My 2008 NECC Presentations in San Antonio - eLECTIONS and Zune

Hello. This week I'll be in San Antonio for NECC 2008 and will be giving two presentations.

Monday - June 30th - 8:30 AM to 9:30 AM
Grand Hyatt - Crockett A/B
"eLECTIONS - Your Adventure in Politics - A Free, Online Learning Game"

I will be presenting this session with Frank Gallagher of Cable in the Classroom. We will be demonstrating the updated version of the online presidential election game - eLECTIONS - and discussing it's use in the classroom. It is a free online game that has recently been updated for the 2008 election.

Tuesday - July 1 - 10:30 AM to 11:00 AM

Microsoft Booth on the Exhibition Floor

"The Zune in My Classroom"

I will be discussing the recently completed pilot in which 25 of my 8th grade students were given a 4GB Zune to use in class. I was able to give each of my Zune students copies of the notes, audio studycasts and videos via the Zune. I will be discussing how I "beamed" the notes to them using the Zune wireless feature, quickly downloaded video content using the guest feature on the Zune Social and a USB.

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If you are a regular reader of the blog or a regular listener of the podcast please feel free to come to a session and say hello. I will also be podcasting and blogging from San Antonio. Hope to see some of you at NECC.

Podcast #148 - Throwing Out The First Pitch at Royals / Cardinals Game

This past week I was able to fulfill a lifetime dream - throwing out the first pitch at a major league game. As the 2007/2008 Missouri Teacher of the Year I was asked to throw out the first pitch at the June 18th Kansas City Royals - St. Louis Cardinals game at Busch Stadium.

Boeing - the primary sponsor for the Missouri Teacher of the Year Program - made the event possible. It was an incredible experience that I was able to share with my dad and my brother. My dad actually caught the first pitch with the Bob Feller glove he had as a child in the late 1940's.

In the podcast I describe the event - which also included a TV interview on the pre-game show, a radio interview in the 4th inning on the Cardinals radio network, a tour of the video control center for Busch Stadium and watching the game from the Best Buy suite. I have included video of the first pitch - which has been posted on You Tube and a goofy pregame interview my brother did with my dad and I.

Direct link to Speaking of History #148 - Throwing Out the First Pitch at the Royals / Cardinals Game - MP3 Audio File - 10:05 Minutes

Podcast #147 - Visit to Scottsbluff National Monument and the Oregon Trail

Hello. Today is a special podcast that I made with my 4 year old daughter while in western Nebraska last week for a family wedding. As settlers on the Oregon Trail traveled west they saw little but endless and flat prairie as they walked along the Platte River. Imagine their reaction as they came to what is now western Nebraska and they saw large bluffs and interesting rock formations such as Chimney Rock. One of the most impressive of these geographical features was Scottsbluff.

Today the rock formation is the site of Scottsbluff National Monument. You can visit the visitor center at the base of the monument, see replicas of the wagons and handcarts used on the trail and then trail your vehicle to the top of the monument for a beautiful view of the plains below - including the Oregon Trail.

I have included pictures from the monument, visitors center and the view from the top. The podcast features comments by myself and my daughter about our visit. You can e-mail us comments about the podcast at speakingofhistory@gmail.com or post a comment to this blog post.

Direct link to Speaking of History Podcast #147 - Visit to Scottsbluff National Monument and the Oregon Trail - MP3 Audio - 6:28 Minutes

Podcast #146 - Assumed Hurdles to Web 2.0 in the Classroom

Hello. Today's podcast addresses some of the most commonly assumed hurdles to implementing Web 2.0 tools in the classroom. I believe that many educators have these same questions about incorporating these tools into their classroom.

If you have any comments or questions please feel free to e-mail me at speakingofhistory@gmail.com or leave a comment on this blog post. Thanks.

Direct link to Speaking of History Podcast #146 - Assumed Hurdles to Web 2.0 in the Classroom - MP3 Audio - 15:38 Minutes

First Pitch - Test Post From Mobile Device

Hello. Just a test blog post from my mobile device as I drive back from St. Louis - my brother is actually driving right now. Last night I had the honor of throwing out the first pitch at the Cardinals - Royals game at Busch Stadium in St. Louis. As a lifetime baseball fan it was an incredible experience and it was even more special as my brother was on the field with me and my dad caught the first pitch. I will include a podcast and some pictures soon but I am happy to report that the pitch was in the air, was caught cleanly by my dad and never touched the dirt. More later......

Podcast #145 - American History Idol Project

Hello. Today's podcast is a description of a project we do the last week of school at South Valley Jr. High called "American History Idol". The last couple of days of school each year are tricky because books have been turned in and typically finals are over a couple of days before our actual last day to allow make up tests, etc. We do this fun activity which crowns an "American History Idol" as voted on by the 8th grade student body at our school. Listen to the podcast to learn more about how we set up and run this activity.

Please feel free to leave a comment to this blog if you have any addition information or thoughts. You can also email me at speakingofhistory@gmail.com

Direct link to Speaking of History Podcast #145 - American History Idol Project - MP3 Audio - 15:40 Minutes

Podcast #144 - May 2008 Bits and Bytes

Hello. Today's podcast is a random collection of thoughts and ideas - many about the upcoming summer months. Weddings, summer conferences and a new BlackBerry phone.

Direct link to Speaking of History #144 - May 2008 Bits and Bytes - MP3 Audio File - 15:30 Minutes

Presentation at Ladue Middle School in St. Louis, Missouri

Ladue Middle School in St. Louis, Missouri

Me and Ladue Middle School Math Teacher Joe Klein

Today I am giving a presentation at Ladue Middle School in St. Louis, Missouri to 6th, 7th and 8th grade teachers. I have enjoyed presenting to a variety of audiences this year but speaking directly to middle school teachers about using technology to enhance the curriculum is very rewarding.

The presentation can be viewed here on SlideShare (love that application).

Podcast #143 - Visit to Birthplace of Harry S Truman in Lamar, Missouri

Hello. Happy Birthday Truman! Today - May 8th - is the birthday of President Harry S Truman. On this date in 2008 he would be 124 years old. On my drive back from visiting William Chamberlain's 5th grade class in Noel, Missouri I stopped in Lamar, Missouri to tour the house where Truman was born. The podcast features a short interview with the guide at the site. I have also included a variety of photos from the site. Happy Birthday Harry!

As always, you can leave a comment on this blog post or you can e-mail me at speakingofhistory@gmail.com Thanks for listening.

Direct link to Podcast #143 - A Visit to Harry S Truman Birthplace in Lamar, Missouri - MP3 Audio - 10:00 Minutes

Show Notes :

Official Site of Truman Birthplace

Article on Truman Birthplace from the Truman Presidential Library

Podcast #142 - Visit with William Chamberlain's 5th Grade Class in Noel, Missouri

Hello. Today I have a very special podcast. I have been following the activities of William Chamberlain's 5th grade science classroom in Noel, Missouri for months on the web. Mr. C's class is an excellent example of a web 2.0 classroom using blogs, Twitter, uStream, YouTube, VoiceThread, etc. I was given the opportunity to visit a classroom as the Missouri Teacher of the Year and jumped at the chance to travel about 3 hours south to spend a morning in their class.

The podcast features a short interview with the students. The audio doesn't do justice to the energy and excitement in this classroom. I applaud Mr. Chamberlain for all his efforts in using technology the right way. Several times today while visiting with him about using technology in the classroom he stressed the point that he only chooses to implement technology in his classroom if it has a purpose in meeting his primary goal of reaching his students. Please check out Mr. C's class here.

Special thanks to Mr. C and all of this students that I met today. I hope they finish out the school year with the same energy and that they continue to use these tools in future years. I have a deep respect for Mr. C and I would love to have him teach science to my daughters. Thanks for allowing me to visit your school.

Direct link to Podcast #142 - A Visit to William Chamberlain's 5th Grade Classroom in Noel, Missouri - MP3 Audio - 17:20 Minutes