Cool Cat Teacher Blog is at coolcatteacher.com

Webheads in Action is planning an online convergence on May 18-20, 2007. To sign up, go over there and click on the left side of the page to create a log in username. It will be a lot of fun, but look at the amazing speakers! Stephen Downes George Siemens Etienne Wenger Robin Good Barbara Ganley Teemu Leinonen Leigh Blackall Honestly, I could never get enough conferences! They inspire me and more importantly, they connect me. I have so much to learn! Will you be there?

The WOW2 show that I co-host with Jennifer Wagner, Cheryl Oakes, and Sharon Peters has moved to a new feed location at http://feeds.feedburner.com/WomenofWeb2?q=womenofweb2.xml . If you're subscribing over itunes or any type of reader, you'll want to delete the old podomatic feed and switch to this one. Some cool recent shows: Steve Dembo, April 24 (I met him in Chicago, he is amazing! More on that later!) Dr. Cheri Toledo April 17 and her amazing class of PhD students including Larry the amazing superintendant (every super should listen to this super-super!) Part 1 Part 2 Web 3D supershow George Siemens - April 4 Part 1 Part 2 We really have a great time over there and are so grateful for the amazing folks at edtechtalk who make it all happen behind the scenes. I always make it a point to catch at least one of the other shows over there each week. They work very hard to bring the best in educational programming for teachers.

OK, I know that some of you may be just sick of hearing about horizon. It is a great project and it is my life right now! (Along with efolios, senior movies, and 5th grade bloggers). Thank you Karl Fisch! Karl Fisch so kindly delivered the keynote address to our horizon project over the weekend and it is embedded in the wiki . Really, it is a keynote to all students, because what he says is applicable to you in your classroom as well: With the Horizon Project, you now have the chance to improve on my vision. In some ways, your task is easier than mine was, because you have the Horizon Report to use as your basis. But in other ways, your task is much harder. While I could make up the future, your vision has to be much more grounded in current reality. And your vision has much more potential to impact people around the world, because what you guys create will be seen by students, teachers and schools around the world. They really want to know what you think the future of education lo...

Simulpost with TechLearning So many educators, like myself, attend online conferences and webcasts and use our RSS feeds as our primary sources of education. These tools have revolutionized my life and my classroom! I am a better person, mother, teacher, and person because of them. So, with the proliferation of peer to peer (P2P) types of communications why do we still need face to face (F2F)? I am thinking of this because tonight I am nestled in a hotel room in a rainy night in Chicago getting ready for the TechForum conference tomorrow. (Sponsored by Technology & Learning magazine.) I can give you a couple of reasons I still make the effort to have F2F with those who are the best. 1 – Surround yourself with the best – become like the best. We carefully watch the friends of our children because we know that our children will become like them. Likewise, I have always taken the philosophy...

Beth Kanter has given a great overview of Horizon (including a funny look into some of my twittering lately!) I appreciate her and the other volunteer's willingness to jump in and bring attention to and get feedback on this project. It is very exciting! I'm packing to head to Chicago tomorrow for the TechForum with Technology and Learning ! So many amazing people to meet there. I'll be sharing with you. Gotta fly!

One step closer to the mobile office in your hand. RIM (the maker of Blackberry software) announces that software will be available this year to install on cell phones with Microsoft Windows Mobile Software. It will give your cell phone blackberry type services like checking e-mail. Meanwhile, it seems that political candidates may be more accessible to the masses during the next Presidential Election. Online debates and methods of posting questions for candidates are being planned! The world is changing and meanwhile, every spare moment of mine is being spent on the horizon project (10th grade), efolios (9th grade), the senior movie production (12th), and the graduation movie (11th). Fifth graders are blogging but have been turned back over to their teacher! They now pretty much blog during their classtime! Life is nutty and I've also been putting the finishing touches on my work for the TechForum on Friday! Some really amazing people have e-mailed me to let me know they...

Public School Violence and Rumors of Violence in South Georgia A parent just called asking us to watch for strange people. (He says that there was a drive by shooting this morning at Colquitt County elementary school in Moultrie Georgia and that several bomb threats have been called in and all students have been sent home. I cannot confirm this online. ) However, the message from the superintendent from yesterday says the following: On Thursday, April 19, 2007, a message threatening violence was reported to have been sent from the home computer of a freshman student at Colquitt County High School. It was investigated and the student was removed from school. The police were notified. During the evening hours rumors began spreading of acts of violence to occur at Colquitt County High School today to commemorate the anniversary of Columbine. The rumors continue to be investigated, but at this point there has been no indication that there is a basis. The Moultrie City Po...