Nathan Toft :: Blog

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheCleverSheep/~3/PB3ucKjhsm0/social

'The Social Network' is one of those trailers that seems to work one its own as a short subject movie. At the opening, the words of the choir over the computer screen close-ups are ethereal, intimate, and sad all at the same time.

Do you yearn to fit in? Do you need a digital channel to enhance your sense of belonging? Many of the quotes within this trailer help me to understand how individuals may be inclined to value their online social connections above all else.



While hundreds of millions engage in social experiences through Facebook and other social media channels, I wonder how many will engage in online conversations about this movie, rather than experiencing it first hand with real friends? The film opens in October... How many educators will see it as a piece of media worthy of consideration?


LATE ADDITION

A number of days ago, I came across this explanation of Facebook that might be worth considering as a teaching tool, especially when it comes to privacy settings and terms of use agreements.

A Movie for Anyone On FaceBook from Casey Neistat on Vimeo.

http://themobilelearner.wordpress.com/2010/07/23/format-wars-in-the-mobile-sp

iOS or Android? Kobo, iBooks, Nook or Kindle? There are clearly format wars taking place today in the mobile space.  When it comes to operating systems, handsets, or ebook readers, everything mobile is entangled in some sort of format competition. We’ve seen this in the media space many times before. There was VHS vs. Beta [...]

http://themobilelearner.wordpress.com/2010/07/19/new-media-tools-and-cognitiv

This TED talk, presented by Clay Shirky in June 2010, discusses how digital technology has given us the ability to use our collective spare time and talents, what Shirky calls ‘cognitive suplus’, to participate in global projects and create in a global environment is ways that was never before possible.  This voluntary participation has the [...]

http://kentmanning.blogspot.com/2010/07/summer-of-75.html

I can count on one hand the few defining moments I had as a teen.

Spending the summer of 1975 as a very young 16 year old on a Sugar Plantation on the Big Island of Hawaii is one of them.

What vision and thoughtfulness my parents had back then to plunk me on a jet out of Toronto, by myself, only to land in Honolulu and be picked up by "Uncle Jack." Uncle Jack was one of my father's best friends from his days at the U. of T.'s Faculty of Forestry in the early 1950's. My dad had continued with forestry and Jack Hewetson had followed the agriculture stream. After a stint with a rubber plantation in Africa Jack managed Ka'u Sugar Company which was based in Pahala, Hawaii.

http://themobilelearner.wordpress.com/2010/06/27/mobile-learning-a-4th-readin

Here are 10 of the more recent articles and blog posts that I have read concerning mobile learning. Links to the other 3 lists can be found at the bottom of this blog post. 1) 5 Steps to Harnessing the Power of Cell Phones in Education Today: This blog post provides 5 ways that teachers [...]

http://kentmanning.blogspot.com/2010/06/appealing-work-culture.html

This 2 minute segment of the recent D8 Steve Jobs interview caught my attention.

Mr. jobs explains the work culture at Apple in response to the question, "What do you do all day"? His response was to meet with various groups each day to talk.

You may be surprised to learn how many committees there are at Apple.

I couldn't help but think it would be great if some of the things they do at Apple could be tried in the public sector.

Say, education, perhaps? Just a thought.

Note: This blog entry was created on an iPad using a wireless keyboard. You should be able to view the video on iPad. Just click on the picture of Mr. Jobs.

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheCleverSheep/~3/RksAfRi7g9E/holdin

As the school year winds down, it gives each of us time to pause, and to reflect on what we've accomplished. It's through such critical consideration of our work, that we grow as teachers and as learners, so let's be sure to get beyond ourselves to consider how our actions have led others to grow.

What Students Accomplish
If you attend school at the Science Leadership Academy in Philadelphia, the reflection by your principal, Chris Lehmann, might lead everyone to reflect on what the graduating class has accomplished; not just in one defining year, but in an entire high school career.

If you're Megan Palevich, you lead your students to reflect on what they've accomplished, and you discover, that they've learned much more than the curriculum dictates.



Learning With Colleagues
Do you work within a community of teacher-learners?
How have you acted as a mentor to fellow teachers?
Which discoveries have you shared with your colleagues?
Is the sharing of your personal/professional learning a common practice at your school?

Learning in Community
How have you highlighted student achievement for your community?
Have your parents discovered what learning looks like?
Do folks know why you structure learning the way you do?
Have the doors of your classroom been open to visitors?
How have real people augmented your lessons?
Which learning stories are worth sharing with an even wider audience?
How have you publicly celebrated the greatest achievements and minor miracles from this school year?

What about You?
Sure, you've grown too. You've used proven methods and mixed in the use of some new lessons and tools. But it's in the work of our students and colleagues in the context of a learning community that we can best measure the effectiveness of our work. So before you hold up the mirror to yourself at year's end, hold it up to your fellow learners, including teachers, students and community members, and consider the ripples that have been triggered by your work.


Photo Credit: A6U571N

http://reflectiveleadings.blogspot.com/2010/06/collaborative-digital-storytell

http://themobilelearner.wordpress.com/2010/06/11/on-five-difficulties-in-mobi

As we continue to reflect on the value of mobile learning, it is important to consider the issues surrounding the difficulties in implementation.  One cannot successfully implement the use of mobile devices for learning in schools without reflecting on the difficulties associated with this form of learning.  Here, I reflect on what I perceive as [...]

http://reflectiveleadings.blogspot.com/2010/06/storyboardsgraphic-organizers-w