2016 - A New Year and A New Hope...

As many of you already know, the Consortium for Information and Academic Technologies - a grassroots, 21st Century Educational Tech group that I founded with Shalhevet High School and Harkham Hillel Hebrew Academy, was acquired into the CIJE (www.thecije.org) Network in August of 2015.  I am happy to report that this has turned out to be a stupendous relationship!

CIJE has a network of over 160 schools (and growing rapidly) that avail themselves of a myriad of programs that have been specially created for Jewish Day Schools.  These programs include adaptive learning systems for use in early childhood and first/second grades, Elementary School science programs, the forward-thinking E2K Middle School science/math system, the unique (and critically acclaimed) CIJE High School engineering class (which is now is UC Certified!!!), as well as the - now in pilot - Middle School engineering curriculum. A brand new program that is currently under discussion is a robotics based engineering program for lower grades, being designed by our absolutely amazing Director of West Coast STEM, Dr. Adrian Krag.

While I have only listed the science based programs, CIJE also participates with the creation of STEM and Innovation Labs, Computer Labs/Carts, Interactive Touch Boards, Jewish History and Continuity programs, to name a few.  With CIJE's acquisition of "the Consortium," we now have added services such as network systems infrastructure consultation, filtering and Internet utilization consultation, 21st Century educational and educational technology research and instruction, and the development of PLN's (Professional Learning Networks)!

As I have been traveling around California over the last few months, many of you have been clamoring for a series of Professional Development sessions on how to design/prepare your school's WiFi for use in the 21st Century, as well as effective filtering of the Google Apps For Education (GAFE) web space.

Well, wait no more!  Shortly, I will be putting out a schedule of LIVE Google Hangouts to go over just those questions!  And I will be inviting experts in the field to join me so that we can answer your LIVE inquiries on situations that are specific to your school.

So stay tuned to my blog as I arrange the schedule for later this month.  Of course, I would love to have your input, so please feel free to use the comments section of the blog to post your questions and ideas!

Oh yes, speaking of a New Hope... If you haven't gone to see the new Star Wars moive, - get to a theatre near you right way! 

  

This was me at the early premier - it was awesome!! (and, yes, I am a geek... :-)

May the FARCE be with you!!

Yossie

Yossie Frankel

IT Director - Shalhevet High School

Tech Specialist - CIJE

Checkout my blog @ technorebbe.blogspot.com

Twitter @yossiefrankel
YouTube Channel: YossieFrankelChannel
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/yossiefrankel

eLearing - Jewish Style

As a Tech Specialist for CIJE (www.thecije.org), every second Wednesday I have the pleasure and honor to facilitate a live video eLearning classroom for Rabbi Boruch Suffrin, Head of School for the Harkham Hillel Hebrew Academy, here in Los Angeles.  Rabbi Sufrin gives an AMAZING Shiur (A class based on classical Jewish religious texts) at the Beth Jacob Synagogue.  His class is always packed AND it is live-streamed throughout the world! (Click here for the date/time of Rabbi Sufrin's next Shiur)

This is a view of the Shiur from the remote eLearning manager (where I field on-line 

questions from the web) and a view from an iPad

This is the Asus Tablet PC with an external HD camera (under $450.00!!) - Rabbi 

Sufrin Controls his whole Shiur from here.

A screen shot of this week's Shiur. (Click this link for a list of Rabbi Sufrin's Shiurim)

Rabbi Sufrin prepares source documents that are handed out to the attending participants and are interactively displayed on the screen for the "at home" participants to review (they are available to download as well).  In the past, these source sheets have taken Rabbi Sufrin many long hours of work to prepare, pulling the references from classical Jewish texts, some of which are thousands of years old.  This week though, the source sheets were prepared using a website called Sefaria. (www.sefaria.org)

Sefaria is an ever growing source of information on Classical - and modern - Jewish texts.  By using a "Wiki-like" approach, they have gathered over 22,697 source sheets with 53 million words and almost 8 million of those words have been translated into multiple languages.

Founded in 2013, Sefaria is an unbelievable resource for the Jewish educator and presenter.  If you have the time and inclination, I would suggest that you get involved with this organization. Their platform works on tablets/computer/smart phones, etc.  If you don't have the technical expertise to loan, then make a donation to keep the project going.

What is Sefaria: Here is a short video

As we say good-bye to 2015 and prepare to welcome 2016, let's remember that not only do our students need to be life-long learners, but so do we.  As one of my favorite Sci-Fi spoof movies says: "Never give up! Never Surrender!!"

Have a great new year!!!

Warmest regards...

Yossie Frankel

Yossie Frankel

IT Director - Shalhevet High School

Tech Specialist - CIJE

Checkout my blog @ technorebbe.blogspot.com

Twitter @yossiefrankel
YouTube Channel: YossieFrankelChannel
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/yossiefrankel

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Talk about a LONG class...

I have been teaching for over 30 years now and I remember the first time I had a double period class.  It was 90 minutes long and I was so worried that I would not be able to keep my students engaged.  I made it through that first class and, after about 6 months, I wondered how it was that I actually taught in a shorter period!

Well, you can imagine my reaction when I heard about the "Longest Shiur" (A Shiur is a Talmudic - Jewish Law - study session) that would be  OVER 18 HOURS LONG, organized, coordinated and led by a single person: Rabbi Shlomo Einhorn, the Dean and Rav of Yeshivat Yavnah in Los Angeles, CA!!

Then, to pique my interest even more, not only would Rabbi Einhorn give this Shiur, but it would be live streamed - FOR THE FULL 18+ HOURS  on You Tube!!

AMAZING!!  

I was definitely "in" to watch this.  Then I got a great email.  The Exec Producer, Lev Stark and the Producer, Aviv Tops wanted my help with some live streaming issues!!  Now, not only was I going be able to watch, but I could participate as well!!

So... The professional sound and camera crew are on site... We are live streaming... Direct to You Tube in full HD!!... And where are you??

You must check this out....

http://www.longestshiur.com

All funds raised will be used for scholarships for students to attend Jewish Day School, so while you are watching, make a pledge.

As always, I solicit and encourage your comments on the blog page.

Yossie

Yossie Frankel

IT Director - Shalhevet High School

Tech Specialist - CIJE

Checkout my blog @ technorebbe.blogspot.com

Twitter @yossiefrankel
YouTube Channel: YossieFrankelChannel
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/yossiefrankel

The Force Awakens - on your home Internet!!

Ah, my young Padawan Techies...

We all know that the Internet can be a force for good - abundant information at one's fingertips, connecting with fellow learners throughout the world - but it also has a dark side - a warped space/time of endless hours playing games, and some sites that try to seduce us and waste our time with cute pictures of cats with lightsabers (https://youtu.be/m6erUBMtV2g) .  We call that the black hole, the dark side of the web.

So, as a parent, what can you do to manage the screen time, websites and general usage of the World Wide Web at your home?  Well, over the years I have seem many different home based solutions.  Some worked well, but the common thread was that the parents had to become technology specialists to use them!

Well, search no more!!  A force of light has awakened!!  

Disney (yes, the folks who now own Star Wars - hence all the bad puns...) has partnered with an AMAZING home Internet management device.  Not only does it work, but it is easy to use as well!!

I could extoll the virtues of this device, but the below linked video says it all!

(Click link to see video)

I ordered mine and I can't wait for its arrival!!  I will keep you all posted on how it goes... My son is just going to love it!! (sarcasm intended!!)

May the FARCE be with you all!!

Yossie

Yossie Frankel

IT Director - Shalhevet High School

Tech Specialist - CIJE

Checkout my blog @ technorebbe.blogspot.com

Twitter @yossiefrankel
YouTube Channel: YossieFrankelChannel
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/yossiefrankel

Wearable Tech... or just warm socks?!!

I absolutely MUST share this amazing piece of wearable tech with you all!  (Shout out to Donna Mandosa from the InTELA user group for sharing this!!!)

So, here is the "Big Idea" (Shout out to my wife Batsheva - the PBL instructor - she has taught me well...)

After a hard day of marking student papers, have you ever settled down on your couch to watch a Netflix video with a nice glass of dry red wine? (I am accepting bottles of GOOD kosher wine if anyone is offering!!)  After about 15 minutes into the movie... what happens.  If you are like me - zzzzzzzzzzz - Fast asleep!!  When I wake up, I have no idea of where I was in the movie!  Very frustrating...

Well, the folks at Netflix have the solution!!  Netflix socks!  When you doze off, they automatically pause your video so you don't miss a minute.... For real!!  This is a cool DIY project.

(Click here for the link)

Check it out!  I would love to hear your feedback - my sock size is Large.... in case any of you are making these.

Regards...

Yossie Frankel

IT Director - Shalhevet High School

Tech Specialist - CIJE

Checkout my blog @ technorebbe.blogspot.com

Twitter @yossiefrankel
YouTube Channel: YossieFrankelChannel
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/yossiefrankel

Special Professional Development Opportunity!

Hi everyone!

Firstly... my apologies for not blogging over last month.... I have been so busy setting up Shalhevet High School in their brand new building and working with my new network - The Center for Initiatives in Jewish Education www.thecije.org - that I haven't had the time to get out any posts!!  Well, I am about to change that!!

So my first blog back is about a great Professional Development opportunity here in Los Angeles!!

On Sunday, October 18th, at the Shalhevet High School, we are going to be hosting a full day of PD dedicated to 21st Century Education.  Now, if you are an out-of-towner, we will have a live INTERACTIVE stream of the events as well!  As of right now, we have a full crew of folks attending from here in the US, Canada AND Israel!

The link for the local folks is: https://oct18pd.eventbrite.com

If you are an Out-Of-Towner, here is the link for you: https://oct18pdstream.eventbrite.com

Here is what we will be doing:

CIJE and Shalhevet High School
 invite you to join us for a
Teacher Professional Development Day
Sunday, October 18th 2015

Three amazing Sessions: This is an all-day event so please attend all three of them!!

Session One:  Lenses of Questioning Workshop

In this age of instant information access and shallow sound bites, it is imperative that we don't lose the skill of thoughtful, critical inquiry, as the ancient Jewish tradition of questioning teaches. The Lenses of Questioning method (loosely based on the business model of Six Hats of Thinking), as taught in the 1.5 hour workshop, gives solid tools and includes activities to both model for and train students to ask and analyze strong questions. This leads to deeper critical thinking skills and imaginative observations.

Session Two:  LaunchBox Demo
During lunch the lunch break, Batsheva will demonstrate the LaunchBox games and activities that explore philosophical issues through a Jewish lens. Learn about and play games such as C.Hi.P.-­‐In : Competing High Priorities Game, Feed Your Wolves (Deals with Good and Evil), Sage Advice (Love and Relationships) and Fortune in Your Hands (Fate and Free Will).

Session Three:  Project Based Learning Workshop
Although Project-­‐Based Learning is a "buzzy" term in educational circles, there are many misconceptions about it. Before we begin the nuts and bolts of how to create a successful PBL Unit, there will be a short introduction (before lunch) explains what PBL is, what it isn't and how using PBL can enhance learning in any subject.  After lunch, the main workshop session focuses on the essential elements and practices of Gold Standard Project-­‐Based Learning. Each participant will leave with tools, resources and ideas for incorporating these standards, as well as a plan for a specific unit to be used in class.

Here is how the day is set out: 

(We will be very prompt with the times - so don't come late!!)

8:45am to 9:30am               Registration with a light breakfast
9:30am to 9:45am               Welcome to the event
9:45am to 11:15am             Session One: Lenses of Questioning Workshop
11:15am to 11:30am           Short Break
11:30am to 12:00pm           Introduction to PBL (A MUST introduction for
                                                Session Three)
12:00pm to 1:00pm             Working Lunch: Bagel, Cream Cheese and Veggies
                                                AND Session Two:LaunchBox Demo
1:00pm to 3:00pm               Session Three: PBL Workshop

Venue:  The Brand New Shalhevet High School Building
910 S Fairfax Ave, Los Angeles 90036
Parking in the school lot is very limited.  When it is full, the lot will be closed.  Street parking is available as well as the Petersen Car Museum

Now, I know that you are wondering, so.... No, there is NO CHARGE FOR THIS EVENT!!!  All we ask is that if you register, that you show up!!

To register for the event, open a web-browser to: http://oct18pd.eventbrite.com

 About the Presenter:

Batsheva Frankel has been teaching English, Judaic studies, creative writing and acting for over 20 years in a diversity of places throughout Los Angeles and the East coast. She has given lectures, classes and workshops for adults at Isralight Institute, JConnect, Jewlicious, Limmud, LimmudLA, American Jewish University, and Pico Shul. In 2011, Batsheva began developing LaunchBox which was the winner of the Jewish Federation of Los Angeles' The Next Big Jewish Idea contest. As an educational consultant she has taught at teachers' conferences, schools and synagogues in the United States and the United Kingdom. Batsheva is also a full-­‐time teacher and Dean of Faculty at Arete Preparatory Academy, as well as a published writer, performer and director.

As always, please feel free to share this post and I hope to see some of you on Sunday!

Yossie

Yossie Frankel

I.T. Director - Shalhevet High School
Technology Specialist - CIJE

Checkout my blog @ technorebbe.blogspot.com
Twitter @yossiefrankel
YouTube Channel: YossieFrankelChannel
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/yossiefrankel

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Traveling through a wormhole... aka - "beam me up Scotty!"

OK, so maybe I didn't bend time and space, but it sure felt like it to me!!

Last Thursday morning, at 9:30am, I was in Silicon Valley sitting on a panel about "Robotics in Business" and then by 10:30 am, I was in Los Angeles at the Shalhevet High School construction site installing network switches.

Now, I know what many of you are thinking.... "What's the big deal?  You were just on a video conference."

Well, yes and no.... I was engaging in "telepresence" using a marvelous little robot call a "Kubi" (see my blog: http://technorebbe.blogspot.com/2015/02/tele-presence-when-being-there-is-next.html) and I actually FELT like I was attending the event - in person!!  Based on some of the feedback I got from attendees, they also felt as if I was actually present - talking directly to them, participating in person.

I have been on the receiving side of the Kubi (www.revolverobotics.com) many times, setting up a room where my speaker is on the Kubi, mounted on a tripod and it feels like s/he is actually in the room participating.  This is my first time being the presenter who is off in the distance and I found the experience to be transformative.  I really, really, really felt like I was there, sitting on the panel and fully participating.  Here... take a look at the picture... I am the guy on the end...

So, the next time you are going to host an event like above, consider "Kubi-ing" in to the conference.  You will be quite pleased!

If you were at this event, I would love to hear what you thought! (Pictures are solicited!!)  As always, please comment on the blog page.

Oh, I see that it is time for me to go, so "beam me up Scotty!"

regards...

Yossie

Yossie Frankel

I.T. Director - Shalhevet High School
Technology Specialist - CIJE

Checkout my blog @ technorebbe.blogspot.com
Twitter @yossiefrankel
YouTube Channel: YossieFrankelChannel
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/yossiefrankel