November 9, 2009
Jed and I went cloud chasing yesterday. The sky was simply perfect and the clouds looked like a wild icing on a giant cake.
Kiss Me Tenderly
Hole In The Wall
Sail With Me
Scattered Just Like My Brain
While I snapped and snapped, Jed did his usual spectacular run in-front of our house. He stopped only when I asked to catch his breath and pose for me.
Peace Mommy
November 6, 2009
One Sister have I in our house,
And one, a hedge away.
There’s only one recorded,
But both belong to me.
One came the road I came —
And wore my last years gown –
The other, as a bird her nest,
Builded our hearts among.
She did not sing as we did –
It was a different tune –
Herself to her a music
As Bumble bee of June.
Today is far from childhood –
But up and down the hills
I held her hand the tighter –
Which shortened all the miles –
And still her hum
The years among,
Deceives the Butterfly;
Still in her eye
The violets lie
Mouldered this many May.
-Emily Dickinson-
October 14, 2009
October 8, 2009
From Integrating Educational Technology into Teaching by M.D. Roblyer
The Need for Two Levels of Planning:
What the School and District Can Do Versus What Teachers Can DoThe mere presence of technology is not an automatic guarantee for improved education. Despite its potential power, educational technology has had some well-documented, high-profile failures (Ferrell, 1986; Morehouse, Hoaglund, & Schmidt, 1987; The revolution that fizzled, 1991), and the most recent research shows that how technology is integrated is more important than how much it is used (Archer, 1998).
Certain factors profoundly affect whether or not technology helps education take a leap forward of a pratfall. Planning is the key to addressing these concerns. Planning should be done both by school and district personnel and by teachers to increase the likelihood that technology will have the desired impact on teaching and learning.
For technology to work in classrooms, most teachers depend on their school and district to provide several kinds of support. Teachers do not have time for these tasks… The teacher’s primary responsibility is developing and implementing effective technology integration plans.
Technology Integration Planning Tasks at District and School Levels
Developing District and School Technology Plans
Most reports (Apple Computer Company, 1991; Brody, 1995; Bruder, 1993…) recommend assigning planning tasks to technology planning committee made up of both educators and technology experts as well as representatives from all groups in the school or district. Such committees are most effective when appointed by top-level administrators who give them authority to implement what they recommend. Kwajewski (1997) adds one more concern: Educational leaders must view technology as a “core value” if it is to work effectively in the school system.
Setting appropriate goals and developing sound plans for reaching them are such commonsense prerequisites for success in any endeavor that it could be assumed that any technology project would follow a well-conceived plan. Sadly, this is not always the case. Technology experts and technology oriented educators generally agree that developing and maintaining a school-level or district-level plan increases significantly the likelihood of receiving the full benefits of technology’s potential for improving teaching , learning and productivity. A technology plan helps a school or district save money, achieve specific goals, and build a community support for the plans.
Several good sources document the steps that a planning committee should follow to develop a sound technology plan.
October 5, 2009
Wet books [Sept. 28, 2009]
Sun bathing [Oct. 5, 2009]
From Jessica Zafra’s blog, a link on How to Restore Flood-Soaked Books.
October 2, 2009
As the nation prepares for Pepeng, we need to do the scout’s motto. Be prepared. And without any doubt, prayers keep our faith as we face this super typhoon. Here’s one from the Bicol region, the Oratio Imperata.
The Oratio:
“Almighty Father, we raise our hearts to You in gratitude for the wonders of creation of which we are part, for Your providence in sustaining us in our needs, and for Your wisdom that guides the course of the universe.
“We acknowledge our sins against You and the rest of creation.
“We have not been good stewards of Nature.
“We have confused Your command to subdue the earth.
“The environment is made to suffer our wrongdoing, and now we reap the harvest of our abuse and indifference.
“Global warming is upon us. Typhoons, floods, volcanic eruption, and other natural calamities occur in increasing number and intensity.
“We turn to You, our loving Father, and beg forgiveness for our sins.
“We ask that we, our loved ones and our hard earned possessions be spared from the threat of calamities, natural and man-made.
“We beseech You to inspire us all to grow into responsible stewards of Your creation, and generous neighbors to those in need.
“Amen.”
Be safe always.
