Energy Conservation Project

Office-Paper Use at Juneau-Douglas High School

For my “Energy Conservation Project” I delved into the world of paper use at the Juneau-Douglas High School (JDHS). Originally, I wanted to determine how much paper was recycled, what percentage of office paper was printed on both sides, and how much virgin paper was used. As the project unfolded, I had to trim it down. I decided to determine how much virgin paper was used, what the energy and environmental impacts were, and how shifting to recycled paper, 50% or 100% post-consumer, would reduce these impacts.

To read more about this project, click here.

To view a chart about this project, click here.

To view a powerpoint presentation, click here.

Tools for the Mind

For the fall semester, the final article in Educational Leadership’s December 2005/January 2006 issue that we read is called “Tools for the Mind” by Mary Burns.

When computers were first introduced into the educational field, they were seen as a sort of “silver bullet,” the answer to educational woes of almost every stripe. Today’s reality shows that computers are not the answer to all our education-based questions, and that in order to better use computers for educational purposes, we need to significantly change our understanding of their uses, applications, and limitations.

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Is Technology Invisible?

Today we were asked the following question in class: Given we are immersed in technology, how do we "see" it in order to evaluate its utility and impacts?

I answered: Generally, I don't think we "see" technology very well until it does something we dislike. For example, we drive everywhere all the time without thinking about it, but when our brake fluid line breaks, we get incensed and curse our car to no end.

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A Technology Mantra

For class today, we were asked to quickly come up with a mantra for using technology in the classroom. My mantra is: Technology will be used to enhance and invigorate the learning experience without compromising learning integrity.

The Read/Write Web

The second article in Educational Leadership's December 2005/January 2006 issue that we read is called "The Educator's Guide to the Read/Write Web" by Will Richardson.

Through blogs, wikis, podcasting, and other formats, the web is becoming more than just a place to consume information. As it becomes easier for students and others to publish information on the web, educators have a responsibility to not only manage these emerging technologies, but to encourage student competencies with them.

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Smaller Computers and Education

Today in class we were asked the following question: What impact will the increasingly interactive and diminished size of computers, communicators, and handhelds have on education in secondary schools?

I answered: I have yet to see the gains from today's personal technology in the classroom. Although a minority number of students have cellphones and/or ipod-type devices, none of them use technology in the classroom to help with assignments. All of them have computers at home, and most of them use them for e-socializing, and occasionally homework. I have not seen a lot of "tech-head" kids who are really into cutting edge equipment.

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A Fledgling Technology Culture

For class, we were asked to informally assess the technology capabilities at the Juneau-Douglas High School. The following is an overview of the assessment. Click on the link below to access the entire document.

When I first walked into the Juneau-Douglas High School, the number of computers I saw amazed me. Every teacher has one in their classroom for their own use. There are at least three fully equipped computer labs, and sundry other computers throughout the school. My classroom has six computers, but they are hardly ever used. I believe they are mostly for the yearbook. And every classroom has a television, DVD player, VCR, and full cable. When I was in high school, none of this was available.

Read the rest of this article by clicking here.

Read the complete "Anthropological Assessment of JDHS's Technology Culture" by clicking here.

Reflections on "Merchants of Cool"

Today, we watched a a short film called "Merchants of Cool." The following are my thoughts:

No longer content to make a profit from existing culture, corporations are actively creating culture that they can then promote and sell. As part of this, corporations are actively targeting teenagers. Through "cool hunting," these corporations look to current trends in teenage culture in order to predict future trends early enough to subtly market them as new and hip. Since teenagers are generally leery of marketing, these efforts are discrete. Since trends are considered "uncool" as soon as they are marketed, "cool hunting" aims to exploit that nebulous time when something is cool but has not been "discovered."

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"Digital Natives?"

The first article in Educational Leadership's December 2005/January 2006 issue that we read is called "Listen to the Natives" by Marc Prensky.

This article makes a call for teachers to enter the 21st Century by utilizing the day’s technology to better instruct their students. The term “digital native” is introduced, referring to “today’s students (2001). They are native speakers in technology, fluent in the digital language of computers, video games, and the Internet.” They are contrasted with “digital immigrants,” meaning “those of us who were not born into the digital age.” The article goes on to say that educators, who are all “digital immigrants” on account of our age, must reconfigure our approach to teaching to better accommodate today’s students’ digital way of learning.

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The Future of Media

We watched a short film in class today titled "EPIC 2015." These are my thoughts.

EPIC 2015 presents a mind-blowing view of the future of communication and education. The video stressed me out in ways that I can’t quite figure. I feel like there is a train leaving a station that I can’t find, for a destination I am unsure of, and I don’t know where to purchase a ticket. Is this train really the way to a more democratic future, or is it merely a way to better tailor advertising, solidify corporate control, and monitor political dissent?

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The Train to Dudsville

For class today, we watched a short film created by elementary students. The topic was "metaphor," and they produced a piece that was both effective and telling, drawing on their experiences as young students.

Not only do these kids understand metaphor, they use it to devastating effect. Everything from the music to the images conveys a sense of annoyance and suppressed expression. Assessing this piece is challenging in creative and unusual ways.

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Homework in the 21st Century

We watched a "virtual storytelling" video production in class today. It was produced by one elementary student named Hannah.

Hannah’s story is unbelievable! The fact that she put it together herself is just phenomenal.

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I have a blog!

This is my first venture into online publishing of any sort. Although somewhat intimidating from this vantage, I am excited to play in this new landscape!