The 'Real' Reason the Economy Effected School Fundraisers...

There's an economic reality and it's not been pretty.  Foreclosures up, jobs lost, no money in the bank, no borrowing power.  These are real issues.

But for schools and educators who are accustomed to fairness, promoting a fundraiser knowing that people out there are hurting is often difficult.

It's human nature not to want to ask things of people who are already in a bad position - completely understandable, right?

Well, certainly understandable, but only if you know who is in a bad position and who isn't.  Schools have hundreds of kids.  It's just too hard to know who's financially strapped at any given time.

It's impossible to know who has the willingness and ability to give at any time.  It's even harder to know how much the students suffer at the hands of a fundraiser that doesn't succeed.

So, if you're the fundraising chair, are you making the judgement for people ahead of time, or are you letting the results of the fundraiser determine who had the ability to help out?

Ok, until next time!

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school fundraisers

The 30 Goals Challenge - Shelly Terrell Video Series

Shelly Terrell is one of the educators in my PLN that shares a passion for technology in education.  She posted a 30 goal challenge for educators and I want to repost the first video of here series here to give any teachers that missed it a chance to see it for themselves:




This is the first video in the series - enjoy!

Ok, until next time!

How Twitter has Changed...

The world wide web certainly has seen it's fair share of web successes and web failures in just a few short years - the rise and fall of AOL, Pets.com and successes such as Amazon, eBay, Myspace, Facebook and the meteoric rise of Groupon.com just to name a few.

The one thing in common for any web success is that it does have a peak.

The peak of eBay was roughly 2002 in my opinion.  During this period, people were just beginning to trust the web and if you were a seller on the site, certainly would believe this time period was the golden age.  Anything could be sold and for top dollar as collectors finally had a way to purchase long desired items that were not easily obtainable in local stores.

The peak of Myspace was right around the time where Tom sold it - smart guy :)

So, I use twitter and I think it is the very best collaborative tool for building my PLN - my personal learning network. I also blog regularly.  Unfortunately, blogging about elementary school fundraising is about as popular as blogging about the rubber band industry.  Regardless, you're reading this.  But really, I'm convinced that someone out there made an improvement because of one of my posts and that gives me as much motivation as I need to keep with it.

Twitter has a diverse and extensive number of educators, school administrators, principals, librarians and a slew of companies that support education.  For that reason, I have a PLN that includes a number of categories of education related folks and I am better off for it.

I have noticed that when twitter changes and particularly with the new look and feel, the site has changed.  It's harder in some ways for me to see how I am influencing others and I am quite sure others find it harder to find out if they are making a difference by being on twitter as well.  Sure, I know how to use the site inside and out so it's not my knowledge... It's just the way it functions differently now than it did.

My point is that Twitter will have a peak at some point.  Because I like twitter to such an extent that I have come to rely on it, I want that peak to happen many, many years from now.  I just wonder sometimes because if a site changes too much, they can cause that peak to happen to themselves before it's time.

Regardless, there are so many educators and amazing people on twitter that a little blip or two won't change the power of my PLN as it relates to my enjoyment and personal development online.  This post is getting a bit out of hand so I will call it a day at this simple request:

Twitter... don't change so much anytime soon.  Keep your site easy to use and friendly and more and more folks will develop their own PLN - one that is relevant to them. Make it simple for me to know if my ideas are spreading and I'll be forever thankful. 

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Keep the conversation going on twitter - twitter.com/believekids
school fundraising companies
school fundraising blog

Share this... Open Google Docs Document.

Here is an open google document that was created recently that educators should take a look at. I think it's really great because every user added one item.  It's basically a poster of ideas on how teachers can improve and change education.  Pretty fun to see a collaborative document like this - enjoy.

https://docs.google.com/drawings/d/1zppdZCP4f_T-8ZYVLSRzCrRGgYkVl5Wx1NEYKqKqmI8/edit?hl=en

The Educators PLN - http://edupln.ning.com/

Hey, keeping it short and sweet today. 

If you are an educator and run across today's post, follow the link and consider joining.  It will be an improvement to your PLN as I have found that this resource is incredible for teachers and educators.

Not a place to advertise a company or anything... really a straight up resource for teachers.  Here ya go!

The Educators PLN - http://edupln.ning.com/

Schools and Technology... Changing Perceptions in the Mind of the Community.

Ask a random member of your community if they think the local elementary school is on the cutting edge of technology and most likely, they'll be thinking overhead projectors and VHS tapes.

I applaud educators today for pushing to improve the reputation of teachers when it comes to technology.  I no longer picture a teacher as purely a red pen, loose paper, dusty book person.  I picture educators as Macbook toting, Smartboard using folks planning their classes on an iPad.

So, here's the trouble.  When your average person pictures a school, they do not imagine a well-designed modern layout with comfortable furniture and quiet voices. They do not see subdued indirect lighting.  They do not envision students on the newest technology available.  They do not imagine students truly engaged.

They hear the clicks and squeaks of shoes in long echo filled hallways, the grinding of pencils being sharpened and outdated textbooks hitting the desks.  In the mind, the school is exactly as it has always been.  Loud, sterile and behind-the-times. They picture a lot of horseplay and talking back.

Change takes time and that's why I have so much respect for the educators in my PLN (my Personal Learning Network).  I see first-hand what technology and communication can do to improve learning.  The development of the educators that have embraced sites like twitter and express themselves with blogs such as this one is mind-boggling.  The desire to integrate apps and devices and create an environment where collaborative learning replaces memorization.

There is no doubt in my mind that our current educators can bring a new level of awareness and reform education.  Here's proof that our educators are on the cutting edge:

2010 Edublog Award Winners

If you take a look at some of the winners listed here, you'll get the idea that blogging, social media, technology and new strategies are being widely distributed TODAY.

And the kids are ready for it!  Right now, our toddlers are fully capable of operating computers and apps of all types.

My son just turned 4 years old and can surf YouTube, find age appropriate Netflix content to watch without help, take photos and videos and play them back and he can easily operate a number of educational apps without supervision. I know that sounds like he must be online all the time but it's not that he's always using technology.  He's a regular boy and plays and we do a lot of fun things together - He's just pretty darn good at it now that the devices are as intuitive as they are today.

This phenomenon is not just happening to just a few kids.  Take a look at this:

Learning to Play ‘Angry Birds’ Before You Can Tie Your Shoes

The technology gap between home and school could just as easily widen if school budgets don't allow for integrating technology into the classroom creating a dynamic where students don't relate to school as well. Although I'm no expert here, what I do know is that children like to be challenged.  Not being up-to-date is just not all that interesting.

This is why I respect schools that pay attention to design, lighting, comfort, computers & devices, video, sound reinforcement and simplicity.  I also applaud educators that push the boundaries discovering new and exciting ways to engage students and inspire others.

In the end, changing schools is going to be a long haul but I believe it can be done.

People will have to see for themselves this 'new school' is dedicated to the integration of technology and new principles of learning in order to believe it.  It will have to shatter the expectation that the school was created from the 'hand-me-downs' of the business sector and let it be known that the educators actually know how to use the technology.

We can get there and it will happen when thousands upon thousands of little actions improve the way schools work.  I see these improvements daily from the educators in my PLN and I am impressed.  It's perhaps not yet a movement, but it is something powerful.

I, for one, look forward to following these small innovations all along the way.  Things will soon look very different as a result.

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Jay Moneta is the Vice President of Believe Kids Fundraising and blogs here at BelieveJay.Blogspot.com as well as TheFundraisingPln.com


I encourage comments and feedback and you are welcome to follow the blog using the tool on the right hand column or adding to your RSS reader.  I appreciate you taking the time to share as well!

Here's the article that inspired this post: Tightrope Teaching

Building Momentum - Social Media and building a PLN

Eric Sheninger - esheninger.blogspot.com

Principal Eric Sheninger's post Building Momentum outlined several points about how and why Social Media and building a PLN has changed his point of view.

To sum up his take on it, the four areas of improvement are:
1. Communication
2. Branding
3. Professional Development/Growth
4. Opportunity

There are a few added benefits that Social Media and creating a PLN (personal learning network) that were not explored in his post.  Because I am very passionate about technology, social media and my PLN I thought we could explore these ideas together and see what revelations can be found.

Here are my additions:

1) Cohesiveness
Social media and PLN's seem to be creating groups of individuals that share the same passions.  Education reform, edtech, collaborative learning, paperless classrooms all represent ideas that, when searched out, become apparent.

Finding a group with similar needs has always and continues to develop excellence in certain areas.  For just about anything a person is interested in, there are groups out there of people that are already connected and moving their cause or idea forward.

2) Friendship
Having real flesh and blood friends is pretty cool.  There was a time recently where folks were anonymous on the web.  Now that everything's changed, you stand the chance of actually taking online friends from largely anonymous interactions to flesh and blood friendships.

Today, meetups, tweetups, conventions and events allow people from various parts of the world to mingle and meet - in person.  It's new and different, and real.  People from across the country who would only write letters to each other are now meeting face to face knowing what they are really about.

3) Education
For every person that encounters a circle of friends on social media or runs into an established set of like-minded individuals, it's hard not to learn something.  Generally, the discussions are poinient and powerful and really, not basic.  Running into a group of experts is a great learning experience.

I believe people exposed to a group that is at a higher level learns fast.  I am a proponent for the paperless classroom not because I don't like printing.  It's because I ran into the TeachPaperless blog through a number of conversations on twitter.  I nearly consider myself an expert in the area because of the wealth of knowledge I received in short order - no joke.

4) Inspiration
There is inspiration found in the sweaty brow of an athlete at game time.  I'm not much of a sports fan but there just is.  Similarly, an educator who is 'in the zone' so to speak has an energy and enthusiasm for what they believe in as well.

I am inspired by the educators and suppliers that provide energy and insight.  When I was in school, only a hand-full of teachers were requested by students wanting to get in their classrooms.

Online, I feel like everyone I run into is that teacher you go out of your way to get into their class - that's inspiration!

Introducing Random Acts of Kindness at Your School

The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation Actsofkindness.org is an organization that encourages kindness on school campusus. What's amazing is the amount of excellent content they have on the site. Educators can easily create lesson plans for fun and educational activities at school just by visiting the 'Free Stuff' link.

Educators Take Note - this is an amazing resource and you should take just a moment to check it out. I really can't believe a group could be put together to promote kindness but it's just touching - and I'm sure it works!

BelieveJay Quick Tip - their Teachers Guide is a good place to get a TON of ideas on how to introduce elements of their program into your classroom. I especially found the section on 'activity ideas' interesting because these activities may just spark ideas on introducing other study areas with these fun activities. It may just improve other areas of your lessons.

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Jay Moneta is the Vice President of Believe Kids Fundraising and can be reached at twitter - twitter.com/BelieveKids with any comments. As with any of my posts, please make comments or suggestions and share if you see fit. Thanks for looking!

Free Audio Books for Educators - A great way to read while doing other things

I know there are many resources for educators and students alike these days and many ways to consume media. So, when I come across resousces that can be of benefit I like to post up about them.

I wanted to pass this on on because audio books are a great and easy way to get through books. I have found that this is mainly due to the fact that you can do something at the same time and today, it seems hardly anyone has time to do just one task. So, driving to work while listening to an audio book on your iPod is a great way to learn while still being task oriented.

Personally, I pay for and download audio books on iTunes, then put them on my iPhone. That way, I always have them at the ready. However you download and listen to your audio is of course up to you but try this free resource:

LearnOutLoud.com has a library of free audio books. http://www.learnoutloud.com/Free-Audio-Video

Here is another resource: www.AudioBooksForFree.com has a good selection as well.

This is just one of those times where the internet brings us what we are used to paying for for free. Do you get the newest release and the New York Times bestseller for free? Probably not. But you will find something interesting to listen to when you want a break from your media routine.

Plus in the time it took me to read one physical book I was able to listen to three. It's incredible and I recommend giving it a try. It's improved my reading :)

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If you enjoyed my post, please leave a comment. Also, I can be reached easily via twitter - twitter.com/BelieveKids - We host elementary school fundraisers nationwide.