What is exciting about this move is that we will have better basic email functionality for our basic email users  and more advanced functionality for many of our high end users.  The basic functions include:

• HTML email support
• Outlook Web Access — A much improved web user email interface
• Advanced search
• HTML mailto: support so our SIS email class and email parents links will work
• A standard, clean user interface for our community

The advanced features include:

• Industry standard calendaring
• Integration with many of our installed databases
• PDA/Phone integration

As we migrate, the one space in FirstClass that is not replicated in Outlook/Exchange is the conference.  We will be using Group mail lists, Outlook Public Folders for some of these conferences in addition to Moodle forums and possibly some Drupal or other open source forum software.  The result is that we’ll be moving to web apps being the center of our universe with our email system driving us in that direction.

I’ll be posting more along our migration road. 

I’ve created a documentation web site for this project here.  What do you think?

Our initial inclination was to create a restriction between students and faculty ‘friending’ each other on social networks. arvind and I have discussed this on our webcast a number of times. For example: here and here.  But then the exceptions happen:

1. I have used Flickr, a photo social network to collaborate with my students in photography.
2. Our student environmental club has used Facebook groups and invitations to plan events between students, faculty and parents.

Given the positives that can come out of social networks, does anyone have a policy that rides the appropriateness of use tight rope?

Your thoughts/comments are appreciated.

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Here are some general AUP resources I have collected on the subject:

School Computing Wiki: http://schoolcomputing.wikia.com/wiki/Acceptable_Use_Policies

David Warlick has recently jumped into this conversation: http://davidwarlick.com/2cents/archives/1452 and http://landmark-project.com/aup20/pmwiki.php

Photo from: http://flickr.com/photos/mkeefe/1457984966/

Lawrence Kutner has authored a new book suggesting violent video games do not create violent children.

As the parent of three young children and a Director of Technology at an all boys school, this story feels good. Do you know of opposing research?

Image from: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mytripsmypics/2455932465/

We use FirstClass as our e-mail server and over the past couple of years, we have had some big gripes with FirstClass.  They have released server updates with big bugs and their support leaves much to be desired.  So earlier on this year we began to evaluate different communications platforms.  We started by defining criteria that we would use to evaluate each platforms.  Then we installed or tested Google Apps for Schools, Microsoft Live, Novell GroupWise and Microsoft Exchange 2007 .  We’re a Microsoft school and the only system that fit a majority of the criterion was Microsoft Exchange 2007.

So we went to user testing.  Most users who tested Exchange and Outlook gave us very positive feedback.  I’ve spoken to multiple Network Admins and Directors of Technology who give good reviews to Outlook.  I have evaluated it myself and really prefer its user interface to that of FirstClass.

But, with all of those positives, I still ask: What are the benefits of changing systems?  What are the benefits to asking 200 faculty and staff and 400 students to learn a new system that pretty much does the same thing they were doing on FirstClass?  The send and receive e-mail.  That’s what most people use e-mail for, right?

Yes, there will be a many administrators and staff who will have a system that makes their lives more convenient.  There may be some teachers who use the document sharing and collaboration tools built into Exchange 2007.  The Microsoft Office integration is much tighter and our Student Information System had an e-mail class roster link that will actually work correctly.  Web site links from e-mail will work correctly and we won’t have to be deleting and reconfiguring FirstClass folders that have become corrupted.  There is easier support for administrator, faculty and student handheld devices.

But does this list tip the scale?

What about the time it’s going to take to train all of the faculty, staff and students to use this new system?

It this technology for technology sake, even with the improvements we will see?

I wonder this about many of the changes that are coming down the pike such as Windows Vista and Office 2007.

I see all of the great things that I could be doing with faculty next fall to integrate technology into the curriculum at our school and then realize that changing to Exchange might delay them.  Or it might make thing easier.  Is it worth it?

I know you can’t answer this question, but it’s the one won’t get out of my head right now.

I yearn to think more about teaching and learning with technology and find myself hung up on seemingly surface level decisions about our e-mail system.  I’m definitely feeling a bit frustrated.

Thanks for listening.  I’ll update you once we make a decision.

Photo from: http://flickr.com/photos/priddy/3507724/

American Councils continues to be privileged to administer the Teachers of Critical Languages Program of the State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.  We are pleased to announce that applications to host Chinese or Arabic exchange teachers during the 2008-2009 school year are available and can be downloaded from either [ http://www.americancouncils.org/ ]www.americancouncils.org or [ http://www.tclprogram.org/ ]www.tclprogram.org.

TCLP is a great program that looks to build US schools’ capacities to offer Chinese and Arabic programs as these languages are indeed critically important for both the current and future generation.  Moreover, both China and the Middle East have rich, vibrant, and deep cultures and histories, and our students can learn a great deal from them.  Reciprocally, our exchange teachers can learn a great deal about American culture while improving their English and gaining experience in teaching methodologies.  All said, it’s a great cross-cultural program that really does benefit all parties involved.

From a school’s perspective, the program provides many benefits, as well as numerous opportunities.  Please find them listed below, forward as you feel best, and, of course, feel free to contact me directly with whatever questions you may have:
•
American Councils provides exchange teachers’ monthly salaries ($28,000), health care, round-trip airfare, visa support, and ongoing on-program support including in-person site visits

•    American Councils provides exchange teachers with two-weeks of integrated, scaffolded, and focused methodological and cultural training in DC before the school year begins; a four-day professional development workshop in November; and access to a professional development fund for exchange teachers to acquire training, textbooks, or materials as are relevant to their situations

•    American Councils provides host schools’ participation in a weekend sub-conference within their teachers’ Washington DC training.  Additionally, mentor teachers who support exchange teachers’ professional needs and cultural adjustment receive a monthly honorarium from American Councils

•    TCLP includes alumni grant opportunities for exchange teachers and host schools when they “graduate” from the program in June 2009 so that continued collaboration, cross-cultural exchange, and classroom partnerships can be supported

•    US elementary or secondary schools, both public and private, may apply

•    Applications are welcomed from schools with existing, developing, or planned programs

•    Applications are due May 16, 2008.  Awards and regrets will be sent by the end of May

Best Regards,
Ben Dunbar

Ben Dunbar
Senior Program Officer
Teacher Programs
American Councils for International Education
(202) 833-7522 / (202) 833-7523 (f)
[ http://www.americancouncils.org/ ]www.americancouncils.org

The technology worked and as promised, here are my slides and a number of other resources from my network.

| View | Upload your own

From Twitter:

From vvrotny:

• Creating Global Collaboration

From elemenous:

• Global Education Ning
• Apple Learning Interchange
• Outreach World
• Global Awareness Del.icio.us links

From scmorgan:

• Kim Cofino’s blog

From participants:

• U.S. State Department Youth and Education
• Peace Corps

Mark Prensky is keynoting.  I’ve never seen him live before, so I’m looking forward to seeing him live.

I find that I go through cycles. I think this is healthy. I read books for a month, I listen to podcasts during a vacation, I read RSS when I open up Google Reader, I check my Twitter account for a few minutes a day. The reality though, is that I can’t keep up with any of these the way I would like to. So I have to let go. And that’s ok.

It’s important to balance all of this with real live: family time with my wife and kids; time to look at the sky or stars; time to watch some bad TV; as Vinnie discussed, time to do chores; time to read the newspaper; and time to sleep.

And so the balancing act continues.

Photo Credit: #45/365: Balancing Act

The second week we were excited to have four students join in the conversation.  They mostly agreed that it was a good idea to keep some separation between school and our personal lives but had some great insights into how these different media are merging — including the thought that teachers and students might be blackberry texting each other before long.  Here’s a link to the second show: 21st Century Learning #59: Students Discussing Social Networking between Faculty and Students.

I think that these two pieces are a good orientation to social networking for faculty and administrators around the world.  If you’re interested in this topic, you might also want to check out: EdTechTalk #80 with Tom Wood, cyber safety advocate. 

What do you think? What would you add or subtract?  What social networking resources do you use?