Class of 2.2

This was a Webcast hosted by LAUSD (Los Angeles Unified School District) in an Elluminate Session. I simulcasted on Webcast Academy Sandbox A.  My co-hosts for this event were Henry Anker and Mathew Needleman.  Henry talked about the development of Mr. Anker's tests. He walked us through a couple of his flash programs in math and in reading comprehension.  We had a great discussion on how teachers use these web based programs for practicing of skills and review on learning standards.  Mathew talked about his work as webmaster of Videos in the Classroom and Open Court Resources Sites. How he has used digital media to give his students access to learning success.  He talked about the correlation between using these tools for learning and production of content by students and the ongoing debate on the digital divide.  I talked about the Web 2.0 classroom.  The different tools available to us. I talked about my plans for 2007-08 and making connections with other classrooms.  Our conversation continued as Martha Valencia spoke about professional development opportunities in the UPDATE program.  We had discussion about other tech happenings in LAUSD.  

Links Referred to on Show:  

This is the audio from the Webcast Academy meeting 2.2.5, our last offcial meeting of this intern group. As we discussed, this is more of a beginning than an end because now you are all ready to become active webcasters in the Worldbridges and EdTechTalk communities. We look forward to participating in your shows!

 Please note that in keeping with our tradition of putting raw audio up for webcast academy meetings, this audio file has a number of problems. I (Susan) was using a new computer to stream. One hour earlier, I had tested with members of the community and all seemed fine. As you will hear, there is a tinny sound, not quite an echo but a very unpleasant almost echo sound. Also in keeping with webcast academy and open source learning- all suggestions will be appreciated as I have not yet solved the mystery!

Thanks for a wonderful session to a wonderful group!

Best, Susan, Cheryl and Jeff

Okay, James is a very hard guy to pin down, but I did it! Our discussion was based in a series of blog posts that started with Will Richardson's post from a conference on the Future of the Teacher.

James' post

Shownotes:  

This was a Spanish Webcast.  Join us as we discuss Pre-Columbian Folklore.  The Rodriguez Clan;  Jorge Adrian Rodriguez, Don Rosendo Rodriguez and I (Jose Rodriguez) are joined by Kevin Sandridge.  Special thanks to my It's Elementary Webcast buddies Lisa Durff and Alice Mercer (AKA stream checkers).  Yes Alice; There was a story about Giants. I had a last minute change in computers after simplecast crashed on me.  The skype gods stayed on my side.  Only difficulty was audio on my mic was really low.  Special thanks to Jorge Rodriguez for his superb storytelling;  you can contact him at [email protected]

Stories referred to on show below;

La Llorona; The Weeping Women a women that drowned her children and now is cursed to look for them for eternity. We talked about the different versions popular throughout Mexico. Many people claimed to have seen her, even today. Rosendo shared his experience. One night his wife sewing late into the night when she heard her wailing down the streets.

Duendes/Chaneques; miniture goblins that create havoc. Don Resendo gives us examples of how the goblins would hide their sandals and throw them in the prickly pears. Don Rosendo talks about duendes appearing near the Laguna where he lives now. 

Tales from the Belen Cemetery in Guadalajara Mexico. El nino que le tenia miedo a la oscuridad.(Nachito) The boy that  was afraid of the darkness.  When he was left at home and his night light went off, he died of fright.  When he was buried the next day its tomb was open and the body outside. The grave digger reburried the body.  Each night for the next 10 days the same would happen.  It wasn't until his body was put on an outside grave with the body exposed so that light would it rest in peace.  Visitors still routinely leave candy and and toys to him. Many believe him to be a guardian angel.

Tales about Giants. The Mountain of dead in the state of Aguas Calientes.  How Giants that lived on Earth were called back to the heavens.  When they refused to go they were turned into Mountains.  There was a certain romanticism. About a couple of Giants that still walk the alleys of Aguas Calientes.  

Jorge shared with us a story about the great Volcanoes. The son of the Sun and the daughter of the moon come down to Earth. An Adam and Eve story and how they lost their divinity.  When She dies he is so heartbroken he stays at her side until and filled with sorrow the cries his hear out (literally) the Sun God so endeared decides to keep them together forever as the two great Volcanoes outside of Mexico City.

Kevin shared with us his trip to Puebla.  The Folklore he learned while there.   Jorge tells us of the Creation of the Sun and the Moon. How the Sun is put in the sky. and how when the Moon is created it was just as bright as the Sun. The Aztec Gods decide this could not be.  The Aztec Gods thew a rabbit at the Moon.  It's impression is still there today.  And with impact it starts the Moons rotation around the Earth.

Finally, Don Rosendo shares his personal stories of the bracero life in El Norte.  The times he shared with my grandfather Tomas Rodriguez. 

Chat Log Below

This show was a discussion about planning for teaching technology to primary students. I asked for input to my lesson plans from Maria Knee, since she teaches kindergarten. Notice the forceful patience that Maria uses in pointing out how I need to let the children actually use the computers on the first day. Notice how tired I am talking at 8 a.m. on a Saturday morning.

Technical notes: