Need to catch up on some projects at work.  See you on November 5th.

It went well.  The technology worked like a dream (except for one laptop that didn’t have the program loaded on it).  My introduction was a little shaky because I was trying to fit everything into 50-minutes plus give time for the students to experiment.  But, once they got started, they were doing great and the discussions were lively.

The questions were insightful and the students were demanding more information than I had planned to give that first day.  The first thing you learn when you teach with simulations is to get out of the way.  I circulated around and answered a few questions but the students were so absorbed in the assignment, they didn’t need me to lecture.  I am looking forward to the second day when they begin building bigger cities.

And also a lesson for trainers too . . .

A Vision of Students Today

Next Monday is the first day of the two-week unit on using SimCity 4 and City Life to teach urban politics.  I did a run-through in the room I will be using and was quite impressed by the presentation technology.  I am a bit nervous because no matter how well you organize your material, the uncertainty inherent in simulations will still present surprises.  These are great teachable moments but you better be prepared to think on your feet.

having to spend a lot.  This is a question I get a lot from colleagues.  So, start here:

1)  ELearning on the Cheap

2) Web 2.0 Teacher Tools 

3)  Open Source Alternatives

The cover story of SEED is an article that every current Presidential candidate should read. After seven years of the most anti-science administration, the United States is in danger of becoming a has-been leader in technology and science. This sounds ridiculous now but consider that China, India, and even the Arab nations are investing billions into building up their scientific “infrastructure” while the US has committed only barely adequate funding for science research.

This is ironic given that the 50th anniversary of Sputnik was yesterday. As Charles Krauthammer writes, Sputnik was a shock to the U.S.’ smug complacency of technological superiority but it was also a boon for our nation as we poured millions into education and research. We are still living off the fruits of those investments. But, where are the new investments that will sustain our nation into the next century?

And its not just the hard sciences that we need to concentrate on. America also needs to innovate in management science. Remember the impact that the 1980 broadcast of If Japan can … Why can’t we had on American management? After having ignored his ideas on quality in the US, he helped the Japanese rebuild their post-WWII industries into a major competitive threat in the late 70’s. Project management training is booming in China while Six Sigma is gaining incredible popularity in India. These may have been American innovations but they are no longer confined to our borders.

I can go on with a whole list of indicators that demonstrate America’s declining lead in science but the point is clear: The U.S. needs to invest in science and technology to the levels that it did when Sputnik first flew into orbit. Because I don’t believe we could recover from the 21st Century version of China’s, India’s or another country’s “Sputnik.”

Cross Posted on Eclectic Bill.

If you are looking for work in E-Learning, check out the E-Learning Marketplace.

Chris Lehmann over at Practical Theory has an intriguing proposal for a workshop:

“School 2.0 — Combining Progressive Pedagogy and 21st Century Tools

In our hurry to learn “What’s new,” we can’t lose sight of “What’s best?” Examine using the new tools in a school-wide, constructivist manner.

Every day brings new tools so that even the most tech-savvy among us can feel overwhelmed. Fortunately, we can use what we know as educators to ground ourselves in sound pedagogical practice so that we can make smart choices about what tools to use and when. Looking at the work of theorists as old as Dewey and as new as George Siemens and the success of schools such as High Tech High and Science Leadership Academy, we will examine how to make smart decisions about how, when and why to use 21st Century Tools.”

I hope he posts his final presentation to his site. Very timely and needed.

As I’ve been working on a module for creating effective PowerPoint presentations, I have been putting together a draft book for creating good training and educational PowerPoint presentations.  Even though I like Cliff Atkinson’s Beyond Bullet Points and Rick Altman’s Why Most PowerPoint Presentations Suck, I don’t feel that the principles they give are fully applicable to informative PowerPoints like you would find in trainings and lectures.  Atkinson and Altman’s tips are great for a persuasive presentation but, for transmittal of knowledge, another model of preparing PowerPoints is needed.  My book will present this learning model and provide methods on how to make an effective and compelling PowerPoint presentation for knowledge transfer.