RJ Stangherlin

Keystone Technology Integrator and STAR Discovery Educator

This site is for Mrs. Stangherlin's classes at Salisbury High School.

Is Facebook as Good as Face-to-Face?

This contest opportunity was sent to me by Randy Ziegenfuss, Director of Data and Technology at Salisbury Township School District, Allentown, PA.  For those of you who are in school, this might be a great way to engage your students with a relevant (and timely) topic.  Deadline is August 31.  The original posting was from Andra Brichacek.

POINT/COUNTERPOINT: Is Facebook as good as face-to-face?

* Posted by Andra Brichacek on June 18, 2009 at 9:43am in L&L
* Back to L&L Discussions

Teens are navigating a very different social scene than they did a few years ago. They still spend a lot of time chatting and hanging out, but much of that now takes place on social networking sites and through texting, instead of at the mall or over the telephone. Does it matter? Do kids get something through in-person contact that they can’t get on Facebook, or vice versa? Do you think a shift to text-based communication, as well as the multimedia opportunities that social networking provides, has a good or bad effect on social development?

The educators had their shot at answering this Point/Counterpoint question (see below for a couple of their replies), and now we want to know what students think. We are looking for two 500-word essays--one taking each side of this argument--to publish in an upcoming issue of L&L.

Point/Counterpoint articles are relatively informal. Here’s an example of what we’re looking for. Remember, we need one essay of approximately 500 words on each side of this issue, so consider either defending your argument passionately or playing the devil’s advocate rather than arguing down the middle.

Please post your essay in this discussion forum by August 31, and please include some form of contact information. Or if you prefer, you can email your essay to . We’ll select one submissions on each side of the argument and publish their essays in an upcoming issue of L&L.

Tags: face to face,, face-to-face,, facebook, myspace, social network, teen, texting

ISTE
L&L
Facebook
Social Networking
Point Counterpoint
Turbo Tagger

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Your Digital Dossier

I found this video via a tweet from Andy Carvin, watched it, and kept it open in one of my 30+ tabs on Firefox, with all good intentions to blog about the video.  Time, lately, has not been my BFF, and meanwhile, Steve Dembo posted the video, with a message worth repeating.  From his blog:

”Andy Carvin shared this video via tweet that does in incredible job of summing up what the New Permanent Record is, in a much more succinct way than I’ve ever managed to.

As you watch this video, consider what these students will look like when they enter your classroom. Honestly, will they care one whit whether you put their first and last name on the same page as their photo? Will their parents insist that you keep their identity private… or will they insist that you exhibit their learning publicly?

Is your school prepared for students that will have a larger digital portfolio before they enter kindergarten, than most of us educators have as adults?”

As an educator, I am mindful of my responsibility to teach--and model--responsible digital citizenship, so I have used Steve Dembo‘s New Permanent Record material extensively over the years. Although I will add the Digital Dossier video to the mix of things I use with students, I want you to know, Steve, that nothing surpasses the work you have done on this subject.

BTW, love the shiny new look of your blog!

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Google Docs Rock

Cross-posted on Changing Connections
Thanks to the creative genius at The Common Craft Show, Lee and Sachi LeFever, and their explanations ”in plain English.” If you are not using Google Docs, this short video just might convince you it’s a great way to take the next step in social networking, from consumer to creator and collaborator.

Google Docs
Common Craft Show
Explanations in Plain English
LeeLeFever
Social Media
Turbo Tagger

Social Media in Plain English

Nothing beats the Common Craft Show for simplifying something abstruse (think SAT vocabulary).  Thanks to creator Lee LeFever for “plain English.”

Social Media in Plain English from leelefever on Vimeo.

Twitter in Plain English

Twitter in Plain English from leelefever on Vimeo.

Digital Literacy and Web 2.0: Tech Tips

Back to school just isn’t what it used to be, and the tools we gather for the start of a new year change faster than the the speed of light. As a way to welcome you back, I put several of my favorites in Wordle, a new tool compliments of my learning curve with Randy Ziegenfuss.  What makes Wordle fun is its ease of use: so simple, so fast, and so (much) fun.  My goal is to send you some tech tips each week, a roundup of cool tools I’ve found through my PPLNs (Professional Personal Learning Networks).  I love what I learn from my Twitterverse, Plurk, and a host of social media that is quickly becoming a wonderful way to learn globally, instantly.  So, each week watch for my Tech Tips, and I’ll try to vary the way I deliver them.  I’ll even ask you to contribute and share your favorite finds as well.  So, until next time, feel free to add your Web 2.0 finds using the Comment option.  And WELCOME BACK.

Riffly Webcam Video (and Audio-Only) Comments

Cross-posted on PA DEN and Changing Connections

Nothing beats microblogs for PLNs, and since Twitter is ubiquitous, it is my favorite go-to for (fast) personal growth.  So, early this morning I caught a Tweet about a posting on Jeff Utecht’s U Tech Tips written by Shaun McElroy.  People Don’t Change engaged me at several levels because I am a teacher, and because I agreed with Shaun and his first commenter, Michelle Baldwin.  Poised to post, I found several new options.  I could use Riffly to create a webcam video or audio only comment.  I chose the latter, allowed the plugin, and made my first audio blog comment. 

The downside of Riffly is its compatability as a widget; it works on WordPress blogs only.  The good news: the Discovery Educator Network national and state blogs use WordPress, so if Dorman doesn’t get to it first, I’ll add the Riffly widget to our PA state blog so we can make video and audio-only comments to our best PLN, the DEN.

Trolling the (DEN) State Blogs: Boom-De-Ya-Da and LC and National Institutes

Cross-posted at DEN PA and Changing Connections

Here’s the video that NJ, NY, ME, and PA LCs put together on the first day of the DEN LC National Institute. 

A special thanks to Heather Sullivan for posting the video on the New Jersey blog. Having some “free” time on my hands, I decided to troll the state blogs and aggregate some resources and comments shared by other states who attended either the LC or STAR institutes. Arkansas Mary Frazier and Tanya Gray brainstormed 25 more ways to use Discoverystreaming.  Posted by Brett Harvey, CA--home of DENs youngest STAR, Jannita and Laurian’s son, David--is taking a time out from the busy day’s agenda. 

Florida’s post by Cheryl Woolwine shows how the South East Region created with Tennessee their own version of the Discovery Channel commercial, Boom-De-Ya-Da, Here’s “Find Your Match at D-Harmony”:

Posted on the Iowa blog by Jason Cochrane, the Midwest LCs made this video along with Mike Bryant, their DEN Midwest Manager. Get ready for their deconstruction of DC commercial:

Louisiana LC is Green With Envy.  You’ll remember this team from their D-Harmony commercial.  Michigan’s LC were busy posters during the Institute.  Here’s their BDY commercial: 

http://www.teachertube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=c1b7f60a2b741bbf0de4

Working with teachers from Illinois, here’s their DEN-De-Ya-Da video from the second week DEN Institute:

And their slide show from the second week STAR Institute:

From the NY blog, here’s Steve Dembo’s Learning to Speak Native presentation, Ustreamed from the DEN National Institute:

From my new LC Institute friend, Conni Mulligan shares an update on their LC membership. I really applaud all the states’ efforts in maintaining a vibrant LC, but since I had the good fortune to get to know Conni, I know how hard she has worked with her Council to get the NC blog launched as well, so a special shout out to you and your state. Great progress.

NC had 3 DEN STARS at the National Institute:  Judy, Nicole, and Deb. 

Guest blogger Debbie Wrobel represented the Northwest at the National Institute.  Check out her post here. 

If you still haven’t jumped into (teleported, flown, or swum with the sharks) yet, then you are definitely missing out on your Second Life experience.  On July 16, the DEN SL inducted newbies (I was one of them) into their SL, and I can tell you it is an experience of any/either lifetimes. Just do it.

I love reading Elaine Plybon on the Texas blog.  Her Reflections on Day 2 of the LC Institute and her sense of overload strike a resonant chord with me at any DEN function. We always learn and teach at rapid speed, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. And just in case you thought VA wasn’t at the LC Institute, Ruth Okoye has the photos to prove it.  Check out their Institute blogs here.

I’ll end on 3 “I hope’s”:
1.  that I didn’t forget anyone
2.  that I didn’t make too many typos
3. that all the embedded code works...because this is the first time I worked in code mode all the way, and I’m not even going to entertain an edit on this post. Thanks to all the super DEN STAR power out there, for what you do every day to make learning and teaching THE 21st century experience. A super thank you to our Discovery leaders for making our growth possible.

Down the Rabbit Hole with Steve Dembo

A very special thank you to Jennifer Dorman on her cliotech blog for providing the following links:

Discovery
DiscoveryEducatorNetwork
DEN
DENLCInstitute2008
SteveDembo
Teach42
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So Much Learning, So Much Fun: The Perfect Day

So Much Learning, So Much Fun: The Perfect Day.  No other organization can pack so much learning and so much fun into one day.  Leave it to DEN STARS and leaders to create the perfect day.  It’s not only that we did some powerhouse learning, but it was HOW we learned.  For many of us, it was the first time we blogged live using CoverItLive.  During Hall Davidson’s keynote, 75 people joined Jen Dorman’s back channel as we input our comments and questions in real time.  DEN STARS are multi-taskers by definition, I think, but today added so many new Web 2.0 tools that simplied and aggregated efforts.  What I really appreciated was the collaborative nature of our endeavors; so many Web 2.0 tools embed social networking into their design, and then let you send your work into your PPLNs simultaneously.  Think Diigo which lets you aggregate your information, choosing and controlling your content and community.

Then there was that fantastic DEN Carnival that our DEN leaders created.  After working our brains on collective overload, we played played DENGO, Wii gaming, and some old-fashioned old-school games like break the ballon, get the tic-tac-toe balls in a straight line (without cheating), and drop coins down a slot, predicting which color you would aim for.  And what was the purpose of the carnival (beyond unadulterated fun)--raffle tickets to win some super prizes at the end of the evening.  Learn deeply, laugh hard, and thank your lucky stars ( pun intended) that you are a part of this Leadership Council Institute, because, quite honestly, I cannot imagine what could top this one.  From the cotton candy, spun live, and DEN leaders, also spun live, living and learning just does not get any better.

Geocaching with Bridget Belardi

Geocaching is the experience where you become the search engine.  Bridget used Glogster to create a geocaching image for her wiki.  GPS requires you to have the latitude and longitude coordinates in order to search for something somewhere in your world.  Garmin and Magellan are the most popular and you can download cache information/coordinates into the receiver if it is properly equipped.

Do all handheld machines have the GPS ability?  Yes, if you have the extra cable.  If you are not a fellow geocacher, you may not need/want a GPS.  You can use iPhone as your GPS navigator, or your Blackberry if you have web access.  Generally speaking, the GPS works by identifying 3 satellites to locate your exact position on earth.  If you lose connection with one of the three, you lose the option to continue, so atmospheric interference can impact the ability to search.The GPS receiver is only as good as what you paid for it.  The ability for the receiver to read the satellites increases with the ability of the equipment, but you still need some geocache sense.

The best place to build an account is http://www.geocaching.com.  Then, you can search by city, zip code, state, driving route….  Bridget usually searches by zip code, but you can also search by state or driving directions (great for a long ride or a vacation drive).  Record the latitude and longitude coordinates and save to your receiver.  You can also search by your address to see what is in your immediate area.

When you create a geocaching account, you need to pay attention to the difficulty rating (1—5) and the terrain.  Bridget has been geocaching, and she said the hardest one she encountered was a 3.  Clicking on the link you have found will tell you who hid the cache (it could be absolutely anything, small to large), when it was hidden, and the North and West coordinates.  Bridget prints the coordinates so she can add it to her receiver later.  Without the coordinates, you have no geocache.  Caches are often hidden in off-the-beaten paths, and often when you find the cache, you find something else that is interesting as well.  What Bridget likes best is the decryption key to decipher the code, but if you hit “decrypt,” the decoding will be done for you.  In adition, you will find a list of all the people who have searched and found (or not) the cache.  Bridget suggests that for the good of the sport, you go back to the site and log in your results.  If you were using this activity for students, you get a valuable writing activity after the fact.

In geocaching, you always get a Google map, and you can use your GPS to try to find it.  When you click on the map, however, you will find if there are any other caches closeby.  Tomorrow Bridget will host a geocaching event so we have more hands-on search time.  Sometimes you have to answer questions, “The Original,” to prove you had been there, done it.  You can email the owner of the cache and s/he will tell you if you were correct.  Sometimes you get fake coordinates and you find the cache, which gives you new coordinates to get to the real cache.

How do we know that the people who plant the cache replenish the cache?  That’s where responding on the site where you got the coordinates becomes really important.  Searchers need to input data so that future geocachers will find the site viable.  You can flag any potential problems you encounter online, so that owners can replenish/fix the site or remove the cache (just in case a tree was cut down and your cache was a part of that tree).

So after you choose the cache, then what?  After inserting the coordinates into the GPS, you need to follow the compass until it gets to a within 10 feet.  Then, you use your geosense to see if something “isn’t right.” Where could something be hidden within a 15 foot range.  But it is always helpful to know what you might be looking for.  Some examples are a container (they are always labeled; tin, plastic, glass), something waterproof.  Ammo cans often have trade able items, trinkets, toys, stuffed animals, something that could/not have a value.

So, rule of thumb: if you find something, leave something. Leave something of equal or greater value, and that is the first rule of geocaching etiquette.  Sometimes containers are so camouflaged that find the cache is difficult.  The nanocaches are often magnetic and are “evil” because they are nanosized, making them really (almost) impossible to locate.  The space to write your name and date are often microscopic, so there is definitely a challenge to geocaching.  (I finally know what Michael Chicocki was prepping for one day when he Twittered...)

Here’s the good part.  You go through the pain and suffering of finding the cache, trade the items (find something, leave something).  Travel bugs and Geocoins are valuable.  Travel bugs are often attached to a dogtag with a track able number.  That number allows you to track it online.  What makes it interesting is that you can repurpose the cache by adding directions.  A cache can actually travel a path across the United States and the world (very popular in Germany).

You can buy geocaching coins online ("Queen of Caching").  You can even marathon geocache within a contest to find the most caches and collectibles within a time period.  Trillions of designs exist online, and geocache coins make a great trade for the find.  Responsible etiquette asks that you leave a message when you find the object of your search, both on site and online.  You need to re-camouflage the cache if you are asked to leave the cache after you find it.  Jeep even does geocaching, so if you find the Jeep coin, you get to enter into a lottery to win a Jeep.

Geocaching Lingo:

Muggles: those who are not geocachers
TFTC: Thanks for the Cache
TFTF: Thanks for the Find
TNLN: Took Nothing Left Nothing.

Educaching: (a great book about lesson plans and geocaching; has black masters, handouts; $32)

Educational Benefits:
Reading latitude and longitude
Map skills
Using a compass
Can add research to the caching
Cross-curricular connections
Letterboxing Hybrid: done with a compass not a GPS.

Resources:
Geocaching ListServ (check the link on Bridget’s wikispaces)

Check out Bridget’s resources (and other STAR DEN presenters) here.
http://www.podcacher.com (a family that podcasts geocaching)