Tag Archives: ASK Programs

ASK: Daniel's Story

On Monday, Marcellus Middle School participated in their first ASK program. Students read Daniel’s Story and prepared questions for Charles Sacavage, a holocaust expert from Intermediate Unit 29 in Pennsylvania. The classes were also studying World War II.

Mr. Sacavage is a perfect expert for this ASK program because he has a wealth of knowledge and photo resources to share based on the questions the students ask.

If you’re thinking of starting your own ASK program, this works well with both Anne Frank and Daniel’s Story.

Out of the Mouths of Babes

Kid advertising for VC is the best there is! I’ve blogged already about how students advertise VCs to teachers. How about to administrators too? I just learned that one of our local administrators got excited about videoconferencing after hearing his child talk about bats at the dinner table. The child had participated in the ASK: Stellaluna program that I’ve blogged about before. The child excitedly described all the things they learned in the conference. Now the administrator realizes even more the benefits of “bringing the world to the classroom” via videoconferencing.

I Survived the Onslaught

Every year I can tell when MEAP, our state testing, is over. All of a sudden I have an onslaught of videoconferences. Most of you know I’m the tech and the coordinator in our service area, so it can get crazy. Today was one of those days! Last week’s ASK Ice Bear & Little Fox program got rescheduled to today, the same day I did ASK Stellaluna. Plus I had three schools connected to the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago for their Live From the Heart program this morning. I’m also starting to finally get the hang of making gatekeeper calls work within my districts and to my bridge. Today’s videoconferences impacted 20 classrooms and about 570 students. Plus 8 RUS Grant buildings did their first VCs.

Of course with that many sessions, there’s always oopses. We had a timezone oops for one of the sessions. And I accidentally connected the wrong building for another. But other than that all the connections worked & the kids and teachers are happy with the learning.

Now that these connections are done, I can breathe again. Whew. I made it!

Show, Don't Tell

Last Thursday I offered an ASK training after school.

ASK stands for Author, Specialist, Knowledge, and is a literature based program that ends with a videoconference interview of a specialist or author. The program was designed by Dr. Kettel, University of Michigan-Dearborn, and has been successfully implemented on a large scale in Macomb county. Macomb ISD has mentored us as well as TWICE and others in implementing this program locally.

Usually my ASK training covers what it is, the 13 steps, the various books and programs we offer to our local schools, how to make your ASK program a success, and is generally a lot of talking. This year I wanted to do it a little differently. Partly due to the influence of 123 Jazzing on my teaching, partly due to a sore throat, and partly due to the realization of good teaching: show – don’t tell!

So I brought out a copy of most of the books that we offer and spread them out on tables. After watching the ASK video and reviewing the various books, we did a mini-ASK process. Each person read a couple pages in one of the books. (I really believe in choice with adult training!) Then they journalled a few lines. Wrote their questions on 3×5 cards. Then we split into three groups to pretend we were in an ASK program. We connected in from 3 of our VC systems and simulated the project. Everyone got to ask their question in the recommended format. “Hi, my name is Jane, and this is my friend John. Our question is, In the book, ……”. They got to see how the video switches in a voice activated format. How to mute & unmute. How to have the students stand at the microphone listening until the author or specialist has answered their question.

We covered just about everything in the Making Your ASK Program A Success handout without me hardly *telling* any of it! They experienced it. Cool. Everyone was really excited and signed up for programs right away.

It’s funny how you KNOW in your head what good training should be like, but when you have just an hour and a half you think there isn’t time. Well, there is!

By the way, there may be a few spots left in the TWICE ASK programs. And if I have any in mine (I don’t right now), I’ll let you know here.

And also, if you’re a regional coordinator for distance learning, you ought to be offering these kinds of programs for your schools! Want to learn how?! My online class, Kid2Kid Videoconference Connections, starts next week and includes how to run ASK programs as well as MysteryQuests and other projects. We’d love to have you join our learning community!

Authors, Guest Speakers, and International Connections: Videoconferencing for Learning

Yesterday Elaine Shuck, Polycom, and I had a packed IVC showcase session. About 70 people attended. You can access the PowerPoint and links here.

We connected to Jim Stovall, blind author of the book, The Ultimate Gift. In just 10 minutes of interaction with Jim, the audience was hooked and enthralled with the interaction. We were able to take several questions from the audience.

One of the coolest moments occurred at the end. I’ll quote here my supervisor, Dennis’ comment on one of my blog entries yesterday:

Educators live for those “Aha!” moments. It is no less exciting to see that in educators. Such was the case in a session with Elaine, Jim and Janine presenting about the ASK program with author, Jim Stovall. At then end of that part of the session a teacher, in her Aha! monent, said “I really want to do this with my students – but what’s a Polycom?” – a wonderful, heartfelt Aha! moment. We do indeed touch people’s personal and professional hearts when we share the good thing we are doing with teachers and kids. Janine, Jim and Elaine are demonstrating visionary leadership.

Cool. It’s as awesome to impact teachers as impacting kids with great VCs!

Conference Tags: necc necc06

Lest We Forget: Vietnam War

Today we have several local schools as well as two schools from Pennsylvania interviewing four of our local Vietnam veterans. This is the last in our series of Lest We Forget videoconferences. Students viewed a video produced locally with experiences from our veterans, prepared good questions, and then participated in the videoconference. Here are some of the questions the students asked:

  • Can you explain your first 24 hours in Vietnam?
  • How did you feel about the war protests?
  • Do you think there are similarities between the war in Iraq and the Vietnam War? If so what are they?
  • What did you miss about home when you were overseas? Do you agree with the reasons for starting the war?
  • Describe your accommodations.
  • Did you volunteer or were you drafted?
  • What kind of reaction did you have when you returned to the U.S.?

The classes that participated today really appreciated the experience. These interviews make history come alive for students as they learn the personal experiences of those who have served our country.

This is my last videoconference for the school year. My schools are doing a couple more on their own, but we’re basically done for the year. It’s been fun sharing these programs with you. I hope you’ve been inspired to do more videoconferences in your area, and maybe we can connect our classes together next year! Maybe you’ll start blogging your VCs too so we can learn from you!

Lest We Forget: The Korean War

Today several of our local Korean War veterans took time out of their schedules to talk to our history students about their experiences. We also had a couple of classes participating from Pennsylvania and Texas. The veterans answered students questions, shared pictures, and showed various artifacts.

Mr. Gobert, one of the veterans, showed the standard sleeping bag to the students to help them understand the extreme cold conditions.

Here is a sampling of the questions the students asked:

  • What things would you like the American public to know about the Korean war that hasn’t been told or was misunderstood?
  • Why is it called the Forgotten War?
  • It is said that the US administration was unprepared for the Korean War. Do you agree and why or why not?
  • The Korean War was called a Police Action. How does that make you feel?
  • Had we lost the war, do you think communism would have spread through Asia?
  • Describe what military job you were trained for and whether or not you felt that your training was adequate for what you experienced in Korea?
  • How did your families react when they knew that you might not be coming back?
  • Were you able to communicate with your family?
  • What was the most difficult situation you were in and what was the outcome?
  • How has the service affected your life?

The veterans really appreciated the expressions of gratitude and respect from the students. They also appreciated the opportunity to share their stories. In the words of one veteran, "Thanks for letting us blow off steam." The students gained a deeper understanding of the sacrifices made for their freedom.

ASK: Night of the Twisters

Today I'm bridging three sessions of ASK: Night of the Twisters. Students are interviewing Mr. Ostuno, a NOAA meteorologist. This program is coordinated and funded by TWICE. Students read the book and followed the ASK process to prepare questions for the specialist. Here is a sampling of their questions:

  • What are some signs of a tornado starting?
  • How come certain kinds of weather happen in certain states?
  • What is the diameter of a regular tornado?
  • How can scientists know that there were 7 tornados in one day?
  • How do you decide if you should evacuate when a tornado is coming?
  • What is the best way to be safe during a tornado?
  • Would you want to get close to a tornado?
  • What is the difference between a tornado and a twister?

This specialist had nice concise answers, which allowed for many students to ask their questions during the program. We'll definitely be doing this program again!

Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy

Today 5 classes from around Michigan, including a class from Upton Middle School, St. Joseph, are interviewing Gary D. Schmidt, author of Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy. Students have many carefully thought out questions that they prepared using the ASK process. Here is a sampling of their questions.

  • Why is it important for the sherriff to keep showing his pistol?
  • How is it that you have so much insight into being a ministers son?
  • What do you think of the cover of the book?
  • Did the sherriff mean to push the Reverend over the cliff?
  • In the book, there are lots of beautiful descriptions. Is it hard to write that way? How did you learn to write like that?
  • Why was baseball so essential to the story?
  • As a class we had a prediction that Mr. Stonecroft would burn Mrs. Cobb’s house down. Did you think of that when you were writing that part of the book?
  • I’m a pastor’s kid, so I know how Turner felt. How did you know these feelings? Are you a pastor’s kid yourself?
  • The book has a pretty dark and gloomy ending; why did you end it like that?

It’s so fun to see an author new to the ASK program be delighted with the students questions and their depth of thought on the book. The students thoroughly enjoyed the stories Gary shared that give the background of the stories in the book. Today’s ASK program was definitely a celebration of words & writing!

ASK: Donuthead

“You guys are making me think that I need to think a lot more about what I do!” Sue commented to a student in Dowagiac. One of the neat things about ASK programs is that the students think deeply about the book and come up with very interesting creative questions that often stump the author.

Today’s ASK program features author Sue Stauffacher and her book Donuthead. Donuthead is a hysterically funny book about two kids who don’t fit in and how they deal with life situations. The students followed the ASK process to prepare for this videoconference: reading the book, journalling, and writing and selecting excellent questions. Here is a sampling of some of the questions.

  • Where did you come up with the name Donuthead?
  • Do you know someone who is afraid of everything like Franklin?
  • How do you think Franklin would feel if he found his dad?
  • How did you think of making one side of Franklin longer than the other?
  • How many Donuthead books do you plan on making?
  • How do you help young people who are poor?
  • Why did you make Sarah’s dad mean? Was your dad like that?
  • Why did you make Sarah tough and brave?

Sue Stauffacher is a wonderfully funny author and presenter. It’s incredible to listen to her stories, how she writes, and how she interacts with the students.

In the picture to the right, Sue explains the writing and editing process.

As part of the program this morning, Sue read a few paragraphs from the new book Donutheart which is coming out in October. Many questions this morning are answered in the new book. Clearly students, teachers, and distance learning coordinators alike are anxious to read this sequel!

I’m looking forward to next year when we will do ASK with the Donuthead book as well as Sue’s new book Bessie Smith and the Night Riders, the amazing true story of a blues singer who single handedly scared off the KKK. We’ll be scheduling this one in February for sure.