wiki and water

This evening, I went to UMASS Boston and taught a lesson on using a wiki in the classroom to a group of graduate level teachers. I love the location on the bay with tidal flats exposed at low tide, seagulls swooping about, and water moving in the way that mesmerizes me. It brought calm to me. One thing it helped moderate was the missing iPod that disappeared from my desk.
This is a view of the campus center from the bay and through the trees.
There were some sycamore trees with the lovely patched bark that is typical of the tree. I took some photos and admired them as I ate dinner.
Somebody said,

busy busy in a quiet house

Today I showed my class Odd Girl Out, a movie about cliques and friendship issues, as part of our ongoing health curriculum. The students took it well and really delved into the discussion. Tonight I am working on preparing the lesson I will teach tomorrow at UMASS about how to use Internet resources to create collaborative spaces for students. I am feeling better about this lesson that I have presented before. My prep this time feels right. I'll know tomorrow.

Time of wiki wiki

I have recently received a host of requests to present my work incorporating a wiki into my classroom teaching practice (last year). The first of these was presenting to a group of new teachers at Brandeis University. I messed up the timing of the presentation and did not get them time to mess around with my demo wiki. Other than that, it went ok. I set up my presentation before people arrived, figured out the technology in the room, and then managed to turn it all off minutes before I was supposed to present. gaah. No problems, though. Got it all back on and ready in very short order.

The good and the bad

It finally came. Through much hoop jumping and frustration I was able to finally acquire my Massachusetts teaching license. Attached to it is a statement:

Congratulations on completing the
requirements for licensure.

You have worked diligently toward
this goal and should be proud of
your accomplishment.

It is people like you who help to
enhance the quality of education
in the Commonwealth. I wish you
the best in your future endeavors.

I nicely personal message printed on every license. Funny thing is that all of my diligent work for this license had nothing to do with my ability as a teacher. I studied for and took three exams, I collected letters from colleges and universities documenting my coursework, and I did other paper shuffling. Anyway, I have the document in hand that lets me be the supervising teacher for student teachers and, should I need to, teach in a public school. I have no intention of moving schools, but this gives me options.

That was the good news. On the bad, and temporary front, I have come down with the season's first cold--a nasty sore throat followed by prodigious phlegm. I took a day off on Thursday and a half day on Friday. Friday was our grandparents and special friends day, so I felt obligated to be at school, but I high tailed it out of there soon after the associated assembly (actually in the middle of the assembly).