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Saturday, September 09, 2006
Back to Blogging
That question posed to me by a teacher the other day truly warmed the cockles of my heart (pardon the quaint expression!)…I thought the idea of leveraging her students' new-found interest in poetry through a classroom blog was a brilliant one. Writing poems is just the kind of Language Arts activity that can benefit immensely from a forum for publishing and an audience of readers (for praise and critique) in teachers, parents and most of all, peers.
Blogging in the classroom - it's a slow but sure trend in urban schools in India - one that I'm happy to fan along in any way I can, because I see such tremendous possibilities in these common platforms for expression and discourse that extend beyond the four walls of the classroom.
Blogs in K-12 can have various purposes – as a quasi-course management site maintained by the teacher alone; or a collaborative platform for sharing ideas by the teacher as well as the students; or a personal space for publishing maintained by individual students that the class (or even the school community at large) has access to. Having used blogs in all these different ways with my students (teachers in professional development programs), I think it's important for teachers to be aware of the different ways in which blogs can be set up and used – driven, as it were, by the purpose of setting up this collaborative learning space.
I came across a fantastic article that provides crystal clarity on various blogging techniques that can be employed by teachers. A brilliant piece of expository writing that is well-supported by excellent diagrams (such as the one shown here), this article would be good guide to any teacher in nailing the implementation strategy of her class blog.
Teachers - read and blog away…
Friday, August 25, 2006
"Children, Computers and Powerful Ideas"
It's been over a quarter of a century since 'Mindstorms' (Seymour Papert's seminal book on kids and computers) took the education world by storm. The book was less about teaching with/about/from computers (the topical tensions of technology integration in schools) as it was about allowing kids to be creative through computers. 26 years on, and we rarely see kids in schools using computers in the way Papert envisioned - children programming computers and acquiring "a sense of mastery over a piece of the most modern and powerful technology" and through this endeavor establishing "intimate contact with some of the deepest ideas from science, from mathematics, and from the art of intellectual model building." Is it because Papert's argument was not compelling enough or is the jury still out on the educational benefits of such an endeavor? Or is it because teachers (the vast majority of them anyway), dare not stray into the realm of "geeks" (the popular (mis)perception of people who can program) - in the belief that such activity is way too "hi-tech" for them. I tend to think that it is the latter.
Fortunately for us all, there are some who have not given up on this powerful idea. The simple easy-to-use LOGO programming environment (that Papert and his colleagues created at the MIT Media Lab) is still alive and kicking, and available through various sources. Microsoft's Kids Programming Language (KPL), while not as easy as LOGO, seems promising. Squeak based on Smalltalk has been around for a while, and Scratch, slated to be Media Lab's latest gift to kids and educators (who care to share Papert's view) is a WYSIWYG, iconic LOGO-like programming environment.
With no apparent dearth of kids programming environments and certainly no shortage of computers (what with the $100 laptop soon to become a reality in the developing world), the need of the hour is to get teachers to start playing around in these easy-to-use, fun programming environments, so that they can get over their irrational fear of communicating with computers, and start seeing the thrilling possibilities of these powerful learning tools in their classrooms.
Wednesday, August 02, 2006
Chirp, Chirp! Here come the crickets...
PIE Workshops at the MIT Museum - Pictures of my (then) 6-year old son at the 'e-Insect Invasion' workshop in April 2003
Simply put, PicoCricket is "a LEGO Mindstorms Robotics Kit meets a Klutz Craft Kit" i.e. LEGO pieces + 'Electronic Thingees' + Craft materials, where 'Electronic Thingees' = a microcomputer (the legendary MIT Media Lab "cricket" encased in a plastic body, much like the LEGO RCX brick), LEDs, sensors & motors. The colorful craft materials range from foam balls to pipe cleaners to straws, beads and buttons. [In the hands of a resourceful, creative individual, the kit could be "enhanced" by any number of "craft materials" from all around us - there is no dearth of plastic and metal knick-knacks that could be recycled to find a new home - and use.]
What differentiates this product from the Mindstorms, is, of course, the emphasis on creativity and craft, which as I see, will serve to bridge the technology gender divide (I speak from first-hand experience – boys have outnumbered girls by far in the after-school Robotics Club I have run for high-schoolers for the past 3 years). It is not only the inclusion of craft materials that sets this apart from the Mindstorms, but also the exclusion of the vast numbers of wheels, axles, tires, treads and hubs, that account for a large percentage of the Mindstorms kit. Kids take one look at the Mindstorms kit and "roving bots on wheels" is probably the first "robot" idea that strikes them. One look at the Crickets kit and kids could think of a zillion different exciting, colorful artifacts. "Arts & Crafts for the Digital Age", is how NYT has described it.
At $250, this kit seems quite pricey (more so for the Indian market), especially given that the LEGO Mindstorms NXT seems to have a lot more (in terms of sheer size of the kit) for the same price; but that has not deterred critics from giving this product a thumbs-up. (I queried Mitch Resnick at the Media Lab about this when he showed me the Cricket kit this past spring; he thinks that bulk production - driven by demand, will hopefully bring down the price some time in the future).
I, for one, cannot wait to get my hands on one of these ...
Thursday, July 06, 2006
On The Social Side of Bookmarking...A Delicious Idea for Teachers & Schools
- They search for websites appropriate for a particular topic they are teaching. They would like to share these with their students in school, but the links sit bookmarked on their computers at home.
- The teachers identify certain useful sites on a computer in school or at home, and bookmark them, but do not have access to the same machine all the time.
- Technology teachers and integration specialists working with teachers in school identify certain useful websites for the teachers they're working with and need a convenient mechanism to share these with them.
- Teachers of different grades/subjects would like to be able to know what websites other teachers teaching the same subject have found useful in their teaching. If only there were an accessible "database" of useful web links that their colleagues have used or found potentially useful, (as opposed to some the links some strangers somewhere half-way across the globe found useful.)
For all this and more, del.icio.us to the rescue!
Here's how it would work---
- The tech. staff would set up a common del.icio.us account for the school community to maintain a handy, accessible database of useful web links, as well as for facilitating easy sharing among teachers, tech corordinators, students and anyone else in the school community who would benefit from access to this set of links.
For example, a del.icio.us account with an appropriately friendly username such as "tech_(school-name)" or "weblinks_for_(school-name)" would be set up.
- The username and password would be shared with the teaching community.
- Teachers who wish to add a web link to share with students or other teachers, would login and add to the list.
Voila! Teachers now have easy access from anywhere – home, classroom, computer lab, …to this wealth of contextual, school-appropriate set of web links at http://del.icio.us/(whatever username has been set up)
Now for the tagging bit (which is basically a form of information organization, where you associate keywords with any web link)---
- The weblinks added on del.icio.us need to be 'tagged' appropriately for search-and-access by the users themselves or even the del.icio.us community-at-large (after all "social tagging" is the big idea!).
- In the case of a school community, teachers could tag the web link with keywords indicative of grade level(s), subject, or topic… that the web link could be used for.
- Teachers wanting to share links with their students, could use del.icio.us and tag a set of links s/he may have identified from the existing list, or added to the list. In this case, the tags could be indicative of the topic or something the teachers and students arrive at jointly.
Having a common understanding, and perhaps even shared "rules" (among teachers and students), of the semantics and syntax used for tagging, would, of course, be key, to making this type of sharing a success.
There are other 'folksonomic' tools such as Clipmarks that do much the same thing as del.icio.us (but I have not tried them yet). There is also a another - wider - aspect to this type of "social tagging" - that which deals with your connection to others across the globe who have tagged the same link as you (most likely other teachers or educators with similar interests), but I'll save that for another post.
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
For teachers interested in scaffolding the internet search process for students and creating instructional materials for them that organizes websites (that teachers have pre-identified) around key questions and ideas...try Filamentality. It's "a fill-in-the-blank tool that guides you through picking a topic, searching the Internet, gathering good Internet links, and turning them into online learning activities." These online activities could be in the following formats-
(Source: Filamentality site)
- Hotlist: A reasonable first step is to simply compile a list of web-based resources - i.e. a good "Hotlist" of sites you know are appropriate for your users. These pages might not be standards-based or geared toward a specific learning outcome, but it will be like wheeling a bunch of good books from the library into the classroom.
- Treasure Hunt: If learners are emotionally connected to the topic, then ask the question, "Are they learning enough background information on the subject?" If the answer is no or if the best information on the subject is "hot off the press," then try a Treasure Hunt.
- Subject Sampler: If learners have factual knowledge about a subject, then ask yourself, "Do they come out of the unit affectively engaged?" If they don't seem to care about the subject as you think they should, try creating a Subject Sampler.
- Multimedia Scrapbook: If you want students to explore a variety of sites that you've selected and create their own reports, newsletters, presentation stacks, or posters using "pieces" from those sites, you might try making a Multimedia Scrapbook.
- WebQuest: If they learn facts, but don't pursue higher-level thinking; why not make a WebQuest? A webquest uses the sites you select as the starting point for a complex activity that involves multiple perspectives, possible group collaboration, and a final project of your choosing.
How's that for options!?
Sunday, June 18, 2006
Saturday, June 17, 2006
More often than not, teachers and parents of teens are blissfully unaware of what their kids are up to when they are on the Internet. For those of us keeping tabs on issues of kid safety on the Internet, nary a week goes by these days without the mention of some nightmarish teen experience related to their Internet explorations, or what the big players in the Internet "Social Networking" space (Microsoft, Google, Yahoo and others) are doing (or rather attempting to do) to make their software tools safer for teen-use. The truth is that nothing works better than raising awareness levels among schools, teachers, parents, and above all, kids themselves, of the potential dangers that lurk in Internet chat rooms and social spaces, as well as in the seemingly innocuous act of music/video file sharing.
At a recent workshop I conducted for teachers of Mallya Aditi International school, Bangalore, on issues of Internet use by teachers and kids in their teaching & learning, the section on safe use of the Internet was an eye-opener, and prompted a session dedicated solely to this topic, with parents of middle-schoolers in the same school. This article is prompted by the earnest plea of the teachers and parents who attended these sessions that I get the word out and reach many more parents/teachers who live in blissful ignorance of these very real dangers.
Types of Risks
The 4 types of risks that I associate with Internet use among kids in urban India are –
- Harmful relationships with online strangers
- Peer-to-Peer File Sharing
- Access to Inappropriate Material, and,
- Loss of Privacy - which is a potential danger inherent in almost all online interactions with others, especially strangers.
Harmful Relationships With Online Strangers
This is very likely to happen if your kids are visiting unmoderated chat rooms, chatting on MSN Messenger, Yahoo Instant Messaging, Skype or GMail chat. Pedophiles have been known to frequent chat rooms that are popular with children and teens. This may also happen through the vast number of "social networking" and blogging sites that have burgeoned on the Internet. Social networking sites such as MySpace, Facebook, Google's Orkut, MSN Spaces, Xanga and Hi5 are becoming increasingly popular with teens even in India, for chatting, exchanging photos and extending their network of "friends". While several of these mandate a minimum age requirement of 14 or 15, there is obviously no system of verification.
Recent stories from the US such as the assault on a teenager that was linked to her presence on Myspace and that of teen Justin Berry, while extreme and not everyday occurrences, stand as testimonials to the horrific turn that some innocent Internet explorations can take, especially when kids use webcams along with Chat.
Child Safety Tips for Chatting and Blogging and "Social Networking" on the Internet-
• Do not visit unmoderated chat rooms.
• Only chat with people you know and have met in person, preferably kids your own age.
• Keep your profile as anonymous as possible. Do not provide your full name, address, phone number, or school information in your user profile.
• Because many spammers use names they can easily collect from a chat room, consider having a "chat" screen name. This name would be one that is different than your e-mail address. This could help prevent unwanted Spam mail from coming to you.
• Never agree to give out personal information in a chat conversation with anyone.
• Never to agree to get together with anyone you meet in a chat room without first checking with your parents.
• Always remember that people are not always who they seem to be on the Internet.
• Be wary of the use of webcams.
• Never post a photograph on the Internet without getting your parents' permission. In general, avoid posting photos. Remember that things have a way of staying online forever; what may be done with your photos (even ones you send to "friends") may be beyond your control.
• Don't lie about your age on social networking sites. If you are too young to sign up, have your parents find an alternative that is age-appropriate for you.
Peer-to-Peer File Sharing
Does your child download mp3 music files off of the Internet? Chances are the he/she is doing this in violation of the law. Hundreds of children in urban India are using Peer-to-Peer or P2P file sharing applications such as Kazaa, Limewire and Morpheus to illegally download copyrighted music files from the Internet. These programs work by providing access to a portion of your computer to everyone else on the network and vice versa. The risks and downsides to doing this are many-
· Computers on P2P networks are vulnerable to viruses, spyware and other malignant code. A harmless-looking music file may be bundled with a virus or spyware that then gets access to your computer
· More that 35% of the total P2P traffic is pornographic in nature. Your child may inadvertently download age-inappropriate, sexually explicit material.
· There is a danger of strangers getting access to sensitive information on your computer, related to your finances or employment.
· Some day the law may catch up with violators of Copyright Law. Music sharing through these means is illegal.
So what is the solution to this? Join a paid music club and download music legally.
Access to Inappropriate Material on the Internet
...is usually just a click away! This material could be of a sexually explicit nature, be violent and hateful, or may advocate and glorify the use of drugs, weapons, alcohol or tobacco.
Ever misspelled a URL (a website address) and had a pornographic site load up? Not long ago, misspelling google.com with an extra 'l' brought up an asian porn site. Several parents and teachers have had embarrassing experiences with children searching on school-related material using seemingly innocuous keywords on Google. Among the tricks pornographers have been known to use is the linking of kid-friendly keywords such as "pokemon" and "Action Man" to porn sites.
The solution?
- Encourage kids to use kid-safe search engines such as Onekey and ensure that you are using "Strict" Search Preferences on Google.
- Educate your kids about the presence of inappropriate material.
- Bookmark child-friendly web sites. This allows your children to easily get to safe sites that they have used before.
- Teach children to crash and tell. If they encounter a bad experience, they should feel comfortable in immediately turning off the computer and talking with you about the experience
- Teach children to never open email from someone they don't know.
- Never respond to an 'Unsubscribe' on a pornographic email.
So what else can you do as a parent or teacher?
- Place your computer in an open room with the monitor in plain view. This allows you to keep tabs on your child's online activities.
- Limit the amount of time your kids spend on the Internet.
- Have up-to-date anti-virus software protection for your computer
- Consider installing software that filters specific sites and/or monitors online activity.
- Consider not allowing your kids to go online when you are not home.
- Find time to stay up-to-date on issues of kid safety on the Internet. There are several relevant sites such as http://www.safekids.com/ and http://www.wiredsafety.org/.
- Finally, remember that there is absolutely no substitute for adult supervision of your kids' online activity.
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
Trackstar is a star (...and so am I)!
Thirty teachers - mostly from elementary school - attended. While they learnt a lot more about google and how it works, gained a good sense for what children below 11-12 years of age are - and are not - capable of in terms of information-gathering from the Internet, as well as issues of 'copy-pasting' and child safety, it was the new tool Trackstar, that I introduced to them, was truly the star of the event. The tool allows a teacher to create a "track" of websites (that s/he would typically have identified prior to, or during, a unit) along with annotations(questions/notes or things for students to keep in mind). The track number is all that the students then need to go to the web page (at home or in school) that contains all the websites (along with annotations) - that come up as frames within the Trackstar site. Safe and productive, especially for elementary school students.
The section on kid safety on the Internet was an eye-opener for teachers. One of them asked me to have a session on this subject in June with the parents of her incoming 6th grade class. The teachers also agreed to make 'OneKey' - the kidsafe version of google that I made them try out - the homepage for all computers in the school labs. I have also decided to make a "Search" link on the IE toolbars in school that will link to 'onekey'.
An 'inspired' science teacher wrote me the same evening about having created a "track" for her 7th grade students, on the topic of environmental science. Felt good to get that email - felt like I had accomplished something that day...
Sunday, April 16, 2006
Google Page Creator (GPC) - Arrgghhh!
So I was supposed to conduct this workshop last Thursday (April 13th) for teachers on "Searching on the Internet". Teachers (like everyone else) are increasingly searching (or rather google-ing) the Internet for information on topics related to the curriculum (as they should) and expecting kids as young as 7 and 8 years old to do the same - notwithstanding the fact that good searching requires some higher order thinking skills and a level of general awareness that makes it difficult for young kids to pull it off without adult help. The focus of this workshop was to be on --
- how to conduct better searches (handy tips on coming up with good keywords based on how Google works),
- how to scaffold the process of information gathering for elementary school children (using Trackstar, or del.icio.us or plain ol' bookmark folders in the classroom computers),
- critical evaluation of websites (making it a conscious process for the naive user - as well as kids - until practice and more awareness makes it the intuitive process it is for many of us),
- plagiarism (many kids do not even realize that they may be committing a wrong-doing by extensively cutting-and-pasting to prepare a report!), and
- child safety on the Internet (if you're going to let them loose in this deep, dark forest, know that there are bad wolves lurking behind many a tree - parents and teachers in India are abominably clueless!)
So, what does GPC have to do with all of this? Well, crazed fans of Rajkumar ('demigod' filmstar) in Bangalore made sure that the workshop be postponed and roughly 36 hours on Wednesday & Thursday be spent completely locked up indoors (esp. if you live a couple of streets away from Rajkumar's residence like I do). Putting up a website with the newly approved 'googlepages' account seemed like a great way to spend time - and one that would finally be a 'home' for the nearly 100 pictures from my Robotics club sessions, certainly a very worthwhile cause as well. Late last night (Saturday, April 15th), I finished publishing this plain-jane website comprising only 8 pages.
So, what transpired in between Thursday and Saturday? An unspeakably frustrating (pulling teeth…?) experience with Google Page Creator. Without ranting in too much detail I will just say that this terribly buggy piece of software (yeah! yeah! I know it's a beta version) that allows you so little flexibility in designing your website, is a blot in Google's product suite. If I weren't so pig-headed about sorting and putting up these pictures that I'd been promising my Robotics students for years, I'd have actually felt good about abandoning the project! 100 MB of ad-free space on the google server for a website plus 100 file uploads (I even uploaded some other images for access on some other sites) is tempting, but waiting for a better version of this software would be not be un-smart at all.
While painfully perservering through the entire website creation process, I often wondered about the intended user profile from Google's viewpoint. I could think of no one other than young school kids - my 7-year old son was ecstatic when he was able to put up his very own website in about 1/2 an hour!
Well, the site is up (phew!) – and I think I deserve another 36 hours (not necessarily cooped up indoors) to recover…..!
Friday, April 14, 2006
(Disclaimer: Though this does not relate very directly to issues of Technology & Education, if you try hard, you could draw some tangential links [smile]).
While on the subject of creativity, thought I'd devote a few bits n bytes to its close friend 'Innovation' .
The cover story of the latest issue of Business Week is about the World's Most Innovative Companies. (The rest of the issue also dedicates much real estate to the subject of Innovation.) The usual suspects all made the cut - Google, Apple, IBM, Starbucks...
Funnily though, while the main story states that (unlike in the 1990s) "Innovation (today) does not have to have anything to do with technology", most of the products/ideas that featured in the slide-show of innovations (about 16 out of 25) had much to do with technology!
Open Innovation is a big theme that is being talked about and touted as the way to go. "These days the world is your R&D lab. Customers are co-opting technology and morphing products into their own inventions. Many companies are scouting for outside ideas they can develop in-house, embracing the open-source movement, and joining up with suppliers or even competitors on big projects that will make them more efficient and more powerful."
Interestingly, according to the article, India (at par with China) is being viewed as a major "source" of innovation and companies are looking to set up product development centers here. So, how should schools produce and prepare this generation of Indian innovators that the world is pinning its hopes on? "Teaching for creativity" (as opposed to "creative teaching") might well have some answers - instilling in our students that skill of possibility thinking ...
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
Oh! The Joy of a Good Read
While I reserve further comment on the book until I have gone through it in its entirety, I will say this – I found the foreword by Tim Smit (of the Eden Project in the UK) to be such a beautifully crafted piece of writing. His delectably cynical and unabashedly candid take on creativity in general (and not specifically in the context of education) was an unmitigated pleasure to read. Here's a sampling…
"Creativity is a word that comes with baggage. In some circles it hints at genius, in others to dodgy accounting practices. Being creative is either praise or an inference of a character flaw. However it is used, the implication is that some kind of cleverness is involved…Most of us are suspicious of it being the Devil's work unless it is done in the name of a greater good, in which case divine intervention bestows cod sanctity to the practitioner. Latterly, as it has become part of the educator's armoury, it has taken on a new meaning. It is something we all have, if only we could draw it out of ourselves. … We're all creative now, and this robs it of its exclusive sting."
"My youngest son once said in jest that he wished I'd been an abusive father so that he could be a credibly creative musician. All of us know that, by and large, this is a stereotype that doesn't bear very close inspection, but that there is a grain of truth in it. This is evidenced in part in our culture by awarding artists more latitude in behaviour than we would allow others. There is a wonderful irony that we will celebrate artists to whom we wouldn't give houseroom on a personal level."
Thursday, April 06, 2006
More of the same...
The Hindu carried an article earlier this week on Cool classroom tools that discussed the phenomenon of podcasting, its use in education and the Duke Digital Initiative as a case in point. Would I come across as too much of a cynic if I said that there is little point in even running such an article in India? "...A school or college in India (reaching out) to its students in a new meaningful and cool way and (creating) a whole new educational iPod lifestyle." Give me a break! The very idea of students and teachers creating audio and video content for streaming onto portable devices just seems light years away in any educational setting in India - heck! even the use of regular audio and video remain untapped technologies in classrooms here! (May I add though that I would, of course, be thrilled to bits if some school in India actually took podcasting for a whirl...)
For more on emerging technologies in education, sans the attendant pessimism and cynicism that have marked my recent ramblings, visit the course website for T561 (Emerging Educational Technologies) being offered at HGSE this Spring by good ole' Prof. Chris Dede (who I was fortunate to have as my Advisor for my Masters) - a true "tech in ed" visionary esp. with respect to technologies that "bridge distance and time." Topics include podcasting, MUVEs, Social Networking, Collaborative Synchronous and Asynchronous Learning Environments and a host of other fun stuff.
And with that I lay this theme to rest (at least for now) and move on to other (less depressing?) topics.
I think I will turn my attention to sharing some insights gleaned from my recent experiences in developing a Technology Plan for a school - a very worthwhile activity that I am quite sure few schools in India engage in...[wry smile]... or perhaps my thoughts on GIS that I am working (with the Geography and Environmental Science teachers and a local GIS SIG) to introduce in the MAIS middle/high school curriculum.
(Think I should change the tagline of this blog to "Musings of a US-educated Indian Cynic"?)
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
Of Folksonomies, Blogospheres, Tag Clouds...and Education
Reading the article left me a bit depressed – this emerging new web paradigm is progressing too fast (even by Web standards, according to the article) for us to keep pace. The education community in India has barely tapped the enormous potential of the old web (Web 1.0, if you will). There are enough tools for collaboration even in our familiar Worldwide Web of old. How many teachers here are using even easy-to-setup-and-use e-groups or wikis or even email for telementoring or collaborative projects? How many have even heard of Webquests? Why are urban schools with email-savvy teaching staff that has access to the internet not using the affordances of the internet for communication (a la corporate houses)? In this world, RSS probably means little more than Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh!
It is not my intention to suggest that it is mandatory that every available technology be used by every educator. But what stops a teacher from exploring these new tools that don't cost anyone anything other than some time and effort? While some of these do require a cursory understanding of xml and html, simple blogging and social bookmarking tools such as del.icio.us don't. To me all this again points to the lack of digital fluency among the majority of our teaching population as well as a dearth of educational technologists who can help teachers stay abreast of tech advances and even aid teachers in such explorations (ref. my post on Enabling Conditions for Successful Technology Use).
If the aim of every good teacher and school today is to prepare children for the 21st century, are they not obligated to provide these children with exposure to the new paradigms of interactions – and the openness and social quality that are the hallmark of collaborative work in this century?
Friday, March 17, 2006
Other sites worthy of note - edublogs.org - for setting up free blogs on education.
Schoolblogs, also a free service for educational blogs and set up on the Manila platform, has great features (a discussion board for asynchronous threaded discussions, and the ability to upload files & links), but it seems to be plagued by technical issues - it is slow and downtimes are frequent. (I even set up the PPSE group blog and "bulletin board" there at first, but we had to abandon it due to these recurring technical problems).
Blogging in the Classroom (...not literally!) / Blogging Teachers
[In keeping my with firm beliefs in first making teachers aware and fluent in the technology we would like them to use], I do think that we cannot expect teachers to design curriculum around blogs unless they've experienced blogging first-hand. So teacher awareness about the world of blogs one of the goals I set out to achieve this past year.
Educational Blogging (an article that appeared in the Sept/Oct 2004 issue of Educause) was one of the earlier writings on this subject. It was this article that I distributed to a group of teachers that I work with (at MAIS, Bangalore) as an introduction to the world of blogging in education. As part of the team that was facilitating a teacher professional development program (called Professional Practice and Studies in Education, or PPSE) for these teachers, and designing their coursework, I worked the use of blogs into their PD curriculum – having them reflect on their teaching practice or any other specified topic, on their personal blogs that I helped them set up. (I think a teacher's blog could serve well as his/her e-portfolio too). I also set up a group blog that would operate as a common platform for discourse on education, or even just for announcements and general communication among the group.
Some of these efforts were also aimed at building a community of practice (CoP). Teaching is known to be (to a large extext) a solitary activity and we wanted to set up modes of communication that would alleviate some of the isolation teachers experience in their profession.
As was expected, some of the 21 teachers who are part of the PPSE program took to blogging more easily than others. All in all, it's been a rewarding experience. The fact that some teachers have started blogs for their subjects with their students is icing on the proverbial cake. Mission Accomplished!!!
(Unfortunately in a country such as ours, hesitancy in written communication in English can be a huge stumbling block in such an endeavor even for some teachers in urban English-medium schools such as 2nd and 3rd language teachers. Will save that for a later discussion…)
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
iDiscoveri Ed Offerings
iDiscoveri is also launching 2 Post-Graduate Diploma programs (*note* in India 'undergraduate' is refered to as 'graduate' and 'graduate' as 'post-graduate') - one in Innovative Teaching and one in Educational Leadership.
The organization has grown to be a force to reckon with and is certainly living its vision of reviving education in India. (Incidentally, the CEO and one program head were in my Ed.M. class at Harvard Graduate School of Education in 2001-2002). The PG courses on education are obviously in answer to the crying need for such programs in India.
Unfortunately, none of these new programs have any course offerings on the use of technology in education. It's time for someone to wake up to that reality and address that need as well - I'll be happy to offer my services to the cause...
Monday, March 13, 2006
Hands-on Learning
This one's a personal favorite - quite literally "hands-on" learning! The Robotics Club sessions are fun! Learning is incidental...
Masters in Education at TISS
Sunday, March 12, 2006
Education - A legitimate field of study?
Dr. Kalam has obviously given much thought to several issues that plague the system of education in the country and he has suggested several workable solutions that policymakers would do well to pay heed to. But when the President waxes eloquent about the what could and should be done to lay the "foundation for best students and best degrees...in pre-primary, primary and secondary education" does he or anyone else stop to think how the nation is building its workforce of teachers, principals, administrators, policymakers and leaders in the field of education? Or are these all areas of expertise that do not merit any formal education and training? When he states that "the teacher has to be equipped with all the knowledge required for effective teaching", should he not also suggest bettering the lot of formal programs in teacher education?
With customary vision, the President espouses the benefits of leveraging technology in education. He commends the use of "computer aids" in Karnataka where children "have a creative learning with the tools of creative animation through the use of computers." He dedicates a whole paragraph to Technology Enhanced Education. His thrust is on using technology for distance learning and digital libraries. He anticipates falling prices of computers and communications bandwidth driving increased use of technology in education, and envisions "virtual classrooms of the future." Amen to that.
Much can be done in real classrooms and schools too, even today, with existing infrastructure - if only people decided to acquire some expertise in teaching - the kind of expertise that will come from engaging with the subject in an undergraduate program of worth, wrestling deeply with such issues at the graduate level, heck, even just becoming aware of them in a diploma course. The recently instituted Masters in Education at TISS (in collaboration with NIAS, Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education, Eklavya, Vidya Bhawan Society, and Digantar) certainly gives reason to cheer...
Exploratory Learning Environments
Schools in the area leverage the presence of this fantastic informal learning environment and avail of the various events and activities that the Museum aims at schools. The Tech runs summer camps and also the hugely popular annual "Tech Challenge" for school kids.
This museum obviously benefits from being in the heart of Silicon Valley for ideas and artifacts. Why can we not have a similar space in India, in Bangalore - purportedly the "Silicon Valley" of India? There is no dearth of tech activity around here; sadly, there's just a dearth of good intent that will translate into action...
Hands-on and Interactive - A 'desi' explains the history of the silicon chip (left picture)
Wednesday, February 22, 2006
Enabling Conditions For Effective & Sustainable Technology Integration in Schools
Inspite of spending crores of rupees on building a technology infrastructure over the last decade, schools in India (private and government schools alike) have made woefully slow progress in leveraging these assets for better teaching and learning. Conscious observations of classrooms leave educators trained in technology integration wondering whether technology usage in its current form will have any impact on the realization of the universal objective of 21st century schooling - to create lifelong learners who are able to survive in today's knowledge and creative economy. If the current practices continue, fast forward 5-10 years from now and what will we have? Either a bunch of disillusioned schools that will be unable to justify the enormous price-tag that accompanies 'unproductive' technology solutions, or a bunch of ill-advised schools that will continue to bumble through technology investments with no cognizance of how under-utilized their technology investments are.
With corporates such as Intel, HP and Microsoft (whose long-term fortunes directly correlate to PC penetration in schools) making commitments to the education sector, technology largesse and spending are poised to grow. Besides, the tech-savvy new generation of kids exposed to the 'read & write' web (web 2.0) and new media digital tools deserves an education that leverages this exposure and comfort with technology that they enjoy. Unless all the stakeholders involved become cognizant of certain ingredients that are needed within schools for sustainable & effective technology integration in the classrooms, all this effort and expense will not result in commensurate betterment of technology-enabled teaching & learning.
Much like Larry Cuban provided a reality-check of the state of technology in U.S. schools in the late-90's (in his book Computers in the Classroom: Oversold and Underused), this article, based on a real, hard look at the current state of technology use in the Indian K-12 education, aims to detail some critical ingredients that are so critical to achieving durable success in this realm.
The suggestions presented here take the form of a set of enabling conditions that must be in place for schools to succeed in their goal of effective technology integration that is sustainable as well. A short-fall in any of these ingredients can and will result in inefficient, ill-conceived or even inappropriate use of technology.
What is heartening is that implementing these 'enabling' factors will cost a fraction of the typical capital technology investment. To implement these will not require a huge financial outlay. What it will require is for all parties concerned to be aware of these factors, budget any attendant expenses attached to implementing these as 'operating expenses' for incorporating technology in their schools, and attempt to ensure that these are all in place, most, if not all, of the time.
'Enabling conditions' for successful technology integration in schools -
- 'Digital Fluency' among Teachers or in other words, their comfort level with technology. How often have we seen teachers throw up their hands at a paper jam in a printer, or wonder about a 'hung' system (which is quite often the case when the system in question is Microsoft Windows), or call for help to connect a data projector to a computer?
All these point to a basic lack of comfort with computers. What is needed among teachers is not simply digital literacy, but digital fluency. Just as fluency with a language takes one beyond mere literacy and helps one understand the nuances of a language, digital fluency helps one handle the unexpected when it comes to technology – which, as it turns out, is quite often the case. This does not mean that teachers need to be trained computer professionals. It does mean that teachers should move beyond viewing the computer or any other piece of hardware as a mysterious object that only the very exalted can handle. They should be able to playfully explore a piece of technology (be it a digital camera or a new piece of software) without fear or intimidation. Unless they achieve this comfort level with technology, they will constantly be faced with situations where they have to abort a technology-based lesson due to a problem that they could have handled with some fearless 'poking around'.
In today's networked world, digital fluency also means teachers harness the power of technology (the internet in particular) for communications (email, blogs, e-groups) and productivity tasks, in addition to using technology in the classroom.
- Good 'educational technology' infrastructure. The most common mistake schools make is to equate 'technology' with 'computers'. The term 'Educational Technology' may include a wide gamut of hardware such as digital cameras, audio and video recorders, scanners, printers, Internet, TV, radio, graphing calculators, GPS (for GIS in schools), handheld probes and sensors, robotics and other science kits; and software that goes beyond the usual Microsoft Office Suite to include image processing software, tools for 'brain-based' learning for children such as concept-map makers, GIS for mapping and such. All these work (with or without computers) to enhance teaching and learning and allow teachers to truly 'leverage' technology to allow teachers to do things they cannot do otherwise.
- Teacher-training that is aimed specifically at how to leverage technology for better teaching and learning. Teachers need to understand the very basic distinctions between 'teaching about technology' and 'teaching with technology' in order to design curriculum that uses technology meaningfully. Since this is still a yawning gap in the current pre-service teacher education programs, the need must be met through in-service training.
- Good systems administrators & technical support staff to be at hand to perform the crucial help-desk functions for teachers, while also maintaining school systems and setting up the necessary security infrastructure for networked computers.
- Time table scheduling that is conducive to the use of technology. Unless teachers are able to use a 'block' of 2 periods, the usual 40 minutes allotted to a subject is usually grossly insufficient for a technology-based lesson, for the simple reason that it takes about that long to get a class of 50 going on a particular computer-based task!
- Appropriate physical spaces for students in which to use technology. Computers locked away in a sanitized 'computer lab' and accessible to students for brief periods will not make for the fun, exploratory learning environments, which computers are supposed to engender.
Engagement with 'technology integration specialists' or 'instructional technologists' i.e. trained professionals who can help teachers with the tasks of meaningful integration of technology into the curriculum.
Convenient access for teachers to technology that exists in the school. In addition to students, teachers must also have spaces and equipment to work with for lesson planning, administrative tasks, internet research, printing, scanning, and such. They should be able to conveniently download, print and scan, and generally use the wealth of materials already available in print and electronic media, or create their own.
Such spaces are also essential for the open exploration of technology that is needed to make the teaching staff 'digitally fluent'.
Vision of the school management that strives for good teaching & learning fueled by the use of technology. Such a vision will most likely translate into a digitally literate, if not 'digitally fluent', school management that is conversant with the lay of the land, and empathetic towards the nature of the technological needs of the school, its teachers and students that will result in good classroom practices.
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
The Purpose of Schooling
"Whatever an education is, it should make you a unique individual, not a conformist; it should furnish you with an original spirit with which to tackle big challenges; it should allow you to find values which will be your road map through life; it should make you spiritually rich, a person who loves whatever you are doing, wherever you are, whomever you are with; it should teach you what is important, how to live and how to die." - John Taylor Gatto (recipient of a N.Y. State Teacher Award) in Dumbing Us Down (1992)
The purpose of a school is to ensure holistic development of all its students by – enlightening them in an environment that fosters development of character and sense of self; empowering them with the ability to think (creatively and critically) so that they can realize their potential to the fullest and go on to become informed citizens of the world.
Unpacking this purpose
Holistic pertains to the whole child. This means focusing not only on the cognitive but also the physical, social and emotional aspects of the student's growth. I use the term enlightenment to imply not just passive removal of ignorance but furthering a child's existing knowledge in a manner that is meaningful - generative knowledge that functions richly in his/her life to help him/her understand and deal with the world (Perkins, 1992). It equates to Patricia Graham's wit in her purpose of schools (Graham, 1984). Like her, I believe that of all the elements of the purpose, this is the most essential. For character, I borrow Graham's Webster definition to mean "strength of mind, individuality, independence and moral quality." Although "sense of self" in my stated purpose could be covered in the "individuality" and "independence" components of this definition of character, I state it separately for emphasizing the uniqueness of each child, which implies that this purpose must work uniquely for each child. There can be no "one size fits all" approach. Schools must nurture and celebrate their children's individual differences. When all this is accomplished within a culture of thoughtful learning, we have students who think critically – daring to test out alternative propositions; and creatively – spinning out fantasies of adventurous projects (Lightfoot, 1983). I believe that by being enlightened and empowered in this way, students are equipped to be informed citizens and work at their intellectual and creative potential in their future lives. Finally, all these elements of my purpose of schooling are intertwined in the composition of each child and should therefore be stimulated and enhanced by efforts that are not entirely separate; they must all tie into the curriculum and pedagogy (Graham, 1984).
What informs my vision?
My beliefs for this purpose have been shaped by my own experiences as a student, as a parent, as a teacher and by my studies in the field of education. The "sense of self", and "creative and critical thinking" aspects of my purpose are informed by my own K-12 education in a "Convent School" in India, which failed me in these key areas of personal development, (albeit helping me achieve academic excellence and instilling a strong sense of the moral values as defined by the Christian school and the Indian middle-class society). Like most schools in the country at the time, the curriculum and pedagogy of my school provided no room for creativity or self-expression. One could argue that it would be difficult to achieve this in a classroom of 40-50 students (which was the average class size in my K-12 years), but the truth is that a teacher or student rarely ever tried. The environment perpetuated a culture of passive acceptance and stifled one's individuality and ability to even question the status quo. We did as we were told. Period. Having moved to the West since, I have struggled to develop an ability to think "out-of-box", and question assumptions to make informed choices – qualities that I have felt a need for, that I have worked hard to acquire, that should have been nurtured through the formative years of schooling.
As a parent of 2 children aged 4 and 6, these past 3 years every time I have had to make school choices I have wrestled with the question "What type of school and education would be best for my children?" After our move to the Boston-area last year from Chicago where my older son had attended and absolutely thrived in a Montessori, (learnt to be fluent reader, while also learning a fair amount of writing and Math by the time he was 5), I sent him to kindergarten in Lexington Public School – a "high-ranking" school district in the state of Massachusetts. The school's complete inability to recognize his individual abilities and further his academic skills and knowledge came as a shock and disappointment. In all fairness to the school, it did provide him with opportunities for social development. However, it failed in the most basic element of my purpose – of "enlightening" my son and helping him operate at his full intellectual potential. So, I was back to the drawing board - researching, soul-searching. While being a popular choice for pre-school, the Montessori approach is lesser known for grades beyond kindergarten. I realized that it took some courage to follow a path different from traditional schooling. But I finally reached the conclusion that Cambridge Montessori School was one that embodied my vision of what an elementary school ought to look like. In addition, the school, its teachers and classrooms embrace diversity in a manner I had not seen elsewhere. Being of Indian extraction, I felt it was important to have an atmosphere that would celebrate my son's ethnicity and individuality.
Everything that I have seen, heard, read and experienced since have strengthened my belief that it was the right decision. I have heard the expression that students themselves are often the most compelling argument for (or against) the value of the type of education that their schools provide. My reaffirmation comes from watching my boy's progress (intellectual and social) and the means by which this progress is being achieved. This paper will describe (with justifications presented concurrently) this small, Montessori, elementary school in terms of the 3 intertwined strands of curriculum, pedagogy and assessment, as one that exemplifies my purpose of schooling. (I must add that by doing so, it is not my intention to imply that some traditional schools or other approaches to education cannot fulfill my purpose of schooling.)
The Montessori Approach
"The child should love everything that he learns, for his mental and emotional growths are linked." This belief of Dr. Maria Montessori translates into "an individualized, educational approach, which aids the child to learn by doing at his or her own pace within a sequentially prepared, socially enriching environment that encourages creative learning" (Neubert, 1980). Some unique characteristics of this approach are: multi-age classrooms (6-9 years (grades 1 – 3), 9-12 years (grades 4 – 6), based on Dr. Montessori's research of the developmental stages of a child); freedom of a child to choose his work; long work cycles (about 1-1/2 hours); the role of the teachers as a 'guide on the side'; hands-on work with concrete manipulatives that are arranged in the classroom; mostly individual and small group work with some whole class activities; an integrated curriculum and portfolio assessment. In this environment children learn by doing, thus enlightenment is accomplished in an environment that promotes critical thinking. There are no textbooks (in the traditional sense), no rote memorization and regurgitation of facts (with a few exceptions, such as multiplication tables and sight words). The individualized approach of learning at one's own pace treats each child as unique with his/her own unique needs and abilities. The freedom of movement and the self-directed activities cultivate a child's sense of curiosity and self-confidence, and foster self-expression and creativity. By letting children think for themselves, they learn what they love and love what they learn. And also, quite literally, learn how to learn. The multi-age grouping means a child is not pegged to a grade (and curriculum) based on age. Group work here provides a rich environment for "lifelessons" in social skills. The respect afforded to a child in this environment, and the everyday lessons of courtesy and ethics, coupled with practical community service that is part of the curriculum instill values and build character. This, to me, is holistic development.
Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment
I began by devoting a separate section to each of these 3 aspects, but realized that in describing one I was often referring to aspects of the other two. I will therefore deal with all three together in the spirit of their interconnectedness.
"A large yellow scalene triangle" was a sentence constructed by my son as part of his language work that entailed making sentences using as many adjectives as he wanted to describe items he saw in box. The box contained different polygons of varied colors, sizes and materials. The Geometry section of the Math Area in the classroom currently contains various materials on triangles and other polygons and their distinguishing angular characteristics. In the artwork displayed on the walls outside the classroom, students have put together different polygons to form creative patterns. I was recently asked to do the traditional Indian art of "Rangoli" to share the celebration of Diwali (the most important of Indian festivals). The teachers were particularly excited because Rangoli involves the use of geometric patterns.
This is a simple example of the "integrated curriculum" approach that the school adopts. The subjects weave in and out of each other. This allows kids the latitude to explore a given topic or question from some vantage point that interests them. In Stirring the Chalkdust, (Wasley, 1994) the teachers observed that as they moved to this approach, they built a curriculum that "incorporated more choices for students". Little surprise that it fits so naturally into the Montessori classroom. I concur with Wasley's teachers' opinions that "students need to have the capacity to understand the interconnected nature of knowledge, to unravel various aspects, and to combine pieces into complex wholes." Such knowledge is more meaningful, allows for deeper understanding of the world and fits my definition of "enlightening" students.
Students explore the realms of Math, Science, Arts (art, music, foreign language), and Culture (literature, geography, history, anthropology and basic organization of human societies). Learning is a very hands-on experience through the use of materials presented in the classroom. The materials move from concrete to more abstract concepts, especially in Math, thus providing for a progression from visually represented concepts towards the ability to solve problems with pen and paper alone. Field trips are also an important part of the program, allowing for exploration beyond the classroom that extends classroom study.
The curriculum lays a huge emphasis on mastery of "basic" skills and core knowledge, and individually chosen research, in addition to broad curricular themes (that meet MA State frameworks). The basic skills resemble those in a traditional curriculum (such as math facts, spelling, study of vocabulary, grammar, creative and exposition writing, library research skills). Children here are taught how to get factual information and how to use it once they find it rather than spend time storing it in "short-term memories" (Wasley, 1994). Individual research encourages students to explore topics that they identify with and that capture their imagination, thus also allowing students to use entry points that suit their favored learning style or "intelligence" (Gardner's Multiple Intelligence theory (Gardner, 1983)). Although the geography theme for the year is the North American continent, my son has found the time, resources and freedom to draw maps of India and her neighbors and also complete a "research paper" on the flag of India. Such an environment then leaves little room for any type of "culture of power" (Delpit, 1988) to play out. A Montessori, ipso facto, would encourage individual exploration in any type of school setting. This school would give a child from one of Anyon's "working-class" schools the opportunity to explore the history of the American working class (Anyon, 1981). There are no prescribed textbooks (selected by someone far removed from the students' lives) forcing a certain view of the subject on students.
The teacher in a Montessori classroom (which has no front or back) is trained to play the role of a 'guide on the side', rather than the 'sage on the stage'. Given the integrated, hands-on nature of the curriculum described above, the teacher is not in the center or front, but moving around, observing and guiding, like a coach. The teacher is keenly tuned in to the unique personalities of her students and responds accordingly – a feat made possible by the intimate knowledge she/he has from being with each child for a 3-year period (seldom possible in a 1-year classroom relationship), and small class sizes. The teachers prepare the classroom with materials interesting to and appropriate for, their students. The classroom is a reflection of those within it.
When students voluntarily decide to learn something, they tend to engage in their work with a passion and attention that few students will ever invest in tasks that have been assigned. But this freedom comes with responsibility. Mastery of skills and knowledge considered "basic" is not negotiable. Montessori schools value a tradition of academic excellence that is transmitted to the students in the goals and expectations set by them and the teachers. The children work with a written work plan drawn for the day or week by the teacher (often with the child's input) which lists the basic tasks they need to complete, while allowing them to decide how long to spend on each, what order they wish to follow. Beyond these, children have the freedom to explore topics of their interest. This empowers them to work at their potential.
Assessment of a child's learning is done through close teacher observations and portfolios of student work maintained by the students and teachers. It resembles the authentic assessment being practiced by the Coalition of Essential Schools (CES) in that students are assessed on "performances of understanding" that require engaging in experiments, conducting research, integrating and presenting knowledge rather than taking tests that focus on recall and recognition of facts (Darling-Hammond et.al, 1995). Progress reports prepared by the teachers are narrative and evaluate the student's progress, current work, social development and mastery of basic skills. This is a culture that monitors student growth, focusing on change over time, and one that emphasizes shared responsibility for continual improvement (Wolf & White, 2000). Promotions are determined by an assessment of a child's all-around growth, done by teachers and parents together.
Social Development
Contrary to what one might imagine, children in this classroom who are allowed freedom of movement and choice, work amicably and productively together. The respect given to, and trust placed in, children to do what they feel right fosters a sense of responsibility. There is almost equal emphasis placed on individual and group work. There is also daily "circle time" when the teacher engages the class as a whole. These, along with the multi-age groupings provide ample opportunities for broad social development. The presence of peers of different ages and abilities builds a tolerance and appreciation of people's differences. Such interactions contribute to character building and form the basis for responsible citizenship.
Reality Check
Montessori schools today are primarily small, private schools and as such are accountable not to the state but to parents. There is strong parental involvement that begins with education and buy-in of this approach. These schools go through grade 6 or 8, and ensure that they meet curricular goals set by the state. Limited research suggests that students graduating from these schools adapt well in traditional schools and perform well in standardized tests. Several public charter and magnet schools (of choice) have adopted the Montessori approach in recent years, and are accountable to the state. I cannot but see several similarities in this approach and that of the Coalition of Essential Schools. The transition of a Montessori student to a CES school would be much smoother than to a traditional school. Given that Dr. Montessori pioneered her work with mentally handicapped children and also worked successfully in the underserved sections of Rome lends support to the assumption that this approach would work for children with special needs (and it has indeed) and also in any socio-economic setting.
In Closing
I would like to end this essay with a truism that deserves at least a mention when we talk of schooling and education. The onus of accomplishing the elements of my stated purpose (most everything besides the academics) lies not with the school alone, but to a large extent with the world outside the school. No school can succeed in its purpose if what it hopes to inspire in a child is not consistent with the way we as parents, neighbors, community and society behave with each other and towards our children. In Ted Sizer's words, "children… learn much more outside of school than within it. The kids watch us all the time, learning from what they see, admiring (or not) what we do and how we do it, whether we are family members or neighbors or representations of people and places displayed in the media. If what is "outside" of school rewards a child and gives access to that which is valued within school, a symbiosis results." (Sizer, 2000)
Anyon, J. (1981). Social class and school knowledge. Curriculum Inquiry.
Darling-Hammond, L., Ancess, J. & Falk, B. (1995). Authentic assessment in context: The
motivation for change. In Authentic assessment in action. New York: Teachers College Press.
Delpit, L. (1988). The silenced dialogue: Power and pedagogy in educating other people's children. Harvard Educational Review.
Gardner, Howard (1983), Frames of Mind: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences. New York: Basic Books.
Graham, P. (1984). Schools: Cacophony about practice, silence about purpose. Daedulus.
Lightfoot, S.L. (1983). The good high school: Portraits of character and culture. New York: Basic Books.
Neubert, A. (1980). Is there an American Montessori model? In Montessori in Contemporary American Culture.(edited by Loeffler, M.).Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann Educational Books, Inc.
Perkins, David (1992). Smart Schools – Better Thinking and Learning for Every Child. New York: Free Press.
Sizer, Ted (2000). A Sense of Place. Boston Review. URL http://bostonreview.mit.edu/BR24.6/sizer.html
Wasley, P. (1994). The interrelationship of curriculum, pedagogy and assessment. In Stirring the Chalkdust. New York: Teachers College Press .
Wolf, D. & White, A. (2000). What do we mean by results: Charting the course of student growth. Educational Leadership.


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No. Since the e-Visa is valid for 3 months from the issued date, you must enter Zambia on any date within this period. Failure to enter within this period renders your e-Visa invalid and thus you will you will have to make a new application.
However, if your travel plans do change, as long as your arrival date is still within the 90 days validity period, you will not have to obtain a new e-Visa.

subset: commoncrawl


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Monday, August 19, 2019ALL CALENDARS█ Show Schedule
Event View: USDAA Masters Challenge Agility CupDate:Sunday, August 26, 2018Title:USDAA Masters Challenge Agility CupDescription:2019 IFCS World Team Selection Event - Tournament Classes Only http://www.usdaa.com/entryforms/TX0000108107.pdfThis is the selection event for the 2019 IFCS World Team. Intent to Compete forms must be received per the World TeamSelection Event Rules which are incorporated by reference no later than Friday, August 10, 2018 to Andy Hartman. Competitors with dogs eligible for the IFCS 12" jump height MUST enter their dogs at 12" in the Championship Programat this event to retain eligibility. We are the equipment sponsor for this event and there will be two rings of equipment for sale/pick-up at this event. For more information please contact Max 200 - (800) 446-2920Times:ALL DAY EVENTJuly 2019 SMTWTFSW 123456W78910111213W14151617181920W21222324252627W28293031 August 2019 SMTWTFSW 123W45678910W11121314151617W18192021222324W25262728293031September 2019 SMTWTFSW1234567W891011121314W15161718192021W22232425262728W2930


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Property ID : 6125 VI2
For Sale 229,000.00€ - Villa
Lovely detached villa with private pool (liner) and huge sun terrace located only 3 km from the coast of Torrox-Costa.
Underneath the terrace is an under built of 140 m² which can be converted into a separate apartment or workshop.
The plot is easy to maintain and has nice sea views.
The access road is partly concreted/partly track but accessible by a normal car.


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Benefits of Using Cloud Computing Services in Your Business
There are new forms of internet services that can be used by the business institution known as the clouding computing that delivers the internet services even outside the business institution. Cloud computing has really promoted the growth of both small and large scale entrepreneurial business activity hence resulting to a rapid growth of the business. There are various advantages of using the cloud computing services in your business, and therefore, it is of great need to install the clouding computing services in your business in order to experience the following advantages that include.
The first significance of the cloud com putting is that it has the fresh software. Cloud computing is fresh software in that it has the newest versions and the updated applications that are necessary to run the business and also it is readily available to the customers. There Is the growth of the business entrepreneurs due to customer satisfaction after they have used the cloud computing, this makes them come for more of the products.
Do more with less it the other significance. There is minimization of the size of the data usage, this will result in minimizing the numbers of the servers and software expenses without having a negative impacts on the business information and technology ability
The other significance of cloud computing is that it is flexibility in costs as explained by Adesh Tyagi. There is a flexible cost in cloud computing in that you are expected to pay for the serves commission only. The cloud computing has the flexible cost that you don't keep on paying for both during t the high season and low season as it done by the traditional method that you pay constantly.
The other benefit is readily available. Some of the application of the cloud computing can even work when offline hence making it be readily available to the users. There is a wide range of connection throughout hence it can be accessed at ant station place you are.
The other significance of cloud computing service is the flexible capacity. Cloud computing has the flexible capacity in that it can switch up and down flexibly when the serves are congestion of breaking down it can close down hence help in losing the sales of the business.
The other benefit of cloud printing is improved mobility. There is no restriction on data access due to the location that you are hence can do the work without any limitation because cloud computing is has improved mobility to usage and access, workers can do their work anywhere as long as one has a Smartphone or a personal computer to access the network connection leading to efficiency in work.


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I must be slipping, because there's a DVD of Jack's Big Music show releasing in less than three weeks and I didn't even realize it. But thanks to MDD reader Andrea, now I'm fully caught up. Hopefully in my house Jack's Big Music Show: Let's Rock! will hopefully take the mantle of favorite DVD from Dora the Explorer: Super Babies (which, quite frankly, if I have to hear that "Super Babies" song one more time that DVD might have to disappear).
And for those of you also asking, I haven't heard any word on any other Jack's Big Music Show merchandise, but if I hear anything I'll pass it along.
In the meantime, you can pre-order the DVD (releasing October 23) from Amazon.com here.


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The Diversified Occupations 8 program provides students in the eighth grade with the opportunity to experience the Diversified Occupations program prior to entering high school.
VOCATIONAL ASSESSMENT: Students enter the program after completing a one-week vocational assessment. This assessment, provided by the Valpar Assessment System, includes academic and aptitude/ability testing.
PRE-VOCATIONAL TRAINING: The goal is to provide students with a core curriculum in the areas of food service, pre-construction, small engine repair, career explorations and retail occupations.
COMMUNITY JOB SITE TRAINING: Students participate in crew work and utilize training sites within the community to help develop effective life-long work habits and increase their knowledge of the work environment.
VOCATIONAL TRAINING: By the time students reach the 11th grade, they have the opportunity to move into a traditional vocational program or continue their Diversified Occupations Program.
INDIVIDUALIZED HIGH SCHOOL MATH COURSES: Students earn math credits by completing course work in Math Fundamentals, Algebra I, Geometry, and Consumer Math.
This course is held in room 150.


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About the situation after earthquakes, tsunami, aftershocks, and radiation, see other bloggers' previous articles and these special blog reports in the Matsumoto website.
I went to Hakuba Ski Resort with British, Korean, and Japanese friends two days after the 3.11 earthquake.
We planned it more than one month before. I considered whether we should cancel it, but I read all the courses and lifts in Hakuba 47 ski resorts would operate safely and a blog of one ryokan said "Many guests canceled. This year snow condition is good and I am very sad". I thought if all people stayed home and just watched the disaster on TV, it would make the economy and tourist industry worse, so we decided to go.
The resort was less busy than a normal weekend, but many people including foreigners were enjoying skiing and snowboarding.
Most of the ski resorts in Nagano operate without problems and risks and the snow condition is good this season, however many events such as ski festivals have been cancelled, and some will close earlier than in normal years.
I hope the foreign media like CNN don't exaggerate the situation about the destroyed reactor buildings, so people don`t panic and continue to visit Nagano if it is not risky. I want to report precise and scientifically correct information, which is very important.


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The first day at school was, again, long and eventful. In the morning before my first class, I wrote on The New Federalist about the Bucharest Summer Retreat and did some other follow-up work, as well as shopping for household essentials with Skylar. There definitely exist cheaper places for basic grocery shopping than the area around Boulevard Saint-Germain, and these include central Edinburgh. I hope my wallet will survive!
At school today, I had two classes in French: one on French politics and another on French-German relations, particularly concerning European integration. In Paris, classes are 120 minutes, which is an increase from Edinburgh's 50 minutes. In other regards, too, it seems like in Sciences Po more is expected of you: the reading lists are longer, and at least the EU-related course seems to be going somewhat deep academically. In a month I'll be doing a 10-minute oral presentation in French about the role of Helmut Kohl and François Mitterrand in the Single European Act and in the creation of a single European currency. I'm looking forward to learning more about the topic, but "wish me luck" is still my first thought!
Since the classes were in French, I felt nervous about the language. At the start of the first class, I in fact felt a slight adrenaline rush simply because I wasn't sure if I would be able to follow. It turns out that I understood most of what was said (though not everything), which is positive. What I also found comforting was that there were many other international and exchange students in the room for both classes, so there were other people in the same boat. Some had lived in France or in another French-speaking country, or otherwise spoke French very well, but there also were other 'broken French' people like me in the room. When I spoke, I may have seemed a tiny bit stupider than I really am, but I managed.
Today has involved lots of writing: beside the article in the morning, and the blog post about Friday, I also wrote an article about the Treaty Ciao video by JEF Maastricht, the September Call for Articles for The New Federalist, and now I'm writing this post. That has been more than 3,000 words in just published text, to which you add all the other things I've typed.
Writing is nice, and I like the feeling of typing on my laptop, but today it has caused pain since my laptop keyboard is in its death throes. Depending on the position the laptop is in, up to a half of the keys don't work. The x key never works, the z one works rarely, and sometimes t and y also fail. At worst, the apostrophe, enter and full stop are out as well. The mouse-controlled keyboard is help for emergency moments, but the keyboard issue has a real bearing on my life quality. In the afternoon I went to write on the school computers in the library, but that didn't make matters much simpler as the AZERTY keyboard wasn't for me, especially not when it was on a Mac. Again, though, I managed!
It will probably be a tough year school-wise, but it will also be interesting to get pushed a bit academically. I need to say that tomorrow when I'm going into an English-language class I will likely feel a bit relieved!


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|Message view
|« Date » · « Thread »
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|Kevan Miller <kevan.mil...@gmail.com>
|Re: Geronimo 2.0.1 first startup and GBean is now in the FAILED state
|Tue, 04 Sep 2007 14:35:46 GMT
On Sep 4, 2007, at 10:15 AM, Xh wrote: > Hi! > > I must say that I'm confused... > > Why G2.0.1 needs old Java 5? > > I have WAS-CE 1.1 that bases on G1.1 and it works fine with Java 6. > > tell me I'm dreaming... Lukasz, I'm able to start the G2.0.1 Tomcat assembly with Java 6 on MAC OS X. I suspect once you get your environment configured, you'll be able to start the server also. I do see a problem starting the Jetty assembly with Java 6. I'm raising a Jira for this problem. I think I failed to mention earlier that we have a Jira opened that will make geronimo.sh/startup.sh more lenient about the JAVA_HOME/ JRE_HOME settings. --kevan
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The Allies
Otacon/hal emmerich
Hal Emmerich is Solid Snakes partner and is with him all the way.He and snake met on Shadow moses after liquid and the genome
army took over.Otacon helps snake through anything.He and snake formed an anti-metal gear organization called philantrophy
to rid the world of metal gears.
Jack or raiden went through numerous VR missions as a adult.He infiltrated the Big Shell to rescue the president but the later
teamed up with snake to take on arsenal gear.He later finds out that he was a platton leader of a small boy unit.As he thinks
this is his first real mission he has more field experience than he thinks.
E.E./emma emmerich
E.E. or emma emmerich is hal emmerichs sister.hal left her when she was very little. She goes to the big shell to do AI on
Arsenal but later Vamp kills her.
Olga Gurlukavich
Olga gulukavich is a platoon leader.She becomes pregnat on the battle field.She ends up having her baby in a hospital run
by the patriots.they take her child.She joins snake and raiden on the big shell incident.later she ends up being killed by
Solidus Snake.
Rose is Raidens girlfreind who helps him via codec.She was a spy who was sent to keep an eye on him by the patriots.At the
end of MGS2 she tells raiden that she is pregnat.
Roy Campbell
Col Campbell supported snake VIA codec during the shadow moses incident.his daughter is meryl and thats one of the reasons
campbell is helping with shadow moses.
Meryl is campbells niece.She wanted to follow in her fathers footsteps so she became a soldier.She teams up with Snake to
take on REX but later Sniper Wolf kills her.
Mei Ling
Mei ling helped Snake via Codec during the Shadow Moses incident.
Naomi helped Snake via codec during the shadow moses incident.She is also responciple for the Foxdie program.
Gray Fox
Gray Fox Helped Snake through MGS. All he really wanted was one last battle with Snake.later liquid killed him.
Major helped Big Boss via radio in asia during the virtuous mission and operation snake eater.
Para-medic helped Big Boss via radio in Asia during the virtuous mission and operation snake eater.
Sigint helped Big Boss via radio in asia during operation Snake eater.
Eva helped Big Boss in Asia.She also spyed on Volgin. After She left Big Boss she She disapered.
Sokolov is the creator of the shagohod.he was killed by Volgin.
The MGS series is made and operated by Konami
this site is inspired by thesonsofbigboss.com


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DIY: Vanilla Brown Sugar Scrub
I love, love, love homemade gifts. I love making them (don't ask my brother about his crocheted scarf; that was a nightmare). I love receiving them. There's just something that means extra when someone takes the time to actually make something specifically for you.
Last night I walked out my friend's house with a crocheted scarf (I need to learn from her; her's looked store bought). And, I left her a jar of this vanilla brown sugar scrub. We just exchanged things that we enjoy making. Nothing fancy.
I think I'll stick to sugar scrubs and detox bath salts. Crocheting is way too big of a commitment for me. But, seriously. It is.
These scrubs are lovely. I kept running to the sink to "test" mine out ask I tweaked the recipe. The recipe isn't much. Low maintenance. Perfect.
The ingredients are easy. So easy. You don't even have to go to the store. Keep those sweatpants on; it's worth it.
Mix in 2 cups brown sugar, 1 cup white granulated sugar. Then, add in one cup of olive oil (coconut oil, sunflower oil, you name it). 1 tablespoon of vanilla extract. Then, I added a dash of cinnamon for a little more spice. Coconut extract would be good.
This is just a "whatever you're feeling" kind of recipe.
I pulled some adorable glass jars from my parent's basement and wrangled up some around my house to scoop the scrub into.
I decided my jars needed a little pizazz. Jars need that, right? Of course.
So, I made a couple labels to put on lids. Easy peasy. Print them off at home. A couple snips with the scissors, and you're there.
Quite possibly the easiest and most useful Christmas presents I've ever made.
Maybe one day I'll work up the guts to crochet again. I hear arm knitting is easier though...
And, here is the label I used! Pin it to Pinterest and use it if you are needing some last minute gift additions.


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Back in December, we wrote about how China was playing Palov's dog when on one hand it tried to clamp down on "excessive" speculation, while continuing to provide fodder for hungry speculators with the other. Fast forward 4 months and the results of the Politburo's efforts become evident, and rather grotesquely so.
Sparing on the narrative, we will present readers with a few charts that speak a thousand words and probably explains why anyone worth their salt should think twice before wagering in the Chinese market.
Manic Retail Speculation
As Xi Jing Ping along with his administration continues attempting to orchestrate a soft landing of China's economy, much to the hilarity of those that actually watch real economic and financial data emanating from the world's second largest economy, it seems the retail community has been much less patient about another economic growth renaissance and has taken their tokens directly to the financial markets in hopes of striking it big.
What they should have probably done was to read our note about how misguided the retail community actually is, and why most of them consistently loose their shirts as if the game was rigged against them.
If readers need a definition of what a mania is, the charts below should shed some light. Enjoy...
If past is prologue, and if history does rhyme this time, the following NASDAQ redux could be a harbinger for utter mayhem in China's markets. We will see in a few weeks time...
And as if China's markets weren't large enough to contain all that dry powder, retail fund flows have spilled over to neighboring Hong Kong. It doesn't seem to be stopping...
Bonus chart: Are the Chinese making up their economic figures?
It is not just us; almost every single Investment Bank and fund house seems to think so too. From huge discrepancies in trade figures, to bogus private sector numbers, China's nose has been growing longer ever since it was pressured to perform as the world's second largest and fast growing G7 economy is expected to.
But in the market's eyes, all this is immaterial. Because the only thing that matters is a guarantee by the PBoC to backstop every dip in the stock market, so that mum and pop can continue on their buying entourage.


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Gadgets & Gizmos
Raksha Bandhan, a popular festival of India, is celebrated with great pomp and zeal by the siblings. The festival gives the opportunity to every sibling to be together. On this pious day, sister ties a beautiful Rakhi thread on her brother's wrist and prays to God for his well being. Gifts play a significant role on this festival. Everyone eagerly waits to receive gifts from their dear ones. Right from modern to traditional gifts, everything is available in the market. On this Rakhi, twinkle your sibling's eyes by gifting exclusive gadgets and gizmos.
Here is some popular gadgets and gizmos that you can opt for your siblings on Rakhi .
Mobiles - Mobile has become one of the most common electronic accessories that is used for daily purpose. If your brother or sister is planning to buy a mobile then you can opt for a mobile phone as Rakhi gift. You will avail mobiles of various brands such as Nokia, Sony Ericsson, Samsung, Micromax and so on. Knowing your dear one's preference, will be of great help before you select mobile for him/her. Buy Mobiles »
Digital Cameras - Digital camera makes a great gift for a passionate photographer. If your brother or sister is interested in photography then you can opt for exclusive digital camera from Nikon, Canon and Sony. They will definitely feel glad to receive such wonderful gift on Rakhi. Digital Cameras »
Music Players - Music player is an ideal gift for those who love to listen music. Nowadays, music players are sleek and tiny and come with various user friendly features. You can even opt for I-Pod as Rakhi gift. Your dear can comfortably carry it anywhere he/she wants. Music Players »
Notepad & Tablets - Notepad and tablets are the latest range of personal computers. They are lightweighted, small in size and can be easily carried. All these exclusive features have made them of great demand amongst the youngsters. Therefore, on Rakhi you can charm your siblings by sending exclusive notepad or tablet. Buy Notepad & Tablets »


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Facilities & Administration (F&A) Costs
Some grantors allow the inclusion of indirect, or Facilities & Administration (F&A) or Indirect costs. F&A costs are those costs incurred by the university for common objectives and therefore cannot be readily identified with a particular sponsored award. Indirect costs include electricity, water, sewer, library, and other general research or project support costs. In some cases, funders reimburse universities for F&A costs incurred on research and special projects.
MU's current approved F&A rate is 40% of all direct costs for on-campus programs. The rate of reimbursement is based on actual F&A costs incurred by MU and the School/Department levels. F&A reimbursements will be allocated back to University departments as follows to support continued research, faculty development, and special projects.
- 20% to Principal Investigator
- 10% to Department Chair
- 10% to Dean/School
- 10% to Provost
- 50% to Central MU Administration (grant administration, staffing, facilities & maintenance)
It is the responsibility of the Schools/Departments to ensure that appropriate F&A costs are included in all proposals for externally funded contracts, grants, and cooperative agreements, where allowed. Failure to do so will affect allocations that would otherwise be made to that School/Department.


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I don't know about you but I find the daily job of making up packed lunches quite a chore, trying to make them different and interesting as well as healthy for my little darlings.
Especially when they change their minds like the wind about what they like! Fortunately fruit is always a winner with my two and so they were particularly pleased and willing to take on the Britmums
As the name suggests these are deliciously juicy and indeed easy to peel, making them ideal for taking out and about or packing in a school lunch box.
As well as contributing to your child's five a day easy peelers can also contribute to keeping your child hydrated with a high water content of approximately 87%.
They are colourful and bright which make any lunch box inviting and healthy.
My two couldn't wait to get stuck in and gave them a big thumbs up.
Empty lunchboxes equal a happy Mummy, knowing they've gone off to school with healthy, vitamin packed fruit in their lunchboxes is one less thing for me to worry about~and let's face it with children that can only be a good thing!❤x
*This post is an entry for Britmums #ChileanEasyPeelersChallenge sponsored by Chilean Citrus Commitee*


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Monday, November 01, 2004
Recently introduced at 100% Design in London, the new Rex stack chair is now available from Hightower Group.
Request More Information
Posted by SH at Monday, November 01, 2004
Welcome! This site provides the Hightower community of Architects, Interior Designers, Dealers and Representatives with current news, product reviews and historical notes of interest. Please check back for regular updates. Our company website can be found at www.hightoweraccess.com


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If at First You Don't Succeed then Maybe You're Doing it Wrong
December 6, 2012 § 10 Comments
As I sit here waiting for the WordPress fairies to do their magic and transfer my blog to (dot)org (a necessary move to self-hosting), I'm furiously stomping both feet at my social media stagnancy, the result of my inaction; not following my own advice when it comes to finding success.
The truth of the matter is this:
Freelance isn't flowing, because it hasn't been the top priority. The blog isn't growing as much as it should, because I've gotten lazy (write, look at numbers, write some more).
There's a lot on my life's plate at present, but my priorities are askew. If I don't change things up I could sit idly by for the next fifty years scratching my head at what could have been.
This is not my style.
More my style is this:
If at first you don't succeed, try, try again.
Except if you aren't succeeding in what you are doing, then maybe you're doing it all wrong?
In the old days I would have pulled up the boot straps and started to send out resumes. Five per day was the rule, and sure enough my effort would result in the right job at the right time.
The Internet has changed how resume submissions are done, but basically, you've still got to get out there in order to be seen.
You'll never meet Prince Charming if you wait for him to show up at your door.
The Universe in all her wonder has a big part in how our successes play out, too. Timing is the issue of which we have no control. But, change things up, move in a different direction, and eventually Mrs. Universe will bequeath the right opportunity at the exact moment it's meant to happen.
So, I wait for the fairies to work their magic on the blog transfer, I type to cement the goals, and I dust off my faith that action results in change.
A girl with a plan cannot be thwarted.
What's your secret to success?
Sharing is Caring:
Tagged: finding success, freelance writing, self-hosting, success in social media, wahm, wordpress.org vs. wordpress.com, writing
§ 10 Responses to If at First You Don't Succeed then Maybe You're Doing it Wrong
Ha! I wish that I had a secret to success. But I know what you mean about wanting your dreams to take off but it's hard when they are not a priority. But you DO have a lot of your plate and that's not just an excuse. It will come. That's what I keep telling myself. Good luck with the transfer!!
Martha Merrill Wills says:
You are sweet to acknowledge my full plate, but I really have procrastinated long enough. It's time to buckle down and focus, you know? Hope the transfer goes smoothly. Just signed up with BlueHost… it's got me a little freaked out.
youngadultish.com says:
You are so far beyond me with your comma too and your dot org and your editing tests. Thanks for keeping me on my toes! I have complete faith in your success.
Martha Merrill Wills says:
I could kiss you, Marisa! It's positive comments like yours that give me hope! x
Poppy's Style says:
So it looks like the fairies did their job? Focus – mmm there's a word I struggle with lol… xx
Martha Merrill Wills says:
They are working on it … the transition will happen on the 10th. Quite efficient, I think.
Amy Mak says:
Beautiful blog, nice clean look! I too am transitioning into more work outside the home…it's hard and exciting…as a freelance writer I love the Writer's Market big ol' book that lists tons and tons of leads for articles and writing contests. I just started keeping an editorial calendar as well, so I know when submissions are due. Have you checked out Carol Tice's freelance blog? It's great. Anyway, good luck – it was fun to find your blog! (and I have suddenly seen the comma before the too everywhere…and all this time I wasn't using it.)
Martha Merrill Wills says:
Thank you so much for the great comments and advice. Mom-writers like you are the inspiration to keep me going! I will look into the editorial calendar today, and am about to go invest in a current version of the Writers Market book. I have the 2000 version (from back when I pondered life as a freelance writer).
Ilene says:
You and I really are connected. I am all over the place too. I am hoping my pause gives me the rest I need to come back fresh and focused. But I too need to start making things happen. Whether that be with tbe blog or the other goals I was hoping to pursue right now. I hope tbe wordpress faries act swiftly on your behalf!
Martha Merrill Wills says:
I was just thinking that a pause is like a little life savasana!
Let me know if you need anything…even an ear to bounce ideas off of. You have my email!
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Price changes are different than other metadata updates because they affect your publisher compensation and distribution orders.
You can now submit updates to a book's list price, discount and/or returns option, through your Lightning Source account no later than 11:59 PM US Central Time each Thursday, to have it applied in the Lightning Source system the next day, Friday at 12:01 AM US Central Time. The updates are then sent out to all of Ingram's global distribution network.
To help with converting this cut off time to your local time zone you can find a time zone conversion tool here.
NOTE: Due to Daylight Savings time changes happening at different times throughout the world, please always check the time for Nashville, TN, to ensure you don't miss the cut-off time of 11:59 PM US Central Time each Thursday.


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Arrive at the Penthouse of One New Change and step out on to the award-winning rooftop terrace for breath-taking views of the London skyline, a buzzing vibe and killer cocktails.
Fore more information about Madison & to check out this fantastic venue click here
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Competition Terms & Conditions
All entrants must be aged 18 or over and must be a resident in the United Kingdom. All employees of Vicinitee Limited connected in any way to the production or maintenance of the Vicinitee web site(s), their relatives or agents are excluded from participating in the free prize draw. To enter simply answer the question and fill in the details. No purchase is necessary to enter. The prize is lunch for 2 with wine at Madison. No cash alternative is available. The winner will be selected at random in the presence of an independent observer and the winner agrees to make themselves available for promotional purposes. The names of the winner will be available on the Vicinitee website no later than 15th June 2017. The free prize draw is promoted by Vicinitee Limited of York House, 45 Seymour Street, London, W1H 7LX. Please note; pre booking required, subject to availability. By entering this competition you agree to receive email marketing from Vicinitee and the provider of the competition prize (Madison Restaurant & Bar) You can opt out at any time by unsubscribing to emails. For further details of how Vicinitee uses your information please see the privacy policy here. Vicinitee is not responsible for how the prize provider uses your information and you should consult their privacy notice here for further details around this.
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