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What the…?!?!!?

Some changes coming here…check back soon!

Twitter killed my blog

Yes, it’s true. (Intuitively obvious to the casual observer, as they say.)

Twitter killed my blog. At least it’s killed this one, my personal blog. I still blog nearly every day at NCS-Tech and a bit less often at StoryofmySecondLife, but those are my “professional,” work & school related blogs. They aren’t going anywhere.

Bottom line, I have been meaning to post an explanation like this ever since discovering Twitter. So if you’re not already following me (including you, Mom & Dad), go ahead and sign up. That is the best way to keep tabs on me these days!

I might start blogging for fun again sometime, but it’s probably going to have to wait until I win the largest lottery prize in North American history, or, my two daughters get out of college (and my youngest is 13). Or both.

Move along … there’s nothing to see here!

We now return you to your regularly scheduled Internets.

-kj-

Image credit: TV test pattern by viZZZual.com on Flickr

Newer is not always better: why I didn’t like the LG Dare

Most people would consider me a gadget geek, but I honestly don’t feel I qualify. I’m probably average or below in terms of the number of ‘tech toys’ I own and some of them are decidedly old school, like my Archos Jukebox. (No, I don’t own an iPod.)

So when Verizon’s newest iPhone wannabe came out (the LG Dare), I saw the ads and read the reviews and cruised the opinions sites, then decided to see if it was worth ditching my less-than-a-year-old Motorola V9m.

It’s not. For me, the V9m is the better choice. May not be for you. Here’s how to tell.

My needs for a phone are pretty basic:

  • Outstanding call quality
  • Durability, quality of construction
  • Light weight, small size
  • Interface, ease of use
  • Web access (for checking email)

Note what is not on the list: music, videos, texting. I said I was a

Here’s how the LG Dare stacked up. Admittedly, this was only after about 45 minutes of playing in the store, not an extended use, so, this is certainly no Gizmodo-quality review.

Call quality: I made a few test calls, including to my V9m, and was not impressed. It sounded tinny and weak compared to the V9m. Since it’s a phone, this is somewhat important.

Durability, quality of construction: The Dare feels like a toy compared to the V9m. The case is plastic. The main screen covering is too. It just felt cheap (though it certainly was light). The accessory covers were chrome-covered plastic that felt as though they’d break off or chip in a month’s use. Toylike. The V9m feels like a piece of electronics, substantial. Like the iPhone, it just reeks quality materials and engineering.

Light weight, small size. The Dare is actually lighter (3.8 ounces) than my V9m (4.1 ounces) but it’s noticeably thicker. One of the things I love about the V9m is I can barely tell it’s in my pocket. Not so with the Dare.

Interface, ease of use: this is where the Dare hit the skids. I really wanted to like this phone. Gizmodo calls it the ‘best iClone yet‘ and that may be true but there is still a long way to go, apparently. Whereas I could navigate an iPhone effortlessly, the Dare seemed to require a precision of pointing that resulted in many, many, many clicks, half-clicks,  missed-clicks, and more. I don’t have fingernails (ewwwww!) and felt an urge to find a stylus. It was just too hard to get where I wanted to go. Even navigating the menus (which, thankfully, are NOT Verizon-mandated!) became a pain. The pages wouldn’t scroll right, it was impossible to click exactly where I wanted, it was just too much work for my feeble brain and declining motor skills.

Web access (for checking email): this was actually pretty neat, I like how the screen rotated automatically when I turned it, but te fun stopped there. I couldn’t for the life of me get my Yahoo!ID entered into the phone to read email (a good thing, probably) due to the clunky, quirky virtual keyboard. I was having to shift to different character sets like crazy. Maybe I’m the problem? Who knows. In any case it was way too hard, didn’t feel right, and basically was the final straw that led me to leave the store and stick with my V9m.

So there you have it, for whatever it’s worth! Go see this phone for yourself and decide if my review makes sense. It’s a goregous phone, people love it, and I’m sure it will sell well. Just because it’s not for me … well, honestly, who really cares? ;-) lol

-kj

Testing v2.6 … testing … testing … over

It works!

-kj-

Carl Spackler would be proud…

Well, sorta. He’d probably want me to use high explosives or some other form of superior firepower but this works for us…

We love living in a wooded community and these little gray guys sure are adorable but when they start doing stuff like this…

Squirrel Damage FTL!

…it’s time to take them for a ride. Here’s how – the Havahart Trap!

GOTCHA!

We take a little drive off into the countryside for several miles…

Drive a few miles...

…and then let ‘em loose!

...and release!

So far we’ve relo’d 5 squirrels and 1 chipmunk, but we’re hoping for a new record. The last time we did this a few years ago we found new homes for 18 squirrels!

CLANK! Whoa, I think we’ve got one now! ;-)

-kj-

Summer is here! What are YOUR plans?

It’s the last day of school, and it’s the usual story … kids are ecstatic, most teachers are too (some, like me, are more sad to see the kids go than anything else). The arrival of summer for me means two months without a paycheck. I could choose to spread my pay over 12 months, but find that I enjoy the “incentive” to find consulting and other gigs to pay the bills. ;-)

My summer actually kicks off tomorrow with a dad and daughter road trip to Darien Center, NY to catch a Tom Petty concert. Jamie, my oldest daughter and I did this very same road trip in 2006. A few months ago, she said she wanted to go again as her high school graduation present, and I jumped at the chance. She’s 17 and starting at Rutgers in the fall. Won’t have many more chances like this!

Here’s what I have on tap for the rest of the summer…

June

July

August

  • NJ Principals & Supervisor’s Association (same workshops as above) 8/4 – 8/6.
  • Powerful Learning Practice, opening kickoff meeting, Kean University, 8/12. Kean University is working with Will Richardson and Sheryl Nussbaum-Beachto bring PLP to New Jersey. I have been asked to serve as a Fellow in the program, meaning I’ll be part of the learning community both online and at the face-to-face meetings throughout the coming year. I’m really excited about this! One hundred educators (20 cohorts of five participants each) from schools across the state as well as the NJDOE and NJPSA will be taking part in this year-long embedded professional development extravaganza.
  • ETTC “Google Camp”, 8/14 & 8/21. Same as above.

Well, I guess that wraps it up. In between these conferences, workshops and training gigs, I plan to spend time with my family, catch up on my summer reading (more on that in another post), and of course, start planning for September. As far as I’m concerned, teaching is a 12-month job with 10 months of pay, but I wouldn’t have it any other way!

-kj-

This I believe…

Good morning everyone,

Taking a bit of a diversion with today’s post. It “meme” time… ;-)

The “This I Believe” meme was started by my friend and fellow Google Certified Teacher Barry Bachenheimer and is patterned after National Public Radio’s “This I Believe.” It is an opportunity to share one’s philosophy of education.

I’ve been tagged by my friend (and fellow GCT) Lisa Thumann. Thanks for the invite Lisa!

Before you go any further, you may wish to watch this TeacherTube video called “Introducing the Conceptual Age of Web 2.0“. Lisa recommended it and it really is terrific. It was produced by the author of The Digital Sandbox.

NCS K-4 Computer Lab

For those of you who don’t know, I teach in a state-of-the-art K-4 lab (pictured above) at Northfield Elementary School in Northfield, NJ. I am finishing my fifth year in the classroom. Prior to getting into teaching, I worked in the business world. After 9/11, I wanted to do something different with my life, and mustered the courage to walk away from a six-figure job to pursue my dream of teaching as a second career. By the grace of God, I ended up here. The rest, as they say, is history!

Sylvia Martinez

Much of the inspiration for this meme actually comes from my friend & colleague Sylvia Martinez, President of Generation YES. She recently appeared on Women of Web 2.0 podcast #79. The entire podcast is great, but the latter half of the talk really hit home and powerfully shaped my list. Thanks Sylvia!

As a teacher (working with students), I believe:

  • It is up to *ME* to design authentic, engaging lessons & projects that challenge and excite my STUDENTS. If they’re not paying attention, it’s not their problem. It’s mine!
  • My students are the reason I exist. They empower me, inspire me, recharge me, humble me. I am a teacher. Unless I teach, I don’t exist!
  • Students need to be at the center of the lesson, to *create* learning themselves, not follow a script or some contrived drill-and-kill exercise. They need to be given tools, an objective, some idea how to proceed, and then we as teachers need to GET OUT OF THE WAY and watch what happens (and assess the results).
  • *I* am accountable for the learning ultimately achieved by my students, for authentic evidence of transfer, for their personal digital achievements in my classroom and others, for their cognitive development, particularly as it pertains to 21st century skills, regardless of all other environmental variables, pressures, influences, whatever. If it is to be, it’s up to me!

As a technology facilitator (working with other teachers) I believe:

  • It is up to *ME* to design authentic, engaging lessons & projects that challenge and excite my fellow TEACHERS. If they’re not motivated to bring the technologies I’m showing in my lab into THEIR classrooms, to revamp (with my help!) lessons they are ALREADY DOING to incorporate these technologies, it’s because I’ve not done a good enough job presenting compelling reasons to do so!
  • My colleagues are outstanding educators from whom I have much to learn about classroom teaching, including pedagogy, basic literacy, classroom management, differentiated instruction and more. As a lifelong learner, I’m ready for the challenge!
  • Technology needs to inspire teachers to do things they’ve never done before, to take risks, to provide collaborative global experiences with students and cultures across the country and around the world. I’m ready to help lead the charge!
  • I am an advocate for my fellow classroom teacher when it comes to infusing technology into classroom curricula. Teachers WANT technology to transform their professional practice but face enormous daily pressure opposing their efforts to do so. Bottom line: It takes time! I believe that the right learning environment can encourage teachers to willingly invest the personal time needed to overcome these obstacles! Yes folks, that’s right. It can’t get done from 8 to 3!

Wow, ok! That was a little longer than I intended! ;-) Now, it’s my turn to pass this on, and I’m tagging:

Thanks for listening!

-kj-

Statistics, schmatistics




Vanity, thy name is Twitter

Originally uploaded by kjarrett.

Haven’t been to Tweeterboard.com for months, then just now, for some reason, I decided to stop by, and I’m on the front page. Wussupwiddat? Anyone have a clue how this service works? Must be some secret algorithm of some kind. Who knows? The mind boggles…

-kj-

I’m just happy to be here, able to make a contribution…

Subject line says it all…

Booty: $300 for classroom supplies (what, I have no idea, we’ve got all the equipment we need), a luncheon in May, and lots of cool handmade congratulation cards from kids in school. Guess which of those I care about most? ;-)

-kj-

My Educon Reflection



3 The Number
Originally uploaded by sonofsteppe.

Where to begin…

Leadership has always fascinated me, from political figures on the world stage to military leaders on the battlefield to great athletes and coaches to workers in nearly every profession (including, most recently, education) and, of course, our students. Educon was many things to many people. To me, it was not about technology or networking or student voice or teaching or the Science Leadership Academy or its amazing and visionary principal Chris Lehmann … it was about one thing: leadership.

When I reflected on what had transpired over the nearly 48 hours I spent in Philadelphia with over 200 like-minded educators from across North America, the people I’d met, the pedagogical techniques I’d seen, the classroom stories I’d heard, the powerful emotions I’d felt (and seen), I thought of what it meant to be a leader and therefore what it means for our leadership responsibilities in our own districts.

I’m a classroom teacher. I don’t formally lead much more than a group of 24 students at a time but I informally lead in lots of other areas. Who knows, maybe I’ll lead something big and impressive someday. But for now, there are plenty of micro-leadership opportunities, right in my own school. That’s what I want to write about. To get started, I need to tell a little story.

In 1989, Jimmy Johnson was named the new head coach of the Dallas Cowboys football team. I don’t really follow the sport (much less the Cowboys since I root for the Giants) but I do remember reading an article that came out around the time Jimmy took the reins. I don’t have the exact details about the scenario so I’m going to embellish a bit. As I recall, it went something like this…

Jimmy was being feted by the owner (and his friend) Jerry Jones at a news conference in Dallas amid flashing cameras, great media fanfare and even greater expectations. Questions were flying, Jimmy was smiling broadly, everyone was excited and filled with anticipation. At the end of the event, as everyone filed out, a leather-faced, long-time reporter and Cowboys fan gently pulled Jimmy aside. This was a person with tremendous experience and perspective, someone who knew Jimmy was replacing Tom Landry, one of the greatest coaches of all time, someone who understood the enormity of the task Jimmy was about to undertake. His words of advice:

“Just win more than three, Jimmy.”

It wasn’t to be. The new coach would go 1-15 in that first year, despite having a reasonably solid team, first-class infrastructure and his best friend as owner and boss. It was a rough start but eventually everything came together and he guided the Dallas Cowboys to consecutive NFL Championships in 1992 and 1993, becoming one of only four coaches (including Vince Lombardi, Don Shula, and Chuck Noll) to ever lead back-to-back Super Bowl winners.

And so when I thought about the overwhelming inspiration I’d experienced over the weekend, all the great things I learned, all the amazing people I’d met, and all I wanted to do when I got back into my classroom, it occurred to me that I should heed that same advice.

“Just win more than three.”

Ok, but win “three what?” Three awards? Three scholarships? Three presentations? Three lessons? Three students? Three parents? Three colleagues?

And there it was … three colleagues. In addition to my classroom teaching responsibilities, I’m also a technology facilitator (that’s my actual job title) which means I’m tasked with helping others teach more effectively using technology. For me to “win more than three,” I’ll need to focus on a few people, developing their skills, promoting their work, supporting their learning, developing their confidence, pushing their limits, raising their standards, lifting their spirits.

Session after session at Educon featured extraordinary contributions from extraordinary people, both in front of the room and in the audience. Teachers were students as students were teachers. In the end, we all were moved. Some, including one of my good friends, were literally moved to tears by eloquent expressions that painted mental scenes of unimaginable beauty, the kind of beauty we want in our own classrooms, schools and districts.

At the Day Two morning panel, many great ideas were shared, but something David Jakes said really struck me. He explained that during back-to-school nights he would draw two images on the whiteboard at the front of the room, one of a heart, the other of a brain. Referring to these organs as the typical student’s “standard equipment,” he recounted how he explained to parents that he felt it was his job to get students to use both to maximum advantage. I found that statement incredibly powerful and empowering.

As a conference, Educon won the hearts and minds of all who attended, and probably, many more who could only follow the goings-on from a distance via UStream or Twitter. What better way to show our appreciation for those two wonderful days than to work, quietly, diligently, patiently and passionately to win the hearts and minds of those around us – be they students, parents, or colleagues. After all, we are the leaders.

Who knows. With a little luck, I’ll win a lot more than three!

-kj-

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