January 2007

January 31, 2007

Microsculpture and Nanometers

I can hardly wait for what this can do in the future.

Ruminate ? Blog Archive ? Microsculpture and Nanometers

Reaction to: Canadian Teens Are Unaware Of Internet Dangers

The study, performed in partnership between Microsoft Canada and Ipsos-Reid, surveyed a large number of teens of ages ranging from 10-14 years on a number of privacy-related topics.

The results are staggering.

70% of the teens questioned indicated that they believed that the information they put online and sent to friends would be private.

Of this 70%, it was found that 37% of females and 22% of males had emailed a picture of themselves to somebody else on the internet.

Canadian Teens Are Unaware of Internet Dangers

Survey highlights Internet dangers kids are facing

A new report shows many children are still oblivious to the public nature of the Internet and the dangers that may lurk there.

Survey highlights Internet dangers kids are facing

Error Messages That I Understand

I could use this one for my staff.

Administrator Virtual Course Tour

Each year in the second semester I spend some time reviewing your courses with each of you. Last year we had a personal interview and talked about what level your course was on the four level scale. This year I am one year older and do not wish to take up your time with the personal interview. I am going to do a virtual tour of your course, but to do this I need each of you to complete the following questions:

Mathematics Grade Eleven Answers

The Math 20 cyber school course is ideal for students who are independent, motivated and loved to be challenged. It provides in depth lessons and examples that allow students to learn the course material independently, but it also has a teacher readily available via e-mail or phone to provide assistance and answer questions.

Student Comment: “I learned a lot and enjoyed the class. Thanks!”

Which of the following are used in the course?

Daily Journal ................................No
Dropbox........................................No
Chatroom.....................................Yes
Discussion Board..........................Yes
Fax machine.................................No
Computer marked assignments.......Yes
Flexible deadlines..........................Yes
RSS Feeds....................................No
Blog.............................................Yes
Read TADO..................................Sometimes . . . when an article peaks my interest
Marks for communicating...............No
Cyber Tracker saves time...............Yes, thank you! I find it extremely helpful and see that it has the potential to help us even more with tracking student progress.
Brown Bag useful..........................Yes, I think they are essential.

How many times a day do you check your...

Phone messages.........................2
Check your email.........................Lots 10+
How many times a week do you...

log into cyber tracker...................3
get to the pod.............................5

How many...

students in your course...............21
course email do you get...............470 since the beginning of this school year, 5182 since the course started
discussion board entries..............85

Most useful site(s) linked to the course.

Math GV Plotting Software (graphing software for students)

List one different element in your course.

Not Sure

Comments

None

Quote of the Day

The human race is challenged more than ever before to demonstrate our mastery -- not over nature but of themselves

Rachel Carson

January 30, 2007

Error Messages that I Understand

Over the next couple of days I will display a series of images that are error messages that I can understand.

Saskatoon Catholic Cyber School Student Survey Results

Academy Survey

Question 1
Is the Soccer Academy a good idea?

Number	Yes	No	Not Sure
285	169	20	96
	58.1%	6.9%	96%

Question 2
If you were a soccer player would this be something you would want to be involved in?

Number	Yes	No	Maybe
285	190	28	67
	65.3%	9.6%	23.0%

Question 3
Our Soccer Academy will allow students to stay at their home school. They will not have to transfer to another school to participate.

Number	Very Important	Not very important	not important at all
284	219	45	20
	75.3%	15.5%	6.9%

Question 4
Our Soccer Academy allows players to play with their home school's soccer team.

Number	Very Important	Not very important	not important at all
284	169	85	30
	58.1%	29.2%	10.3%

Question 5
The Soccer Academy happens during the school day, not after school.

Number	Very Important	Not very important	not important at all
284	118	114	52
	40.5%	39.2%	17.9%

Question 6
The course(s) a player will miss during the day can be done at the cyber school.

Number	Very Important	Not very important	not important at all
285	206	46	33
	70.8%	15.8%	11.3%

Question 7
What should the next academy be?

Number	Golf	Art	Drama	Band	Music	Volleyball	Golf	Tennis	Dance
284	57	30	34	17	36	38	21	7	45
	19.6%	10.3%	11.7%	5.8%	12.4%	13.1%	7.2%	2.4%	15.5%

'Grava' aims to simplify the creation of educational software

To reduce the time and cost associated with educational software development, Microsoft is creating a new software environment and publishing tools--code-named "Grava"--that reportedly will allow even educators with no programming skills to develop media-rich instructional content.

eSchool News online - Microsoft previews new development tools

Educational Testing Service

At nonprofit ETS, our mission is to advance quality and equity in education for all people worldwide.

We help teachers teach, students learn, and parents measure the educational and intellectual progress of their children. We do this by

Listening to educators, parents and critics
Learning what students and their institutions need
Leading in the development of new and innovative products and services

ETS Home

A little theory of blogging.

A little theory of blogging. Here goes: somebody creates a new tool or technique, such as blogging. In time, some people realize that it is powerful, and they make it a way of life for themselves as individuals, then as members of a small community. As the community grows, a culture is created, which solidifies the power in the lives of many people, even if they are still a small portion of a wider society.

Blogs / Weblogs in Higher Education

The Search for a PHD

I have just completed my Masters in Distance Education at Athabasca University with a 3.78 GPA. (he states proudly)

I am presently looking for a University to do my PHD and an advisor who would be interested in K-12 online education. An accredited university is a must, I would love to have my last degree from either, England, U of S, Australia or Europe. My other degrees are from Canada and I would like a different approach. Any suggestions from the blogosphere would be great.

I would like a university that might be willing to offer me a scholarship...I like saving money and it makes me popular with my wife.

Here is my CV and feel free to email me if you have a suggestion, a first hand positive university experience, if you work for a university or you have a pile of money and would like to sponsor a poor teacher's education. I am not cheap but I can be bought.

Darren's CV

I normally do not post personal entries but I thought this might be an interesting experience.

Time and School 2.0

Teachers are overwhelmed, students are overwhelmed, and no one has any time. Until we recognize that we cannot expect to improve learning in schools by giving MORE mandates, but instead need to embrace educational deregulation and place FEWER requirements on teachers and administrators, I don’t think we are going to begin approaching a realistic design for School 2.0. Standards and accountability are not the answer. Finding creative and empowering ways to give learners of all ages permission to take sidetrips for learning and get IN DEPTH in their studies of content they find meaningful and relevant IS a big part of a set of answers our schools need.

Moving at the Speed of Creativity ? Blog Archive ? Time and School 2.0

Administrator Virtual Course Tour

Christian Ethics Grade Ten Answers

This Christian Ethics 10 is the first course designed with the explicit approval of Bishop Albert Legatt and the endorsement of the Diocese of Saskatoon. Its aim is to reach out to those students who are seeking a Christian ethics course regardless of their location or school division. It incorporates technology in a manner which focuses on the unique and god-given talents and beliefs of all participants to build a truly one of a kind online Christian community of personal faith and truth seekers.

Student Comment: “Thank you for teaching me this course, I learned a great deal and found it to be a very welcome and accepting place to talk about faith and God.”

Which of the following are used in the course?

Daily Journal ................................Yes
Dropbox........................................Yes
Chatroom.....................................Yes
Discussion Board..........................Yes
Fax machine.................................Yes
Computer marked assignments.......Yes
Flexible deadlines..........................Yes
RSS Feeds....................................Yes
Blog.............................................Yes
Read TADO..................................Yes
Marks for communicating...............Yes
Cyber Tracker saves time...............Yes
Brown Bag useful..........................Yes

How many times a day do you check your...

Phone messages.........................2
Check your email.........................too many to count

How many times a week do you...

log into cyber tracker...................almost daily
get to the pod.............................3+

How many...

students in your course...............28
course email do you get...............407 from students, 708 from me
discussion board entries..............1448

Most useful site(s) linked to the course.

I have none of these in my course.

List one different element in your course.

The Community service is unique to the CE course, and the way in which I incorporated computer marking in a traditionally marked subject area for the ease of assessment.

Comments

None

Quote of the Day

"The litmus test of all leadership is whether it mobilizes people's commitment to putting their energy into actions designed to improve things."

Michael Fullan, 2001

January 29, 2007

The Feng Shui Office

I have rearranged my office...

Here are 13 tips for the do's and taboos of feng shui office design, with more available in Feng Shui Dos & Taboos

The Feng Shui Office

Academia vs Wikipedia

Should schools and colleges ban Wikipedia in student work? At the end of Scott Jaschik's article, "A Stand Against Wikipedia," Temple University librarian Steven Bell frames the issue this way: Do we tell students what information to trust or do we teach them how to make the judgment themselves?

Blogs / Weblogs in Higher Education

AVG Anti-Spyware 7.5

This setup contains the free as well as the paid version of AVG Anti-Spyware. After the installation, a free 30-day trial version containing all the extensions of the full version will be activated. At the end of the trial, these extensions will be deactivated and the program will turn into a feature-limited freeware version.

ewido - anti-spyware and anti-malware solutions

Administrator Virtual Course Tour

Mathematics Grade Ten Answers

Mathematics 10 provides students the opportunity to learn Mathematics 10 online instead of a regular classroom. Students can work through the material at their own pace, and challenge themselves with learning mathematics on their own. The students will be able to solve equations, learn about linear functions, variations, sequences and series, geometry, and consumer mathematics.

Student Comment: I joined math 10 because it is easier to work with than being with a bunch of hooligans in a class.

Which of the following are used in the course?

Daily Journal ................................No
Dropbox........................................No
Chatroom.....................................No
Discussion Board..........................No
Fax machine.................................No
Computer marked assignments.......Yes
Flexible deadlines..........................Yes
RSS Feeds....................................No
Blog.............................................No
Read TADO..................................No
Marks for communicating...............Yes
Cyber Tracker saves time...............Yes
Brown Bag useful..........................Yes

How many times a day do you check your...

Phone messages.........................1
Check your email.........................3

How many times a week do you...

log into cyber tracker...................1
get to the pod.............................3

How many...

students in your course...............30
course email do you get...............803
discussion board entries..............0

Most useful site(s) linked to the course.

I have none of these in my course.

List one different element in your course.

Consumer Math Project. Students have to research a vehicle they would like to purchase, determine their budget, then determine if they can afford the vehicle. Students have to utilize a wide range of aspects in the consumer math unit to complete the project.

Comments

Is there a way to add to cyber tracker by sending a phone message to the student at the same time as the email. Or, should we be asking the student to call us at our home schools. Having the time to come into the pod is an issue. If I do come to the pod, it is at 7 in the morning on my way to Joe’s from the gym. Cyber tracker has helped so much – having a paper copy of report cards issued by cyber tracker has made a big difference. It would still be nice to get the opportunity to see more of the staff at cyber. I know that as we grow, this may be difficult to do. The laptops will make it easier to access cyber. I have someone in my classroom both times during my prep and cyber release this semester, so accessing a computer is an issue. Overall, very happy with being able to teach at cyber. There have been some bumps along the way with me this year, and I am continuing to improve those issues.

Quote of the Day

The trouble with the rat race is that even if you win, you're still a rat.

Lilly Tomlin

January 26, 2007

Administrator Virtual Course Tour

Mathematics A30 Grade Twelve Answers

This course is set for speed for students who would like to move quickly and has incremental teaching for students who struggle with math.

Student Comment: Thanks
Which of the following are used in the course?

Daily Journal ................................No
Dropbox........................................No
Chatroom.....................................Yes
Discussion Board..........................Yes
Fax machine.................................No
Computer marked assignments.......Yes
Flexible deadlines..........................Yes
RSS Feeds....................................No
Blog.............................................No
Read TADO..................................No
Marks for communicating...............No
Cyber Tracker saves time...............Maybe
Brown Bag useful..........................Yes

How many times a day do you check your...

Phone messages.........................Since I have been working at home, it may be 1.5 weeks before I check.
Check your email.........................10 times

How many times a week do you...

log into cyber tracker...................3-5
get to the pod.............................once every 2-3 weeks

How many...

students in your course...............30
course email do you get...............roughly 600
discussion board entries..............22

Most useful site(s) linked to the course.

The only course that I have linked to is the government course which I have placed right inside my course to avoid broken links.

List one different element in your course.

1) Self tests that allow students to check their understanding before they do assignments that count for marks.
2) Incremental teaching in the latter half of the course. This isn’t the norm in math courses.

Comments

A. It is hard to summarize any course in email.

B. Cyberschool is a great place to offer students a different approach to learning.

C. It is a lot of work!

Quote of the Day

Don't worry about failure. Worry about the chances you miss when you don't even try.

Author unknown.

January 25, 2007

Schools Act to Short-Circuit Spread of 'Cyberbullying'

Utah's State Board of Education amended its existing discipline guidelines for districts to include policies specific to bullying. The changes also included a definition of cyberbullying, requiring districts to offer students and teachers training that would broadly address "electronic means for aggression inside or outside of school."

Schools Act to Short-Circuit Spread of 'Cyberbullying' - WSJ.com

Administrator Course Virtual Tour

Christian Ethics Grade Eleven Answers

CE 20 is a great course. Students get a chance to learn about the history of the Catholic church and the beliefs. It also allows for some unique sharing opportunities with other students in the class.

Student Comment: They have learned more about who they are and have strengthened their faith.

Which of the following are used in the course?

Daily Journal ................................Yes
Dropbox........................................Yes
Chatroom.....................................No
Discussion Board..........................Yes
Fax machine.................................No
Computer marked assignments.......Yes
Flexible deadlines..........................Yes
RSS Feeds....................................???
Blog.............................................No
Read TADO..................................Yes
Marks for communicating...............Yes
Cyber Tracker saves time...............Yes
Brown Bag useful..........................Yes

How many times a day do you check your...

Phone messages.........................No phone
Check your email.........................2-3

How many times a week do you...

log into cyber tracker...................daily
get to the pod.............................0

How many...

students in your course...............30
course email do you get...............lots
discussion board entries..............make at least 2 per term

Most useful site(s) linked to the course.

Journeys of Paul

List one different element in your course.

I’m not sure, I haven’t really looked in depth to other classes

Comments

I really like being at the Cyber School. It works great with my schedule (I am still able to sub in the morning and then teach in the p.m.) It is a great way for students to gain the extra credits the need within their timetable.

Neuroscience for Kids

Brain Games Many of the games listed below have separate pages...Just click on the small picture or the game to open up a new page to play.

Neuroscience For Kids - brain games

Quote of the Day

Don't take life too seriously, because you will never get out of it alive

Author Unknown

January 24, 2007

Some facts about my Birthdate

18 January 1960
Your date of conception was on or about 27 April 1959 which was a Monday.
You were born on a Monday under the astrological sign Capricorn.
Your Life path number is 8.
Life Path Compatibility:
You are most compatible with those with the Life Path numbers 2, 4, 8, 11 & 22.
You should get along well with those with the Life Path number 6.
You may or may not get along well with those with the Life Path numbers 1 & 5.
You are least compatible with those with the Life Path numbers 3, 7 & 9.
The Julian calendar date of your birth is 2436951.5.
The golden number for 1960 is 4.
The epact number for 1960 is 2.
The year 1960 was a leap year.
Your birthday falls into the Chinese year beginning 2/8/1959 and ending 1/27/1960.
You were born in the Chinese year of the Pig.
Your Native American Zodiac sign is Goose; your plant is Bramble.
You were born in the Egyptian month of Famenoth, the third month of the season of Poret (Emergence - Fertile soil).
Your date of birth on the Hebrew calendar is 18 Tevet 5720.
Or if you were born after sundown then the date is 19 Tevet 5720.
The Mayan Calendar long count date of your birthday is 12.17.6.5.7 which is
12 baktun 17 katun 6 tun 5 uinal 7 kin
The Hijra (Islamic Calendar) date of your birth is Monday, 19 Rajab 1379 (1379-7-19).
The date of Easter on your birth year was Sunday, 17 April 1960.
The date of Orthodox Easter on your birth year was Sunday, 17 April 1960.
The date of Ash Wednesday (the first day of Lent) on your birth year was Wednesday 2 March 1960.
The date of Whitsun (Pentecost Sunday) in the year of your birth was Sunday 5 June 1960.
The date of Whisuntide in the year of your birth was Sunday 12 June 1960.
The date of Rosh Hashanah in the year of your birth was Thursday, 22 September 1960.
The date of Passover in the year of your birth was Tuesday, 12 April 1960.
The date of Mardi Gras on your birth year was Tuesday 1 March 1960.
As of 1/24/2007 2:40:07 PM EST
You are 47 years old.
You are 564 months old.
You are 2,453 weeks old.
You are 17,173 days old.
You are 412,166 hours old.
You are 24,730,000 minutes old.
You are 1,483,800,007 seconds old.
Celebrities who share your birthday:
Jonathan Davis (1971) Mark Messier (1961) Kevin Costner (1955)
Bobby Goldsboro (1941) Danny Kaye (1913) Cary Grant (1904)
Oliver Hardy (1892) A.A. Milne (1882) Dr. Daniel Hale Williams (1856)
Daniel Webster (1782)
Top songs of 1960
Theme from A Summer Place- Percy Faith Are You Lonesome Tonight? by Elvis Presley
It's Not Or Never by Elvis Presley Cathy's Clown by Everly Brothers
Stuck On You by Elvis Presley Running Bear by Johnny Preston
Save the Last Dance for Me by Drifters Teen Angel by Mark Dinning
My Heart Has a Mind of Its Own by Connie Francis
Your age is the equivalent of a dog that is 6.72133072407045 years old. (You're still chasing cats!)
There are 359 days till your next birthday
on which your cake will have 48 candles.
Those 48 candles produce 48 BTUs,
or 12,096 calories of heat (that's only 12.0960 food Calories!) .
You can boil 5.49 US ounces of water with that many candles.
In 1960 there were approximately 4.2 million births in the US.
In 1960 the US population was approximately 179,323,175 people, 50.6 persons per square mile.
In 1960 in the US there were approximately 1,523,000 marriages (8.5%) and 393,000 divorces (2.2%)
In 1960 in the US there were approximately 1,712,000 deaths (9.5 per 1000)
In the US a new person is born approximately every 8 seconds.
In the US one person dies approximately every 12 seconds.
In 1960 the population of Australia was approximately 10,391,920.
In 1960 there were approximately 230,326 births in Australia.
In 1960 in Australia there were approximately 75,428 marriages and 6,633 divorces.
In 1960 in Australia there were approximately 88,464 deaths.
Your birthstone is Garnet
The Mystical properties of Garnet
Garnet is used as a power stone
Some lists consider these stones to be your birthstone. (Birthstone lists come from Jewelers, Tibet, Ayurvedic Indian medicine, and other sources)
Emerald, Rose Quartz
Your birth tree is Elm Tree, the noble-mindedness
Pleasant shape, tasteful clothes, modest demands, tends not forgive mistakes, cheerful, likes to lead but not to obey, honest and faithful partner, tends to a know-all-attitude and making decisions for others, noble-minded, generous, good sense of humour, practical.
There are 335 days till Christmas 2007!
There are 348 days till Orthodox Christmas!
The moon's phase on the day you were
born was waning gibbous.

Check your Birthdate

What does my name mean??

You entered: darren david paul cannell
There are 22 letters in your name.
Those 22 letters total to 94
There are 8 vowels and 14 consonants in your name.
What your first name means:Greek Male Variant of Darin: Gift.
Gaelic Male Great.
English Male Great. Origin uncertain. Famous bearer: 1960s husband of Samantha in the American television sitcom 'Bewitched'.
Your number is: 4
The characteristics of #4 are: A foundation, order, service, struggle against limits, steady growth.
The expression or destiny for #4:
Order, service, and management are the cornerstones of the number 4 Expression. Your destiny is to express wonderful organization skills with your ever practical, down-to-earth approach. You are the kind of person who is always willing to work those long, hard hours to push a project through to completion. A patience with detail allows you to become expert in fields such as building, engineering, and all forms of craftsmanship. Your abilities to write and teach may lean toward the more technical and detailed. In the arts, music will likely be your choice. Artistic talents may also appear in such fields as horiculture and floral arrangement, as well. Many skilled physicians and especially surgeons have the 4 Expression.
The positive attitudes of the 4 Expression yield responsibility; you are one who no doubt, fulfills obligations, and is highly systematic and orderly. You are serious and sincere, honest and faithful. It is your role to help and you are required to do a good job at everything you undertake.
If there is too much 4 energies present in your makeup, you may express some of the negative attitudes of the number 4. The obligations that you face may tend to create frustration and feelings of limitation or restriction. You may sometimes find yourself nursing negative attitudes in this regard and these can keep you in a rather low mood. Avoid becoming too rigid, stubborn, dogmatic, and fixed in your opinions. You may have a tendency to develop and hold very strong likes and dislikes, and some of these may border on the classification of prejudice. The negative side of 4 often produces dominant and bossy individuals who use disciplinarian to an excess. These tendencies must be avoided. Finally, like nearly all with 4 Expression, you must keep your eye on the big picture and not get overly wrapped up in detail and routine.
Your Soul Urge number is: 8
A Soul Urge number of 8 means:
With an 8 soul urge, you have a natural flair for big business and the challenges imposed by the commercial world. Power, status and success are very important to you. You have strong urges to supervise, organize and lead. Material desires are also very pronounced. You have good executive abilities, and with these, confidence, energy and ambition.
Your mind is analytical and judgment sound; you're a good judge of material values and also human character. Self-controlled, you rarely let emotions cloud judgment. You are somewhat of an organizer at heart, and you like to keep those beneath you organized and on a proper track. This is a personality that wants to lead, not follow. You want to be known for your planning ability and solid judgment.
The negative aspects of the 8 soul urge are the often dominating and exacting attitude. You may have a tendency to be very rigid, sometimes stubborn.
Your Inner Dream number is: 5
An Inner Dream number of 5 means:
You dream of being totally free and unrestrained by responsibility. You see yourself conversing and mingling with the natives in many nations, living for adventure and life experiences. You imagine what you might accomplished.

What does your name means?

The Lowercase L

This is a fine example of the fact that there is a blog out there for everything.

lowercase L

Community makes decision on student uniforms

SASKATOON, Jan. 24, 2007 – Families whose children plan to attend Bethlehem Catholic High School in fall 2007 have determined that student uniforms will not be implemented at the school.

Results of the community’s vote were released on Tuesday to students, parents, guardians and families. A total of 344 votes were cast by families who indicated that their child planned to attend Bethlehem. Of those votes, 33 per cent indicated they were in favour of uniforms, 67 per cent were opposed. Eighty per cent of families needed to vote in favour of implementing uniforms for the plan to move forward.

The vote was conducted on Jan. 18 and 19 and votes were tabulated on Monday, Jan. 22.

“We are very pleased that so many families took the time to express their wishes on such an important topic,” said Bethlehem Principal Scott Gay.

The vote occurred after several levels of consultation with the future Bethlehem community. Two evening meetings for parents and students were held in January. In addition, Principal Gay and vice-principal Cheryl Thorson visited all Grade 8 classrooms at Bethlehem’s neighbourhood schools as well as the Grade 9 classrooms at E. D. Feehan Catholic High School to discuss the issue.

The consultation was organized after the Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools Board of Education asked the community to consider the possibility of implementing student uniforms at the high school. The consultation process is set out in the school uniform policy passed by the board in June 2006. Among other things, it provides guidelines for how consultation and voting should occur.

Administrator Course Virtual Tour

Mathematics Grade Nine Answers

Welcome to Math 90. Do you need some tutoring? Do you want to want to redo an exam to strive for a better grade? Or do you just need some notes for a certain section of Math 90. This course is a great resource for both teachers and students.

Student Comment: They were well prepared for Math 10.

Which of the following are used in the course?

Daily Journal ................................No
Dropbox........................................No
Chatroom.....................................Yes
Discussion Board..........................Yes
Fax machine.................................No
Computer marked assignments.......Yes
Flexible deadlines..........................Yes
RSS Feeds....................................No
Blog.............................................Yes
Read TADO..................................No
Marks for communicating...............No
Cyber Tracker saves time...............Yes
Brown Bag useful..........................Yes

How many times a day do you check your...

Phone messages.........................Once
Check your email.........................4-8

How many times a week do you...

log into cyber tracker...................4-5
get to the pod.............................5

How many...

students in your course...............44
course email do you get...............4-7 a day
discussion board entries..............not many

Most useful site(s) linked to the course.

I have no links

List one different element in your course.

There is plenty of interactive content.

Comments

What distinguishes this course is that it is totally free of any actual paper distribution and it self grades. It is a total online approach to learning.

Quote of the Day

Even if you are on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there.

Will Rogers

January 23, 2007

Cyber School Poem (Holy Crow is this corny)

Cyber School, I never told you how I truly feel
Being with you feels surreal
Love is our connection
You are like perfection

Cyber School, you are unbelievably beautiful
Not having met you earlier makes me feel like a fool
Words cannot express
How you have captured my heart with success

Cyber School, you mean so much to me
With you I really feel free
I anxiously await our time ahead
With impatience, I am fed

This education is for you, I hope you will like it
Because loving you, I will never quit
I look forward to our next moment together
I hope you enjoyed this letter

This poem was created by a poem generator, using Cyber School as the person I love and an education as an optional gift... and the above is what was created.

The Poems Generator

Wierd and Wonderful sites

This is a very neat site, I always wanted to create my own M and M character. And here it is...

PLANET M&M'S

Administrator Course Virtual Tour

Physical Education Grade 12 Answers

The face to face classroom is definitely the best option for teaching physical education, but, having said that, there are many legitimate reasons that a face to face classroom may not be the best situation for every student. This course is designed with the flexibility to provide options for students who may desire an alternate method to complete the course. The aim of the SPED 30 course is to develop of a lifelong positive attitude for participation in meaningful physical activity, which ultimately should be the aim of any physical education class regardless whether the class is face to face or on-line. Cyber Phys. Ed breaks away from the traditional “model the teacher” (explain, demonstrate and practice method) to a conceptual approach by providing the students the opportunity to learn knowledge on-line.

Student Comment: I haven’t received any formal feedback comments, but I have had a lot of interaction with students to help me improve my course.

Which of the following are used in the course?

Daily Journal ................................Yes
Dropbox........................................Yes
Chatroom.....................................No
Discussion Board..........................Yes
Fax machine.................................No
Computer marked assignments.......Yes
Flexible deadlines..........................No
RSS Feeds....................................No
Blog.............................................No
Read TADO..................................No
Marks for communicating...............No
Cyber Tracker saves time...............Yes
Brown Bag useful..........................Yes

How many times a day do you check your...

Phone messages.........................Once
Check your email.........................three

How many times a week do you...

log into cyber tracker...................4-5
get to the pod.............................2-3

How many...

students in your course...............7
course email do you get...............50
discussion board entries..............200

Most useful site(s) linked to the course.

Golf Ball Museum

List one different element in your course.

There is probably not much different from my course compared to other courses since most everything that I have on the course, other than content, is what I gleaned from other designers in the pod.

Comments

I LOVE CYBER SCHOOL!

Quote of the Day

BRITTANY (age 4) had an earache and wanted a painkiller. She tried in vain to take the lid off the bottle. Seeing her frustration, her Mom explained it was a childproof cap and she'd have to open it for her.
Eyes wide with wonder, the little girl asked: "How does it know it's me?"

JAMES (age 4) was listening to a Bible story. His dad read: "The man named Lot was warned to take his wife and flee out of the city but his wife looked back and was turned to salt Concerned, James asked: "What happened to the flea?"

The Sermon I think this Mom will never forget.. this particular Sunday sermon...

"Dear Lord," the minister began, with arms extended toward heaven and a rapturous look on his upturned face.
"Without you, we are but dust."
He would have continued but at that moment my very obedient daughter (who was listening), leaned over to me and asked quite audibly in her shrill little girl voice, "Mom, what is butt dust?

January 22, 2007

Administrator Course Virtual Tours

Biology 30 Answers

My course is an interesting option to the student that requires a Biology 30 credit, but for some reason is unable to take the course in a face to face setting. I have the same information in my online version of the course as my face to face version. My online course tends to involve much more 'search and discover' type learning which appeals to many people.

Student Comment: It was tougher and funner than I thought it would be.

Which of the following are used in the course?

Daily Journal ................................No
Dropbox........................................Yes
Chatroom.....................................Yes
Discussion Board..........................No
Fax machine.................................Yes
Computer marked assignments.......Yes
Flexible deadlines..........................Yes
RSS Feeds....................................No
Blog.............................................Soon
Read TADO..................................Yes
Marks for communicating...............No
Cyber Tracker saves time...............Yes
Brown Bag useful..........................Yes

How many times a day do you check your...

Phone messages.........................Once
Check your email.........................Many times (+20)

How many times a week do you...

log into cyber tracker...................many
get to the pod.............................once

How many...

students in your course...............21
course email do you get...............600
discussion board entries..............0

Most useful site(s) linked to the course.

Nobel Prize Web Site

Pearson Text Book Helper Site

List one different element in your course.

I use the "Take Notes" as a lesson by lesson review. I don't think anyone else is doing this. Probably my favourite tool as a cyber teacher.

Comments

Once again Darren, thank you for the opportunity to teach and learn in such an exciting setting. I found myself in quite the discussion with a colleague at school today... I overheard her cutting down cyber school. I challenged her to defend her statements. Not only couldn't she defend them, she had never looked at the course (Grade 9 math) she was criticizing. So during the course of our discussion I explained a bit about what we do and calmed her ignorant notions of what cyber is. Hmmm, teachers challenging new ideas, who would have known?

SCCS Poster Advertisement Campaign

It is that time of year where we go into advertisement mode at the Saskatoon Catholic Cyber School. We will be using the following poster to wallpaper the schools of our division.

The image was created using Corel Bryce, photoshop and other assorted programs.

Quote of the Day

Life is a challenge. Can you complete it.

Author Unknown

January 19, 2007

Blogs on Educational Blogging

supportblogging ? Links to School Bloggers

The results are in

As promised, here are the results of the Dangerously Irrelevant 2007 Education Blogosphere Survey...

Dangerously Irrelevant: The results are in!

Want to pretend you are an online educator?

Each year I evaluate the courses in our cyber school if you would like to pretend you are one of the lucky educators who are involved in the Saskatoon Catholic Cyber School... fill out the following survey and post it in the comment area.

Reply to this email and fill in the blanks. Read the instructions carefully and complete all the questions. Some of the questions might require you to reflect on your development and course. If you teach more than one course complete this email twice. This questionnaire needs to be completed by the end of January and honest answers are required. You will find by the wording of the questions that I have biases but these are one man’s opinion on how cyber education should look. Remember, to most of these questions there is no right or wrong answer. That does not mean I will not discuss areas with each of you and try to change your ways to the force or the dark side, depending on which side of the fence you exist.

1.) If you were trying to sell your course to the general public in three sentences (no more, no less) what would they be.
2.) List the best internet site that you have linked to your course to support a lesson. Answer with the title of the site and the url.
3.) Share the best comment about your course that you have received from a student.
4.) Which of the following do you use in your course?
Daily Journal Yes or No
DropBox Yes or No
Chatroom Yes or No
Discussion Board Yes or No
5.) Do you not accept assignment in your course after a certain time other than the 150 day deadline? Yes or No
6.) Do you have more than one assignment in your course that are computer marked? Yes or No
7.) Do you use the fax machine to support your course? Yes or No
8.) Do you assign a communication mark in your course? Yes or No
9.) Has Cyber Tracker saved you work? Yes or No
10.) Do you use RSS feeds in your course? Yes or No
11.) Do you have a blog? Yes or No
12.) Do you read Teaching and Developing Online? Yes or No
13.) Do you find the brown bags useful? Yes or No
14.) How many times a day do you check your phone messages?
15.) How many times a week do you log into Cyber Tracker?
16.) How many times a day do you check your scs.sk.ca email?
17.) How many times a week on average do you get to the pod?
18.) How many students do you currently have in your course?
19.) How many emails have the students sent you?
20.) How many discussion board entries have the students made?
21.) How many times in the first semester were you in the cyber chapel?
22.) How many times in the first semester were you in the student lounge?
23.) Should cyber teachers be expected to track the attendance of cyber students? Yes or No
24.) Attach a screen capture of your home page.
25.) Give the url to the best page within your course.
26.) List one element of your course which is different than the other courses in the Cyber School.
27.) Comments

Try to be as clear as possible with your answers. If you think it is necessary to clarify your yes or no answers, feel free to attach a comment after the yes or no.
If I am unclear on any of your answers I might contact you for further clarification.

Darren Cannell
Administrator
Saskatoon Catholic Cyber School
Http://www.scs.sk.ca/cyber/home.htm

Should we forget God, Satan, the Communist Party, Freud, and our mothers in schools?

I do not agree with most of this but it is interesting.

We are on our own, which I think is FANTASTICALLY liberating, and which would also prove that all the other checks, all the other codes, all the other organizations of our lives are human constructs, which we have attempted to invent in order to attack the notion of purposelessness." - Peter Greenaway

Artichoke: Should we forget God, Satan, the Communist Party, Freud, and our mothers in schools?

A Brain-Controlled Humanoid Robot

This page describes the brain-computer interface project at the Neural Systems Lab at the University of Washington. We are working towards enabling sophisticated control and interaction with the environment, using very simple selection-based interfaces that can be operated using brain waves alone.

A Brain-Controlled Humanoid Robot

At Mashup Camp, geeks plot future of Web

In his spare time, Taylor builds mashups--Web applications that combine content from more than one source and have caught on as Web providers from Amazon.com to Microsoft make their data programmatically available to outsiders.

At Mashup Camp, geeks plot future of Web | CNET News.com

Quote of the Day

Let others cheer the winning man,
There's one I hold worth while;
Tis he who does the best he can,
Then loses with a smile.
Beaten he is, but not to stay
Down with the rank and file,
That man will win some other day,
who loses with a smile.

Author Unknown

January 18, 2007

Innovation and Gaming: Keys to the future

…computer games that can help students learn to think like engineers, urban planners, journalists, lawyers, and other innovative professionals, giving them the tools they need to survive in a changing world. When students play epistemic games, they participate in simulations of a society that they might someday inhabit. These games help them to develop ways of thinking and knowing that are valued in the world, giving them a way to imagine who they might someday become.

Moving at the Speed of Creativity ? Blog Archive ? Innovation and Gaming: Keys to the future

7 Things You Should Know About Blogs

A blog—shorthand for "Web log"—is an online collection of personal commentary and links. Blogs can be viewed as online journals to which others can respond that are as simple to use as e-mail. The simplicity of creating and maintaining blogs means they can rapidly lead to open discussions. Faculty are using blogs to express their opinions, promote dialogue in their disciplines, and support teaching and learning; students increasingly use blogs for personal expression and as course requirements. By carefully evaluating blogs' strengths and weaknesses, educators are learning to set guidelines and expectations to maximize blogs' instructional benefits. Structured exercises and clear goals are further enhancing the educational value of blogs. Put into practice with an understanding of their benefits and limitations, blogs are an increasingly accepted instructional technology tool.

EDUCAUSE | Resources | Resource Center Abstract

SCCS Student Cards

So, what do you think of the new Saskatoon Catholic Cyber School student card? My son is a little young to be in the cyber school but I liked the picture.

Teachers without Borders

This is something that our Association of Online K-12 Schooling should offer to partner with. Teachers without Borders - a compass for worldwide educational reform in the information age

Quote of the Day

All power corrupts, but we need electricity.

Unknown

January 17, 2007

Learning Centre

Welcome to Library and Archives Canada's Learning Centre -- bringing quality educational products and services to teachers and students.

Library and Archives Canada (LAC) has a collection strong in history, literature and music. The Learning Centre allows us to open our vaults to all Canadians by making some of our treasures available online. Students gain access to material that will enrich their learning experience.

Introduction - Learning Centre - Library and Archives Canada

The Weblog Project

What is a blog? TheWeblogProject - the first open-source movie documentary about blogs and bloggers - TheWeblogProject

A little mind reading

To be a good cyber school administrator you have be able to read other the minds of others via the web.

Let the reading begin.... A little mind reading.

Saskatoon Catholic Cyber School Summarized

The goal of the Saskatoon Catholic Cyber School is to use the Internet to enable education to occur in places where it normally does not. It extends resources where there are few, expands the learning day, and opens the learning place. We are using the Internet to connect people, communities, and resources to support learning. We are witnessing how the Internet adds graphics, sound, video, and interaction to give teachers and students multiple paths for understanding.

Summary document

A Communication Stategy

The following is an example of a communication strategy for a school system which could and would make communication within a division a little more streamline and easy to use. The plan contains many holes and is not complete but it is a start.

SCS Communication Strategy

Quote of the Day

To be a star, you must shine your own light, follow your own path, and don't worry about the darkness for that is when the stars shine brightest.

Unknown

January 16, 2007

New wireless technologies make waves

From ultra wideband to WiMAX and the emergence of the 802.11n Wi-Fi standard, new developments in wireless technologies promise to boost the speed and range of wireless networks significantly. Here's a roundup of what's in store.

eSchool News online - New wireless technologies make waves

GSCS Soccer Academy

The academy concept allows high school students to integrate, within their regular school day, intensive study of a sport, skill or area of interest that is particularly engaging for them.

In our pilot project, the area of focus is soccer. This sport was chosen for two key reasons. Firstly, there is interest from this sporting community in Saskatoon . Secondly, there is a world-class indoor soccer facility available that our school division can access through agreements with the city and the Saskatoon Soccer Centre Inc.

There are other options for academies, including visual or performing arts, like drama or dance; other sports, such as hockey or swimming; entrepreneurship/business; science; social justice and faith-based activities.

Academies are advantageous for students for several reasons.

Students are engaged in their schooling.
Students are working to expand their technical skills in a particular area.
Students are learning life skills that will help them become stronger members of their communities after their high school careers are over.
Students in an academy, though they may travel off-site to a specialized facility, will remain spiritually, academically and socially engaged at their home high school. Students will still have access and contact with a school community that will monitor their overall school program, ensure they are meeting the academic requirements for their school and the division and will give them access to counselling for best course selection to achieve balance and success in their overall school life.

SCCS Soccer Academy

Quote of the Day

The best thing about the future is that it only comes one day at a time

Abraham Lincoln

January 15, 2007

MappedUp.com

MappedUp is an application that tracks a large number of RSS news sources and displays their latest items on a world map, geographically and in real-time.

An indispensable tool for the global newsjunkie! / MappedUp.com

The future Of Learning

I’m going to come back to this amazing little manifesto later, but I wanted to get it out to everyone I know without waiting for my little brain to catch up.

Ruminate ? Blog Archive ? “The Future of Learning” Manifesto (Christian Long)

Want an iPhone? Beware the iHandcuffs

The phone comes installed with what some dub "crippleware"--software that will limit the phone's music-playing functionality.

eSchool News online

Thanks a bunch for the email.

I must send my thanks to whoever sent me the one about rat poop in the glue on envelopes because I now have to use a wet towel with every envelope that needs sealing. Also, now I have to scrub the top of every can I open for the same reason.

I no longer have any savings because I gave it to a sick girl (Penny Brown) who is about to die in the hospital for the 1,387,258th time.

I no longer have any money at all, but that will change once I receive the $15,000 that Bill Gates/Microsoft and AOL are sending me for participating in their special e-mail program.

I no longer worry about my soul because I have 363,214 angels looking out for me, and St. Theresa's novena has granted my every wish.

I no longer eat KFC because their chickens are actually horrible mutant freaks with no eyes or feathers.

I no longer use cancer-causing deodorants even though I smell like a water buffalo on a hot day.

Thanks to you, I have learned that my prayers only get answered if I forward an email to seven of my friends and make a wish within five minutes.

Because of your concern I no longer drink Coca Cola because it can remove toilet stains.

I no longer can buy gasoline without taking a man along to watch the car so a serial killer won't crawl in my back seat when I'm pumping gas.

I no longer drink Pepsi or Dr. Pepper since the people who make these products are atheists who refuse to put "Under God" on their cans.

I no longer use Saran wrap in the microwave because it causes cancer and thanks for letting me know I can't boil a cup water in the microwave anymore because it will blow up in my face...disfiguring me for life.

I no longer check the coin return on pay phones because I could be pricked with a needle infected with AIDS.

I no longer go to shopping malls because someone will drug me with perfume sample and rob me.

I no longer receive packages from UPS or FedEx since they are actually Al Qaeda in disguise.

I no longer shop at Target since they are French and don't support our American troops or the Salvation Army.

I no longer answer the phone because someone will ask me to dial a number for which I will get a phone bill with calls to Jamaica, Uganda, Singapore, and Uzbekistan.

I no longer have any sneakers -- but that will change once I receive my free replacement pair from Nike.

I no longer buy expensive cookies from Neiman Marcus since I now have their recipe.

Thanks to you, I can't use anyone's toilet but mine because a big brown African spider is lurking under the seat to cause me instant death when it bites my butt.

Thank you too for all the endless advice Andy Rooney has given us; I can live a better life now because he's told us how to fix everything.

And thanks to your great advice, I can't ever pick up $5.00 I dropped in the parking lot because it probably was placed there by a sex molester waiting underneath my car to grab my leg.

Oh, and don't forget this one either!
I can no longer drive my car because I can't buy gas from certain gas companies!

If you don't send this e-mail to at least 144,000 people in the next 70 minutes, a large dove with diarrhea will land on your head at 5:00 PM this afternoon and the fleas from 12 camels will infest your back, causing you to grow a hairy hump.

I know this will occur because it actually happened to a friend of my next door neighbor's ex-mother-in-law's second husband's cousin's beautician...

Have a wonderful day....

Investing Classroom

Here's the best place to sharpen your investing skills and pick up new ones. Whether you're a novice, an experienced inviestor, or someplace in-between, we can help you make better investing decisions with knowledge.

Morningstar Investing Classroom

Grazr

Make any web page better with Grazr.

Grazr, you know for feeds...

SCCS Open House Presentation

We had an open house at the Saskatoon Catholic Cyber School and some of you did not make it by so I have decided for the next couple of days to share some of the amazing powerpoints that were created by the staff to share a little bit about our approach to online K-12 teaching.

Presentation: Cyber School Tracking.

Website version

Powerpoint version

Quote of the Day

Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true!

Homer J. Simpson

January 12, 2007

Pedagogy defines School 2.0

Four simple words that is the difference between School 2.0 and School 1.5.

Pedagogy defines School 2.0 at The Thinking Stick

Sekeirox is talking about TADO

No sure what it says exactly but I am sure it is nice.

O outro día , Darren Cannel, de Teaching and developing Online (TADO) , con motivo das festas do Nadal, lembrábase das persoas e sitios que teñen algún vencello co seu blog. Dicir que é unha das miñas lecturas habituais e que lle agradezo que se lembrara de Sekeirox.

20 Different Ways to Manage Your To Dos

How many ways are there to manage your task list? Almost as many as there are people with tasks to do. Here are 20 different ways of tracking your to dos, with examples of each.

You probably use more than one of these options, depending on what you’re trying to manage and what suits your temperament. Or maybe you have some other ideas. If so, share them here.

Web Worker Daily ? Blog Archive 20 Different Ways to Manage Your To Dos ?

20 Different Ways to Manage Your To Dos

10 Most Dangerous Things Users Do Online

If your end users knew what damage they could cause when they...well, just send them this article

10 Most Dangerous Things Users Do Online

School leaving age set to be 18

Young people will be required to stay in school, training or workplace training until the age of 18.
The Department for Education and Skills has confirmed plans to raise the school leaving age in England by 2013.

BBC NEWS | Education | School leaving age set to be 18

SCCS Open House Presentation

Presentation: The Association of Online K-12 Schools.

Website version

Powerpoint version

Quote of the Day

Do not fear to be eccentric in opinion, for every opinion now accepted was once eccentric.

Bertrand Russell

January 10, 2007

Its snowing Its snowing

Here in Saskatoon it is snowing so hard they have decided to close the face to face schools; this is only the second time in my 25 years of teaching that they have done this. The last time I was teaching grade 8 in elementary school and it was exciting, I drove home and just barely made it and then spent the rest of the day reading a book. Well, today I am an administrator at the Saskatoon Catholic Cyber School. We do not shut down due to snow we start firing on all cylinders. Those face to face students who go home and are registered for a cyber school class use this as an opportunity to get caught up on their cyber courses. So, our school's virtual halls fill to the max.

So…

The wind begins to blow
It is cold ask your nose
From the sky it snows
Covering all below

The f2f schools care
So no student, are there
From within the walls
Home they were sent all

To the internet they bound
Virtual Learning is around
For the weather it cares not
Bit by bits the web is the spot

Through lessons they fly
The only limit is the sky
No book on their back
Empty are their packs

Snows day a problem might be
From brick and mortar they flee
Virtual schools fill their heads
For them weather holds no dread

Virtual is coming of age
Another educational history page
An option it is, I agree
Its time has come I do believe

At least on days of snow
Virtual is the way to go

I read this to my wife, to which she responded "who sent that to you?"...to which I responded, "I wrote it." So, she doesn't believe that I can write poetry. Maybe I will have to write her one someday.

Seven New Year's Resolutions for your PC

At the start of every new year, people the world over make resolutions to better themselves, with fitness, health, money, and career goals at the forefront of our minds. But what about your poor, neglected PC? Couldn't it use, at the very least, a few resolutions toward better health and fitness?

Hack Attack: Seven New Year's Resolutions for your PC - Lifehacker

The Best of 2006 Casual Gameplay

It is difficult to believe another year has passed, but we have tons of games and reviews to show for it. And what better way to celebrate the year than with a look back to give credit where credit is due by giving props to those special titles that stood head and shoulders above the rest. This will be our third annual "Best of" feature and, like each year before, we invite you to participate.

Best of Casual Gameplay 2006

SCCS Open House Presentation

Presentation: Podcasting...

Website version

Powerpoint version

Quote of the Day

Chase after the truth like all hell and you'll free yourself, even though you never touch its coattails.

Clarence Darrow

January 9, 2007

Personal Computer in Your Pocket

The "fourth screen" - mobile devices (the first three are TV, computers, movies) - continues to grow in focus. I think it's imperative that learning professionals (designers, teachers/trainers, administrators) start thinking mobile.

elearnspace: Personal Computer in Your Pocket

SCCS Open House Presentation

Presentation: School and Parish Blogs...

Website version

Powerpoint version

Quote of the Day

Better to light a candle than to curse the darkness

Chinese Proverb

January 8, 2007

PaperToys

You can make some neat stuff.

Paper Toys - Paper Cut-Outs - Custom Paper Models at PaperToys.com

Cooking by Numbers

Now this would be a great way to teach an online cooking class.

CookingByNumbers.com

Find Sounds

Welcome to FindSounds.com, a free site where you can search the Web for sound effects and musical instrument samples.

FindSounds - Search the Web for Sounds

Interesting Education Blogs to read.

I am proud to say that TADO made the list and it is a great list.

Learning and Teaching in the 21st Century: Interesting Education Blogs to Read

Charlotte's Web

My son and I are reading this book...I loved it when I was young and he is not yet convinced...but we will see.

Charlotte's Web Resources

A New Year's Wish List

There were a lot of significant advances in 2006 in the digital realm. Google prospered, YouTube exploded onto the scene, and the Internet overtook newspapers in the hierarchy of information consumption. What does this year hold in store for the technological landscape?

A New Year s Wish List