What is a Charter School?

By Paul A. Silli

According to K-12.com (2010), Charter schools are primary or secondary schools that receive tax-based money – but are not subject to some of the rules and regulations that apply to many public schools. They still are accountable to earn acceptable state standardized test results, but are attended by choice to the public without private-fee tuitions.

Charters provide an alternative to public schools. Some parents are searching for new options for their children. For example, unlike many public schools, charters often “specialize” in certain educational fields such as the arts, sciences and mathematics.

Many charters become so popular that parents swarm to have their kids enrolled. Due to an often overwhelming number of applicants, some charters have to allocate a lottery system to admit new students.

Today, charter schools are a great opportunity for students to learn and enhance skills while still gaining the fundamental education that is offered at a public school. This may contribute to why there is an increasing demand to have more charter schools built within the public education system. Charter schools are growing in numbers and appear to be a developing trend.

Web 3.0 Trends

By Paul Silli

What really is Web 3.0? Many consider it to be a change in how websites are created and how people interact with them. Web 2.0 universally is viewed as how people collaborate and share information online while using social networks and other interactive services such as Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter…

Here are some Web 3.0 features according to ScienceLab 2011:

• There is Real-time Data: Information is moving faster online today than it has ever been. Breaking news stories occur on Twitter and Real-time searches allow users to get the latest information within seconds by the touch of a keypad.
• Searches Online: Programmers are trying to teach computers to better understand people so they will know what we mean when we are searching online. For example, Google is developing ‘Semantic Web’ searching styles; This is when a computer understands what people are saying when they are using jargon and slang expressions.
• Mobile & Geography: Some say geography is playing a big role in the information posted online. The rise of GPS-enabled 4G phones and small handheld devices is feeding into the Web 3.0 trend.

It took more than 10 years for Web 2.0 to catch on as an accepted industry term. I think it will take some time for people to clearly define what Web 3.0 is for consumers.

What do you think? Is Web 3.0 just another netlingo?

Hybrid Learning… The New Wave

By Paul Silli

Hybrid instruction refers to some K-12 & college classes offered to students where there is both traditional classroom instruction (first-hand meet and greet) and online learning activities accessed through the Internet.

Hybrid classes can effectively combine Blooms Taxonomy and the Core Knowledge Sequence. Students have the opportunity to make meaningful connections with their teachers — yet are no longer required to travel to campus everyday in order to attend courses because a lot of the workload can be accessed online.

Going Hybrid

In order to make a class “Internet-ready,” many teachers need to adjust their class instruction and move away from traditional lecture materials. In doing so, they are making their lessons more  beneficial than using traditional classroom instruction. Rather than having students sit in a lecture hall taking notes, teachers now can offer many “active-learning” activities such as researching case studies, emailing essays, promote self-tests, offer in-depth tutorials, create podcasts that can be used to review instructional material, and develop interactive online projects. I use Google Docs to give students group projects online. It is free and user-friendly.

For example, I have many Internet activities and podcasts within my Silli’s Tech Class website. The content on my site is derived from using the ISTE Standards and created for middle school (5-8) students. Here is my site: http://sillitech.wordpress.com/

Are Hybrid Education methods a better way to teach? Let me know your thoughts.

Valentine’s Day Message

By Paul A. Silli

St Valentine’s Day is celebrated every year on February 14th. On Valentine’s Day, many people send messages of love and respect to family and friends.

Below in the “Comment Box” write a Valentines Day message (a sentence or two) to a family member or friend. Include your first name and last initial only. When approved your comment will be posted here on the Internet. Happy Valentine’s Day!

Desktop Publishing

By Paul Silli

According to Wikipedia online, Desktop Publishing (also known as DTP) is when work is created using software such as MS Word to design page layouts on a computer. For example, DTP can range from writing a business letter, creating an events calendar or brochure, to making a flier or writing a news article…  

How do you use computers? What DTP skills would you like to learn? (Include three sentences for a full-grade). Put your ideas in the comment section below and remember to only write your first name and last initial in the comment box. You do NOT need to include a website or email.

What made you feel like you were growing up?

By Paul Silli

Online Journal: Write about an event or something that happened to you that made you feel like you were growing up (Five sentences for full grade). Put your first name only in the comment box below and then press the submit button. You do NOT need to include an email and website. Your work will appear online soon.

Your big plans for the summer

By Paul Silli

The time you have been waiting for — has finally arrived. Will you be chillin’ poolside with friends, vacationing somewhere cool, or possibly leaving the state or country? What do you think you will be doing during the summer break? Remember to add details and be specific with your plans.

Post your comment below. Include your first name and last initial only (A sentence or more for credit).

Learning Something New

By Paul Silli

Offer some cool video game “tips & tricks” to help someone know how to play a game, or learn something new. Be specific and detailed in your help comments. 

“It does not matter how slowly you go so long as you do not stop — Confucius”

Here is a brief movie offering real TIPS on how to learn how to juggle three balls: Juggle three balls Video Tips

20 Year Lithium-Ion Battery

By Paul Silli

Discovery: Are you tired of replacing your expensive rechargeable batteries? Those days may soon be over if your “techie” devices run on Lithium-ion batteries.

A new lithium-ion battery, it is said,  could last for more than 20 years; making it’s lifespan longer then the device you purchased it for…

Modern gadgetry such as the hour glass clock runs off battery power, so it’s not surprising that lots of time is spent researching alternatives to finding new power options from a battery cell. Nikkei Company is reporting that its Eamex in Osaka, Japan, has developed a lithium-ion battery that will last for more than 20 years of regular use — that’s 10,000 charges with no replacement (what an incredible cost saving technology). Talk about going GREEN.

The key to the long-lasting lithium-ion battery is in its design; the tin that is used for a battery’s negative electrode weakens through continual charging and recharging. The new design, however, calls for a tin-coated resin plating — that stabilizes the electrodes and prevents deterioration and majorly prolongs battery life. You can look forward to seeing these exciting, new batteries debut in electric devices such as watches and power scooters sometime this year.

So, what do you think? Could this new technology be helpful to you? How would this battery be good for our environment? Please comment.

Why does school violence happen?

By Paul Silli

What do you think makes students in school so angry that they would want to hit or cause harm to another? Have you ever wanted to hit someone in school? Please explain your thoughts about this subject. Offer examples to clarify your point of view.

When you are finished with the journal comment, please complete the Student Survey by clicking: Survey for Student Body