ResearChameleon

The Student-Centered Motivation to Genrify

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy Malatesta) — Tue, 25 Mar 2014 15:05:00 +0000

Is it ridiculous that I feel that I am late to the genrefication party? Since I first heard the term, I was not on the fence at all; I was happy in the middle of the "if it ain't broke" field and did not think that the grass looked greener on the other side. This despite keeping current with journal articles, Twitter hashtag debates, and the electrifying AASL conference this fall.

So what changed? For me, it wasn't an epiphany or major event. It began with a change in position and the wonderful conversations that happen every day because I now have a co-teacher librarian. Jen planted the seed with a simple question on how I felt about genrefying the collection. Being the newbie on the block, I listened...and the idea had many more merits than I was able to see from my position on the far side of the fence.

As my blog title might give away, I did what I love to do - research! I read blogs, looked at signage, scoured Evernote entries for my conference notes. What finally jumped off every page, post, and debate was that genrefication would be good for students. If we aren't willing to do what we feel is beneficial for them, what will help make reading more accessible, what are we protecting? The alphabetical filing of fiction books? That's not a sufficient argument for me anymore.

Jen and I recently sat down to brainstorm genres and to investigate different labeling options. The exciting thing is that we have begun the process!

My next post will go into the trials and tribulations of genrefication in the MARC records.

Review of "The Book Whisperer"

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy Malatesta) — Sat, 20 Oct 2012 20:33:00 +0000

The Book Whisperer: Awakening the Inner Reader in Every Child by Donalyn Miller
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

We just had the pleasure of hosting Donalyn for a half day conference in our district. She bowled me over and I couldn't wait to read the book. Fantastic! I borrowed the assistant principal's copy so I have to get it back ASAP - there's a l - o - n -g list of people waiting to get it next.

Let your students read! Stop with the worksheets, stop telling them what they can and can't read, stop sucking the fun out of reading!

View all my reviews

Websites Protest SOPA &PIPA

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy Malatesta) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 00:44:00 +0000

You may find your online activities interrupted tomorrow (January 18) by a protest against the proposed SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act) and PIPA (Protect Intellectual Property Act) bills.

The list of participating websites is growing quickly. Their protests range from banners expressing their protest to actually shutting down for the day. Some of the more well-known are:

Google
Wikipedia
Reddit
Internet Archive
Greenpeace
Syracuse University

While these interruptions may prove frustrating, they will also provide a teachable moment.
The Cliff's Notes version of the controversy is that the bills are intended to protect Intellectual Property but are more far-reaching and may encroach on free speech and contain language that suggests censorship.

If you would like to learn more about the proposed legislation, there are many articles out there - all with their fair share of bias. This link seems to be rather straightforward.
http://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/sopa-vs-pipa-anti-piracy-bills-uproar-explained/

added: Wikipedia, while dark, did link to this informative page

Here are the links to the proposed legislation
http://www.opencongress.org/bill/112-h3261/show
http://www.opencongress.org/bill/112-s968/show

Tech Gifts: Tablet Edition

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy Malatesta) — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 20:39:00 +0000

: Image by maiak.info

Something interesting happened at work recently; people began asking each other's opinions about which tablet to get for the holidays. This is obviously a hot topic, you might be wondering about selecting the ideal tablet. Let me begin by saying that I own an iPad, but I do not believe that there is a one-size-fits-all device.
By definition, tablets are a style of computer that has a touch screen, is portable, self-contained (no mouse, keyboard, or other connected peripherals), and operates on WiFi and/or cellular networks. Programs - referred to as apps - are purchased from the company's online store.
The most important things to consider are:

Why are you considering a tablet?
What is your budget?
What features are 'must haves'?

Most tablets are in the 9" to 10" screen size range while the Blackberry Playbook is 7", closer in size to the Nook from Barnes & Noble and Amazon's Kindle Fire. If you plan on using your tablet for more serious computing tasks such as word processing, screen size may be something you want to have at the top of your list. With the advent of cloud storage, on-board disk storage capacity is less of a concern than in the past. If you plan to store photos, videos or music on your tablet, you may want to up the storage space or choose one of the options that include an SD card slot which will allow you to increase your storage space as needed. Tablets do have built in cameras; Apples has the lowest resolution in the category. While I have seen people at events hoisting their tablets in the air to take photos, I'll stick to my phone or camera. If you want to use your tablet for simply snapping images of QR codes or for video chatting, any of the tablets will suffice.
Steve Jobs declared long ago that Adobe's Flash would never run on Apple iPhones or iPads and he kept his promise. There are websites with Flash content that will not display on Apple tablets and I admit that can be frustrating. However, Jobs seems to have been vindicated. Adobe recently announced that it has abandoned its mobile Flash development in favor of HTML5 which will work on all of these devices.
As a library media specialist, I originally wrestled with the idea of adopting an eReader and eBooks. Nothing beats curling up on a sofa with a good book, but I have come to appreciate the convenience of my eReader apps. When traveling, you only have to pack your tablet and bring as many books as you wish. With a tablet, you are not limited to proprietary software of a dedicated eReader such as the Kindle line. I have three eReader apps on my iPad and can compare prices as well as take advantage of the features unique to each one without being limited to a single company. Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Apple's iBook also allow you to download free previews.
Can a tablet replace a 'traditional' computer? Perhaps. Again, it depends on your specific needs. Would I recommend a tablet for a college student who needs to do

: Image by CampfireMi

research as well as compose lengthy research papers? Probably not. If you are a touch typist and rest your fingers on keys, you will have a bit of a learning curve when beginning to type on a tablet. There is a reason you see kids adopting the more efficient 'hunt and peck' strategy. If you touch the screen's keyboard, the touch will register. Even after months of regular use, I still type faster and more accurately on a traditional keyboard. If you like, however, you can purchase auxiliary keyboards for tablets. As a hobbyist photographer, I still need the photo editing software only available on a traditional computer. As an amateur genealogist, I take my iPad with me to scour library stacks and repositories. I can quickly take a photo of a page or enter data into my family tree on the tablet without lugging my laptop around. There are even grocery store apps that allow you to create lists and check of items as you go through the store.
If you are in the market for a tablet, I suggest that you get your hands on them before you decide on which one to purchase. The size, weight, and feel of a tablet are things we've never had to really consider before. If you hate how it feels or it's too heavy for you, then you won't use it. Browse the app stores and search for programs of interest to you. It isn't a bargain if there aren't applications to meet your needs. My tablet has become a constant companion - my library, cookbook, and source of entertainment. I am continually finding out how to make the most of its capabilities. My middle school students scramble to be the ones who get to use them in the library. If their reaction is any gauge to the popularity of tablets, they are certainly here to stay. Happy searching!
Android App Store
Apple App Store
Apple Store
App World

YouTube Space Lab: Kid-Designed Experiments on the ISS

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy Malatesta) — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 21:56:00 +0000

Please follow the link to my latest blog on the Connecticut Hearst Media Group.

Getting a Handle on Facebook Settings for You and Your Kids

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy Malatesta) — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 23:45:00 +0000

Image by Paul Klintworth

If recent stories about Facebook's new features have you questioning your own account settings or if you are concerned about the safety of your kids on Facebook, pull up a chair and let's walk through some steps you can take to reclaim your privacy. Keep in mind that Facebook's own Terms of Service restrict accounts to those over 13. As a middle school library media specialist, I know that there are many students with accounts who do not meet the age requirement. As a mom, I know how important it is to stay involved with your children's online activities. For the record, I have a Facebook account that I use daily. It is a great way to keep up with friends and relatives and I do my best to stay on top of the security settings. However, Facebook continually updates the services, so the settings are a bit of a moving target.

With the availability of mobile devices and wifi connections, online safety begins with your Internet connection. Unfortunately, account hijacking happens. One of the easiest things you can do to keep your account information safe is to switch to secure browsing by typing https:// instead of simply http:// in your browser's address bar. This tip can be used with many other websites; give it a try and update your bookmarks. Another simple idea is to name your devices within Facebook and set up an email alert when your account is accessed. Let's set both of these options now:

Click the arrow in the upper right > Click Account Settings > Click Security > Look at Secure Browsing and click Edit > Select the check box > Save Changes > Now look at Login Notifications and click Edit > Select the check box to be notified > Save Changes

Image by ssoosay

If you look down that list to the final item, Active Sessions, you can check to make sure that you are the only one accessing your account. If you see something on that list that isn't you, clicking End Activity will shut them down. Of course, you'll want to change your password, too.

Whether you use Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari, Chrome or another browser, they will all provide you with another measure of security. Cookies are computer snippets that allow websites to keep information about you and your browsing. If you've ever seen a form filled out automatically as you type, you can thank cookies for the convenience. You can typically manually delete cookies by clicking on the browser name at the upper left corner of your browser window and then clicking preferences. If the browser permits private browsing, you will want to select that as well.

Image by Paul Klintworth

What comes to your mind when you think about the term 'status symbol'? Sports cars? A great house? Fabulous shoes? For many of our kids, the number of names in their Facebook friends list fits the bill. "You only have 100 friends? I have 200." As adults we have an easier time recognizing that our social lives have many layers and that not everything should be shared with everyone.
One of the ways that Facebook allows you to customize sharing is with their privacy settings. These can be set to Friends Only (only those who are in your friend list), Friends of Friends (those in your list and in the lists of all of your friends - think how many people that could be), and Everyone (be warned, this is everyone online, not just on Facebook).

Look for the triangle in the upper right corner of your Facebook screen and select Privacy Settings. Locate 'How You Connect' and click edit. You can then select the settings you feel comfortable with.

Now let's think about your posts and who gets to see them; this is important not only for our kids but for us. We want our close friends to see the photos of our kids, but people at work? Probably not. Creating lists allows you to limit your posts to an appropriate audience. There are a few standard lists, such as Family, that can be automatically populated. However, you can create as many as you like. I have lists for family, close friends, acquaintances and work.

Look for 'Lists' in the left-hand column and click 'More'. To edit an existing list, click on it. To create a new list, select that option and give it a name. Find 'Manage List' in the upper right corner. By selecting 'Choose Update Types', you can decide what postings you will see from the people on that list. To limit the audience for a posting you create, click the arrow in the 'Update Status' box and select the lists appropriate for your post.

There have been many emails and postings about Facebook implementing a subscription fee to use their service. They aren't doing that nor do they need to. Facebook is full of advertisers that are happy to have access to millions of potential customers. Remember that your information is not limited to your account and advertisers use this to their advantage. This applies not only to ads but to the applications and games. You could have your account locked down tight, but if your friends' sites aren't, then advertisers have access to your information. While I can appreciate the well-placed ad for something I can use, I prefer to err on the side of caution and restrict their access.

To turn off the 'Info accessible through your friends', click on the arrow in the upper right corner. Select 'Privacy Settings', click 'Apps and Websites' and then select that option. While you are in that menu, you may wish to opt out of the 'Instant Personalization' and delete any apps that you don't need. The last option from this menu is extremely important; make sure that the box for 'Enable public search' is left UNchecked.

Image by DonkeyHote

Perhaps the hardest thing for our kids to understand is that posting online means you have no expectation of privacy. Anything posted, regardless of the carefully crafted private list, can be copied, downloaded, shared. Their addresses, hometowns, phone numbers, schools, and birthdays should not be posted online. Yes, it is fun to have all of those birthday wishes, but your close friends know when it is without Facebook having to tell them. It would be too easy to find out where they are and provides the perfect information for identity thieves. Unfortunately, one of the most fun and interactive features of Facebook is also one that exposes us the most: tagging. You can be tagged in photos, videos, notes, and posts which means that your friends and their friends can see those posts. How many of those people would you actually know? How many would you feel comfortable sharing an embarrassing photo with? Thankfully, you can set Facebook to ask before allowing a tag to go public. You can also opt out of a new feature that relies on facial recognition. This is important because Facebook's servers, full of millions of images, are suggesting photos of you (or people who look like you) to your friends and encouraging them to tag you.

Click on the arrow at the upper right corner and select 'Privacy Settings'. Select edit next to 'How tags work' and set profile and tag reviews to on. Set your 'Maximum profile visibility' to friends and leave 'Tag suggestions' off. The last category is also important. Checking into places means that you are posting your location. If you decide that this is ok to allow, I suggest that you turn off the option to have friends check you in places. It is extremely important that you UNcheck the box that says “include me in ‘people here now’ after I check in”. This would broadcast your child's location to everyone else at that location.

Facebook is fun. I have been able to keep in touch with friends I haven't seen in years. It allows me to see those adorable pictures of my friends' children and to connect with people who have shared interests. The important thing to remember is to keep talking with your kids about their online activity and to use common sense in what you post and who you allow to see it. If there are any other major changes to Facebook, I will keep you updated.

The Ripples Continue

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy Malatesta) — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 21:44:00 +0000

One of our fellow NASA Tweeps, @IamTay, posted this link to our Facebook group. It is interesting to see that the Twitter hashtag #NASATweetup logged over 44,000 Tweets between the end of May and today. Not that we have stopped blogging and supporting one another, but this is quite an amazing number. My Twitter handle, @ResearChameleon, just squeaked onto the list at 1.78%.

Keep in mind that the idea of Tweetups was not created by NASA nor has NASA stopped hosting them with the end of the shuttle program. Keep following the group to learn more about our space program and how to include NASA in your classrooms!

NASATweetup Archive from Mix Online

What I Did on my Summer Vacation: NASA Makes Dreams Come True

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy Malatesta) — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 17:21:00 +0000

My Florida adventures began in the fall when my daughter Sarah was selected to purchase tickets for the final launch of Discovery. As a college student, it is difficult to take time away from classes. As a teacher, taking time off at the beginning of the school year is not a decision to take lightly. As space enthusiasts, there was very little time dedicated to the thought that we wouldn't go.

On our way in to Kennedy Space Center, we passed a car that looked as if it was on its way to a high school pep rally. Its windows covered with a strange new word - Tweetup. We had no idea what that meant, but the driver was obviously enthusiastic. Unfortunately, our NASA adventure did not end with a shuttle launch; Discovery was scrubbed several times and launched in February.

I jumped at every chance to attend the shuttle's final launch - entering every possible option - including the Tweetup (having since learned what that was!). On June 10 I was busy at work; the end of the school year is a busy time for Library Media Specialists. There are books to chase down, yearbooks sales to handle, equipment to organize, and orders to submit. My pocket vibrated early in the afternoon and I barely had time to look at the screen. It was an email....from NASA! I took a cursory glance at the screen and forwarded the message to Sarah, assuming we would be on our way again. Twice in one year!

My cellphone rang as I walked through the door that afternoon and all I recall hearing was screaming. What on Earth could this be about? Was she really that excited (she's normally more laid back). After a few moments she said, "You have no idea what this means, do you?!" I really didn't. And then I read the email more carefully.

The event will provide you the opportunity to speak with shuttle technicians,

engineers, astronauts, and managers, and to experience the launch

of space shuttle Atlantis to the International Space Station.

AND

In addition, once we receive your confirmation, you will receive instructions

for an accreditation step you will need to complete no later than June 20 to

obtain clearance to come onsite at this secure government facility.

The next feeling I can remember having is one of panic. Could this really be true? Could I really afford to do this twice in one year? Where would I stay? How would I get there? Worst of all was the mother's guilt. This opportunity was for one person only. How could I do this and not have Sarah there? She's the one who aspires to be an astronaut. Thankfully my family calmed me enough to get my reply sent in on time and assured me that this was something not to be turned down.

What became clear very quickly is that NASA takes their Tweetups very seriously. This was not something thrown together. This was organized. The itinerary was incredible. But perhaps the most amazing thing to experience was the camaraderie among the Tweeps. We rented houses together, named them (VAB House!), organized rental cars and rides to KSC and the airport - all never having met before. Someone said that if your child announced they were going to go stay with strangers that your reaction would be to chain them to a radiator. But there we were! Physicists, photographers, engineers, students of every sort, Americans, Europeans, Asians, Australians....and me.

We spent Thursday in the tent captivated by the cadre of speakers and the horrific storm that swirled outside. At one point they tried to assure us that the tent was grounded. With the quantity of cords, cables and electronics over 150 Tweeps brought we could only hope so!

Our speakers were impressive and the Tweeps learned a great deal about NASA, space travel and the future of the programs. I promise to continue posting about that. But the star of the show was out on launch pad 39A and we still weren't sure if we would meet her that day. We weren't sure we'd ever get out of that tent! For the record, if they tell you to leave your cooler in the car because there won't be room at the table, ignore the directive. The VAB House mates made sandwiches and packed lots of nice cool water that was doing us no good in the trunk of Mary Kate's car. After noon the clouds decided to cease their torrents and allowed us enough time to be escorted to the employee cafeteria. I know there are reports of funny happenings while there, but I was so focused on the large bottle of water I could see from the end of the line, that I don't have a single anecdote. Except, perhaps, that @IamTay was seriously concerned for my well-being as she fanned me with my own shirt! It's hot in Florida.

After lunch, we trekked back to the Twent (notice the new vocabulary learned on this trip?) and heard not only that we were still under a lightning strike warning, but that there was concern that lightning struck the pad itself. Our hopes for attending the Rotating Service Structure rollback were fading, right up until the buses arrived. The closest emotion I can think of is disbelief at every turn. It's raining, we won't be able to go. There's the threat of lightning, we won't be able to go. We're on the bus and it's drizzling, we won't be able to get out. Something about the whole experience puts your brain into this permanent 'this can't really be happening' mode.

But the bus approached the gantry - the closest the public can get to the launch pad on a daily basis - and passed it on by. Beth Beck, NASA's Space Operations Outreach Manager and expert tour guide on the Cool Bus (we have a Four Square checkin to prove that status) was as excited as we were. This was our first view out of the bus window: Atlantis cradled by the RSS.

Just prior to launch, this mammoth structure seems to glide very smoothly away from the orbiter. It's job of providing protection and access to her complete. That RSS retraction went on as scheduled gave hope for launch the next day despite weather reports indicating a 70% no-go. The Tweeps disembarked the buses and commenced unabashed photo opps with one another and Atlantis. NASA officials practically had to drag us back to the buses, but our day was not yet complete.

Our next stop was the Vehicle Assembly Building - the immense structure capable of housing the shuttle and external fuel tanks in a vertical position. We were not just going to see it from the outside. For goodness sake, we were parked next to it, walked next to it (I still can't believe that to be so). We were going INSIDE! But Beth was not going to have this be any old tour of the VAB. She answered her iPhone just prior to our walking in. Who could be calling? Why Ron Garan, of course, FROM THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION! When NASA says 'outreach', they're not kidding.

On the general public tour (where the bus drives BY the VAB) you hear how this is the tallest one story building at 526 feet, and about the flag on the outside whose field of blue is the size of a basketball court and whose stripes could individually accommodate the bus you are in. Impressive. Right up until you actually walk into the place. I've been to cathedrals that were not as glorious, not as breathtaking. Photos cannot indicate scale nor can they convey the sense of importance of the place. Every rocket since my childhood has been readied for launch within these walls and structures. Banners signed by workers for each shuttle mission hang from the railings at every level. Tweeps whispered in reverence and walked forward, mouths agape.

Looking straight up

Stephanie Schierholz, sender of our 'you won the NASA lottery' email and NASA's Social Media Manager kept a watchful eye over our explorations. She told us that even she could not be in the VAB without an escort. And there we were, 150+ fan boys and girls. Make no mistake, many dreams came true that day.

Thursday ended with a trip to the Saturn V visitor complex, no less impressive than the other locations of the day. The only difference is that this location is open to the public. You are welcome to take the tour, see the movie, and touch a moon rock (truly!). It was there I met @NasaMan, Jim Gerard, NASA's INSPIRE Education Specialist. He was the tour guide for another of the Tweetup buses. After talking to us for a few moments, he did what many of us had been doing all day - reading everyone's credentials hanging around our necks. You see, we are Tweeps and our given names are not necessarily how we are known on Twitter. One of the highlights of my trip was when Jim Gerard said, "ResearChameleon. I know who you are." The geek and educator in me swooned.

We were sent on our way that evening with a 70% no-go for launch, advice to check our emails after official meetings around midnight (as if we would still be awake!) and knowledge that we would need to be at KSC when the gates opened at 0500. That's five AM!

When my alarm went off at 0330 (groan), I immediately checked my email. There was an email, but it was not to announce a scrub. I was surprised, actually. And a bit disappointed. I might have been the only person to hope for a scrub to Sunday's promised better weather. OK, one of two. Sarah would have flown in to see a Sunday launch from the Visitor's Center. We were off! Cameras, tripods, chargers, laptops, cellphones, iPads, credentials and the cooler (to be put under the table no matter what!). It rained heavily on our trip to KSC and we arrived just after 0500 never having encountered the rumored traffic nightmare.

And there she was on the launchpad. Atlantis, lit from every side by powerful lights. Her last stand; the program's last stand. The countdown clock was at T -3 hours and holding - where it would remain for many hours to come. The Twent hosted many dignitaries before the launch. Including those I'm sure had more important things to do on the morning of a launch! As I said, NASA takes its Tweetups very seriously. To say humbled is to underestimate the word and the sentiment. One guest brought the rapt attention of all in the Twent - the Air Force meteorologist. She told us that weather was still a concern. In hindsight, many said her appearance was the signal for a go without saying it outright. I was among those who still thought a scrub was inevitable.

While waiting, I walked around the press area, taking photos and video. And then the sky brightened, not cleared, but definitely an improvement. As launch time approached, we realized it was time to man the tripods! In the crowd, several people had radios tuned to NASA's prelaunch 'calls'. Through the static I could hear scratchy calls and responses. All were 'go' until weather who deferred. My emotions were on a roller coaster. Will it launch? Will it scrub? I should have told Sarah to come anyway. FOCUS!! I never heard the final 'go' from weather. I was standing behind the countdown clock so I couldn't see it. I knew that more time had elapsed than should have. It was then that someone with a better signal said there was a problem. I found out later that the 'beanie cap' that covers the nose of the orange external fuel tank was the holdup; they weren't sure that it had cleared and was in a locked position. Flashback to Thursday when astronaut Tony Antonelli said you can start to get excited for launch if the count goes within 31 seconds as that is when the computers take over. What time was the hold? At 31 seconds. This was torture of the kind you would sign up for every day of the week.

Still behind the clock, I had no way of knowing the status until I became aware of counting....backwards counting....out loud from those who could see it behind me. Ten, nine...I'm welling up with tears as I type. You want to soak in every millisecond - from the heat and humidity, to the sounds, to the birds who instinctively know to fly - to those around you. Light and Sound being what they are, you begin to see changes to the landscape in front of you. It is subtle at first and then you see billowing white clouds ripple above the trees, reflected in the water in front of you. The orange cone of the external fuel tank fights to rise above and finally emerges bringing with it the most spectacular sight you've ever seen. Atlantis bursts forth trailing a shower of white and orange of a quality that cannot be described. It is brilliant, piercing, blinding and you cannot look away. The color surges, undulates and grows as the shuttle climbs toward the oh-too-low cloud cover. Sound comes after and is not so much heard as felt. It is not an external rumbling like when you are near an airport. It is guttural, somehow internal. You feel it under your feet and within your ribcage. At one point I became aware that my pant legs were madly flapping against my shins as if trying to escape the ferocity. And then I looked to my right. One of my VAB House roommates, Mary Kate, was standing there. I do not recall an exchange of words, but rather feelings as we looked at one another. Truly, no words are necessary or able to be formed at that moment.

And then Atlantis was gone. Not her rumbling, growling, snapping. That was still wildly audible. We could see her shadow cast upon the top side of the clouds. But the majesty of ascent was over for us from our perspective. We stayed outside until we realized that we could see her continued journey on the large monitors in our Twent. But you had to get there first. Emotions were raw; most people were standing in amazement, many were crying (of course I was). As I walked the distance to the tent, many people came from nowhere to provide a hug, to continue the magical connection that we just shared. Reporters loomed to get first-hand accounts.

Those of us who received the Golden Ticket became fast friends over the previous weeks. How do you describe our bond now? Lasting...enduring...affirming? I'm not sure. I know that our Twitter feeds, Facebook group, and now Google+ connections are going strong. We were talking about reunions before anyone left KSC on Friday. We all struggled with how to thank NASA for what they had done for us. An artist in the group crafted a poster which we all signed. We each tried to thank our hosts individually. When I had a chance to speak to Stephanie after the launch, I was choked with emotion. Her simple reply was not to thank her, but to pay it forward. I assured her that I would take this experience to my students. To share the message that NASA is far from 'over', that the world is in need of students who aspire to space travel, design, engineering that my message would be for them and for all of us to DREAM BIG!

SpaceX and the Future of NASA

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy Malatesta) — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 19:46:00 +0000

Not long after receiving the email of a lifetime, SpaceX extended an invitation to visit their Cape Canaveral facility where their Dragon capsule was on display.

SpaceX is a private company who is developing launch vehicles, rockets, capable of delivering capsules into space. The capsule can deliver cargo to orbit or to the space station; they are working on capsules to carry astronauts. The Dragon capsule pictured above was launched from a Falcon 9 on December 8, 2010 and was the first private spacecraft to return to Earth from orbit.

Garrett Reisman, former NASA Astronaut (ISS, STS-123, STS-124, STS-132) is now the senior engineer at SpaceX in charge of mission assurance and astronaut safety. Colbert Report fans may remember Garrett as the astronaut who wore the WristStrong bracelet in space after Colbert's injury on the set of the show.

While we were all waxing nostalgic about the end of the shuttle program, Garrett and the SpaceX team were assuring us that it was just the beginning. Seeing their capsule and listening to their words really made me hopeful as a space geek and as the mom of an engineering student who has always dreamed of going into space. I was able to ask Garrett about the possibility of Sarah fulfilling her dream, of the possibility of my students fulfilling their dreams, and the said they absolutely could. I left feeling not only relieved but patriotic in a way. The NASA legacy will continue thanks to private companies. Where else in the world could this happen? Later in the week, I was in the Saturn V building and saw the lunar landing module in the photo above. This was the height of technology during my childhood. The shuttle was the height of technology of my children's childhood. Neither can be or should be an ending, but are the shoulders upon which the future of exploration will stand.

In recent days, we heard that SpaceX broke ground on their new launch pad at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. This will allow them to launch their Falcon Heavy which is a rocket capable of carrying twice the cargo of the shuttle.

For kids who dream of space travel...the dream is still alive. Remember that it is COOL to go into space. To get the opportunity takes hard work; you need to study and take the harder classes. The most important message I heard this week?

DREAM BIG!

NASA Spinoffs or What They Do for Us

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy Malatesta) — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 15:28:00 +0000

Although my focus on all things NASA has been over the top these past few weeks, I have been a fan girl for years. As I started to take some notes for blogging about my experience, I realized that you may not know what NASA research and technology has provided for us; that their missions contribute to our daily lives. So before I begin gushing about my trip, I thought it a good idea to give you a look at some of the things that we use without ever knowing that NASA had hand in their development.

NASA refers to these as Spinoffs and the links go directly to the Spinoff website. The history of the office goes back to 1962 and resulted from a Congressional mandate. They began a database of technologies and reported on them during annual budget hearings. The website lists seven different categories indexed from 1976 forward. I included only a few examples from two categories.

Computer

Online Banking - Java program testing to ensure the safety of online banking and shopping is the same as developed to test the rovers (2010)
GPS - The need to have precise locations of spacecraft led to the development of software now in use by defense industries, for oil and gas location, and navigation systems (2010)
Wireless Image Data Sensor - Allows high speed image handling - sends satellite images to desktops (2008)
Mars Mapping - The detailed scanning of Mars to allow the rover to maneuver is now being used to create detailed local maps
Software Sharing - A partnership between Xerox and NASA to develop improved content management (2007 - CT)
Conversing with Computers - Developed for remote robotics control between Earth and space, this allows the use of natural language to control computers (2004)
Going Paperless - NASA has been doing this since 2001 thanks to REI's Electronic Handbooks
Video Enhancement - NASA needed to enhance and stabilize video images received - this technology was first used to enhance the footage of the 1996 Olympic bombing in Atlanta
Individualized Websites - Provides personalized web content (1997)
Air Quality Monitor - Now in use to monitor emissions from industrial plants (1996)
Orthopedic Footwear Design - Developed at Langley in cooperation with the VA to create a CAD system for the customized shoes (1992)
Satellite Imagery via PC - Allows weather imagery on the computer (1989)
Systran Translation - Developed due to the Apollo Soyuz (1981) - used by companies to translate manuals, etc.
Bank Terminals - Developed out of the need to transmit large amounts of data over a single link (1978)

Consumer/Home/Recreation

Book Preservation - Vacuum chamber developed by GE allows for de-acidification of books in the Library of Congress (1980)
Solar Heated Swimming Pool - Using solar arrays for swimming comfort (1977)
Quartz Crystal Clocks - Allows for precise accuracy and is now in most timepieces (1976)
Hairstyling - Nanoceramics were tested for use in treating cancer and are now common in items like curling irons (2010)
SPF Clothing - Initially developed for children with life-threatening sensitivity to the sun's rays, now common in clothing for all (I wore it while in Florida last week) (2009)
Insulating Paint Additive - A low-cost addition to paint increases its insulating power thus providing cost savings in the long run (2007)
Anti-Icing - Prevents ice formation on airplane wings and car windshields (2006)
Fish Finders - High Def computer images for fishermen (2005)
Thermal Ceramics - Not only treatment for sports injuries but also a means of chilling wine (2004)
Graphite Material - Developed for the defense industry, this can now be found in items such as golf clubs (2004)
Lifting System - Developed to assist astronauts from rocket seats, it is now used to help people out of chairs and sofas (2000)
Tankless Water Heaters - Developed technology to make the technology more efficient (1997)
Sunglasses - Self-adjust and reduce glare (1986)

The launches and space suits get all of the photo opps; but their missions are important to every aspect of our lives.

Tweetup Day 1 - Thursday, July 7 - Walking by the VAB

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy Malatesta) — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 22:42:00 +0000

We had horrific thunderstorms and copious amounts of rain on Thursday. We were still 30% no go for launch on Friday, but we were hopeful. Our morning was filled with speakers and presenters which explains our high spirits. One thing missing? The cooler of water and sandwiches left in the car! It gets mighty hot in Florida; so the break in the weather and a trip to the cafeteria was most welcome. My apologies for the quality of video and audio - I was trying to keep up with the crowd (you don't want to be unaccompanied while there), was more than thirsty, and filming with my iPhone.

OH! I forgot to mention that we were able to get photos of the small alligator we found in that culvert. Alan warned, after I sent him the pic, that we should watch out for the mother. WHOOPS! She never surfaced, thankfully!

Video History of the Space Shuttle Program

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy Malatesta) — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 20:12:00 +0000

Sesame Street's Elmo Visits the Tweetup Tent with Astronauts

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy Malatesta) — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 17:58:00 +0000

Elmo and Astronauts Mike Massimino (@Astro_Mike) and Doug Wheelock (@Astro_Wheels) visited the Tweetup Tent on Thursday. We enjoyed the visit thoroughly and I bet your kids will too!

Video streaming by Ustream

NASA Tweetup for STS-135 Storify

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy Malatesta) — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 15:06:00 +0000

I know that I promised to blog live from the launch and it truly was my intent. However a combination of bandwidth and awe proved too difficult to overcome. I will say that the personal impact of the event was something I hadn't truly anticipated and words have failed to flow smoothly from my fingertips since I landed in Florida.
As a Researcher, I am gathering important feeds, photos, and information into Storify. From here, I will begin my writing. Enjoy....

Dream BIG!

NASA Launch Links

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy Malatesta) — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 19:49:00 +0000

To keep up with us at the launch this week, NASA provided the following links:

NASA Television - Ustream (Flash)

NASA Television - Windows, Quicktime, Mobile iOS & Android

NASA Flickr - Photostream

ResearChameleon Flickr - My photos

ResearChameleon YouTube - My videos

STS-135 Information - Mission information

STS-135 Mission Summary - pdf

STS-135 Press Kit - pdf

Countdown Information - explanation of what's happening at each step and hold

STS-135 Countdown & Milestones - what is happening each day before launch & during mission

Briefing Schedule - When to watch NASA TV for updates

Twitter Handles for you to follow

NASATweetup
STS-135 Launch
Christopher Ferguson - STS-135 Commander
Douglas Hurley - STS-135 Pilot
Sandy Magnus - STS-135 Mission Specialist
Rex J. Walheim - STS-135 Mission Specialist

Twitter Hashtags

NASATweetup
STS135

NASA Tweetup Itinerary

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy Malatesta) — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 21:30:00 +0000

Those of us with the 'golden ticket' have come to rely on Stephanie Schierholz these last few weeks. She is NASA's Social Media Manager and Public Affairs Specialist. To the Tweeps? She's a guide, a mentor, and an endless source of knowledge, advice and patience. The newbies in the group (that would include me) have endless questions and want to get everything right lest the universe realize that we are unworthy of such an honor as attending the launch of Atlantis on Friday. Today, on the Fourth of July (shouldn't this be her day off?), we received our itineraries!

The email includes guidelines for behavior - don't expect to see the Tweeps posing by the countdown clock - that shot is for the media. Regardless, the view for us will be the same. A mere three miles from the shuttle launch pad. Swoon.

Initially reading the schedule, I am glad to count myself among the early risers. Following down the list, I am concerned that I have never counted myself as capable of pulling an all-nighter.

Thursday
6:30 am - registration begins
9:00 am - welcome by NASA's John Yembrick
10:30 am - Bill Gerstenmaier, Associate Administrator for Space Operations
Broadcasting on NASA TV begins
10:50 am - Elmo (as in red, fuzzy & cute) will meet with Mike Massimino

11:30 am We meet with Tracy Thumm and Justin Kugler both of whom work with the ISS

11:50 am We meet with Angela J. Brewer, Flow Director for Atlantis. Among other honors, she is the recipient of the Silver Snoopy award! This is given by astronauts to fellow NASA employees in appreciation "For professionalism, dedication and outstanding support that greatly enhanced space flight safety and mission success".

If you have ever seen my desk, you know I love my Snoopy!

After lunch, we will be driven out to Launch Pad 39A to watch the retraction of the Rotating Service Structure that surrounds the shuttle. I don't know exactly how close we will be...but I can tell you it is CLOSE!

3:15 pm we will tour Kennedy Space Center and the Apollo Saturn V Center. These are open to the public and you may have seen my photos from the trip we took to the scheduled launch of STS-133 in the fall. As Tweetup attendees, we will be given a rare behind the scenes tour that will include the Vehicle Assembly Building! This is the enormous structure in which they mount the shuttle to her external fuel tanks.

Our schedule concludes at 6 pm but will begin again at 5 am Friday. Did I mention that we have quite a commute on our hands and that they have said there will be one MILLION people there? Talk about rush hour!

Friday

6:30 am we will watch the Robotic Refueling Mission demonstration

7:00 am Group Photo at the countdown clock! We have been warned to stay out of the news camera shots later in the day!

7:05 am we meet with Tony Antonelli, a veteran of STS-119 and STS-132

7:40 am (est.) we will line the road to wave as the astronauts drive by in the 'astrovan'. It is here that all in attendance will pray that the van continues to the launch pad rather than U-turn as it did before, indicating a scrubbed launch.

8:00 am (if we can take any more excitement) we will meet with Bob Crippen, pilot of the very first shuttle launch, STS-1! His bio states that he has logged over 565 hours in space and travelled over 9.4 million miles!

8:30 am we meet with Lt. Col. Patrick Barrett from the 45th Weather Squadron of the United States Air Force. We hope that the team has great weather news for us on Friday!

9:21 am (est.) They close the hatch on Atlantis

11:26 am LAUNCH!!

12:30 pm - for those watching at home, this is the estimated time of the post-launch news conference.

I hope that you will follow along with me and that my words and images can somehow bring justice to the incredible opportunity NASA has provided. If you or your students have any questions that they would like me to ask any of our NASA dignitaries, please post them.

Using Twitter to Find Conference Links

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy Malatesta) — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 19:26:00 +0000

Yesterday marked the close of the ISTE conference. From sun up to nearly sun down, thousands of technology educators, library teachers and administrators attended workshops, poster sessions, demo lessons and walked miles of vendor aisles. Today? Well, now is the time to make sense of what we saw and find information on sessions we couldn't fit into our schedules.

How is this possible?

Twitter
With so many attendees and presenters sending Tweets, the information is archived and ready for your perusal; there is no time limit. For example:

Find hash tags

#ISTE11
#SIGMS
#ISTEKeynote

Find Colleagues

Buffy Hamilton @buffyjhamilton
Tiffany Whitehead @librarian_tiff

Find presenters

Will Richardson @willrich45

Find vendors

@InFocusEDU
@diigo
@LiveBinders

ISTE Sites

Your colleagues may also be listed on ISTE's blogger spreadsheet.

ISTE recorded some presentations and will be adding them to their site.

For my teachers and colleagues, I will be working on creating LiveBinders and how-to documents. At first I thought I'd post them to our Moodle course. But with so many new options available, how will I choose? Summer is my time to experiment, to improve the program, and to plan on working these new tools into the curricula and into my students' hands.

Thank you for a wonderful conference - to those who organized the events, presented the events or simply took the time to share during a brief conversation. My first ISTE conference was memorable and invigorating. I promise to share!

Video Introduction for NASA Tweetup

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy Malatesta) — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 14:03:00 +0000

Here is my video entry to The Space Crowd.

Video Introduction

Getting the Word Out

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy Malatesta) — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 00:32:00 +0000

As if receiving an invitation to a shuttle launch from NASA isn't surreal enough, we were encouraged to send out press releases for our local news outlets.

This evening I sat at a table in Panera waiting for my lovely daughter to join me for dinner. As I contemplated which salad to order, I was sending out press releases. Seriously. Just think for a minute what you would tell the news departments about yourself. I'll tell you it took me a lot longer than a minute to come up with something.

Unbelievably, I heard back from WTNH within a few minutes. Looks like we need to set the DVR!

While I find that I am now able to get to sleep at a decent hour (the first few nights were a challenge), this adventure is still as fresh, new and thrilling as it was when I opened that Email last Friday!

STS-133

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy Malatesta) — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 22:07:00 +0000

STS-133, a set on Flickr.

Looking back at our trip to the Kennedy Space Center while anxiously awaiting the NASA Tweetup in July!

One Email from NASA Changes Everything

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy Malatesta) — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 14:01:00 +0000

Although I am old enough to have manned space flight a part of my entire childhood, I'm young enough to not remember that magical day in 1969. These men were my heroes and I have made up for those memories ever since.

My mother's favorite vacation spot was Washington, DC - she loved everything historical, loved exposing us to the culture found in the vast halls of the Smithsonian. I drank it all in, memorized details, and personalized it. (The Spirit of St. Louis has Ryan on the tail - my maiden name!) There are grainy, 1970s photos of me standing by the lunar exhibits - grinning from ear to ear. These early experiences are the genesis of my curious nature and love of history and technology.

Fast forward a decade; I watched every Shuttle launch with bated breath and know exactly where I was on January 28, 1986. As a science teacher, I registered to be on the list of teachers in space. My children came with me to NASA lectures at the National Science Teachers conventions. We watched animated videos of the planned Mars Rover project and then watched coverage on NASA-TV.

My older daughter is now an Electrical Engineering major at Northeastern University and she shares my passion for NASA and space exploration. We abandoned our plans for attending a Broadway show last June when we learned that Mike Massimino was going to be on David Letterman. He chuckled when Sarah told him that he was her favorite astronaut.

She was the lucky one who won visitor center tickets to the launch of STS-133 in November. We soaked in all that NASA had to offer and were brought to tears at the majesty of the Saturn V. Of course, Sarah was brought to tears for a different reason, too. STS-133 didn't launch until February.

Last month, I set up a large screen in my Library Media Center and invited students to watch the launch of STS-134 and talked about how exciting it was to be at Kennedy Space Center even without the launch. We even tracked the launch and orbit on Google Earth. I thought that my chances at watching a live launch had passed.

But then an Email from NASA changed everything. It is my turn to hold the golden ticket; I have been invited to attend the STS-135 Tweetup! The reality of this front row opportunity (3.1 miles from the launch pad!) are just beginning to sink in. Keep watching. I'll be blogging, Tweeting, and shooting as much as possible. I promise that NASA could not have picked a bigger fan!

Video Book Trailers & Destiny

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy Malatesta) — Wed, 18 May 2011 21:03:00 +0000

Two years ago, Doris Murphy, one of our 8th grade English teachers, approached me with an idea about creating book reviews. After discussing the project, we decided that adding technology would make it much more interesting for everyone.

We are a Mac school and began by creating enhanced podcasts in Garage Band. Students had the option of taking their own photographs or using copyright-friendly images to accompany their recorded scripts. We had some adventurous students branch out into iMovie last year with varying degrees of success. At our project-end meeting, we knew we had to make some changes.

Students lost focus on the message when trying to act in their own videos
Students were too busy acting in other videos to focus on their own
We needed to have an authentic audience for the projects

Thanks to the fabulous resources available via Twitter and LM_Net, we found out about Teresa Schauer and her Book Trailers for All project. We were so inspired! Using images imported to iMovie or Animoto allowed students to focus on the mood, message and persuasive aspects of the project. However, we were still limited to a captive audience of students in the same block.

The district upgraded to Destiny in the Fall of 2009. We knew the system had the ability to handle multimedia, but our IT department was reluctant to grant us access to the server. As media specialists, we knew we had not only our administrators but also the standards on our side - we continued to push the issue. At a recent meeting of LMS, IT and administrators, we again proposed opening access to the multimedia permissions. The planets aligned, and we were given access.

It is a simple process from our perspective. The person(s) who has (have) District Administrator privileges will need to grant access by following the steps below and logging in at the district level.

To see the status of your site, log in as the administrator for your school and click 'Back Office'

Click on 'Access Levels' in the left column

Select one to look at by clicking on the edit icon (your levels may have different labels than mine)

Click to enlarge

Scroll down and look for 'Library Catalog Search Access' in the left column

If this access level is able to upload digital content, the box will be checked. Until yesterday, that box had a line through it just like the last one in the screen shot.

I do want every access level to come through me for approval first so 'Approval not required' remains unchecked. You will need to check each access level individually.

If you find that your access levels are not allowed to upload digital content, request it be opened from your Destiny system administrator (for us it is our network IT guy).

To add content is the easy part!

Click to enlarge

The reviewer searches for the book in the OPAC
Click 'Reviews' tab
Click 'Add Review'

Option to rate with stars
Option to write a review
Option to choose a file

Enter text for the hyperlink
Locate the multimedia file
Upload

Click to enlarge

Click on this link to view this screen shot's page. The trailer was added at our high school. We are still going through the middle school projects, so only one has been uploaded here.

The process, once unlocked, is extremely simple. I am more than happy to walk you through it; enjoy!

Mubarak Resigns - Making History Come Alive for Students

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy Malatesta) — Sun, 13 Feb 2011 21:29:00 +0000

Just a few days ago, we were discussing where we were when the Space Shuttle exploded. We all recounted how we knew we were witnessing history.

As the citizens of Egypt organized to let their wishes be known to their government, my 6th grade students were completing their ancient civilizations projects.

In all, there are five ancient civilizations represented, each with a historical figure running for the role of Ultimate Leader.

Students researched events in the history of the countries, examined the impact of the leaders, and made connections to current events. They created TV commercials, print campaigns, and theme songs. The entire grade 'registered' for the privilege of voting in tomorrow's election.

As the news of Mubarak's resignation reached the media center, the students paused for a moment and then spontaneously cheered. I know for certain that these students will remember where they were when they heard the news. They just witnessed history. What an amazing thing!

Replacing your RSS reader with Twitter + Hootsuite

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy Malatesta) — Sun, 06 Feb 2011 13:39:00 +0000

As a Library Media Specialist, I teeter on the brink of information overload every time I launch a browser. From my personal email, work email, RSS feeds, Twitter, Facebook, blog...I feel overwhelmed just thinking about it!

I have been searching for a way to manage all of my sources into one manageable interface. While I am finding that 'all' may be an unreasonable expectation, this posting from Levi Smith has given me hope that I can move towards 'most'.

Essentially, with the popularity of Twitter and the ability to create private lists combined with Hootsuite, you can have a close to one-stop-shopping of information sources.

Now how do we get LM_NET on there??

*EDIT* As I sit here on a Sunday morning, blissfully reading all of my centralized feeds, I realize that come Monday morning I am likely to be disappointed - I'm sure HootSuite will be blocked at work. SIGH

Happy searching!

Replacing your RSS reader with Twitter + Hootsuite

Fun with HTML 5

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy Malatesta) — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 11:30:00 +0000

For those who live in NYC, this one's for you. Think of it as an interactive MTA map, but with a 21st century twist thanks to HTML5.

The map displays trains departing, then following their routes. As they intersect....music! Try it yourself by interacting with the 'strings'.

I'm really feeling the need to take a class in HTML5! Perhaps my kids in Boston can create one for the T!

Enjoy on this snowy morning.

http://www.mta.me/