Getting close/ Turkey Day....

Well, we are you know... getting close to turkey day... its actually a few hours away. I can't wait for that, but the getting close I was referring to is the end of the semester. So here I sit, pint in hand, getting ready to post what may be one of my last blogs of the class.

On the lesson plan... do I feel ready? yes and no. To be quite honest, it is close to last on my list. The power point and quiz are done... only thing left is to teach it. What is not done... my 10+ page research paper on cell fractionation and SDS-PAGE. What is not done is my synopsis of transcription factors and heterotrimeric G-protein receptors and how they react to heavy cocaine use. What is not done is my half hour presentation on educational psychology and how it pertains to GT programs in schools. . . what is not done is my christmas shopping.

The Class.. You know I have really enjoyed this class... I think that taking this class showed me that you don't have to feel violated every time you take a test to truly learn something. If all my classes were like this one, I don't think I would drink as much . . . (<----Total BS ) The one thing that sucks about the class is that it is a random sampling... I would say that half of the technologies are not really applicable to most K-12 classrooms. I really believe that only one or two of the technologies is going to be utilized in the k-4 grade levels. .. Instead of trying to get a taste of so many wonderful programs, I think it would be great to spend two weeks or so really looking at one program/technology and really delving into how it can be applied in the class. An example is Publisher. I had no idea what that program was. I have used it to make gift certificates for my sister's birthday, cards, and the brochure we did in class. I have every intention of printing that brochure for my class and actually using to gather parent info. If we did more projects like that, I think that I would enter the workforce with an arsenal of technology that I am familiar with.

Voicethread... voicewhat?

There is the site out there... voicethread.com... and on this site, you can have a conversation around media. Initial impression of this site/program... is its just an expansive facebook, where you can comment via phone, webcam, recording, as well as typing comments. In the demonstration, it shows a family commenting on a photo. It has the perspective of all the members of the family. I think its a really neat idea, but not necessarily a good one. The problem with integrating all this technology is first you have to teach someone how to use all this stuff. Its great for me on anyone born after 1990, but if you were born prior to that... well lets just say it come easier to some than it does to others. I know some baby-boomers that shutter at the thought of using the Internet, yet alone email. Online billpay, forget about it. Facebook... they would rather have a root canal. Point being is technology is only as good as your ability to use it. I can work that program no problems, but I have also grown up with computers in my everyday life. I have also taken classes in computer proficiency since I was in 4th grade. If you are teaching k-5 I see this being of little use. 6-12... I can see this program working as a homework assignment at best. If you are in any form of a distance learning, I can see the majority of you class being in this form. ( I recently learned of a prestigious private high school is run similar to a Montessori in that it is all self paced. At this high school, you attend school 3 days a week, with the rest of your supporting work taking place online, although I'm not sure via what media/method. )

Under the bus...

Everyone has been thrown under the bus... just right now, CK threw me under the bus... Who would want to read this and why would they want to read this, well that is beyond me. CK, I know that you read this because it is your job, but about half my blogs are not assignments... So to know that someone out there reads this 'for fun' well that is just flattering. Thank you. This totally made up for you disrespecting the stache... ;-)

On to a more serious note... the mustache..the tache...the soupstrainer... facial hair, above the upper lip. I read an article last week discussing the rise, boom, and fall of the mustache. The main thoughts from this article (by the Boston Globe) were basically that the mustache survived WWII (Hitler's infamous 'toothbrush' mustache) to boom into the seventies, and then to be defamed by cheesy eighties porno. The likes of Ron Jeremy ruined this unique way for a man to wear his testosterone on his face. My favorite part of this article is when the author went around to barber shops, inquiring about any mustached clientele. When prompted with the question, "why are there no more mustaches?" a Russian barber replies with his heavy accent, "because there are no more real men." Here in North East Texas, you look around and can see a considerable amount of lip whiskers. When compared to that Boston barber shop, 7/200 or so clients had mustaches. On a recent trip to the store, 4/10 men who were able to grow a stache, had one. And I'm talking about a true, bonafide mustache, not goatees, beards, etc... Upon further examination, I noticed that the men were either A) Cowboys... urban or rural, but all drive trucks... B) Mexican (Also in trucks)... What conclusions can we draw from our data? 1) That Texas has a greater percentage of real men then anywhere else in the Nation... 2) Although a pick-up is not necessary for a mustache, it is the vehicle of choice for those with mouth brows...

My prediction... it's coming back... This article is one of two I have read in the past month alone... about the stache... I have seen several A-list actors on the big screen, with mustaches that measure at least 3 feet across...with more to come.. George Clooney's movie is coming out and that salt and pepper mustache looks fantastic! As many of my friends heard via text.. the instant I saw it, There was a new Budweiser commercial.... first played during the world series i believe....with just some guys hanging out... one of which.. has a stache... (Now this commercial may have actually hurt the cause.. because this guy looks like douche... wearing a V-neck sweater with an undershirt... kinda chubby.. looks like Roy from the office... but with an adolescent stache...) Why they didn't get someone with a pair to wear it with pride, i don't know... I'm not in casting.. but either way, it was a nationally televised mustache during the ef-ing world series... Just you watch... me and ray called it, the mustache, whether you like it or not, is making a comeback. I predict that 2010 will be the year of the mustache.

Oh man.. I'm a gamer...

Finally, some technology I can sink my teeth into. I absolutely love video games. The mindless ones where there is tons of blood, rockets, grenades, and aliens to blow up. I also enjoy the classics where overweight plumbers are in search of toadstools and princesses. I feel that this type of video game is in an entertainment category and is in a totally different world when compared to educational games. The one that vividly comes to mind is Reader Rabbit. In elementary school I played Reader Rabbit, and gradually worked my way up through the ranks. It helped develop my vocabulary, grammar, and most of all, my love for all games of the video variety. I remember getting to play Oregon Trail after learning about the Trail of Tears and Manifest Destiny. I can honestly say that if I had not played that game, I doubt I would have remembered anything about it. When playing a game, video or otherwise, it engages visual, auditory, tactile, and verbal types of learning. That two times the reinforcement versus just reading. My mother in law has rows of computers set up with educational video games to reinforce everything from math, science, to Spanish vocabulary.

As far as messaging goes... It depends. I think that for distance learning, its a great tool. For a middle school class, not so much.

As for the podcast... I feel I have a great deal to say for this in the positive light. You see, my wife is a Speech Language Pathologist (SLP) with Dallas ISD. A few years back, she was chosen to be part of a study dealing with ipods, and podcast. Once a language disorder has been diagnosed, it is dealt with by therapy. There, the student learns techniques to practice to rid themselves of an articulation disorder, ways to deal with and overcome stuttering, etc. In order to assist the children and their parents with at home practice, they were lent ipods. On these ipods, were exercises/homework for the children to do. In addition to that, there were also instructions to show the parents how to properly assist their children in these exercises. You see, this couldn't have been done by just sending home some words on paper because all this usually involves movements of the mouth/tongue. So in order to show these exercises, it would have to involve the visual aspect of a podcast or video. It was a groundbreaking use of technology and the program directors actually presented the data at the TSHA (Texas Speech-Language Hearing Association) convention. Way to go Dallas! I think that this just goes to show that there are innovative ways to use technology that we can not even fathom. All it takes is a creative spark.

Some may argue that video games have nothing to do with the classroom. I think more and more, technology is blurring the lines of what belongs where. Most of these educational learning games are only available as software on computers, but the release of Brain Age for Nintendo DS brought educational video games to the mass market. Every time that there is a new Brain Age, there is pre-ordering and selling out. Many (my parents included) feel that video games are of no value. That the only skills one can attribute to them are fine motor skills of the digits and eye hand coordination. The parents even go to say that they made me dangerously antisocial. Whatever, I don't know anyone who still talks to all their high school friends. For some, that may be, but for me, I can say that I had a virtual world to study and practice the physics of a car. I say this because the Gran Turismo racing series has been given the title of most realistic racing simulator. It is indeed a race simulator. I without a doubt in my mind have avoided several crashes because of the countless hours I've spent playing this game. Just one example- I was driving home one day after school. I was new to driving at the time, being only 17. I was in a 2003 Chevy Cavalier. It is a 2.2 in-line four, front wheel drive with approx. 135 horsepower/155 ft/lb torque. I know what all this means because of that game. I was driving down a gradual hill, when it started to rain. In the slickness of the fresh rain and washed up road deposits, my back end started to slide out. Brakes would be an initial reaction, but I knew because of that game, that would disrupt my weight distribution, cause me and my car to veer out of control and off the side of that hillside. A steady increase in the accelerator to get the front wheels to pull the car out of the turn, a slight over correction of the steering wheel. Bam, I regain control.

Time... Oh sweet time...

Heard a song a few days ago by my best friend. His song was an expansion of a new found philosophy on life... that life is about the things you take the time to do. He came about this one day shaving. Now mind you, we don't shave using your typical wire covered, 9 blade, double aloe strip bullshit razors. We are gentlemen (or at least we shave like them). A double edge safety razor by Merkur for myself and a straight edge from Germany for Ray. It takes a solid 15 minuets to get a great shave... at least. Mind you I said a great shave, not an OK shave, not a quick shave, a GREAT shave. Now see, that is the point. It takes time. Not half minded, 6 am, mind on autopilot kind of time, but total focus and dedication. Not too many men know in what direction every hair on their face grows, but I can guarantee you that anyone who uses a real razor, does.

Now, by this logic, there is no such thing as killing time anymore. You can not just be, "killing time at the bar" or "watching mindless tv". You are making a conscious effort to take the time, to be doing nothing. You know, I appreciate a drink at quite bar from time to time. The kind of bar where you don't find women hanging around, but where you can read the news with a pint of some dark stuff. Where you can have a meaningful conversation with a perfect stranger.

TV is the one that kills me. Now I enjoy The Office, Grey's Anatomy, It's Always Sunny, just to name a few... but I wait until they come out on DVD... that is stupid right? Pay 30 bucks for a season of The Office when anyone with a working television and coat hanger could view it for free... I bet you have heard this one before, NOTHING in life is FREE...If you watch a 30 min tv segment, you have just watched and average of 8 mins of commercials... and now a quote..."According to the A.C. Nielsen Co., the average American watches more than 4 hours of TV each day (or 28 hours/week, or 2 months of nonstop TV-watching per year). In a 65-year life, that person will have spent 9 years glued to the tube". Out of those 4 hours, one hour and four minuets (give or take) was commercials telling you to go buy shit you don't need, food when you aren't even hungry, or that what you have isn't good enough. What is an hour of your time worth? I may buy something you could watch on Hulu for free, but for 4 hours of TV you watch, I watch 4 hours of commercial free TV... and I don't even have to fast forward the TiVo. If you do the math, over the 9 years we will likely spend in front of a tv, 2.6 years will be watching commercials... suckers...

On that note, I think I've taken enough time, wasting my time... blogging

NPR... best radio station ever

I have lived in the DFW area for about 5 years now. When I first got here, I had just started college and was deep into a, 'my music' phase. As time went on, I really started to get into the news. Then, the news was just too freaking depressing. I hated living in Dallas because on the morning news, you just got who was killed the night before and the traffic that lay ahead of you. Great way to start the day. No one (unless you are a jobless college student.. such as myself) has the luxury of sitting around drinking their coffee till 9. That's when it stops being depressing and gets to the stories of hope, inspiration, and my favorite, the cooking segment at around 945.

Like i said though, unless you are unemployed and really enjoy sitting in bed and drinking coffee has this luxury. So next chance you get to watch the news is either at lunch (still who died that night or early that morning) or at maybe 6 or so when you you get home. (who was shot earlier that day) and then on to the evening, after prime time (who was killed on their way home). So as I'm sure you can imagine, I stopped watching the news and watched the weather (15 mins after the start of the news, like clockwork) "I get all the news i need on the weather report" -Simon and Garfunkel. That was 2 or 3 years ago... As the time has slipped by me, the more I have lost touch with what is going on in the world. Things got a bit better when I acquired a blackberry and was able to read the news. Even then, my being connected with the world was a direct correlation with how much wasted time I was forced into. If I was at an appointment, stuck in standstill traffic, or just plain stuck somewhere I didn't want to be, I got the news. And a very limited version. On your phone, you have the choice of picking what to read, so you end up picking the story about how a man got his penis stuck a jacuzzi jet instead of what's going on with health care...

So now, On to National Public Radio (NPR). I had been looking for this radio station since I moved to DFW. Go look for it online my best friend suggested. Never got around to it. Instead, my battery died a few days ago and reset all my preset stations. Because of this misfortune, I found it. In the past few days I have learned about the exploration of the Labrador duck, the problems associated with international laws and treaties, god as a function, along with the local, national, and world news (and of course, weather and traffic). My life is infinitely better since i found NPR. I feel more informed, less bias, and more educated... not necessarily on topics I would have choose, but you know, education is the pursuit of knowledge... in all forms.
-More on NPR to come later...

INFP...

WTF... I feel that these personality test don't carry any weight. It reminds me of that psychology exercise they usually do in an intro to psych class. The one where they pass around a sheet that has, 'your personality type' or 'your horoscope' and you find out at the end of it that everyone had the exact same piece of paper. It is very clever... how something can be written so that it really speaks to you... and then you come to find that you have just been had. That's why I don't put much stock in this horoscope/personality mumbo jumbo. I remember in middle school, we all took this career placement test. The results for one of the smartest in our class said that this guy should be a 'sanitation's specialist' . . . I freaking garbage man. Now don't get me wrong, its honest work, but the guy ended up as a computer programmer with Intel.

I think people learn different as a result of their learning style, not personality. (not to say that personality of a student isn't going to affect your classroom) As said before, I really don't put much stock into these tests. According to this test though, I am intuitive of other people.. so if its right, I will be able to better know my students... if its wrong, I could just listen to what they have to say.