social contacts

I am always amazed at how social media brings together people from all walks of life. Just the other day I was watching a TED talk on this topic called How social media can make history. The premise of the talk was that news has gone from the realm of the “one” talking to the [...]

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a difficult conversation

As the teacher representative on the Ridgecrest Charter School Board, I was recently asked to facilitate a meeting with the teachers regarding an increase in medical insurance costs. The administrative staff felt that they had reached an impasse and asked me to intervene. They indicated that some of the staff had become hostile and resistant [...]

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status update thoughts

Status message commentary from one of my students (VM).
VM at 12:50pm April 26
Twitter and Facebook updates are like disembodied accountability…
DK at 12:53pm April 26
hmmm… interesting… explain…
VM at 2:56pm April 26
normally people around you keep you accountable for your actions but there are with you. Present.
But with twitter and facebook updates you post what your doing [...]

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re-enabling our abilities

Several months ago I read with interest an article in The Atlantic that lamented the effect that the Internet (represented by Google) had on reading, learning, and thinking. There were many good points. I, too, have felt the effects of years of web work on my ability to focus on long sections of text. I [...]

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taking risk

posted by a student in my Tech Management grad class this week:
My experience so far has been great. I did start with some hesitance in creating some new accounts for the assignments or for this class in general. However, I tried at least 3 new things (by joining and creating an account) where I am [...]

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RCS School Board Application

Occupation Professor of Computer Science, Cerro Coso Community College
Previous board experience currently Site Council member & secretary, Inyokern Elementary School
Areas of expertise/contributions you feel you can make:
As a college professor, one of the biggest problems I see from students coming out of the traditional public school system is the inability to engage in [...]

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favorite tweets

On twitter, you can save posts you especially like to a favorites list. Here are some that have caught my attention recently.

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tweet for help

I got an email tonight asking for approval of a computer literacy course outline revision. I’m slated to teach a section of this class in the fall. In past discussions, I’ve expressed a strong opinion that this class should focus on basic concepts and not specific software, something that has been just as strongly opposed. [...]

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TO: State Board of Education

TO: State Board of Education
RE: Ridgecrest Charter School
We are writing this letter in support of the continued accreditation of Ridgecrest Charter School. As the parents of eight children and as an educator, we have been very happy with the education our children are receiving at RCS. The teachers have consistently worked hard to provide a [...]

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“have to” vs “want to” participation

Every once in a while something clicks and begins to make sense. This morning it happened on my way to work as I was driving on mental auto-pilot. I really am thankful for the 25 minute drive to work because if I lived closer I wouldn’t get the uninterrupted time to think that driving for [...]

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