Teachers Teaching Teachers #134 - Google us, Please! Four Young Bloggers Apply to College 01.07.09

Paul Allison - Mon, 2009-01-19 04:42
Post-Show description: 

Linda, a senior in high school started the ball rolling that led to this podcast with her Open Call for Bloggers:

I've been thinking lately about how awesome it would be to have a group of high school students (seniors preferred, juniors okay as well) blog about the college admissions process and then possibly continue their blog through their freshman year of college....

SO. Here's my proposition: If you know of any high school seniors that would be interested in this idea or you're a fellow high school senior yourself--feel free to contact me through Blogger or via e-mail @ [email protected]

We put Linda in touch with Lindsea, who blogs at Love & Logic and at Students 2.0, because she is also a senior at Panahou School in Honolulu, Hawaii. And we invited Linda and Lindsea onto Teachers Teaching Teachers to tell us about their journies into the college admissions process.
We also invited two seniors who have been working with Chris Sloan at Judge Memorial Catholic High School:

We were also joined by a recent graduate from Mt. Holyoke College, Mattie... and toward the end Jack Yu let us know about the work he has been doing to help high school students learn SAT vocabulary words on Brainyflix.
Enjoy this free-wheeling conversation with these young bloggers. Imagine with them what the college application process would look like if admissions officers were available on Twitter, and they could take the time to really follow these students' online lives. These young women would love for a college to Google them!

Click Read more to see a transcript of a chat that was happening during the webcast.

19:48:42 SusanEttenheim: hi
20:52:31 Paul Allison: Hi Mattie (not Maggie).
20:52:37 Mattie: Hi
20:52:47 Paul Allison: http://theadmissionsoflinda.blogspot.com/2009/01/open-call-for-bloggers....
20:53:04 Paul Allison: http://www.brainyflix.com/
20:53:48 SusanEttenheim: hi
20:56:43 Paul Allison: ready to go?
20:56:48 Mattie: yes
20:56:59 Paul Allison: Lindsea and Jack are waiting for a call
20:57:07 Paul Allison: Probably Linda too?
21:01:11 PeggyG: Hi everyone
21:02:37 Paul Allison: We will be starting in just a minute.
21:02:56 PeggyG: ok
21:04:38 PeggyG: I want to stay for as much as I can. I'm planing to join Matt Montagne's student radio show (gatorradio) and it's starting early tonight--in a half hour.
21:04:39 SusanEttenheim: hi everyone
21:04:41 SusanEttenheim: welcome
21:04:58 PeggyG: Hi Susan-great to see you, Paul and others!
21:05:38 PeggyG: hearing your stream now :-)
21:06:54 SusanEttenheim: great how is our audio? just a little final troubleshooting'
21:07:48 PeggyG: it's good--a little soft--have my volume up all the way
21:08:27 PeggyG: Susan your voice is coming through very clear but the others are soft
21:09:50 PeggyG: Hi Kim
21:10:00 SusanEttenheim: ok go!'
21:10:12 PeggyG: sounds great! :-)
21:10:13 kcaise: hi Peggy
21:10:26 SusanEttenheim: hi mshgerson
21:10:28 SusanEttenheim: welcome
21:10:32 SusanEttenheim: welcome everyone!
21:10:39 SusanEttenheim: please introduce yourself
21:11:01 PeggyG: I'm in Phoenix AZ-retired elementary principal and university teacher education instructor
21:11:22 SusanEttenheim: kcaise where and what do you teach?
21:11:32 SusanEttenheim: and mshgerson?
21:12:27 PeggyG: I love Mt. Holyoke! I lived in Amherst, MA for about 15 years.
21:12:31 kcaise: currently i am semi-retired but taught elementary and middle school math
21:12:51 kcaise: my last few years i was a tech specialist on an elem campus
21:13:23 PeggyG: so exciting to hear from all of these seniors!
21:14:50 PeggyG: I'm curious if you're finding your blog an asset in the college application process
21:15:12 Paul Allison: http://theadmissionsoflinda.blogspot.com/2009/01/open-call-for-bloggers....
21:18:55 PeggyG: are any of you considering community college before the 4-year college or are you eager to get out on your own?
21:19:34 PeggyG: I think a lot of us work best with a deadline :-)
21:20:41 PeggyG: I'd like to hear about the criteria you're using to select your college--reputation, climate, specialization in your area of interest, where your friends are going???
21:22:01 PeggyG: how many universities require portfolios? can they be electronic?
21:22:22 SusanEttenheim: so many questions peggy!
21:22:46 PeggyG: sorry! I love this topic!
21:25:07 SusanEttenheim: great!
21:26:45 PeggyG: How exciting to have your first acceptance! And your first choice. Great!
21:28:36 PeggyG: that's great advice about visiting the campus and getting some first-hand info from other students
21:29:48 PeggyG: it's such an expensive process to visit places, huh?
21:33:58 SusanEttenheim: hi linda - welcome!
21:33:59 PeggyG: those are great observations and show good insight into what might be a concern with blog posts
21:35:03 kcaise: same here
21:36:22 PeggyG: so sorry but I need to leave-good luck to all of you in your application process!
21:36:36 Linda: I'll be right back, need to get a new mic ....again.
21:36:38 SusanEttenheim: thanks for joining us peggy!
21:36:59 kcaise: best wishes to everyone in your endeavors
21:37:02 PeggyG: thank you! great conversation! I'll listen to the recording to hear what I miss!
21:41:41 SusanEttenheim: hi dgoodman! welcome!
21:41:49 SusanEttenheim: can you hear our stream?
21:42:14 dgoodman: hello...no I can not hear the stream
21:42:36 dgoodman: audio problems?
21:42:48 SusanEttenheim: can you hear?
21:43:50 dgoodman: I can hear now but volume low tonight
21:44:04 SusanEttenheim: humm we've been having problems with that...
21:44:18 SusanEttenheim:  do you have any questions for our guests?
21:44:29 SusanEttenheim: I'm sorry I forgot where you are and what you teach?
21:44:34 dgoodman: what's the topic
21:45:07 dgoodman: Edenton, NC....Northeastern NC...I am a Technology Facilitator
21:45:19 SusanEttenheim: ahh yes what grades?
21:45:25 dgoodman: 3-5
21:45:31 SusanEttenheim: we are talking tonight about blogging and college applications
21:45:38 SusanEttenheim: any thoughts?
21:45:56 SusanEttenheim:  imagine blogging when you were a senior in high school?
21:47:07 dgoodman: a while ago but writing for an audience beyond my own neighborhood would have been very valuable
21:48:30 SusanEttenheim: in what way?
21:49:48 dgoodman: gaining others perspectives and learning from them...sharing ideas....
21:49:50 SusanEttenheim: hi james welcome!
21:50:50 SusanEttenheim: james were you blogging when you were a senior in high school?
21:51:16 SusanEttenheim: how do you think this 2.o web world would have changed your college applicaton process?
21:52:55 dgoodman: Wow, showcasing what you are about..your creative abilities
21:53:29 dgoodman: my college application was cut and dry...basic info
21:54:11 James sigler: When I was a senor in 1986, Al Gore hadn't even invented the internet yet, let alone the existance of blogging.  :)
21:54:28 SusanEttenheim: so what can you imagine would be different?
21:54:35 SusanEttenheim: can you hear the students talking?
21:54:43 James sigler: no
21:54:53 SusanEttenheim: can you hear the stream?
21:54:55 dgoodman: authentic..real world...real time
21:55:06 SusanEttenheim: real time?
21:55:34 dgoodman: instant info...feedback..as she was saying...just in time help, guidance etc
21:55:59 SusanEttenheim: isn't that interesting... just in time help!
21:57:02 James sigler: sound problem was on my end.  much better now
21:57:12 SusanEttenheim: great
21:57:35 dgoodman: I remember the endless hours of time trying to get help on my application..many times different people telling you different things
21:57:53 SusanEttenheim: do you think that's even more now?
21:59:01 dgoodman: probably the same...even though you have online resources
21:59:33 dgoodman: authentic learning
22:00:41 dgoodman: when you apply for a job,,,you must showcase yourself (how are you going to be beneficial for the new company)   Your blog or ePortfolio is doing just that for college
22:01:05 James sigler: I am trying to start my 3rd graders on blogging.  How did you get start your blogs?
22:01:28 SusanEttenheim: james I think the 20 questions would be a great place to start!
22:01:37 SusanEttenheim: do you know where to find that curriculum?
22:01:46 James sigler: No
22:01:54 dgoodman: I have a third grade class responding to literature read n class as a start
22:02:18 SusanEttenheim: when I was in elementary school, we weren't blogging yet, but my studenets were doing what we called the "wonder" project and now we're essetially just blogging that
22:02:55 SusanEttenheim: ahh 2 third grade classes!
22:03:03 James sigler: Book blog is a great a idea.  We are just starting "book club" groups in my class
22:03:10 SusanEttenheim: and mattie is student teaching in third grade!'
22:03:31 dgoodman: Wow..tonight is third grade night
22:03:43 James sigler: That's great!  I love teaching third grade
22:04:20 Paul Allison: alliberryonline.blogspot.com
22:04:47 James sigler: @dgoodman where do you teach?
22:05:03 Mattie: Yeah, they are cute. Not quite to the blogging stage but we are publishing stories at the moment
22:05:08 SusanEttenheim: sites.google.com/site/katieharringtonportfolio
22:05:09 dgoodman: Our student government uses a blog to add thoughts because they only meet once a month
22:05:27 dgoodman: I teach in northeastern NC...Edenton, NC
22:05:37 SusanEttenheim: dgoodman is it a public blog?
22:05:38 Paul Allison: sites.google.com/sites/katieharringtonportfolio/home.com
22:05:38 James sigler: 3rd grade?
22:06:02 dgoodman: no...teacher not all that comfortable yet
22:06:17 SusanEttenheim: soulsucking.wordpress.com
22:06:21 dgoodman: @james   tech facilitator for 3-5 schol
22:06:33 dgoodman: where are you
22:06:34 James sigler: cool
22:06:43 James sigler: Carl Junction, MO
22:06:53 James sigler: what a name for a blog
22:07:02 James sigler: ;)
22:07:06 dgoodman: I was thinking the same thing
22:08:57 dgoodman: Alli...nice site
22:09:28 James sigler: link?
22:09:34 dgoodman: @james  does your class skype
22:09:45 dgoodman: hi Jack
22:10:26 dgoodman: can you put that link here
22:10:30 James sigler: Yes, my class had a virtual spelling bee with Jose Rodriguez class over skype
22:10:42 James sigler: http://www.siglersite.com/
22:10:44 SusanEttenheim: www.BrainyFlix.com
22:10:45 dgoodman: very cool
22:10:53 dgoodman: thanks
22:11:06 dgoodman: will bookmark the site and share
22:11:41 James sigler: Unfortunately, I've only been able to do voice with skype.  No enough bandwidth for video
22:12:24 James sigler: Our ClassBlogmeister blogs are linked from that class blog
22:14:56 dgoodman: a 5th grade is studying all the states and have skyped several people to interiew about their state. 
22:15:23 dgoodman: maybe ours could skype yours to learn about MO
22:15:24 James sigler: @dgoodman if you can to collaborate with my class sometime, let me know.  Skype ID: jsigler1
22:15:29 SusanEttenheim: dgoodman - that's great! do you need a school in NYC?
22:15:49 SusanEttenheim: although I have high schoolers!
22:16:13 dgoodman: they are doing Kansas this week and will be doing NYC soon I'm sure..and yes we'd love to
22:16:37 dgoodman: i think its good for them to talk with different ages
22:16:45 SusanEttenheim: you can find me anytime - almost ;) at susanettenheim
22:16:54 James sigler: @dgoodman that sounds like fun.  We are about a mile away from the Kansas line, SW MO
22:17:29 dgoodman: thanks and keep up the good work all
22:17:40 SusanEttenheim: thanks everyone! goodnight
22:17:45 James sigler: Thanks, it was fun
22:17:58 dgoodman: good night...i almost forgot again

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