Envisioning iPod Uses

Today's Elluminate meeting enabled me to evolve my thinking about iPod use. Up until now, I was only thinking in terms of taking video clips myself, editing them, and using them to teach others. Well, perhaps down the road, after I learn more about the how-tos of that aspect of the technology, I will be able to do just that. However, for NOW, I plan to use my iPod to inform my own research, starting with some of the John Merrow podcast. Thank you, Tanya, for sharing that podcast with me yesterday. I've now got 5 podcasts on my iPod to view. And I plan to look into the little attachment (from Radio Shack) that will let me play my iPodcasts on a TV.

How can an electronic blog format be used to facilitate professional collegiality as we conduct our individual action research projects?

I just spent the last couple of hours working on a PowerPoint silent "movie" that shows some samples from a journal that Tanya wanted me to share with you. I still don't have all of the bugs worked out yet (some of the pictures I took in Mac's Photo Booth came out reversed; others did not), but maybe I can share the results with you on Thursday afternoon when we meet to discuss journling options. I came up with an essential question related to our blog journaling efforts: How can an electronic blog format be used to facilitate professional collegiality as we conduct our individual action research projects? The answer is ours to construct and evolve as an action research community as we go forward together.

Not Going to Atlanta

Today I learned that the Curriculum Mapping trainer came down with pneumonia and my Atlanta workshop was cancelled. So, I'm staying in Fort Lauderdale. I've been experimenting with PowerPoint movie capabilities and hope to create a simple Action Research vignette soon -- just as a start. If PowerPoint movies can be played on iPods, then this could open up some additional possibililities. Also, I wonder if that little camera I have -- attached to my Apple desktop -- can be used to make mini-lecturettes, perhaps with some of Randee's video clips included (a movie within a movie, so to speak). :-)

Curriculum Mapping: Another Action Research Opportunity

Here's another Action Research question I'm working on in conjunction with curriclum mapping at Nova High: What impact will a focus on aigning literacy skills with World History content have on the number of students who are eligible to enroll in AP social studies classes by the end of 10th grade?
Nova High would like to see more of their students have an opportunity to take AP social studies classes -- especially in their junior and senior years. The main criterion for determining eligibility is students' performance on the FCAT, where only those attaining a Level 3 or higher on the FCAT may be considered for placement in AP social studies classes. At present, literacy strategies as measured by the FCAT are not directly addressed in 10th grade World History classes, even though such straegies are considered by the social studies teachers as important for students' academic success (and it is assumed that students come to class with such strategy proficiency intact). So, through the process of mapping, we hope to work on finding ways to "marry" World History content and literacy processes to match Nova High School's Instructional Focus calendar -- and we plan to track the literacy achievement (and consequent AP eligibility) of the 10th graders after this alignment and implementation have taken place. This may be a 2-year project, but we plan to get underway when I return from a Curriculum Mapping training in Atlanta next week.

iPod Discoveries

I got my iPod today, and Tanya was kind enough to "hold my hand" and get me started. I had been reluctant to attempt to use this technology before, and perhaps I represent at least a small number of professionals who have avoided iPods because not knowing how to use one can seem intimidating. How many professionals are missing out on a wealth of information simply because they haven't found a colleague who could "buddy up" with them and build their confidence?
Thanks, Tanya, for getting me started today. And thank you, Randee, for setting up my blog page. I have only just begun!