Weebly.com

The Organizational Development team members have created personal websites to showcase their knowledge, skills, and offerings. Some are cute, some are techy, others are a bit drab and uninviting. They all captivated my interest and got me thinking. The main thought I had was that I, too, wanted to create one. When I find the time, I intend to investigate that idea. I like the cni blogspace, but my Steffie Stuff blog is not what I want it to be. Maybe a change is needed. I know that some of you already have websites, so identify yourselves and I'll seek your advice as to the best mode to use-- blog, wikispace, or webpage- based on the purpose for my tech place.

By the way, the ABRAZO team members are developing wikispaces.

C & I, I believe you are the "cool" folks that created this departmental tipping point.

The Ebb and Flow

The constant motion of the workplace intrigues me. I am also intrigued by the ways in which different people react and respond to this movement. Some welcome the busyness and sporadic changes with energy and excitement. Others shy away or are annoyed by the chaotic ebb and flow. I also wonder if this is how work life is in other professions, or if it just this way in education (and particulary in staff development). Does this feverish pace hinder us, or is it the thing that helps us get the job done? There are busy days ahead. How will you respond to the ebb and flow?

Ready, Set...Action Research!

A group of our team members met on last Friday to discuss the action research project our team will implement and showcase during the Summer Leadership Institute. Our research question is :

What impact has the use of blogs had on the professional learning of the C & I team members?

The action research team will need the assistance of each team member to ensure the project's success. Beginning this week, you will need to periodically check the pdscni.blogspot to read a reflective question pertaining to the blog. Then, prepare to be a part of our video diary as we hear what you have to say. We will randomly choose 6-8 team members to answer each question and use the data as part of our research. The first question is below. Please note, ALL TEAM MEMBERS WILL BE ASKED TO RESPOND TO THIS QUESTION. Feel free to share your thinking on the blog, but all responses will also be captured via video. Happy thinking.

QUESTION: What experiences have you had using blogs as a learning tool? What has encouraged or impeded your blog use?

Where are the Children?

As I think about the differing technological skillsets of digital natives and digital immigrants like me, I've often wondered how far ahead of us the natives are. Just where are the children in their use of todays new technologies? An old email from my eleven year old nephew, Evan, reminded me that they are far ahead of us. Click on the link to view a website Evan and his two friends created for "fun." They are using it to promote their 21st Century "lemonade stand" called Hummerghini. The interesting part of the site is the Facts/Info link where you can read their blog. My sister and I added the two comments. The boys' response will make you laugh. Where are the children? The children are miles ahead of us. We need to be about the business of sharpening our skills so we can guide them along the way. (And they do need guidance. My sister was appalled to see her real phone number listed on the site!)

http://www.hummerghini.webs.com/