Many of today’s high school students are moving toward reading their books on “e-readers” or mobile devices (like their phones and itouches). There are many advantages (and still some disadvantages). While people are stratified on the notion of mobile devices in high school classrooms, for those of us who permit them to read on them [...]

Posted in cybersalonaz, publications, school, technology, writing

Recently Kids Need to Read blogged an article on the wiki-wire work we did through the high school with the students building the lexicon for The Softwire Series by PJ Haarsma. PJ works closely with Denise & Sherri with Jim Blasingame, but I’m excited from the line that reads “this is what great teaching is [...]

Posted in literature, publications, student2.0, teacher2.0, technology, wiki

Last year my friend Kerri Mathew contacted me regarding finding a way to hook up a science fiction writer, PJ Haarsma, with students eager to read his book, play his online game, and connect in new ways with young adult sci-fi. Having just come off a year project with Kerri working with wikis and fanfiction, [...]

Posted in books, literature, online, presentations, publications, technology

In 1989 I was a Yearbook staff member and met some phenomenal people, like Jackie Sullivan. She was a tall, thin wisp of a woman who worked in the Children’s Museum on the Northside of Pittsburgh. We lost touch when she graduated but a decade later I was the yearbook advisor in Mt Lebanon High [...]

Posted in publications

In Novemember at NCTE I headed into a session where PJ Haarsma, the author of The Softwire series, was presenting on Science Fiction and Gaming in the High School Classroom. I was hoping to have PJ sign his up and coming book The Softwire: Wormhole Pirates on Orbis 3. When I walked in, Jim Blasingame, [...]

Posted in books, NCTE, presentations, publications, technology, travel, video

Several months ago now a CFP came through on the use of innovative technology in the classroom. I immediately thought of the work I’ve been doing with Google in my classroom and wrote up a proposal, which was accepted. In June 2008 I sent the first draft to the editors and received their comments back [...]

Posted in google, publications