Your #maet #edtech questions answered!

Leigh Graves Wolf

I love when people ask me questions! Over the past few days, I have received some great questions from MAET students and COE colleagues – are are a few quick ones worth sharing with a wider audience.

I’m moving from an elementary homeroom class to a middle school writing classroom – what advice to you have for me?

I outsourced this question to twitter – here’s what came back:

Write WITH your students. Honor their writing. Check out nwp.org for juicy resources. via @andreazellner

Spend as much time as you can during the first week building relationships and setting expectations! (TO INFINITY). Have the class collaborate on the rules of your classroom – have THEM develop what is acceptable and unacceptable behavior. Post it on a big piece of paper! Have them all SIGN IT! via @ronhoutman

UPDATE: Another submission from the survey!

Buy Nancy Atwell’s book “In the Middle” that focuses on reading and writing workshop. It’s amazing!

My advice – tweet! Personal Learning Networks are a great source of support and knowledge – you never know where a RT will lead you. Also, post the question to #edchat – so many educators ready and willing to help out there. If you are worried about privacy and posting questions “out there” in the twitterverse you could always create an anonymous twitter account, or, email me! I’m always happy to help crowdsource! For those just running across this post, feel free to add your tips in the comments.

I always see you post links from delicious on Facebook/Twitter, but I couldn’t figure out how to do it myself today. How do you do it??

I use twitter feed – http://twitterfeed.com/ I use it to feed Flickr, Delicious and shared Google Reader items to twitter. It’s easy and free!

Update 8/31:

Follow up question: is there any way to control which delicious links I share via twitter and which ones I don’t?

Yes! When you’re tagging things with delicious, create a special tag for things you want to go to twitter (something like totwitter 4twitter, etc.) Then feed TwitterFeed the RSS for that tag only.  For example, if I only wanted to share things I tag with “maet” to twitter I would feed TwitterFeed the following URL:

http://feeds.delicious.com/v2/rss/gravesle/maet

So, just replace my username with your username and “maet” with your special tag! I believe it is case sensitive, so make sure they match on delicious/TwitterFeed.

I am looking for an online scheduler to do one very specific task: Allow students to sign up for office hours.

Tungle.me http://www.tungle.me
The amazing and talented Cary Roseth –  introduced it to me last semester – it’s a gem! (and free!)

Abstraction Quickfire

Leigh Graves Wolf

Abstraction Quickfire

The challenge> http://www.msuedtechsandbox.com/maety1_2010/quickfires/abstraction

Mama always told me not to look into the eye’s of the sun
But mama, that’s where the fun is

Object: LCD projector

Idea: Though we may initially be blinded by a technology (physically, in the case of this projector, or metaphorically by learning a new technology) if you work through the glare and the pain, that’s where the fun is.

Remix Reuse Recycle – A Creative Commons Assignment

Leigh Graves Wolf

I was inspired by Alec Couros‘s tweet this afternoon to share my Remix, Reuse, Recycle project we have been doing for the past few years in the MAET overseas program.

(click the image to see the commercial)

This video reminded me of an assignment called “Remix, Reuse, Recycle” that we have been tweaking for the past few years in our overseas summer graduate program. (And I’m super excited to have this Nokia video to include in the future iterations of the project!) Below, you will find:

  • an example of student work
  • the assignment (in its original form from 2007)
  • rubric

Please feel free to Remix, Reuse and Recycle the assignment for yourself! (And let me know if you do!)

—-

EXAMPLE OF STUDENT WORK

(Kerry Clark, MAET Overseas graduating class of 2007)

ASSIGNMENT

Remix culture is a term employed by Lawrence Lessig to describe a society which allows and encourages derivative works. Such a culture would be, by default, permissive of efforts to improve upon, change, integrate, or otherwise remix the work of copyright holders. Lessig presents this as a desirable ideal and argues, among other things, that the health, progress, and wealth creation of a culture is fundamentally tied to this participatory remix process. (via wikipedia)

A remix may also refer to a non-linear re-interpretation of a given work or media other than audio. Such as a hybridizing process combining fragments of various works. The process of combining and re-contextualizing will often produce unique results independent of the intentions and vision of the original designer/artist. Thus the concept of a remix can be applied to visual or video arts, and even things farther afield. (via wikipedia)

In this activity, you will each be given a common set of Creative Commons video clips and music and will be asked to remix these clips. You will be randomly assigned a theme. Do your best to keep your theme secret!!

Constraints:
• Video must not exceed 2 minutes
• You may include your own text into the mix, but you may not use any additional video or audio clips.

Clips must be edited using
Adobe Premiere Elements
Windows Movie Maker
iMovie

Video Clips –
http://www.archive.org/details/prelinger

– the Librarian – http://www.archive.org/details/Libraria1947
– film research and learning – http://www.archive.org/details/FilmRese1956
– choosing and educational film – http://www.archive.org/details/Choosing1963
– basic typing – http://www.archive.org/details/basic_typing_1
– facts about projection – http://www.archive.org/details/FactsAbo1975
– education for excellence – http://www.archive.org/details/education_for_excellence_2
– sharp calculator – http://www.archive.org/details/sharp_calculator_2
– it happens every noon – http://www.archive.org/details/it_happens_every_noon

Audio Clips –
http://www.electrobel.be/
http://opsound.org/index.php

associated readings –
free culture – lessig – http://free-culture.cc
Exploring the Right to Share, Mix and Burn – new york times – http://tinyurl.com/2hpff2
remix planet – wired – http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/13.07/gorillaz.html

Example Topics–
Cooperation
Situated learning
Experiential learning
Authentic learning
Constructivism
Behaviorism
Active learning
Passive learning
Affordances of technology
Constraints of technology

RUBRIC

Assignment Rubric (pdf)

Mother’s Day Brunch Menu

Leigh Graves Wolf

Main Courses

Yeasted Waffles
with Michigan Maple Syrup.  Homemade Raspberry or Blueberry Freezer Jam (fruit from MSU Student Organic Farm) and Caulder’s Dairy Whipped Cream

Breakfast Casserole
Challah, Eggs from Aunt Betsy’s Chicken Farm, Sausage, Potato and MSU Dairy Store Sharp Cheddar cheese

Grilled Salmon
Fresh Canadian Salmon marinated in soy, ginger, honey, lemongrass, cilantro, and chili

Salad
Michigan Cherries, toasted hazelnuts, carrots, Wisconsin cheddar and apples

Dessert

Key Lime Pie
from Sweet and Savory Bakery

Lemon Curd Pound Cake
from Sweet and Savory Bakery.  Served with Strawberries and Calder’s Dairy whipped cream


Snack Break! Waffles for one?

Leigh Graves Wolf

So, while I should be blogging about my dissertation or teaching related things, I’m slightly stressed and thought it would be a good time for a snack break!

With the aid of some saved up gift cards, a few weeks ago I purchased my first ever waffle-iron.  I did my research (Cook’s Illustrated, Alton Brown, Amazon reviews, etc.) and finally decided I had to have the Cadillac of waffle irons — the All-Clad 4-square Belgian Waffle Maker. (Did I mention I had gift cards?)  This purchase and sudden interest in waffles was inspired by the inventive Waffelizer blog. After coming across the blog a few months ago, I decided to make waffles (or things waffled) predominately featured on the Fall 2010 tailgate menus.  With summer teaching around the corner, final grades due this week, and a dissertation cloud over my head, I could not imagine a better time to immerse myself in a new hobby. (Do I even have to say insert sarcasm here?)

Long story short, my first attempt at waffles went pretty well.  I had planned on making waffles for dinner this past Sunday night after running the exciting Heart of a Spartan 5K in the morning.  Now, I don’t think waffles for dinner is bizarre, but, my husband disagreed and did not express a desire to partake in the fruits (breads?) of my waffling.  So I went a googling for a “waffles for one” recipe.  (I didn’t have any wax paper or ziplocs for freezing and I just wanted to make 2 waffles.)

I was disappointed with my google search — had no one perfected the waffle for one? So, I decided it would be a great time to experiment — and here is what I came up with! (It was successful if I do say so myself!)

Waffles for One
Perfectly portioned to fill one side of the All-Clad 4-square Belgian Waffle Maker.

Dry Ingredients:
1/3 cup organic flour (or, play around and get up to a 1/3 of a cup of different flours, whole wheat, etc.)
pinch of salt
3/4 tsp baking powder
1 tsp sugar
1 tsp cinnamon

Wet Ingredients
1/2 egg
1/4 c buttermilk (or regular milk if you don’t have buttermilk on hand)
1 tbsp melted butter
dash of vanilla

Step 1: Put dry ingredients in small bowl and set aside

Step 2: Melt the butter and let it cool (but not re-coagulate)

Step 3: Crack egg and whisk it up, scoop out approx 1/2 of the egg (you can cook it up to go with your waffle!)

Step 4: Whisk buttermilk into egg, whisk in vanilla, whisk cooled butter into the mix.

Step 5:  Mix wet and dry ingredients – give it a few nice stirs to make sure all ingredients are incorporated.

The waffle iron was set to 6 (out of 7.) I scooped out the contents bowl to fill the left side of the waffle maker.  Set the lid down and once the escaping steam slowed down, lifted the lid. Looked nice and golden brown – but put the lid down for another few seconds (I like crisper waffles.)

And there you have it – two perfect waffles emerged from the Cadillac, I mean @allclad waffle iron. I drizzled with some local honey and enjoyed my waffles with no leftovers and only a few small bowls to clean up!

Now for extra credit you could mix in some ham and shredded cheddar to make it more savory and “dinner like.” You could mix in some berries for a sweet treat…the possibilities are endless (as you will quickly find out if you follow @waffleizer)

Enjoy – and let me know if you try out the recipe!

Support a good cause and play KICKBALL

Leigh Graves Wolf

Batman Kickball #2

photo courtesy http://www.flickr.com/photos/timmygunz/ / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Need to let off some pre-finals/last week of class steam?? Come join us for an impromptu game of KICKBALL TODAY (Apr 28) at NOON!  We’ll be in the field behind Erickson/International Center.  Just look for the people kicking a ball around and join in! (Or, just come and be a spectator!)

Many of our friends were displaced by the devastating fire at the Trappers Cove apartment complex yesterday and we want to help out our fellow Spartans in their time of great need. We’ll have a bucket out accepting donations for the Mid-Michigan chapter of the American Red Cross. Look for the girl (me) with a bouquet of flowers and bucket. Any amount will go a long way in providing comfort to the 80 residents displaced by the fire.

See you tomorrow at noon!

Thank you Dr. Catherine Mohr

Leigh Graves Wolf

In searching for my woman to honor for Ada Lovelace Day, I started with TED – a place I often go for inspiration.  I clicked on “Show Talks Related to Technology” on the left navigation.  I was a little bummed when only one (albeit awesome) woman showed up on the auto generated spotlight links.  Undeterred, I searched for technology in the main TED site search.  About 3 pages in on the search I ran across a talk with the following title “Catherine Mohr: Surgery’s past, present and robotic future” Having just gone through surgery last week, this title certainly piqued my interest.

Before watching her talk, I googled Dr. Mohr and found a recent article about her in the IEEE Spectrum Journal.  The minute I read the “What She Does” synopsis, I knew I had my woman for Ada Lovelace Day.  Dr. Catherine Mohr develops advanced tools and procedures for da Vinci surgical robots, helping to make surgery safer and less invasive. The da Vinci system was used to perform my surgery at the Cleveland Clinic.  It is the first (and last) thing I remember seeing when I was wheeled into the operating room before the anesthesia (or “margarita” as the anesthetist called it) kicked in.

Take a minute (well, 18 minutes and 55 seconds) to watch Dr. Mohr’s TED Talk.  If you’re super duper crunched for time, fast forward to the 17:00 mark, but, I hope you’re not crunched for time, it really is worth the watch over your morning coffee or lunch break.

Dr. Mohr, thank you for making me (and countless others) whole, intact, and functional enough to go out and save the world.

Why I love the web, the saga continues (aka @AllClad FTW)

Leigh Graves Wolf

Punya and I always go back and forth about how much we love the web.  Punya has his sci-po stories – and then there is the story of how Punya critiqued Cam Wilde’s periodic table of typefaces. If you read the comments, you will see Cam ended up being a guest speaker in our class this summer! (Check out the recording!) I love how the webs weave and connect us.

Well, now I have another story to add to the mix, and of course it has a cooking twist.  A few weeks back, my foodie friend Kari emailed me distraught because she had a pretty bad caked-on baked-on burn on her shiny new All-Clad pan.

Kari emailed:
Hey–do you know how to get fried-on olive oil off stainless steel? I’ve tried baking soda and ketchup…. sigh.

I replied:
Bar Keeper’s Friend does a really nice job – http://www.barkeepersfriend.com/products.htm – you can get it usually at any grocery store or hardware store. Mix some into a paste and let it sit on the stain overnight – then get a scrubber and rub it off. SHOULD do the trick.  In a pinch I have also used Mr. Clean Magic Erasers — I have no idea what is in those things, but dang, they really are MAGIC.  I’ll tweet it out and see if I can get any other suggestions.

Of course, because I have an awesome network, the suggestions rolled in –
Via Facebook:
Bindu in Indonesia suggested – Look up Baking soda and its properties. It is supposed to be able to clean all.
Scott in Atlanta said – Ball up some aluminum foil, and scrape madly.
Brother-in-law Daryl said – We have something called dip-it and we get it from ecolab, this stuff takes everything off.

Twitter chimed in with
boil white vinegar and lemon slices (an inch or less). let sit til cool. use straight razor to peel stain. scrub w/baking soda. (via @trishlet)

Vinegar is my go-to cleaner and hasn’t failed yet. I fill with a mix of vin and h2o and boil for 20-30 min. Wipes right off.
and
a paste of vinegar and baking soda for really tough jobs. (Also great for cleaning clogged drains! VOLCANO!) (via @leynafaye)

THEN, the tweet that made me run across the hall and proclaim my love of the web to Punya.

Keep at it with Bar Keepers Friend and elbow grease! –– this tweet via, ALLCLAD. Yes, All-Clad, the maker of the pan! Color me ecstatic! Another company with their ear to the social media ground – and not in a spammy nasty auto-follow sort of way, in a genuine, how can I help sort of way.  Of course, I immediately added @allclad as a friend and thanked them for the tweet.

I sent all the suggestions on to Kari and waited for the results of the experiment.  The next day, another tweet showed up in my @ column –

Nice to tweet you :) Any news on your friend’s pan? (via @allclad)

They were checking back in! All-Clad, I commend you for “doing social media” the right way – you’re a #1 class act in my book.  Thank you for adding to the conversation and serving as an excellent role model for tweeters everywhere!

Kari eloquently blogged about her stain removal experiment here – long story short – success the stain is gone!

I’m happy to chalk up another one in the WIN column for social media!