Think Like A Leader podcast

I am very excited to have created and posted a new podcast, Think Like A Leader, yesterday. The first episode is merely a quick overview of what is coming in the future, but it was a fun experience to create the podcast and to be using a new process/procedure (new to me, at least).

In the past, I have created podcasts using Podcast Maker™ or GarageBand (a fabulous portion of Apple's iLife suite), then posting these to my .mac account. However, with the able and gracious assistance of Ted Lai (creator of the award winning podcast, SoCal Hockey) in Orange County, CA, I used the Libsyn service.

Here's the process I used (at least an extremely basic explanation):
1. Record and edit project in GarageBand
2. Save audio as .m4a from GarageBand
3. Upload .m4a to Libsyn
4. "Tweak" the Libsyn blog page just a bit
5. Submit podcast to iTunes Music Store

So, I encourage you to check out the podcast, then send me your ideas, suggestions, or other comments. Then, if you like what you hear and/or think you have something to contribute, please consider subscribing to the podcast. Also, feel free to recommend the podcast to others.

I know that Think Like A Leader will get much better in the forthcoming episodes, so just enjoy the ride with me and let's grow as leaders together!

Listening to Mississippi's first realtor podcast?

My last posting was about the brand new podcast here in North Mississippi for realtors. I've had some interest expressed in this, since most of our work with podcasting occurs in schools. So, here's my question:

Would you like to listen to this first podcast episode?

If so, let me hear from you. Leave comments here or email me.

Podcasting for real estate

Today was a good day. I was so pumped to get to have a meeting with Norma Cother, the managing broker for Crye-Leike Realty here in Tupelo, MS. My purpose for meeting with her? Podcasting!

I had the very strong feeling that Norma, a terrific lady and absolutely outstanding realtor, needed to be the very first realtor in Tupelo (or North Mississippi, for that matter) to have her own podcast.

Norma admitted that she had never heard of podcasting. However, just as soon as I started telling her about it, she "got it." She was immediately on board and ready to put the first episode together.

So, we'll be issuing the first podcast by early next week. This represents a victory, not just for having another convert to podcasting, but also for seeing podcasting becoming another powerful marketing and information tool in the real estate realm. Norma will be "tuning in" to other podcasts, just so she can get some more ideas for how her podcast will increase in value. No doubt, she will be a quite successful podcaster.

Ahhh, the feel of sweet success!


[Note: For those of you who may not know, Tupelo, MS is the birthplace of Elvis Presley — so that fact will make Norma's podcast even more appealing. There is so much history in this town, yet it is blessed with a thriving business community. Elvis would have been proud!]

MECA 2006 Conference Wrap-up

Well, I didn't get any more postings completed as the conference went along, so this will be just a brief wrap-up of the sessions and experiences we had at the MS Educational Computing Association (MECA) annual conference in Jackson, MS.

For me, the main focus of the conference was participation by the Apple Distinguished Educators (ADE) and how they provided such stellar leadership in sessions and workshops. Actually, I was the only ADE from Mississippi who participated in this year's conference, because ADE Kameron Ball from Mississippi had a very sick baby and was unable to attend.

Dr. Carl Owens led multiple hands-on workshops dealing with the new iLife '06 suite of applications that Apple had released only a couple of weeks ago. And, the new additions are just fantastic. It was particularly fun for me to see the faces of workshop participants and hear their voices as they were coming out of the hands-on lab. Such excitement! Carl always has a bag of his newest "techno-toys," too, and that's a highlight for the Mississippi educators--who have come to expect such things from Carl. They think he is so cool!

Anthony Robinson gave great workshops, too, including one on digital storytelling that was particularly well-received. Too, he led a session about his recent experiences as a Fulbright Scholar, spending six weeks in the Czech Republic. Besides giving workshops and sessions alone, he helped other ADEs during their workshops and sessions.

Julene Reed was my very special sidekick in the sessions we led. Perhaps you have read, already, about the phenomenal success we had in our hands-on workshop, Podcasting: From Start to Finish in 90 Minutes, that we gave on Monday night from 8:00-9:30 (even though the participants didn't leave the room until after 10:30!!!!). She and I presented two other sessions: Podcasting and Podcatching for the Absolute Beginner, followed by Podcasting Studio Construction Kit: Soup to Nuts. Both sessions were very well attended.

Although Mississippi had been hit extremely hard by Hurricane Katrina and many schools are barely functioning currently, the conference attendance was up by more than 100 people this year! That is a tremendous attribution to the resilience of Mississippi educators who are determined to stand together and make this a positive experience. Even in the midst of the tear-jerking reports from the MS Gulf Coast schools, there was laughter and applause that roared still louder. I am so proud to be a Mississippian, particularly at such a time as this!

Now, why don't you make plans to attend the MECA Conference next year? It's scheduled for January 31-February 2, 2007 in Jackson, MS. Y'all come...ya hear?

MS Educational Computing Assn Conference, Entry #2

Second day at the conference site, yet today was preconference day. The actual conference doesn't kick off until tomorrow, Tuesday. Activities in which we engaged today included getting the hands-on labs ready for the workshops that began in the evening.

Tonight's first workshop, "iLife '06," was led by Dr. Carl Owens (Apple Distinguished Educator and Professor of Teacher Education and Director of the Instructional Resources Center at Tennessee Tech University). As usual, Dr. Owens did a fabulous job showing attendees the new features of iLife. He gave them a thorough understanding of how to leverage the power of iLife to maximize their teaching. The workshop ran from 6:15 - 7:45 PM.

Then came the really exciting workshop!

From 8:00 - 9:30 PM, ADE (Apple Distinguished Educator) Julene Reed, from Memphis, TN, and I conducted a hands-on workshop titled Podcasting: From Start to Finish in 90 Minutes! What a fabulous time we all had with approximately 20 brave souls who, even though they had had a full day already, came in to learn how to make their own podcasts in such a short time!

We had the most outstanding group of educators who, no matter what the obstacle, would not give up. Each on of them teamed up with another workshop participant, then the two of them used GarageBand (from iLife '06) to create their first podcast. The great news is that all teams finished on time and then we played all the new podcasts for the entire group. Applause rang out across the amphitheater as they celebrated their newfound success.

I am so thrilled for these friends. I wish I could let you hear their first efforts, but I'll have to get their permission first. So, stay tuned.

Mississippi Educational Computing Association (MECA) Conference

Today (actually, it was yesterday, since it's already past midnight here), I drove just over 3 hours to get to Jackson, MS, where the annual MS Educational Computing Association (MECA) Conference will be held this week. The actual conference doesn't begin until Tuesday; however, I joined with several Apple employees and a group of Apple Distinguished Educators this afternoon so we could unpack and install a lab full of Macintosh Powerbooks and iBooks to be used in hands-on sessions at the conference.

The Apple Distinguished Educators (ADE) who came early to help set up are Dr. Carl Owens, Professor of Educational Technology from Tennessee Tech University in Cookeville, TN, and Anthony Robinson, Technology Director for the Putnam County (TN) School District. Both Carl and Anthony have come to the MECA Conference for six sequential years and we are thrilled to have them back this year. Joining us tomorrow will be another ADE, Julene Reed, Director of Academic Technologies at St. George's Independent Schools in Collierville, TN -- a suburb of Memphis.

Thanks to the Apple team: Adair, Jennifer, Gary, Neill, and Linda for helping to make this the most exciting MECA Conference ever!

Also, thanks to one very special "outsider" who showed up, rather unexpectedly, to offer help. That outsider was my oldest brother, James "Andy" Anderson, from Crystal Lake, IL. But, he was actually in Jackson during the MECA Conference, so he came on over to help. There is some question as to how much help he really was, but ... oh well, I suppose it was pretty good to have him there, after all. Truly, all members of the team enjoyed Andy and expressed their appreciation for his arduous labors. Nobody thanked him, though, for his nearly-endless stream of lame jokes! :-)



After an afternoon of hard work to get the lab set up for tomorrow, we all went out for some good ole' Mississippi Bar-B-Q at a very popular restaurant, Red, Hot, 'n Blue. Man, that was some really good eatin'

I hope you will listen to my audioblog posted tonight, as well. All comments and/or questions are welcome!

#1 Tech Planning Tip

What is your top tech planning tip?

OK, you've just been hired as a consultant for a school that is struggling to develop their new technology plan. To get them started on the right track, you must respond to the following question that they have just asked you:

"What is the #1 most important thing we must include in our technology plan?"

So, as you have read many tech plans and/or you have worked on your own, you must have thought about that singular element that was of most value.

Perhaps it's a clear vision statement. Or, maybe it's a concise executive summary. Maybe it's merely a well-organized, clearly laid-out planning document. Perhaps it is the inclusion of graphics within the document that tell your story in graphical style.

It might be a reminder of something you tried. Or, maybe it's just a great tip that you can offer your client, the school district. Regardless, the question has been asked, so...

Now, it's your turn. Reach down into your bag of tips and pull out the one that is #1 for you.

(I have my own ideas, but I shall wait until several of you contribute yours. Let's learn together!)

Duration of a tech plan

This morning, I had an email from a school leader who had a very important question.

She asked, "What should be the duration of our technology plan? I have heard people say that your plan should cover 5 years, and others have told me that 3 years is a better time. What do you think?" This is certainly an excellent question.

Several years ago, when technology planning was a relatively new concept, a planning cycle of 5 years seemed appropriate. However, with the rapid changes occurring in the world of technologies -- and with the dramatic changes being placed upon teachers -- it seems that we should consider 3 years a good and reasonable "long range" term.

Three years may even be too long for your school or organization. Perhaps there is a better strategy to use.

Some schools have begun using what I call a "rolling plan." That is, they are making their plans cover three years, yet they evaluate their existing plans each year -- and they extend the ending point of their plan. In other words, the planning committee might create a tech plan for the three year period of 2005-2007, then at the end of the first year, they enter an phase of evaluating their technology plan. When they emerge, they have created another three year plan, this one dated 2006-2008. It's not a new plan, necessarily. Rather, it's a sharpening and improving of the previous plan.

This process results in a climate of constant improvement. Of course, constant challenges will be your partner, too, but that is just the nature of life in a high-octane environment. Can you even imagine life in a stagnant cesspool where things are always the same?? No way!

So, what do you think? What is the best duration for a technology plan? Three years? Five years? One year? Ten? Twenty?

Let us hear from you. Do it now!

Podcasting, anyone?

Isn't this whole notion of podcasting amazing?

Can you remember, as I do, when podcasting was a term that made others turn their head in a funny way or wrinkle their brow when they heard the term? And, just think about it -- that was only a year ago!

However, podcasts are growing in number each day, perhaps each hour. Podcatching clients and "podcast maker" software are blooming like a rich bed of spring flowers. So....

What do you think of all this podcasting phenomenon?
Are you involved...as a regular listener -- or as a creator?
What are your favorite topics?
What promise do you believe this podcasting thing holds for student learning?
What are the downfalls, the negatives, the shortcomings?

As the quantity of podcasts rises, so does the pool of mediocre podcasts. Some of them are engaging, but some of them (particularly by educators) are just plain BORING!

What are your thoughts on podcasting? Send them in.

And, by the way, we will continue this discussion in future weeks, focusing upon certain aspects of podcasts (ex: leadership, personal development, student learning). What podcasts do you recommend, and why?

Let me hear from you!

Teams

Lately, I've been giving more thought to the notion of teams and how teamwork is a potentially powerful function to advocate within the technology leadership sphere.

Actually, teamwork is important almost anywhere, in any organization, in nearly any situation.

So, what are the basic principles of teamwork that come to your mind? Write to me and let me know, or, better yet, leave a comment associated with this blog.

I can point to the work of several authors whose writings give us great reason for contemplation -- and that provide us great encouragement to pursue effective teamwork.

Do you consider yourself a member of a team?

If you were going to build a team, what would be the first (initial) characteristics you would consider for a member of your team? Would you allow/invite me to be a member of your team? Why or why not?
Would you be a good member of my team? Why or why not?

I can recommend the writing and speaking of John C. Maxwell. What material(s) on team building, teamwork, and team function can you recommend to other readers of this blog?

Would you life for me to produce a podcast on this topic? If so, what could you contribute to my podcast?

Good teaming!

Austin, TX or Bust

Today, Thursday, May 19, 2005, is a gorgeous day as I await a connecting flight to Austin, TX for a 2-day meeting of the Advisory Board for the Apple Distinguished Educator (ADE) program. What an exciting meeting this will be, as it is the inaugural meeting of the advisory board.

The ADE program is amazingly fantastic...Apple recognizes the immense value of dedicated educators worldwide who know not only how to use their technology solutions, but also how the various solutions can be implemented in the most sensible ways in schools. I am continually impressed with the expertise of my ADE friends as they prepare, then demonstrate, projects that show clearly how technology devices and applications can make learning more effective in a variety of settings. I think Apple is so smart to have formed the ADE group several years ago...and to continue adding high-level, energetic, imaginative, creative educators to the "flock" each year. It is very hard to get into the program, once nominated, but the effort is well worth it!

The bright sunshine this morning is, I believe, an indicator of how productive and revealing this day will be. Of course, the main thing that contributes to the value of this day is my attitude!

What do you think?

Does attitude affect the outcome of a day?...an experience?

Is my attitude more important than the attitude of someone else?

What advice can you give me for maintaining a good, healthy attitude through all kinds of situations?

Let me hear from you.

Technology policy: a serious matter

In the past several days, I have received emails from school-based practitioners, primarily, who are concerned about technology policies in their schools.

The State of Mississippi is requiring audits of several types, including student attendance and other matters that often fall within the purview of technology coordinators. The audit of -- and the policies associated with the audits -- technologies is becoming increasingly a matter that is on the forefront of school leaders' minds.

So, I wonder: What do organizational technology leaders think about the idea of technology policies? What policies exist currently? How important are technology policies to the functioning of the organization? In what way(s) do tech policies impact those individuals who are served by the organization?

At this juncture, I shall not launch off into my opinions about technology policy. Rather, I will simply pose this matter as one that is of great concern and interest among technologists.

What do you think?

Technology Audits, anyone?

For many years, I have enjoyed great fulfillment by working closely with hundreds, perhaps even thousands, of schools, businesses, governments, and other organizations around the world as they strive to engage technologies, in a meaningful fashion, to accomplish their goals.

I have enjoyed writing articles, books, and preparing audio programs, all designed to help leaders with technology planning matters.

Now, I have written a new book, released in December 2004, entitled Technology Audit Survivor's Guide. It's a 270-page book into which I poured many hours of love and encouragement so that it would help technology decision makers face an audit with a sense of hope and gladness. If you haven't read the sample chapters of the book, available on the NCTP web site, I hope you will. Then, perhaps you will see the value of buying a copy. I can promise you that nothing like this exists anywhere and, if it is followed carefully, it will make a technology audit much less painful--maybe even a bunch of fun!

I am wondering, though, how many readers of this blog have been involved in a technology audit in a school or business or other organization. What was your experience like? What lessons did you learn? What advice do you have? How much did yours cost?

Technology audits, as a formal experience, are coming to schools eventually. That's for sure. Let's work together to make sure it's a good experience for as many people as possible.

Let me hear from you.

Getting Started on this Blog

Well, here we go......

I will attempt to post things here periodically that are of value to us all. The postings may be in the form of a burning question on which I seek input, an editorial regarding some topic, or maybe just some general musings. Either way, let's have fun and share good ideas freely together.

I shall attempt to get some podcasts posted before too long.