"Life In The 21st Century"

I'm in the process of MOVING me blog to another service. When I have the new address, I'll post it here. Otherwise, please visit the SLJ blog for regular updates.

Have a wonderful NEW YEAR!

Random thoughts this Christmas day...

Shopping is not my thing! And last minute shopping REALLY isn't my thing.

I actually haven't been too long gone.

I'm still writing for the SLJ blog which is a lot of fun.

I learned from my husband that Santa Claus was bringing home a pet snake for my son...I've been silent for 2 weeks. Yup a real snake! NOT MY THING.

Wish there really was peace on Earth.

My broadcast journalism students made a really cool news package on the MySpace Wars.

This question is definitely a dumb one; but I really don't know the answer to it. Here it goes (as I bite my nails). How does one receive the Podcast title as a Podcaster? I mean...our I.T director set up this great podcast for my TechNight for parents. You can hear it here. But because I had nothing to do it...gosh, just gave the workshop. I can't take credit for it. So, the question, "Am I the podcaster or him?" See I told you it's a dumb question.

Since this is my first podcast, I'd be happy for ANY feedback.

 

Kids create the darndest things. The latest fad...You're the man now dog. Anyone hear of this?
A new take on PI'E'.

I can't tell you how rewarding it was to sit/stand and work teach parents about the Wonders of the Web. It's interesting because everyone is a different level, like students are. But I feel good that everyone in attendance was able to take a tool home.

The only glitch, I totally bypassed the toolkit and went off on an, "I need more time." tangent. Ugghhh!

 

Tonight I'm conducting a TechNight Workshop for parents which will also be podcasted (my first ever...go Amy). The goal of tonight is to provide parents with a toolkit that will (hopefully) help them at home and in their professional lives.

Recently, the OnlineAir has been polluted with all of the Perverts, Predators and Pariahs when it comes to our kids. We can't let the "bad guys" win.

On another note, we, as Technology Directors need to reach out to the parent community so they too can become Digital Guides to their kids. If we don't, who will? Most parents don't learn this stuff at the workplace. Think about it. How would they know about search engines, information literacy, blogs? etc...

Okay...I made into school; ran to my student with the letter. I get a look like, come on Mrs. Bowllan no biggie. She was totally cool and I was the moron. Students are so funny and so emotionless when it comes to good news. I tried to explain to her that it's not everyday you receive letters from famous correspondents. I guess she'd have more of a reaction if it had been Matt Damon or someone else.

Anyway, we read John's letter together. And not only did he give her strategies on reporting, he also shared some of his reasons for choosing journalism as a career. The letter was 2 pages long! That is awesome for someone of his caliber to take the time out to write...from Washington.

Hats off to John Roberts!

 
 

Today was awesome! Not only did my niece land an internship with FOX news channel; but John Roberts from CBS News responded to a letter one of my students wrote to him.

It's so cool; because out of 10 journalism students, she was one of the only ones to receive a letter back, based on an extensive research project they had to complete for the first trimester. The goal of the presentation was 3-fold. 1) research the correspondent's background 2) challenge their "point of view" and present a powerpoint presentation to the class (I videotaped this) 3) Write a letter to the correspondent with specific questions. Shame on the rest who didn't respond because these students put their heart and soul into this project.

AnyWho, the letter came today, so I am not sure just what he wrote to her. Although I was dying to open the letter....but didn't, I was good. I must admit I did phone my student's home endlessly to inform her the letter was sitting and JUST WAITING TO BE OPENED. It's exciting because MSM needs to come closer to their future viewers and for that I share a "SHOUT OUT!" to John Roberts for taking the time out during SWEEPS to write a high school senior.

This opens up a lot of possibilities!

Skype Adds Video, Blogs to VoIP

"The new software includes Skype Video, which allows users to see the person with whom they are speaking and a window of what they are sending out. The company says the user interface is simpler and features a one-click access menu to key features and options, as well as a time-zone guide for contacts so users can see what time it before placing a call."

Even though today IS my 10th year wedding anniversary...hint, hint. It just wouldn't be the same if I didn't blogshare how thrilled I was to receive the Mohonk Conference evaluation results. The anticipation was killing me!

Overall, my 4 hour hands-on workshop (an online toolkit for technologists, teachers and librarians) received very good reviews out of the whopping 10 out of 23 attendees. However, (and there's always a HOWEVER) there was 1 low number with a pretty unfavorable comment to boot. Oh shucks, can't win em all. But at least I know that technologists and librarians CAN be in the same room, at the same time, for the same common goal and have a great time learning.