Cathy Nelson’s Professional Thoughts

Name: 1.0 k12 administrator

Infraction: 1.0 ways

What have you tried to improve the behavior? Prescribed involvement with 2.0 tools

Isn’t this sort of how most discipline referrals start? No, seriously I am not making a joke out of discipline referrals, nor am I insinuating that school leaders are not doing a great job, and besides the vast majority of referrals are written by other educators, and not necessarily administrators. My own husband is an assistant principal at a high school, and so I know how crazy a typical day can be. Please hear me out. I’m more than likely going to add to their already full plate, but hopefully they will develop a hunger for this if they will just try it.

Try what?

Read a few blogs. See what the hoopla is all about. No, administrators do not have to begin with publishing their own, though it may come eventually, but not necessarily. My recommendation is to simply read some. Maybe comment here and there. That would be a fabulous start.

Why?

I have recently pushed some local voices and some teacher-librarian voices in my blog. Today I want to push some administrator voices. These are not just any voices mind you, but voices who can attest to the power of forward thinking, student engagement, and learning through the use of 21st century tools–namely, blogs. I have heard (and read) Will Richardson say the embracing of 21st century tools comes when educators jump in and use them. From their experiences using the tools comes the realization that the tools quite possibly could be a catalyst to engaging learners. (See the You Tube video below to hear his exact wording.) The key though is experiencing them yourself first. So here are some administrative authored blogs I read and/or recommend:

Leadertalk (a group blog written by school leaders)

Dave Sherman’s The Principal and Interest

Random Thoughts of an Admin-Lifer

Glenn Moses’ MrMoses.org

Jeannette Johnson’s From the Principal’s Desk

Melinda Miller’s The Principal Blog

The Principal’s Page

Edhocracy

Dennis Richards’ Innovation3 (Surprise - a superintendent’s blog!)

Homework: Read

Okay this is a good start. Now it will help tremendously IF a reader is used, and I can speak from experience when I say Google-Reader or Bloglines work well. These make this reading happen in one location rather than visiting all of them individually. The reader also has a way to show when there is new content, so no time wasted. Sorry, it’s hard to plug reading blogs without talking about using an RSS reader. But fear not, just jump in and use the tools . Then it will all make sense. The result will be a new and improved school leader if this prescription is followed.

Want to hear Will’s exact words? Watch this video.

Attribution:

Image: ‘3D Team Leadership Arrow Concept‘
www.flickr.com/photos/22177648@N06/2137729430

The other day I blogged about some local new blogging voices from South Carolina, my home state. Today I am adding to that some voices that promote information literacy through school library programs using the vehicle of blogs, and the net is a wider global area, way beyond just South Carolina.

Don’t forget that I spotlighted 2 SC LMS blogs of those in the post the other day. Here is a list of my favorite related to my field, school libraries. I will follow up with more SC Librarians who are blogging and adding depth and dimension to my thinking. Note: I know roughly 30 more but want to give them time to develop some meat before spotlighting them.

Testing my “table creating skills” too in the body of a blog. Hey, if you have some recommendations for me to read, please comment and add them in!

_Attribution:

_{Image: ‘dewy? indeed he do.‘
www.flickr.com/photos/35237093637@N01/45249090}

After reading Clay Burell today and seeing his Tweet Cloud, I decided to rerun mine from earlier. Why would I want to revisit something that has seemingly caused unrest and turmoil? Well first off, it is now a meme thanks to Clay. I don’t know, but my earlier stab at a tweet cloud was ran without including my @ symbol. That is really not a fair representation, because according to the new Tweet Cloud where I did include it, I spend the vast majority of my Twitter posts using that little symbol we know as “at.” So this is probably a truer representation of my tweets because I have a tendency to respond to my network rather than lead, self promote, or introduce them to my ideas or ways of thinking. Anyhow I’m proud to see that my Tweet Cloud shows this! I don’t have to say it, and you don’t have to believe it. Let my tweet cloud speak for its self.

Oh and <blush> the word “form” made it! My keyboard will not type “from.”

And last, speaking of those in my network who “tweet” new blog posts, I say THANKS. I love getting this preview before it hits the readers. It is like a sneak peek of something that has not been released, and my opinion is valued so much so that I got an early invitation. It makes the post even more special to me. So please keep them coming. Also, remember all the confessions lately where some have allowed twitter to replace their reader? And I confess too–once I am behind by 300+ new posts, I mark all as read and pray that my Twitter network has kept me in the loop. So far that has worked well.

Yes, this is much more reflective of my Twitter use, for good or bad.

UPDATE:  Twitter Cloud Poetry:

beach best

needs network

friends from fun

today tomorrow tonight

tools trying tools twitter

class cld come comment

students sure talk

kids know

These are certainly some interesting strings of words….

LARGE words strung together:

blog day no need network new pix post thanks time today twitter – Now someone make me a prolific and memorable sentence.

I want to share some favorites from my reader that may not be widely known. I do have my favorites (many that reside in my “Experts” folder or my “Women Bloggers” folder.) You can see many of these by glancing over at my blogroll if you visit my actual blog site.

But today I want to highlight a few of the reads I am excited to click on when I see my reader boasts of new content on their blogs. Maybe you are already aware of these people, maybe not. Either way, I want to know who the unknowns are in your reader too—people that perhaps are unknown to me. In my spring-cleaning I am cleaning out the reader too, dropping a few blogs to make room for new voices. So I am up for recommendations.

Here is a short list of new (or new to me) bloggers who I think you might enjoy adding to your reader. Best, they are of the local flavor, meaning they are from my home state, the “Palmetto” state, South Carolina, right here in the good ol’ USA:

• Heather Loy’s Tech Tips and Timely Tidbits In her own words my SC LMS friend strives to share a lot through her blog, with her primary target being the extended family she knows as faculty and staff right their in her high school. But she can also add a refreshing voice to your mix too, and seems to give great reviews and real life application of tools you may be considering. I am so glad she jumped into the blogging world, as I think I have a lot to learn form her. She is a teacher-librarian, aka school library media specialist. She has much to offer to expand your mind and thinking. It just so happens she is also another cutting edge educator from South Carolina.

• MaryAnn Sansonetti blogs over at Snapshots of Technology Integration. She’s a rising star (literally—A Discovery Education Network Star Educator) and has her hand in many areas of the educational technology arena. She writes about her thoughts on how to merge technology and education, looking for seamless integration and opportunities to showcase engaged students in learning atmospheres.

• John Woodring over at TeacherBytes has spent his blogging trying to bring technology news and information for educators together. What John offers is a mix of his opinion, reviews of tools, and a perspective form his own experiences using digital tools in a teaching environment. Yes, he actually works directly with students, and seeks to hook other educators (the professional learners) up with innovative ideas, new tools, and best practice in the classroom. He provides staff development often, and I’ve never read a rant on his blog (something I sometimes am given to do.) A true southern gentleman.

• Bill Gaskins, author of Blogging on the Bay is one I discovered not to long ago, but it has been fun reading his posts. I am amazed at how we think a lot alike, and I find that we face similar frustrations concerning filters, and we both have a strong desire to see our environments become more relevant to our students by using 21st century tools. Like me, I sense that Bill is very passionate about being a catalyst for positive change at his school.

• Stacey Samborski is the author of Reading Rocks at D.R. Hill Middle School. Her byline on this blog says it all: Where we read to succeed… Stacey’s primary goal is to blog about books that her middle schoolers are reading, engaging them in finding their digital voice in the review process. While I am about so much more than reading (horrors I confess, I push digital learning as much as the printed word in my library!!) I find Stacey’s blog refreshing, thorough on reviews of books, and downright pretty. You will also find a few podcasts of different material as well. A great mix of material for a focus on reading, and yet another South Carolina educator. I also like that I can see what the kids think about the reviews there. I recently used her reviews to add some books to my own library shelves. If you work with middle schoolers, teachers of reading, or librarians, Stacey has a great blog to follow.

Okay, there are several other South Carolinian voices to share, like the widely known Chris Craft of Crucial Thought and lovable Pat “Loonyhiker” from Successful Teaching. There are more, but I think I’ll wait and highlight them later. Check these voices I’ve highlighted out. Try them on in your reader for size. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

So, now that I’ve shared some voices you may not have known that are somewhat local to me, who are your local rising stars?

I suppose with the warm air and a change in my wardrobe (and the realization that this last summer’s pants don’t fit this spring’s rear (what a difficult confession!), I am making some small changes.

A Photogenic Adjustment

One of those changes has to do with my Twitter presence. I decided I was tired of the avatar I used there (same one as this blog avatar.). I sought and looked for another picture to use, and so began studying other avatars. I found that I was somewhat put off by the avatars that were comics or vague representations, not that there is anything wrong with that. Since my original avatar has been a real picture of me, I decided to find another one.

70,71,72…80 Degrees Fahrenheit

It is spring here in South Carolina, and most days are now in the mid 70s. We are starting to get a few in the 80s, though I wish they’d be centered more on the weekends. So I went looking in my picture stash for another picture of me–one that shows how much I love the warm air and the sea. FOUND IT!

Wallpaper too

So here is a little background on my Twitter Avatar and the redecorated Twitter page. When in San Diego for NECC in 2006, my family and I went on one of the boat tours. We went right under the Coronado Bridge. I have some fantastic pictures from this trip. It was the first time we (my family and I) went out west, and we made a 10 day vacation of the event, with NECC mixed in the middle. We were in Los Angeles for a few days, and then drove the Pacific Coast Highway to San Diego, where we stayed for the remainder of the trip. The boat tour was one of my favorite parts of the trip. So I’ve decorated my Twitter page with a shot of the bridge (that I suppose you cannot appreciate unless you use my page to “direct message” me.)

Is it a Waste of Time?

Why waste time on such an insignificant post and presence on the web, when so many use Twhirl or mobile phones to Twitter? I don’t know, except that I did have someone recently tell me how he looks at others pages–checks to see if they have any real creativity, as it will show on the Twitter page. So there. I have almost always kept that site reflective of me, my interests, and perhaps my limited creative streak.

Yes, a personal time-waster no doubt. But I felt the need to explain myself. I am still feeling a need to redefine myself. Wonder what else I can do? Oh, and yes, its probably a fluff piece in my blog too, since it really is trivial in interest or importance. I suppose this is my manifestation of spring fever.
What’s your spring fever doing to you?

Picture Attribution:

They all belong to me or my son #2 

I love case studies. These two scenarios were discussed in my network today, though not a blog, else I would point to them. But I did promise those in my network who shared with me that I would seek input from this network.

Case Study/Fictitious Scenario 1:

A group of students wanted their picture to be used in the credits portion of the school news program. Instead of asking a sponsor to assist, they used a camera on a cell phone, uploaded the photo online, then downloaded it and used it.

The sponsor is savvy enough to accurately guess where the picture came from, even how it was obtained, and even though none confessed, it was openly discussed in front of the sponsor by the group of students how easy it is to do.

The sponsor is a veteran educator who is on an advisory committee at school, and even helped frame wording for appropriate cell phone use scripted in the student handbook.

What should the sponsor do?

Case Study/ Fictitious Scenario 2:

Students are taken to the computer lab for a project on a school newsletter. The task is to research news sites to glean popular or newsworthy topics that might be of interest in a school student newsletter. Using a newsletter program, the students are to write a proposed article. The task upon submitting article electronically is to look for newer ideas online for next newsletter project.

A student is seen on a filtered site by the teacher, who is young and very tech savvy. The student is just asked to get off the site, and warned that the next offense will result in loss of all Internet privileges. When questioned by the student as to “how” Internet privileges can be revoked, the teacher explains that a call will be made to the technology department locking the student out of the network–that the student’s login will be disabled. The student complies with the request, and there was no scene.

My Response

Gosh these sound just like something that might happen at any school anywhere. I know what I would do, and it would probably be labeled as “kneejerk” or an “over-reaction.” Of course I say go with exactly as the school’s handbook outlines, afterall in the past I have majorly contributed to it. Teachers should model making good choices, and that includes following the rules, as well as implementing them. Not doing this sends the wrong message, and even though these two are harmless, if we don’t implement all of them, my fear is that kids will think all of them can be ignored.

As I reflect on these scenarios, I think the kids don’t believe they have done anything drastically wrong. The first student saw a way to meet what was deemed a need in a simple and quick way. In the second case, I think the student knows he went against a school rule related to the AUP, but did immediately comply, and as far as I can tell, did not make a scene, did not disrupt class, and had completed the assignment given. The assignment was even to a degree innovative.

What would you do?

So what do you think? What should these educators-teachers-sponsors do? What would you do?

Image Attributions:

Image: ‘Something new‘
www.flickr.com/photos/51035677132@N01/87798574

Image: ‘Emma hard at work on an assignment‘
www.flickr.com/photos/27315689@N00/749315946

I’m a Twitter Fan

Many know that I am a fan of Twitter. But honestly it is an “after-hours” tool for the most part for me. Twitter is blocked at school, and unless I want to ask a question to my network of Twitter friends during the work day, I don’t have time to login to the filter and then login to Twitter to follow it. My portal allows presence for a short window of time, and who wants to continuously login into the filter to follow it–it is more of a burden to check Twitter at school than the effort is worth, unless I have a question I know I can get answered there.

A Positive Example

Here is an example of how I have really used Twitter at school–a need I knew Twitter could quickly offer assistance with:

And as expected, I received several suggestions in a short amount of time to meet my need. Check it out:

So how many is too many?

Recently I’ve gotten many requests to follow seemingly strangers from Twitter. In the last three days there were 25. I’ve tried to figure out if there was a rhyme or reason, like maybe someone in a workshop demonstrated the power of having a Twitter network, or had the participants create an account and follow anyone in their presenter’s network. I really don’t know. But I thought I would just share how I decide to add people to my network, the ones I can rely on for feedback, support, or quick answers.

How to Cultivate a Network in Twitter

• Does anyone else in my network seem to interact with them? This is easy to see because when I click on their page, I can see the @ on the page. Have to be leery of those using the @ with Will Richardson, David Warlick, and maybe even David Jakes because these guys just do not follow many people. The @ does NOT mean they are interacting, though. It could simply mean they are a “wannabe” friend in Twitter. But in their favor, they are likely twittering about topics of interest if those names appear. Higher attention gets paid to @’s that are from my existing network.
• On that same page, I see what information is provided in the profile. Okay I need to make a disclaimer here. I realize people do not always include a lot of specifics. I guess the fear that they will be known in person makes some people use creative names and and strive for anonymity, but gosh darn, if I can’t tell what your professional context is (i.e. educator, etc.) I may just not follow you. Here, though, is a prime example of who I would NEVER follow (whose identity I tried to protect, though I’m guessing this person would not care.):
• From the profile I always look at the bio and the number of followers/following. In this example, you can see he or she has questionable (at least to me) hobbies, and is following 25,000+ people. How can anyone follow that many people and get anything out of Twitter?
• Also note for so many people this person is following, he or she has only updated 45 times. Since I use Twitter to interact with other educators, and add to my own learning as well, I don’t see this person making much of a contribution.
• I would go so far as to say these are the people that cause schools to filter tools like Twitter. Glad I can lay off these kind of people. I’m not so sure a middle schooler could though…so I do not argue that Twitter is blocked at school. I’m just glad I have a way access it for needs like the one outlined above.

So what do I want?

I want those in my network who suggest their friends who are new to Twitter follow anyone in their network PLEASE give them an introduction of sorts. If I hear it from you, then I might follow them. Otherwise, I’m content to stay with the group who currently resides in my Twitter network. I am stingy in giving out Twitter “love” (by adding unknown folks.) So if you want me to reconsider you’d better start interacting with others in my network.

Last, Twitter offers the option to make your profile and updates secure. I have done that at one time, but don’t anymore. If I get twitter @’s from people who make me uncomfortable, I block them which is also an option available in the tool. It makes me sad that there are people who get satisfaction from using a tool like Twitter in this way. I blocked this person right away.

Anyone have more tips for using Twitter as a networking tool?

Who am I writing for?

Recently I’ve had to do some real introspection. Why do I blog? Who am I targeting? What is my goal with each post? It has really made me go back and look at many posts. I used to think it was for my technorati rank, and then I thought it was for readership. Then I thought it was to solicit comments/conversations and affirmation that I have good points, thoughts, and ideas. Some would say it is for attention, and some might even say I am campaigning for an award or two.

Check out this:

Blog Stats

There are currently 191 posts and 479 comments, contained within 55 categories and 105 tags.

And for the record, those are not necessarily great stats, but I’m pleased with them.

Why then…?

That’s a lot of possibilities
As I sit here reflecting on this tonight, I realize it is for none of those reasons–though some of those things I list are definitely side effects, and some of them very satisfying ones. In short, however disappointing this may be to some, I do it for me. I do this as a way to tumble ideas through my head. I read others, and respond there, and then quite often here. And I’m open to any and all agreements and or disagreements. There is no harmful or malicious intent, but rather a desire to think out loud (albeit in a blog.)

Face to Face vs. Virtual Conversations

Feel free to agree or disagree, and if you want to be left out, I will remove anything that makes you uncomfortable, particularly if you express to me your interpretations. Words, just like emails, can be easily misinterpreted, and when someone is not known very well, the ever important “voice” that comes out of writing could start something that was never intended. It is better to set the record straight right away. Face to face conversations will ALWAYS supersede blogosphere conversations. It is the very reason we all strive to attend the conferences where we might meet up, and why many flocked to EdubloggerCon in Atlanta (NECC 2007) and Educon2.0 recently in Philadelphia. We clamor to see the people who do partake of conversations in the 2.0 tools because as much as we love these tools, they still cannot top meeting face to face, having conversations, sharing and networking in real life, and realizing that commonalities do exist in more than just our virtual presences. Even though the tools (like Skype, Ustreaam, and CoveritLive) allow us to experience the faraway and impossible (either physically or financially) to attend workshops, conferences, and seminars, nothing beats hanging around face to face with the people we have befriended in virtual places. I feel I made life long friendships with Liz Davis, Joyce Valenza, Lisa Thuman, Jennifer Wagner, Carolyn Foote, Sylvia Martinez, Will Richardson, Ryan Bretag, Robin Ellis, and many more who attended Educon. When I attend NECC this summer, I will deepen already strong friendships with Sue Waters, Diane Cordell, Sheryl Nussbaum Beach, Darren Draper, Dean Shareski, Lisa Parisi, Alex Couros, and more there. This is true on a local level too, as I have recently cultivated a few good friends (Heather L., Fran B.) out of virtual tools right out of my library association, SCASL. Why? We already share a camaraderie in other virtual venues.

So just who is Cathy Nelson?

Please don’t think you know all there is to me or what makes me tick from what is written here. The blog is just one component of me; it is one place you can learn a little bit about me. But it is not the total me. Want to know the total me? Pick my brain in person. I’m not near as forward, brave, or sassy in person. (But I do like to be that “wannabe” personality sometimes, and the blog allows it. It’s probably my one take away from getting to know Doug Johnson in person this past summer at NECC 2007–outside of his blog.) To quote him–straight from his list of biases which I am more and more seeing the wisdom of instead of just humor:

1. Technology is neutral.
2. Best practices should drive educational change, not technology.
3. Short-term fixes rarely fix anything and usually aren’t short-term.
4. PowerPoint doesn’t bore people: people bore people.
5. Machines are the easy part; people are the hard part.
6. Cell phones are evil. (Exception to bias #1.)
7. Macs are better than PCs.
8. More and better are not synonymous.
9. My best judgments are made when I think of myself first as a child advocate, second as an educator, and lastly as a technologist.

PS-don’t humor yourself and think you did something to warrant this post. I got the idea after reading what Clarence Fisher said today in his blog. Because that is true, no one gets a pingback except Doug and Clarence. Hope the rest of my friends have subscribed to google alerts or something to let them know I named them. (I can be so selfishly mean sometimes.)

Attribution:

Image: ‘asleep‘
www.flickr.com/photos/45519093@N00/7790062

Image: ‘mac kitty‘
www.flickr.com/photos/94507863@N00/144630706

Image: ‘Photo 43‘
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3025/2287488214_f3157bc639.jpg?v=0

• Reading is a window to the world.
• Inquiry provides a framework for learning.
• Ethical behavior in the use of information must be taught.
• Technology skills are crucial for future employment needs.
• Equitable access is a key component for education.
• The definition of information literacy has become more complex as resources and technologies have changed.
• The continuing expansion of information demands that all individuals acquire the thinking skills that will enable them to learn on their own.
• Learning has a social context.
• School libraries are essential to the development of learning skills.

These are the core beliefs behind AASL’s Standards for the 21st Century Learner. I’m still trying to wrap my mind around them, and hopefully there are many educators (and not just media specialists) doing the same. I’m just glad to see that AASL is writing this in a way to let us know we too have to continue our learning.

Here’s my favorite:

The continuing expansion of information demands that all individuals acquire the thinking skills that will enable them to learn on their own.

Why that one? I love that it is written globally so that no one in the educational arena is excused. How can we teach the 21st Century Learner Standards if we can’t even wrap our own minds around them? This is one of many reasons I strive to learn something daily, and seek to expose myself to the newest tool or site. I don’t feel much like an advanced user of any tool, especially when I read a list like this. But it does help keep me grounded. Best, and one thing I find very comforting in this list, reading is first. And I would say the list is somewhat heirarchal too. Cool list, huh?

Image Atribution:

Image: ‘cover.’
http://www.ala.org/ala/aasl/aaslproftools/learningstandards/cover.JPG

Who holds the keys to the locked gate for Internet Access?

Recently a colleague posted a survey to a list I’m a member of, and in essence shared that all mp3s, blogs, podcasts, wikis, and virtually all Web 2.0 tools are filtered where she works. It has added some interesting comments to the mix — geez I wish it were on a blog!

So I’m going to put it here - at least my contribution. I want to know what others think.

My thanks

First I must say I am thankful for the ability to login and bypass blocked content for instructional purposes. I also feel my district listens to requests from teachers for unblocking content, even if only for a little while.

Why do we need filters?

But honestly, in my opinion unengaging classes and unstructured time at a computer is the root for the most part of students’ quest to get to blocked content, and there are hundreds of proxies that grant access, despite the best filtering software. Sometimes I think the filters are for lazy teachers who are not engaging their students or worse, causing teachers to be lazy — i.e. I don’t feel good so let’s go to the lab for “research” or “free-writing.”

I may be wrong too, but I think if the social networking sites that teens are into, like MySpace, Facebook, and more were not blocked, kids would be all about it for one week or so, and then be so over it. They clamor for it now b/c its the “forbidden fruit.”

You will always have that 10-20% who make bad judgments, and then rules are made for the 80% + who never even thought to break them. Completely blocking is not the answer either.

But the heavy handed way some districts are blocking (like NO incoming mail from gmail–what on earth is with that??)

It just seems there should be significantly more conversations and real communication b/w students, parents, teachers, taxpayers, and the gate keepers for the filter. We are all stakeholders in this. Allowing our input or voices to be heard gives us ownership for why the filter is used, and why we filter out some content.

Where do kids learn the tools now?

If we are to prepare our students for the 21st century, we have to let them use a few of the 21st century tools. Let’s not forget that a structured classroom environment is a better place to expose students to the tools, rather than in the student gathering places at schools, like courtyards, parking lots, and hallways, or away from school and supervision, like friends’ houses, where for the most part the time and location is unstructured and wide open for misinformation AND misuse.

The cellphones of today are all that is needed to post a video to YouTube. Is it any wonder we are seeing more and more educators rants plastered there? (visit this link from Scott McLeod’s Dangerously Irrelevant to see six samples.)

If we must filter, then give us some flexibility with the filter.

I am not against filters. I am against the total way some districts block everything, and turn a deaf ear to teacher requests.

Thank you HCS for offering me a portal to use material that is filtered, and allowing me as an educator the ability to request material to be totally unblocked, or unblocked for a short time. It does make a difference in my happiness on the job. It makes me feel respected as a professional adult who can make judgment calls about what tools I choose to teach with.

Your Turn

Tell me what your district or environment does, how it makes you feel, and most important, how to help the districts that unlike mine, offer no way for educators to bring in 21st century tools for 21st century learners.

• What advice can I offer my colleague who wants their filter loosened a bit?
• Is it better to offer us a way to get by that locked portal, or continue to challenge students to find proxies?

Attribution:

Image: ‘Prison Planet‘
www.flickr.com/photos/10646468@N02/1003163361

Image: ‘rusty-lock‘
www.flickr.com/photos/8323834@N07/500995147