December 5, 2010

Santa vs. The Internet

All hail the Sunday Comics...

Once again I was reading the Sunday Comics, and I came to realize just how much we rely on electronics and today's communication systems...

I kind of feel like Dagwood...

I can remember counting the days, but the minutes and seconds?

Or having a computer do it for me...

I remember writing letters to Santa, and having my mother check them for neatness and spelling...

Instead of a computer and word processor...

I loved opening gifts - just for the sake of tearing the paper off...

And laughing at my dad for using his pocket knife and only slicing the tape...

I remember writing and sending cards...

I remember falling asleep by the fireplace waiting to catch Santa...

And resisting the temtation to eat his cookies...

Is it wrong for a technology instructor to wish for days when technology was not so prominent?

Now for a little humor in this holiday season...

"The Supreme Court has ruled that they cannot have a nativity scene in Washington, D.C. This wasn't for any religious reasons. They couldn't find three wise men and a virgin."... Jay Leno.




December 1, 2010

Oh the Weather outside is Frightful...

Please...

• You know, when I taught down in Virginia, I always scoffed at the community for all but shutting down at the slightest hint of snow.  I would be like: "Snow?  This isn't Snow!  You don't know what Snow is until you have lived up North!  Up there, they don't shut down for anything!"  At this point in time, I can't have a decent conversation with any of my friends from that area without them throwing (proverbial) snowballs back in my face...

• I know that we are afraid of just about anything nowdays, but please, a little common sense and safe driving practices go a long way towards getting us where we need to be...

Oh well,

Quote for the day:  
Weather is a great metaphor for life - sometimes it's good, sometimes it's bad, and there's nothing much you can do about it but carry an umbrella.  ~Terri Guillemets

Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces us up, snow is exhilarating; there is really no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather.  ~John Ruskin

November 30, 2010

G.B.Trudeau Has it Right!

• I read a comic on Sunday while at my parents, and I felt that it was perfect for the Twitter part of this class...

Doonesbury by Garry Trudeau

• Check it out!  I think that you will like it!!

November 27, 2010

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

• I just realized that, not being at school and all last week, that I was forgetting something... my blog!  It has been kind of nice, not having to sit in front of a computer for a few days.  I have not even turned mine on in the past week.  I won't comment as to the number of emails tha I currently have to respond to, but...
• Civil Rights - for no one?  We had to sit through an inservice on Wednesday morning regarding civil rights.  What students are allowed to do, what they are not, what the schools can do, that sort of thing.  I guess if you are a lawyer, it might make sense, but the person they brought in was from PDE legal, and it was like she was speaking in a foreign language.  Referring to this case or that, what the outcomes were, but never really explaining what is permissable and what is not.  Basically, the schools have no right to restrict students in any way shape or form, yet we can be sued by other parents or students if we do not stop things like cyber bullying...  makes sense, no?  I don't have the right to stop a student from calling another a name, but the other student's parent can press charges for me not stopping it.  This is worse than No Child Left Behind - we have to get the students to pass, but we can't make them do the work.   Someone just shoot me and get it over with...
• Anyway, enough of my venting - I am sure that we will get the chance to vent some more in class this week.
• Hope that everyone has a happy thanksgiving, and good luck to those of you that hunt.

November 16, 2010

• Happy Birthday to Me!  Not that I want to acknowledge that it is that day, or any other aspect of it...

• For those of you following this, I finally got my house closed in this weekend.  It is not finished, by any means, but I don't have tarps covering the sides anymore.  Now I just have to focus on putting house wrap on the outside and insulating the inside.  That plus putting some boards down to make a floor for storage.  Maybe I will even have the time this weekend to fix my desktop computer so that I can do some work at home again...

Robots

• One of my new classes this year that I am developing is a robotics class.  Not the type where there is simply an arm on the table and the kids program, but where they construct actual mobile units.  I have been having some troubles with this.  No plan ever last past the first day, but we are finally to the stage where the students will be competing against one another with a standard design.  This should take place on Thursday / Friday.  What a final before Thanksgiving!  I will try to shoot some video and still shots and send them out...

• I mentioned above that the robots are a final project before Thanksgiving.  Here at JS the students will not be back for more than a week after this Friday!  Thats right, no school for 10 days for them.  Teachers have to put in three full days (Monday / Tuesday for parent-teacher conferences and Wednesday is inservice).  I still can't say that I agree with this schedule, but it will be nice to actually have some time to get some maintenance done while on the clock.  Of course the following Monday is our state holiday...

Thought for the day...

Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter

November 9, 2010

SOMETIMES I WISH THAT SOME OF THE TECHNOLOGY THAT WE HAVE TODAY WAS AVAILABLE WHEN I WAS A CHILD...

• My son is in first grade.  He brough home a project where he has to make a poster about himself.  What he likes, what he does not like, what he wants to be when he grows up, that sort of thing.  I can't remember doing anything like that until 5th or 6th grade, and then it was all just writing, drawing pictures, and physically cutting pictures out of magazines and gluing them in place.  Now we have digital editing, photography and the internet to get material, then to organize and print it.  Sometimes it is a headache, sometimes it can be fun...
• Does anyone want to guess what he wants to be when he grows up?

I don't know if I am scared, or proud...

• I must admit, however, that I feel that children today have too much to learn, too quick.  When I went through elementary (K-3, anyhow) at Central Elementary (yes, I am a prodigy of South Williamsport) we focused entirely on reading, writing and math.  We learned how to do that, and we learned how to do it well.  Now, children have to learn computer, they are learning civics and politics, and even science!  Many students who I have at the high school level can't do basic math (multiply and divide) without a calculator, and they can't write legibly or spell correctly... unless it is using electronic devices that do it for them.  While I think that it is great to learn things such as science and civics, I question if it is too much too soon, and if it would be better to reinforce the basics (actually develop them) than to innundate the students with such a large variety of items so early...  I guess that is why I am not an elementary teacher.

Quote for the day:

The most interesting information comes from children, for they tell all they know and then stop...  M. Twain

Sunday, November 7, 2010

• Snow in Altoona...  I took my wife and son to Altoona this weekend to visit her parents and winterize their house.  It actually snowed there Saturday morning!  Nothing like putting up plastic and insulation in wind-driven snow and rain...

• While we were putting up the plastic and insulation we found the most amazing thing - a live praying mantis!  It was actually walking up one of the walls that we were working on - outside the house.  It is a beautiful creature, and once we brought it into the house, it began moving around with a spring in her(?) step.  We put it in a large pretzel container for Aaron to bring back and show his classmates.  I was really amazed because they are not that common this far north to begin with, and to find one alive on a day as cold as it was Saturday...
• We looked up praying mantis online when we got home, just to get some information on them.  Did you know that they have five eyes?  In addition to the two large ones located on either side of their head, they have three others between them on their forehead.  And their head can actually swivel more than 180degrees!  The one that we found is almost six inches long, and is extremely agile and graceful...
• For those of you interested, there is a wonderful National Geographic website for animals.  It is:
• http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/bugs/praying-mantis.html
• Isn't it amazing what the smallest of events can inspire you to do?  This one little insect is all that Aaron has talked about since we found it!

Quote for the day:

• "An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest"...  Ben Franklin

November 03, 2010

• Not much to report at this time.  The marking period is over, and a new one is beginning.  Students are still trying to turn in work for the last 9 weeks.  It is supposed to snow this weekend.  The world is turning...

• I received a politically humorous email on Monday that is also mathematically challenging...  I find it more interesting for the math than the politics, so please do not be offended by my posting this...

• Question:  What is your favorite movie?  There is a list of movies, numbered 1-18 liinked as an answer.  Complete the following equation to determine your favorite movie.

1. Pick a number from 1 to 9
2. Multiply that number by 3
3. Add three to that number
4. Multiply that number by 3
5. Add the two digits that make up that number to determine your favorite movie.

• Click Here to See the Movie List

•  How about this - thy that equation with any number between 1 and 9... what do you get?

• For those of you in Elementary Ed, I know that what I teach is a little out of the league of most elementary students, but I found an interesting website that you might want to try out if you want to do a brief lesson on technology.  It has to do with simple machines (levers, pullies, screws, wheels...)  It is a little too low level for most of my students, but it could be fun for yours...

• http://www.mikids.com/SMachinesPulleys.htm

Thought for the day:

• A meeting is an event at which the minutes are kept and the hours are lost.

October 27, 2010

I was just reading Alison's (I hope you don't mind, but I am including a link to your blog:  http://missmannello.blogspot.com/  ) regarding school policy, the few controlling the desires of the many, and quantity over quality... and I must say that I agree with what she is saying.

• RE/Halloween:  Our school still allows costumes - encourages it even, with numerous awards for both students and teachers!  They are part of our school spirit (nice word for this event, yes?) and a way to break the monotony of day-to-day classes.  There is no religious or belief aspect to it, just a day to break the mold...  to look outside of the box while continuing with our daily grind.  The History Channel had a real neat documentary on the History of Halloween the other night, all the way back to its pre-Catholic origin, and its relation to All Saints Day / All Souls Day.  While I would not show the whole episode in the classroom, it might be a way to demonstrate the history of some of our "holidays".
• Here is a website to one of the segments of this program:  http://www.history.com/topics/halloween/videos#halloweens-origins

• As for quantity over quality... Three years ago JS instigated a new system of lesson plans, where we had to define and answer a series of "essential questions" for each lesson, answer them, content listing, skills, assessments, learning plans (by day), then match them up with both academic and sci/tech standards.  We had "x" amount of time to do this, then submit it for approval, then resubmit, etc.  This in addition to normal class duties.  Now, less than a year after this was all completed (including all of the revisions), the DO and the School Board have deduced that this format is no longer "up to date" with the current "theories" of "education", and we have to totally rewrite everything.  In other words, we just spent 2-3 years waisting valuable time detailing our lessons, and the same will probably happen in the near future.  All for the sake of showing how JS is "up to date" with current "educational theories" on teaching...

• God save me from politicians and people who think that they know what is best for everyone... wait a minute, are they not one and the same?

• Thought for the day:
• God made the Idiot for practice, and then He made the School Board.   Mark Twain

October 25, 2010

• Monday morning...  well, it was Monday morning when I first started this.  I guess it is Monday afternoon now.  Rainy days and Mondays always get me down...

• For those of you following me... the roof is finally under shingle.  I just have some drip edge and flashing to put up.  With the weather forecast for this week I guess I will find out how good of a job I did... 

• My son turns seven this week.  It seems like just yesterday...   We had a b-day party for him on Saturday.  Only four others turned up, but they were some of his closest friends, which made him happy.  We had more observers (tweens) watching from the back alley and on the hill than we did people at the party.  Of course, the kids were all in costume, so I guess that made it worthwhile to watch.  We had a scavenger hunt, bobbing for apples, three-leg race...  all the oldies but goodies, with hot cider, pizza and cake.  Leftovers, anyone?

• The marking period is drawing to a close.  I have been posting grades almost every week, with no response from students or parents.  Until now.  I received ten emails this morning (guess why this blog did not get up earlier) asking why their kids have zeros for projects - many of which were due back in September!  Before progress reports (that showed the same grades missing)!  And they want me to let them make up the work.  And we wonder why the education system in America is low on the worldwide totem pole...

• I showed a couple of students the Wordle site from last class.  they are having a blast with it.  One of them (a redhead) even made up a list of words and phrases that she feels describe redheads, then printed a dozen posters on red paper and posted them outside my room.  I had six or eight redhead students approach me this morning and ask me for copies...

• I hope that all of you have a good week.  Have fun with grades... mine are due Friday.

• Quote for the day:
• The swiftness of time is infinite, as is still more evident when we look back on the past.



October 20, 2010

• Here we are, it is Wednesday, and I am finally posting another blog.

• The weekend is over, the week is half done, and time is slipping through my fingers.  The roof is almost all shingled - I love (notice the sarcasam) working on old houses - nothing is ever square or goes together easily.  But I am getting closer to completion!

• The horse race / fundraiser went well over the weekend.  We raised close to $1200 for charity.  Had a great time with good food!  We are planning another for this spring...

• If you are looking for a good, fun, easy read, try Jim Butcher's Dresded Files.  Especially now that the haunting season is upon us.  Picture a mixture of Magnum P.I. and Bewitched...  murder/mystery/wizardry with a solid dose of sarcasim and humor.  Of course, who has time to read?

Thought for the day:

• Say, "Now I will do it" and you'll see that you have already accomplished/delivered half the task.

(this from the world's greatest procrastinator)

October 15, 2010

Homecoming!

• Tonight is the JSAHS homecoming game.  Of course it is somewhat hard to get excited when the home team players are taking bets as to how much they will lose by...

• With the homecoming festivities comes a two hour pep rally - instead of class time.

• My luck seems to be holding with the weather - rain during the week and decent on the weekend.  Hopefully I can get the felt and shingles on my roof tomorrow, then close in the last wall on Sunday...

• Keep your eyes open at home for computer viruses.  My desktop got hit last week with a "antivirus virus" - it is one that looks like a commercial for AV software, but won't let you stop it from loading, and you suppossedly have to pay to get it out.  It is also throwing some unfavorable site links onto my desktop to "encourage" me to purchase the protection.  It reminds me of a gang walking into a store, starting to break things, then offering protection...for a price.

And on that last note, here is the thought for the day:

Whenever you hear the consensus of scientists, lawyers or politicians agreeing on something or other, reach for your wallet, because you're being had...

October 13, 2010

Greetings and salutations...

• I guess that we should all thank Dwight for the night off.
• Thank You Dwight!!!

• For those of you who follow the news - Jersey Shore is being accused of some interesting things regarding cyber-bullying.  I am not involved, but I know the student involved, and he does not deserve what was done to him - or what his parents are doing to him by making this as public as they have. 
• That is only my opinion, and not necessarily policy!

• Still working on different pages for my wiki - I use technology a lot, but this is new to me...

• Thought for the day:
• Life is never simple.  It contains infinite diversity in infinite combinations...  and that is what makes us individuals.

October 12, 2010

Ok, I know that I should be doing two or more of these a week, and not the night before...

• I finally got the top 10 websites posted.  I actually had them done in Word last Friday, but I did not even fire up my computer at home until Monday afternoon.  Sometimes it is nice to do without technology...
• Spent the weekend working on my roof (still).  I managed to get two of three walls closed in (I still have siding, soffit and fascia to put on) and the rest of the sheeting on the roof itself.  Hopefully next weekend I can finish the felt and shingle it...
• I will be working a horse race / buffet dinner this Saturday for charity.  Anyone interested in tickets?  All the food you can eat, with free liquid "refreshments" for only $10.  Race betting starts at $2 per bet - I have 10 tickets left...

Thought for the day:

• Duck tape is like the force...  it has a good side, it has a dark side, and it binds the galaxy together.

First Blog

Hello everyone, Andrew here.

This is my first time using a blog, and I am doing so as part of a PSU / graduate class.  To that extent, excuse me if this is choppy and does not make much sense.

As part of this class, I will be making posts to this blog twice weekly, using current classroom activities, events in life, and hopefully generally interesting items :)

Just FYI, I like toying with the various options in the graphics of a program, so if things change in the middle of a blog, it is just me playing around...