Skype Reflection

I must admit that I found the experience of "Skyping"(is this an appropriate word?) to be very interesting and exciting. I had never heard of the process, but found it very easy to install and to use. I was even able to use my computer's built -in web cam by simply clicking on the appropriate tab within the Skype website. I am somewhat embarrassed to admit that I had not previously attempted to use the cam out of fear that the process would be too difficult for the technologically challenged. The six member group of Hamblen County was successful in setting up a conference call and engaged in a very enlightening discussion of the first part of Friedman's The World is Flat.

Like my colleagues, I was very surprised at the level of outsourcing of tasks occurring today. I think all of us were cognizant that outsourcing to China and to India existed, but the sheer number and types of tasks being done left us feeling a little uneasy. I thought the idea of having your McDonald's order taken by someone in Colorado was almost mind-boggling --that is, until I visited my local McDonald's and waited over ten minutes at the drive -through window to be served an incorrect order! When one considers the importance that volume and efficiency plays in the success of a business like McDonald's, this use of technology becomes much easier to accept and to understand. Still, the magnitude of the changes occurring is a bit unsettling and seemed to occur with me, as it did with the author, while I was sleeping.

As I continue to read through the Flatteners, I find myself agreeing more and more with Friedman's choices of occurrences that are contributing to the flattening of our world. With each new Flattener, I am convinced he has found the root cause of the changes in our world. There is one premise supported by Friedman, however, that I must challenge. Early in the book, he writes that Communism is a "top-down" system that leaves its people "equally poor" while Capitalism promotes an "unequally rich" citizenry. I would argue that Friedman has fallen into a very common trap of confusing Communism --an economic system that was founded on the very premise of support of the workers --with the totalitarian governments with which it has been associated. As a firm believer in searching for the Win-Win, I wonder if there is not some way to find some economic system that would allow for an equally supportive and supported citizenry. But enough of this political harangue, let's get back to the book.

In my readings thus far, the one statement in the book that I find most applicable to the situation in which we as Tennessee educators find ourselves is the one made regarding the open source software available to the public today. The chairman of Novell writes: "Commercial software companies have to start operating further up the stack to differentiate themselves." It is my belief that this is precisely where education finds itself today, and is the reason Tennessee educators and students find themselves facing the toughening of classroom standards. I believe that teachers must start operating "further up the stack" to allow our students the opportunities to differentiate themselves. Perhaps we should stop teaching the rote memorization of multiplication facts --we could outsource this to a calculator -- and begin teaching kids sophisticated problem solving strategies that are applicaple to their real and ever changing world.

ELPA Podcast

The Hamblen County faction of the ELPA Program decided to publish this group podcast. It was a very enjoyable and, more importantly, a very enlightening introduction to a process that I believe will prove to be very useful to me in the future.

Review of ISTE/NETS(A)

Who could argue with the standards set forth for the advancement of technology, and the roles of administration in accomplishing these? Unfortunately, at my school and district, I believe we are woefully behind in meeting these standards. Don't misunderstand me, I believe our intentions are good and noble -- I think we sincerely want to move forward in the area of technology --but we seem to to lack full understanding of the old adage "one man with a hammer can do more than a thousand with good intentions."



While I do believe our system's leadership has embraced the ideals set forth in the six standards, I believe that we are most lacking in meeting standard IV involving support, management, and operations. Specifically, we have not met the essential conditions of technical support, and, to a lesser degree, professional development. As I reflect further, perhaps our real problem is that the citizens of Hamblen County --or at least those who are their elected representatives-- have not fully supported the implementation of technology in our schools.



So as not to appear completely negative, I do believe our system has made strides in meeting the essential conditions of a shared vision, content standards, and assessment.

My 1st attempt at bloggin'

Hello everybody! Sorry to be so late in coming to the party, but the Morristown group only found out the class had started about a week ago, so we are operating in "catch-up" mode and not without a bit of anxiety.



My name is Jeff Kinsler, and I am in my third year as assistant principal at Morristown-Hamblen High School West. I spent 21 years as a math teacher at the same school, and I must candidly admit that I was better as a math teacher than I believe I will ever be as an administrator --wow, what a steep learning curve! My job responsibilities include: curriculum, master schedule, AP coordination, 10th grade discipline, special education, and, since I have worked so closely with the staff for so many years, everybody's sounding board. The switch from the classroom to administration has been challenging, with perhaps the greatest challenge coming from my own measurement of my job performance. As an advanced math teacher, I measured success in the number of my students who scored above 30 on the math ACT test; as an administrator, I now measure my success in the number of special ed kids who lean int0 me rather than pull away when I hug them. Did I mention the steep learning curve?



On the home front, I am married to Regina Smith Kinsler who worked in our math department for 12 years before venturing into the business world just this year. She owns and operates two gift shops in Morristown and Jefferson City (I guess technically that makes her a franchise) which specializes in the Vera Bradley merchandise line--yes, that was a deliberate name drop because we just recently acquired a mortgage payment and all business is appreciated. The joy of my life is our 5 year old son, Matthew, who has much more energy than his 45 year old father can handle.



My hobbies include golf and reading, but given my 65+ hour work week and the aforementioned 5 year old, my current favorite activity is napping.