The Amazing Race September 27, 2006
Posted by Joseph Papaleo in General, Google Earth.comments closed
If you read my “About me” page, you would have noticed that I am interested in using Google Earth in my teaching. As a Mathematics teacher, so far it has been limited to where certain Mathematicians lived, worked etc. Lots of ideas for other people’s classes that I’ll share one day as I continue to create new blog entries.
But today, I read Jeff Utecht’s blog and how his Grade 5 class has made a fun and exciting project based on “The Amazing Race”. As Jeff wrote:
Basically the 5th grade teachers wanted to do an Amazing Race theme and have the students plot on a map 7 different countries they wanted to visit. The students then had to research the different countries and find facts about them. Then they had to choose two cities within each country to have their ‘contestents’ visit within those countries.
Instead of using a map on paper we took the project to Google Earth and had the students each make their own Google Earth file with their country information.
Fascinating concept and the way to go! (excuse the pun). This concept obviously works at Primary school classes as demonstrated here, but can just as easily be used in:
- Science classes to track where migratory animals move to and from (doesn’t have to be cities),
- History classes to track how armies swept across a continent or where battles were fought
- Literature classes where characters move from place to place (did you know someone in the Google Earth Community has plotted all of the places Shakespeare wrote about – I think a great resource for teachers and students)
A colleague recently asked me to assist the Year 7 students with mapping where they, their parents and grand-parents were born. All of the placemarks were saved in one folder with custom made icons used to represent paternal and maternal family members. These were then uploaded on one computer. While not quite finished, it looks to be an amazing collection of data that shows where our students and their families have come from before settling in Australia. Perhaps it will turn into an annual project for our Year 7 students. Who knows?
Any other suggestions out there for Google Earth projects?
podOmatic = podmail September 27, 2006
Posted by Joseph Papaleo in General, Paul Harrington, Screencast, Web2.0, blogs, mathematics, podcasts.comments closed
With thanks to Paul Harrington and Judy O’Connell, I have just stumbled on podOmatic. This site is similar to Odeo (but in my opinion, it is “safer” – read the end comment) and allows users to create podcasts and store them on their server for access by anyone else. But, the most exciting thing for me is it is now possible to have a podmail account.
What is podMail?
podMail is just like regular email, only different. With podMail, you now have the power to create your own audio or upload existing audio from your computer and podMail it right into your friend’s iPod!What kinds of messages can I receive at my podomatic.com e-mail address?
Although you can send anything to anyone using podMail, we restrict what kinds of messages get to you from the e-mail world. This is to prevent spam from going into your account. So if you’re using podMail, send whatever you want! If you’re using an e-mail client, or you are asking your friends to send you e-mail @podomatic.com, remember that e-mail from the outside world must include an mp3 attachment to be delivered to you @podomatic.com.Where does podMail go?
podMail goes from podOmatic into your iPod. We transfer it from our servers through podAmigo into your daycast, where you can hear it at your leisure.Who can hear my podMail?
Only you. It has the same privacy characteristics as email.
k – 12 Online Conference “Unleasing the Potential” September 25, 2006
Posted by Joseph Papaleo in Screencast, Skype, Video Conference, Web2.0, blogs, podcasts.comments closed
Announcing the first annual “K12 Online 2006″ convention for teachers, administrators and educators around the world interested in the use of Web 2.0 tools in classrooms and professional practice. This year’s conference is scheduled to be held over two weeks, Oct. 23-27 and Oct. 30- Nov. 3 with the theme “Unleashing the Potential.” The K12 Online 2006 blog has just gone live.
On the conference blog you will also find the web form we will be using for the submission of proposals. Everyone is encouraged to submit a proposal. More details are on the conference blog: www.k12onlineconference.org. The blog will be updated regularly with everything you need to know about the conference.
This is such an exciting concept. Having people from around the world share ideas and resources. Many of these people are experts in the use of Web 2.0 technology in education, so why wouldn’t you participate in such a great idea?
And if you are in Australia like me, there is no reason to miss out as presentations will be made available for download.
Well done to the organisers.
Mobile Phones and Scoot September 17, 2006
Posted by Joseph Papaleo in General, SMS, Treasure hunts.comments closed
In Melbourne, Victoria this weekend, Newish Media, in conjunction with the Australian Centre of Moving Images (ACMI) will run a family event called Scoot. The premise is that aliens have come to invade the world and it is up to your group to save the world. Using SMS technology, each group will receive clues and get involved in a treasure hunt style game to solve the clues. When they find answers, objects or the like, they SMS their response in and then receive their next clue.
Everyday, school groups go into Melbourne (and I’m sure every other major city around the world) to participate in some type of school activity. Some of these activities are strictly supervised, while others have students travel from Point A to Point B on their own, using public transport and navigating their way using maps (won’t be long before they use GPS).
Using the Scoot idea, I envisage groups of students using SMS to particpate in a treasure hunt and solve clues on their way to Points B, C, D, etc.. Doing this would enhance the learning for some, keeping them on track and most importantly, ensuring their safety at regular times.
I’d be interested in knowing if anyone has heard of anyone using SMS technolgy in a similar fashion?
Ryan’s “Funeral” or “Celebration of Life” September 14, 2006
Posted by Joseph Papaleo in General, Personal.comments closed
You may need to read my entry on September 9 to get a better understanding of this entry
Today, I attended what I thought was going to be a funeral. Instead, A & D made sure it was a celebration of Ryan’s short life. His school closed down for the day and made their facilities available for this day. A sad, but wonderful day.
There was lots of colour, cheeriness, happy greetings, messages from family members (both natural and adoptive), school teachers, nurses, etc.
Ryan obviously touched many people’s lives. It was nice to hear about a side I really didn’t know about – his school life and his cheekiness. Of course, we never saw that at family functions – he was a good lad.
The singing of his favourite football team’s theme song was something he enjoyed and it was sung today with passion and tears – well at least I teared up.
A & D’s request to make sure it was a celebration was a nice tribute. Greeting other people with a positive statement was a first for me and it changed the focus of the funeral to a celebration for me, however, I still teared up. I know I’m a big sook.
Releasing balloons and having a slideshow of pictures throughout Ryan’s life and school days brought back many memories and still brings back a tingle down my spine.
From a personal point of view, the school did a great job today. Well done.
And lastly, to two very special people and their own family – a big heartfelt thanks for loving and cherishing Ryan when he was so young and ill. Your love for Ryan and sacrifices that you made for him make you and your family Ryan’s own Angels.
May he run around, jumping and chatting with his Great-Grandmother in his new body.
ScreenCasts September 14, 2006
Posted by Joseph Papaleo in Ewan McIntosh, Screencast, Web2.0, blogs, podcasts.comments closed
I just listened to and watched Ewan McIntosh’s screencast on Web 2.0 technology. His ideas are great and it is something I’ll have to re-watch. His discussion on blogs and podcasts is quite stimulating.
So how will screencasts help us teachers? I recently had a student who was going to miss a term of school to go on a family holiday back to his parent’s homeland. Most of his holiday was going to be spent in and around the family home, so he wasn’t travelling around much. We were about to start Algebra in our Maths class and he didn’t want to fall behind. He had access to the internet and e-mail, so we discussed the possibility of me sending him the class notes that I was using my Tablet PC and Projector or Interactive WhiteBoard (IWB) to generate. I also wanted to send him a podcast to go with the notes, but he said that he wouldn’t require them as he would get help from his older cousins and relatives if he got stuck. I missed out on this educational journey, but perhaps it would have been so much easier to create a Screencast.
I’ll be producing a ScreenCast in the near future (after I’ve played with some software). In the meantime, if you are interested in looking into it further yourself, take a look at the Mathcast site. A great introduction to Screencasting and Mathematics.
Thanks to Will Richardson September 14, 2006
Posted by Joseph Papaleo in Personal, Skype, Web2.0, Will Richardson, blogs, podcasts.comments closed
Before getting into this blog proper, I must say thanks to Will Richardson. I stumbled upon his blog some time in 2005 and started to follow it religiously. At that stage, I didn’t know how to use RSS, so I set up my Mozilla browser to access his page every time I accessed the Internet. His blog entries have helped me get a better understanding of how I can use this technology in my classes and at work.
I’ve been working on a project to introduce interested staff at my school to Web 2.0 technology. Part of my project was to show how Video Conferencing could be used for PD or in class. What better way to do it than to ask Will to speak at our seminar, speaking from his home in the States to our school in Melbourne, Australia. Time zones were sorted out and technical issues resolved. Unfortunalty, there were a few technical issues on the day, but we managed to have a Skype Video call (we could see Will, he couldn’t see us!) and we were also able to see his presentation on our projector as he controlled it (thanks must go to Chris Ross and Winston Mattson).
So Will, thanks heaps. Now all I need to do is get you here one day.
What do I hope to achieve? September 14, 2006
Posted by Joseph Papaleo in General.comments closed
I’ve been reading blogs from other people for some time now and it was time to take the plunge and create my own. I plan to take a “How can I use this technolgoy in a classroom” approach – note I didn’t say my own classroom!
As a Maths, Science and senior IT teacher, I find that I see things and feel as though someone may be able to use that idea in their classroom. I am restrcited in what I teach in my IT classes due to prescribed courses, so it is not always possible to teach the things I’d like to. So stick around and keep a feed going (more on that later) as hopefully we may share some great ideas.
Please feel free to add comments at any time.
Tribute to Ryan September 9, 2006
Posted by Joseph Papaleo in Uncategorized.comments closed
A couple of weeks ago, I attended a 15th Birthday Party. Now for some, a 15th Birthday is no big deal or boring! But not this one. Ryan was one special kid!
15 years ago, Ryan was born after his mother was involved in a near fatal car crash. His brain was starved of oxygen and although he lived, he suffered massive brain damage. At the time of his birth, no-one was quite sure whether he would survive or not. I should add that he was my then girlfriend’s (now wife’s) cousin.
Ryan did survive and was placed in a foster family. My girlfriend and I went to visit Ryan and it was then that I met two amazing people – A and D (not sure if they want me to post their names). A and D sacrificed lots for Ryan and Ryan seemed to thrive in their home. On top of his brain damage, Ryan had cerebal palsy meaning his body was always in awkward positions and he was unable to support himself (although he did use a special “walker” when he got older and stronger), he had asthma, epilepsy, became legally blind and was partially deaf. However, he responded to touch, familiar sounds and strong colours. We would visit and would cuddle him like an infant, even though he was five or six.
He grew older and bigger, but always in and out of hospital. His foster parents became adoptive parents and they seemed to go out of the way to help this child. The love A and D showed Ryan made me realise that I was in the company of some truly wonderful people.
Christmas was always interesting – getting together with Ryan’s extended family. It was obvious that some felt awkward around him, while others would sit and chat with him – even though he didn’t respond much. But he brought several families together.
From my first meeting with Ryan in a park to my last a few weeks ago, I always felt as though I wanted to do more for him. I just didn’t know how. Sitting with him and holding his hand or talking to him gently didn’t seem enough.
So, what did Ryan teach me? That life can be taken away at an instant – in Ryan’s case, it was taken from him before he was born. He didn’t get to experience much, but he was surrounded by love and in his own special way, he returned that love. Seeing his eyes light up when his Poppy or A or D spoke to him was something I will remember forever.
Farewell Ryan. RIP
Hello World September 6, 2006
Posted by Joseph Papaleo in General.comments closed
Of course, being an IT person, the first test is always “Hello World”. Apparently, this was the first program run on a new language (I’ll have to get the details and post it) and ever since, programmers use it when teaching a new language to a group of students/people to demonstrate the first program.
