"Three Cups of Tea" Follow-Up and a Book Survey

Greg Mortenson, a humanitarian and co-author of the best-selling book Three Cups of Tea, has a surprising new job without pay: advising the US military on how to fight Islamic extremism. That is according to a Wall Street Journal story Friday. Click here to read the original story and here to read an abstract of the same on Greg Mortenson's blog.

If you recall, last summer, I urged you all to read Three Cups of Tea on our old dept. blog because "you have to read it" as Greg Mortenson represents the best of America.

Incidentally, Larry Ferlazzo, an ESL teacher in Sacramento and an avid blogger of  his unique best lists, is compiling a list of the best education-related books read by educators in 2008. I intend to reply to him with the title of Three Cups of Tea. Although the book is not overtly about a learning theory or best classroom practices, it is connected with education in that it exemplifies the principle that a general education of the marginalized people is the best way to turn them away from poverty and extremism. This has implications for our work of teaching language literacy and basic skills to migrant workers and needy residents in our community. Besides, the book also touches on how Greg motivates the students at the beginning of a semester. 

If you wish to participate in Larry Ferlazzo's book list, here's his emailed call:

On my blog, I’d like to compile a list of The Best Education-Related Books That Have Been Read In 2008. If you'd like to share your picks, you can email me directly at LaFerlazzo@aol.com. It seems to me that many might find this useful.

In my thinking about this list, the books could have been published earlier.  The only requirement would be that you’ve read them sometime this year.  They might not be obviously connected to education — just briefly explain how it is connected in your mind.

If you'd like to contribute (and wouldn't mind me giving you "credit" on my blog post), it would be great if you could leave the title of the book; author’s name; why you like the book (or books) so much — please keep the explanation to no more than two or three sentences.

Thanks!

Larry Ferlazzo
Luther Burbank High School
Sacramento, CA

Google and Privacy

The world's greatest search engine seems to have caused raised eyebrows recently. First, some Japanese are not happy that Google has been snapping pictures for its Street View service. They want Google to stop providing detailed street-level images of Japanese cities. The head of a Japanese civilian group, The Campaign Against Surveillance Society, says, "It is necessary to warn society that an IT giant is openly violating privacy rights, which are important rights that the citizens have."

Now, there appears to be an emerging concern over Google's new phonebook service for the States. The following Q and A is making the rounds in newsletters on the Internet.

Question: I've heard that Google recently implemented a feature that enables anyone to type a phone number into the search bar and be able to see the corresponding address and view a map that shows where that home is located. I'm concerned that this could pose a safety risk for me and my family. Is there anything I can do?

Answer: Google did recently implement the feature you've described and it also provides a link that will give directions to the address. While this feature can certainly be convenient for your legitimate visitors, it could also lead strangers to your front door and create security issues. 

We encourage you to take a moment now to look up your own phone number and find out if it is mapped: 

   1. Go to http://www.google.com.

   2. Type your phone number (including area code) in the search bar.

   3. Press the "enter/return" key or click your cursor arrow on "Google Search."

   4. If your address information appears, click on the link "Phonebook results for..." located just above your address information.

   5. To remove your name from the Google phonebook, click on "Request to have your name removed from this list." Complete the form and click on "Submit Form." Your removal request will be processed in about two days.

If you have an unlisted number or cell phone as a primary contact, this Google map issue will not apply to you.

Also, if you only list your phone number in the regular phonebook directory and not your street address, your street address on the Google map may be just an approximation.

New Key Addition to Our Staff

On Tuesday, the Governing Board approved of the employment of our next full-time faculty member.

Lawrence Lawson received his MA TESOL from the Monterey Institute of International Studies (MIIS) in 2008. Before finishing his degree, Larry and his wife were Peace Corps Volunteers in Ukraine for just over two years. In Ukraine, Larry taught English in secondary school settings, at L'viv National University, and in various English clubs and summer camps across the country. As well, he was involved in facilitating leadership seminars and conferences discussing the rise of HIV/AIDS and human trafficking in Ukraine.

Since returning from Ukraine, Larry has been teaching English to diplomats at MIIS. He has worked with clients from Korea and Japan, and spent the summer of 2008 developing a curriculum for the English for Diplomats program that is currently being piloted at MIIS. In addition to teaching diplomats, Larry has worked with 2nd and 3rd graders, Japanese and Spanish university students, and trained teachers at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, California.

Larry says that he is an avid reader and a life-long language learner. His intelligence, enthusiasm, problem-solving skills, and accomplishments, among other things, have impressed his hiring committee.

In the spring 2009 semester, Larry is scheduled to teach ESL 102 and ESL 10 on the main campus and NESL 303 in Fallbrook. He is also going to take over from Gary Sosa as the Fallbrook Coordinator. "I'm very excited about this duty and about starting work at Palomar," says Larry.

In his free time, Larry enjoys playing guitar, writing, and traveling. He and his wife have found a very nice apartment in Escondido and will move in on the 5th. Just as Larry is very happy to have found a home at Palomoar College, we also can't wait to welcome him as a key addition to our staff.

Blackboard at Palomar

At Palomar , every course has a Blackboard shell ready for its instructor to adopt and use. In case you don't know, Blackboard is a web-based course management software application originally designed for distance education. These days, more and more teachers of the brick-and-mortar classrooms use Blackboard and the like to deliver content, assess students, and keep a grade book. To see the extent Palomar instructors use Blackboard, click here to browse the Blackboard course catalog.

If you are already an avid user of Blackboard, you may be delighted to learn that several web 2.0 interactive, learner-centered features have been added to Blackboard thanks to Wimba Voice tools and other tools to manage and configure podcasts, wikis, and blogs within Blackboard.

If you are new to Blackboard, Academic Technology has developed a set of screencasts that explain how to perform the most frequently required tasks in Blackboard. Click here for a list of the videos and other PDF handouts as well.

If you prefer face-to-face workshops on using Blackboard, save the date of Jan. 15. That Thursday at 3 p.m., a session of Blackboard Essentials will be held in P-32 and another, simultaneous one on Using the Blackboard Grade Center will take place in LL-104. Each session will run for two hours.

New in spring will be four "Technology Fridays" hosted by Academic Technology - two in February and two in March. The one on February 27 will exclusively pursue the topic of Blackboard tools and best practices for brick-and-mortar instructors. Each "Technology Friday" will last six hours, including an hour for free lunch. If you are interested, you should sign up early next term since seating is limited to 15. For more details about "Technology Fridays" for spring, click here.

If you think our dept. should make arrangements for Blackboard training workshops, please let me know.

This Just In--ESL Teacher Trainers Needed by ALI at SDSU

The ALI at SDSU will have several teacher training courses in January & February. The students are mostly ESL teachers from overseas teaching kids, middle school and high school. Most of the courses will run from 9 - 3. They are looking for quality teacher trainers who can dedicate some time.

Send resume to Patrick Colabuchi, Academic Director, and Rob Shaffer, Teacher Training Coordinator at American Language Institute, College of Extended Studies, San Diego State University, 5250 Campanile Dr, San Diego, CA 92182-1914. Phone: 619-594-4889. Fax: 619-287-2735.