Blog is closed

It has been several years since I wrote a blog post.
I am drawn back today, since a proper closure seems appropriate.
I have often thought about all the abandoned blogs and other personal spaces floating unloved and unused in cyberspace.
Being retired, I no longer have a use for a collection of technology notes or links.
Things move so quickly in the technology space, it is impossible for me to keep up a credible commentary or collection of links.
So, I bid my technology blogging days a belated farewell.
Elaine

Coming to Terms ... Responsible use by Educators

I have noticed some conversation and debate lately about Terms of Service of websites on the various education networks I inhabit.

Finally, we may all be getting onto the same page in this regard. This is a welcome relief to me.

Reading the relevant SMALL PRINT for one, understanding for two and then respecting for three is our responsibility.

The Terms and Privacy Statements on websites are a must-read for the 21st century educator.

It is vital to be aware of just how much Personally Identifiable Information (PII) we might be asking (directing) our students of ALL ages to handover to a business. This business might be in the USA, India, Romania, Japan --- anywhere!

Let the learning journey begin!

The things educators say and do ...

and maybe should not.

In my last post, I said I would come back to write about my view of some "no-brainer" type comments that are frequently posted by educators on social networking services.


Maybe using the term "no-brainer" is not fair. Ok, I'll call the behaviour naive and too often dangerously uninformed.


I have only recently started collecting these comments. I have made slight changes to protect the innocent.

Person A wrote: 
I was disappointed that xtranormal.com now is all about paying money!
My comment: These services on websites are businesses not charitable organisations. They exist to make money. They attract and capture an audience, their personal information and data and BOOM they start charging or are bought out by some bigger business that wants their talent or data etc.
Ditto for: piknik to google, skype to Microsoft and posterous to Twitter.

Person B wrote: 
I am looking for a free, online, effective, user friendly, collaborative writing/documents tool for students? What can you recommend?
My comment: What age? What PII is required? What do the Terms and Privacy statement say?


Just two so far.

So, teachers sign up for online services often with wild abandon. That's fine!  The problem arises when teachers tell students to register or simply use the latest nifty tool without having conducted a thorough risk assessment of the website content, features and functionality.

I say in the first instance for student use or access, teachers should stick to using tested and reviewed services and resources created by teacher colleagues or reputable organisations for educational use.

Educators cannot afford to play fast and loose with student safety online.

Double Trouble: Annoying Words and No Brainers

I am probably just getting old and maybe even a little intolerant, here goes anyway.

People who use "guys" for everyone. Guys is not a gender-inclusive word.

"Nerdy teacher" it just baffles me why teachers use this with themselves. It is a type of apology for being keen and capable of using ICT to enhance learning.
Stand up and be proud, I say, it is an accomplishment and not a deficit.

"e or i or m" on the front of everything. I wrote a post ages ago about the "alphabet soup" of technology change. I am enjoying seeing the progress brought by these cluey little "letters".
Is it old news yet?

For me the current prize goes to the hashtag #justsayin
This is a put-down, none too subtle of someone or something. Do not like it at all.



I will be back to write about the no-brainers, maybe that term should be in my list above?

Pinterest: Teachers Pin With Their Students

(University) Teachers Pin With Their Students

Reading this article, it is clear that Pinterest, a social networking service would be of use for mature  students.

The key for school teachers is this section:

"... Pinterest does not permit those aged 13 or under to use the site, Christina DiMicelli, a technology integration specialist at Hampstead Academy in Hampstead, N.H., does not feel comfortable in allowing students at the K-8 school to use it in class.

“There is a lot of unmonitored content on it,” she told the Daily Dot. “It is too easy to come across images of nudes, etc. I am hoping that Pinterest comes up with an education account for teachers with managed student accounts included.”"

The message here is that teachers need to read the Terms and Privacy statements for all sites used with students and be clear on age eligibility requirements.

Statements such as "I didn't know, didn't see it, it is a law of another country etc " do not constitute an effective approach to risk assessment.

Lists - I'm liken' 'em!

Why are people attracted to "list posts"?

I don't look very often now at lists of new tech. tools, since I know I will not be using any more than I am using. I outlined this in my last post.

Recently, I have seen links posted on Twitter with some anti-list sentiment. Check this one by @mbteach

I still think that for those who seek some ideas or inspiration the reading of list posts provides a starting, point, incentive and impetus to explore and think further.

I am particularly keen to gather ideas on leadership, well-being and  innovations in learning.

Much of my twitter stream reflects this interest.

Some companies, like 12most even build their brand around this list concept.

My Daily Use of Online Tools and Various Techy Things

Your Daily Bread? : Darcy Moore's Blog

Darcy wrote: this post:
"What online and tech tools do you use daily in your personal and professional life? Have they changed in the last two years? What has failed to ‘work’ for you?"

Each day I use:

1. Twitter is still numero uno.
I check my stream many, many times each day. I post or share useful links on Twitter morning and night from my daily email alerts and various enewsletters.

2. I check my Facebook for family and friend updates morning and night. I like and comment often.

3. During school term, I keep maang as a TAB and check in regularly. I am more a lurker here. I like as often as I feel a connection.

4. I don't bookmark anymore.

5. I still like slideshare and still share useful shows.

6. I use my ipad each day to read the paper and novels.

That is all I can fit in.

"i" Time is Now: Looking way back to go forward.

I said in a previous post that I would look back to find my "alphabet" predictions.

I started this blog on 26 July 2007, I was doing a little web 2.0 research project.

On 9 November 2007, I made a presentation all about the rise of "alphabet" change - e, m. i

With the passing of Steve Jobs, it seems appropriate to remember this post.

Apple has been in my life since the late 80s.

Companion blog: More about me - retrovintagecollectables

I just noticed that the "About Me" information on this blog is the one I wrote for my hobby blog, retrovintagecollectables

This blog is as it sounds, about my collections, I call them "flash trash".

Visit and check out the "rest of me".

I am going to start a second hobby blog, soon.  This one will focus on my retro clothing collections.

Maybe a retirement activity ... who knows.

Are m and ilearning concepts whose time has finally arrived??

My last post was on 19 March 2011.  It has been a long time between motivation and inspiration to write anything.

Early adopters would argue yes, it's about time.

But where are the late majority?

Time for some reality therapy if the answer to this question is to be honest, I believe.

Bring your own - device, technology is becoming a bit of a theme.

I'm still pondering this and hope to return soon ...

I want to go back and check one of my first posts ever.  I recall I had some "alphabet-related" predictions or musings then.

COSN - AUP Guide

AUP Guide: "Acceptable Use Policies in Web 2.0 & Mobile Era

A Guide for School Districts
Information and communications technologies (ICT) policies in schools have two dimensions. One is to ensure that students are protected from pernicious materials on the Internet. The other is to enable student access to the extensive resources on the Internet for learning and teaching. While these two dimensions are not intrinsically in conflict, in actuality, such can become the case."

Read online or download.

USA Education - Rally against Education Budget Cuts

Developments in Wisconsin - mass teacher lay-offs

This release stated: Governor Walker creates state of chaos for schools.

"The state of chaos that has been created by Governor Walker in Wisconsin took yet another turn for the worse this week, as several school boards were panicked into issuing non-renewal notices to their entire teaching staff or large portions of them."

Thousands headed to Wisconsin for rally

Larry Ferlazzo's collection of resources to learn about - Attacks on teachers and other public sector workers in Wisconsin.

Laptop Learning Programs and Online Safety

This is my first compilation post since September. It has been in DRAFT since January. So, some of the "stuff" is a bit old.  The newspaper links can also disappear as they archive copy.

Yes, this type of post is the lazy person's approach to blogging.  Better put my mind to something than nothing, I say.

These references are related to the topics of laptop learning and responsible online behaviour.

Online behaviour:

Social networking sites new arena for bullying
UK kids online behaviour
Fighting bullying in schools and online


On laptops:

Six years of 1 to 1 learning in Floydada, Texas
When going 1 to 1 isn't exciting
Laptops open new doors to learning
Laptop programs are an important aid to learning

These topics remain pretty hot around the world.  I usually tweet them and that may mean I will not blog them anymore.

Revitalising anti racism programs and strategies.

With a renewed focus on the pros and cons of multiculturalism.  I was reminded of some of Martin Luther King, Jr's most powerful quotations.  Here are some I found during a search.  The first one is the best of all.

Morality cannot be legislated but behavior can be regulated. Judicial decrees may not change the heart, but they can restrain the heartless.
Martin Luther King, Jr. quotes American Baptist Minister and Civil-Rights Leader. 1929-1968

He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetrate it. He who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it.
Martin Luther King, Jr.

History will have to record that the greatest tragedy of this period of social transition was not the strident clamor of the bad people, but the appalling silence of the good people.
Martin Luther King, Jr.

It may be true that the law cannot make a man love me, but it can keep him from lynching me, and I think that's pretty important.
Martin Luther King, Jr.

Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.
Martin Luther King, Jr.

The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.
Martin Luther King, Jr.

The ultimate tragedy is not the oppression and cruelty by the bad people but the silence over that by the good people.
Martin Luther King, Jr.

We will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.
Martin Luther King, Jr.

Blogging in 2011. Sustaining My Interest.

After quite a long break, it is timely for me to consider some writing plans even resolutions for 2011.

I will not aim for anything too grand nor will I bail completely. Just let's say I will aim to write something about a topical issue in education at least weekly. This may be nothing more than a few comments about a set of links relating to my pet topics from Australia and around the world.  My previous posts make it pretty clear as to my favourite topics and issues. I can't see much on the horizon to shift those interests.

After the March State election, I may be inspired to write more or less ... have to wait and see.

I also want to comment on some some things that I won't do, at least I hope I can resist the temptation to:

• register for any "new"so called web 2.0 or social media service, no matter how fabulous it may seem
• promote to other educators any so called web 2.0 or social media service for student use

Over the last year, I have concluded that there is nothing much new out there, that will enhance teacher or student learning at this time.

For under 15s at least, student privacy concerns without parent permission outweigh any benefits.  Too many of these services fold with personal information that can make them money. They are businesses out to monetise their service after all...

I will wait and see how mobile, virtual and game-based learning initiatives develop.

On the other hand, I will take pleasure in widely and enthusiastically (engaging with) and promoting all current and newly created Department of Education (DET) resources and services.  Whether it be TaLE, CLIC, DER, Learning Tools or DET enterprise software or any other materials by other talented DET colleagues, this is the place for teachers to start their search for resources, enhance their professional knowledge and skills and drive improvements in student learning.

It is also vital to use the Quality Teaching Model as the framework for enhancing student learning.

These are my first thoughts on my will and won't dos for 2011.

Journalist blogging and commenting guidelines | Community | guardian.co.uk

Journalist blogging and commenting guidelines Community guardian.co.uk

These 8 points, mentioned by @Ellen Geraghty @Peter Jordan on DET Yammer today.

I hope to come back to this list and use it as a springboard for a longer post on ethical use, in the organisational context.

Strategies for learning and performance support: a summary

Strategies for learning and performance support: a summary

Clive writes: "To wrap up this series of posts on strategies for learning and performance support, here’s a summary of the characteristics of each."

You can click back to the original posts via the keywords at the top of each column.

This blog is well worth a follow.

Digital Literacy Tour

Digital Literacy Tour:

Google writes:

"At Google, we support the education of families on how to stay safe online. That's why we've teamed up with online safety organization iKeepSafe to develop curriculum that educators can use in the classroom to teach what it means to be a responsible online citizen."

My comments:

I think I have listed this resource in a previous digital literacy or tools post. It is such a comprehensive resource, it is worth revisiting.

I have found it worthwhile signing up to the iKeepSafe newsletter also.

Girls think they are cleverer than boys from age four, study finds | Education | The Guardian

Girls think they are cleverer than boys from age four, study finds Education The Guardian

The article states:

The study – Gender Expectations and Stereotype Threat – will be presented to the British Educational Research Association's conference tomorrow.
The paper argues that teachers have lower expectations of boys than of girls and this belief fulfils itself throughout primary and secondary school.
Girls' performance at school may be boosted by what they perceive to be their teachers' belief that they will achieve higher results and be more conscientious than boys, the academics claim. Boys may underachieve because they pick up on teachers' assumptions that they will obtain lower results than girls and have less drive."

With just a cursory glance this research warrants a good think by educators and parents.

Project-Based Learning Strategies and Research for Educators

Project-Based Learning Strategies and Research for Educators

I have noticed over the last short time, many DET types on Twitter and Yammer looking at the features of PBL to improve learning and teaching outcomes.

Thinking I might rediscover my collection of online links for this topic, collected when I was teaching.

I am thinking also that it is still all about thinking.