Caught On Camera

It's crazy. Every time we turn around, there's a new harmful phenomenon grabbing our kids. The trend of posting fights between teens online is growing in popularity. It gained local attention recently, when a video of girls fighting in the Bronx made it to the news. But, it only takes a quick search to find hundreds and hundreds of similar videos.

The consistent dominance of professional wrestling (WWE) and the increasing popularity of ultimate fighting (UFC) should tell us that, as a society, we enjoy watching a fight. Whether we claim to see artistry in the battle, or whether we just like seeing someone get knocked out, something about a fight captures our attention.

But, bullying caught on camera? Then, posted for - what - bragging rights?? What's crazy is that some of these videos are not "meet me after school in the park" fights, but actual bullying and assault cases. And, if you search for anti-bullying videos on YouTube, you will find quite a few - many have been viewed thousands of times. But, search for a good old fight? The viewership these videos get is astounding - and almost instantaneous.

How do we combat this new trend? Kids have been fighting at lunch and after school - probably since school was created. But, the presence of camera phones and the internet add a new dimension to the fold. Now, there is fame to achieve. Now, there are global bragging rights to obtain. And, unfortunately, now there is one less bystander who might have been able to break up the fight . . . because he's holding the camera.

Many are asking questions of YouTube and other free video hosting sites: what is their role and responsibility, and what should their policies be? Schools are also asking questions - what is the reach of school rules? Can students be punished for off-campus fights? These are all worthy questions. But, we may not find solutions until we ask ourselves what kind of society we are that just can't get enough of watching these fights happen...

Ending on a more positive note, an anti-bullying campaign:

G.E.O.A.T.

"The Greatest Entertainer Of All Time"

That's how Michael Jackson was remembered today at his historic memorial service.

You would have had to be living in an underground bunker without internet, phone, or television service not to know (and without friends or family). The coverage of this icon has dominated the headlines and drawn comparisons to the deaths of Pope John Paul II and Princess Di. And, during that coverage, many have articulated conflicted feelings about Michael given the controversies that surrounded him.

Question is, why do we overlook the flaws of some, yet refuse to for others? This type of "choice acceptance" could be a sociological study. Kobe Bryant was accused of rape, yet one would be hard-pressed to find a public figure calling him a rapist. Martin Luther King had extramarital affairs, but hardly gets the treatment Bill Clinton receives. Today, some call Michael a hero, others a monster. How history will tell Michael's story is unclear. But, there was one thing that was clear today: Michael Jackson's music inspired.

John Stewart recently told Bruce Springsteen that his music was inspiration when he needed direction. He credited Springsteen with making him who he is today. Similarly, on his last shows, Jay Leno gave credit to James Taylor, acknowledging that he heard Taylor's song in the car and it inspired him to go on the road and become the comedian we now know.

It is safe to say that The King of Pop has a ton of stories like these of his own. If he moved you, you understand. If not, take solace in knowing that he had this effect on others. When we had fights with our parents, we could close the door and listen to Mike. When we were preparing for the biggest school dance of the year, we could work on our steps to his music. When we needed to forget about life's troubles on a dancefloor, his songs provided the score. It's not simply an obsession with stardom. For many, Michael Jackson has been with us when no one else was.

And, for that, he deserves his day.

Enjoy an old favorite:

Tech Geeks Unite!

Having just returned from the National Educational Computing Conference in Washington, DC, technology and computing are on the brain! It is quite refreshing to see the creative ways in which educators are implementing moodles, cell phones, iPods, and smart boards (among other tech options) with their students. Students are now actively communicating across continents using video, text, and websites. And, participating teachers join a global network of like-minded educators trying to use every available resource to educate their kids.

In that spirit . . . a few tips picked up last week. Enjoy!

- Google: If you have not explored the new options on Google, what exactly are you doing with your life?! The search engine giant has its hands in so many different arenas, you may wish to subscribe to their blogs just to stay current. But, be sure to check out the following (btw, these are all F-R-E-E!):

• FORMS - You can create surveys for your parents, teachers, students - whomever. The options are incredible (explore the "Gadgets" section - one favorite is "Word Cloud") and will easily replace paying for similar services. The best part? You data is updated instantly in spreadsheet or graph views. Whoa.

• SITES - Did you know you can create your own website on Google? It's true - and now you have a place where you can embed maps, videos, articles, homework, student contributions - whatever you like. You can also collaborate (similar to a moodle) with other educators on curriculum.

There are so many more - just be sure to visit the Google Apps (and Labs) section and explore on your own time.

- Handheld Learning: Are you using an iPod Touch or cell phone to your advantage in the classroom? More teachers are than you might think. It's hard to deny that the future is headed towards more technology than less, so why not be ahead of the curve?

• Tony Vincent - Tony is an educator whose website learninginhand.com is an amazing resource for handheld teaching. Take a look at how students are using the Touch and all of its applications in school.
  

• Hall Davidson - From Discovery, Hall runs workshops on using cell phones (among other things). His site link has interesting ideas and websites showing the potential of this [normally] banned device. Very cool...

That's probably a lot for now. If you are doing anything creative with technology that you wish to share, please let us know. Next year's NECC is in Denver - look into it; it was definitely worth the trip!

[Last "tip": If you are an educator or student and purchase a new laptop from Apple, you can get a free iPod Touch! (rebate)] :)