Missouri State Teachers Association

Microsoft Tools for Educators

     Technology-savvy teachers welcome the opportunity to develop their own educational programs, but time and cost are prohibitive.  Microsoft hopes to rectify the matter with a software environment called "Grava."

January 30, 2007—Microsoft is developing a new suite of tools that will allow developers and publishers of educational software, as well as educators themselves, to create their own instructional programs easily and intuitively, the company says. Users would control these programs on their computer screens, using a media player that Microsoft expects will ship with all Windows-based computers in the near future. The entire software environment is code-named "Grava."

The Grava development tools, which Microsoft previewed at the British Education and Training Technology Conference in mid-January, are meant to stand alone as separate applications. A Grava SDK (Software Developer Kit) tool is designed for publishers and developers of educational software, while a different authoring tool will give those with less programming experience--such as many educators--the ability to create their own media-rich content to be viewed with the Grava player, Microsoft says.

Click here to read the rest of this article from eSchool News.

Yoga in Public Schools

     Some say yoga is a practical method for keeping kids fit and focused.  Others say it is a clandestine way to indoctrinate students into the Hindu religion.  While one faction cites the meditative qualities as calming and centering for the child,  the other claims it seduces them into mysticism.

    I must weigh in here.  Yoga is great exercise!  It promotes strength and flexibility.  I purchased a book of poses years ago, and I've never once chanted while practicing them.  The public schools mentioned in this article call what they teach "Yoga Lite."  They've avoided the aspects of yoga that could be perceived as suspicious, religious activity.  And they've concentrated on the physical benefits that could be incorporated into any physical education curriculum.

     I vote "for" yoga in public schools.  Why not?

Gag Order to Prevent Choking Disaster

     A Catholic school in Rhode Island bans talking during lunch period.  School officials say it is too difficult to hear choking victims when the cafeteria is noisy.  How would you like to be the supervising teacher during lunch at this school?  This is going to be a very difficult policy to implement.

     Meals, in my opinion, are social occasions.  I use them to celebrate, console, and reconnect with family and friends.  (This explains the extra 20 pound I carry!)  So it would take shock therapy to retrain me on this one. . .

New Orleans Needs Teachers

     With hit-or-miss infrastructure, lousy housing availability, struggling businesses, and shell-shocked citizens, it would indeed be difficult to attract employees to New Orleans at this time.  But teacher recruitment campaigns sum it up best:  "We need you. . . so do they."  Something tells me the heart of any community, its educational institutions, could make or break the rebuilding of the Big Easy.

     Even if I were young, had no particular ties to a community, and was seeking a first teaching opportunity, I'd think twice about taking a position in New Orleans.  But that's because I'm a chicken.  What I hope happens instead is that teachers with intestinal fortitude help to rebuild the city.  I'll bet we hear some heroic stories result from this dilemma.

"Freedom Writers" Free to Teachers

     An opportunity exists for movie buffs:  AMC theaters will allow teachers to see "Freedom Writers" free of charge this week.  All you need is valid school identification or a recent pay stub.

Grammar Girl Rocks!

     I stumbled across Grammar Girl this morning and had to share. . .  Not only does technical writer Mignon Fogarty post tips and answer age-old, perplexing questions regarding the English language, she hosts a podcast to do the same.  In fact, I just listened to her explanation of Lay versus Lie.  Her explanation, including the totally inaccurate uses by Eric Clapton ("Lay Down Sally") and Bob Dylan ("Lay Lady Lay"), would have served my students well.

     So I recommend this site for use by Communication Arts teachers at the secondary level.  Screen each episode before use, but I doubt you'll find anything offensive.  Fogarty's lessons are on the mark!

     You may subscribe to Grammar Girl's RSS feed via the website.  You may also subscribe to the podcast at iTunes.

Too many Americans are going to college?

Here is an article from Opinion Journal of the New York Times that suggests that too many Americans are going to college.  I find this article interesting because of his position on Vocational Schools.  I wonder how many students attend college because they are told to do so or because the social norm is to go.  When I graduated from college I had the opposite problem.  My mother, Lodyce, told me not to go and that she would not pay for it because it would be a waste, as a matter of fact her comment was, "You will never make it."  At the time I was crushed at that statement and decided to prove her wrong.  I applied for my own student loans and began my college career the fall after graduation,  but now as I look back I see it differently. To this point I have completed two undergraduate degrees and a master's degree.  This has put me in some "heavy" financial debt, as you can imagine.  I believe that if I would have waited a year or two before enrolling in college I would have realized that I wanted to be an educator and would not have obtained my first degree.  I think there are many students who would benefit from waiting or looking at other avenues to their life careers.  This is the second part of a three part series and I cannot wait to read the rest of Mr. Murrary's opinion.

Video Games 101

According to this article in PC Magazine, professor David Williamson Shaffer of the University of Wisconsin at Madison is recommending that schools implement the use of video games in US classrooms.  His argument is that it helps prepare students for future employment by immersing them in handling different types of technology.  He has agreements with schools in Madison and Chicago to test his theories.

What do you think? 
Do kids get enough access to technology at home?
Should schools be buying an X-Box for use in classrooms?
Do the gains in fine motor skills balance out the mind numbing content of some games?

The Clicker Guys

     It isn't often I leave a business meeting having had fun, but that was certainly the case yesterday.  "The Clicker Guys" (okay, just one of the two) visited MSTA to demonstrate a classroom performance system which puts a remote device in the hands of each student.  Instructors use a hand held chalkboard to guide students through questions via software displayed by an LCD projector.

     This is Q & A kicked up a notch, folks!  When a question is asked or presented on screen,  students log in answers on their remote device.  The display indicates when all students have responded, then reveals the right answer and the percentage of students who answered correctly/incorrectly.  (Think America's Funniest Home Videos - "Lock in your choice now. . .")

     Additionally, the software creates hard copy tests, generates reports about individual student performance, and links material to state standards (per teacher input).  The software is helpful without the clicker set, and you may download it free from www.eInstruction.com.  It is definitely worth checking out!

For more information, call toll free 877-254-2531.

"Fat Gram"

     When a colleague forwarded this article from The New York Times, I immediately thought, "Here is a lawsuit in the making!"

     School districts in Pennsylvania are required to send home a body mass index (BMI) report for each student.  BMI is used to identify obesity in both adults and children.  Although I agree parents should be aware of their children's health issues, I believe this news should be delivered by a pediatrician - not a school nurse, administrator, or physical education teacher.

     Two potential lawsuits for school districts determining BMI:  reports cause students to develop eating disorders, and school lunch offerings contribute to student weight/health issues.  The six-year-old child in the Times article who refuses to eat due to her report will probably be the first plaintiff. . .