After a break in the blogging action following the winter vacation, I'm doing my final post of the first semester.  The snow has melted and things do change.  Thanks to all who took the time to look at these ramblings and pix!

Winter Break?!

Hi All and Merrrry Christmas!  I'm hunkered down with my Mom in Forest Grove, Oregon waiting for the heaviest Portland snowfall in 40 years to melt away.  chains are my friend!  My wife was planning to fly in to Portland on the night of the 23rd and meet us, but alas, hers and all other flights have been cancelled.  So it's just me, mom and the dog.  Hope you are all in warmer climes.  I guess I can begin writing MA chapter 1.  Take it easy!

Holiday Greetings to all!

Greetings during the darkest times of the year.  From the economy, to changing priorities, crazy kids that don't know the gravity of it all, and a seriousness and dread of the future that I can't for a long time remember the likes of, to the electric bills that haven't yet arrived.  I like many am hunkering down with what's still important:  my family, friends, dog, music and imagination.  I'm cheered by the sense of humor some still show even when the joke's on them.  The silly need to decorate whatever they call home and wait for cheerier times.  Smiles on little kids, Christmas lights on the sausage factory.  Pray for rain, pray for prosperity, and above all pray that we never lose or warmth for each other and sense of humor.

Lawn spiral

Happy Thanksgiving all you Tourolites!  I'm staying close to home except for a trip to Santa Rosa this eve to attend the Video Special Interest Group (SIG) meeting of the North Coast Mac Users Group (NCMUG).  I always get useful tips and trash at these meetings and am always looking for ideas to put into my masters project.  There are educators in the group, so I might bounce some ideas off them too.  My current lit search is providing lots of avenues that I have to hone into a single path, like "What learning outcomes are achieved by students making content films?".  Is it just fluff, or do they really learn valuable life skills?  I think they do, but exactly how to put that into a project keeps me busy.  Hope all are well!

Sometimes it feels like being lost in a hall of mirrors...

With the Touro stuff simmering on various burners of the Wedgewood of Life, prepping for class, grading papers, playing with the dog, and oh yes, trying to eat healthy, its tough sometimes to know which is real and which is a reflection of my own mind.  I find the Masters program stimulating but very time consuming..just hoping it all comes out OK when"order up!" is called out.  One thing I'm finding is that my "tech radar" is always on these days and I see it everywhere for good and not so good.  Going into the holidays I must say though it's a welcome distraction from the consumerism catcalls.  Step right up!

What's going on in the classroom...

I've been trying to incorporate techie stuff into my classroom.  I am currently having kids research an element, make Microsoft Publisher "advertisements" for products that contain their element, and print them in color on cardstock for classroom decor.  One thing I learned is that if you don't have Publisher on your computer at home, you can't open the files.  Is there a an open source "publisher" program out there that any have used?

Blazin, through the aspens, Saturday, Oct. 11