Annotation September 29, 2007
Posted by Matthew Woolums in Articles/Videos, Edubloggers, Tools.add a comment
Clarence Fisher, in his Remote Access blog posted an interesting activity about annotating text as an exploration of literacy. This seems like a terrific activity that brings those automatic skills good readers exhibit up to a more conscious level.
For a better description of the activity see his post here:
http://remoteaccess.typepad.com/remote_access/2007/09/annotate-a-te-1.html
Just a few days later, Vicki Davis posted an interesting exploration of what I’ll call annotated text on her blog, Cool Cat Teacher Blog. I was struck by the similarities between Fisher’s example image and example number 6 from Davis.
http://coolcatteacher.blogspot.com/2007/09/is-text-only-enough-for-todays-students.html
Another example of posted deconstructed or annotated text can be found on the Remote Access blog here:
http://remoteaccess.typepad.com/remote_access/2007/09/blogs-complex-s.html
It looks like you could use JKN (http://info.jkn.com/) or Trailfire (http://www.trailfire.com/) do accomplish something similar with web pages, though I haven’t used either and suspect there may be even better tools available.
Slideshare to Slidecast September 29, 2007
Posted by Matthew Woolums in Tools.1 comment so far
Slideshare has posted a slidecast on the steps to add an audio track to a Slideshare presentation. The steps seem do-able, but also seem a little complicated. For instance, you have to upload the audio to a second site. Are there easier ways to accomplish both the presentation and the audio at the same time?
http://www.slideshare.net/faqs/slidecast
Sketchcast September 25, 2007
Posted by Matthew Woolums in Tools.add a comment
Sketchcast is another cool tool. This one lets you record as you sketch on a whiteboard and also annotate with audio. Below is an embeded sketchcast about sketchcast.
OLPC – Buy One Give One September 25, 2007
Posted by Matthew Woolums in OLPC.add a comment
Yet another twist to the OLPC saga. The BBC is reporting that people in the US will be able to purchase one of the ‘$100 laptops’ for $399. The extra cost covers the purchase of a second OLPC for a child in a developing nation. It will be interesting to see how many are purchased and donated.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/6994957.stm
ISS – Some Final Thoughts September 21, 2007
Posted by Matthew Woolums in Conference Sessions, Opinion.2 comments
This has been a very interesting day of thought-provoking discussions. People are genuinely concerned with keeping kids safe. I’ve heard more comments about providing tools and fewer about limiting or restricting access. It is refreshing that the general tone of the summit is one of helping our kids, not one of punishing them.
I would also like to thank Bud the Teacher for providing us with a great model of living a transparent life, something to which Will Richardson is currently calling people.
Here is Bud’s post:
http://budtheteacher.typepad.com/bud_the_teacher/2007/09/internet-safety.html. He also twittered the event.
Looking back it was remarkable how few laptops were present at the summit. With over 100 attendees, I saw fewer than half a dozen people actually using a laptop other than the presenters. Internet safety is an important issue, but I’m just not sure how prepared we are when we aren’t practitioners ourselves. I don’t think we ‘get it’ yet.
ISS Keynote – Part Two September 21, 2007
Posted by Matthew Woolums in Conference Sessions.1 comment so far
Jennifer Mardosz, Fox Interactive Media and MySpace
How do we keep our kids safe while still benefiting from the wonders of the web? How do we involve our community when that community is an online virtual space?
MySpace safety tools are developed with assistance from local law enforcement agencies. For example, Amber Alerts can be distributed to MySpace users who list specific zip codes in their profiles.
MySpace is working to build safety into the features it offers, and to provide additional safety features. MySpace works with communities in both the physical and virtual worlds to provide a safe environment.
MySpace origins tie into online music. Many independent bands make a name for themselves by setting up a MySpace account to promote their music.
MySpace offers school groups. These are mostly used by alumni. MySpace has a school hotline to help with resolving concerns.
Disclaimer: I’m not a MySpace user, although I do have a Facebook account.
ISS Session 2 – Online Investigation of Crimes Against Children September 21, 2007
Posted by Matthew Woolums in Conference Sessions.add a comment
The Innocent Images National Initiative
SSA Joseph C. Schwecke
SA Stephen Roberts
Denver Division
DOJ – FBI
Federal investigations of online sexual exploitation of children began with kidnapping of George Burdynski, Jr in May of 1993. Child pornography has been a part of the Internet from the earliest days. Since that time, 17,691 cases were opened, resulting in 5,840 convictions. 37% of all cyber investigations in 2006 involved Innocent Images (child exploitation.)
Two kinds of cyber crime:
1. emerging threats to national security – terrorist groups, state actors
2. traditional crime migrating to the Internet – child exploitation, hackers, intellectual property, fraud, identity theft
Why is the Internet a source for this problem? The Internet offers an environment of a safe haven. It offers anonymity, control over the environment (control how and who you contact,) access to ‘like minded’ individuals, and efficiency. The Internet also provides easy access to children.
Members of undercover task forces are themselves evaluated every 6 months.
A case study was presented.
ISS Session 1 – Effective Ways to Involve Student Leadership Organizations September 21, 2007
Posted by Matthew Woolums in Conference Sessions.add a comment
Lynn Erseck, Kelsey Kreager, and Laurie Urich – FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America)
Presentation started with a short video produced by Boulder Valley School District. “To use the Internet is to accept a level of risk.” Copyright development was described as well as music piracy. Terms such as ‘worms’ were defined. Pornography is prevalent for teens and younger adults. Child predators provided a sobering finish.
This presentation is presented by members of the Colorado iCrew, young adults working to keep other young adults safe. FBLA in high school provided the forum for the development of the Internet Safety Project.
Colorado iCrew – high school and college students presenting safety podcasts. The first episode was played for us. They also have gmail and myspace accounts for the iCrew.
Internet Safety Foundation – unique to Colorado. Coalition of various community, state, and federal members working to keep students safe on the Internet.
Peer-to-peer education is an essential component. Kids probably know more about it, and students are more likely to listen to each other.
There are many levels of involvement for parents as well as students. A flow chart was distributed that details the steps of presenting safety information to the community, along with supporting resources such as the NetSmartz411: Internet Helpdesk – http://netsmartz411.org/.
They have presented to groups as young as Kindergarten.
Colorado iCrew link: http://www.coloradoicrew.libsyn.com/
