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	<title>Comments on: Minor Renovations</title>
	<atom:link href="http://ideasandthoughts.org/2008/04/25/minor-renovations/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
	<link>http://ideasandthoughts.org/2008/04/25/minor-renovations/</link>
	<description>As an educational technologist, I am exploring ways to make learning more relevant, engaging and authentic.</description>
	<pubDate>Thu, 04 Dec 2008 02:51:37 +0000</pubDate>
	<generator>http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5</generator>
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		<title>By: Olivier</title>
		<link>http://ideasandthoughts.org/2008/04/25/minor-renovations/#comment-29412</link>
		<dc:creator>Olivier</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sun, 04 May 2008 09:36:43 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://ideasandthoughts.org/?p=634#comment-29412</guid>
		<description>There is another nice plugin you may have heard about which is called keywordLuv ;)

Oliviers last blog post..&lt;a href="http://www.lautre-monde.fr/cinema/deux-jours-a-tuer/" rel="nofollow"&gt;Deux jours à tuer&lt;/a&gt;</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>There is another nice plugin you may have heard about which is called keywordLuv <img src='http://ideasandthoughts.org/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_wink.gif' alt=';)' class='wp-smiley' /><br />
Oliviers last blog post..<a href="http://www.lautre-monde.fr/cinema/deux-jours-a-tuer/" rel="nofollow">Deux jours à tuer</a></p>
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		<title>By: Ian H.</title>
		<link>http://ideasandthoughts.org/2008/04/25/minor-renovations/#comment-29334</link>
		<dc:creator>Ian H.</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sun, 27 Apr 2008 20:59:26 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://ideasandthoughts.org/?p=634#comment-29334</guid>
		<description>You know it's going to turn into a contest to get to that top spot, now... :)

Ian H.s last blog post..&lt;a href="http://www.marturia.net/blog/?p=3239" rel="nofollow"&gt;Awesome &#38; useless&lt;/a&gt;</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>You know it&#8217;s going to turn into a contest to get to that top spot, now&#8230; <img src='http://ideasandthoughts.org/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif' alt=':)' class='wp-smiley' /><br />
Ian H.s last blog post..<a href="http://www.marturia.net/blog/?p=3239" rel="nofollow">Awesome &amp; useless</a></p>
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		<title>By: Dean Shareski</title>
		<link>http://ideasandthoughts.org/2008/04/25/minor-renovations/#comment-29329</link>
		<dc:creator>Dean Shareski</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sun, 27 Apr 2008 01:37:42 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://ideasandthoughts.org/?p=634#comment-29329</guid>
		<description>Sue,

I"m not sure why Wes is hyperlinked other than maybe because he guest blogged for me and is a registered user of my site.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Sue,</p>
<p>I&#8221;m not sure why Wes is hyperlinked other than maybe because he guest blogged for me and is a registered user of my site.</p>
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		<title>By: Sue Waters</title>
		<link>http://ideasandthoughts.org/2008/04/25/minor-renovations/#comment-29328</link>
		<dc:creator>Sue Waters</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sun, 27 Apr 2008 01:10:46 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://ideasandthoughts.org/?p=634#comment-29328</guid>
		<description>Looks like you and me were both doing blog cleaning yesterday when perhaps we should have been up to other tasks :) . Saw the photo on Flickr with your wife painting and was thinking I could send hubby (who is a painter by trade) to help. 

I must admit I like the idea of the CommentLuv -- it's cool.  

Top commenter is interesting -- not sure if I like or not. For example why is Wesley's blog the only one that actually creates the link to his blog?  It also makes me wonder what ratio of commenting you have on their blogs? Anyway probably thinking too deeply about it all.

Sue Waterss last blog post..&lt;a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/MobileTechnologyInTafe/~3/278270561/" rel="nofollow"&gt;The Messy Aspects Of Blog Cleaning&lt;/a&gt;</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Looks like you and me were both doing blog cleaning yesterday when perhaps we should have been up to other tasks <img src='http://ideasandthoughts.org/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif' alt=':)' class='wp-smiley' /> . Saw the photo on Flickr with your wife painting and was thinking I could send hubby (who is a painter by trade) to help. </p>
<p>I must admit I like the idea of the CommentLuv &#8212; it&#8217;s cool.  </p>
<p>Top commenter is interesting &#8212; not sure if I like or not. For example why is Wesley&#8217;s blog the only one that actually creates the link to his blog?  It also makes me wonder what ratio of commenting you have on their blogs? Anyway probably thinking too deeply about it all.</p>
<p>Sue Waterss last blog post..<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/MobileTechnologyInTafe/~3/278270561/" rel="nofollow">The Messy Aspects Of Blog Cleaning</a></p>
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		<title>By: scmorgan</title>
		<link>http://ideasandthoughts.org/2008/04/25/minor-renovations/#comment-29324</link>
		<dc:creator>scmorgan</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sat, 26 Apr 2008 18:37:11 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://ideasandthoughts.org/?p=634#comment-29324</guid>
		<description>I've been debating about moving to wordpress from typepad, but I didn't want the trouble of switching everything. You do have so much more flexibility than I do, though! I do feel invited to share here:)

scmorgans last blog post..&lt;a href="http://falconms.typepad.com/fatech/2008/04/according-to-ja.html" rel="nofollow"&gt;According to Jane&lt;/a&gt;</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I&#8217;ve been debating about moving to wordpress from typepad, but I didn&#8217;t want the trouble of switching everything. You do have so much more flexibility than I do, though! I do feel invited to share here:)</p>
<p>scmorgans last blog post..<a href="http://falconms.typepad.com/fatech/2008/04/according-to-ja.html" rel="nofollow">According to Jane</a></p>
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		<title>By: wmchamberlain</title>
		<link>http://ideasandthoughts.org/2008/04/25/minor-renovations/#comment-29319</link>
		<dc:creator>wmchamberlain</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sat, 26 Apr 2008 13:40:47 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://ideasandthoughts.org/?p=634#comment-29319</guid>
		<description>I see the two widgets you added and now I am thinking about changing to wordpress. I think my class would be much more likely to post comments on the posts that I don't require them to comment on. (Maybe if I quit reading other people's blogs I won't know what I am missing. Ignorance could be bliss?)

wmchamberlains last blog post..&lt;a href="http://mrcsclassblog.blogspot.com/2008/04/poster-contest-winners.html" rel="nofollow"&gt;Poster Contest Winners&lt;/a&gt;</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I see the two widgets you added and now I am thinking about changing to wordpress. I think my class would be much more likely to post comments on the posts that I don&#8217;t require them to comment on. (Maybe if I quit reading other people&#8217;s blogs I won&#8217;t know what I am missing. Ignorance could be bliss?)</p>
<p>wmchamberlains last blog post..<a href="http://mrcsclassblog.blogspot.com/2008/04/poster-contest-winners.html" rel="nofollow">Poster Contest Winners</a></p>
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		<title>By: Cathy Nelson</title>
		<link>http://ideasandthoughts.org/2008/04/25/minor-renovations/#comment-29317</link>
		<dc:creator>Cathy Nelson</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sat, 26 Apr 2008 12:06:52 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://ideasandthoughts.org/?p=634#comment-29317</guid>
		<description>Well looks like the upgrade was hugely successful.  Didn't I see the top commenters the other day?  I was actually somewhat embarrassed to see my name at the top, especially  after all my unwarranted (or maybe warranted) popularity recently (which I really don't want to go into.)  You see, I came over when I saw how viral the Promethean Board/Smart Board post was going, thinking I'd add to the mix.  That is when I saw the Top commenter list...

But since I did decide to respond, I'll chime in about the PB/SM argument, albeit in the wrong place. I worked in a district rich in technology, but poor in terms of teachers adopting the tools as an instructional component in their classrooms. Enter Promethean.  One was even placed in the library.  So I began making sure the teachers would see their students interacting with the board. Of course their response was kids could always do computers.  So I sought out ways to help them -- Pomethean Planet was a big part of it too.  But when their kids began going back to class and asking why don't you use your Activeslate or the eggs (activotes) this is when teachers began asking more.  I am happy to report many of them have totally embraced their boards.  I called a local technician, and for roughly $20 a room, we had our TV distribution system configured to go through the projectors.  The classes involved with a Spanish teleclass suddently LOVED having a board sized TV.  Being able to search for standards-based lesson was a big winner. AND the fact that teachers could download and modify, and in most cases improve shared material from Promethean Planet was also a big seller. Yes, I can still reflect on those who use it as a glorified wall sized worksheet--fill in the blank no less, but it is a beginning.  

I also write because the support at Promethean is phenominal.  I was having a hard time getting my Slate to synch up.  I jumped right in a forum.  Before I knew it, the very next day 2 guys from CSI (the crew who installed our equipment) were at my school looking for me, and fixed the issue. I was stunned, and even voiced fear that i had incurred a bill for my school. They said no, but because of my description of the issue in the Promethean Forum, their boss called and sent them to correct it--it was not something I could fix.  I must also give kudos to CSI, as they have been wonderful too.  

Last, while I am pleased with Promethean, I don't think it is as important which brand you go with as it is what is done with it in the classroom. If I had to choose, I would definitely choose Promethean based on my experience.  But if i had the option instead of having one to one laptops in my school, now that would be the ideal.  But the tools and the technology won't help until student engagement is addressed. The tools are one expensive way to address that, but they are definitely not a cure all. Engagement in the classroom is a mindset, and one far too few teachers worry about, tools or not.  But I suppose that is another blog post to be written for some other day.

Nows I want to see the Comment Luv parse my blog.  Chris Craft is helping me get set up for my own domain--coming soon, maybe. I'm a slow learner on somethings.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Well looks like the upgrade was hugely successful.  Didn&#8217;t I see the top commenters the other day?  I was actually somewhat embarrassed to see my name at the top, especially  after all my unwarranted (or maybe warranted) popularity recently (which I really don&#8217;t want to go into.)  You see, I came over when I saw how viral the Promethean Board/Smart Board post was going, thinking I&#8217;d add to the mix.  That is when I saw the Top commenter list&#8230;</p>
<p>But since I did decide to respond, I&#8217;ll chime in about the PB/SM argument, albeit in the wrong place. I worked in a district rich in technology, but poor in terms of teachers adopting the tools as an instructional component in their classrooms. Enter Promethean.  One was even placed in the library.  So I began making sure the teachers would see their students interacting with the board. Of course their response was kids could always do computers.  So I sought out ways to help them &#8212; Pomethean Planet was a big part of it too.  But when their kids began going back to class and asking why don&#8217;t you use your Activeslate or the eggs (activotes) this is when teachers began asking more.  I am happy to report many of them have totally embraced their boards.  I called a local technician, and for roughly $20 a room, we had our TV distribution system configured to go through the projectors.  The classes involved with a Spanish teleclass suddently LOVED having a board sized TV.  Being able to search for standards-based lesson was a big winner. AND the fact that teachers could download and modify, and in most cases improve shared material from Promethean Planet was also a big seller. Yes, I can still reflect on those who use it as a glorified wall sized worksheet&#8211;fill in the blank no less, but it is a beginning.  </p>
<p>I also write because the support at Promethean is phenominal.  I was having a hard time getting my Slate to synch up.  I jumped right in a forum.  Before I knew it, the very next day 2 guys from CSI (the crew who installed our equipment) were at my school looking for me, and fixed the issue. I was stunned, and even voiced fear that i had incurred a bill for my school. They said no, but because of my description of the issue in the Promethean Forum, their boss called and sent them to correct it&#8211;it was not something I could fix.  I must also give kudos to CSI, as they have been wonderful too.  </p>
<p>Last, while I am pleased with Promethean, I don&#8217;t think it is as important which brand you go with as it is what is done with it in the classroom. If I had to choose, I would definitely choose Promethean based on my experience.  But if i had the option instead of having one to one laptops in my school, now that would be the ideal.  But the tools and the technology won&#8217;t help until student engagement is addressed. The tools are one expensive way to address that, but they are definitely not a cure all. Engagement in the classroom is a mindset, and one far too few teachers worry about, tools or not.  But I suppose that is another blog post to be written for some other day.</p>
<p>Nows I want to see the Comment Luv parse my blog.  Chris Craft is helping me get set up for my own domain&#8211;coming soon, maybe. I&#8217;m a slow learner on somethings.</p>
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		<title>By: Clay Burell</title>
		<link>http://ideasandthoughts.org/2008/04/25/minor-renovations/#comment-29315</link>
		<dc:creator>Clay Burell</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sat, 26 Apr 2008 06:43:56 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://ideasandthoughts.org/?p=634#comment-29315</guid>
		<description>Okay, what's my commission? 

And now let me check out that last post.

Clay Burells last blog post..&lt;a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/cburell/~3/277448288/" rel="nofollow"&gt;The Art of the Opener: Charlie’s Hook&lt;/a&gt;</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Okay, what&#8217;s my commission? </p>
<p>And now let me check out that last post.</p>
<p>Clay Burells last blog post..<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/cburell/~3/277448288/" rel="nofollow">The Art of the Opener: Charlie’s Hook</a></p>
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		<title>By: Dean Shareski</title>
		<link>http://ideasandthoughts.org/2008/04/25/minor-renovations/#comment-29313</link>
		<dc:creator>Dean Shareski</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sat, 26 Apr 2008 04:56:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://ideasandthoughts.org/?p=634#comment-29313</guid>
		<description>AllanahK,

Parse simply means it will seek out your blog to determine what your latest post is, which in your case is one about Animoto.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>AllanahK,</p>
<p>Parse simply means it will seek out your blog to determine what your latest post is, which in your case is one about Animoto.</p>
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		<title>By: AllanahK</title>
		<link>http://ideasandthoughts.org/2008/04/25/minor-renovations/#comment-29312</link>
		<dc:creator>AllanahK</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sat, 26 Apr 2008 04:44:25 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://ideasandthoughts.org/?p=634#comment-29312</guid>
		<description>See the 'big plans' for tomorrow weren't so bad after all. 

Small question- what does parse your last blog post mean?

AllanahKs last blog post..&lt;a href="http://allanahk.edublogs.org/2008/04/23/animoto-educational-account/" rel="nofollow"&gt;Animoto Educational Account&lt;/a&gt;</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>See the &#8216;big plans&#8217; for tomorrow weren&#8217;t so bad after all. </p>
<p>Small question- what does parse your last blog post mean?</p>
<p>AllanahKs last blog post..<a href="http://allanahk.edublogs.org/2008/04/23/animoto-educational-account/" rel="nofollow">Animoto Educational Account</a></p>
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