Shameless self-promotion department

While I certainly remember sweating over it last winter, I just never checked to see if Saywire had ever made the white paper I wrote for them available. But what do you know? Here it is: Connections for Learning, 2009. I've read worse, I guess.

That, in combination with the guidelines I've been working on with Jen Hegna, suggested that the topic of the smart use of (social) networks might be of interest to conference goers and the subject of a new presentation. So, here are my three (new) 2009-10 presentations/workshops:

Change Your Image: 13 Simple Tools to Alter Digital Photographs

While much of the appeal of digital photography is in being able to edit images, Photoshop is a program that just takes too long for most of us to learn. But that doesn’t mean you can’t have fun with images -- thanks to some easy-to-use online tools. Learn 13 simple program features and websites that allow you and your students to manipulate, change and use digital photographs. Create posters, customized images, and other creative products. Fun even for the beginner.

To Friend or Not To Friend: A Guide for Teachers Using Social and Educational Networking Sites

Should you friend your students on your Facebook page? Will writing a blog cost you your job? What expectations should you have of your students who discuss issues on your class Ning? Learn some practical guidelines for using both social and educational networking tools that will both improve your teaching and prevent possible problems with your administration.

Change from the Radical Center

While the Radical Center political movement has been around for thirty years, I suggest that leaders in educational technology and school library media programs adopt a similar view on hot button topics. While polarized views of reading methodologies, filtering, DRM, Open Source, copyright/copyleft, constructivism, e- books, computer labs, fixed schedules, Mac/PC/Linux, and the One Laptop Per Child project all make for entertaining reading and a raised blood pressure, radical stances rarely create educational change or impact educational institutions enough to change kids’ chances of success. This presentation suggests 10 principles to follow from the Radical Center of Education that will actually result in positive change.

On a related note, it's tough dropping old presentations from my oeeuvre. They are like old shoes - comfortable, familiar, reliable, and still (I think) with value since I do update each regularly. But I did whack a few. I do believe Guy Kawasaki when he advises:

Kill the cash cows. This is the only acceptable perspective for both intrapreneurs and their upper management. Cash cows are wonderful—but they should be milked and killed, not sustained until—no pun intended—the cows come home. Truly brave companies understand that if they don’t kill their cash cows, two guys/gals in a garage will do it for them. Macintosh killed the Apple II: Do you think Apple would be around today if it tried to “protect” the Apple II cash cow ad infinitum? The true purpose of cash cows is to fund new calves.

He's right, but it's hard to kill your cow if you've named her Bossie.