A New Blog

I haven't been using this post as I once planned. I've gone back to school and must use blogging there and work started a blogging site for my team. So between these I have been neglectful. I will try to add more here but for the time being, I've included a link for the other site.

Learning to use Garage Band

WOW! Today was a huge success for the principals and other administrators who attended. Dr. Tim Tyson presented the happenings at his school, Mabry Middle in Marietta, GA. Then he took everyone to multiple AH AH moments with hands on learning. Everyone had a brand new fresh out of the box MacBook to learn to use Garage Band to produce a podcast. It was great hearing many PC users say, "This is so easy." One of my colleagues, Pat Sutton, who uses a PC only said, I can't believe I'm thinking I want a Mac especially if I can run Windows XP with Boot Camp. I could do everything with one machine."

By the end of the day we had shown 30 principals and assistant principals how easy producing a podcast can be and how digital tools can motivate students to learn what we as educators need to teach them. Corey Harris, principal at Longview Middle from Memphis City Schools, and Tyson both shared real stories of things happening in their respective schools that have changed what happens at school. At the end of the day, two Nano iPods were drawn for as door prizes. Rhoda Stigall, principal at Gardenview Elementary, and Ken Strong, supervisor for safety in MCS, each won with screams and shouts of excitement. I'll soon have a podcast posted of the day. It's great to show others how technology tools can impact teaching and learning. The Commercial Appeal and the Memphis Flyer, local papers, sent reporters over during the day. Stories will follow in each.

Podcasting with Principals

We have been working hard all day to prepare for an exciting day with district principals, assistant principals, mental health supervisors and more. Wednesday, June 21 we will have Dr. Tim Tyson visiting from Georgia. Many of you may have heard him speak at conferences. Tim will share his experiences with podcasting, then teach administrators how easy it is to get started with podcasting. We are expecting between 35-40 for an all day session including hands on training with brand new never used MacBooks ( the black ones). After lunch our own Corey Harris, principal at Longview Middle will share experiences of leading a one to one wireless school and his beginnings with podcasting. It will be an exciting day. More to come tomorrow.
We had lots of help today so thanks to the group that helped get ready, Jess Feldman, Jeff Baxter, Kevin Reed, Frankie Sharp and Diane Raley. Cindy Putnam helped sort laptops when they arrived and Scott Holcomb along with Jess and Jeff will be helping in the sessions tomorrow. Thanks everyone. Couldn't do it without the team!

MCS Podcast Network

Teaching and Learning in a Digital World

I'm so excited about the multiple feeds we have established within the Memphis City Schools (MCS) Podcast Network. We now have four feeds from the district; Arts in the Schools, Technology Integration, World Languages and Curriculum and Instruction. We look at things happening in the district that may be of interest to all schools and broadcast these events.

With our next series of podcasts we'll post inside Curriculum and Instruction. We will take a trip to the Memphis Zoo to create a mini soundseeing trip for adding to local school field trips. We will look at a brief history of the zoo, travel to the newest exhibit, the Northwest Passage and see how such a field trip works with curriculum. But that's just the beginning. This year is the 100th year anniversary of the zoo and a big celebration is coming. We are working with the zoo to do some behind the scenes experiences at each of the newest exhibts. Be sure to check out all the podcasts currently on the curriculum and instruction website at the MCS Podcast Network. More to come soon. We have some surprises in store. Stay tuned.

Learning How to Podcast

What's it take to do a podcast? It's easy on a Mac. You need a noise-canceling headset with microphone, Garage Band and great content. Our technology team here in Memphis City Schools spent the morning helping a high school librarian learn the basics of podcasting. What challenges does she face in taking this leap? Fortunately, the school has an iBook mobile cart equipped with OSX 10.3 and Garage Band so the first obstacle is now solved. With a few quick lessons, she understands the basic recording and simple editing she will need. It's a wonderful thing to see a teacher get so excited about using technology in instruction. By the time we finished with her first session, she has plans to bring a student in who knows how to edit so she can concentrate on the content of the podcast.

She has a creative idea. The students in International Studies will be creating their own company and producing short commercials to advertisement the service of product of that company. The students will use a talk show format with short spots as a podcast. Once she gets a few completed then we will help her launch a web site to house the podcasts. Then we can do a district podcast about more exciting things happening in our schools.

Now we will be getting ready to launch the district podcast for ARTS in the School.