A GeekyMomma's Blog

Why There Are No Teachers in Heaven Today

2012-02-04T11:39:00.000-05:00

A teacher died and went to heaven.

St. Peter welcomed her in and said he would show her to her place in heaven. The first neighborhood was lovely. People were out on the park-like lawns, socializing, barbequing, playing golf on a beautifully landscaped golf course, and having a fine time.

"Oh, this is wonderful," says the school teacher to St. Peter, "Is this where I'll be staying?" "No, this is the doctors' area," replied St. Peter.

They continue the journey and come to another beautiful neighborhood. Again everyone is outside socializing. People are on tennis courts, swimming in pools, etc.

"My, this IS paradise," gushed the teacher, "Is this my neighborhood?"

"No, no, the teacher's area is next."

They move on among the clouds until they reach an equally beautiful neighborhood, but no one is outside. No one is visible anywhere and the houses appear to be closed and empty. "Well, here we are," said St. Peter with a smile,

"Isn't this a fine place to be?" "Yes," replied the teacher with noticeable disappointment in her voice. "Don't many teachers make it to heaven? I don't see anyone else here?"

"Sure, we get lots of teachers. Don't worry they'll all be here tomorrow. They're all in Hell for another day of Professional Development."

Funny and yet, sad but true. What are YOU doing to keep your teachers from feeling like they are in Hell during PD? Are you part of the problem, or part of the solution?

Photo Credit: morgueFile - Anita Patterson http://www.morguefile.com/archive/display/119796

Facebook Explained

2012-01-12T20:36:00.000-05:00

Sachi and Lee LeFever, from Common Craft, have released a new Explainer video about Social Networking. It is a welcome sequel to Common Craft's previous Social Networking in Plain English from 2008.

This new video (embedded below) explains social networking from the perspective of a user who discovers Facebook and finds a new level of enjoyment from friends with common interests.

The video teaches:

The ideas and features of social networking websites
Basic privacy settings
The role of status updates
How to build a network
How comments and likes enable communication

More Facebook resources for educators:

Teaching Digital Kids
Facebook for Educators Guide (PDF)
PEW Report: Social Networking Sites and Our Lives (full report here)

Disclosure Statement: Common Craft has provided me with a free membership to their premium service with the understanding of no obligation on my part. If and when I reference Common Craft in my posts, it is my personal choice with no benefit to me other than providing a valuable service to my readers within the context of my posts.

Top 10 Reasons Why I'm Not Following You on Twitter and 10 Why I Am

2012-01-10T23:19:00.000-05:00

Image Flickr User: carrotcreative

For me and many educators, Twitter has often been like an online faculty lounge where I get control over who stays in the room and who has to leave. That may sound cruel but that's the way social networks work. You choose who to follow for many reasons. Everyone has their own criteria, and I thought I'd share a few of my own here.

Top 10 Reasons Why I'm Probably NOT Following You on Twitter:

You're an egg or default avatar with no profile. Add a photo and a bio. Tell me something meaningful about yourself.
You are following 300 people and have 2 followers. This tells me you are a Spammer.
You've Tweeted me a link and nothing else. See #2.
I get more than a few Follow Requests every day. I don't have time to click through on every one of them. Engage me or @ me or say "Hi," and I'll notice you. I know I need to do a better job of following more people. I'm working on this.
You follow for awhile, build up your numbers, build relationships, then unfollow in large numbers thus playing games with your Klout or "follower numbers" for appearance-sake. No thanks.
You are argumentative for the sake of being argumentative.
For the sake of building a conversation, you appear to go out of your way to be hurtful to people; resorting to immature behavior such as lying, rallying the troops with "Straw Man Arguments," pulling the "wounded duck" routine, name calling and/or see #6.
You meanly mock others. (Not to be confused with gentle teasing.)
I know you outside of Twitter, you never Tweet, but you read my Tweets. I know this because you refer to them when I see you. (Same goes for Facebook.) Can you spell, C-R-E-E-P-Y?
You've asked me for help, I've helped. I've asked you for help, you've ignored me. Seriously?

Top 10 Reasons Why I Probably AM Following You on Twitter:

You make me laugh.
You make me think.
You've changed my mind.
You've sent me places online, pointed me to articles and blogposts and provided resources I might not have found as quickly on my own.
You've cheered me on when I'm excited about something.
You've helped me promote something that's important to me (a blogpost, a contest, a cause, a friend).
You've told me when you think I'm wrong.
You've argued with me, respectfully.
You've taught me something.
You make me feel like I'm a part of something global.

What are your top reasons for following or not?

Image credit:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/carrotcreative/ / CC BY 2.0

Some Things I Know About Blogging

2012-01-01T16:50:00.002-05:00

http://www.flickr.com/photos/wfryer/503600331/

Back in October, Richard Byrne wrote "What I Learned From 5,000 Blog Posts." I missed this post until today when it came across my Twitter feed from Paula Naugle (Twitter @plnaugle). Although I've not blogged nearly as much as Richard and my blog couldn't possibly hold a candle to the amount of monthly traffic his receives, I'm happy and proud of the little niche I've created for my voice over here.

I wanted to add a couple of my own "lessons learned," but when I tried to comment I saw that the comments for the post were closed (most likely SPAM protection), so I decided to bring my thoughts over here.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mignon_Fogarty

Richard suggests not to obsess too much about grammar: He said, "I do worry about spelling, grammar, and punctuation. However, I don't fret over the minutia of the grammar rules. If I fret over every detail I'd spend more time consulting Strunk & White's The Elements of Style than I would publishing blog posts." Like Richard, I also pay careful attention to spelling and grammar. This does not mean that my writing is perfect. I make mistakes, but I make every effort to check my work and do a search when in doubt and sometimes ask others to proofread for content as well as mechanics. When you write, whether it be an email, bulletin, article, newsletter or a blogpost, it is the impression with which you leave the reader about your message. I think it should be your best. Know the difference between lose and loose, your and you're and their, they're and there. My favorite site for a quick grammar check is Grammar Girl. (FYI, she will answer your question on Twitter, too.)

And, because we don't always catch mistakes the first time ...

Don't be afraid to go back and edit; even after you've published. The nice thing about blogging is having the ability to go back and edit your work. If you misspelled something or your grammar was poor, just go in and edit. If you substantially change the context of your post, you should indicate so in your post by adding a small "Update" blurb, or strike through the previous text and add the new text.

About growing your audience, Richard suggests publishing often and keeping it short. I agree with both of these suggestions, although I've not always been able to stick to them (especially the publishing often part). I have to be inspired in order to write a post, so a week or two could pass before that happens. Sometimes (lately), I will post more frequently. Another reason why I may not blog as often is that it takes me a few hours to write a post. This goes back to what Richard said about worrying about spelling and grammar. He spends less time worrying and more time writing. Perhaps I should heed his advice. As for keeping it short, anytime I've been asked to blog for other publications such as Huffington Post or Secret Life of Scientists, they've always suggested posts that are less than 500 words. On the other hand, sometimes you have a lot to say, for example this post is WAY over 500 words. It's OK to break the rules.

"Criticism comes with the territory of blogging. Keep on blogging because in two weeks the blog-o-sphere critics will be on to a new topic," says Richard.

Richard is right-on with this one! I try to have thick skin, but as Richard stated in his post, it does hurt when people take jabs at you rather than stick to the subject. Don't feel compelled to respond to every comment. Sometimes no response is the best response. On the other hand, DO try to respond to some comments. Those who take the time to leave a comment on your blog, do like to know you're at least reading them and are appreciative of their interest.

Here are a few more:

More about growing your audience. Don't be afraid to share your post on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Plurk or anywhere else you hangout online. Lots of people don't even use RSS readers anymore and are depending on their social networks to find good stuff.
Remember Tamagotchi® ?Tamagotchi are those dumb electronic "toys" that have to be played with and fed or they will "die." My kids had them years ago and although I thought they were dumb, they were crazy about them to the extent that while they took their swim lessons, I was feeding and rocking their Tamagotchi. In this sense blogs also have to be nurtured and fed. I suggest you do your part and read and comment on the blogs of others. Find new conversations and try to expand to new lesser-known voices. Commenting on other people's blogs will bring commenters back to your blog. Commenting via Twitter is nice but tends to frustrate a lot of bloggers who end up with comments all over Twitter and very few at the site of their post. Best bet? Comment on Twitter, Re-Tweet the post if you like it, AND comment at the post. This will also help grow your audience.
Part of nurturing the blogosphere is providing links in your posts wherever possible. This is not only helpful if someone wants to learn more, but it's also courteous. If you mention someone who has a blog or other online presence, it is generally considered the right thing to do to provide a link to their space.
Don't pigeon-hole yourself into a particular style. Post (embed) a video that caught your attention, create a list of favorite things, post one of your favorite lessons for teaching something or share a story one of your students wrote (be sure you have permission and be careful about using real names and photos). Sometimes, if we feel it's not appropriate for the space we've created, then we tend not to share it. "Hogwash," I say.
It's OK to write when you're upset. Often the most passionate posts generate the most thought-provoking conversations. Just be careful about how rant. Let someone you trust (not someone who tells you everything you like to hear) proofread for you. If you don't want your parents, students, principal or the police to read your post, then don't publish it. Follow the Golden Rule of writing while angry. Write it and put it aside until you've cooled down, then read it again. If you still like what you've read, go for it.
Start with a great image and give credit where credit is due. Using an interesting image will do a lot to hook your readers and help make your point. Search Flickr Creative Commons or try:

Compfight - another way to find Creative Commons (CC) images
Custom Search for CC Images by Ken Shelton

Disclose and avoid any appearance of impropriety. Richard mentioned this, too. People are funny about this, and rightly so. When you mention a company or recommend a service, it may APPEAR that you are promoting their product; maybe you are and maybe you aren't. But unless you say so, people don't know and may file your post under S for "Skeptical" or worse yet, "Slimy." If you are being paid for a post-related task, be sure to be clear about it, as I was here. If you have other corporate relationships, it's best to disclose them. My disclosure statement is on my About Me page. Kevin Jarrett does an excellent job with his disclosure statements.

Kevin Jarrett's Blog: http://www.ncs-tech.org/?p=7041

Happy New Year and remember to ask lots of questions!

~ Lee

Why Do You Use Twitter?

2011-12-29T09:36:00.000-05:00

Student Plagiarizing: Internet Addiction or Poor Preparation?

2011-12-27T10:23:00.001-05:00

In response to Anastasia Rubis: 'Tis the Season, for Student Plagiarizing:

I say, "I agree that this has nothing to do with Internet addiction. It has more to do with us (educators) not properly preparing our students for how to do real research and write effectively without plagiarizing. Sometimes, professors ask students such obscure questions that the students just don't understand what they're being asked to do. In an effort to sound very academic, professors can tend to confuse students. Often, phrasing a task as simply as possible will yield the most thought-provoking responses. I've always felt that if an answer can be Googled, then we're probably not asking the right questions."

This doesn't absolve students from unethical behavior, but I do believe students who plagiarize feel trapped and if better prepared would have a better understanding of their options.

What do you say?

'via Blog this'

Conferences and Online Safety 101

2011-12-25T13:06:00.001-05:00

Image Source: free-clipart.net

If you are attending ISTE 2012, or any conference for that matter, there are many things to look forward to and be excited about. It's easy to get enthusiastic and when you use Twitter as much as I do, it's easy to forget to also think about safety. As conferences start rolling around, it's fun to follow hashtags whether you attend in person or not. People will follow #iste12, for example, for session discussions, resources and sometimes to find out WHERE PEOPLE ARE.

Warning #1
I don't meant to be sexist, but it seems that men are not as concerned about this, so this is especially for women. Don't PUBLICLY announce on Facebook or Twitter what hotel you will be/are staying at. A few years back, I had someone who follows me online show up at my hotel to meet me. It was not a mutually agreed upon meeting, I was not expecting this and he must have known where I was staying due to me being too public about my whereabouts. Silly me. I'm sure he meant no harm, but it scared me. It is good to know that hotels are NOT supposed to give out any information about whether or not you are a guest at their hotel to anyone. I now check with the hotel about their policy on this when I check in. Another FYI: They are also NOT supposed to say your room number out loud to you when you check in (unless visually impaired).

Warning #2
If you live alone, and you have enough of a web presence for others to know this, don't announce your departure and arrival times. This means your home may be unattended.

Warning #3
There are likely to be parties or meet-ups. Think carefully about where you are going, who you are traveling with and whether or not you really want your location Tweets public. Use DMs or text messages whenever possible; especially if a meet-up is at someone else's rental or hotel. This one is for men, too: Think about whether or not you are "outting" someone else's hotel or housing location.

Butt Into Someone Else's Business
This blogpost came about because as I was searching around Twitter about an upcoming conference, I noticed someone had Tweeted how excited she is about attending and where she will be staying. I am not linking to the Tweet, nor did I capture a screenshot; doing either would only publicize her Tweet further.

When I see these Tweets from women I know, I will usually simply suggest that they not publicly announce their housing location and they may want to delete the Tweets. It's only a suggestion and they're certainly free to do whatever they want. Normally, I try not to butt into other people's business but I do think we need to look out for each other. I always waver as to whether I should say anything or not, but then I think about the fact that I would greatly appreciate it if someone did that for me.

A note about Facebook. As you may already know, Facebook is well known for frequently adjusting their privacy settings. Even with notification, users are often confused. You may want to check your privacy setting on Facebook and be sure that IF YOU WANT your photos, posts, likes, and comments elsewhere available only to friends or even posted on your wall at all, then that is actually what is set. Also, be sure your Twitter and FB passwords are secure. Click here for a helpful video from Common Craft on using secure passwords.

What do you think? Am I overly cautious? Should I mind my own business? What are your safety tips for attending conferences?

I look forward to your comments.

While you're thinking, if you're not already creeped out enough, you may want to try this live action interactive Facebook connect experience, Take This Lollipop.

Disclosure Statement: Common Craft has provided me with a free membership to their service with the understanding of no obligation on my part. I believe in the power of simple explanations such as those used in the videos created by Common Craft. When I use them in my posts, it is my personal choice with no benefit to me other than providing a valuable service to my readers.

Happy New Year from JibJab

2011-12-24T21:26:00.003-05:00

Happy New Year, from JibJab!

Why I'm OK With The Edublog Awards: An Open Response

2011-12-17T11:34:00.001-05:00

This began as a comment on Vicki Davis' blog. After finalizing the comment, it seemed more appropriate to bring the response over here.

Vicki begins:

"Been pondering on rewards and awards. The inevitable onslaught of upset people after the EDublog 2011 award finals has begun. But some have asked why we should even have awards in education. Shouldn't teaching be reward enough?" ...Please read the entire post here.

Thank you for this post, Vicki. As you know I was very much engaged in that conversation on Twitter with Joe and most of his quotes on that blogpost came from me. I was upset during the conversation, but as I look back at the timeline of that exchange, I'm still very proud of the way I attempted to articulate my point of view. I think it was a respectful exchange and I agree that diversity of opinion is often lacking in our online circles. I understand what Joe means about losing followers. It is true that any time you get controversial, you risk insulting people. The only people I've unfollowed because of such conversations are those who resort to bullying, demeaning others and actual unethical behavior. (You, and many reading this probably know who I'm talking about.) Additionally, I'm aware that I lose followers all the time for many reasons. Probably because I tend to be a Smart Alec on Twitter and inevitably offend someone. I am who I am, and most people who follow me know that I can have a bizarre sense of humor, at times.

Anyway, I'm glad you posted this because it's been on my mind and I just hadn't felt the energy to write my own post about this and you've said it all beautifully.

My bottom line with the whole thing is this: Let's celebrate the things others are excited about; even if we're not. If I stop and pick up a dollar off the street; don't tell me all the things that I couldn't possibly buy for a dollar. If someone invites me to a party, don't tell me it's because they felt they HAD to include me. If a friend shows you their latest stylish purse, don't tell them you are aware that it is a fake. (However, if your friend had spinach in her teeth; you'd BETTER tell him/her!)

I don't see the harm in these awards at all. I was nominated for Lifetime Achievement and didn't even place. Big deal. It was a true honor to be nominated. Does that mean that someone who wasn't on the list isn't amazing? Come on....

The Gloves Are Off

My team at work had their Wiki (iPad in Education) nominated for Best Educational Wiki. THAT got me VERY excited and I attempted to promote it actively. Very few people are even aware of that wiki. I personally did not build it, nor do I do the research and grunt work to maintain it. Before the nomination, I had not promoted it on social media and neither has anyone else. Popularity contest? Maybe, but not in this case. People who are implementing iPad programs in their schools are finding the Wiki very helpful. It's not just a list of favorite Apps. It includes solutions to really big problems that we all face such as how to buy Apps for tons of iPads at once. Dealing with teachers/administrators using the Mail app, yet sharing their device. Other things Apple didn't think about initially. There's even an implementation planning guide for schools thinking about buying iPads. (Too many buy devices first, then decide what to do with them.)

The iPad program in my district has been very controversial, and any "badge" or award or other recognition will do a lot to help this program move forward in a positive way; ultimately helping thousands of children. The big decision makers like external recognition. We all do.

So, when we go around saying this is all BS, we should stop to think about just HOW important some of these award programs might be to the individuals, groups or organizations and how they DO help.

Thanks for allowing me to ramble. I just may have to write my post now, after all.

...and so I did.

Have We Met?

2011-12-03T13:28:00.001-05:00

It's been a really long time since I've blogged about Twitter. Mostly because Twitter has become so mainstream that there's almost no need for folks like me to keep spouting the benefits of its use. I've pretty much figured out that either you "get it" or you don't. The process of trying to convince people to give it a try, when they've already made up their minds that Twitter is a waste of time, is well... a waste of my time. Don't get me wrong; I still strongly believe in its use for networking and fun but I've evolved to the point where it's just too exhausting trying to drag in reluctant people only to find them two months down the road, having given up.

Having said that, I have no problem sharing that Twitter has changed me in many ways. Using Twitter has made me think very carefully about social networking in education and allows me to speak intelligently about its use in the classroom. Twitter has also afforded me the opportunity to make some connections that have led to some life-changing events and opportunities, as well as friendships. All would definitely not have happened outside of this use of social media.

Why the sudden urge for a big Twitter Group-Hug? Dean Shareski posted a Tweet this morning that got me thinking:

There are so many people that I've connected with over the years that it's really difficult to remember our first connection, but I'm going to try. I'm deliberately only naming a few because if I try to name everyone who is important to me online, there would be way too many and I'll likely leave out someone very important. Please don't be insulted if I forget you. Leave me a comment and remind me of how we met.

I challenge you to write your own blog post doing the same. Be good to the Blogosphere and be sure to link back here and also reference Dean in your post; then challenge others to do the same and link back HERE and to YOUR POST.

Here is when I met Dean for first time.

NECC 2008 Dean Shareski- I remember following Dean's tweets and reading his blog, but don't think we actually connected in person until meeting in the Bloggers' Cafe at NECC in 2008. Dean was charming and acted like he knew me; I knew he didn't. That's ok, he made me feel welcome and that was the point. Since then, I've worked with some of Dean's university students, he's presented here at our district conference (and will again this year), and have worked together many other times. Dean is truly the "voice of reason" and one of my personal cheerleaders. Most notably though, he brings me Ketchup Chips, from Canada, every time he sees me. (Don't forget them in March, Dean.)

Mark Wagner and Joyce Valenza 2009

Joyce Valenza and Mark Wagner - EdubloggerCon 2009- It was an un-session that Mark Wagner was conducting on how to Jailbreak your iPhone. Joyce was brave enough to let us all watch as she went through the process as Mark explained. I broke out my Flipcam and filmed the whole process and later on edited it for Mark and sent it to him. Since then, Mark and I have connected at future conference and Joyce and I have also connected at many conferences and have enjoyed a few dinners out, vendor parties and good times.

Here I am with Teryl; about to get lassoed.

Teryl Magee - Here is an interesting Twitter story: Teryl and I followed each other on Twitter and we knew we were both DEN Stars but beyond that we really didn't know each other very well. One day, Teryl Tweeted that she needed a roommate for one night at FETC. I called a mutual friend from Discovery (DEN) and asked about Teryl and his response was that we would LOVE each other. So, I took a chance and Teryl and I met for the first time at FETC and that night shared my hotel room at FETC. Since then, we have been great friends and have shared many hotel rooms, drinks and laughter. (I love you, Teryl!)

Rob Bayuk and me

Rob Bayuk - Rob followed me on Twitter and reached out to me to guest post on his TeacherTech blog over at Microsoft. I'm pretty sure it was when he was running a contest where he had a few edubloggers compete for the most comments. I think Vicki Davis was one of them, but I don't think that is where she and I first connected (thus her name on the list at the end). Since then, Rob asked me to judge the US Partners in Learning Forum and then again, recently the Global Forum. Both were amazing events for which I will forever be grateful to Rob and all the folks at Partners in Learning. And it all started on Twitter.

Hall Davidson treats me to an In and Out Burger

In and Out Burger - My first time in California was at the Innovative Learning Conference (2008) and all over Twitter my friends were telling me I HAD to try these awesome burgers. Verdict? Meh! But my companion was great fun.

Speaking of the Innovative Learning Conference, it was there that I met two amazing women who have had an impressive impact on education. Carol Anne McGuire and Colette Cassinelli. Carol Anne and I met through some mutual friends at Discovery Education, she was also the closing keynote at ILC and we connected right away; spending much of our free time at ILC romping around together and staying in touch since.

Me and Colette Cassinelli

Colette and I were first online Twitter pals, but met in person at ILC and have since worked together to give a presentation at ISTE and continue to stay connected, as well.

Me and Rushton Hurley in 2009

Rushton Hurley and I met at FETC in 2009. This may not follow Dean's rules because I'm pretty sure we connected in person first and since stay in touch online. Rushton is one of those people I can listen to speak all day long and never be bored. He's a fascinating person and wonderful storyteller. He is also very funny and insightful. Rushton has since presented at our district tech conference and will be our opening keynote this year in March. (Rushton and I have a ritual of meeting at FETC each year and having dinner at a local Hookah restaurant. It's a long story that only Rushton can tell well, but our first visit there had us all laughing hysterically and fearing for our lives, at the same time.)

Now I need some help. There are lots of other people who's relationship I value greatly but I just can't remember how we first connected. Help me here. If you're reading this (and even if your name isn't listed below), please tell me in the comments how we met in person or first connected online. (P.L.E.A.S.E. forgive me if you're not on this list and should be. Feel free to kick my butt on the comments.)

Chris Lehman
Angela Maiers
Chad Lehman
Dennis Grice
Karen McMillan
Jeff Utecht
Alec Couros
Karl Fisch
Kathy Schrock
Kevin Jarrett
Ken Shelton
Lisa Parisi
Lucy Gray
Michelle Baldwin
Michelle Bourgeois
Patti Harju
Paula White
Peter Reynolds
Terri Shay
Richard Byrne
Beth Still
Scott McLeod
Scott Floyd
Steve Hargadon
Vicki Davis
Bud Hunt
Bill Ferriter
Will Richardson
Katie Morrow
Gordon Shupe
Alfred Thompson

Readers: I challenge you to write your own blog post doing the same. Be good to the Blogosphere and be sure to link back here and then challenge others to do the same and link back HERE and to YOUR POST. Leave me a comment letting me know that you've written your own blogpost about this please. Thanks!

Vote For America's Most Inspirational Teacher

2011-11-13T22:57:00.001-05:00

You may recall my recent post where I told how I am one of the judges for the Green Mountain Naturals America's Most Inspiring Teacher contest. After judging hundreds of essays, we've narrowed them down and the finalists are finally up on the Green Mountain Naturals Facebook page for all fans and followers to vote on!

Fans can come back once a day to vote for their favorite submission, now through November 16^th. Green Mountain Naturals' America’s Most Inspiring Teacher will be announced on November 18^th! All of the top nominations will receive a $1,000 Apple® gift card for the school, 2 Keurig® brewers (for home and school), a K-Cup® portion pack starter package. Whoever nominated a finalist teacher will receive a $25 Apple® gift card and the Grand Prize nominator receives a $100 Apple® gift card!

Please vote and let's help recognize inspirational teachers.

What's In Your Heart? My Reflections As a Judge From The Microsoft Global Forum 2011

2011-11-12T14:31:00.001-05:00

You may remember a previous post where I recalled a bit of my experiences as a judge (and provided details of just one outstanding project) at the Microsoft PIL U.S. Forum. As a judge at the U.S. Forum in July; I can honestly say that my life was changed in many ways. Just being able to interact with so many diverse, thoughtful and brilliant minds in and out of education was priceless. The most impactful effect of the forum on me was in how I viewed an effective lesson.*

This past week I had the honor of judging and attending the Microsoft Partners in Learning Global Forum in our beautiful capital of Washington, D.C. I had many expectations that this Forum would be similar to the U.S. Forum in most ways, only on a larger scale. I was aware that there would be over 60 countries represented within attendee and judging community, but what I was not aware of was the effect this Global Forum would have on me. For starters, I don't even own a passport. That tells you how far I have ever traveled. Enjoying the conversation of so many people from so many countries with so many experiences, made me realize how very much a stranger I was in my own country these last few days. There are some personal take-aways that need not be shared on my blog, but suffice to say that I need to get out more. Many would think these revelations left me feeling poorly about myself, but truth be told, I feel stronger than ever. There are so many people to thank that I'd be afraid to miss a name or two. I'm sure I have already shared my thanks with all of them in person, although not nearly as eloquently as I have in my head.

The absolute best part of the experience was just being in the presence of the most amazing teachers from around the world and watching as they received the recognition they deserved, not only during the Awards Dinner, but throughout the week.

As for the teachers who were there to compete, one thing you can be absolutely sure about: If you submitted a project, you had AT LEAST three judges individually studying your work for HOURS and often DAYS (even before we arrived in D.C.). The judges were kept extremely busy from Day 1. We had full day workshops where we studied our tasks, rubrics and engaged in in-depth discussions in order to help ensure we were speaking a common "language" when it came down to our interpretation of the judging rubric. We left no words behind. The discussions were fascinating and in one instance, while I was at a table with judges from Hong Kong, Germany, Austria, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Ireland and UK, it was a challenge for me to decipher the conversation as it moved along quickly (although everyone spoke English). Of course, when I made a comment about being the only one at the table with no accent, I couldn't help but notice the conspiratory looks that shot around the table as if they dare not tell me the truth that yes indeed, I had quite the accent, as well.

There were keynotes and activities outside of the judging activities and although there were a few moments when we could partake, I never lost sight of the reason I was there and for the most part I spent my time reviewing the projects in order to become as familiar with them as possible prior to the interviews. (Each judge would interview each teacher for approximately 15-20 minutes.) I know most other judges who were doing the same. Everyone took the process extremely seriously. Unfortunately, that meant missing the Keynotes by Will Richardson and Michael Salcito. The judging interviews proved to be the richest experience as that is where the human-element of the projects emerged. This is where I got to learn a little about what brought these teachers to the Forum and what motivates them to teach in sometimes very challenging circumstances. For an inspiring teacher's point of view, I encourage you to read Cheryl Arnett's post over here.

Johnny Kissko says it beautifully in his post on Reflections from Microsoft’s Partners in Learning Global Forum over here:

"Successful teaching is a matter of aligning yourself to share harmony with the needs of your students and your school’s values. Sustaining growth requires that you distance yourself from those in opposition of this philosophy while surrounding yourself with like-minded individuals."

At the Awards Dinner, Andrew Ko briefly interviewed me and asked, "What will you bring back to your teachers from this Forum?" Unfortunately I don't think I did justice to my answer because I got a bit emotional and just didn't answer the question fully. If Andrew is reading this, I hope he reads just a little further because this is what I MEANT to say:

"In today's day of teaching, there are so many variables that teachers justifiably feel they can't control. There are unreasonable mandates towards assessment, standardized curriculums, textbooks and even demands on how planning time is used. These are frustrations shared around the globe. This often makes teachers feel a lack of control and can kill their love for teaching and even for their own learning. There are so many differences among the international teachers here at the Global Forum but the one thing all of educators at the Forum have in common is Heart. (This is where the lump in my throat grabbed my words and wouldn't let go.) Heart is something that we can control within ourselves and it can't be standardized, mandated, dictated or unfunded. It is the reason these teachers started teaching. It is what brought these innovative teachers to the Forum and it is what motivates them to keep building innovative lessons DESPITE the obstacles thrown in their way. I will remind teachers to rediscover that place in their hearts where learning for themselves and others first began... And make it grow...And share it... Globally."

..............

*Effective Lessons
The educator in me can't end this blogpost without teaching you something and perhaps giving you the opportunity to understand a little bit about what I have learned about what constitutes a truly innovative lesson or project.

As part of Microsoft’s commitment to education transformation, its Partners in Learning Program initiated the Innovative Teaching and Learning (ITL) Research project to contribute information and policy insights on where and how effective education transformation is taking place around the world. You can read about the key findings here.

Based on the ITL research, the Microsoft Partners in Learning Program in creating the application, criteria and judging rubrics, looks for certain factors in what would constitute an innovative lesson or project.

Think about the most awesome project you can remember. Now ask yourself these questions:

Is the learning activity long-term, and does it call on students to plan their OWN work and assess their own work over time? Providing students a rubric is crucial and allowing them to modify their work based on the rubric is key. (A lot of people are against rubrics. I used them sometimes and wavered on my feelings about them, but now I'm convinced that not telling students what you are looking for, but then giving them a grade on how well they achieved it is simply unfair.)
Does the use of ICT enable new knowledge-building/collaboration/learning beyond the classroom opportunities that would not have been possible without it? (A book report using PowerPoint is simply "old wine in a new bottle.")
To what extent does the learning activity require problem-solving based on authentic situations and data from outside the classroom, and are students’ solutions implemented in the real world?
To what extent does the learning activity stimulate students to build knowledge (through interpretation, analysis, synthesis, or evaluation) and is that knowledge cross-disciplinary?
To what extent does the learning activity require students to collaborate and negotiate with other people to make substantive decisions that shape the content, process or product of their work? (Having students provide feedback to each other is working together; not collaboration.)

Next time you plan a lesson, consider these questions. Remember what's in your heart, and be the innovative teacher you are.

Do YOU have it in you? I think you do. I know many of my readers who should be one of the next Microsoft Partners* in Learning Innovative Teachers. Follow PIL on FaceBook for information and watch for an announcement on the next round of applications. You can also sign up for the Microsoft Education newsletter here. *Microsoft Partners in Learning is a 10-year, almost $500 million initiative aimed at improving teaching and learning through relevant and scalable technologies, services and programs. By working with educators and school leaders, they are delivering a portfolio of professional development tools and resources focusing on improved learning outcomes for all. Thus far, they’ve helped more than 8 million teachers around the world and reached more than 190 million students in 114 countries.

Bullying's Everlasting Scars

2011-11-05T09:57:00.002-04:00

I love this! If you are a classroom teacher, you must take 15 minutes to do this anti-bullying activity with your students. I discovered this from a Tweet by Marilyn Mossman, which led me to this post by Taylor Martin.

A teacher in New York was teaching her class about bullying and gave them the following exercise to perform. She had the children take a piece of paper and told them to crumple it up, stomp on it and really mess it up but do not rip it. Then she had them unfold the paper, smooth it out and look at how scarred and dirty is was. She then told them to tell it they’re sorry. Now even though they said …they were sorry and tried to fix the paper, she pointed out all the scars they left behind. And that those scars will never go away no matter how hard they tried to fix it. That is what happens when a child bully’s another child, they may say they’re sorry but the scars are there forever. The looks on the faces of the children in the classroom told her the message hit home. Pass it on.

Surviving a Zombie Attack and Why Your Students Need to See This

2011-10-30T11:32:00.002-04:00

This video is perfect for Halloween. It's fun and teaches a great lesson that hopefully no one will ever need. In all seriousness, this video can be a great jumping-off point to an effective Project Based Learning activity for your students. See below for how to incorporate this type of simplistic digital storytelling into your classroom.

This might be too scary for very young children, but if you feel comfortable showing this to your older students, you might use this very simplistic method of explaining in one of your lessons:

Have your students create a similar video on a topic they are currently learning or a book they are reading (they can retell the story or explain a particular portion).
Discuss the importance of creating a timeline and script. In my discussions with Lee LeFever, from Common Craft, I learned that the script is the most important part to providing effective explanations.
Put students in small groups to create cutouts of their stories, practice their scripts and then film them from above.

When I did this with my students, I used a rectangular table or student's desk with Scotch tape to identify the camera area and I stood on a chair over my students' backs while holding a Flipcam. (In retrospect, a cheap tripod would have been much better and safer.) I did this with my fourth grade students (video below) when they were learning about the Water Cycle and again when we studied the seasons. Since students will be required to be succinct in their verbiage, this fits particularly well with the Common Core Standard below:

L.7.3a. Choose language that expresses ideas precisely and concisely, recognizing and eliminating wordiness and redundancy

Disclosure Statement: Common Craft has provided me with a free membership to their service with the understanding of no obligation on my part.

iPad For Halloween?

2011-10-29T16:22:00.000-04:00

Brilliant and fun! Enjoy!

The Problem of Plagiarism

2011-10-25T19:53:00.002-04:00

A few days ago, I was proofreading a paper for my son and I noticed he kept making the same error. He was citing his sources when he mentioned some ideas of common knowledge. For example, he defined ROM (Read Only Memory) and then cited the Internet site from where he got the information. I tried to explain to him that it wasn't necessary to provide citations for definitions such as RAM, Cloud Computing, and Touch Screen. I'm proud of him for not wanting to Plagiarize, but could see that he was confused.

How nice it would have been to have Common Craft's latest release. The latest from Common Craft explains Plagiarism. As with all of Common Craft's work, this video does a great job of taking a difficult concept and making it meaningful and really easy to understand.

Take a look!

College Readiness Today

2011-10-23T10:51:00.000-04:00

Created by Knewton and Column Five Media

Apple For a Teacher Contest

2011-10-10T19:05:00.000-04:00

I'm very excited to share that I've been asked to judge a contest that will begin tomorrow, October 11, 2011. The Green Mountain Naturals contest will take place over at their Facebook page and all you have to do to enter is choose an inspiring teacher and then write a 200-word essay on why he/she should win. It's an easy contest to enter and the prizes are pretty cool. These are the official rules.

As one of three paid judges, I'll be reviewing the essays and judging each one based on:

· Creativity/Originality (33%)

· Quality of Submission/Well-supported (33%)

· Fit with Contest Theme (34%)

Here's more information, direct from Green Mountain Naturals:

As the school year gets under way, it’s the perfect time to recognize a few good apples in the classroom. Hot Apple Cider from Green Mountain Naturals™ is looking for the most inspiring teachers in the nation with its Apple For a Teacher contest.

How it works:

From October 11 to October 31, 2011, you are invited to nominate a teacher that has inspired you or your child at the contest tab on the Green Mountain Naturals Facebook page.

10 Teacher finalists will be announced on November 10, 2011. The finalists will win a Keurig® Brewer and Hot Apple Cider K-Cup® portion packs for themselves, and a $1,000 Apple®gift card, Keurig® Brewer, and Hot Apple Cider K-Cup® portion packs for their school. If your nominated teacher is selected as a finalist, you will receive a Keurig® Brewer and a $25 Apple® gift card.

Green Mountain Naturals Facebook fans are then invited to vote for America’s Most Inspiring Teacher, who will receive a $10,000 grant to his/her school of choice.

If your nominated teacher is selected as the grand prize winner, you will receive a $100 Apple® gift card.

Visit www.facebook.com/GreenMountainNaturals for more information.

Win a Mug:

Submission Prizes: The first 50 entrants to submit an essay each calendar week during the first three (3) weeks of the Contest, namely, the weeks beginning October 11, 2011, October 18, 2011, and October 25, 2011 will receive an exclusive Green Mountain Naturals mug. For purposes of this Contest, a calendar week begins on Tuesday at 12:00 a.m.

(50 more mugs will be given away on Oct. 31^st for final submission incentive).

My Thoughts From Education Nation

2011-09-29T14:46:00.015-04:00

Crossposted here on Huffington Post

I just returned from attending Education Nation; an invitation-only summit where educators, parents, students, business leaders, politicians and other decision-makers came together for a few days to have some conversations about the state of education today, and to share ideas on how to improve our schools for tomorrow.

This was NBC's 2nd go around with Education Nation and I was not in attendance last year but its no secret that last year's summit was quite contentious, as NBC seemed to have built the "conversation" around the highly controversial documentary, Waiting For Superman. The panelists and discussions seemed mostly in favor of charter schools and privatization of public schools, which enraged huge numbers of very vocal educators who rightly felt they were underrepresented.

It was very clear this year, that NBC listened to the feedback and learned from their self-acknowledged mistakes. This year, it was pretty clear that everyone was there to join in the conversation; regardless of political beliefs or stance on private/charter/public education or whether the belief is that poverty is to blame or not, or if increased salaries/merit pay for teachers will save education.

The panel discussions were fulfilling and in some cases, not long enough. Of particular note was the debate between Diane Ravitch and Geoffrey Canada that could have gone on all day and not have become boring. Ravitch and Canada remained very cordial to each other while seriously tackling their ideas on Reform.

Another session of note was on assessment and accountability. The session, Who's Getting Graded? Putting Accountability To The Test, was of particular interest to me as so many of us struggle to make sense of our current teacher evaluation systems and overuse of testing. It seems that everyone agrees with teacher accountability. The issue, however, is how to manage that in a fair manner when the only structured system we have uses students' test scores that only assess content; and on a low level at that. With the current emphasis on testing, teachers are forced to teach strategies that focus on what is known about the tests and to test often. All of this takes valuable time away from real instruction. Just as "texting while driving" creates a dangerous distraction, so does "testing while striving." How do we strive for true learning that encompasses the whole child while being forced to over-test and spending all non-instructional time evaluating the tests? How do we account for population, demographics, family support, poverty... oh yeah. We can fire the bad teachers and hire really good ones. A really good teacher can overcome all of those things.

File that one under: Don't Get Me Started...

What was interesting to me were the repeated references to Finland's education system. In this blogpost, Kari Louhivouri jokingly attributes Finland's success to "highly trained teachers, short school-days, lots of playtime, not too much homework, long holidays, no testing, no competition between schools, and trusting in teachers and schools."

But it's not a joke.

The transformation of the Finns’ education system began some 40 years ago as the key propellent of the country’s economic recovery plan. Educators had little idea it was so successful until 2000, when the first results from the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), a standardized test given to 15-year-olds in more than 40 global venues, revealed Finnish youth to be the best young readers in the world. Three years later, they led in math. By 2006, Finland was first out of 57 countries (and a few cities) in science. In the 2009 PISA scores released last year, the nation came in second in science, third in reading and sixth in math among nearly half a million students worldwide. Source

The students in Finland don't take standardized tests until their last year of high school and other standard tests that are made available to their middle schools are given at the discretion of the teachers. Teachers must have a Masters degree, they are well paid and well respected. All the teachers are unionized and the country provides every service possible, including taxi service, to get their kids to school. I'm sure there is much we can learn from Finland. I recommend you watch this panel discussion on "Global Influence: What Can We Learn."

All of the recordings are online now. Below is a clip from the closing session that includes a really nice montage of soundbites and visuals from the event.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

How Would You Revise The Children's Online Privacy Protection Rule?

2011-09-18T10:47:00.005-04:00

Mashable recently published a post that caught my attention about the FTC's interest in gathering public comments and suggestions for revising the Children's Online Privacy Protection Rule. Read the Mashable post for details on the changes being proposed.

I know COPPA can be a sensitive topic with many educators because it seems to be the third wheel standing in the way of the instructional technology conversation between educators and their school district's legal and IT departments. Frequently it's the rigid interpretation, misinterpretation, personal-bias interpretation, or lazy interpretation of COPPA (and often how it relates to eRate funding) that becomes a huge barrier to instruction. (Having said that, I'm happy to say that in my district, although we still continue to face many battles and barriers, we are making great progress with some very forward-thinking administrators in top-level positions. I'm optimistic about our direction and the speed in which we'll get to a good place.)

For many though, it appears to be losing battle. Is this our chance to be a part of a change (however small)?

I encourage you to post your suggestions on the FTC's site. The FTC will accept no anonymous comments and, probably by design, there's no discussion forum on the site, so I'd like to start that discussion here.

Keeping in mind that there IS a place for online protection (or is there?), how would you revise the rule?

QR Codes in Education

2011-09-03T09:30:00.002-04:00

In July, I had the great pleasure of being one of the judges for the Microsoft Partners In Learning 2011 U.S. Innovative Educators Forum. Judging the projects was a true challenge since they were all of such high quality. It was such an honor to be among so many enthusiastic educators and to see them be recognized for their efforts, which many will agree does not happen often enough. One of the projects that really stuck with me, that can easily be replicated in any classroom is the project from Melanie Wiscount (@mwiscount on Twitter), who won the Educator's Choice award. Her project involved using QR codes:

"Students create a video podcast about an attraction, business, or organization of their choice within a 15-mile radius of their school. They research the history of their choice, plan the podcast (including media, prose and narration) develop a storyboard in Microsoft Word and then create their podcast using Microsoft Movie Maker. The students then put on their marketing hats and generate a QR code (or “tag”) for the “customers” of their chosen establishment, so people are able to access their video podcast on-demand for their PC or mobile device, while also including the podcasts in their class wiki."

To view one of Melanie's student's projects, download a QR reader for your smartphone and scan this code:

History Of The Hershey Factory

You can make your own QR code with Google! Go to http://goo.gl/ and enter the URL where you want your QR code to go. Click SHORTEN, then DETAILS and there you go! You can even track using Google's analytics. Try mine!

GeekyMomma's Blog

If this is too geeky or you're wondering what's the big deal with QR codes, I recommend you watch this new video from Common Craft on QR codes:

What are some innovative ways you've seen QR codes used in education?

How Do You Measure Success?

2011-08-07T21:33:00.002-04:00

If you read my previous post (straight through to the end), then you saw my call to action where I shared Education Nation's teacher essay contest. Hoping to help others feel more empowered and not sure how many of my readers already knew of the contest, I was hoping to spread the word so that we could get more in-the-trenches-educator voices to this very important conversation in September. I added, if anyone was interested in sharing their essay with me, I promised to consider it for publication here (and on my space on Huffington Post).

I'm thrilled to share with you this essay from Daniel Hamm, a Social Studies and Communications instructor in Louisville, KY. (Best of luck to you, Daniel! Thanks for sharing your passionate essay.)

What are the biggest challenges you face in your job, and how do you measure your own success on a daily basis?

By Daniel Hamm

When a surgeon performs an operation well, the successful outcome is immediately recognized and understood by all. When a trial attorney secures a “not guilty” verdict, it is easy to see that he or she has done a good job. However, when an educator has successfully passed on vital knowledge or skills to a student, in most cases the only evidence is in the inner workings of the individual’s mind or years later in the application of skills to life challenges. In a world that craves instant feedback and evidential certainty of every outcome, it has become increasing difficult to determine what constitutes “success” in the world of education. Additionally, the challenges facing educators continue to mount and as each new problem adds to the complexity of the unresolved issues that preceded it, we search in vain for easy answers. We are confronted with a problem that would confound the theoretical physics of Stephen Hawking, so we stare blankly at the board and answer, “thirteen.” And everyone in the world, including us, knows we’re guessing.

It is difficult to narrow down the challenges facing teachers today in an effort to decide which is the most important. It would be much like saying which ingredient, if left out of your mother’s spaghetti sauce recipe, would make it the most inedible. Each challenge facing an educator must be met with equal determination and with an approach targeted to the situation. However, every list has an order, or perhaps more accurately, every building has a foundation. The underlying challenge that must be faced is a radical misunderstanding of human nature that has infected education. At some point in the relatively recent past, we became enamored of the idea that education is something that is “given.” Despite all of the evidence and wisdom of thousands of years of educational practice, we arrived at the conclusion that there existed a magic formula for transferring quality education into an unwilling mind. We focused our attention on a frantic quest for that formula so that no matter what the nature of the student in the classroom, the teacher could magically impart education to the individual. It many ways it became the Holy Grail of educational theory. Unfortunately, like the Holy Grail, this particular quest is doomed to failure. It will never be possible to make students learn. What may be possible, though, is to help students to want to learn. This important perspective shift is what separates successful education from fruitless pedagogy. We must realize that the motivation for successful learning will always be internal, therefore our practices as a profession and as a society must address the internal motivations of all participants in the education process. Education must become something valued, and we rarely value what we are given for free. We value even less what we feel has been imposed upon us, perhaps to our detriment.

How can success in this regard be measured on a daily basis? If by measured, one means charted, compared against a yardstick or calculated in a spreadsheet, then the answer is it cannot. Growth is rarely radical. Usually it is gradual; an infinitesimal process that defies the ability to notice it as it is happening but rather to recognize it after has occurred. Such is the case with the development of a student’s internal motivation to learn. Fortunately, there are outward signals that students give when we have begun to tap into their motivations. When my students begin to ask questions that they did not find in their texts or hear in class, I can see that they are making connections and becoming curious for their own sakes. Not surprisingly, they listen much more attentively to answers given to these questions. When my students come to class and mention that they were listening to a song, watching a video or reading a story and they understood a concept in a new way by applying what they had learned in class, I am allowed to glimpse the internalization of their education. When a student suggests a research concept or an approach to an issue that I would not have thought of, I realize that she has moved beyond anything I can “give” and into a world where she is in control of her learning, because she is motivated by her own needs, desires and curiosities.

The successful teacher will never have the immediate satisfactory feedback of the successful surgeon or trial attorney. He or she will have to wait, sometimes decades, sometimes forever, to know if the efforts were successful – if the challenges were overcome. Success is recognized in much the same way in each case, however, in freedom: freedom to live a healthy life, freedom to choose one’s own path, freedom to learn and understand.

Daniel Hamm

Social Studies and Communications Instructor, grades 11-12

Assumption High School

Louisville, KY

We Can Do Better Than Matt Damon

2011-08-06T00:20:00.003-04:00

Crossposted here on Huffington Post

By now you've most likely heard about or seen the video of Matt Damon speaking out on behalf of teachers at the Save Our Schools rally in Washington, D.C. It was a nice speech where he really seemed to speak from his heart. He shared that the biggest parts of who he is today, are not those that can be measured on a test. As you can imagine, he drew lots of applause from the crowd on that comment.

Most newsworthy though were his comments to a reporter and her cameraman about their assertions about why teachers don't work hard enough. Personally, I think it's been overplayed and it's been bothering me a bit as I question why this is making the news in such a big way.

First off, I have nothing against Matt Damon. I think he's a smart guy and I've enjoyed his movies. I like that his mom is an educator and that he is speaking up on behalf of educators. We definitely need more of that. What bothers me is that he was rude to the reporter and her cameraman when they were trying to engage him in a conversation. A simple question about job security functioning as a motivating factor for hard work, is not a bad question. Is it? I mean, I think that question deserves some real attention. In all sectors of society, aren't there people with no (or less) incentive to work hard because their benefits come regardless? Why should teachers be any different? Are we talking about all teachers? Are we saying this is the way to "fix the system?" Maybe it's not about salary but about testing. If teachers teach because we're passionate about it, then why is salary such an issue? These are conversations that need to be encouraged.

But it's a little muddy now because Matt was rude. And we applauded.

So, here he had the spotlight and an opportunity to say something that could really make a difference for so many people, and instead he says to the cameraman, "Maybe you're a Sh**y cameraman!"

I think one of the reason educators have been holding tightly to this Matt Damon thing is because of that feeling of helplessness. Will THIS will be the moment that people will really listen? I mean, because Matt Damon said it so, uh... eloquently?

Sorry, but I think he blew it and by holding him up in high esteem, we are not doing ourselves any favors.

Damon's speech was OK but I know so many educators who could have totally blown him out of the water. So many who could deliver a speech where the content and delivery would have people feeling truly empowered. Of course, they aren't Hollywood superstars so they're not likely to get the stage time that Damon so easily gets, but the folks at Education Nation are holding an essay contest and I think this gives teachers a great opportunity to have their voices heard.

Enter the essay contest and if you win, they will fly you out to NYC in September to attend the Teacher Town Hall (PDF).

The topic for the 800 word essay is:

What are the biggest challenges you face in your job, and how do you measure your own success on a daily basis?

They also promise to publish the winning essays on their website. If you share your entry with me, I will consider it for publication here on my blog (and on my space on The Huffington Post). If you're interested in having me publish your essay, please send it to me via email at lee.kolbert at gmail.com

Do you have something to say? Why not give it a shot? I know we can do better than Matt Damon.

100 Innovative Educators Attending the Microsoft Innovative Education Forum This Week

2011-07-22T18:42:00.000-04:00

Below is a guest post by Rob Bayuk, Microsoft U.S. Partners in Learning Team (aka @TeachTec on Twitter). Rob also blogs over at his TeacherTech's Blog.

I'm very excited about this event because not only is it an incredible opportunity for some highly creative and brilliant educators to get together and showcase their innovative work, but I GET TO BE A PART OF IT (as one of their judges). Thank you to Rob and Microsoft Partners in Learning for inviting me. I really can't wait!

Beginning Wednesday evening 100 educators from across the country will arrive in Seattle for the Microsoft Partners in Learning 2011 U.S. Innovative Education Forum. The Innovative Education Forum is part of a worldwide program designed to shine a spotlight on some of the world's top educators and provide them the opportunity to collaborate and exhibit innovative tech-infused projects they've done with students. Over the past year educators applied, applications were reviewed and these 100 educators were chosen and represent 25 different states and all K-12 subjects and grade levels. While attending the event educators will also participate in a number of unique professional learning activities.

Ten finalists from the U.S. event will be chosen to represent the United States at the Partners in Learning Global Forum in Washington, DC in November. The global event is expected to attract more than 700 teachers, school leaders, press and education thought leaders from more than 75 countries.

On the agenda for these teachers over the two day forum hosted on Microsoft's main campus includes their project exhibitions which will be evaluated by a panel of judges, learning excursions to some of Seattle’s best known landmarks such as the Space Needle and Pike Place Market where collaborative teams of educators will create classroom project activities based on their experiences, and hands-on technology workshops using Microsoft’s latest programs for education.

The group will also hear two inspiring keynote speeches by Dr. John Medina, author of the New York Times bestseller Brain Rules: 12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Work, Home, and School and Dr. Jane McGonigal, world-renowned game designer and author of Reality is Broken: Why Games Make Us Better and How They Can Change the World will deliver the closing keynote.

But fret not, both keynote presentations will be streamed live through the Partners in Learning Facebook page. "Like" the page to watch the streaming and get updates on the event as it happens. We will also stream through our IEF web site and if you'd like to follow along on Twitter follow me @TeachTec and watch for #msftpil.

If you would like to read a summary of the projects that will be exhibited this week checkout this post.

Rob Bayuk

Microsoft U.S. Partners in Learning Team

(aka @TeachTec)

Dear Spammers

2011-07-11T22:08:00.004-04:00

Dear Spammers,

As if you weren't annoying enough. Learn how to spell, would you? Not only is your spelling awful, but what in the world is, "Permanently Lockup" Account? (Click on image below to enlarge.)

Sign me,

Highly Annoyed