This morning while excitedly participating in the live CNN-Facebook coverage of Obama’s Inauguration Day activities, I happened upon my Facebook friend Brandy Agerbeck, who is a talented graphic facilitator. I asked her if she was going to draw the speech to commemorate it. She said that she hadn’t thought of it at all! She grabbed her paper and pens and went to work. Great Job, Brandy! The result: Obama’s Inauguration Speech. Click link to read Brandy’s accounting of the drawing and conceptual process; and visit her online portfolio. Her incredible talent puts me at awe!

Also, if you are reading this post, I would be thrilled if you would participate in my PLN Inauguration Day Voicethread. Thanks!

Mexico Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (MEXTESOL), 35th International MEXTESOL Conference.

On October 16 – 19, we will be live blogging select MEXTESOL sessions, mostly plenaries, keynotes, and those sessions covering technology and 21st century skills. Here is the tentative schedule with live blog links.

Full Program here.

Traditionally when we think of poverty, we have images of underdeveloped countries or regions where there is no or little hope to help or participate. We see stark images of human suffering that seem so distant and detached . But the truth is that there is always a way to join in. And poverty existing only in the aforementioned areas is a stereotype. Poverty exists in every reach of the world, and in every country. Just extending a hand locally can make huge differences in closing the gap.

Since education is one of many factors that keeps this divide wide open, I am calling on all teachers, teacher trainers, and educators of any discipline and skill level to participate in a project, any project. Perhaps hold a remedial reading and writing class for illiterate members of the community. Join a Big Brother or Big Sister program (or similar project) then use that time to mentor, educate, and be a role model for a disadvantaged youth in your area. There are a million possibilities of something that would suit both your interests and meet community needs. Let’s work together to close the gap of poverty forever. It can be done!

If you don’t have the time to participate in a program, then consider donating a small amount of money directly to a family or a child, or buy them some school supplies or clothes, etc. If there is an organization that you trust in your area that works to combat poverty, donate through them.

There is a way. There always is. Won’t you please help, yes today. Thanks

Down the Rabbit Hole with Steve Dembo

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/steve-dembo–den-keynote

BLC Voicthread

http://voicethread.com/#q.b166642 (Bob Sprankle, inviting personal reflections from conference participants.)

Words say a lot!

I love this Wordle from the BLC08 Conference. We can tell so much just from the language that we use…

I also like my del.icio.us Wordle.

There is also a conference wiki page entry at the EduBloggerCon wiki and conference site. Get BLC08 full program. Get conference goodies of Alan C. November’s presentation at Google Docs shared page. Ning BLC Group. Keynote opening address from Alan C. November.

Alan C. November’s Ustream presentation.

Broadcast by Ustream.TV

Related Reading:
See the 21CT- Frank’s Blog Wordle

One of my Mexican students gave me this gift for 4th of July. Nothing could be more perfect and thoughtful. Thanks Andi!