kBURST

History is the record of events from our past. We like to know what happened. We like to know who was involved. We like to know where it happened. Good record keeping means good history.

• Landing at Plymouth Rock
• Exploring the Americas
• Sailing around the world
• Orville and Wilbur who?
• San Francisco crumbles
• The Windy City and a famous cow
• OK, where did that crack come from?

Each of these tag lines suggest that something BIG has happened. Something did happen. There are lots of details to uncover - and as a Historian, it’s your job to find em and share them with the rest of the world.

Your assignment is to pick one of the tag lines, that you think you know NOTHING about and start collecting information. You can google the entire tag line and will find enough to get started. You have to a) write down your sources; and b) write a 2-3 page story explaining the details of the historic event.

You can listen and comment on the microlecture at VOXOPOP

Getting busy?

Three or four months without a posting? That is pretty long for me, but since podcasting and blogging isn’t my life - I have to forgive myself for slacking off. Much has happened during this hiatus. First, I gave in to the temptation to get a smartphone (T-Mobile Dash) and unlimited data package. I am glad that I did, this allows me to have wireless and internet access everywhere I go (as long as there is T-Mobile service, usually near a Starbucks). I also got my version of CS4 Master Suite installed and am loving the complete integration, especially the Contribute plug-in to IE and Firefox. Add to this, coordinating the conversion from WebCT 4.1 to ANGEL Learning 7.3 and you should realize that I have been  a busy camper. The real topic though is American Hisyory and the latest developments in the social and political arena.

Here is the manuscript for the podcast.

Are you ready for an American History kburst?

In the course of human events, it becomes necessary to support social movements and democratic decisions because it is these that define us as a free people. Accept this as fact - in a free society, no single ideology can govern every decision. What makes this nation powerful are our choices. Add to our choices a collective voice and majority rule, and you see that FREEDOM is a reality not just a catchword to ease our fears of monarchy or oligarchy.

• 13th Amendment (1865)
• 14th Amendment (1868)
• Voting Rights Act (1965)
• Pre-Clearance
• Gerrymandering
• Multilingual Balloting
• Suffrage movement
• Fundamental right to vote

I am proud to defend the rights of my countrymen to exercise their freedom of speech and action. I am proud that no single voice is more valuable than another. In this recent election, I am proud that many people, from all communities, were empowered and energized by renewed hope that their voice would be heard and the otherwise thought impossible would become reality. In the year 2008, history will reflect a renewed interest in those values that have sustained us - not “hope” but “CHOICE”!

Trying new ideas is what we do best here at KBURST.In this edition, I want to focus on an issue that many people neglect in the theater. It’s like this, everyone thinks that the best roles are the leading role. Most people think that the chorus is reserved for extras and mediocre talent. Well, believe me … both of those are myths. NOBODY in a musical works harder or longer than the members of the chorus. They sing more songs, they are in more dances, and they are on stage longer than anyone else. For me, the best role is the supporting comedic relief. Typically this character is used to set the pace and pick up the show when it starts to sag. Because of their uniqueness, they can never be on stage unless absolutely necessary. Sometimes these roles even have as many as two songs!

In this edition, I have incorporated an idea received by a colleague (Elaine Benally). If you click on the link, you can see and hear the kburst. You must have the flash plugin to view. (http://video.kburst.com)

Here is the manuscript for the podcast.

Are you ready for an Acting 101 kburst?

Say Musical Theater and people usually think about the alluring lights of broadway. Maybe they even conjur up images of Kelly, Reynolds and O’Conner singing and dancing, not in the rain - but in the middle Kelly’s living room “Good mornin!”

• Alfred P. Doolittle
• Moonface Martin
• Henry (the Old Actor)
• Ali Hakim
• Winthorp Paroo
• Vernon Hinse (Hinsey)

If your interested in the musical theater, consider the BEST parts - the Supporting Role. I have been in tens of musicals and this fact remains, the people who have the most work are the actors and actresses in the chorus. If you want a great part in helps to have two great talents - singing and an ability to make people laugh!

To get started, GOOGLE the Tony Awards.

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Feeling nostalgic, I decided to reflect upon a childhood tradition - one that extended back farther than even my grandmother. It is always surprising to revisit and examine events through current beliefs. What seemed innocent back then can seem profane today. Remember, this is common in the study of history.

Here is the manuscript for the podcast.

Are you ready for an American History kburst?

As I reflect upon the events surrounding the 4th of July, my memory stretches back to the Vailed Profet Parade … whose history in St. Louis reflects the evolution from elitism to realism. Study the history of this event and you will witness first hand how a large midwestern city came to grips with the devisive issues from its beginning in 1878.

• Alanzo Slayback
• annual Mechanical and Agricultural Fair
• Order of the Veiled Prophet
• Court of Love and Beauty
• Royal Quadrille
• Lalla Rhooke
• 12.22.1972
• Gena Scott
• Tom K. Smith

Shrowded in mysticism - affluence and elitism have long existed in America … as it has throughout the world. However, life and death visit upon men and women from all stations. The rich and poor. The strong and weak. The powerful and the powerless. I long for a day when independence day becomes a universal celebration of humanities victory over whatever forces are designed to separate us from one another.

The get started, GOOGLE “Fair Saint Louis”

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When you read this, you will say to yourself - this isn’t an instructional design theory. You will be right, this is a theory of how people search and settle for information. The implication is that it may be a better indicator, or even predictor, of how learners will access and consume online resources over the course of any period of instruction. If this is true, it appears that the indication is for ID(s) to incorporate the journey of discovery instead of the digestion of vast amounts of material.

Here is the manuscript for the podcast.

Ready for an Instructional Design kburst?

Information Foraging Theory … a hypothesis that humans, or more appropriately “informavours” forage for information much like animals forage for food. As they follow the scent of information they are either aroused or frustrated in their efforts. I realize that this was meant to explain how humans access information online. However, for those of us who are devoted to designing instruction for online learning - this has major practical implications.

• breadcrumbs
• search engine placement
• google
• cross linking
• deep web searching
• reliable information

Where there is a lack of passion regarding the subject matter, there will be an apathy for the types of information foraged. Where do we find the best on any trip? The answer is more frequently, “off of the beaten path.” Figure out how to entice the learner to follow you, then lead them to the well that never runs dry!

To get started, see if you can find the “who, what, when, where, why” about the seige of Leningrad. You might find inspiration in Billy Joel’s song “Leningrad”

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Don’t ask me why, but lately I have been ruminating on the idea of Social Networking among Net Gen(ers). What a phenomenon. Of course, as a responsible Instructional Designer, I have immersed myself. That is an understatement - with great diligence and obsession, I have ventured to go where few Senior Citizens have traveled before. OK, I just turned 50 and feeling sorry for myself. Still, this is fertile ground for learning in the 21st Century.

Here is the manuscript for the social networking podcast.

So, are you ready for a Social Networking kburst?

Imagine all the people … living life in peace? Will we ever see the day when every idea is embraced with open arms? Or, does the world need balance … caution, hesitancy, resistance, skepticism, and denial these are actually the seeds of change. Believe it or not, in the year 1993 – I was vehemently opposed to the use of email for communication!

• online learning
• books on tape
• cooperative education
• kindergarten
• chalkboards
• cell phones

I find myself dreaming about the days just prior to the microwave and VCR(s) … these devices were going to be used to control the world! Yet they have come and gone and through repeated iterations, transformed our society. So too, has social networking – facebook, linked in, twitter, blogspot, and podbean. I have relationships with people now whom I would never had known or gotten to build a friendship with … a much richer life.

To get started, take some time and reflect on when you played the role of the skeptic.

试想，大家和平的生活。 会有的时候，每一个想法是接受呢？ 请问世界需要阴阳 … 谨慎，犹豫不决，阻力，持怀疑态度，和拒绝这些其实都是从种子，其中的变化能够继续增长。相信或不，在1993年的-我是强烈反对使用电子邮件 网上学习，书籍，录音机，合作教育，幼稚园，粉笔板，手机 我梦想约天前，微波和录影。 这些都是发明来控制世界。 他们并不坏，他们改变了我们的社会。 社会网络是不断变化的社会。 我见过一个美丽的女子在广州！ 生活是好的。 您应尽量记住的时候，你持怀疑态度。

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This episode is special for two reasons. First, we are introducing a new topic “Speech Communication.” Second, I am proud to introduce a colleague as guest kburst(er). Whitney Kilgore is a fellow Instructional Designer and educator. Her background is in k-12, and she is currently engaged in the field study of applied uses of technology to mediate communication between native -and- non-native speakers (regardless of language). She is working with 3rd grade students. So, it is appropriate for her to be broadcasting on the topic of communication.

Here is the manuscript for this episode.

Are you ready for a Speech Communication kburst?

Listening, speaking, reading and writing really does express developmental communication. With so many educators devoted to the art of lecturing - you would think that there would be more academic emphasis placed on listening! Did you hear what I just said, or did you simply understand the words that I used.

• Intention
• Syntax
• Stress
• Modulation
• Accentuation
• Context

I know we all want to be heard, not just a sound in the sea of sounds. So, if you want to “hear what I hear” you are going to have to focus.

To get started, GOOGLE “active listening”

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Just some thoughts …

I wanted to take an opportunity to elaborate on the idea of micro-instruction, micro-lectures, 60 second lectures, instructional moments, teachable moments, knowledge bursts and the like.

Observing the world around you … can you see the vast amounts of information which are easily accessible. I am not talking about just blogs, tweets, podcasts, wikis … I am talking about sources like printed books that are completely search able online!

Whether you approve of or disapprove of GOOGLE, it is difficult to ignore their contribution to deep web searching. books.google.com allows you to search through both old and new books. Completely search able books? Ask any doctoral student how invaluable being able to find the occurrence of any single concept or catch phrase in a collection of over one million books is … and I am sure that they will all tell you the same.

I can’t succeed without it!

Not only is the volume of information exponentially increasing, but the discovery of new information is so rapid, the use of traditional publishing is barely able to keep up with the demand. Journals and periodicals are beginning to experience the same strain.

So, rising out of the need to provoke learning and incite curiosity is the micro-lecture. Embedded references, like the vernacular, always relevant - but always being redefined, refined, or simply reiterated - become the raw material that must be handled and worked by the learner.

Example … Instead of telling you all of the details … I will treat you as a motivated and capable learner. I must!

• Watergate
• Conspiracy Theory
• Abuse of Power
• The Tapes
• Senate Hearings
• Resignation

Now you know what you are looking for, go … like a treasure hunt … and bring back those juicy morels of detail, so that you can share them with the group. The rewards will be given to those who are willing to explore and find the real gems … but there is plenty of “fools gold” to be had.

Hundreds of books have been written on these topics, so, even in 16 weeks of lectures, can I truly exhaust these subjects … no, but I can and I must create an interest in subjects that will far extend beyond a single semester.

here’s my challenge … see how this can transform teaching and learning in YOUR classroom.

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Even though I grew up thinking that I would never have to rely on math, especially statistics, I too was raised on the phrase “3 out of 5 dentists recommend … blah blah blah.” Even watching my first presidential election and seeing the votes counted and reported, you know that averages and percentages had to be used to make the predictions as quickly as people wanted. So, resolved to the fact we need numbers to interpret and explain events, behavior, and naturally occurring phenomena I entered the field of Psychology. Don’t get me started on “Standardized Tests” but I can tell you even there, applied statistics are used.

Here is a manuscript from the Applied Statistics podcast.

Ready for an Applied Statistics kburst?

The need to succeed is often driven by the ability to both describe and predict or infer the occurrence of some measurable phenomena. The source of this information can be anything, from anywhere, collected by anyone. However, if this information is to be used to make critical decisions, and it should, the source should be carefully scrutinized. Garbage in - garbage out!

• frequency
• standard deviation
• distribution
• probability
• permutations
• t-test
• ANOVA
• regression analysis
• validity

You can manipulate data to prove your point, but if your smart - you will work diligently to “fail to prove your hypothesis” … called the NULL hypothesis. How? Shhhhh - you want your research to try to prove the opposite of what you REALLY want!

To get started, GOOGLE “Taguchi Methods”

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For the first time, I am going to include a simplified translation of my posting in Chinese (simplified). Why? How can we ever consider World History with out carefully acknowledging the impact that China has played. Yet, for some reason, Westerner’s tend to ignore the fact that China and her resources are the very reason that Columbus wanted to explore a more navigable trade route. Therefore, China and her vast resources and materials was the prime motivation for what eventually became the discovery of the Americas. Enough said!

Here is a manuscript from the World History podcast.

Ready for a World History kburst?

It is a big world that we live in. While the age of civilisation is widely debated, the truth of the matter is that no original civilization exists today. People evolve. Cultures evolve. Communities evolve. Family structures evolve. If this is true, why is there such a militant attempt to hold on to the past? Security perhaps. This is however typically at the expense of other earthly cohabitants.

• Family
• Gender
• Hierarchy
• Authority
• Values
• Mores

It is human nature to want order, control, obedience … oh, and even compliance. From the smallest family to the largest government. What doesn’t work? Imperialism. Intolerance. Racial or ethnic cleansing. Genocide. Segregation. Capitalism. Socialism. Communism. All I can say is that we better figure out how to share and get along or we are headed for disaster.

To get started, GOOGLE “world cultures”

我们居住在一个大行星 人的文明的年龄是有争议的 原始的文明今天不存在 人们演变 文化演变 公共演变 家庭结构演变 为什么理想必须被保卫以军事行动? 安全在举行对传统 安全在较不重要人民的费用? 家庭 性别 阶层 当局 价值 习俗 大家想要命令、控制、守纪和服从 最小的家庭对最大的国家想要同样保证 什么失败了? 帝国主义 不宽容 种族或种族洗涤 种族灭绝 离析 资本主义 社会主义 共产主义 大家应该学会分享并且共存或我们将有一个灾害

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