Last summer he gave incredible, patient photography lessons to all who attended the Discovery Educators Network Summer Institute in Bozeman, Montana. I cried while watching his slide show about Polar Bears International. (Life changing.)
I felt honored but a little silly asking basic questions to this worldwide expert. But he was generous with his time and knowledge.
Check out his work or sign up for a nature vacay with him and his wife!
How was mine, you ask? Considering the fact that I was standing behind the President of the United States of America while he gave a speech, mine was pretty nice.
yep...
My entire city of Decatur, Georgia, and City Schools of Decatur- a public system just outside Atlanta, got a Valentine's gift to remember this year-- a visit from President Obama!
In between wondering if the visit was, in fact, really happening...I , being the geek I am, could not stop staring at the teleprompter. Teachers in City Schools of Decatur who were lucky enough to get Presidential tickets were able to go inside our city's recreation department for the President's speech- and stand behind him while he delivered his address. Our district Director of Communications worked night and day to prepare for what I thought was a totally perfect and impressive visit to our fantastic city. (see speech video below-- it centered around his wonderful plan to provide instructional preschool to all children, regardless of parental income. We're not talking about day care here.)
Here are a couple highlights from my day with the visitors from Washington, D.C.-- First of all- I love the students in this video - They are some of the greatest kids I've ever had the pleasure of teaching. And they didn't skip a beat when being interviewed by local and national news agencies-- I am so proud of them!
And I have to tell you how thrilled this librarian was to be reading along in my mind with the President while he gave his speech. I was at just the right angle to read his teleprompter. He did embellish the written speech a bit, and the scrolling kept right up with him, and even knew when to skip entire sections of the speech for continuity. He is a master orator! I started wondering if it is an actual job to be the President's "official speech scroller". Kudos to the person who kept up with him flawlessly.
I did a little Googling, and this teleprompter by Telescript (in NJ) look like the kind the President used. He had one on each side of his lectern/podium. You could see the scrolling speech if you were at just the right angle, but from the front it looked like matte-finished glass. Way cool.
But not as cool as spending my Valentine's Day with the President.
I saw David Pogue http://www.davidpogue.com/ when he was the keynote speaker/singer/piano player/comedian at Georgia's Ed. Tech Conference a few years ago. He is incredible. He is also the host of NOVA's 'Can Science Stop Crime'. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/tech/can-science-stop-crime.html
Check it out- record it- order it. It will certainly be fun and informative.
Here's a write-up from KPBS: David Pogue, popular technology reporter for The New York Times, is the new host of the critically acclaimed science magazine series, NOVA scienceNOW, beginning with the launch of Season Six in October 2012. Featuring four stories in each themed episode, the new season again tackles an array of thought-provoking topics. "Can Science Stop Crime?" - What’s the secret to stopping crime? David Pogue gives the third degree to scientists pushing the limits of technology — not only to solve horrific murders, but also to try to prevent crimes.
Pogue learns the latest techniques, from unraveling the clues embedded in a decomposing corpse to detecting lies by peering directly into a suspect’s brain to tracking the creation of a psychopath’s mind.
And a genius crime-stopper has made some terrifying discoveries, including how easy it is for a bad guy to highjack — not just your laptop, but your kids’ toys, your pacemaker and even your car.
Today the City Schools of Decatur Media/Tech Specialists visited the Georgia Center for Classroom Innovation at the Department of Education Towers in Atlanta. Along with the excellent examples of technology and physical space arrangement, we saw incredible progressive furniture and instructional space concepts. Check out the CCI website and see how to sign up for a tour for yourself or your group (appointments required).
AND... I have a new love in my life. Named Steelcase Node.
I have officially fallen in love with the Steelcase Node desk and chair combo. Trust me, it is much more comfortable than it looks, and it is easy to get in and out of. And yes, it even comes with a cup holder. I really might order one for my daughter to use for homework at home.
The circular base holds lots of supplies and gear, and the writing tray swivels and moves forward and backward. Love this chair- Check out the site here.
Full Disclosure- this article is about my own school's technology and media program for grades 4-5, which, of course, I think is super fantastic. It gives a nice insight into a day in my professional life.
I was shadowed for a day by Rosemary Jean-Louis, the Passion for Learning blogger extraordinaire at Georgia Public Broadcasting. She's full of insight and ideas about education in Georgia- you should check out her posts and subscribe to her blog feed. I hope you can take an idea from this post and use it in your school. Our program is highly fluid and each day brings a change or modification based on student and teacher needs and requests.
Our exceptional district-wide Directors (Instructional Media and Communications, Heather Borowski / Technology, Mary Farmer) truly make Decatur City a great place to work by providing progressive technological opportunities to all of our schools. The 4/5 Academy is an example of a huge team effort paying great dividends for our students.
Title: 20TH CENTURY ILLUSTRATION Date: January 24, 2013 Time: at 1:30 PM Exhibition: Fri., January 18, 10-6 Sat., January 19, 12-5 Tues., January 22, 10-6 Wed., January 23, 10-6 Thurs., January 24, 10-noon Contact Person: George S. Lowry glowry@swanngalleries.com
Coinciding with Bibliography Week in New York, this sale includes an extensive selection of original 20th-century illustration art and books. There are illustrations by Charles Addams, Ludwig Bemelmans, Al Hirschfeld, Beatrix Potter, Dr. Seuss and others.
The book section contains a private collection of works witten and/or illustrated by Maurice Sendak from the library of the late Reed Orenstein, bookseller and longtime Sendak collector. Included are most of his important works in first edition, many signed, and several with small sketches and inscriptions.
Highlights include:
A rare first edition of Sendak's first book, Where the Wild Things Are, signed and inscribed with a drawing, New York, 1963. Shown top left.
A group of eight pencil sketches made by Maurice Sendak in preparation for the CBS animated TV specialist Maurice Sendak's Really Rosie, circa 1975.
A drawing by Beatrix Potter, titled The Cats' Meat Man, circa 1895.
An early Peanuts comic strip, completed by Charles Schulz in ink and pencil, dated March 1, 1953, features Charlie Brown and Patty listening to some old records.
The original ink drawing done by Garth Williams for the dust jacket cover for Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder, circa 1953.
