These are my notes from Oklahoma state superintendent Janet Barresi‘s opening comments at the February 7, 2012 Oklahoma Technology Association / Encycl-Media Conference. MY THOUGHTS AND COMMENTS ARE IN ALL CAPS. I want to talk to you about anywhere, anytime learning Fundamental question: What is the value of a book? – the glue binding and
(Read More…)
These are my notes from Michael Barlow, Dr. Cassandra Funderburk, Cindy Taylor, Talia Shaw and Linda Hendrick’s presentation, “Teacher Leader Effectiveness (TLE) and the Tulsa Model” at the Oklahoma Association of Elementary School Principals (OAESP) mid-winter conference on January 20, 2012, in Oklahoma City. The conference is sponsored and organized by the Cooperative Council for
(Read More…)
These are my notes from Dr. Sharon Wilbur, Tiffany Neill, Levi Patrick and Pat Turner’s presentation, “What’s So Common About Common Core?” at the Oklahoma Association of Elementary School Principals (OAESP) mid-winter conference on January 19, 2012, in Oklahoma City. The conference is sponsored and organized by the Cooperative Council for Oklahoma School Administration (CCOSA).
(Read More…)
These are my notes from opening comments by Dr Michael Schooley, Deputy Executive Director of the National Association of Elementary School Principals, at the Oklahoma Association of Elementary School Principals (OAESP) mid-winter conference on January 19, 2012, in Oklahoma City. The conference is sponsored and organized by the Cooperative Council for Oklahoma School Administration (CCOSA).
(Read More…)
It’s election time in the United States, so among other things that means video spin doctors are earning big bucks. As the CNN article “A look at South Carolina’s tough presidential campaign ads” points out, the authorization of “super PACs” in the United States which can legally receive UNLIMITED contributions from corporations, labor unions and
(Read More…)
In late December 2011 I received an email about draft rules written by our Oklahoma State Department of Education which cover online courses for K-12 students. This document is available as a PDF from the Oklahoma SDE, and I’ve archived a copy too. Emergency rules regarding online courses for K-12 students in Oklahoma public schools
(Read More…)
Today’s NewsOK article, “Lottery paid $400M to Oklahoma schools” by Megan Rolland is very misleading in addressing the issue of lottery funds “supplanting” rather than “supplementing” state education funds. Megan notes correctly: The lottery law stipulates that the money is not supposed to supplant current education funding but is supposed to be in addition to
(Read More…)
On November 13, 2011, Ali Carr-Chellman (@aac3 on Twitter) shared an important and courageous message at TEDxPSU. Her 13.5 minute message was titled, “A Closer Look at Cyber Charter Schools.” Among other things, Ali challenges us to question the growing nexus between non-profit “cyber charter schools” and for-profit curriculum companies. As we continue hear different
(Read More…)
As 2011 draws to a close I’m organizing, sharing, and tagging a variety of photos I took this past fall with my iPhone on Flickr. In the past at times like these I’ve tended to upload large bunches of photos and skip the process of individually labeling photos. Instead, I’ve just organized photos in sets
(Read More…)
For years I’ve wished our state elected officials were required to take the same “exit” level standardized tests our students are coerced to take in public schools. I’ve not only wished our elected officials would take them: I’ve wanted those officials’ test results to be published and shared. The reason for this is simple: Much
(Read More…)
What do you do if you’re a high school administrator and one of your students uses a personal Twitter account to criticize your state governor? What do you do if you’re the state governor who was criticized? How about the director of communications for the criticized governor? The answer might be “nothing,” but that was
(Read More…)
We need to be investing MORE in education today, not less, in part to ramp up workforce skills. Consider this perspective: The problem is that not enough people know how to use the new tools of the Internet, mobile, and cloud computing. The workforce as a whole does not have the right mix of skills.
(Read More…)
A new two hour documentary film was released in select U.S. theaters this fall about teaching and public education: American Teacher. It’s a direct response to last year’s “Waiting for Superman” movie, which (among other things) cast teacher unions as demons in educational improvement debates. See my October 2010 post, “Waiting For Superman: A Good
(Read More…)
When will our Oklahoma politicians and voters finally recognize the “No Child Left Behind” (NCLB) law is fundamentally flawed and was designed primarily to demonize both public schools and public school teachers as “failures” irrespective of academic results? One of the most telling quotations from today’s NewsOK article, “More Oklahoma schools, districts than ever ‘need
(Read More…)
I’m not just interested in playing a catalyzing role in the learning revolution worldwide: I’m also deeply interested and motivated to bring about a political revolution. I’m interested in and committed to peaceful self-determination. Larry Lessig has articulated the kind of change I want to both see and tangibly advance in his 30 minute video,
(Read More…)
Last month 4th grade students in Brad Wilson’s class in Stevensville, Michigan, took a field trip to their state capitol in Lansing and interviewed their representative, Al Pscholka. Students used an older iPod Touch equipped with a thumbtack mic, and the free application Cinch to record as well as publish the 43 second interview. Thanks
(Read More…)
On Sunday following the Learning 2.011 Conference in Shanghai, China, I explored the Bund with friends. According to Wikipedia, the Bund: is a waterfront area in central Shanghai, People’s Republic of China. The area centres on a section of Zhongshan Road (East-1 Zhongshan Road) within the former Shanghai International Settlement, which runs along the western
(Read More…)
Diane Ravitch‘s article today, “The reform movement is already failing,” is one of the best I’ve read highlighting both the misdirected agenda and LACK of research support for the GW Bush / Obama / Bill Gates / Jeb Bush / “Waiting for Superman” crowd of educational reformers. Ravitch writes: We are in the midst of
(Read More…)
The four images below are the result of brainstorming during a breakout session I attended today at the Oklahoma Governor’s Council for Workforce & Economic Development meeting at OSU-OKC. Among other things, participants discussed the need to connect industry certifications and K12 education, the importance of educating students about different workforce sector/track employment options, and
(Read More…)
These are my notes from the Governor’s Council for Workforce & Economic Development meeting at OSU-OKC on June 3, 2011. MY THOUGHTS AND COMMENTS ARE IN ALL CAPS. I arrived late to the meeting near the end of comments by Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin. Comment from Mary Fallin: Maybe this needs to be part of
(Read More…)
