Category: CUE2008

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CUE 2008 Workshop Wikis

Though I missed the EduBloggercCon-West on March 5th (to help Eva with Clark – and to get some writing done), I was thrilled to spend most of the past weekend presenting at the 2008 CUE conference in Palm Springs. Below are links to the wikis for each workshop or sesison that I led. Each wiki includes the session agenda, hotlinks to anything I mentioned, and any slides, videos, or handouts I shared. Please feel free to leave a comment or contact me if you have any questions or feedback.

March 6, 2008

  • Learning to Game and Gaming to Learn – This three hour ticketed workshop was organized into three parts. The first hour was a theoretical overview of current research and practice related to video games and learning. In the second hour, participants played through a serious game for change, the United Nations World Food Program’s Food Force. The third hour was then a reflection discussion and time to focus on what has to happen for video games to be used in schools. Tag: CUE08A9

After this workshop I commuted home to spend another night helping out with Clark. (During my trip to the CLMS conference in Sacramento last week, it was tough for Eva to do two nights in a row on her own.) But, I was up to help with a feeding at 4:30 and hit the road again in time for breakfast in Palm Springs and a full day of presenting on the seventh.

March 7, 2008

  • Be An Edublogger – The title of this one hour concurrent session might leave you thinking “who does this guy think he is?” but it’s merely an effort to share tools and tips for joining a global learning community by making connections, contributions, conversations, and requests. Tag: CUE08S2199
  • Build A Better Browser – This 20 minute CUE Tips session provided an overview of how all browsers are not created equal and demonstrated a list of Firefox Extensions for Educators. All are linked to from the wiki – and some are not to be missed! Tag: CUE08T8011
  • Blogs, Wikis, and Google Docs: Which one is right for your lesson? – Blogs, Wikis, and Google Docs can be powerful and easy to use tools for educators, but their features are overlapping and it can sometimes be difficult to know which one is right to meet a given need. This 20 minute CUE Tips session was an effort to help sort that out. Tag: CUE08T8012
  • Twitter Me This – This 20 minute CUE Tips session introduced the idea of social microblogging and provided an overview of the basic functions of twitter. Most importantly, it helped educators see how they could use Twitter to join a global learning community… and feel good about it. Tag: CUE08T8010

Happily, I was able to stay the night following this busy day. This also gave me the opportunity to take part in the CUE Volunteer reception, the CUE ball, the OCCUE affiliate meeting, dinner with colleagues (David Jakes, Sylvia Martinez, & Mark Pennington), and socializing with folks (from Newport-Mesa USD, Redondo USD, and elsewhere) I don’t get to see very often anymore. As I say all year long, you learn as much over Margaritas in Palm Springs (during the CUE conference) as you do in the sessions. And the next morning I was up bright and early for another full day.

March 8, 2008

  • Classroom 2.0 – A Real-time Conversation – This one hour concurrent session was a discussion panel moderated by Steve Hargadon. My fellow panelists were Mike Lawrence, Kyle Brunbaugh, Adam Frey, Rushton Hurley, and Sylvia Martinez. Julie Lindsay also Skyped in from Qatar on the Arabian Peninsula. Discussion focused on the potential of web 2.0 tools (and philosophies) to transform traditional classrooms. The discussion continues on the CUE community website. Tag: CUE08S2186
  • CUE Live 2008: Games in Education (w/Sylvia Martinez) – In this webcast (filmed on the show floor) I interview Sylvia Martinez about using video games in education. She brings a developers perspective and talks about the importance of teachers providing a context for a game used in the classroom. The conversation is just over 12 minutes long.
  • It Really Is Really Simple – This one hour concurrent session provided an introduction to Really Simple Syndication (RSS) in education. Participants learned how to subscribe to blogs, podcasts, and other “feeds” – as well as how RSS can help manage student blogs and their own professional development. Discussion of the technical “magic” behind RSS and podcast enclosures was also included. Tag: CUE08S2189

Following a rushed late checkout I headed home for an evening (and a day off) with Clark and Eva… and the recuperation was much needed. I’m posting these resources here to do my part in “extending” the conference and welcome any questions or feedbacks in the comments or via email.

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Build A Better Browser (CUE Tips Submission)

This is the last CUE Tips session I submitted for the upcoming CUE conference. Unlike the others, it’s not really read/write web focused, but I’m hoping it might be just the thing for a quick 20 minute session. The idea is to help teachers setup and customize Firefox in a way that supports (and even invigorates) their work. Let me know what you think in the comments.

Title:

Build a Better Browser: An Overview of Firefox Themes & Extensions for Educators

Description:

Rediscover the web! Firefox is now faster, more secure, and fully customizable. Learn how themes and extensions can be used to turn your web browser into the ultimate learning machine.

Abstract:

BuildaBetterBrowser.pdf

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It Really Is Really Simple (CUE Submission)

This is the last of he Read/Write web submissions I made to CUE this year… and it’s the only one that is a repeat of something I offered last year. As always, of course, the workshop is continually updated. But in general I feel last year there were only a few people ready for RSS – this year I expect there will be far more. And while I think there will be a profusion of blogging workshops, I don’t yet expect very many RSS workshops. So, here it is… I’d be interested to know what any of you think of it. Is there an Application of RSS I’m missing? Or do you have a different perspective on the topic at all? Let me know in the comments.

Title:

It Really Is Really Simple: An Introduction to RSS in Education

Description:

Use Real Simple Syndication (RSS) to subscribe to blogs, podcasts, and other “feeds”
so the content comes to you. RSS can help manage student blogs and your own
professional development.

Abstract:

It Really Is Really Simple.pdf

UPDATE: The link above has been fixed.

UPDATE 2: Here’s a link to the It Really Is Really Simple wiki I created for the workshop last year. It needs to be updated of course. :)

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Blogs, Wikis, and Google Docs (CUE Tips Submission)

This is another new session I submitted as a 20 minute CUE Tips session at the upcoming CUE Conference in March. While these three tools could easily fill an hour on their own, I figured a discussion of which to use when might make a great quick preso for beginners and experts alike. We’ll see if the session readers agree, but in the meantime, I’d love your thoughts and feedback (and questions) on this.

Title:

Blogs, Wikis, and Google Docs: Which one is right for your lesson?

Description:

Why use a wiki when you have a blog? When should you use Google Docs instead of a wiki? This session will clear up your confusion and free your creativity.

Abstract:

This session will begin with a clear definition and example of each two-way web technology: blogs, wikis, and Google Docs. Participants will then learn the strengths and weakness of each, complete with demonstrations to illustrate each point. Finally, the presenter will run through a variety of classroom scenarios, recommend an appropriate solution (or two) for each, and justify the choices made. Participants will leave with links to many more educational examples. (The whole abstract appears here, but here’s the pdf anyway: BlogsWikisGoogleDocs.pdf)

Has anyone already done something like this. I imagine someone more “chart” inclined than me must’ve already thrown something together. Any leads?

UPDATE: Doug Johnson asked his readers to clarify when they use Wikis and when they use Google Docs… it got quite a response and it seems there is a need for a session like this.

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Twitter Me This (CUE Tips Submission)

Last year, CUE experimented with a new shorter presentation format (in addition to the usual 1 hour sessions). This year, these shorter sessions were an option in the formal submission process:

CUE Tips

These quick, 20-minute presentations focus on emerging and existing innovations to enhance learning, productivity, or understanding. They should be noncommercial, brief, and focus on one or two tips, techniques, or resources. They will be recorded for the CUE podcast feed.

Several of the submissions ideas I am most excited about this year I wound up submitting as CUE tips sessions. The one I’m most excited about, and the one that that seems most appropriate to be a ultra-short session is this… think others would be excited?

Title:

Twitter Me This: Join a Global Learning Community & Feel Good About It

Description:

It’s a blog, it’s an IM… no it’s Twitter – more efficient than email or RSS! Learn to connect with others, discover resources, and share what you’re doing using “social microblogging.”

Abstract:

TwitterMeThis.pdf (1 Page)

As you can see, there is a lot of room to add specifics to the detailed outline of the workshop (if it gets accepted – or if I get to do it elsewhere). Others have definitely written more than I have about using Twitter in education – not to mention those who have been enterprising enough to try it with their students. If any of you have recommendations about what I could (or should) include in the workshop… or any great examples, please let me know. Too, if there’s anything I’ve got wrong in the abstract (or if you have a different perspective) let me know. I look forward to any feedback you might leave. :)

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Be An Edublogger (CUE Submission)

Eva and I have a baby due February 5th, so even though I’m hoping to be able to attend the CUE conference in Palm Springs four weeks later, I’ve been avoiding any commitments at the conference (or at least those without a solid plan B). Then, to my surprise, Eva put in a few submissions to present at CUE… four weeks after she gives birth! Well, I figure if she’s hoping to be there, I might as well put in a few submissions myself.

So, with my proposal safely away on Saturday morning – and Saturday being the (official) deadline to submit, I set about trying to dream up some new session topics in the afternoon.

I usually focus on what teachers can do with their students and present the benefits to the teacher as an additional bonus. One idea that really appealed to me was helping teachers to not only use blogs with their students, but to purposefully become a contributing member of the edublogosphere. I suspect most attendees won’t be interested in this – and those who are interested may be perfectly capable of teaching themselves, but there might just be a small cross-section of teachers who are ready for the next step and hungry to be empowered. Think this will attract any attendance?

Title:

Be An Edublogger: Tools and Tips for Joining A Global Learning Community

Description:

Read, write, reflect, and respond! Hundreds of educators around the world connect and learn using their blogs – and anyone can join them. Discover tools and tips to help you contribute.

Abstract:

BeAnEdublogger.pdf (1 Page)

I’d love any input you all can offer. I recognize there’s an element of hubris in even presuming I can lead a session like this, so I hope it’s seen simply as an attempt to humbly pass on something that has worked for me – and I hope I can include ideas that have worked for others as well. So, is there anything I’ve misrepresented? What have I missed? And what works for you?