for the production is in my class.
I grabbed the camera and took a few snapshots of the stage curtain. After cropping and touching it up in Fireworks, I added the graphic and some text in Flash with a simple motion tween. The result was the curtain rising and falling on the production dates.
After talking with the kids, we had several great ideas to expand the animation but quickly realized it may become too much. That's a really important concept to grasp. You can have too much of a good thing.
Another concept I stressed was that even though it took me only 90 minutes from concept to completion, they would not be able to work as quickly. It takes practice and time to perform skills at a higher level. I really think it's important for kids to see the application of their education, beyond the grind of books and tests.

Need A Friend? Build One

2012-01-29T08:51:00.001-05:00

My daughter really wants a friend to come over and play, but none was available. So she did the next best thing, build a robot puppy.
Sure I had to help guide her through some design modifications when we didn't have the exact pieces the instructions required. We downloaded a program that required little modification.
It was neat to watch her use my Archos to access the build instructions via the web rather than just beg to play games on it. But the best part was enjoying a Saturday afternoon together.

Racing Redundancy

2012-01-16T15:22:00.004-05:00

This coming weekend is the annual AWANA Grand Prix, which means this weekend I'm building pinewood derby cars. My daughter came up with a rather creative design.
She wanted a model of the track the cars will actually run on. I cut the basic curve shape, she sanded until smooth. She also painted everything, including the tiny model cars. I cut the cars out of 1/4 inch plywood and shaped them up with a utility knife.
The miniature wheels are upholstery tacks and the lane strips are coffee stirrers. There is a cavity in the back for adding weights and everything is hot glued together.
Of course we'll try to win a few races but I hope she gets a design award.

Tron Light Cycle Build

2012-01-07T15:56:00.002-05:00

My son really likes Tron and Legos, so why not build a light cycle? Using Lego Digital Designer, he fabricated a digital copy of the actual one he built. You can download the LDD file here to see the build instructions.
I especially like the Tron minifig with identity disc and disc holder strapped to the back.

Game Changer: Telegraph

2011-12-28T15:36:00.000-05:00

Just finished reading Tom Standage's The Victorian Internet. Lest you think that all this modern technology is changing the way we live, first consider the impact of the telegraph. It's amazing to consider that the mechanics of electric communication and networks have changed so little in the past 150 years.
Sure, we've seen increases of speed and data storage capabilities, but no modern electric convenience has had quite the same impact. Even "wireless" technology defines itself as the absence of wires, not a completely new thing.
I appreciated Standage's commitment to scholarship and historical narrative.Often, the parallels to today were obvious and didn't require explanation. But in case those connections were missed, the epilogue provided a concise correlation.
I have added the book to my recommended reading lists for students. The history is fascinating. The human story haunting. The call to wake up and avoid the mistakes of past generations compelling.

Sail to Bible Islands

2011-12-27T11:30:00.004-05:00

If the winter snow is keeping you indoors and you're looking to give the kids something constructive to do, send them out to the Bible Islands. This engaging edutainment world is presented by Answers In Genesis so the content is theologically sound. Another nice feature is that kids cannot sign up without parental consent. Don't let cabin fever overwhelm you, get involved with your child's online learning and have some fun exploring the Bible Islands together.

Going Off The Rails

2011-12-24T15:22:00.001-05:00

I'm hooked on Rollacoasta. All you do is build a roller coaster that scores the most points. Sounds easy right? Not. The physics behind this game are amazing. I've even got a couple loops to work (though not all the riders appreciated it). What's even better is that it's Gamemaker so the code is available to review. I could see a physics or programming class spending time tearing this one apart. If the web version doesn't work, just download the executable and install on your computer.

Rollacoasta
Added: 21 March 2011
By: Erik Leppen

Getting The Word Out

2011-12-22T12:52:00.000-05:00

Where do you post info during the social media wars? I find my blogs to be the best place.
As Facebook, Twitter and Google Plus square off to become the one stop shopping location for all my social media, I'm finding that the best place to voice myself is right back on the blog. It gives me the ability to write more information with an engaging lead before the jump. I can totally customize its look (think MySpace). And the feed will go out to all my social media outlets. Oh, and I can see my site stats. Cool.

No Where To Hide

2011-12-18T18:33:00.000-05:00

Heard the following exchange between sales associates in the restroom at Best Buy:

"Ah, texting in the restroom."
"Yeah, it's the only place you can hide."

Perhaps we should be teaching customer relation policies in our technology classes? I think kids walk away from high school with such a sense of entitlement, that they don't understand how their actions (such as texting INSTEAD of serving customers) is detrimental to the entire business, and ultimately their own paycheck.

Jamaica Bulletin Board

2011-12-13T16:35:00.001-05:00

The yearbook class helped me put up a Jamaica bulletin board. Journey is our yearbook theme. The seniors went to Jamaica for their senior trip. So we made a Jamaica Journey board.
The fish each have a senior's name and the pictures were taken on their trip. I came up with the concept, but the yearbook underclassmen did all the work. I think they really did an excellent job!

Academic Bullying

2011-12-11T19:03:00.000-05:00

Dr. James McGrath's blog post against young-earth creationists provides a perfect example of academic bullying. It's tough to discern his fundamental argument against AIG in the midst of his angry tirade. But Dr. McGrath tips his hand halfway through the post when he derides AIG for claiming "to take Genesis 1 literally in a manner that is not selective."
According to his arguments in the third from last paragraph, the Bible cannot be trusted. And in a more recent post, McGrath implores us not to believe the Bible alone but the evidence of it. In spite of Dr. McGrath's position at Butler University, he doesn't believe everything in the Bible can be taken literally! As I understand him, Dr. McGrath would rather have us believe the scientific evidence instead of sola scriptura.

Forget parallel days or domes, Dr. McGrath is really arguing against a literal interpretation of scripture. I wonder how many students would have recognized the real debate within the bravado? I also find it interesting that he links to an article that references an AIG post rather than the original source. Aren't students expected to cite primary sources? But then again, if we destroy the credibility of Scripture, we erode the foundation of all Truth. That opens the door to a selective belief system where each person determines the primacy of their sources, but I digress.

Hidden behind the high tech blogging , hyperlinks and comments, it all seems like schoolyard bullying: "oh yeah, well PROVE it!" Why do we have to prove the Bible? Just believe it. If we don't agree let's discuss it, but why attack my belief in a young-earth creation? Bullying is uncalled for and unnecessary, at every academic level. As teachers, we are examples to our students. I fear that Dr. McGrath's comments provide the evidence students need to justify a no-holds-barred bullying attitude instead of an academic pursuit of Truth. It is easier to agree with someone who throws taunts and ridicule rather than searching out answers through academic inquiry.

Streaming My Music

2011-12-11T18:44:00.001-05:00

Finally set up UPnP streaming of my music files to my Archos 5 IMT over the home wireless network. Love it! Popped the ear-buds in and began rocking out while washing dishes, dusting and all those fun weekend tasks. The Archos was already configured, I had to play with my Windows Media Player settings. All my music is stored on an added hard drive rather than the default C: drive. At first all I could find on the mobile was the sample music that comes with Windows. But after changing the default monitored folder in the Add to Library option, everything came across the network. I can also view all my photos, and videos too!

Developing Accurate Citations

2011-12-10T10:17:00.001-05:00

EasyBib is a website dedicated to correct documentation of all resources, both web and print. The student section gives resources on researching, writing and citation. The educators section has lesson plans on plagiarism and source credibility. The Downloads section has stickers, flyers and logos you can use.

Nobel Prize Winning Games

2011-12-10T10:16:00.001-05:00

NobelPrize.org has several educational games related to different Nobel Prize winning scientists and their ideas. If you are looking for a fun, creative way to understand some of history's greatest discoveries inPhysics, Chemistry, Medicine, Literature, Peace or Economics, there may be a game you could use.

A World Without Technology

2011-11-19T12:11:00.001-05:00

A fourth grade teacher told me that she asked her class what they thought the world would be like without technology. One guy responded that he thought there would be a lot more fat people since we wouldn't have the Wii Fit and Kinect games to keep us in shape.

Senior Deadline - The Call

2011-11-15T05:55:00.000-05:00

This is the first installment of a video series the senior yearbook students are making to promote yearbook sales.

Workspace Quiz

2011-10-21T16:37:00.000-04:00

Think you know Dreamweaver? Test your toolbar identification skills on my latest quiz at http://www.purposegames.com/game/e6e8061124. I'm debating about giving a candy bar to the student with the fastest results but am not sure if that violates some basic principle in my teaching philosophy. Guess it depends on how big the candy bar is!

Light Reading

2011-10-21T16:20:00.000-04:00

It's fall break for us which means another indulgent trip to the library. Somehow I can never figure out how to find enough time to pleasure read during school. Here's what I picked up:

Super Mario, How Nintendo Conquered America by Jeff Ryan
checked out a Kobo Reader with the following ebooks:

All My Friends Are Dead by Avery Monsen and Jory John
Beatrix Potter's Journal by Beatrix Potter
The Winter of Our Disconnect: by Susan Maushart

First Flipped Video

2011-09-26T21:31:00.001-04:00

This is a video I made in a first attempt to "flip my class". The idea is that I provide content with quirky video to engage the kids at home. They answer a few questions about the video online. And then we use class time to practice the concepts. The entire presentation for the chapter is available for them as a pdf as well, they just don't get me :)

A Rebuttal On The Reality Of Math

2011-09-19T13:23:00.000-04:00

Al Cuoco, the director of the Center for Mathematics Education at EDC recently wrote a response to a New York Times Op-Ed in which he claimed that "reality is relative". This formed the foundation for his conjecture that standardized math courses and testing lack the ability to engage students.

According to Cuoco, requiring all students to balance a checkbook is unnecessary as it may not be part of every student's reality. Even Sol Garfunkel and David Mumford in the original editorial argue "that different sets of math skills are useful for different careers." But nothing could be farther from the truth.

Contrary to the relativism presented by both parties, math is founded upon a reality authored by God himself. We may discover more of the complexity in God's creation (as in fractal geometry) but it was already there for us to learn. Our study of mathematics should draw us closer to an understanding of the Creator as he reveals his divine character through his creation. That is the real reason to study math, not to meet some temporary selfish need.

Sorting Through Gen Con

2011-08-20T08:30:00.000-04:00

It's been a few weeks since Gen Con came to Indy, but I'm just now sorting through all the business cards we picked up. It's always cheaper to ask for a business card and visit them online than fight the crowds waiting in line. So here's the list of personal favorites, in no apparent order:

The Game Crafter - You have the game, they have the parts. Then they will even sell your game for you! This could be a great resource for a custom game used in class. Or if students make games as part of an assignment, they could go one to publish and sell their idea.
Billiboards - Quality Carrom products from around the world. We spent the good part of an hour playing Carrom at the booth. Billy Stevens was very gracious in explaining the rules, techniques and history of the game. We have a Carrom board decorating the wall but never had the pieces. We'll be buying the pieces soon!
Minion Games - Picked up a free deck of the game Sturgeon. The kids really enjoyed it, Nana had some difficulty following the rules but eventually got the hang of it. As my youngest pointed it, "It's the food chain." So she made the academic connection :-)
WHO North America - I went back several times to this booth, even if to simply drool over the DVD sets and touch the life-size Tardis. I seriously debated about an Amy Pond poster, but eventually declined. Now if there would have been a Rose Tyler poster...
Fat Dragon Games - Very cool use of paper folding artwork to create game spaces.
Mantic Games - Probably the coolest calling card. These purveyors of plastic mini-figures gave us a small model sheet with two Elves Scouts upon request because it has their web address and info imprinted on the selvage.
Flames of War - My son's great grandfather was wounded in WWII, so anything to do with The Great War has always fascinated him. They have some wonderful reproductions. As equally excited about historical accuracy as the fantasy role play.
Fireside Games - One of the first booths we encountered, so the boy was still overwhelmed with the immensity of Gen Con. The gal quickly explained how to play Bears! and we played a few rounds. Very fun game, great for road trips. Coming in September!
Geek Chic - These people are marriage savers. My wife loves quality furniture. What better way to store and play than with custom built furniture? They offer several accessories and innovative storage solutions for games, Legos, crafts, models...

Tech In Class Is Like Christian Music

2011-08-14T20:40:00.000-04:00

Growing up, contemporary Christian music didn't exist. If there was Christian music on the radio, it was usually at the beginning or end of a sermon. I remember listening to light rock or easy listening radio stations, some might even call it elevator music, but that was the least offensive you could get. The result was that the music we sang in church on Sunday was vastly different from what we heard the rest of the week. Very few radio stations played hymns with organ accompaniment.
Today, my kids listen to KLOVE and we sing the same songs in church. It's a vastly different dynamic. Where I felt a dichotomy, my kids experience unity. The music on Sunday morning echoes throughout the week. Sunday and Monday are leveled to the same plateau, a continuity of worship.
What struck me though was the analogy to technology in the classroom. When we use the internet, social media and mobile devices in class, those tools and lessons can continue to reverberate all week long. The greatest asset to digital tools is the ability to extend learning into everyday life and on the reverse, bring everyday experiences into the classroom. It's really a lot like how Paul described, "So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."

Trip To See The Dr

2011-06-19T21:48:00.002-04:00

My Lego crazy kid and I trekked up to Chicago for BrickWorld. First display inside the door had Doctor Who visiting Abraham Linclon at his home in Springfield. Pretty sweet!

We did have some trouble locating the Westin hotel. Perhaps the TARDIS could have done a better job. Seems the address on the hotel's website shows up ten miles north on my GPS.

Despite the run around, the expo was fabulous. Probably the best part for the boy was getting to hold a life size Halo MA5C. We also scoured tanks, Mecha and pod racers for ideas. I especially liked a cityscape done in micro scale.

We also enjoyed several Mindstorm exhibits, including a semifinal round of sumo bots. So despite the long drive, it was well worth the trip. And we've already marked our calendar for next year.