The Spartans Do Globaloria

I couldn't wait to see what East's group was up to last Friday when I finally was able to pay them a visit. This class, co-taught by Abbie and Jim, is unusual in that its teachers are from English/Journalism/Drama and Music backgrounds, demonstrating the versatility of the Globaloria program and its adaptability; these two teachers and their students are proving that 21st century skills can be exciting for anyone from any curricular background. I know I would have enjoyed this "break" from traditional teaching when I was in the classroom. Now I have to enjoy the teaching and learning vicariously as I visit and peer over the shoulders of the teachers and kids.

Taught on an alternating block schedule, the students meet every other day for 90 minutes, giving them a good chunk of time to "play" with their ideas and focus on their Flash drawings. They have completed their initial idea-gathering and their paper prototypes. Knowing I was coming for a visit, Jim had the video of their game pitches ready. It was great to see their smooth presentations and well-thought-out game plans - I must admit, they were better than most of what we teachers were able to "create" in our summer sessions. (OK, better than what I was able to create - I won't lump everyone into my portrayal.) The best part was watching the kids and teacher enjoy the video as much as I did.

After the video, I wandered about talking to the two teams, looking at their drawings, and listening to their explanations of the games they're working on.

TEAM GERM-N-ATOR, inspired by their senior English teacher (yay!), has a Beowulf concept with various monsters at-the-ready to devour the Anglo-Saxon hero. (The cross-curricular possibilities are endless.) While I don't remember a cyclops in Anglo-Saxon England, in the GERM-N-ATOR's world of revisionist history, creativity is the word and creative license is encouraged. This game has excitement and humor, both elements of successful game play. It will be interesting to see what other "monsters" representing human threats come after Beowulf.

The GERM-N-ATORS at work:

TEAM FIERCE-KUNG-FU-LLAMA-KOMBAT-RANDOMNESS is working on an original concept also. Some highly skilled character drawing adds to the game's attractiveness. I think they're out to wipe drunk and/or impaired driving off the map, but I'm not positive that's all they're up to in their game concept. Their game has the unusual offering to a player to take on the role of either the pursuing police officer or the impaired driver - guess who wins!

Game on!

Monday - GWHS Visit

Expecting a ho-hum morning with lots of teachers and students in a post set-the-clock-back haze, and a pre- election-advertisement bloat, I was proven wrong this morning.

I meandered into Vicky Neal's Globaloria class as they were setting up their computers and found the whole group present and focused on their games, Flash drawings and team conferrings. They were welcoming and eager to tell me about their game concepts and to show off their Flash skills, which already far surpass what I was able to achieve in several days of close instruction at Bridgeport.

Here's a recap of what I saw and learned:



Team ALIVAN is working on Mr. G-Raffe's Trivia Dress-up, a game of wide-ranging trivia, educational of course, where participants can dress cute figures of frogs and other animals if they answer questions correctly. Very nice Flash drawings and animation in progress, and a clear and focused paper prototype. I definitely want to play this game.














Team CHERENA is dabbling in history with their "Adventures of the Past" (working name) game. I like the idea of an educational game that incorporates fun as well as sequence lessons for the player. Time travel will be an exciting concept to work into this adventure. Nice Flash efforts, too.







ANIMATION DIEBE team is working with foreign language (German) in their game name (diebe is German for "thief," they informed me, so I received a language lesson, too.) They are working this name into a game that aims to take DUI offenders off the map; it involves an ever-increasing punishment for an offender's elevation of blood alcohol. Clever concept - great job in early efforts to animate. I can't wait to see this one.

Using a "shooting" concept is the CRAZY APPLES team. Use your imagination to envision the "Tobacco Sniper" as he takes out smokers but leaves little old ladies alone - if they are tobacco-free, that is. Very clever! This team is enjoying their work!



Team S---E---is looking to do some cleanup and recycling in their as yet unnamed game. There is timing involved: You'll have to work quickly for points as the amount of trash increases. Sounds like a challenge. Mrs. Neal suggested using the post-football game playing field as a picture background along with animation. Very nice paper prototype also - it can be viewed on the Wiki.




THE LORDS OF THE BLACK FLAME are working a shooting challenge into their "Gun Down Obesity" game. I think they could give a lesson on Flash - lots of tweening and impressive animation going on on their screens. A serious and well-organized duo!


While I realize this is an early stage of development, I can't help but be impressed with the progress made and the focus of these six teams. To have thinking caps on at 8:00 AM and to accomplish so much in a 45 minute period - Wow!

This is a model group, doing it all right. (And how many teachers would be seen climbing on tables to get just the right photos of her teams at work? Gotcha, Mrs. Neal!)

Ever Wonder....?

What will my students look like today?

Who will show up?

Alfred E. Newman...

Or a sleeping pup?

First Nine Weeks - Gone But Not Forgotten

Happy Happy Joy Joy It's Working!


Yes, we've made it through the first 9 weeks with only minimal loss of brain cells and some very fine accomplishments on the part of our excellent Globaloria staff.

Though not directly involved with EGMS's program, I've peeked in occasionally to see the middle schoolers as they work on their games. How do Lisa and Julie do it? I don't know how, but they are creating a fine learning community with those young (and usually squirrelly by 8th grade standards) kids.


At Greenbrier West, Vicky has established an enjoyable yet serious working environment for her Computer Assisted Art class first period and they are "into it" with gusto. Some work as diligently - or even more diligently - at home on their games. Some exciting ideas there. Laptops a'blazin'!


Abbie and JIm, Greenbrier East's teachers, have made much progress with their two teams, who are very competitive and secretive (in a friendly way, of course...so far). The TIS, Mary, was one of the chosen "clients" who viewed the game pitches last week. "Very impressed," she told me - and she loves the (anonymous - it's a secret!) game inspired by a senior English teacher's lesson. Interesting to hear about the dynamics between the two teams - one "expert" would like to share his expertise with the other team - they prefer to learn on their own. This is great!


I am so proud! Congratulations to the three classes and their dedicated teachers - I hear lots of positive statements from teachers, administrators and students about what's going on in the Globaloria classes.

And They're Off!

I'm noting a Red Letter Day.


The two high schools now have their laptops.


The classes are on their way to gamedom.


Let us rejoice and be glad!

Into It

I think we're on the right track with Globaloria. Greenbrier West's class has 16 students and Greenbrier East has 9 at present. Surveys have been completed and the students are getting a handle on the goals of the class. Teachers have been in contact with WVCPD to fill out purchase orders for Flash licensing. The laptops are to be delivered to the two schools next week, and Maitreyi will be visiting to install Flash on both desktops and laptops. It's been a liong haul to get this far; now the real fun begins.

I've moved into the background as the teachers have taken hold of their classes and it's full speed ahead. My job now is to stop in occasionally and make sure everyone is happy and the materials and hardware are working. Whew!

The new technology goals for the state, which have trickled down to our county with a vengeance, are causing both excitement and consternation leading to anxiety. Though we have a good number of computers, our labs are overflowing at all times of the day, and often there are slowdowns and freezes that are frustrating to say the least. Then there are the blocked sites - a problem particularly annoying to the Globaloria teachers. I remain cautiously hopeful that these things will sort themselves out before everyone falls to pieces, though it may be close!

Nothing else new to report - we soldier on.

And So It Begins...

The year is off to a shaky start with the computers down, files missing and everyone in a panic.
All four of my schools have "issues" with the computers, and the tech staff has been run ragged for the past two weeks trying to get the Edline pages and file folders up and running. WVDE has made things extra-difficult by not providing logins for the programs we want to begin - Acuity and Writing Roadmap. WESTEST results were late in coming, so we're trying to catch up and "disaggregate" the results. And so it goes....

The GOOD NEWS is that the Globaloria classes at East and West are unfolding nicely, thanks to the hard work of the teachers involved. Surveys are getting completed; blogs are being set up, and the students are bringing in their permission slips - and showing lots of enthusiasm for the program. We're looking forward to the installation of Flash on the laptops and desktops in both schools. The laptops are in, and the tech staff has promised delivery to the schools this week.

August 19, 2008

At last, things are beginning to come together. I may have just one blog now, not two! Lee says what happened with the 2 blogs was weird - not surprising considering the "strange" processes I used to get things posted. I couldn't remember now if I had a million dollars bet on it.
I'm finally feeling as though I can get all of this material into some semblance of order. What a relief.

Doing Some Catch Up

Well, after some time away, I'm back trying to remember and add to the game pages we started last month at the Globaloria workshop. Feeling some frustration as Abbie and I work to add questions to the game. We have the questions and we've accessed the team page; now to remember how to upload the questions. I'll be relieved when this process becomes second nature - right now, we're having to go back to tutorials and play around with the pages. One small bit of info forgotten and it's back to square one.

Takin' a Break

Summer is almost a memory - within a few short weeks, it'll be back to school ...but actually, I haven't left. With workshops, conferences, meetings, inventories, teaching teachers, etc., the school year really is year-round for most teachers. The days of a long stretch of weeks to forget the classroom and just relax are long over. I think teachers are more stressed, more tired now than ever before. spetember used to mean back to school. Now it's early August. And that's not counting taking courses all summer by internet.
With retirement close, I'm doing a lot of thinking about what it will be like when school is over for good - I can't believe I can be paid to stay home and do as I please.. But because I want to have an inkling, I'm going to my beach house - the place we bought with retirement in mind - for a week and "play retirement." That means nothing school or work-related, while I look for other things to do - and not just baking brownies and reading books. Bill has been retired for 8 months now, and he has no shortage of stuff to keep himself busy. I may not have it so easy. I don't enjoy gardening, other than planting a few window boxes. I don't like to "put up" food - canning, pickling, making jelly, etc. I'm not a shopper, scrapbooker, or home remodeler, though I like to dabble in those things. At one time I thought I'd like to do something completely different - go birdwatching. Take up hiking. Work in a soup kitchen.
What I'll probably do is wallow in the freedom for a while, walk around in the morning in my robe and slippers, take a walk with the dogs without hurrying them, make a second pot of coffee, luxuriate in the idea that I can read the whole paper in the morning. Then get dressed, register for a class, and get back in a classroom...on the other side of the desk. I want to learn forever.

Dog Days in Education

I keep wondering if there is anyone out in the general public who doesn't think he's an expert on education. The prevailing thought seems to be "I spent 13 years sitting in a classroom, therefore I know how to teach, manage a school, run a program." So many people are certain they could do it better, yet most wouldn't dream of telling their doctor, lawyer, policeman on the corner, or druggist how to do their jobs. For some reason, educators are fair game. From the government down, from NCLB to local, state and national politicians, to state ed employees who haven't been in a classroom for years - if ever - the stuff keeps rolling downhill. You have to give teachers credit for toughness in the face of a constant barrage of regulations and unsolicited advice. What's most admirable is that those who stick with it can do a great job while the changes keep coming...and going...and if you stay around long enough, what's "New" is just a rehash or another name for something you had foisted upon you long ago.

Tuesday - Worse Than Monday?

Ok - trying again - am I in the right place and will I succeed in uploading a photo today?
am I on blogger?
or blogger-blog?
or wiki?
or google?
or all of the above?

What's my name?
What's my address?
Truth be told;
I'm a mess!
Tell me quick -
before I burs' -
Is this better?
Or is this worse?

Post- Globaloria Thoughts

There's a joke in the title somewhere - my blog title is all wrong - I have no spare time - and it's Monday - my thoughts are unformed and bleary as I try to settle all the ideas sifting through my cluttered mind after last week's busy schedule.
Went to a Globaloria Workshop and learned how much I need to learn - and will never learn - about technology. It's a love-hate thing. Give me words and a pencil and I can fly around in swooping happiness all day long. Give me a keyboard and a url or http or some strange, fast-sounding software (Flash, anyone?) and I'm a dunce. Ask me to follow along as a technological teacher leads the group through a simple (?) set of steps and I'm back in 7th grade math, hoping Mr. Poiani doesn't (Oh, please, god) call on me because I'm still on Step 1 (find the icon) and the rest of the class is, I am absolutely certain, on Step 9. I'm clicking like mad on little pictures (have to get close, whip off my glasses) and my classmates, who are all gifted beyond reason, have already created little digital creatures who are madly hopping around on their pages.
Now, of course some of this is a mild exaggeration - I was at least on Step 2 - and my fellow English teacher admitted to a bit of confusion and a preference for "Words! Give me words!" so I wasn't completely alone in my anxiety. And I really do enjoy the computer - I couldn't get along without it and I don't "get" people who want nothing to do with it. But - lesson learned - I have come face to face with my limitations, and I've been reminded of how the student feels when the pace isn't one he's comfortable with.
Like many "Rose is Rose" cartoons, where a moment's insecurity can instantly morph one into a former, insecure self, that feeling of not being quite"with it" is a transformer - and it's the pits!!
But now I'm catching up - I've created this blog, per the assignment though I can't get a picture to load as yet. I'm well along in getting the program started - thanks to some great teachers and principals. I'm looking forward to plinking around on the team webpage, maybe get over the uploading jinx...