Educating the Dragon

There has got to be more to the IWB than this… Otherwise I’m wasting my time.

Is this the difference between Smartboards and Interwrite Boards?

New Zealand has a date for its election too.

It was good to read from cliotech that there is a commoncraft video available for that ‘teachable moment.

I would love to see Lee LeFever explain the MMP voting system we have in New Zealand ‘cos it ‘does my head in’ as one student so clearly stated.

A balloon debate is something I have not heard of for ages and ages. My sister once did one on primary school… but I never did.

So I set my students the homework task of preparing for a balloon debate.

A balloon debate essentially morphed into reality TV. There are 4 people in a balloon. They are famous folk from the past chosen by the students. The ‘balloon’ is about to crash and as we all know the best way to get a hot air balloon to rise again is to shed some weight… ie. One of the occupants. It is up to the student to choose a famous person and write a persuasive piece to prevent the remainder of the class voting them out of the balloon (and plummeting to their death!)

Anyway, I set this piece of homework and hear are the entries (who would you vote for?):

Hi I’m Alexander Fleming.

I am the famous Scotsman who invented penicillin. Penicillin has saved many peoples lifes and still does now. I believe I should stay in the hot Air Balloon.

Billy T James I should not be thrown out of this hot air balloon because I’m NZ best stand up comedian in NZ

History. Who will be named entertainer of the year or even the decade. I won’t be known for my movies, comic books, or even here my

Singing and funny chuckle. And plus at the age of 43 don’t you think I’m to young to die. If I do get thrown out of this balloon I’d like to leave you with this little joke what do you call a Maori in a river? A blackcurrant also what do you call a pakeha in a river? Whitebait. So make the right decision and throw someone else out.

I think Princess Diana should stay because

· Princess Diana was a peoples Princess

· She was an adoring mother

· She supported red cross

In 1987 when so many still believed that AIDS could be contracted through casual contact Princess Diana sat on the sick bed of a man with aids and held his hand.

Princess Diana used her position of fame and power to give hope and comfort to those whom society too frequently forgets

In the 1980 to the1990s she was the fashion icon.

Born 20/7/1919

Died 11/1/2008

Achievements: First to climb Everest, helping lots of people.

I should be kept in the balloon for if I died there would be no one to build schools and hospitals for the people of Nepal and none to inspire the children of New Zealand. I’m living proof that everyone can do anything if they try.

And where would you find someone as handsome as me to go on the five dollar note!

May I defend my case. Lately I have been working on a way of splitting the atom. Splitting the atom would make a tremendous explosion. It would be useful if we could harness this power and contain it. If we could do that, the next small step would be to aim it and then decide when to make it explode; in other words, making a very powerful bomb. We all know how useful this would be in a war situation. If I were to die here there may never be a chance for such power to be harnessed again. Imagine if another country, larger and stronger invaded and destroyed everything your country had. With my bomb it all could have been stopped. Think about that.

Sir Peter Blake

I think I should stay in the balloon because I was a great adventurer and sailor who was out to protect the environment.

Then some kid comes up with this guy!

… extending the show and tell.

Had a conversation with a student the other day, I don’t really recall the details but it must have been about the ridiculous things pets get up to. She told me about her amazingly talented cat and how it seems to climb up the bunkbed steps ‘magically’.

"I’d love to see that," I say. So several days later she brings in on her mobile a video of her cat, see here . And sends it to my mobile via bluetooth.

Possiblilites for classroom applications are swelling in my mind.

Interestingly, one kid said "telling on you, you’ve brought a mobile phone into class" is the same kid I’ve encouraged to bring in his own laptop from home. hmmmm, go figure.

Discovered this email in my inbox last week. Initially I thought it was spam thing but I took another look. It being a TED thing after all.

Having read it I wanted to share it with you all. I’m sure there are schools, colleges, individuals out their who are already making a difference and for some, this call the action will be the catalyst.

I’ve got to sitdown properly with my team and discuss this. I just wanted to get the message out there.

Have a watch….

I’m writing to let you know that organizers of the TED Prize have announced an open challenge in support of author and philanthropist Dave Eggers and his 2008 TED Prize wish to collect 1,000 stories of private citizens engaged in their local public schools. Each year, three individuals are granted the TED Prize, which provides winners with a wish to change the world, $100,000 in seed money, and the support of the TED community in making the wish come true.

As an extension of Eggers initial wish, the open challenge asks individuals to design and implement new projects for local public school students. The three winning entries will receive a pass to the sold out TED2009 Conference to be held in Long Beach, California on February 4-7, 2009. Additionally, Eggers asks local citizens to support 826 National, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping students, ages 6-18, with expository and creative writing at six locations across USA. Eggers co-founded the original 826 chapter, 826 Valencia, a nonprofit tutoring center and writing school for children, in 2002.

Entries are open to the public and may be submitted by visiting onceuponaschool.org and will be judged by a panel of educators, entrepreneurs, and creatives from the TED Community. Projects will be evaluated on the following criteria:

•    Innovation:  Was a new model used?  Is the approach creative?  Were the students provided with access to something new?
•    Collaboration:  How well did the project leaders work with the teacher/school?  Did the project address a specific challenge or need of the students?
•    Impact:  What changed in the life of the students, teacher, and school?  Was the community affected?  Did the work inspire other private citizens to get involved?

The Deadline for submissions is October 31, 2008.

For more information, please visit: www.onceuponaschool.org
For more information on the TED Prize, please visit www.tedprize.org
For more information on Dave Eggers’ wish, please visit http://www.tedprize.org/?page_id=7
For more information about 826 National, please visit http://www.826national.org/

We’re reaching out to the education community with the hope that you’ll help us get the word out about this initiative.

Have a great weekend.

Best,
Tasha