Kent's Job Search

(click on resume for a larger version)

I am looking for:

• positions that help educators teach more effectively using technology
• positions that help students to learn more effectively using technology
• online and/or distance learning planning and teaching positions
  
• and technology support positions for higher education institutions

These positions roughly fall in the following categories:

• Instructional Design
• Student Computing
• Educational Technology
• Online and/or Distance Learning Education
• IT Helpdesk

EVO-PPT 2008 Syllabus Screenshot

EVO Banner

Instructional Design Research

We've returned to America and I'm looking for a job. I've applied to a number of schools and have primarily been applying for "Instructional Design" positions.

In continuing to develop my applications, I've been doing more research on current ID theory and practices.

I found an interesting article that argues that traditional ID theory is obsolete given the rapid changes and nature of today's technological advancements. The role of the ID facilitator is essential, but how the facilitator approaches projects must be flexible and humble to learner outcomes and technological and institutional changes.

Things I gotta do before I leave

• office
• ditch books
• auction shelves & supplies
• pass off admin of LinkStation
• "recover your files" workshop
• SyncBack vs. Ghost
• transfer computer files
• nuke laptop
• noob
  
• letter to noob
• enter grades
• personal
• move the booty
• personal effects

English Conversation Circle (ECC)

I had a really nice time at ECC this week. I spent a lot of time talking with Yuuya Matsumoto. I had him last year in my M1 class. He came today and we talked one-on-one for a while about what's been going on.

I had a great time gossiping with him. He told me how Kazushi threw an eraser at Shunpei's head last week during math class. It started a stir and they threw punches until another student broke them up. I don't think the math teacher knew what was going on.

Then Takahiro cut another student's pencil bag and his pencils dumped out. I guess the teacher thought it was so funny, he wasn't able to really scream at him. But, Takahiro got it today from one of the teachers.

These guys are the sweat-hogs for sure. Yuuya was cracking up the entire time. I couldn't help myself either. He's a great character.

Rough Start

Ugh, it was a freaking rough morning. First, I didn't get much sleep. I had a few stress dreams about going back to school. Then, I had to go in early to print out worksheets for my first period class. They took a long time to print so I wasn't able to get enough copies. On top of that, I didn't estimate correctly how many copies I needed in the first place.

I should have taken more time to warm up with the Ss since we just came back from a week long vacation. I didn't have time, so I dove into the lesson plan.

After that, I had problems with the DVD player. I had to wait for the FBI warnings, then I almost broke the plug after knocking it out of the socket, and ultimately had problems with the subtitling. The students were reading the "director's comments" in Japanese for about five minutes before I noticed that they didn't look right. I finally got the subtitles dialed in and we successfully watched the first part of the movie.

Finally, the Ss really dragged their feet on the classwork. All they had to do was look at a comic and write some dialog for a couple of the scenes from the movie they just watched. They weren't very creative and only a few Ss produced more than four out of six sentences. It was a bloody start to the final run to the end of the semester.

Some troubles, but all's well

ran a powerpoint today. of course there were some problems with the cables, but everything worked out alright.

The Order of Adjectives

I've been looking around for this...

Category	Category	Category	Category	Category	Nouns
Quality	Color	Origin	Material	Purpose
lovely	blue	Japanese			vase
		family		photograph	album
big			leather	riding	boots

TGIF

I dunno how many times I've said that working here at KTC, probably around 95 times - the number of Friday's I've worked here in Kanazawa. I never used this phrase in the States. I wonder if it's a regional thing.

Anyhow, I'm done with grades and all of the other work-related things on my to-do list for today. I nearly started to work on a survey for the other teachers about their interest in tech workshops I'd run next semester. Then I stopped and thought... this sounds like one of those "good ideas" I get that entails a lot of work for me in the end. I think I'm just going to focus on what I need to do and move on. I've go enough on my place for goodness sakes.

Next week: office days! Which means half-days and time to relax.

Test Week!

That's right kiddies... that means classes are finally over!

I've finished my fifth year grades entirely as they were due on Monday. I've entered in all of the first year grades and they are now subject to examination before finalization. I only have a "few" projects to grade for my fourth year classes and I'm finished entering grades in.

Then I'm on to my "office days" work... preparing for next year. I'm psyched for the last semester. Whew.

Using Firefox from KTC117

I just figured out how to use other browsers from room 117 in KTC. These wireless laptops are configured to use IE over a proxy.

The network uses an automatic configuration script for internet access via our proxy.

To configure Firefox...

Tools > Options... > Advanced > Network > (Connection) Settings... > select "Automatic proxy configuration URL" and paste this link in the field:
http://www.kanazawa-it.ac.jp/proxy-cf.pac

After that, you shouldn't have any problems using other browsers here in this lab!

Other browsers are necessary for Blogger Beta, rich-text edits on moodle, and perhaps even use of certain plug-ins and updating what's available as add-ons.

Gee, thanks (you little b@st@rds!)

So, this is how my students (C1) see me.

EVO Checklist

syllabus 3-5
split tutorial
redo banner

Teaching Color theory with PowerPoint

I'm going to have to look up some resources for presenting color theory and design basics when creating PowerPoint documents.

What makes a good design layout?
Contrast and complement.
Negative and Positive space.
Movement and focus.
Planned vs. thrown together.

How do each of these elements fit together and affect one another.

Radio commercials

Well, I've just had the last class of the semester with my C4 class.

I still feel like the class is a bit unwieldly topping out at 19 mixed-ability language learners. I do feel like the rapport has improved and I'm not as intimidated by them as I felt last semester.

I think I'll start off the next semester with a survey and will try to change the nature of the class based on some of their feelings.

So, we just finished a "short" unit on audio commercials.

Next time:
It would be great if everyone had headphones and a primer on how to use Audacity to record.

It would also be a good idea to organized the order of the recordings if a "single" recording studio is used. The students should know that some of them would have to record out of class time if necessary.

This unit should have stretched about four classes looking at improving speaking skills like intonation and pronunciation.

We had a good time with tongue twisters and expressive practice, but the Ss we still a little apprehensive to "act" in front of their peers. I on the other hand am quite comfortable with goofing off with them.

PPT in the Classroom

What kind of course will this be?

• project oriented? the participants learn skills in the context of how to put them together to create a final peice
  
• skills? kinda like a cook book or how-to-improve-your...(golf swing)
  

What exact skills will folks be learning? Perhaps we could design a chart of sorts that would more clearly describe exactly which skills we're going to cover.

EVO 2007 Moderators Week 1

Well, I finished all the tasks up to this week.

• Pre-Training
  
• read the "How EVO Differs" article
• filled out the Needs Assessment Survey
• joined the EVO Moderators YG site
• read the Netiquitte article
• took the Netiquitte online quiz
• Week 1
• already had a YahooID
• introduced myself to the group
• uploaded a picture of myself
• set my membership options
• crap... I just realized that I need to post my comments on the "How EVO Differs" article... guess I'm not done yet

Other things

• Check out the Advanced PPT module and reply to Sandy
  

Internet Banner Project

Useful how-to's:

• change stage size
• make a motion tween
• add/manage layers

1. structured
1. banner project skills
1. delete backgrounds
2. find graphics
3. make documents
2. semi-structured
1. re-create a banner
3. free
1. make your own banner

Even though the class might have been biting at the bit to get into a project, it's essential to follow these types of steps.

This is supposed to be a project-oriented class. Present skills as a means to an end. Never throw skills at them "out-of-context".

I jumped right into things and it was a lot for them. Think of warming up with more activities.

• What is a banner?
• Choose some favorite banners? (difficult printing or saving those examples)
  

Flash 8 reference material

For next year, who ever is teaching this class might do better with a textbook that can serve as a reference for students while they are working on their projects. Currently, I'm creating all of my class materials and though it offers me flexibility with the content and design, it's difficult to develop something that will cover all my bases this first time around.