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Google Tables

Hello All,

I am currently trying out the Google Table feature of the Google Doc Suite.  My Action Research Project currently has 16 participants and I have found some interesting trends.  Keep in mind, my project was voluntary and after school twice a week.

AGE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GRADE LEVEL

With these two tables, it show I have a pretty equal mix of Middle School Students.  Personally, I expected it to be slanted to the older students.

GENDER

The males seemed to apply heavily.  

I also asked a few questions on the application about current technology use at home.  I just wanted to get a feel for their skills.

COMPUTER ACCESS AT HOME

 I also found:

50% have personal cell phones
75% have video games
25% have a laptop
68.6% have a MP3 Player/iPod

I did have some issues with my data, for example, I asked what they use the computers for at school.

Obviously, my input needs some refinement.

Search Stories

Really cute quick flix...

BP08 Links to RILS Comments

Educator Studio Links:

Follow this link to my comments on Vee's RILS.

Follow this link to my comments on Tessa's RILS.

Blogger Links:

 

Follow this link to my comments on Vee's RILS.

Follow this link to my comments on Tessa's RILS.

RILS Reflection

RILS Reflection

As the Emergent Technologies class comes to a close, I have some big decisions to make.  My Relevant and Innovative Learning Scenario (RILS) turned out pretty badly and not very relevant.  It is funny how something can be very exciting for some and totally irrelevant for others. 

Is Historypin.com too "Old School"?

Throughout the last four weeks, my professor has selected quotes in my blog to critique for weekly blog grading.  Today, the tables are turned.  I will be able to use one of her quotes in my blog.  When grading my RILS Planning on November 15^th, Mrs. Hanaway wrote, “This point is about relevance.  Why will your students find this relevant to them?  This connection is valid and good, but would be part of the audience connection.”  She was questioning if students would find relevance in my project.  I thought, of course they will.  Who wouldn’t want to tag history with their own mark o photo?  It is kind of like a moon landing or discovering a new land.  The first thing explorers do is place a flag, or mark their territory.  Students will find it fascinating and addictive.

As a researcher, I did not share any of my grading criteria or goal of my RILS with the test subjects.  As you will hear in the video, they found it interesting, but verbally questioned the relevance of the activity.  “How does this change your life," asks Subject 002.  Subject 003 compares it to other technology.  “Of course, it can be done.  But why? Which is why I brought up Mrs. Hanaway’s comment.  She was right on target.  My students even used the same terminology – Relevancy.

Although the project itself was not very successful, I did learn quite a bit.   I learned that I must pre-assess or survey my target audience prior to the project.  I also learned to find out more about the audience and focus on what makes them engaged, and not myself.   Although the project I still find exciting and I still plan on releasing it to my community, I can almost guarantee that the respondents will be the older generation.  They seem excited about sharing their past and their memories with others.   The younger folks ask it straight, “Why is this relevant to my life?”  This activity would probably be best implemented in a retirement community or senior center.  Possibly, you could include younger people to assist with the technology aspect.

Which leads me to larger decisions to make…  I have been trying to commit an audience for my Action Research and it has proved difficult without a classroom or employment environment.  I have approached several school districts about volunteering for an after school training and they seem receptive, but not to Second Life.  I am thinking about changing the focus of my Action Research to Digital Storytelling.  I think this would be easier to market to an after school audience.  Otherwise, I will be using the same participants, as the RILS and many of did not follow through or limited participation.  The limited success of the RILS has left me with unlimited questions.

RILS Publication

TITLE: Putting YOURSELF on the Map. 

(To be continued as a community project – Putting Gridley on the Map)

Cherylee C. Gruber

Brief Overview: Students will be able to place themselves and their homes onto a globally collaborative historical map.  Advanced students will be able to add video or oral history content as well.

1.             Target Audience- RILS – Volunteer Subjects; Extension – Community of Gridley, CA

2.             Materials– 

·    Scanned Photos – Known locations, Student or Family member in photo preferred, date known.

·    Access to computer.

·    Access to Family Members – For historical information.

3.             Objectives– At the end of this scenario the student will be able to:

Demonstrate the computer skills necessary to attach personal photos to a global map.

Evaluate personal photographs for ones that are quality candidates for the web site.

Describe what is happening n the photo/video/audio recording.

Compare the their own photo with others or with historical content.

Demonstrate their personal identity in a global collaborative community.

4.             Procedure–

1.             Student selects personal photos with a known date and location.

2.             Students scan the photos (at home or by using in classroom scanner)

3.             Students watch tutorial videos and read the instruction guide.

4.             Students will pin their artifacts to the global map.

5.             Students are required to send a message about their post via Twitter or Facebook or another social media site.

6.             Students will then blog about the experience.

5.             Emerging Technology –

Historypin

http://www.historypin.com/

Social Studies – Incorporating personal photos W/ Global Society

6.             Social Participation/Social Learning– 

Social participation occurs on two platforms.    First, students are contributing to a global history.   They can leave their personal digital footprint on history.

Secondly, they blog about their experience and can learn collaboratively from others, perhaps receiving encouragement and motivation from others.

7.             Making Connections– 

Students will make connections from their previous knowledge (photos) to new knowledge (attaching to a current global outlook).

Students connect to the teacher and other participants by blogging about their experience.

Students will connect to a global community by being a contributor to a global history map.  They will put themselves “on the map”. 

REFLECTION: 

The connections listed are not enough for some test subjects.  IT seems the older generations do find relevancy in marking their personal history, however, younger generations do not.

                  Create/Produce – 

The product will be an online portfolio of their own photos spanning a global society.  At any time students can access their own content by clicking on the tab “My Stuff”.

                  Assessment –

Objectives will be met based on five personal photos attached to the global map. 5+=A, 4=B, 3=C, 2=D, 1=F

                  Reflection – The reflection for the RILS must have two parts.

• Reflection occurs in a blog placed within Edmodo for only project participants.  If students want to blog beyond that audience, they may do so.
• Teacher will also be blogging about creation of the project, implementation, and success via Blogger.com.

NMC Review

What is the NMC?



The NMC is the hotbed of emergent technologies.  They take a lot of "legwork" out of finding the newest and best technologies to use.  One of the best things about the NMC Horizon Project section is that it is posted under the Creative Commons License giving us full re-posting reposting rights.  I like to be able to "share" my cognitive surplus and not having it hindered by DRM.  It is also pretty cool that they offer discounts and perks to members.  However, 10% off Lynda is a far cry from the Full Sail Rate.  By the Way, I wonder if we still get free Lynda when we audit classes?  I smell free Lynda for life!

The best link for me on the NMC, is the one on Virtual Worlds.  I am doing a virtual world AR Project and can use the extra input.  The Program is definitely "iGoogle" link material.  The highlight was a new Second Life (SL) talk show.  Educators are encourages to bring classrooms as audience participants.  How cool is that?  I have already filled out their Google Doc to apply as an audience member.  I plan to attend the next filming to check it out and I will update you on the experience.

http://www.tagxedo.com/app.html

Although the NMC has a list of case studies and offers support for educators in Second Life, they still seem to be supportive of a more traditional setting.  This is the same thing I have mentioned in the past that I want to explore alternatives to.  IT seems with the boundless freedom that exists in a virtual world, classrooms that look like the one pictured on the NMC website, shouldn't exist.  This site definitely needs more exploration time.

The NMC Virtual World Project also offers specials on land agreements in SL.  This would be an incredible place to start my own virtual world that would be safer for students to participate.  It is a pretty exciting find.  Thank you, Full Sail, for the connection.

Fort Bragg Geocache

A strange thing happened on the way Fort Bragg ...

While Geocaching in Fort Bragg, Calfornia, in the Summer of 2010, we came upon our first "First Time Find".  The cache reads:

This cache is in a cemetery, so please be respectful of the graves and don't tamper with them, the cache is not in or very near one. 

This cache was named this way because we were originally intending to place it near the grave of Ettore, an Italian child who died very young. In order to honor him, we called it geo-Nascondiglio, Nascondiglio is actually the word "cache" in Italian. However, due to the cache saturation rule, we had to place the cache farther away from Ettore's grave because it is quite close to two other caches.

The red stones in this cache encourage you to follow the ancient tradition of remembering those who have passed.  Take a single stone if you wish and place it on the headstone of a loved one or friend-- or a stranger whose headstone beckons you to remember.
 

We signed the log:

 Found it

OUR FIRST FTF ! Thanks we were really excited to find this...our daughter of three left a stone in the middle of a flower at one of the headstones. Thanks for the cache.. We took the TB and left several pieces of Swag....

 

We took the red stones to mark graves of some of those we wanted to remember.  My daughter, age 3 at the time, selected the graves.  She selected three,  pictured below, and placed the stones.

As for our daughter, she has yet to fell the death of a loved one.  She loves cemetery caches and calls them her gardens.  She runs about freshening up flowers and talking about he headstones.  We stated her geocaching young and maybe this has changed her perception.  I always watch her and feel she adds a bit of light to an otherwise solemn scene.  If only I looked at cemeteries as beautiful gardens to rest in.

Almost a year later, I received some email messages from a Fort Bragg local... He wrote:

I as just reading your log and viewing the picture from Geo-nascondigli in Fort Bragg. The headstone picture for Jacob Gregory Swanson is one of a former student from my technology class when I taught at FBHS. Seeing your picture brought all this forward in my mind again. I noticed that you are a teacher and wanted to share his story with you. I am pasting a link below to the story of the tragic circumstances surrounding his death.

http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20090818/ARTICLES/908189960?Title=Apparent-murder-suicide-in-Fort-Bragg

It is doubly tragic that a local young mother of three also lost her life in this sad tale. War has its affect on those that are returning to us and are in need of support the military is unwilling to give or unable to provide. Very sad in deed and affects this small community to this day. His sacrifice was hard not only on him but the community he came back to. 

I find it very poignant that your daughter placed a stone on his headstone considering the circumstances of his passing. Children are the purest of spirits. Thanks for posting and the picture. A good reminder of the true costs of "defending our freedoms"/"soldiering".

Death, as my father so aptly put it "is inconvenient".

"Jake" or "Swani" as he was called in high school by friends was not the easiest student but he wasn't the most difficult. Very intelligent, bright and capable, somewhat disruptive in class and prone to heading off in his own directions. He did have a fascination with the military and weapons of any sort. In class he could often be found off task browsing military and related sites on the computer. It was not surprising. with a father who was ex-military and his fascination with that experience, that he joined the army. 

The introduction to the true reality of the military must have caused him some pause as his understanding of it grew. Jake wasn't always aware of the true nature of things and I'm sure the reality of the experience of war caused him some re-evaluation and reflection upon his return from his  tours of duty. I do know that he had the strong support of his mother throughout his life and that they had a good relationship with her when he was in high school and afterward. I really don't know what more could have been done at the high school level, knowing his predilections... but certainly more after his tours of duty. 

Definitely a time for the community to reflect on the cost of sending our young off to war and what we can do as a community to support those who return alive but not whole from the experience.

I'm glad that your daughter has a positive outlook, reflects well on her parents I'm sure. Her observations of cemeteries being beautiful gardens to rest in, is quite on the mark. I like that! Thanks again for posting and sharing your own story.


Best regards,
Mr.Garibaldi (Alias)

Unfortunately, others won't share the same experience.  The location is closed as per the following post:

 Temporarily Disable Listing

 

Well, we went out and checked the cache and sure enough, the drunks finally got to it.

I'm temporarily disabling this, probably for a while. Next time the whole Cache Cab comes up to visit Fort Bragg again, we will replace it in a hopefully more hidden spot. It's a shame, now two of our three caches have been vandalized. 

At least with this post, the story remains.

A strange thing happened on the way Fort Bragg ...We learned much about Life & Death.

What is Geocaching?

Here are some quick Geocaching Tips, 

AKA The Ten Commandments:

Ten Commandments of Geocaching
Thou shalt have no other hobbies before geocaching. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven avatar. Thou shalt not take the name of Dave Ulmer in vain. Remember the caching day, to keep it holy. Honour thy coordinates and thy waypoints. Thou shalt not kill the joy of other geocachers. Thou shalt not commit geocide. Thou shalt not steal a cache. Thou shalt not bear false witness in thy neighbour's cache logs. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's GPSr. --Mozartman

A Quick Introduction Video:

My Souvenirs

Amberlee & Roy

Mountain Oyster Research

Have you tried Rocky Mountain Oysters?  I have.  

Recently while debating my husband about the tastiness of the delicacy, we remembered our trip to Harris Ranch.  Harris Ranch is half way between LA and San Francisco.  A beautiful oasis with a tad bit of odor from their famous beef ranch.  Excellent food and service.  A nice restful spot for those that still travel by automobile from North to South California.  I recommend the spot to anyone needing a little shuteye on the Interstate Route.

Anyways, about dinner.  Harris Ranch serves an excellent dinner.  The Beef Wellington and the Rib Eye can't be beat.  After all, the beef is their specialty.  However, we wondered how often people actually order the Mountain Oyster appetizer.  As for my husband and I, we ordered just to brag about the event.  It isn't that often you get to try something new and unusual.  I had guessed at least once a day a daring visitor must dare to try the dish.  My husband argued that on weekends maybe 3-4 times per day.

It is the information age after all and so to ease the debate we decided to call the restaurant and ask.  What is the worst that could happen? They could hang up.  Instead of rejection, our questions were met openly.  We called at 9:00 AM on a Saturday morning following Veteran's Day.  Needless to say, they were probably a bit busy.  The immediate young woman who answered the call,Jeanette, did not know the answers to the questions so she politely wrote them down and went to ask the chef.  Chef Ramsey was also very polite and answered our probing questions honestly.

Q:   Are your Mountain Oysters made from fresh or frozen meat?

A:   They are entirely prepared from fresh meat.

Q:   How often on a daily basis are they prepared for customers?

A:  On a slow day they are prepared about  6-10 times per day.

      On a busy day, they are prepared 12-20 times per day.

I would like to say thank you to Harris Ranch, Cashier Jeanette, and Chef Ramsey for taking time to answer our very important questions.  Thank you for your hospitality and your contribution to my blog.

To purchase your own Harris Ranch beef you can try your local Raley's or Von's Markets.

Harris Ranch also offers online ordering from their Country Store.

They offer numerous recipes for signature meals on their website as well.  However, the elusive Mountain Oysters were not available to purchase online and the recipe to prepare your own was not available.  So for now, you have to travel to experience the real thing.  Maybe I'll see you there...

http://www.harrisranch.com/index2.php

For those daring enough, I did find this recipe on 

What's Cooking America.

http://whatscookingamerica.net/History/RockyMtnOyster.htm

Rocky Mountain Oysters Recipe

Recipe Type: Beef, Calf Testicles
Yields: makes many servings
Prep time: 2 hr

Ingredients:

2 pounds calf testicles*
2 cups beer
2 eggs, beaten
1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
¼ cup yellow cornmea1
Salt and ground black pepper to taste
Vegetable oil**
1 tablespoon hot pepper sauce

*Be sure to ask your butcher for calf testicles, not bull testicles. Calf testicles are the size of a walnut and are much more tender than the larger bull testicles.
** Use enough vegetable oil to fill your frying container halfway to the top (to allow for bubbling up and splattering) and to completely cover calf testicles while frying.

Preparation:

With a very sharp knife, split the tough skin-like muscle that surrounds each testicle. Remove the skin (you can remove the skin easily if the testicles are frozen, then peel while thawing). Slice each testicle into approximately 1/4- to 1/2-inch-thick ovals. Place slices in a large pan or blow with enough beer to cover them; cover and let sit 2 hours.
In a shallow bowl, combine eggs, flour, cornmeal, salt, and pepper. Remove testicles from beer; drain and dredge thoroughly in the flour mixture. In a large, deep pot, heat oil to 375 degrees F. Deep fry 3 minutes or until golden brown (will rise to the surface when done). Drain on paper towels.

Serve warm with your favorite hot pepper sauce.

Let me know if give them a try...

PE05_Historypin

Forward to History Pin.   I love history and I love travel.  This is an awesome place to combine the two.  It is also a collaborative project that grows exponentially.  In agreement with Clay Shirky, this site hosts our cognitive surplus of memories.  No longer do you have one old picture of grandpa at Yosemite.  You can see generations of people in the same exact location.  Upon stumbling upon the site on of the most fascinating features was the “Fade Photo” feature.  With this feature you pin your photo on the Google Earth street view, then with the glide of the button you can see the historical changes of the location.  It is kind of hard to explain, so I recorded a clip for you:

I quickly uploaded any photos that were readily available that featured historical landmarks.  I selected photos of landmarks because I figured they would have the most traffic or pins on the site.  However, I can’t wait to try my local own as well.  In the next few photos you see my family in front of some well known landmarks.   

 

As you can see in the photos, there are notification buttons where you can add the photo as your favorite, quickly post to Facebook or Twitter, and also a report or dispute option.  The last two options are for community policing of the site.  You can either report and inappropriate photo or dispute the accuracy or copyright of a posted photo.  Therefore, the story told by the website as a whole is monitored similarly to Wikipedia, by the global community.

On the down side, if you notice my photos don’t have the cool “Fade Photo” feature that I talked about earlier.  I tried the Map view, The satellite view and I zoomed.  No luck.  Maybe I should watch the tutorial and read the guide book so that I can better use the tool I want to teach.  I’ll check in later.

I thought it would be days, but the intro video is only 90 seconds.  It also explains that I would need to look at the photos via "Street View" to see the historical aging perspective.    It is amazing what a little time and education will do.  I watched my tutorial and read my guide.  I still had a bit of trouble lining up my photograph, as you can see, but I am learning.  As their slogan reads, together we will create a digital history of the world.

My next step… I noticed the area around Gridley, California is picture-less.  I plan to launch a local program, “Putting Gridley on the Map”.  Stay tuned for updates.

                  

                  Putting Gridley on the Map