NCCE 2001 Reflections
March 15-16
Spokane, Washington
Though aptly named, "Rendezvous 2001: The Odyssey Continues," this year's NCCE (Northwest Council for Computer Education) conference held in Spokane, Washington could have just as easily been named, "Deja Vu 2001: That Sure Looks Familiar." While the "odyssey" most definitely has continued, I was struck by the sameness of this year's conference as compared to last year's. In fact, everything I wrote about technology integration last year applies to this year, only magnified. Last year I felt the underlying theme was "a cry, no, a plea for purposeful and thoughtful implementation and integration of technology into classrooms where students use technology as a value-added element of their learning rather than as a skill unto itself." No longer a plea, the theme now appears to be an outright demand.
"Balance" was a word used quite often in workshop sessions. "Don't throw the baby out with the bath water," was another well-used phrase. The conference favorite though was: "Books work every day!"
This year I had the pleasure of driving up to Spokane with Jan Spitz and Cindy Pierce representing Sky View MS and Cindy Stanton representing Seven Peaks Elementary. Peter Casey from COCC also attended the conference.
I learned a great deal but I'm having a terrible time articulating the lessons learned this trip. Much of what I learned has to deal with personal issues such as arrogance and compassion in their many forms. Hmm, one would think learning how to create an online database would be an adequate challenge, but, in fact, much of what we face today in the world is a direct result of technological arrogance and an appalling lack of compassion in relating with people as they cope with change. I have to say I held up the mirror, looked at the image, and frankly, didn't really like what I saw.
Now, when was the last time you attended a conference and were challenged thusly?
As always with any web page, this is a work in progress. All opinions are probably mine, especially if they are wrong or way off base. Just drop me a note about any grievous error or omission and I'll fix it asap.
Thursday:
As always with any web page, this is a work in progress. All opinions are probably mine, especially if they are wrong or way off base. Just drop me a note about any grievous error or omission and I'll fix it asap.
Thursday:
- 8:00am: Reaching the Reluctants: Professional Development to Win Over the Skeptical
- 9:45am: Keynote Speaker: Madalaine Pugliese
- 11:15am: Exhibit Blitz
- 12:30pm: Videoconferencing: Building Digital Bridges for K-12 Teaching and Learning
- 2:00pm: Real World Mathematics on the Internet
- 3:30pm: Database Publishing on the Web: What are the Options?
Thursday Evening:
4:45pm: Keynote Speaker: Rem Jackson (followed by conference social)
Friday:
- 8:30am: Critical Importance of Science and Technology Instruction
- 9:15am: Keynote Speaker: Bernie Dodge
- 11:00am: Designing Online Communities on a Shoestring Budget
- 12:30pm: Beyond Technology: Questioning Research and the Information Literate School
- 2:00pm: Introducing the WebQuest Center at kiko.com
- 3:15pm: Keynote Speaker: Rem Jackson
Thursday, 8:00am: Reaching the Reluctants: Professional Development to Win Over the Skeptical
"Far too little attention is devoted to the cultural and social barriers to change. How can we lower the barriers to create communities of technology and information savvy learners?" Jamie McKenzie presented ideas from two of his many articles on staff development:
"Barriers to New Technologies, Part One: Staff Balkanization - a Reprise." You have to scroll down a bit to get to his reprise but it is worth the effort.
"Far too little attention is devoted to the cultural and social barriers to change. How can we lower the barriers to create communities of technology and information savvy learners?" Jamie McKenzie presented ideas from two of his many articles on staff development:
"Barriers to New Technologies, Part One: Staff Balkanization - a Reprise." You have to scroll down a bit to get to his reprise but it is worth the effort.
http://www.staffdevelop.org/sd7.html
"Reaching the Reluctant Teacher"
http://www.fno.org/sum99/reluctant.html
Resources:
http://www.fno.org/sum99/reluctant.html
Resources:
http://www.staffdevelopment.org/
http://www.fno.org/
http://www.fno.org/
Building the Digital Curriculum: Summary
http://www.edweek.org/sreports/tc99/articles/summary.htm
top
http://www.edweek.org/sreports/tc99/articles/summary.htm
top
Thursday, 9:45am: Keynote Speaker: Madalaine Pugliese
"All Kids Can Learn" was the title of this speech. Ms. Pugliese has over 27 years of experience in public education and is a nationally recognized speaker and authority in assistive technology. Her achievements include:"
"All Kids Can Learn" was the title of this speech. Ms. Pugliese has over 27 years of experience in public education and is a nationally recognized speaker and authority in assistive technology. Her achievements include:"
- Director of the Assistive Technology Project of the Massachusetts Department of Education
- Faculty at Simmons College, where she has helped develop a graduate degree program in assistive technology
- Distinguished Educator Award from Apple Computer, Inc., 1999
- Named as a "Shaper of the Future" by Converge Magazine, September 1999.
- Named one of the Ten Most-Influential Assistive Technology Specialists in the country by
- Microsoft/IntelliTools partnership
- Co-director of Camp Apple, summer program for educators on new instructional technology
- Founder of Adaptive Rehabilitation Technology, a nonprofit organization offering information and resources
- for families and individuals with needs for adaptive technologies
- Three Masters degrees: Curriculum/Administration of Education (Suffolk University), Special Education
- (Simmons College), and Educational Technology (Lesley College).
Though she didn't share any gems or pearls of wisdom I was able to capture on paper (my fault - not hers), her whole professional life story is about working with kids using technology. She showed some inspiring video clips of some of her students. Denise learned to use an assistive device which allowed her to communicate with others through a voice synthesizer. In 1983, Madalaine's only regret was it wasn't a girl's voice. Another student who was thought to have no hope of ever being able to read, turned out could read in two languages when exposed to the correct assistive technology. Lastly, though not one of her students, she shared with us the story of Michael Phillips. The following is from Apple's web page about Mr. Phillips:
A neuromuscular disease may have robbed AppleMaster Michael Phillips of the use of his arms and legs, but it hasn't kept him from fulfilling his potential as a straight-A student, digital artist and source of inspiration to people with physical disabilities.Now a student at the International Academy of Design in Tampa, Michael takes time out of his academic schedule to demonstrate how the Mac and assistive technology can be used for high-end computing as well as traditional productivity tasks. "Expectations [for physically challenged people] are simply too low," Michael says. "I want to change that."
A neuromuscular disease may have robbed AppleMaster Michael Phillips of the use of his arms and legs, but it hasn't kept him from fulfilling his potential as a straight-A student, digital artist and source of inspiration to people with physical disabilities.Now a student at the International Academy of Design in Tampa, Michael takes time out of his academic schedule to demonstrate how the Mac and assistive technology can be used for high-end computing as well as traditional productivity tasks. "Expectations [for physically challenged people] are simply too low," Michael says. "I want to change that."
Ms. Pugliese's story is about matching the right technology to meet her student's needs. What more could we ask for at any level of ability?
Resources:
Assistive Technology, Inc.
http://www.assistivetech.com/
Assistive Technology, Inc.
http://www.assistivetech.com/
top
Thursday, 11:15am: Exhibit Blitz
The Z 402 3D Printer
http://www.zcorp.com/
These objects were created using a really cool device referred to as a "printer." I wish Chip Miller had been there to see this thing in action! Basically, the printer interprets a 3-D file format which is, apparently, standard among 3-D graphic design programs and very slowly ( 1 / 7000 of an inch at a time ) "builds" the 3-D object. This printer can accept files from CAD programs or converted files from things like MRI scans. Gawkers (and there were a lot of us hanging around this booth) were held captive by a dinosaur egg mold created from a real dinosaur egg unearthed someplace in Montana. The scientists didn't want to break open the egg but did want to know more about the inside of the egg. They scanned the egg with a MRI scanner, converted the MRI files to 3-D files, fed the results into the printer, and then stopped the process half way which left them with half an egg with the contents settled at the bottom of the shell! I wish I had a picture to show you!
At $40,000 this is a fairly spendy proposition. As a recent BSHS graduate shared with me this weekend, "I'd rather have had a textbook in my Government class." However, in all fairness, the bearing is reported to have cost about ninety cents for the material used to create it.
At $40,000 this is a fairly spendy proposition. As a recent BSHS graduate shared with me this weekend, "I'd rather have had a textbook in my Government class." However, in all fairness, the bearing is reported to have cost about ninety cents for the material used to create it.
The Scope
http://www.scalarscopes.com/
IREZ: ReelEyes Software
http://216.103.145.253/irez/
http://216.103.145.253/irez/
 |  |
 |
Jan Spitz bought a really cool USB microscope. The device is handheld and comes with what appears to be some usable software. The microscope comes with one lens but other lens and accessories can be purchased. I captured the images and movie show above without much effort at all.
Unfortunately, this product is very new and I was unable to snag any pictures of the device itself! If I'd known this I'd have snapped a shot of it when I borrowed the digital camera from Instructional Services to take the pictures of Chip's gifts.
Unfortunately, this product is very new and I was unable to snag any pictures of the device itself! If I'd known this I'd have snapped a shot of it when I borrowed the digital camera from Instructional Services to take the pictures of Chip's gifts.
Inspiration
http://www.inspiration.com/
 | INSPIRATION® is a powerful visual learning tool that inspires students to develop ideas and organize thinking. Inspiration's integrated diagramming and outlining views work together to help students comprehend concepts and information. The Diagram view makes creating and modifying concept maps, webs, idea maps and other graphical organizers easy. An intuitive interface keeps students' focus on their ideas, not the drawing process. In the powerful Outline view, students can quickly prioritize and rearrange ideas, helping them create clear, concise essays, reports and more. |
 | Kidspiration is a visual learning tool especially for K-3 students. Designed for emerging readers and writers, Kidspiration helps students develop confidence as they learn to organize information, understand concepts and connections, create stories, and express and share their thoughts. Integrated Picture and Writing views combine to enhance student's comprehension of concepts and information. |
Many speakers spoke highly of this product. I've used Inspiration a time or two myself and found it to be quite useful. Unfortunately, it is a little spendy and earlier versions were a tad slow on minimal computers. The demo I saw on an iMac looked like this version was worth another look. They offer trial versions of both products online at the web site listed above. Jamie McKenzie highly recommends this product.
Quizdom
http://www.quizdom.com/
 | Without a doubt, Quizdom was the silliest product I saw in the exhibits but gosh it was fun!However, it was extremely expensive. Good heavens, they offer 32 multi-key remotes with the receiver and serial cable for the low, low price of $1995! That's dollars, not the year. |
Wacom Technologies
http://www.wacom.com/
 |  |
| "The world of LCD computer displays has gotten wider, thinner, lighter and brighter. The Wacom PL500 pen tablet system combines the abilities of a pen tablet with the instant feedback of an LCD screen. Yes, that means you can draw right on your screen. This new version of the pen tablet provides millions of colors, and at 15.1 inches, it's large enough to be your primary display." | This tablet fits easily on a desktop, in a briefcase or in your lap. The perfect size for people whose ideas are bigger than their desks, the Intuos 6x8 offers professional features and functionality in a convenient, easy-to-handle size. Featuring the Intuos Pen for the superior feel and control you need to take advantage of today's graphic software, it comes complete with a transparent overlay for holding artwork in place and a programmable menu strip for your favorite keyboard shortcuts. |
Cool, but expensive.
Amer.com
http://www.amer.com/
Many thanks to Michelle for taking time to keep me informed about new products at Amer.com.
| Classroom Connect http://www.classroom.com/ "Classroom Connect, Inc. is an acclaimed Internet pioneer, innovator, and leader that develops original, Web-based curriculum products and professional development programs for K-12 educators." Founded in 1994, these folks have been around a long, long time. Very much worth looking at. | LightSpan http://www.lightspan.com/ "Lightspan.com is a FREE education portal for educators, parents, and students, providing resources, research tools, and grade-specific activities." Well, they do offer some subscription services for a fee. LightSpan has a project involving educational software that can be run from a Playstation. I thought this was a nifty idea. | EasyTech http://www.learning.com/ "The EasyTech System addresses the need for high-quality, authentic tech training for students. Using a fully scoped and sequenced curriculum for tech literacy as our foundation, Learning.com is developing a series of "tutorials", each 10 to 20 minutes in length, that are delivered via the Internet directly to the classroom. EasyTech supports national and state technology standards, and reinforces traditional curricula. All this is accomplished in a system that is simple for both teachers and students to learn." | CompassLearning http://www.compasslearning.com/ "With more than 20 years experience in education, no company knows more about teaching and learning with technology than CompassLearning. More than 20,000 schools serving nearly 14 million students use CompassLearning programs designed to help teachers manage students' performance, personalize learning and connect communities of learners." |
There are quite a number of web-based educational portals out there. Some are better than others. Some are free; some cost money. Most that cost dollars have quite a bit more to offer than those which are free, especially in terms of printed training materials and online support. All of the above are worth looking at...in the case of Classroom Connect and LightSpan both of these companies were around last year. Many other companies have found other things to do.
One disappointment I had was MetaCollege.com was not around. I was most impressed with them last year. The were thinking of entering into the K12 arena but must have decided the higher ed. market was more lucrative.
More items as I get time!
top
Thursday, 12:30pm: Videconferencing: Building Digital Bridges for K-12 Teaching and Learning
The jury is definitely still out on this technology as far as the rank and file are concerned. I've been given permission to create some streaming video segments from a video produced by the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory. The video highlights several stories and "lessons learned" from schools who use videoconferencing in its various forms. I'll add links as the task is accomplished.
Resources:
Digital Bridges is a project of the Northwest Educational Technology Consortium
http://www.netc.org/digitalbridges/index.html
Digital Bridges is a project of the Northwest Educational Technology Consortium
http://www.netc.org/digitalbridges/index.html
Oregon Access Network - A Senate Bill 622 Project
http://www.ode.state.or.us/orAccessNet/
http://www.ode.state.or.us/orAccessNet/
top
Thursday, 2:00pm: Real World Mathematics on the Internet
Cool concept for a web site! Great idea! Kind of like being the webification Studs Terkel, only for real world users of math!
Loved this line: "Train kids to do things computers can't do."
Half and half learning: 50% from teacher or assignment; 50% figure it out on your own.
Data has no value without context.
Make it tangible.
What problem do virtually all children have in common? Growing up! Relate learning to the future.
Though the site is in beta, there are a few free resources available. I don't know what the pricing structure of this site will be. I've requested more info.
Resources:
the Futures Channel
http://www.thefutureschannel.com/
the Futures Channel
http://www.thefutureschannel.com/
top
Thursday, 3:30pm: Database Publishing on the Web: What are the Options?
Great session, but I pretty much already knew how to do this. FileMakerPro 4.0 seemed to be the best option of the bunch. John Newsom loves this stuff and it showed!
If you want to databases online, Jeremy and I can show you how.
top
Thursday, Evening: Keynote Speaker: Rem Jackson (followed by conference social)
Rem Jackson shared some insights about how computers can and should be integrated into the curriculum. Mr. Jackson is a very funny and sincere human being and the company he works for has a pretty neat web site: Classroom Connect.
Mr. Jackson is also quite an entertainer. Not only does he do a great pitch for Classroom Connect, he writes and sings some of the funniest songs I've heard about computers in schools in a long, long while. (Peter and Jan: Check out American Pie!)
Resources:
Classroom Connect
http://www.classroom.com/
Classroom Connect
http://www.classroom.com/
Rem Jackson's web page: Rem's Corner
http://www.classroom.com/conferences/attheshow/rem/default.asp
http://www.classroom.com/conferences/attheshow/rem/default.asp
John Aubry's "Internet is coming through my classroom."
http://www.bend.k12.or.us/jaubry/aboutme/song/thruclass.html
http://www.bend.k12.or.us/jaubry/aboutme/song/thruclass.html
Friday, 8:00am: Critical Importance of Science and Technology Instruction
It's not every day that a person from Bend, Oregon, gets to rub elbows with somebody who has truly gone above and beyond the earth's atmosphere. Mom, I got to shake the hand of a true, blue, bona fide astronaut! Years ago, I stood along the Homecoming parade route cheering for Buzz Aldrin in Montclair, New Jersey, and I stood on the sandy shoreline of Cocoa Beach, Florida watching a shuttle launch, but until today, I had never personally met an astronaut!
Joe Edwards is quite a person and he has one whale of a story to tell. Grew up all over the globe, attended the Naval Academy, flew F-14 Tomcats over Lebanon, and decided "What the heck, I'll go fly the space shuttle!" As he describes himself, "I'm a Navy fighter pilot and I love to hear myself speak." But you know, the kids in the front row had nothing on any of the adults as we ALL sat in rapt attention, sometimes with our mouths wide open in awe, as he shared images and video clips of his journey to Mir. Strange as it may sound though, the hardest thing by far that he has ever done was landing his F-14 on the deck of an aircraft carrier at night. After his description, I can believe it!
Resources:
Joe Edwards: Bio
http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/edwards.html
Joe Edwards: Bio
http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/edwards.html
top
Friday, 9:15am: Keynote Speaker: Bernie Dodge
drifting lazily through canals
crusty coral paths
Ok, ok so I probably should keep my day job (April is National Poetry Month though!).
The gem of this year's conference, I think, is some how contained in both this speech and in Jamie MaKenzie's "Questioning Research." Bernie Dodge's WebQuest concept is mostly common sense and truly not much different than anything done by teachers who don't have access to the Internet. Almost all lesson plans include some sort of introduction, present the task, define the process for the task, provide an opportunity for evaluation on multiple levels, and finally, bring some level of closure or conclusion for the participants. Nothing new there.
The key component of Bernie's thoughts, and Jamie's for that matter, seems to be in the ability to provide up-to-date resources to students. The haiku up above was the result of a very brief mini-WebQuest conducted during the course of Bernie's address. We were given an anticipatory set about a contest for creating a poem for a contest Sony was sponsoring for the colonization of Mars.
Individuals in the audience were paired and given the instruction to elect one person to view the left side of the screen; the other would observe the right side. Images of Mars recently downloaded from NASA were shown on the left side; text regarding factoids about Mars were listed on the right. After about five or six slides we were asked to brainstorm ideas we could remember about the images and/or the text depending upon which side of the slide were responsible for viewing. Finally, we put our heads together for two minutes and developed the poem which we were then given an opportunity to share with the other 2000 or so conference participants.
Individuals in the audience were paired and given the instruction to elect one person to view the left side of the screen; the other would observe the right side. Images of Mars recently downloaded from NASA were shown on the left side; text regarding factoids about Mars were listed on the right. After about five or six slides we were asked to brainstorm ideas we could remember about the images and/or the text depending upon which side of the slide were responsible for viewing. Finally, we put our heads together for two minutes and developed the poem which we were then given an opportunity to share with the other 2000 or so conference participants.
Bernie also shared some "futurist" ideas with us as well:
 | SaVi is software created at the Geometry Center at the University of Minnesota for the visualization and analysis of satellite constellations. Maybe we can get Don Fisher to create a page or two on the Teledesic satellite constellation. |
 | Kerbango: Short wave radio; 5000 radio stations over the Internet through an Internet appliance. |
Paper cellphones
http://www.latimes.com/business/cutting/times/20010308/t000020343.html
New Origami Trick: Turn Paper Into a Functional Phone
By: Dave Wilson, LA Times"Imagine a cheap, light computer made largely of paper. Imagine complicated electronic circuits woven into fabric that could easily monitor a hospital patient's condition. Imagine a profound change in the design of electronic gizmos, which might soon be freed from the tyranny of the circuit board and the silicon chip.
That's a lot to ask from one little invention. But a new cellular phone, which could be available to consumers before the end of the year, holds such promise.
I recently held a working prototype of the new phone--about the size of a credit card--and listened to the ringing at the other end, marveling at the quality of the audio transmitted through the combination earpiece and microphone. And when my call was done, I unwrapped one of the phones like a roll of toilet tissue to examine its unusual innards."
 | Digital Paper: |
QBE:
http://www.qbenet.net/
Wireless
Yet to come:
Super computers in Dew: tera-flop class microprocessors
Storage: 200 gig hard drives; paper stacked two miles high; five months of mp3s; fifty DVD movies.
CYBIKO
Friday, 11:00am: Designing Online Communities on a Shoestring Budget
What kick this session was! Patrick Crispen is a delightful young man full of vim and vigor and frankly, quite a character to see in action. He truly likes what he does and it shows.
Mr. Crispen shared quite a number of free resources for facilitating online communities. Due to the current district policy, I'm loathe to list them without first taking a look at them and the possible consequences of my doing so. Granted, things like Microsoft's NetMeeting are already in use but I'd like to go slowly just the same.
Resources:
Mr. Crispen shared quite a number of free resources for facilitating online communities. Due to the current district policy, I'm loathe to list them without first taking a look at them and the possible consequences of my doing so. Granted, things like Microsoft's NetMeeting are already in use but I'd like to go slowly just the same.
Resources:
"NetSquirrel.com is the personal Web site of Patrick Douglas Crispen and is named in honor of the squirrels on the campus of the University of Alabama who so bravely -- and routinely -- gave their lives to disrupt power to the University's mainframe computer center."
top
Friday, 12:30pm: Beyond Technology: Questioning Research and the Information Literate School
Ok, ok, so this is truly the point I was having the deja vu real bad. Duh, I attended this session last year! However, McKenzie is worth listen to several times a day let alone twice in eleven months!
Jamie McKenzie does a great show! Somewhere between "edutainment" and "technotainment" lies the answer. Teach people to be able to ask good, essential questions with follow-up subsidiary questions, followed up by analysis skills to evaluate the answers and everything will be just fine.
Jamie McKenzie does a great show! Somewhere between "edutainment" and "technotainment" lies the answer. Teach people to be able to ask good, essential questions with follow-up subsidiary questions, followed up by analysis skills to evaluate the answers and everything will be just fine.
"Do a couple of things well and bridge the gap between kid's lives and content."
Information literacy needs to take a greater role in education. DON'T use the Internet when looking up the information in a book is a simpler and more eloquent solution.
Resources:
http://www.newlibrary.org/
http://www.thinker.org/
http://fno.org/sept98/infolit.html
http://wwwbir.bham.wednet.edu/
http://www.newlibrary.org/
http://www.thinker.org/
http://fno.org/sept98/infolit.html
http://wwwbir.bham.wednet.edu/
top
Friday, 2:00pm: Introducing the WebQuest Center at kiko.com
top
Friday, 3:15pm: Keynote Speaker: Rem Jackson
Mr. Jackson did a couple more funny songs, read a few more PowerPoint slides to us, and wished us well. Personally, that was about all I was up for at that point.
top
Revised: March 21, 2001
Contact: John Aubry
