Teachers Teaching Teachers #243 - Donovan Hohn on Moby Duck & Alice Barr on what you are doing this summer - 4.13.11

Teachers are learners at heart. We’ve got full time jobs, rooms full of hormonally-driven teens, stacks of papers to grade – yet we still find time to write and to learn ourselves. On this episode of Teachers Teaching Teachers, we hear from two inspirational teachers, Donovan Hohn and Alice Barr.

Donovan Hohn’s writing has appeared in Harper’s Magazine, The New York Times Magazine, Outside, and The Moby Duck Best Creative Nonfiction, Vol. 2. A former New York City English teacher, he is now the features editor of GQ. He lives in New York with his wife and sons. You may have heard his interview with Terry Gross on NPR on March 29, 2011, where he talked about his experiences writing his first book, Moby Duck.

Alice Barr, our colleague at Seedlings, is the Instructional Technology Coordinator at Yarmouth High School, Yarmouth, Maine, a Google Certified Teacher and Adjunct Professor at the University of Southern Maine. She mentors faculty and students on 1:1 laptop integration and is network administrator and webmaster. People ask her all the time what’s available this summer and she wanted to share her own upcoming courses so she launched and twittered a Summer 2011 PD Opportunities page that has already become an amazing shared resource as we begin to think about upcoming opportunities to learn something new or share what we have learned. Add your plans at http://alicebarr.blogspot.com/p/summer-2011-professional-development.html

Enjoy this conversation!

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

20:52:10 fd: what are we suppose to do?
20:52:22 fd: anybody know?
20:53:33 akbeck907: You wait for the hosts to introduce and then listen and talk.  On Sunday I waited with silence for a while.  Hang in there. :)
20:53:51 Paul Allison: http://paulallison.tumblr.com/post/4570197131/donovan-hohn-talks-about-m...
20:54:06 fd: so if I am here... i am good
20:54:12 fd: talk as in chat
20:54:14 akbeck907: Yep!
20:54:18 fd: or do i need a microphone
20:54:38 akbeck907: I didn't, I just listened and most people typed in the chat window
20:54:46 fd: ok, good. thanks
20:56:10 joanne_jones: does it start right at 9:00?
20:56:40 Chris Sloan: hello
20:56:47 akbeck907: 9:00 is the right time.
20:57:44 Paul Allison: We will start very soon!
20:57:54 Chris Sloan: Hi Donovan.  Thanks for joining us
20:58:17 donovanhohn: Hi, Chris. Thanks for inviting me.
20:58:46 Paul Allison: Hi Donovan. You should get a call soon from SusanEttenheim.
21:00:24 Paul Allison: SusanEttenheim is in the building!
21:00:32 Paul Allison: She will be calling everybody in soon.
21:00:40 Chris Sloan: whew
21:01:38 Paul Allison: http://paulallison.tumblr.com/post/4570197131/donovan-hohn-talks-about-m...
21:02:03 fd: what's the url for?
21:04:16 fd: ??
21:05:18 SusanEttenheim: hi everyone - can you hear us?
21:05:35 akbeck907: Not yet
21:05:40 joanne_jones: no
21:05:42 fd: no
21:06:29 SusanEttenheim: listen now everyone!
21:06:32 Paul Allison: How about now?
21:06:50 fd: no
21:06:59 joanne_jones: no
21:07:04 lezlie53: nope
21:07:09 SusanEttenheim: click on edtechtalk A
21:07:10 SusanEttenheim:  please
21:07:17 SusanEttenheim: do you see the icon?
21:07:56 SusanEttenheim: hi all - can anyone hear us?
21:07:56 balbright: Yes thanks.  I can hear you!  :0)
21:08:02 SusanEttenheim: yeahhh! thank you!
21:08:05 fd: can't see it
21:08:19 balbright: At the top right of your screen.
21:08:31 balbright: Streaming opens up in media player or real player.
21:08:31 SusanEttenheim: hi bill!
21:08:34 SusanEttenheim: Hi gail!!
21:08:37 joanne_jones: I can hear
21:08:49 Bill O'Neal: Hi!
21:08:57 Gail Desler: Hi Susan.  Heading in to find audio
21:09:11 SusanEttenheim: hooray! please introduce yourself! Where and what do you teach?
21:09:42 fd: still didn't get in... what's the icon
21:09:47 SusanEttenheim: This is so funny - I was at Friends too! - running to get my resume to remember what years I was there! hahahaha
21:10:04 SusanEttenheim: Hi lezlie 53 welcome!
21:10:24 SusanEttenheim: welcome msestep! where and what do you teach?
21:10:55 MsEstep: Music 7-12 in WV
21:11:48 balbright: fd Ed Tech Talk A under there are three icons that represent media players.  Click on one.
21:11:51 Gail Desler: Hello MsEstap. I follow you on Twitter
21:11:55 balbright: I teach 3rd grade.
21:12:18 MsEstep: I hope I'm following you back, Gail :)
21:13:08 Renee: Yes. I have audio.
21:13:18 Sheila: Hi all.
21:13:18 SusanEttenheim: welcome spallante welcome sheila!
21:13:26 SusanEttenheim: please introduce yourself!
21:13:33 SusanEttenheim: where and what do you teach?
21:13:41 MsEstep: Hi Sheila :)
21:14:06 SusanEttenheim: What a nice full chat we have tonight! Did all of our guests bring you to join us?
21:14:19 alicebarr: Hi ALice Barr from Yarmouth Maine - HS Instructional Technology
21:14:34 Gail Desler: Hi Alice
21:14:39 Renee: Hi. Renee for FLACS, NYC.
21:14:47 Sheila: Hi! Sheila Adams from NH - 7th grade science teacher.
21:14:53 alicebarr: HI Gail!
21:15:04 SusanEttenheim: Renee - what's FLACS?
21:15:07 alicebarr: HI Sheila Are you happy about Space Shuttles?
21:15:15 SusanEttenheim: I'm at Eleanor Roosevelt HS in NYC
21:15:19 Renee: Family Life Academy Charter School.
21:15:37 Sheila: @Alice Surprised a bit, but glad Discovery went to Air & Space.
21:16:07 Renee: What is tonight's topic?
21:16:09 alicebarr: http://alicebarr.blogspot.com/2011/04/what-are-you-learning-this-summer....
21:16:19 SusanEttenheim: Renee Where is it?
21:16:25 SusanEttenheim: and what grades?
21:16:32 Sheila: @Alice We did a celebration for 50 anniversary of First Orbit in space. :)
21:16:50 SusanEttenheim: Renee - we always have a "public conversation" and tonight Donovan and Alice are joining us!
21:17:31 Sheila: Is anyone going to ISTE11?
21:17:41 joanne_jones: I am!
21:17:51 SusanEttenheim: Ahh I think Alice does have some ISTE listed!
21:17:54 Gail Desler: @Sheila I think I am
21:18:09 alicebarr: @Sheila I am... Wireless bus again this year
21:18:36 Sheila: I'm planning on driving if we don't have any more snow days!
21:18:46 SusanEttenheim: Renee - where is your school and what grades? Fun to have another NYC person here!
21:18:48 alicebarr: @SHeila nice anniversary! Good celebration.. 50 years!
21:19:26 SusanEttenheim: ahh yes I heard that was about to be announced!
21:19:35 SusanEttenheim: hi fd - welcome!
21:19:49 fd: i've been listening... just got back to the chat tho
21:19:52 fd: thanks
21:19:55 alicebarr: @Sheila Yikes I hope not!
21:20:07 alicebarr: @SHeila Snow days I mean
21:20:23 SusanEttenheim: fd where and what do you teach?
21:20:36 fd: state... school??
21:20:44 Renee: My school is located in the Bronx.  Grades K-7. Next year we will have grade 8.
21:20:44 fd: 8th grade mathematics
21:20:50 SusanEttenheim: ahh what state?
21:20:50 fd: Northern Lebanon
21:20:53 fd: PA
21:20:58 SusanEttenheim: ahh welcome!
21:20:59 Gail Desler: @MsEstap - you are now:D
21:21:11 SusanEttenheim: please add in questions and comments!
21:21:24 Renee: I would like to go ISTE.
21:21:27 SusanEttenheim: Maybe we can also all say what you're planning on for this summer so far?
21:21:41 SusanEttenheim: great Renee!
21:21:49 Renee: I don't have any plans. Asny suggestions???
21:21:53 fd: college courses.... pitching lessons.... coaching....
21:22:15 Renee: Last year my summer was packed!!!!
21:22:24 SusanEttenheim: jinTn welcome!
21:22:45 MsEstep: @gail I hate when I miss a follow back...
21:23:00 fd: so we are listening about Moby Dick?
21:23:20 SusanEttenheim: fd - we're mixing it up! :)
21:23:41 MsEstep: My summer is booked with summer institute, teacher leadership institute and band camp, lol
21:23:49 Gail Desler: I'm enjoying the Moby Dick discussion on many levels.  It's a novel I grew up with. Although I've never actually read it, my father always shared about his first term of grad work at UC Berkeley, when he switched from English to Journalism...based on a class that devoted an entire semester to Moby Dick;-)
21:24:04 alicebarr: WOw @MSEstep Wow! You are busy!
21:24:27 alicebarr: http://alicebarr.blogspot.com/2011/04/what-are-you-learning-this-summer....
21:24:39 MsEstep: @alice I know! I'll enjoy my 2 week break
21:24:46 Renee: Whats the teacher leadership institute?
21:24:47 Gail Desler: Alice, I'm heading in there now.
21:24:49 balbright: I am going to Africa!
21:25:21 alicebarr: @balbright Are you going alone or with a group and what part of Afriaca?
21:25:51 MsEstep: @Renee TLI is a week long, tech-heavy professional development. That's about all I know, lol
21:25:57 Bill O'Neal: Just filled out the form, Alice.
21:25:58 Gail Desler: Yes, I do have some NWP/A3WP workshops scheduled
21:26:09 alicebarr: Thank you so much! This is great!
21:26:27 SusanEttenheim: what are your plans bill?
21:26:31 alicebarr: Thanks Susan and Paul for promoting this!
21:26:36 SusanEttenheim: haha or do I have to go to the form lol
21:26:40 balbright: @alicebarr I am going to Tanzania and Kenya alone and with a group.  In a few years I will be joining  my fiance as a missionary in a bush village in Tanzania.  I am going to interact with the village I will be joining.  And I get to tour the school systems.
21:27:01 SusanEttenheim: balbright - how did you find us tonight?
21:27:07 Chris Sloan: @balbright where in Tanzania
21:27:10 SusanEttenheim: where and what do you teach again?
21:27:14 alicebarr: @balbright Wow how wonderful! I love Tanzania, was ther many years agao!
21:27:15 Bill O'Neal: Just blogging and Googledocs. No ISI this year. Just Advanced and open ones.
21:27:33 fd: sounds nice...
21:27:52 balbright: I found you through my Wilkes Course (masters in instructional media)
21:28:05 SusanEttenheim: great - well welcome!
21:28:17 balbright: It is about 4 hours drive south west from Dar es Salaam near the Rufigi River
21:28:25 SusanEttenheim: is there anything special you're looking to learn or get tonight? please let us know!
21:28:40 alicebarr: WOW! That will be amazing @balbright
21:29:17 Renee: @balbright. How do you like the instructional technology course at Wilkes partnered with discovery?
21:29:23 SusanEttenheim: alice does it mean that we can invite ourselves along with anyone who fills out the form? :)
21:29:26 Gail Desler: @balbright that does sound amazing
21:30:17 balbright: I am exciting!  As far as tonight I am just getting a feel for streaming shows.  I will be streaming my first tomorrow after school on Ustream tv.  I will be interviewing a co worker about play in the classroom. http://www.ustream.tv/channel/teaching-tips-from-mentor-teachers
21:30:30 alicebarr: @Susan... That would be nice :) I am thinking I will pull the freebies and put them together in 1 place.
21:30:44 Renee: Th@Balbright, thanks.
21:30:48 SusanEttenheim: congrats balbright!'
21:32:05 MsEstep: Okay, got the form filled out, lol
21:32:18 alicebarr: Thank you everyone. We are a busy group!
21:32:22 balbright: I LOVE THE WILKES MASTERS!!  It has been so helpful and I use some many things in my classroom.
21:32:48 alicebarr: @balbright do you have a link to their program?
21:33:09 Renee: I have been looking for a master program focused on technology.
21:33:25 balbright: http://masters.discoveryeducation.com/
21:33:34 Renee: I have checked out Pepperdine University, Johns Hopkins and Wilkes.
21:33:35 alicebarr: Thank you!
21:33:38 balbright: Very worth it!
21:33:48 SusanEttenheim: hi nancyari60 welcome!
21:33:52 MsEstep: Renee what type of focus on technology are you looking for?
21:35:29 Renee: Adminstration/Leadership/Technology or Teaching/Technology
21:36:26 alicebarr: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrSCaDEqulE
21:36:33 MsEstep: I'm looking at Instructional Design and Technology...starting in the fall
21:36:52 SusanEttenheim: hi thetekyteacher welcome
21:36:53 Renee: What school?
21:36:59 thetekyteacher: hi everyone!
21:37:25 SusanEttenheim: msestep- can I call you in on skype?
21:37:28 Renee: Hi thetekyteacher
21:37:37 SusanEttenheim: hi tekyteacher where and what do you teach?
21:37:39 thetekyteacher: what's the topic?
21:37:46 thetekyteacher: KS and I teach first grade
21:37:56 SusanEttenheim: welcome! how did you find us?
21:38:20 MsEstep: @Susan I have an awake noisy 8 year old at the moment, lol
21:38:26 thetekyteacher: on twitter I'm @thetekyteacher ....alice posted it :)
21:38:29 SusanEttenheim: renee - may I call you into the skype call?
21:38:38 SusanEttenheim: we don't mind msestep!
21:39:09 SusanEttenheim: actually - anyone! who would like to join us for a bit in person?
21:39:19 SusanEttenheim: all you need is earbuds so we don't get the feedback..
21:40:15 balbright: Well it is time for bed.  Thanks!
21:40:28 SusanEttenheim: night balbright - come back anytime!
21:40:43 SusanEttenheim: gail - can I call you in tonight?
21:41:18 Gail Desler: sure
21:42:25 Renee: Sure Susan you can call me. Let me login to Skype.
21:42:38 SusanEttenheim: what's your username?
21:42:57 Gail Desler: @Susan gail_desler
21:43:39 joanne_jones: Sounds impressive to have each 7th and 8th grader with their own laptop
21:44:14 SusanEttenheim: welcome joanne_jones! where and what do you teach?
21:44:17 alicebarr: @joanne_jones Maine has had 1:1 laptops for all 7th and 8th graders since 2001
21:44:29 joanne_jones: wow....
21:44:36 Bill O'Neal: Our son's district issues them to sixth graders (Lawrence Tp NJ)
21:44:37 Renee: Neonlotus10
21:44:39 SusanEttenheim: I wish wish wish there was a way to take the vision of Maine and spread it!!
21:44:39 Gail Desler: @Susan, need to head into control panel to get headset active
21:44:40 alicebarr: It's awesome!
21:45:01 MsEstep: Some of our districts were piloting 1:1 lap tops but have finally abandoned it due to the cost
21:45:06 alicebarr: @Susan I agree... but I am seeing more and more schools moving that direction
21:45:28 alicebarr: @Susan What's going on with your 1:1?
21:45:31 Bill O'Neal: Well I need to run. Tom's up!--Bye!!
21:46:33 SusanEttenheim: well always getting closer ;)
21:47:02 SusanEttenheim: Renee - can you make sure to turn off your audio stream now that you're on skype?
21:47:14 Renee: How do I do that?
21:47:19 Gail Desler: Rachel Carson - a name from the past -but such a powerful voice
21:47:29 SusanEttenheim: are you Apple or windows?
21:47:36 SusanEttenheim: can you hear ok?
21:47:44 SusanEttenheim: now I hear no echo so maybe it's fine
21:47:48 Renee: Apple
21:47:57 SusanEttenheim: gail are you on the call?
21:47:57 Renee: I closed itunes.
21:48:02 Gail Desler: yes
21:48:06 SusanEttenheim: that did it renee!
21:48:10 alicebarr: Rachel Carson Preserve 10 minutes from my house
21:48:13 Sheila: Some of my students are preparing a presentation on Rachel Carson for the Earth Day webcast on April 22. #Earthcast11
21:48:16 SusanEttenheim: good join in anytime!
21:48:30 Renee: I will listen to that.
21:48:32 Gail Desler: @Alice - is there a website for RC Preserve?
21:48:33 alicebarr: @Sheila, have you been to the Wells preserver?
21:48:40 alicebarr: I'll check
21:48:51 SusanEttenheim: ahhhh sheila do you want to join in on skype and give us the details?
21:49:20 SusanEttenheim: welcome spallante - where and what do you teach?
21:49:28 alicebarr: http://www.fws.gov/northeast/rachelcarson/
21:50:21 spallante: I am a middle school librarian in Houston.  I am also in the Wilkes program - I have just 2 classes left.  I take it I missed the live program?
21:50:50 Gail Desler: Thanks Alice - so the kind of place schools head to for fieldtrips, I imagine.
21:50:56 SusanEttenheim: not at all but we are coming to the end
21:51:27 Sheila: @Susan - not set up. But I'll be streaming all day if anyone wants to join me with recorded material or live.
21:51:50 alicebarr: @Gail I think so, but I haven't ever taken a group there.
21:54:21 Sheila: Earth Day webcast - April 22; http://earthbridges.net/live Schedule and contact info is at http://earthbridges.wikispaces.com/EARTHCAST11 Would love to have people join me, I'll stream. :)
21:55:44 SusanEttenheim: thank you sheila!
22:00:17 SusanEttenheim: Alice as we get to closing time, could you put the url in again please?
22:00:24 Sheila: So may I rebroadcast some of this show on Earth Day?  
22:00:57 alicebarr: http://alicebarr.blogspot.com/2011/04/what-are-you-learning-this-summer....
22:01:17 SusanEttenheim: why not sheila!
22:03:08 Renee: Can you post a link to your site donnovan?
22:05:45 Sheila: Seedlings :)
22:07:04 Gail Desler: Global Kids - great!
22:07:22 alicebarr: THanks Sheila!
22:07:29 Renee: Goodnight!!!!!!
22:07:46 Sheila: Thank you all!
22:07:49 Chris Sloan: donovanhohn.com
22:07:50 donovanhohn: Chris, or anyone, my email: [email protected]
22:07:54 joanne_jones: thank you!
22:08:04 Chris Sloan: Thanks Donovan.  Wonderful book!
22:08:17 donovanhohn: So much fun. Thanks for inviting me.