Skydive Pictures

I know, this is not the day after the jump, but I wanted to post a few pictures of the skydive anyway. IT really was an amazing experience that I’ll never forget.

 

 

These are the two amazing people from Sky Dive The Farm that jumped with me to help me “stay alive.”

At 14000 Feet We stepped out on the edge of the plane

I learned that you can’t actually hear someone scream while falling from a plane.

 

At just over 4000 feet I pulled my chute …..

…. and thankfully it worked

I didn’t land on my feet, but hey I didn’t land in a pond either. I call that a win.

The day before

My stomach is a tangled ball of nerves as I ponder what I have sworn I won’t back out of. I am fairly accustomed to being called a lunatic, but usually it is a term of endearment. After tomorrow I believe the title may fit me a little better. 
For the last couple of years I have been wanting to throw myself from a perfectly good airplane just so I could say I did. I have finally made the arrangements to do just that. Call it a check off the “bucket list” or just a day closer to earning my title of lunatic, but either way it is something I have to do.
I would be lying if I was to say I wasn’t a bit nervous, but I suppose that is a normal emotion for anyone in this situation. I mean, what do you do before the jump? should I write a will and kiss my family goodbye or is it just another day at the office? For the guys I am going with, it is just that. Skydiving is just what they do.
Wish me luck, I’ll post some pictures in a couple of days. Here’s to hoping I can pack enough Charmin in my jumpsuit to make for a soft landing.

Educational Paradigms

This video is an awesome representation about rethinking how our education system works or perhaps doesn't. It was created by RSA Animate.

Self Portrait in words

Written for a class assignment
David Lloyd

If I was to paint a picture of who I am, not in a moment but in life, I could not do it with something as permanent as paint. Instead my painting would be more like the painting made by the ocean on a rocky beach. My identity, like the ocean, is fluid and every day another seashell or bit of seaweed washes ashore and changes both the canvas and the art. The art work of my life is built by change and as often as the waves hit the shore or a stranger walks the shoreline the art will change as well.

My self portrait is filled with color and life. The colors that paint me are very much the same as the painting of the seashore, every color representing some part of who I am. I see myself as being a psychologist which is represented by the neutral colors of the sand. The sand, the very canvas of my painting, serves to calm a rough sea. It sits silently listening to the anger of the ocean during a storm and as the storm subsides it’s still there, listening, as if to say “it’s ok, all is well.” In my mind tan serves as a neutral color with an understanding and acceptance of the colors around it. Part of my personality is this barrier between rough and calm serving as a buffer not only for myself but for others that may walk with me.

Another facet of my identity is the philosopher which I see represented by the color white, like the foam of the broken waves on the sand. The philosopher in me is always seeking knowledge and understanding, looking for clarity in an often confusing world. This part of me is like the sea foam washing away at the beach, with each wave changing the sands. The philosopher is that man of religion and nature inside me whispering “don’t forget, don’t ever forget.” It is that part that is always reminding me of those core values instilled on me as a child.

Yet another part of me is the student and teacher represented by the deep blue of the ocean. The color blue seems fitting for knowledge and learning. Like the vast ocean itself, regardless of how far we swim or how deep we dive there is always more to learn. It is this part of me that not only seeks to understand, but also yearns to share.

The color of sunset red glimmering of a wet rock represents the artist and poet that is also very much a piece of who I am. To me, red is the color of passion, love and life; it is seen in both anger and lust. It is that thing that keeps us moving into the next day hoping for more. Passion is the part of my soul always yearning, crying, wanting. It is what we hear before there is sound; it is breathe when it is taken away. Passion is reason when there is no other, it is art, it is music; it is the very color of my soul.

The canvas that holds the picture of who I am is also very much a part of the picture itself. Sand is solid but it is also moveable, it can hold its place against the ocean but yet it will happily allow a small child to build a castle upon it. The core of who I wish to be is in the sand itself, stable yet willing to move.

Over the last 40 years of my life I have defined and redefined who I am; my values, my sense of being and my very identity. As I continue my path I will continue to change but there is a core part of me that will serve like the sand in my painting. These values I see as my core values, the ones all others are built upon are, my ability to care, my understanding of others, my sense of humor and my belief in God.

Regardless of the colors that are splashed upon the canvas of my life, the canvas itself will stay the same.

Thoughts on Technology in an Online Class

A paper I was asked to present at DLA
http://www.westga.edu/~distance/dla/

The nature of life itself seems to be taking us deeper and deeper into an “E-World,” our classrooms and our very lives have become “Technology Enhanced.” Digital media like Twitter, Facebook and Instant Messaging have made a major change in the way we see news or even hear about new products. There was a time when “word of mouth” actually meant there was a mouth involved, not anymore. “Word of mouth” has become somewhat like screaming from a rooftop. What we used to tell a friend, we now tell our whole network of friends as quickly as posting a status update on our Facebook page. We no longer need television to catch up on current news events. After all if it’s on television, it’s probably already old news.

This new E-World seems to be a place that pushes the imagination envelope. Our static photographs evolved past moving pictures and are now pushing into the realm of living holograms. Reality has all but buried the pen and paper and instead has given us the pixel to become our ink. Web applications like “Google Docs” have opened the window of opportunity even further and allowed us to reach across borders and bring together many minds for single projects, thus allowing us to create virtual “supercomputers” from human minds.

The future is poised to take us even further into this digital world. Things like digital paper and augmented reality are looming on the horizon. Our college text books may look like something out of a Harry Potter film, and will be as up-to-date as life itself offering changeable media on a paper thin bendable screen. The paintings on our walls may no longer be “still” but will be painted with Digital Ink and will feel as real as looking out a window.

Current and future technologies can play an important role in how we design our education. Many universities have moved to Google Apps giving them access to tools like Google Docs, Google Sites and Google Email. These and other tools are taking us into a world of online collaboration and knowledge sharing.

Technologies and their Educational Possibilities

Many technology based companies are creating applications that can enhance our educational experience. In the past it seems the learning curve was often too steep for many instructors and students alike to take advantage of the opportunities offered. I believe however, there has been a major step forward and companies are beginning to understand the need for a “user friendly” environment.

Google Docs is one of the technologies that I believe has a lot to offer for education and collaborative learning. With this students are able to work together on one document in a collaborative effort, although they may be miles apart. Docs allows for collaborated documents, presentations and even spread sheets as well as the ability to share the files as a web page that could be used inside of a learning management system. One of the major benefits is how smoothly it handles PowerPoint slides for web use.

There is another web based tool called “Google Knol.” Knol is basically a global area for sharing knowledge; it opens up the possibilities of easily using outside expertise while teaching an online class. There are literally thousands of presentations on all types of topics that are available to use as free resources.

Facebook and Twitter are two others that may have a lot to offer in the education arena. For instance, Facebook has the ability to create groups that an entire class can follow for updated class information. Many Professors are using it to take education to the students and giving them more options for learning. Twitter can be used as an announcement tool or perhaps a way to share web links and other useful information. One use of Twitter is to utilize its ability to stream RSS and feed it directly into your online class. RSS stands for "really simple syndication” and although it is a bit more technical, has some very useful applications.

Tomorrow’s Education

Looking into tomorrow there are many more technologies that will add to our educational options. Imagine a classroom where medical students could view a 3D hologram of a real patient and be able to see actual injuries and offer diagnosis. According to ZDNet this technology may already be a reality. A company out of India called Infosys has patented a 3D holographic device that may be able to do just that. This technology opens possibilities for online medical training far beyond our current capabilities. “The portable machines will capture and send 3D snapshots of the surrounding world, helping accident investigators, teachers and doctors work remotely by instantly relaying realistic depictions of car damage, injuries, medical scans or educational aids.” (Heath, 2008)

Another bit of future that is looming on the horizon is something called “Augmented Reality.” This may be a bit further down tomorrow’s path however it may offer us even more options in our educations and our lives. With this technology, we will be able to live in reality but with an extra level of vision. We will be able to tie reality with a vast amount of web based knowledge and information and see them as one.

Conclusion

Education and technology should and can work together to create a new and improved learning experience. As we look at education, it is time we step beyond the fear of change and into a new area of enhanced learning. We live in a fast-changing world and it is our duty as educators to change with it.

References:

Milian, M. (2009, july 13). Appiphilia: augmented reality iphone apps for finding subways and twitter neighbors. Retrieved from http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/technology/2009/07/augmented-reality-iphone-apps-subway-twitter.html

Heath, N. (2008, June 20). Holographic handsets on the market by 2010. Retrieved from http://www.zdnet.co.uk/news/emerging-tech/2008/06/20/holographic-handsets-on-the-market-by-2010-39437065/

Second Life. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://secondlife.com/

Facebook. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.facebook.com/

Twitter. (n.d.) Retrieved from http://twitter.com/