Podcast #10 - The NSCC Conference Exhibit Floor Sound Tour #1

Last week I attended the NCSS conference in Kansas City and was able to visit with teachers from around the country. I also spent some time in the exhibit hall. Sure, I picked up my share of free pens and catalogs, but I also brought along my MP3 player and interviewed some of the people behind the exhibits. (After also every interview I answered questions about how my i-River MP3 player worked and how it was used in the classroom.) I thought some of you who were not able to attend the conference would enjoy a "sound seeing tour" of the exhibit hall. I interviewed a total of 12 exhibitors and in this podcast I will include six of the clips. I plan to place the other six clips in a future podcast. Links to all of the websites mentioned in the podcast are included in the show notes. Hope you enjoy it and let me know if you found it helpful.

Direct Link to Podcast #10 - The NSCC Conference Exhibit Floor Sound Tour #1 (23 minutes)

Show Notes:

• Save Our History Program - The History Channel
• National History Club
• Oxford University Press - Publishers of "A History of US" Textbook
• Colonial Williamsburg Teacher Resources
• Colonial Williamsburg Podcast
• C-Span Bus and C-Span Classroom Teacher Resources
• Federal Reserve System Education

Podcast #9 - Reflections on 2005 NCSS Conference

Hello and welcome to podcast #9 of Speaking of History. This past week I attended the NCSS conference in Kansas City and spent a couple of days talking and visting with some great people from all over the country. I was lucky enough to have the conference right in my own backyard this year and took advantage of it. This podcast I discuss some of the sessions I attended, people I met and reflections on the overall experience. In a future podcast I will have a "sound seeing tour" from a dozen people I met on the exhibition hall floor.

Direct link to Podcast #9 - Reflections on the 2005 NCSS Conference (19 minutes, 9 seconds)

Show Notes:

• new intro music - "Not Too Bad" by Population 4 of the Pod Safe Music Network
• Thoughts on this week's NCSS conference in Kansas City
• National Council for the Social Studies - official web site
• The Liberty Minutes Project website - 8th graders in Liberty, Missouri create short historical documentaries
• John Stossel videos for In the Classroom Media
• The War that Made America - upcoming PBS special (January 2006) on the French and Indian War
• Oxford University Press - A History of Us by Joy Hakim - American History textbook

Still here - projects in motion

Hello. Just wanted to let everyone know that I'm still here even though I haven't posted a new podcast in about a month. I have working on some great projects like Community Technology Night and preparing for a presentation at the NCSS conference this Friday in Kansas City. Last week I was fortunate enough to listen to the inventor of the webquest - Bernie Dodge - give a workshop on his new web tool to help teachers create and post their own webquest. I have also been working on some things with the Discovery Educators Network. I plan to podcast on all of these soon as soon as I catch up. Thanks and talk to you later.

Podcast #8 - A Day Off For Fall Break

Hello. I'm typing this from my favorite local coffee house - By The Book. It is a great book store here on the historic town square in Liberty, Missouri. They serve great coffee drinks and have a great selection of books for everyone in the family. We love to come down here on the weekends for a treat - I'm enjoying an Oreo freeze right now - and to get a new book or two. Today is a weekday but we have the day off for fall break. We had parent teacher conferences this week and last night visited with parents from 1:30 to 8:00. I will mention the role of technology and conferences in my podcast. I've been writing down thoughts and ideas about learning and technology over the past couple of weeks and have a lot to talk about today. So let's get started.....

Direct link to Podcast #8 - A Day Off For Fall Break

Show Notes:

• Listener response from around the world - where are you listening to this? Last show I heard from Ireland and Australia
• National Council for the Social Studies Conference in Kansas City - November 17-20, 2005
• My presentation: Friday - November 18th - Liberty Minutes Project
• Duke University Podcasting Symposium - held September 27-28 - webcasts available
• The $100 Laptop Project from MIT Media Lab - audio from presention by Nicholas Negroponte from Andy Carvin's Waste of Bandwith
• Educational Podcast Spotlight - Ed Tech Talk by World Bridges
• Parent Teacher Conferences and technology as a tool
• Ideas on using podcasting in education: collaborate, content and creating

Podcast #7 - School Year Technology Goals Progress Report

We are six weeks into the 2005/06 school year and it has been almost four week since my last podcast so I wanted to give a quick report on how some of the projects are coming along. Our social studies department here at South Valley Jr High has purchased i-River MP3 players to use for instruction, I have recorded a study cast for my students to help them review, plans are underway for a podcast with a local politican and we are planning a community technology night at our school for November. I also share a new educational technology podcast that has a focus on handhelds in the classroom.

Please feel free to e-mail me suggestions or comments. I would enjoy hearing from you - how you find the podcast, where you listen from, how you use technology in your classroom, etc. E-mail me at speakingofhistory@gmail.com

Direct link to Speaking of History Podcast #7

Show Notes:

• Update on the D-Day Museum in New Orleans - official statement from the museum web site
• Mr. Langhorst's "StudyCast" to review for the Unit 1 Test in 8th grade American History
• South Valley Jr High social studies staff purchases i-River MP3 players to use as an instructional tool
• Community Technology Night planned for November 10th - Holiday Theme
• Podcast show with local state representative
• great new educational podcast with focus on handhelds in the classroom - Soft Reset with Tony Vincent and Mike Curtis

D Day Museum in New Orleans - Good News

Last night I found a blog report that states there is little, if any, damage to the D Day Museum in New Orleans. Another link cites a report from the Associated Press that says the building is in good shape. Yesterday I was tracking down rumors that the museum was heavily damaged by looters and vandalsim. Great news, and right now we'll take any glimmer of good news we can get from this region.

Seeking News on D Day Museum in New Orleans

Our thoughts and prayers are with all those who have suffered so heavily due to hurricane Katrinia. The loss of human life is more important than any material possessions but as the city begins to evaluate its damage, the condition of the D Day Museum in New Orleans will be awaited by historians all over the world. In the podcast yesterday I mentioned that I was curious about the condition of the museum. I was able to find a blog entry with comments about its condition. There are reports that the museum fared well in the initial storm, but was damaged by looting and vandalism. The loss of this great museum to the ravages of nature would be tragic but understandable. If reports of serve looting and vandalism are true this is more than sad.

I have included a picture from my visit to the D Day Museum in July of 2004. I am standing in front of one of the Higgins boats used in the invasion along with other teachers from the district where I teach. We were attending the 2004 NECC conference. The older gentleman in the picture is a veteran who landing at D Day in the early waves. We talked with this gentleman and had him sign a copy of the "Order of the Day". I have the copy framed and it hangs next to the American flag which hangs in my classroom. Memories of a great day in a museum that seemed more like a cathedral honoring the memory of great men who gave their life for my freedom.

If anyone hears any news about the current status of the D Day Museum in New Orleans please comment here or send an e-mail to speakingofhistory@gmail.com

Podcast #6 - Parent E-Mails and a StudyCast

Hello and welcome back after a break of about three weeks. School is back in session and things are getting back in the routine of early mornings, the flow of the school day and keeping up with grading. This week I'll share some thoughts on New Orleans, which educational podcasts I'm currently listening to, parent e-mail newsletters and a "StudyCast".

Direct Link to Speaking of History Podcast #6

Show Notes:

• Thoughts on New Orleans
• Satellite Images of Katrina Devestation
• Tech Teachers Podcast
• Moving at the Speed of Creativity
• Connect Learning Podcast
• Ed Tech Talk Podcast
• Very Spatial Podcast
• Room 208 Podcast
• Parent E-Mail Newsletter
• Web Copy of First Newsletter of 2005 School Year
• A "StudyCast"

Podcast #5 - Technology Goals for My Classroom This School Year - Podcast #5

Since today is the last day of official summer break, I'm taking a few minutes to outline my six big technology goals for the 2005 / 2006 school year. I currently have a class web site, do my assessment using an online tool named Quia and send out a weekly parent newsletter on e-mail. Those will be topics of future shows. Today is my pie in the sky list of what I would like to acomplish in relation to new technologies. This is amazing time with the emergence of blogs and podcasting.

I encourage any feedback about the show topics or anything in relation to using technology in the classroom. Please feel free to e-mail me at speakingofhistory@gmail.com

Direct link to Speaking of History Podcast #5

Show Notes for Podcast #5

• last day of the summer
• Thanks for the g-mail invitations
• Thanks also for the mention by David Warlick on 2 Cents Worth
• Kansas City Podcasting meet up
• Goal 1 - Blogging with students
• Goal 2 - History broadcast video
• Goal 3 - Entire social studies staff using i-river MP3 players as instructional tool
• Goal 4 - Students teaching community members computer applications
• Goal 5 - Long distance collaboration with other teachers
• Goal 6 - Produce a podcast show interviewing a member of the community
• Almost finished with The World is Flat by Thomas Friedman

Podcast #4 - Thoughts on the Microsoft Innovative Teachers Forum - Podcast #4

Hello. It has been a couple of weeks since the Microsoft Innovative Teachers Forum in Redmond ended and I've been thinking a lot about the incredible two days spent sharing ideas and lessons with teachers from around the world. This podcast will discuss some of my thoughts about the forum. It is recorded as I drive down to the Dallas area for vacation - in heavy traffic I might add.

The picture above was taken at the Microsoft Museum in Redmond at a reception they hosted for the Innovative Teacher Forum.

Direct Link to Speaking of History Podcast #4

Show Notes:

• catching up after the forum
• Basic set up for the Innovative Teachers Forum
• Great ideas at the best practice share
• Thoughts from Dr. Eduardo Chaves of Brazil on true innovation in education
• Elemennts required for true innovation
• Standardized Tests - stepping stone or barrier?
• The World is Flat by Thomas L. Friedman - awesome book
• Hello to friends listening in Denmark and Canada
• E-mail me at speakingofhistory@yahoo.com