The Smackdown is on at FETC 2013

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Books vs. E-books

Produced by OnlineUniversities.com, the following infographic gives us an idea about how people are using e-books. I would expect this data to change rapidly over the next few years.

How are you reading?  Do you read e-books? If so, on what - iPad, Kindle, Nook, etc.? 



Brought to you by: OnlineUniversities.com

Leave the Classroom Behind

Originally posted at The Tallahassee Democrat Online - click here.

Odd thing for a teacher to say, I know.  However, I was reminded just last week about how much I truly believe that statement.  Just as I’ve done for the past three years around this time, I hit the road with fifty seventh graders on an adventure that took us to our nation’s capital and a swing through parts of southern Pennsylvania.  I sit here today as convinced as ever that what kids need less of is time in the traditional classroom setting.

Swift Creek MS Tour Mount Vernon

A couple of weeks ago, I was asked to review a group of civics texts as part of our district's upcoming textbook adoption.  I felt as though I had taken a step back in time.  All I could think the entire time was, how boring.  Do we really expect our kids to get excited about this stuff?  With so many exciting opportunities out there for our students and teachers - both online and in person - why do our schools remain trapped in a vacuum of antiquity?

I have a challenge for parents.  Pick-up your child's history textbook, turn to the section on Pickett's Charge, then sit back and enjoy.  Riveting isn't it? Now, imagine talking about Pickett's Charge as you look out over the field of battle from your view atop Seminary Ridge. That's exactly what my students and I did last week. To be sure, we probably can't put every student in the United States on the battlefield at Gettysburg (though we should).  But why not take them on a virtual field trip?  Why not harness the power of today's technology to give our students a panoramic view from the same spot that my kids and I stood on last week?

Now, I'm only using last week's extended field trip as an example.  The truth is that there are hundreds of learning opportunities that pass us by each year with hardly a notice from teachers and parents.  Tallahassee, while our state's capital, could hardly be considered a big city.  Yet, I would argue that not a week goes by when one could not find quality musical performances of various genre, theatrical performances ranging from Broadway-style productions to community theater, fine art exhibitions of many stripes, or events of historical importance from reenactments to lectures on a broad range of topics.

The point is that teachers have to be willing to step out of the comfortable (if not boring) confines of the traditional classroom environment.  Parents need to demand more from their schools.  The most common questions that I get from parents at the start of every school year are about when my annual DC trip will happen, or what local field trips I'll be taking their kids on that year.  That parents have come to expect these opportunities is a good thing and something that pushes me to be more innovative.

  

The fact that schools should be doing more doesn't absolve parents of the responsibility to mind the gap. So, I have another challenge for parents.  With summer break approaching, make a commitment to find at least one learning opportunity a week to introduce your child to.  Visit a museum or a neighboring town's historic district.  Take a drive to a nearby state park. If the weather keeps you in, find a virtual field trip online.  Just do something. It might just turnout to be the best summer ever.

FETC: Day One Wrap-up

A day full of workshops. This is my first time coming to FETC for the full four days of action. While the opening keynote isn't until this afternoon (Tuesday), those that just could not wait gathered at the Orange County Convention Center for a day of extended workshops. I was lucky enough to snatch the presider's role in three of them.

Howie DiBlasi

I'll write a series of posts this week providing details of FETC presentations as I see them. For the time being, you can access all of my bookmarked resources on Diigo - username stephenveliz and look for the tag fetc12.

I kicked-off my FETC 2012 conference early Monday morning by spending three hours with Howie DiBlasi @hdiblasi in his workshop on cloud computing in K12 education. Howie surveyed a long list of web-based applications, from cloud storage, to free MS Office alternatives like ZOHO and Google Docs, to content creation tools like Glogster and Kerpoof, and many others.

Robert Miller's Session

After lunch, I presided over Robert Miller's @robrtmiller workshop on classroom video production. Robert is doing some incredible things with his 5th graders, shooting video with a class set of iTouches. I was surprised with the level of quality their getting out of their iPods. Robert took the group though camera operation basic sand editing essentials using iMovie. Big takeaway for me: go buy a Mac! Click here for Miller's presentation resources.


My long first day was rounded out with a three-hour Leslie Fisher @lesliefisher session on effective digital photography. This one was mostly about me. Leslie covered both point-n-shoot and SLR cameras, often at the same time. No easy task, I'm sure. You know all of those menu options on my point-n-shoot Lumix that most of us would never dream of trying? Leslie did a great job of demystifying a lot of it. Big takeaway from this one: I need a new camera! Between Miller and Fisher, this conference could end up costing me a fortune.

Leslie Fisher Talks Digital Photography

Well, I sitting in the OCCC concourse this morning polishing up my two presentations that come up later this week, and rekindling tech connections with folks that I run into once a year. I'll get my learning day started at noon with Ruston Hurley, and his presentation on Google Docs and Forms.

I hope to post again this evening, so check back for latest from Orlando. You follow throughout the day by following on Twitter - hashtag #fetc.


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And so it begins . . .

Good morning form Orlando, FL, and FETC 2012.


Always one of my favorites, the Florida Educational Technology Conference kicks-off today. As I've done in the past, I'll be blogging and tweeting throughout the week - bringing all of the highlights, lowlights, and latest trends.

I have a full day of workshop presiding lined up today - Howie DiBlasi @hdiblasi on Cloud Computing, Robert Miller on Student Movie Making, and Leslie Fisher @lesliefisher on Digital Photography. I'll be tweeting from each.

Check back here for posts throughout the week.


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Location:International Dr,Orlando,United States

Are our kids ready for college?

Hat tip to Lee Kolbert.  She posted this on her GeekyMomma's Blog.

Click on graphic for a better view.