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More creepy computer games
Here's another list of disturbing computer game stories. For example, Legend has it that there is a very creepy and sinister mod to Morrowind that exists that could potentially drive a player insane. Or this great image of a possibl...
UFT on Evaluation System
On Sunday I posted about the new evaluation system, and about how effective ratings started at 9 according to NYS statute, but started at 15 in Reformy John's decree. Today I spoke to a UFT source, who told be this was not accurate, because we start with 13. Show More Summary
Manufactured Crisis: Education Schools and the National Council on Teacher Quality
The National Council on Teacher Quality put out a report that is it describing as "an unprecedented evaluation of more than 1,100 colleges and universities that prepare elementary and secondary teachers." Let's take a step back fromShow More Summary
Christopher Pirie #mlearncon Keynote Mindmap
Christopher Pirie opened the eLearning Guild’s mLearnCon mobile learning conference with a fair overview of technology for learning. He talked about the usual trends, and pointed to some interesting game apps for learning. Kodu, in particular, is an interesting advancement on things like Scratch and StageCast’s Creator. I was somewhat surprised by his pointer to [...]
No Excuses
Naturally, I was shocked and stunned to discover the high school graduation rate had fallen under Mayor Michael Bloomberg. After all, we are the reformiest place on earth, and UFT teachers now have a new evaluation system despite not having had a raise in almost five years or a contract in almost four. Show More Summary
Horror of the galactic black hole
Scientists have found one giant black hole going quiet, right after chewing up a bunch of stars in the immediate neighborhood. The BBC plays it cool, accusing the dark gnawer at Sculptor's heart of "napping after a meal". But they.....
Bullying: One Kid Talking To Another About Not Taking A Test
While collecting up my thoughts after the Portland Public Schools Common Core event last week, I came across this set of talking points written by the district "as a support to principals and teachers to understand State of Oregon requirements...Show More Summary
TTT#351 Teachers Speaking Up w/ Jesse Hagopian, Diana Laufenberg, José Vilson, Steven Zemelman, Pat Delaney, Maribeth Whitehouse 5.29.13
We invite you to consider how you might speak up a bit more, tell your stories as a teacher, and assert your leadership. On this week’s episode of TTT (recorded 5/29/13), we talk about how, when, why, and where to speak up! We discuss how teachers become leaders by loosing fear, speaking up, telling their [...]
Reformy John Doesn't Need Any Stinking Laws--NYC Teacher Ratings Are Illegal
One of the great selling points of the education law that mandated junk science, for the UFT, was that we would get to negotiate precisely how the junk science would be used to fire us. So they wouldn't just be firing us, we'd be firing ourselves. Show More Summary
Financial Genius Mike Bloomberg Grades the English Regents Exam
In the old days, English and ESL teachers used to grade the English Regents exam. There would be days set aside for grading, and the teachers would sit and grade. This, however, was a terrible system, because all teachers are assumed...Show More Summary
My Secret Identity
A lot of people ask me, "Hey, NYC Educator, who the hell do you think you are?" That's an interesting question. But it doesn't matter a whole lot who the hell I think I am. It matters more who the hell I am, I suppose. Whether or not I think I am that person is one of those things I'm too tired to contemplate right now.
So here's the thing. Show More Summary
Ghosts have always kept up with the available technology
An observation on ghosts and media: (thanks to Jason Kielbasa)
How Common Core Should Be Rolled Out
After attending the Portland Public Schools Common Core parent event, I've been thinking about the event, the people tasked to staff it, and the split between the Common Core standards, what our kids will be taught as a result of the...Show More Summary
Parent Information Night On The Common Core
Last night, on Tuesday, June 12th, I attended what was called a "Parent's Academy" on the in-progress Common Core rollout. The event was put on by Portland Public Schools. The goal of the event was stated clearly on one of the handouts...Show More Summary
The Incredible Disappearling UFT Rep
In a pivotal career move, a UFT Rep reread Catch 22, and decided his favorite character was Major Major. He immediately determined to emulate him in every way possible. From that moment, the only time he saw members in his office was when he wasn't there. Show More Summary
Major news from the brain of Infocult
Starting today I, the singular mind of Infocult, have changed jobs. I just launched Bryan Alexander Consulting, LLC, an enterprise focused on how technology changes education. Check the announcement for more information. Infocult will continue. BAC has Gothic undertones, to...
What I wish I’d learned in school
I was asked, somewhat out of the blue, what I wish I’d learned in school, and I thought it an interesting question. I also thought it worth putting out to a slightly broader audience. So, here’re some off-the-cuff thoughts about what I wish I’d learned in school: meta-cognitive and meta-learning skills (e.g. the SCANS competencies [...]
Bill Gates Colonel Sanders Makes Nice to Teachers Chickens
Colonel Harlan Sanders came back from the dead this morning to announce a major change in policy. Apparently, for some time, his chickens had been unhappy about their living conditions, and he felt that this was having a negative effect...Show More Summary
Fear the metadata
Metadata librarians have long toiled in obscurity. Until now. The good news is people - even mainstream media- are talking about metadata. The bad? It's because of the NSA scandal. One observer wonders: Let's see how far this goes. Perhaps...
Researcher looking to hook up with a groovy open course
One of the people I have felt very lucky to work with at TRU is Michelle Harrison, an Instructional Designer with Open Learning. In addition to being an astute practitioner of online learning, she is someone looking to push what … Continue reading ?
