Would a state school by any other name be as bureaucratic?

Looking at the Virtual State schools this week has me completely baffled.  It's like the Acts of Confederation vs the Constitution in modern time.  If we are moving toward common standards in the country, shouldn't online schools be one of the first groups to be standardized?  The schools still seem to be bogged down with the bureaucracy and their state rules and regs that regulate some aspects but not others.  There also seems to be a huge gap in what it costs to do online school.

SNOW DAY!!! Another lament for Online Schoolers?

Ah it is a SNOW DAY in NYC.
With a blanket of white outside it was tempting to just click on the Xbox Kinect and spend the day in the warmth of home.  But I didn't. I've been doing household chores (there are 2ft drifts in our front and back yard and 8-10" on the driveway.) and reading.  It made me think though.  Online schoolers don't get snow days do they?  But then again every day is tailored to their interest level and academic ability so there is no need for the relief of a Snow Day (I'm sure that the collective prayers and pleas from 1.4 million NYC school children has some bearing with the snow angels in the sky)

But with three online courses with three very different instructors I am finding myself very overwhelmed and a little lost.  I can't seem to get a handle on the communications.  There are 3 discussion boards,  2 wikis, 2 blogs and a mizzillion emails that keep popping up whenever someone questions or responds on the moodle thingamagig. The content is similar so I'm not always sure if I'm responding to the correct question or logged on to the correct service and item.

I must admit that I thought it would be better to attend school this way, but I'm seeing that it isn't.  Or maybe it's just that I'm not use to it as yet.  I am not a social networker at all.  I don't tweet, twit, text or blog on FB. I don't even text on my cell phone which despite it's social bells and whistles is only used to call people or receive calls from people.  I guess I need some more time to practice my strokes in the shallow end, but I have jumped cannonball style into the catchment of the 10m diving platform.

Okay enough floating on my back time to try and swim to the ladder.

Are we there yet?

This week zoomed by!  I am still working on my Con post but I also want to read through the posts that our class have created.  There's great stuff there!  The trouble is I want to read and respond to  so much before I know it it's 3am.


I must say I was surprised by the response that I got on my first post.  I don't even understand where some of it came from but I think people need to remember that when you read you're reading with your style and ideas in your head and those shouldn't be put upon someone else.


I email, but I don't do any social networking online.  I gave into the peer pressure and put up a Facebook page, but I don't really use it.  Some teachers in our school are on it constantly and I just don't get that. especially when their page is filled with people they see and work with everyday....


Oh and I saw this memo from the DOE today that I thought was very interesting. Others might find it useful toohttp://schools.nyc.gov/Offices/mediarelations/NewsandSpeeches/2010-2011/Connected012211.htm

I am mooblogboardedgoowimbad at the moment

Hi I'm Michelle and this is my second semester in MA Technology Specialist Initial Cert.
I'm trying to do this while working full-time as a Procurement Secretary at a NYC Department of Education (DOE) public school.  I also help out with the Technology Department there.
I'm also a full-time mom of a near-teen boy (who I just found out moments ago, has tried to establish a secret facebook account... more on that in a later post I am sure)

I've been a self-taught techie since 1990 when I inherited an old IBM and installed a new drive.  But it was desktop publishing and website design that really hooked me from 1994 and the internet became the fourth country I lived in for a decade.

I've worked with the NYC DOE for the past 5.5 years and decided on teaching years ago when I was homeschooling my son but just didn't have the time to commit to studying. I still don't feel I am juggling well as yet.  For example it is 1:30 am and I have work in 6.5 hours... not a bright idea to still be up.  I just saw the email at 11:28 pm that this post is now late. Hence the frazzled feeling.

I took this course because I want to learn much more about online schools, schooling and the whole concept of moving to online public education.  I want to become a certified online teacher and teach with an online public school in Texas, Florida or Arizona by September 2012.  That is when my tween will become a high school teen.  Texas is our first choice because he plays Chess on a national level and right now they have the universities with the best teams and best chances for scholarships.  Yep that's right, players can get FULL FOUR year scholarships for playing chess!

This is one of three online courses I am attempting this semester.  I am trying to put together some kind of system to monitor, participate and execute the requirements of the three, but I haven't worked out an efficient one as yet.  The other two courses are on Blackboard with one requiring a blog like this course so on my page you should see a link for my 4052 class.

I'm enjoying reading the profiles of the group.  There are so many amazing people at TC!