I believe ASIMO conducts better than a few of my colleagues...in fact, I'd better watch my back!
Friday, May 30, 2008
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Musicians with Chutzpah!
Hang up already! Cell phones have become very important, however, this alpha double dollar sign deserved this in spades!
Monday, April 21, 2008
This is just nuts...
I would not believe it if I didn't see it - and I'm still not too sure!
A traffic cam caught this - it looks contrived but supposed to be real.
Reminds me of my band room. Pretty crowded and I have no choice but to navigate about, narrowly missing instruments along the way!
A traffic cam caught this - it looks contrived but supposed to be real.
Reminds me of my band room. Pretty crowded and I have no choice but to navigate about, narrowly missing instruments along the way!
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Live By...Die By
Yesterday's power-outage brought our dependence upon things electronic into sharp focus.
In our school district, as with many others I'm certain, we keep virtually all of our records via in-class computers. Attendance, discipline issues, and grades are all entered and managed exclusively on our computers. Even our daily objectives are projected onto our "Promethean" boards via the computer.
Many teachers and students became totally disoriented in their unlit, disconnected environment. Some of us simply did our best to get light into the room with open doors or uncovered windows. If we, as teachers, refused to panic our students pretty much did the same.
For some it was absolutely work-stopping - for others it was just a minor, temporary inconvenience.
Oh, well...Live by electronics, Die by electronics.
In our school district, as with many others I'm certain, we keep virtually all of our records via in-class computers. Attendance, discipline issues, and grades are all entered and managed exclusively on our computers. Even our daily objectives are projected onto our "Promethean" boards via the computer.
Many teachers and students became totally disoriented in their unlit, disconnected environment. Some of us simply did our best to get light into the room with open doors or uncovered windows. If we, as teachers, refused to panic our students pretty much did the same.
For some it was absolutely work-stopping - for others it was just a minor, temporary inconvenience.
Oh, well...Live by electronics, Die by electronics.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Hangovers in Middle School?
I mentioned in yesterday's blog entry that the kids have "checked out." Upon reflection, it seems I overlooked an important component in their lack of focus.
They're all hung over.
No, I don't think they all got plastered over the weekend (at least I'm pretty certain my 6th graders didn't). Their hangovers were caused by an entire week of intense testing the week before. They're spent. Wiped. Toast.
The timing of the testing could have been worse but it would have taken careful planning to cause more disruption. (Shh, don't tell the powers that be...they might make it worse.)
As I mentioned yesterday, we're approaching the end of the year. However, there is still much to be accomplished; concepts to learn, concerts to play, and in-house testing to do.
Should the timing of the AIMS test be changed? This author thinks so. If the testing occurred much later in the year - closer to the end of school and after many important functions have already occurred - the "hangover" would have much less of an effect on learning...virtually all of the learning for the year would be finished. In the week or so prior to the testing teachers could focus on the upcoming examinations and coach the students toward their best performance. Afterward, the last week of school could be used for wrapping up the year and for the inevitable final festivities.
AIMS administrators, please review your timing...our kids can't handle the extended hangover.
They're all hung over.
No, I don't think they all got plastered over the weekend (at least I'm pretty certain my 6th graders didn't). Their hangovers were caused by an entire week of intense testing the week before. They're spent. Wiped. Toast.
The timing of the testing could have been worse but it would have taken careful planning to cause more disruption. (Shh, don't tell the powers that be...they might make it worse.)
As I mentioned yesterday, we're approaching the end of the year. However, there is still much to be accomplished; concepts to learn, concerts to play, and in-house testing to do.
Should the timing of the AIMS test be changed? This author thinks so. If the testing occurred much later in the year - closer to the end of school and after many important functions have already occurred - the "hangover" would have much less of an effect on learning...virtually all of the learning for the year would be finished. In the week or so prior to the testing teachers could focus on the upcoming examinations and coach the students toward their best performance. Afterward, the last week of school could be used for wrapping up the year and for the inevitable final festivities.
AIMS administrators, please review your timing...our kids can't handle the extended hangover.
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